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Multi-Media Exposure to Emerging Contaminants and Health Effects Across Physiological Systems: Exposure Pathways, Risk Assessment and Public Health Implications

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A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Contaminants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 5982

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Guanghui Dong

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Guest Editor

School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong 510000, China
Interests: environmental pollution; risk assessment; air pollution; greenness; POPs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Lizi Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong 510000, China
Interests: maternal and child health; environmental pollution; risk assessment; particulate matter; POPs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging contaminants—including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, microplastics, organophosphorus flame retardants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals—are increasingly detected in diverse environmental media such as the atmosphere, water, soil, and food. There is growing concern regarding their potential to induce adverse health effects across multiple physiological systems, including the respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, reproductive, immune, and urinary systems.

With this Special Issue, we aim to explore the complex relationships between multi-media exposure to emerging contaminants and health outcomes across the general population. We seek the submission of interdisciplinary research that clarifies exposure pathways, identifies system-specific health effects, evaluates exposure risks, and examines public health implications. Key themes and objectives include the following:

Characterizing Multi-Media Exposure Pathways: Investigating exposure routes via ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, and other pathways across different environmental media (e.g., air, water, soil, and food).
Assessing System-Specific Health Risks: Evaluating the effects of environmental exposure on various physiological systems, with a focus on developmental, neurological, metabolic, reproductive, immune, and endocrine outcomes.
Elucidating Toxicity Mechanisms: Exploring biological and molecular mechanisms that drive health effects in target systems, such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses.
Informing Public Health Interventions: Proposing evidence-based strategies for exposure mitigation, regulatory guidance, and risk communication to protect public health.

Prof. Dr. Guanghui Dong
Dr. Lizi Lin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

emerging contaminants
multi-media exposure
exposure pathways
health effects
risk assessment
toxicity mechanisms
public health implications

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1253 KB

Open AccessArticle

Early-Life Exposure to Ambient Air Quality and Infant Health-Related Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Multi-Center Cohort in China

by Yulin Wu, Ju Chen, Siting Zheng, Jieling Luo, Zhiyong Xie, Yi Liu, Mingxian Wu, Suxia Sun and Zheqing Zhang

Toxics 2026, 14(5), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14050371 - 26 Apr 2026

Viewed by 908

Abstract

Air pollution poses a major public health threat, yet longitudinal evidence on its impact on infant health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains limited. This study investigated the longitudinal associations between early-life exposure to outdoor air pollution and infant HRQoL, focusing on psychological and physiological domains. Between November 2021 and September 2022, 779 mother–newborn pairs were recruited, with 696 completing follow-up at 12 months. HRQoL was assessed at 1, 4, 6, and 12 months using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™, and exposures to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models adjusted for infant sex, household income, sibling status, and other covariates. Higher concentrations of all pollutants were associated with lower total HRQoL scores. Stratified analyses showed that PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and SO₂, but not NO₂, were associated with steeper age-related declines in total scores. Inverse associations with psychosocial health were consistent across pollutants, with pronounced age-related declines in high-exposure groups; for physical health, only SO₂ and NO₂ remained significant after adjustment, with modest age-related changes. These findings suggest that early-life air pollution exposure is associated with smaller gains in HRQoL during infancy, particularly in psychosocial well-being, highlighting the importance of improving air quality to support early development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Media Exposure to Emerging Contaminants and Health Effects Across Physiological Systems: Exposure Pathways, Risk Assessment and Public Health Implications)

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14 pages, 730 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of 52-Day Oral Exposure to Fluorescent Polystyrene Microplastics on Hormonal Profile, Sperm Parameters, and Fertility in Male Wistar Rats

by Hristiyana Kanzova, Madlena Andreeva, Yana Goranova, Rosen Ivanov, Stefan Manchev, Hristo Gagov, Iliyana Sazdova, Milena Mishonova, Neli Raikova, Lea Koceva, Dilyana Doncheva-Stoimenova, Pavel Rashev, Albena Alexandrova and Elina Tsvetanova

Toxics 2026, 14(4), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040318 - 9 Apr 2026

Viewed by 728

Abstract

Increasing environmental contamination with microplastics (MPs) raises significant concerns regarding their potential impact on reproductive health. This study evaluated the effects of prolonged oral exposure to fluorescent polystyrene microplastics (FPS-MPs) of different sizes on the male reproductive system in Wistar rats. Juvenile male rats at 21 days of age were exposed to FPS-MPs of 1 µm and 5 µm for 52 days, covering the period of sexual maturation and a complete spermatogenesis cycle. Body weight, reproductive organ indices, serum levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as sperm motility and morphology, were assessed. Reproductive potential and accumulation of microplastics in reproductive tissues were also evaluated. No significant differences were observed in body weight or most reproductive organ indices, except for a slight reduction in the left epididymis index in the group exposed to 5 µm particles. FPS-MPs induced size-dependent changes in the hormonal profile, including decreases in T and E2 and compensatory increases in FSH and LH, as well as impairments in sperm quality, which were more pronounced in rats exposed to smaller particles. In conclusion, fertility potential remained preserved, while FPS-MPs accumulated in the testes and epididymides, demonstrating subclinical, size-dependent effects on the male reproductive system. Full article

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16 pages, 1468 KB

Open AccessArticle

Legacy and Emerging Organophosphate Esters (OPEs) in a Rural–Urban Transition Watershed: Spatiotemporal Distribution, Sources, and Toxicity Screening

by Shulin Guo, Weicong Deng, Xuan Zhan, Dan Li, Ivy Yik Fei Koo, Naisheng Zhang, Hongliang Chen, Qiabin Wang, Qin Liu, Xutao Wang, Yingxin Yu, Zenghua Qi and Yafeng Zhang

Toxics 2026, 14(2), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020147 - 1 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1195

Abstract

Agricultural watersheds are undergoing rapid rural–urban transitions, yet the relative contributions of diffuse agricultural runoff versus rural domestic and point sources to organophosphate esters (OPEs) pollution remain poorly understood. This study investigated the occurrence, spatiotemporal distribution, and potential risks of 17 legacy and emerging OPEs in the Dalongdong River, China. Combined non-target and target analyses revealed mean OPE concentrations of 111.94 ng/L in water and 8.76 ng/g in sediments. Spatially, total OPE concentrations increased progressively from upstream to downstream, with pronounced hotspots downstream of townships and near wastewater treatment facilities, indicating that rural domestic effluents and urban runoff, alongside agricultural activities, are critical contributors to OPE pollution in this watershed. Seasonally, concentrations of six legacy OPEs were significantly higher during the wet season. Furthermore, high-throughput phenotypic screening using Caenorhabditis elegans, combined with toxicological priority index analysis, showed that emerging OPEs generally pose higher integrated health and ecological risks, although certain legacy compounds, such as triphenyl phosphate, still display substantial toxic potential. These findings clarify the potential biological hazards of these compounds and provide baseline data on the fate of OPEs in riverine systems influenced by mixed agricultural and rural–urban anthropogenic activities. Full article

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15 pages, 2226 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Histidine Metabolic Pathway Modifies the Relationships Between 6:2 Cl-PFESA Exposure and Preterm Birth

by Jianping Cong, Chu Chu, Zhitao Zhang, Gaoyuan Sun, Yan Zhang, Aaron M. Qian, Michael G. Vaughn, Sarah Dee Geiger, Kun Zhao, Yunting Zhang, Yang Zhou, Zhihua Yin and Guanghui Dong

Toxics 2026, 14(2), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020142 - 30 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 730

Abstract

Background: Evidence linking chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids (Cl-PFESAs) to preterm birth (PTB) is limited, and their relationships with the metabolome remain unexplored. Aims: Our study aimed to explore the role of the metabolome in the associations between Cl-PFESAs exposure and PTB. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study in the Shenyang birth cohort, which included 206 spontaneous preterm birth cases and 206 full-term controls, matched for maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. We used conditional logistic regression models to analyze the associations between Cl-PFESAs exposure in umbilical cord blood and PTB. Moreover, the metabolomics of maternal blood (44 cases) between the preterm and control groups was analyzed using the interaction analysis. Results: We observed that a higher natural log-transformed 6:2 Cl-PFESA level was associated with greater odds of PTB in conditional multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models (OR = 1.738, 95% CI: 1.320, 2.287). The results of metabolomics pathway analysis showed that histidine metabolism pathways may modify the above risk. When stratified by histidine levels, the association between cord blood 6:2 Cl-PFESA and PTB was different. Conclusions: Intrauterine exposure to 6:2 Cl-PFESA was associated with increased PTB. Also, for the first time, our study illustrates that maternal plasma metabolite profiles may modify the associations of 6:2 Cl-PFESA with PTB. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the reproductive toxicity of 6:2 Cl-PFESA in pregnant women following exposure. Full article

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14 pages, 777 KB

Open AccessArticle

PM_2.5-Bound Organophosphate Esters and Childhood Sleep Disorders: Evidence from the Pearl River Delta Study

by Li-Ping Wang, Jun Huang, Yi-Wei Wang, Jiaxiang Dong, Yun-Ting Zhang, Wen-Wen Bao, Yang Zhou, Jing-Wen Huang, Li-Xia Liang, Muhammad Amjad and Pei-Pei Wang

Toxics 2026, 14(2), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020134 - 29 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1045

Abstract

Although particulate matter has been associated with sleep problems, the effects of PM_2.5-bound organophosphate esters (OPEs) on children’s sleep remain unclear. OPEs have neurotoxic and endocrine-disrupting effects that may disrupt sleep–wake regulation during neurodevelopment, supporting biological plausibility for sleep impacts. In this study, we quantified the individual and mixture effects of PM_2.5-bound OPEs on the sleep disorder domain. This cross-sectional study included 110,169 children aged 6–18 years from primary and secondary schools in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. Sleep disorders were evaluated using the validated Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Elastic net and mixed effect models identified specific OPE–sleep associations, while weighted quantile sum regression evaluated mixture effects. All odds ratios indicate a change in the likelihood of sleep disorders per interquartile range (IQR) increase in OPE concentrations. The strongest individual associations were observed for TDCIPP with short sleep duration (OR = 1.56–1.61; moderate association), TEHP with short sleep duration (OR = 1.59–1.64; moderate association), and TPHP with overall sleep disorder (OR = 1.32–1.42; modest association). Combined OPE exposure was positively associated with all sleep disorder domains (ORs = 2.02–2.85; moderate-to-large associations). These results indicate that inhaling PM_2.5-bound OPE mixtures could negatively impact children’s sleep health. This emphasizes a critical developmental period and highlights the importance of public health concerns related to emerging airborne contaminants. Full article

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17 pages, 1571 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ambient Air Pollution Exposure and Acute Osteoarthritis Exacerbations: A National Case-Crossover Analysis of 8 Million Outpatient Visits in China

by Chao Li, Hong Zhang, Wenhui Chang, Yunlong Song, Yuchen Zhang, Ping Chen, Hongwei Zhang, Ge Li and Shaowei Wu

Toxics 2026, 14(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14010001 - 19 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 771

Abstract

While the inflammatory properties of ambient air pollution may exacerbate osteoarthritis (OA), evidence on the population-level impact of multi-pollutant mixtures remains limited. This study quantifies the acute effects of short-term exposure to a complex mixture of six-criteria air pollutants on OA outpatient visits. In total, 8,146,141 OA visits from two national health insurance databases across 192 Chinese cities (2013–2017) were analyzed using a two-stage, time-stratified case-crossover design, combining conditional logistic regression with random-effects meta-analysis. The results showed that an interquartile range increase in the concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and CO was associated with significant increases in OA visits of 1.75%, 2.26%, 4.01%, 3.42%, 1.98%, and 1.87%, respectively. NO₂ and SO₂ demonstrated the strongest associations across OA subtypes. Multi-pollutant models confirmed that the risk of OA visits increased significantly under combined pollutant exposure. Population attributable fractions ranged from 2.15% for PM_2.5 to 6.41% for NO₂. This large-scale analysis provides novel evidence that transient exposure to complex pollution mixtures, rather than to individual pollutants, drives OA-related healthcare demand, with gaseous pollutants (NO₂/SO₂) being critical components. Our findings advocate for integrative air quality management strategies targeting co-emitted pollutants to mitigate OA exacerbations. Full article

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