Food Contaminants: From Analytical Detection and Human Exposure to Toxicological Mechanisms

Dear Colleagues,

Food contaminants represent a persistent global public health concern. A broad spectrum of toxic substances, including PFAS, micro- and nanoplastics, food contact material migrants, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and emerging foodborne xenobiotics, can enter the food chain during agricultural production, food processing, transportation and storage. Chronic dietary exposure to these pollutants may trigger multiple adverse health outcomes such as inflammation, metabolic disturbance, immune dysfunction and carcinogenesis.

Reliable analytical methodology is the foundation for contamination surveillance and risk control. Meanwhile, human biomonitoring, dietary exposure modelling and population-based epidemiological evidence are critical to translate laboratory toxicological data into real-world health risks. Nevertheless, multiple research gaps remain: sensitive high-throughput detection techniques for trace contaminants and modified metabolites; population exposure parameters suitable for different regions; combined exposure risks of contaminant mixtures; and the molecular and immunological mechanisms underlying chronic toxicity.

This Special Issue aims to build an integrated research platform bridging analytical chemistry, exposure science and toxicology. We welcome original research articles, short communications and comprehensive reviews focusing on the whole research chain of food contaminants: from innovative detection strategies and human exposure characterisation to in vitro/in vivo toxicological exploration and mechanism interpretation. Studies combining population biomonitoring, animal models and cellular molecular research are particularly encouraged.

We invite contributions covering, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Occurrence survey of contaminants in food matrices and human biological samples (urine, plasma, etc.);
• Dietary exposure assessment, exposure parameter research, biomonitoring, and correlation analysis between internal exposure biomarkers and disease indicators;
• Single and combined toxic effects of food contaminants: cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, organ toxicity, and carcinogenicity;
• Toxic mechanisms at cellular and molecular levels: endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, immune microenvironment remodelling, and tumour-promoting pathways;
• In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo toxicological verification using cell lines and animal models;
• Risk characterisation, regulatory implication and preventive strategies for food contaminants.

Dr. Song Yu
Dr. Bingxuan Jia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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