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Toxics
Special Issues
Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms
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Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Pollution and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 7074

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ting Wang

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Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
Interests: environmental health; air pollution; particulate matter; risk assessment; exposure science; toxic effect and mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tingting Ku

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment and Resource Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
Interests: environmental health; air pollution; nanoparticles; exposure and toxicity identification; molecular mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jia Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: exposure modeling; particulate matter; oxidative potential; environmental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that almost all of the world's population breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits, posing a significant threat to human health. To understand mechanisms of the health effects caused by air pollution, accurate exposure assessments around ambient environments and inside human bodies from in vitro to in vivo studies need to be discovered. In addition, the linkage between ambient air pollutant exposure, air pollutant biomarkers in human bodies, and mechanisms of their action related to health effects needs to be further elucidated. In the Special Issue “Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms”, we aim to present a collection of original articles or reviews on the following topics:

  1. Exposure assessment: investigating ambient air pollutants at fine spatial and temporal scales.
  2. Identification of key components: identifying the critical components of air pollutants that affect human health.
  3. Mechanisms of action: exploring the biological and molecular mechanisms through which air pollutants influence health.
  4. Innovative toxicity assessment methods: developing new methodologies for determining the toxicity and health impacts of air pollutants.

Dr. Ting Wang
Dr. Tingting Ku
Dr. Jia Xu
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • air pollution
  • exposure assessment
  • epidemiological study
  • toxic mechanisms
  • key components
  • health effects

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

16 pages, 1946 KB  
Article
Inhibitory Effects of Aquadag, a Black Carbon Surrogate, on Microbial Growth via Surface-Mediated Stress: Evidence from Adenosine Triphosphate Assay
by Hwangyu Yoo, Saehee Lim, I Seul Cho, Haneul Im, Euna Lee, Siyoung Choi, Han-Suk Kim, Sohee Jeong and Younggyun Choi
Toxics 2025, 13(9), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090719 - 27 Aug 2025
Abstract
Black carbon (BC) from incomplete combustion sources including traffic emissions affects human health due to its physical characteristics and ubiquity in urban environments. We examined the effects of BC on microbial growth in the presence of particulate matter (PM), using Aquadag as a [...] Read more.
Black carbon (BC) from incomplete combustion sources including traffic emissions affects human health due to its physical characteristics and ubiquity in urban environments. We examined the effects of BC on microbial growth in the presence of particulate matter (PM), using Aquadag as a surrogate for BC. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis showed BC had a specific surface area of 123.2 m2 g−1, with over 90% of particles smaller than 100 nm, indicating strong surface interaction potential. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 was cultured for 7 days with various BC concentrations and fixed PM. Increasing BC (0–100 ng mL−1) significantly inhibited growth, evidenced by a decline in cellular adenosine triphosphate (cATP) with a slope of −1.296 ± 0.258 cATP ng mL−1/BC ng mL−1. The seven-day mean cATP slope ranged from 77 to 131, with control at 161. The biomass stress index (BSI) increased by 56%, rising from 28.6 ± 8.8% (control) to 44.6 ± 16.1% under high BC. The BSI change was minimal on day 1 (<+0.1% per BC ng mL−1) but greater on days 5 (+0.125 ± 0.052%) and 7 (+0.130 ± 0.075%). BC does not cause immediate microbial death, but prolonged exposure induces cumulative stress, damages synthetic enzymes, inhibits growth, and may lead to cell death, with potential public health implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)
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31 pages, 3109 KB  
Article
Spatial-Temporal Forecasting of Air Pollution in Saudi Arabian Cities Based on a Deep Learning Framework Enabled by AI
by Rafat Zrieq, Souad Kamel, Faris Al-Hamazani, Sahbi Boubaker, Rozan Attili and Marcos J. Araúzo-Bravo
Toxics 2025, 13(8), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080682 - 16 Aug 2025
Viewed by 430
Abstract
Air pollution is steadily increasing due to industrialization, economic activities, and transportation. High levels pose a significant threat to human health and well-being worldwide. Saudi Arabia is a growing country with air quality indices ranging from moderate to unhealthy. Although there are many [...] Read more.
Air pollution is steadily increasing due to industrialization, economic activities, and transportation. High levels pose a significant threat to human health and well-being worldwide. Saudi Arabia is a growing country with air quality indices ranging from moderate to unhealthy. Although there are many monitoring stations distributed throughout the country, mathematical modeling of air pollution is still crucial for health and environmental decision-making. From this perspective, in this study, a data-driven approach based on pollutant records and a Deep Learning (DL) Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm is carried out to perform temporal modeling of selected pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, CO and O3) based on time series combined with a spatial modeling focused on selected cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Rabigh, Abha, Dammam and Taif), covering ~48% of the total population of the country. The best forecasts were provided by LSTM in cases where the datasets used were of relatively large size. Numerically, the obtained performance metrics such as the coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 0.2425 to 0.8073. The best LSTM results were compared to those provided by two ensemble methods, Random Forest (RF) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), where the merits of LSTM were confirmed mainly in terms of its ability to capture hidden relationships. We also found that overall, meteorological factors showed a weak association with pollutant concentrations, with ambient temperature exerting a moderate influence. However, incorporating ambient temperature into LSTM models did not lead to a significant improvement in predictive accuracy. The developed approach can be used to support decision-making in environmental and health domains, as well as to monitor pollutant concentrations based on historical time series records. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)
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23 pages, 640 KB  
Article
Ambient Air Pollution and Semen Quality in China: A Nationwide Case-Control Study of 27,014 Males with Biomarker-Confirmed Semen Pathology
by Jianfeng Liu, Zhixiang Fang, Dongyue Chai, Zhipeng Zhu, Qunshan Shen and Xiaojin He
Toxics 2025, 13(4), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13040322 - 20 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 724
Abstract
Amidst China’s rapid industrialization and deteriorating air quality, emerging evidence suggests a parallel decline in male reproductive health. However, large-scale assessments of pollution-semen quality associations remain scarce. This nationwide multicenter study investigated these relationships among 27,014 Chinese men using high-resolution satellite-derived exposure estimates [...] Read more.
Amidst China’s rapid industrialization and deteriorating air quality, emerging evidence suggests a parallel decline in male reproductive health. However, large-scale assessments of pollution-semen quality associations remain scarce. This nationwide multicenter study investigated these relationships among 27,014 Chinese men using high-resolution satellite-derived exposure estimates (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, CO, and SO2) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), adjusting for key demographic confounders. A case-control study involving 5256 cases and 21758 controls used the exposure values of air pollutants 90 days prior to sperm collection for epidemiological exposure analysis reactions to obtain the association between sperm quality and air pollution. This study demonstrates significant associations between increased exposure to regional air pollutants and the risk of substandard semen quality in China. Key findings reveal NO2’s potential reproductive toxicity, showing a 79.7% increased risk of semen volume abnormalities per 11.34 µg/m3 exposure (OR = 1.797, 95% CI: 1.402–2.302). Susceptibility disparities emerged, with 16.4-fold greater PM2.5 sensitivity in obese individuals (OR = 1.121 vs. 1.007) and 133% higher PM10 risk in urban residents (OR = 1.342 vs. 1.006). Strikingly, SO2 exposure at 15% of the WHO 24 h average guideline (6.16 µg/m3) was associated with a 3.8% increase in abnormalities, indicating the challenge of the current safety thresholds. These findings highlight the need for policy reforms, including (1) incorporating reproductive health endpoints into air quality standards, (2) implementing antioxidant interventions for high-risk groups, and (3) strengthening traffic emission controls in urban planning. This study underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the impact of air pollution on male reproductive health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)
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16 pages, 1613 KB  
Article
Effect of Ozone Exposure on Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Mortality in the Elderly
by Tianyun Wang, Junlong Wang, Li Sun, Ye Deng, Yuting Xiang, Yuting Wang, Jiamei Chen, Wen Peng, Yuanyao Cui and Miao He
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030184 - 28 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1140
Abstract
Background: Ozone pollution has increased alongside China’s economic development, contributing to public health issues such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. At present, the problem of an aging population is aggravated, which is worth more attention in terms of the health problems of elderly [...] Read more.
Background: Ozone pollution has increased alongside China’s economic development, contributing to public health issues such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. At present, the problem of an aging population is aggravated, which is worth more attention in terms of the health problems of elderly people. Methods: This study employed a distributional lag nonlinear model (DLNM) with Poisson regression to analyze the impact of ozone on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease mortality among the elderly in Shenyang, China, from 2014 to 2018. In addition, a time-series generalized additive regression model (GAM) was used to analyze the joint effect between PM2.5 and ozone. Results: We found a positive correlation between ozone and mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the elderly. The maximum relative risk (RR) of mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases for every 10 μg/m3 increase in ozone was 1.005 (95% CI: 1.002–1.008). Males (RR: 1.018, 95% CI: 1.007–1.030), individuals in unconventional marital status (RR: 1.024, 95% CI: 1.011–1.038), and outdoor workers (RR: 1.017, 95% CI: 1.002–1.031) were more vulnerable to ozone pollution. This study did not find significant differences in the impact of ozone pollution on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease mortality risks among different educational groups. Additionally, a joint effect between ozone and PM2.5 was observed. Conclusion: This study confirms that ozone exposure is positively associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It emphasizes the joint effect of ozone and PM2.5 in exacerbating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)
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20 pages, 688 KB  
Article
Ambient Air Pollution and Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis
by Cuiyao Xie, Xi Xia, Kai Wang, Jie Yan, Lijun Bai, Liqiong Guo, Xiaoxue Li and Shaowei Wu
Toxics 2025, 13(2), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13020139 - 15 Feb 2025
Viewed by 2145
Abstract
Background: Previous epidemiological evidence regarding the associations between ambient air pollution and two major neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), remains inconclusive. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between long-term and short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM [...] Read more.
Background: Previous epidemiological evidence regarding the associations between ambient air pollution and two major neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), remains inconclusive. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between long-term and short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 (i.e., particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of, or smaller than, 2.5 μm or 10 μm), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide and the risks of AD and PD. Methods: A random-effects model was used to summarize individual effect estimates in the meta-analysis. A subgroup meta-analysis was further conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity. Results: In total, 42 eligible studies were included. For each 5 μg/m3 increase in long-term PM2.5 exposure, the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.16 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.30; I2 = 95%) and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.17; I2 = 95%) for AD and PD, respectively. For each 5 μg/m3 increase in short-term PM2.5 exposure, the OR was 1.01 (95% CI: 1.002, 1.01; I2 = 77%) for PD. For each 1 ppb increase in long-term NO2 exposure, the OR was 1.01 (95% CI: 1.0002, 1.02; I2 = 79%) for PD. Conclusion: Ambient air pollution, particularly PM2.5, may contribute to the increased risks of neurodegenerative diseases including AD and PD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)
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Review

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15 pages, 273 KB  
Review
Synergistic Toxicity of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone and Their Underlying Mechanisms
by Jing He, Tong Wang, Han Li, Yemian Zhou, Yun Liu and An Xu
Toxics 2025, 13(4), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13040236 - 24 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 885
Abstract
The co-occurrence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone has emerged as a critical environmental challenge in recent years. The individual harmful impacts of PM2.5 and ozone exposure have been well studied; however, their combined toxicity under co-exposure conditions remains [...] Read more.
The co-occurrence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone has emerged as a critical environmental challenge in recent years. The individual harmful impacts of PM2.5 and ozone exposure have been well studied; however, their combined toxicity under co-exposure conditions remains mechanistically undefined. This paper provides an extensive evaluation of the current pollution levels, epidemiological investigation, and new findings on the toxicological mechanisms of combined exposure to PM2.5 and ozone. The synergistic toxicity of PM2.5 and ozone depends on different factors, including the physicochemical properties of PM2.5, the dose and duration of exposure, and the specific target organs. Through extensive research, we identified the main targets of toxic responses to PM2.5 and ozone exposure and summarized their synergistic toxic mechanisms. Given the current research priorities, there is an urgent need to improve scientific research regarding PM2.5 and ozone co-exposure with priority given to characterizing their properties and toxicological responses while updating relevant guidelines and standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

11 pages, 2213 KB  
Brief Report
Acute PM2.5 Exposure in Distinct NSCLC Cell Lines Reveals Strong Oxidative Stress and Therapy Resistance Signatures Through Transcriptomic Analysis
by Aussara Panya, Saruda Thongyim, Pachara Sattayawat and Sahutchai Inwongwan
Toxics 2025, 13(6), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13060484 - 8 Jun 2025
Viewed by 805
Abstract
Acute PM2.5 exposure has been implicated in lung cancer progression, yet its impact on genetically distinct NSCLC cells remains underexplored. This study investigates how mutation-specific transcriptional responses influence susceptibility to PM2.5-induced oncogenic alterations, focusing on A549 and NCI-H1975 cells. This provides preliminary insight [...] Read more.
Acute PM2.5 exposure has been implicated in lung cancer progression, yet its impact on genetically distinct NSCLC cells remains underexplored. This study investigates how mutation-specific transcriptional responses influence susceptibility to PM2.5-induced oncogenic alterations, focusing on A549 and NCI-H1975 cells. This provides preliminary insight into the transcriptomic effects of acute PM2.5 exposure in NSCLC cells with distinct oncogenic mutations (A549 and NCI-H1975), serving as a guide for understanding mutation-specific responses to environmental stress. Cells were exposed to PM2.5 (200 µg/mL, 24 h), followed by RNA sequencing and analysis. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to identify key molecular alterations associated with tumour progression. NCI-H1975 cells exhibited a stronger transcriptional response, with a higher fold change in differentially expressed genes (DEGs), indicating greater PM2.5 susceptibility. Upregulated genes were linked to oxidative stress, carcinogen activation, metabolic reprogramming, and therapy resistance, reinforcing tumour survival under PM2.5 stress. Conversely, the downregulation of tumour suppressor genes suggests immune suppression and potential immunotherapy resistance. This study reveals that acute PM2.5 exposure induces mutation-specific transcriptomic alterations in NSCLC, with EGFR-mutant cells exhibiting heightened oxidative stress, metabolic shifts, and immune evasion. The upregulation of key genes highlights the profound molecular impact of short-term exposure, paving the way for future studies on pollution-driven oncogenic mechanisms and resistance pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unraveling the Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Assessments and Mechanisms)
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