Health Risks of Environmental Xenobiotics and Nanoparticles: From Molecular Mechanisms to Disease Associations

Abstract submission deadline

20 February 2027

Manuscript submission deadline

30 April 2027

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1811

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental xenobiotics and nanoparticles are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to ecological stability and disruptions in human homeostasis. These agents originate from various sources, such as wildfires, industrial activities, engine exhaust, tailings ponds, consumer products, agriculture, food chains, and air, water, or soil pollution, resulting in widespread human exposure throughout the lifespan. At the molecular level, xenobiotics and nanoparticles can disrupt cellular homeostasis through oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, immune dysregulation, and the loss of barrier functions in the lung, gastrointestinal lining, and blood–brain barrier. In addition, additive or synergistic impacts with various xenobiotics and nanoparticles may further amplify these effects. These early molecular and cellular perturbations, together with the capacity of biological systems to adapt, play critical roles in the initiation and progression of numerous diseases, including respiratory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic dysfunction, neurodegenerative conditions, cancers, and developmental abnormalities.

This Topic brings together interdisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanisms by which environmental xenobiotics and nanoparticles interact with environmental management, ecological or biological systems. Areas of interest include disruption of food chains, ecological stability, and impacts on health and disease, as well as strategies for remediation and improved management of air and water discharge. We invite studies ranging from molecular toxicology and biochemical pathways to environmental monitoring, exposure assessment, nanomaterial characterization, filtration and remediation technologies, and occupational or population-level health associations. By integrating contributions from toxicology, biomolecular sciences, nanomaterials research, atmospheric chemistry, environmental pollutants, and air and water quality fields, this Topic aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of exposure-related health risks within the exposome framework and to support the development of effective mitigation, regulatory, policy, and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Keith R. Brunt
Prof. Dr. Amany El-Sikaily
Dr. Jong Sung Kim
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Atmosphere atmosphere	2.6	5.4	2010	20.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Biomolecules biomolecules	5.6	9.3	2011	16.6 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Journal of Respiration jor	-	-	2021	44.4 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Journal of Xenobiotics jox	4.6	5.1	2011	14.9 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Molecules molecules	5.1	10.3	1996	15.6 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.8	10.3	2010	12.5 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Pollutants pollutants	3.7	5.2	2021	28.3 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Water water	3.5	6.7	2009	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Open AccessArticle

Potential Toxic Elements in Farm Soils and Vegetables of Northern Bangladesh: Impact on Soil Health and Human Safety

by Aninda Sarker, Supti Mallick, Minhaj Uddin, Ronzon Chandra Das, Md. Harun Rashid, Md. Shohidul Alam, Quazi Forhad Quadir and Md. Zakir Hossen

J. Xenobiotics 2026, 16(4), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox16040127 - 10 Jul 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 840

Abstract

Intensive vegetable production can increase the transfer of persistent toxic trace elements from agricultural soils into the food chain, particularly where agrochemical use, irrigation inputs, and local geochemical conditions are insufficiently characterized. This study was undertaken to assess toxic trace-metal contamination levels in [...] Read more.

Intensive vegetable production can increase the transfer of persistent toxic trace elements from agricultural soils into the food chain, particularly where agrochemical use, irrigation inputs, and local geochemical conditions are insufficiently characterized. This study was undertaken to assess toxic trace-metal contamination levels in soils and vegetables from two renowned vegetable-producing subdistricts—Shibganj and Kahaloo—in the Bogra district, Bangladesh. The study also estimated potential human health risks by evaluating the dietary intake of these elements. It measured Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr content in six vegetables and their respective farm soils using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The average concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr in farm soils of Shibganj and Kahaloo subdistricts were 158.3 ± 8.83, 31.5 ± 5.25, 0.43 ± 0.08, and 14.1 ± 2.16 µg g⁻¹ and 164.1 ± 4.60, 35.7 ± 6.91, 0.53 ± 0.14, and 9.37 ± 2.87 µg g⁻¹, respectively. Soils collected from all locations in both subdistricts of Bogra fall under ‘moderate’ ecological risk. Regarding the pollution load index (PLI), 66.7% of Shibganj and 75.0% of Kahaloo sampling sites had a PLI > 1.0, confirming that ‘metal pollution exists.’ Based on the calculated bioconcentration factors (BCFs), Cr and Cd show a high tendency to migrate from soil to various vegetables in the study area, though the mean Cd BCF for brinjal in Shibganj exceeded 1.0 due to a single high observation. The results demonstrated that the edible parts of potatoes, onions, and chilies accumulate significant amounts of toxic trace elements. The calculated mean daily intake of Pb and Cr in all vegetables ranged from 0.33 to 1.21 mg person⁻¹ day⁻¹ and from 0.10 to 0.64 mg person⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively, exceeding the upper tolerable intake limits. Similarly, dietary intake of potatoes showed both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, while brinjal showed only carcinogenic risks for adults. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicates that the measured soil parameters are strong predictors of the response variables (trace element content in various vegetables). Overall, the results identified Pb-dominated soil contamination and human exposure to Pb and Cr associated with vegetables as the principal concerns. To address these issues, priority actions should be given to source apportionment and testing of various agricultural inputs. Additionally, before implementing site-specific remediation or issuing consumption advisories, these risks should be validated through metal speciation and bioaccessibility analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Health Risks of Environmental Xenobiotics and Nanoparticles: From Molecular Mechanisms to Disease Associations)

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