Environmental Exposure and Health Risks for Vulnerable Populations

Abstract submission deadline

31 August 2026

Manuscript submission deadline

31 October 2026

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Individuals differ in their susceptibility to environmental exposure, with susceptible subgroups such as pregnant women, fetuses, children, adolescents, and frail populations facing heightened health threats due to their increased vulnerability. Rigorously designed epidemiological, toxicological, and clinical studies are critical to establishing scientific inference, unraveling the mechanisms linking environmental exposure to health risks in these populations, and providing evidence for addressing environmental health inequalities. This Topic focuses on environmental exposure and health risks in vulnerable populations. It considers the growing complexity of environmental contaminants, with combined risks from traditional and emerging pollutants posing persistent threats to susceptible groups. We welcome original research, reviews, commentaries, and short communications addressing these challenges, with topics including (but not limited to) the following:

• Public health and health impact assessment and environmental epidemiology;
• Environmental risk assessments and management.

Dr. Mingyang Wu
Dr. Yanling Deng
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ijerph	-	8.5	2004	27.8 Days	CHF 2500	Submit
Journal of Xenobiotics jox	4.4	6.0	2011	27.6 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Toxics toxics	4.1	6.4	2013	18.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Children children	2.1	3.8	2014	15.6 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Metabolites metabolites	3.7	6.9	2011	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All IJERPH JoX Toxics Children Metabolites Sustainability

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Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 116 KB)

11 pages, 251 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Bisphenol A Levels in Pasteurized Milk Marketed in Plastic Packaging and Associated Health Risk Assessment: A Pilot Study

by El Amine Cheroual, Khatima Mezhoud, Ilaria Neri, Ouahiba Hadjoudj and Lucia Grumetto

J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(6), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15060180 - 1 Nov 2025

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Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen widely used in the manufacture of food packaging materials, raising concerns due to its potential migration into food products. This study aims to determine BPA levels in pasteurized milk marketed in Algeria, using an easy-to-handle and [...] Read more.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen widely used in the manufacture of food packaging materials, raising concerns due to its potential migration into food products. This study aims to determine BPA levels in pasteurized milk marketed in Algeria, using an easy-to-handle and efficient liquid–liquid extraction method coupled with liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. A total of 30 pasteurized milk samples packaged in plastic were analyzed. The method validation demonstrated excellent linearity, with a limit of detection of 3.76 µg/L and a limit of quantification of 11.40 µg/L. Among the analyzed samples, 17 contained detectable BPA levels, ranging from not detectable to 24.07 µg/L, with an average concentration of 3.77 ± 5.77 µg/L, compliant with European regulation. The health risk assessment, based on estimated chronic daily intake and hazard index, indicated no significant risk associated with BPA exposure through milk consumption in the studied population. Additionally, the estrogenic equivalence of BPA in milk was 6.032 × 10⁻⁵ µgE₂/L, confirming a low estrogenic activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Exposure and Health Risks for Vulnerable Populations)

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24 pages, 1139 KB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Honey: A Systematic Review of Occurrence, Concentrations, and Health Risk Assessment

by Wenting Li and Surat Hongsibsong

J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(6), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15060179 - 1 Nov 2025

Viewed by 253

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic pollutants produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels and biomass. They are highly persistent and can accumulate in the food chain. Honey, a natural product susceptible to atmospheric deposition, has recently been recognized as an important bioindicator [...] Read more.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic pollutants produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels and biomass. They are highly persistent and can accumulate in the food chain. Honey, a natural product susceptible to atmospheric deposition, has recently been recognized as an important bioindicator for monitoring environmental pollution. This systematic review examined 29 articles published from 2000 to 2025 analyzing the global presence, concentrations, and potential health risks of PAHs in honey. Results showed that the sum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ΣPAHs) concentrations in honey ranged from below the detection limit to 166.83 µg/kg. Higher levels were observed in urban and industrial areas. Seventeen studies analyzed 16 PAHs prioritized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) being the most frequently detected, a highly toxic compound. Although most samples met international food safety standards, levels exceeding European regulatory limits were detected in some areas, raising concerns about local health risks. The results of this study emphasize the need for standardized analytical methods and routine monitoring to more accurately assess the exposure risk of PAHs in honey. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Exposure and Health Risks for Vulnerable Populations)

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Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 3513 KB)

16 pages, 1115 KB  

Open AccessStudy Protocol

INdoor Home Air Level Exploration (INHALE) Study: Protocol to Monitor Indoor Pollution in British Dwellings

by Thiphanie P. Riveron, Rebecca L. Cordell and Anna L. Hansell

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(11), 1635; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111635 - 27 Oct 2025

Viewed by 360

Abstract

Knowledge on indoor air pollution exposure is limited. Collecting high-quality measurements in home environments is challenging, owing to the complexity of sampling options, the cost and limiting disturbance to occupants. The protocol developed for the INdoor Home Air Level Exploration (INHALE) study is [...] Read more.

Knowledge on indoor air pollution exposure is limited. Collecting high-quality measurements in home environments is challenging, owing to the complexity of sampling options, the cost and limiting disturbance to occupants. The protocol developed for the INdoor Home Air Level Exploration (INHALE) study is designed to balance these factors by sampling indoor pollution as comprehensively as possible for a single week in the living room using non-obtrusive low-moderate cost sampling devices that are issued with easy-to-follow instructions, minimising the need for researcher visits. Indoor air pollutants included in the INHALE study were selected owing to their potential impacts on human health; these include volatile organic compounds, fungal spores, fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and ozone. Relevant indoor factors will also be monitored, such as temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide, as a proxy for ventilation, while questionnaires collect relevant information on local environment, building characteristics and participant activities, culture and social and economic status. The protocol for the INHALE study is suitable for exposure, epidemiology and intervention studies. It contributes to the development of standardised indoor sampling protocols that can be used at scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Exposure and Health Risks for Vulnerable Populations)

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23 pages, 4375 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Neonicotinoids and Neurobehavioral Development in Preschool Children from South China: A Biomonitoring-Based Study

by Yixiang Zhou, Yong Wang, Zhan Huang, Wanting Xiao, Yujie He, Hui Guo, Wen Chen, Siqi Ai, Liecheng Hong, Lei Lu, Jianyong Lu, Chuanwen Li, Ziquan Lv and Qing Wang

Toxics 2025, 13(10), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13100872 - 14 Oct 2025

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Abstract

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs), one of the most widely used pesticide classes worldwide, have raised concerns due to potential neurotoxic effects. Yet evidence on human exposure and health outcomes, particularly in preschool children, remains limited. In this study, 506 children aged 3–6 years from [...] Read more.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs), one of the most widely used pesticide classes worldwide, have raised concerns due to potential neurotoxic effects. Yet evidence on human exposure and health outcomes, particularly in preschool children, remains limited. In this study, 506 children aged 3–6 years from Shenzhen, China, were assessed. Neurobehavioral development was evaluated with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and urinary concentrations of 11 NEOs were measured, including imidacloprid (IMI), clothianidin (CLO), thiamethoxam (THM), dinotefuran (DNT), nitenpyram (NIT), sulfoxaflor (SFX), acetamiprid (ACE), thiacloprid (THD), flonicamid (FLO), 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CINA), N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (NACE), and N-desmethyl-thiamethoxam (NTHM). Seven compounds showed high detection rates, including IMI (97.4%), CLO (100%), THM (100%), DNT (99.8%), NIT (99.8%), NACE (100%), and NTHM (99.8%). The mean urinary concentration was 234.145 μg/g creatinine, exceeding levels in earlier studies and indicating widespread exposure. IMI, NTHM, and NACE showed significant positive dose–response relationships with emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, and total difficulties and were major contributors in mixture models; sex-stratified analyses suggested effect modification for NTHM and NACE. These findings provide new epidemiological evidence to inform public health risk assessment and regulatory action on NEOs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Exposure and Health Risks for Vulnerable Populations)

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18 pages, 2238 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Discovery of Novel N-[(dimethylamino)methylene]thiourea (TUFA)-Functionalized Lignin for Efficient Cr(VI) Removal from Wastewater

by Haixin Wang, Tao Shen, Yiming Wang, Zongxiang Lv, Yu Liu, Juan Wu, Tai Li, Shui Wang and Yanguo Shang

Toxics 2025, 13(9), 759; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090759 - 7 Sep 2025

Viewed by 569

Abstract

This study developed a novel adsorbent for Cr (VI) removal from wastewater by grafting N-[(dimethylamino)methylene]thiourea (TUFA) onto lignin. The resulting TUFA-functionalized lignin adsorbent AL was comprehensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray [...] Read more.

This study developed a novel adsorbent for Cr (VI) removal from wastewater by grafting N-[(dimethylamino)methylene]thiourea (TUFA) onto lignin. The resulting TUFA-functionalized lignin adsorbent AL was comprehensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Batch adsorption experiments systematically evaluated the influence of solution pH, contact time, temperature, initial Cr (VI) concentration, and adsorbent dosage. AL exhibited high adsorption capacity (593.9 mg g⁻¹ at 40 °C), attributed to its abundant nitrogen and sulfur-containing functional groups. Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Equilibrium isotherm data were best described by the Langmuir model, indicating predominant monolayer chemisorption. Thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that Cr (VI) adsorption onto AL is spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-driven. The adsorption mechanism involves membrane diffusion and intra-particle diffusion processes. This work successfully synthesized a stable, effective, and low-cost adsorbent (AL) using an amine agent incorporating both nitrogen and sulfur functional groups, offering a promising approach for treating Cr (VI)-contaminated wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Exposure and Health Risks for Vulnerable Populations)

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