Development of Protective Therapies Facing Toxic Environmental Exposures

Dear Colleagues,

Humans are exposed to numerous chemicals present in air, soil, water, and food that can have specific toxic effects. Many pathologies have been associated with environmental exposures, and significant evidence exists for the contribution of pollutants to certain chronic conditions, such as neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases, and various types of cancer. Short-term health consequences of exposure to air pollution (respiratory and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations/mortality) are also well established. Importantly, recognizing the risk of multiple exposures to toxic agents over the course of lifetimes, even in discontinuous and veiled ways, adds value to potential protective interventions.

Environmental regulations and exposure avoidance may not be effective to defend populations from low-dose exposures to toxicants and mixtures, and novel strategies are needed to address the health effects of environmental pollution and the growth of chronic diseases across the globe. We invite investigators to contribute original research articles that could stimulate continuing efforts to understand the health effects of environmental toxicants and develop nutraceutical or drug-based therapies to protect exposed populations and individuals at risk. Review articles are also welcome, although the subject should be agreed in advance to prevent overlapping topics.

Topics of interest for this Topic Collection include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Human exposure to environmental toxicants (e.g., heavy metals and air particulate matter) and health outcomes;

-Influence of route of exposure, dose, and individual susceptibility factors, especially if contributing to the design of biomonitoring programs or personalized interventions;

-Cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of organic and metal toxicants, especially if giving support to protective approaches, for example, by identifying biomarkers;

-Biochemical action of drugs or dietetic compounds (vitamins, polyphenols, etc.) on conditions related to environmental stressors, including radiation and smoking;

-Nutritional, pharmacological, or any chemical-based interventions targeting pathological effects of environmental and occupational toxicant exposures;

-Methodologies to investigate the health effects of chemical pollutants and protective strategies.

Dr. Ricardo Lagoa
Dr. Mário Diniz
Topic Editors