About this Research Topic
Human biomonitoring for both general and working population has recently been brought to the forefront to assist evidence-based public health risk assessment, management and environmental measures. In this context, biomarkers serve as an important link between biomonitoring tools and understanding of mechanistic pathways connecting exposure to individual health risk/ clinical disease risk. Based on different strategies of measurement, biomarkers may reflect the exposure itself (biomarkers of exposure), the consequences of exposure (biomarkers of effect), and/or susceptibility (susceptibility biomarker) to predict the intensity of the effect.
Biomarkers of exposure may involve quantification of specific chemical residues and/or metabolites of xenobiotic compounds in different biological matrices taking into account the kinetics of the biomarkers of interest. In this sense, efforts have been made concerning the development and validation of new exposure biomarkers to identify human internal exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals by using novel techniques and approaches (targeted vs untargeted analysis) for biomarkers assessment, screening and identification of emerging pollutants and metabolites as well as using alternative matrices for human biomonitoring.
Furthermore, the use of effect biomarkers usually involves quantifiable changes in biochemical and/or physiologic parameters. Measurement of oxidative stress markers, cytogenetic endpoints, such as micronuclei induction, chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, has been classically used as effect biomarkers. In recent years however, biomarker discovery has involved use of more complex multi-omics approach, allowing the detection and quantification of different biomolecules (e.g. DNA methylation, mRNA, metabolites, proteins) allowing a better understanding of the more complex interactome.
Biomarkers of susceptibility, such as genetic polymorphism and metabolic phenotype, may also provide key information, reflecting intrinsic characteristics toward adverse effects of an exposure. Therefore, taken together, these strategies enable a better understanding of exposure and its effect on biological pathways across different forms of exposure, health changes, and disease development, providing more meaningful comprehensive risk assessment.
This Research Topic aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform and the authors are encouraged to contribute original research articles as well as review articles. Submissions providing empirical evidence from the existing human biomonitoring projects, covering the following topics are highly encouraged:
- Strategies to identify human internal exposure to chemicals;
- Evaluation of biomarkers of effect: from mechanisms to risk assessment;
- Occupational and environmental exposure assessment;
- Development of strategies to interpret and manage biomonitoring data;
- Across-the-board and other issues relevant to human biological monitoring.
Biomarkers of exposure may involve quantification of specific chemical residues and/or metabolites of xenobiotic compounds in different biological matrices taking into account the kinetics of the biomarkers of interest. In this sense, efforts have been made concerning the development and validation of new exposure biomarkers to identify human internal exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals by using novel techniques and approaches (targeted vs untargeted analysis) for biomarkers assessment, screening and identification of emerging pollutants and metabolites as well as using alternative matrices for human biomonitoring.
Furthermore, the use of effect biomarkers usually involves quantifiable changes in biochemical and/or physiologic parameters. Measurement of oxidative stress markers, cytogenetic endpoints, such as micronuclei induction, chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, has been classically used as effect biomarkers. In recent years however, biomarker discovery has involved use of more complex multi-omics approach, allowing the detection and quantification of different biomolecules (e.g. DNA methylation, mRNA, metabolites, proteins) allowing a better understanding of the more complex interactome.
Biomarkers of susceptibility, such as genetic polymorphism and metabolic phenotype, may also provide key information, reflecting intrinsic characteristics toward adverse effects of an exposure. Therefore, taken together, these strategies enable a better understanding of exposure and its effect on biological pathways across different forms of exposure, health changes, and disease development, providing more meaningful comprehensive risk assessment.
This Research Topic aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform and the authors are encouraged to contribute original research articles as well as review articles. Submissions providing empirical evidence from the existing human biomonitoring projects, covering the following topics are highly encouraged:
- Strategies to identify human internal exposure to chemicals;
- Evaluation of biomarkers of effect: from mechanisms to risk assessment;
- Occupational and environmental exposure assessment;
- Development of strategies to interpret and manage biomonitoring data;
- Across-the-board and other issues relevant to human biological monitoring.
Keywords: Biomarkers, Occupational Exposure, Environmental Exposure, Toxicology
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
