Exposure to mineral particles and fibres causes respiratory diseases and malignancies, mainly in occupational settings. Though the incidence of occupational lung disease has decreased in many countries, exposure to asbestos, silica, and other mineral dusts is responsible for 25% of all occupational lung diseases. Furthermore, new environmental hazard may arise from emerging pollutants (EP) such waterborne asbestos and asbestos-like minerals. Diseases associated with unexpected sources, and non-conventional exposure scenarios require new strategies for risk assessment, monitoring, and mitigation. The development of eco-exposome(s), the new frontier for assessing the effects of multiple exposures to chemicals, requires, for inorganic particles and fibres, an integrated strategy for bridging minero-chemical properties to hazard assessment.
To design an integrated occupational and environmental strategy for health hazard assessment and control, the toxicity paradigms for airborne toxic particles have to be extended to the whole realm of inorganic dusts also in non-conventional exposure scenarios. To tackle this challenge, we must advance our knowledge on the complex interplay established by inorganic particles and biological environments. In parallel, new exposure scenarios of well-known or poorly described inorganic dusts, e.g., asbestos or celestial dusts, should be investigated in terms of adequate risk assessment, monitoring, and mitigation strategies.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in all aspects of toxic or potentially toxic inorganic particles and fibres from an interdisciplinary point-of-view, welcoming contributions from chemistry, geology, medicine, and industrial hygiene fields. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Studies focusing on chemical and physical properties of inorganic particles and fibres and their influence on the bio-interactions and toxicity mechanisms;
• Novel chemistry approaches for inorganic dust monitoring and mitigation;
• Inorganic particle and fibre mineralogical definition, including regulatory aspects;
• Inorganic particle and fibre risk assessment, migration, transport, and fate in natural and occupational environments;
• Mechanistic studies on non-conventional scenarios, including volcanic ashes, celestial dusts, dusts from large construction sites, and general composite dust.
Exposure to mineral particles and fibres causes respiratory diseases and malignancies, mainly in occupational settings. Though the incidence of occupational lung disease has decreased in many countries, exposure to asbestos, silica, and other mineral dusts is responsible for 25% of all occupational lung diseases. Furthermore, new environmental hazard may arise from emerging pollutants (EP) such waterborne asbestos and asbestos-like minerals. Diseases associated with unexpected sources, and non-conventional exposure scenarios require new strategies for risk assessment, monitoring, and mitigation. The development of eco-exposome(s), the new frontier for assessing the effects of multiple exposures to chemicals, requires, for inorganic particles and fibres, an integrated strategy for bridging minero-chemical properties to hazard assessment.
To design an integrated occupational and environmental strategy for health hazard assessment and control, the toxicity paradigms for airborne toxic particles have to be extended to the whole realm of inorganic dusts also in non-conventional exposure scenarios. To tackle this challenge, we must advance our knowledge on the complex interplay established by inorganic particles and biological environments. In parallel, new exposure scenarios of well-known or poorly described inorganic dusts, e.g., asbestos or celestial dusts, should be investigated in terms of adequate risk assessment, monitoring, and mitigation strategies.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in all aspects of toxic or potentially toxic inorganic particles and fibres from an interdisciplinary point-of-view, welcoming contributions from chemistry, geology, medicine, and industrial hygiene fields. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Studies focusing on chemical and physical properties of inorganic particles and fibres and their influence on the bio-interactions and toxicity mechanisms;
• Novel chemistry approaches for inorganic dust monitoring and mitigation;
• Inorganic particle and fibre mineralogical definition, including regulatory aspects;
• Inorganic particle and fibre risk assessment, migration, transport, and fate in natural and occupational environments;
• Mechanistic studies on non-conventional scenarios, including volcanic ashes, celestial dusts, dusts from large construction sites, and general composite dust.
