The increasingly serious environmental pollution threatens the sustainable development of society. Recently, it has been documented that metabolic diseases result from a combination of genetic determinants and environmental exposure (e.g., chemical, physical, and biological factors). Notably, there are certain limitations to understanding the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases from the genetic view. Hence, intensive risk control of external environmental factors is of great importance. Among the environmental factors, environmental pollutants, such as di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, were detected within the serum and urine of obese patients, suggesting a positive correlation between the concentration of environmental pollutants and the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. However, the deficiency of functional drug targets and the limited therapeutics of clinical drugs retard the prevention and control of these environmental pollutant-induced metabolic diseases. Therefore, we propose this Research Topic to fill in the research gap between environmental polluters and metabolic homeostasis, and promote the development of precise therapeutics against metabolic diseases.

This research topic aims to gain an insight into the connections between external environmental factors and metabolic diseases in both animal models and humans. With this goal, we want to elucidate the mechanism involved in disrupting the homeostasis of main metabolic organs and provide the corresponding strategies. Moreover, we focus on cutting-edge scientific advances in early biomarker identification and novel internal effectors for external environmental factors.

We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review on the sub-topics below regarding but not limited to the endocrine aspects disrupted by external environmental pollutants:
• Clinical and public health research in exposomics to identify novel environmental factors which trigger or facilitate metabolic diseases;
• Clinical and public health research in identifying early biomarkers and elucidating the correlations between external environmental pollutants (i.e., light, air pollutants, heavy metal pollutants, and environmental endocrine disruptors) and metabolic diseases (i.e., obesity, diabetes, and PCOS);
• Basic studies on the underlying molecular mechanism of external environmental pollutants facilitating the development of metabolic diseases;
• Pharmacological investigations in identifying the novel drugs that antagonize toxic and detrimental effects of external environmental pollutants on the metabolic homeostasis

Note:
Topic editor Dr. Shen Ning is employed by China Exposomics Institute (CEI) Precision Medicine Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China and declares no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic Subject.

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