Environmental Factors, Epigenetics, and Reproductive Health

Evidence linking reproductive and developmental disorders to environmental exposures continues to grow. In human populations, the majority of studies point towards an association between exposure to environmental risk factors and male and/or female reproductive disorders and developmental disorders, such as infertility, testicular cancer, poor sperm quality and/or function, breast cancer, endometriosis, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, macrosomia, and birth defects. Exposure during pregnancy to toxic environmental factors has profound and enduring effects on reproductive health throughout the lifespan. The developmental origins of adult reproductive dysfunction are associated with environmental risk factors and abnormal epigenetic modifications. After fertilization, plenty of epigenetic modifications occur, erasing the parental epigenetic markers while establishing new markers in the totipotent zygote. The environment, including exposure to toxicants and pollution, can influence future generations through epigenetics. Early embryonic and various other stages of fetal development are vulnerable reprogramming periods, leading to an increased risk of adult diseases. It is important to protect patients from hazardous exposures prior to conception since we know that the level of hazardous exposures can persist in the parent's body and can have lasting effects on the health of the child even long after the removal of parental exposure.

Exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors can impact reproductive health. Epigenetic changes might serve as potential biomarkers of reproductive and developmental disorders induced by environmental exposure. Some specific issues about epigenetic modifications have waited for answers. In this Research Topic, we aim to collect articles focusing on the causal relationship and molecular mechanism of reproductive and developmental disorders induced by environmental risk factors. Additionally, we welcome recent advances, current challenges, novel developments, latest discoveries, and future perspectives in the field of Environmental Factors and Reproductive and Developmental Health.

We welcome article types of Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Systematic Reviews on the following themes, including but not limited to:
• Air pollution and reproductive health
• Environmental chemicals and reproductive health
• Epigenetic changes of reproductive disorders due to environmental exposure
• Epigenetic changes of developmental disorders due to environmental exposure
• Epigenetics and reproductive health
• Identification of biomarkers of environmental exposure and adverse health effect with high-throughput techniques
• Molecular mechanism of reproductive and developmental disorders induced by environmental exposure
• Transgenerational effect of early life exposure to environmental risk factors