About this Research Topic

Background

Emerging environmental contaminants pose a significant threat to human health and the ecosystem as they cumulate in the system and may be integrated in the food chain or inhaled. The need for innovative toxicological methods and approaches to assess the risks associated with these contaminants has never been more pressing.

One of the key challenges in toxicology is keeping pace with the rapid rate at which new contaminants are being introduced into the environment. This is usually associated with development of advanced technologies or processes, such as in industry, traffic or production of new materials (e.g. overproduction of various synthetic polymers). Traditional toxicological methods may not always be suitable for assessing the toxicity of these emerging contaminants, as their mechanisms of action and impacts may be different from those of well-studied pollutants. Additionally, it was shown that nanosized particles may have a more negative impact than the larger ones and that these small particles are, in some cases, almost impossible to detect (e.g. nanoplastics). As such, there is a pressing need for the development of new and innovative approaches for studying the toxicity of these contaminants. The field of toxicology has evolved significantly in recent years, thanks to advancements in technology and increased awareness of the potential risks posed by environmental contaminants. Novel approaches, such as in vitro testing methods (moreover with improved cell models mimicking the target tissue), high-throughput screening, and computational toxicology, have revolutionized the way toxicologists evaluate the danger of chemicals. These methods offer faster and more cost-effective alternatives to traditional animal testing and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity. Furthermore, the emergence of omics technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, has enabled researchers to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of environmental contaminants. These tools allow for a more holistic approach to toxicology, as they provide a comprehensive view of the interactions between chemicals and biological systems at the molecular level. By integrating omics technologies with traditional toxicological methods, researchers can better predict the toxicity of new contaminants and identify potential biomarkers of exposure or effect.

This Research Topic aims to showcase the latest research in this field and highlight new tools and strategies to better understand the toxicity of emerging environmental pollutants. By bringing together cutting-edge research in toxicology, this Topic aims to shed light on the latest advances in the field and provide valuable insights into the assessment and regulation of emerging environmental contaminants. We hope that the contributions will facilitate the development of more effective strategies for protecting human and environmental health from the risks posed by these contaminants.

The scope of this Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following topics: advanced analytical techniques for detecting and quantifying emerging contaminants, novel in vitro and in vivo models for toxicity testing, computational toxicology approaches, mathematical models, 3D systems, organ-on-a-chip & microphysiological systems, in vitro – in vivo extrapolation, biomonitoring studies, omics techniques, and the development of biomarkers for assessing exposure and health effects.

Authors are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the theme of this special issue. Submissions should adhere to the journal's guidelines and will undergo a peer-review process before publication. We encourage contributions that push the boundaries of current toxicological methods and offer new insights into the risks associated with emerging environmental contaminants.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: environmental contaminants, emerging contaminants, risk assessment, 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.

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