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Biomedicines
Special Issues
Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights
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Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 6937

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maaike van Gerwen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
Interests: environmental pollutants; endocrine disrupting chemicals; cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Angela M. Leung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Interests: thyroid disease; thyroid cancer; environmental thyroid disruptors
Dr. Luoping Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Interests: carcinogens; carcinogenesis; cancers in blood forming system; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well established that environmental exposure plays an important role in the development of diseases, including cancer. Humans are exposed on a daily basis to physical, chemical, biological, and radiological factors in the environment, including air, water, and soil, as well as in their diets and a variety of consumer products. The impact of exposure to these factors, individually or in combination, on human health requires further investigation. Furthermore, the impact of environmental exposure during vulnerable periods, including birth, childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy, is still poorly understood. Combining conventional with novel tools will accelerate advances in the field of environmental medicine, thus leading to new strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat a variety of diseases.

This Special Issue will provide molecular/cellular insights into the impact of environmental exposure on human diseases. The objective is to present a collection of papers representing the latest advances in the field of environmental medicine.

We therefore invite researchers to submit original papers or review articles which focus on the molecular/cellular study of this important topic.

Dr. Maaike van Gerwen
Dr. Angela M. Leung
Dr. Luoping Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental pollutants
  • contaminants
  • endocrine disruptors
  • heavy metal exposure
  • petrochemical pollution
  • microplastics
  • environmental medicine
  • human diseases
  • cancer
  • epigenetics
  • omics
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2621 KiB  
Article
Gender-Specific Effects on the Cardiorespiratory System and Neurotoxicity of Intermittent and Permanent Low-Level Lead Exposures
by Liana Shvachiy, Ângela Amaro-Leal, Filipa Machado, Isabel Rocha, Tiago F. Outeiro and Vera Geraldes
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040711 - 22 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1432
Abstract
Lead exposure is a significant health concern, ranking among the top 10 most harmful substances for humans. There are no safe levels of lead exposure, and it affects multiple body systems, especially the cardiovascular and neurological systems, leading to problems such as hypertension, [...] Read more.
Lead exposure is a significant health concern, ranking among the top 10 most harmful substances for humans. There are no safe levels of lead exposure, and it affects multiple body systems, especially the cardiovascular and neurological systems, leading to problems such as hypertension, heart disease, cognitive deficits, and developmental delays, particularly in children. Gender differences are a crucial factor, with women’s reproductive systems being especially vulnerable, resulting in fertility issues, pregnancy complications, miscarriages, and premature births. The globalization of lead exposure presents new challenges in managing this issue. Therefore, understanding the gender-specific implications is essential for developing effective treatments and public health strategies to mitigate the impact of lead-related health problems. This study examined the effects of intermittent and permanent lead exposure on both male and female animals, assessing behaviours like anxiety, locomotor activity, and long-term memory, as well as molecular changes related to astrogliosis. Additionally, physiological and autonomic evaluations were performed, focusing on baro- and chemoreceptor reflexes. The study’s findings revealed that permanent lead exposure has more severe health consequences, including hypertension, anxiety, and reactive astrogliosis, affecting both genders. However, males exhibit greater cognitive, behavioural, and respiratory changes, while females are more susceptible to chemoreflex hypersensitivity. In contrast, intermittent lead exposure leads to hypertension and reactive astrogliosis in both genders. Still, females are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment, increased respiratory frequency, and chemoreflex hypersensitivity, while males show more reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus. Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of not only investigating different types of lead exposure but also considering gender differences in toxicity when addressing this public health concern. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights)
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Review

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20 pages, 696 KiB  
Review
Does Bisphenol A (BPA) Exposure Cause Human Diseases?
by T. Peter Stein
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2678; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122678 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 307
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), polycystic ovary disease (PCOS), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have all been linked to exposure to bisphenol A (BPA). Methods: This paper is a review and discussion of the published literature. Results: Animal [...] Read more.
Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), polycystic ovary disease (PCOS), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have all been linked to exposure to bisphenol A (BPA). Methods: This paper is a review and discussion of the published literature. Results: Animal studies have shown BPA to be a broad-spectrum endocrine disruptor. BPA is metabolized via the glucuronidation pathway, which involves the addition of glucose to the target molecule, and is catalyzed by uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Evidence of compromised glucuronidation has been found for ASD, DHD, PD, and PCOS. Genetic polymorphisms that alter the catalytic activity of the UGTs and efflux transporters involved are common. There are two ways to interpret the findings of associations between BPA glucuronidation efficiency and disease, a ‘direct’ pathway and an ‘indirect’ pathway. With the ‘direct’ pathway, free BPA is the actual causative agent. Compromised BPA detoxification leads to higher concentrations of free BPA in vulnerable tissues. Decreased BPA detoxification leads to increased exposure of vulnerable tissues to free BPA, where it can function as an endocrine disruptor. With the ‘indirect’ pathway, BPA is not the causative agent. BPA serves as a marker for the decreased glucuronidation efficiency of another unknown compound of endogenous origin detoxified by a similar combination of UGTs and efflux transporters as BPA. It is this compound(s), acting as an endocrine disruptor, that leads to a metabolic environment that favors disease development over an extended time period. Conclusion: A review of the existing literature supports the indirect ‘marker’ hypothesis over the ‘direct’ hypothesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights)
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20 pages, 1631 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Environmental Factors on the Development of Autoimmune Thyroiditis—Review
by Wojciech Cyna, Aleksandra Wojciechowska, Weronika Szybiak-Skora and Katarzyna Lacka
Biomedicines 2024, 12(8), 1788; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12081788 - 7 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1686
Abstract
Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is the most common autoimmune disease. It most often manifests itself as hypothyroidism but may also present with euthyroidism or even hyperthyroidism. The etiopathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis is still unclear. However, in addition to genetic and epigenetic factors, many [...] Read more.
Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is the most common autoimmune disease. It most often manifests itself as hypothyroidism but may also present with euthyroidism or even hyperthyroidism. The etiopathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis is still unclear. However, in addition to genetic and epigenetic factors, many environmental factors are known to increase the risk of developing AIT. In this review, we aimed to collect and analyze data connected with environmental factors and autoimmune thyroiditis development. Our review indicates iodine intake, vitamin D deficiency, selenium deficiency, viral infections caused by Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV), Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19), Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), bacterial infection caused by Helicobacter pylori, microbiome disruption, medications such as interferon-alpha and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as well as stress, climate, and smoking can influence the risk of the occurrence of autoimmune thyroiditis. Having knowledge of risk factors allows for making changes to one’s diet and lifestyle that will reduce the risk of developing the disease and alleviate the course of autoimmune thyroiditis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights)
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17 pages, 2996 KiB  
Review
Should Pregnant Women Consume Probiotics to Combat Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical-Induced Health Risks to Their Unborn Offspring?
by Cheryl S. Rosenfeld
Biomedicines 2024, 12(8), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12081628 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1342
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become so pervasive in our environment and daily lives that it is impossible to avoid contact with such compounds, including pregnant women seeking to minimize exposures to themselves and their unborn children. Developmental exposure of humans and rodent models [...] Read more.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become so pervasive in our environment and daily lives that it is impossible to avoid contact with such compounds, including pregnant women seeking to minimize exposures to themselves and their unborn children. Developmental exposure of humans and rodent models to bisphenol A (BPA) and other EDCs is linked to increased anxiogenic behaviors, learning and memory deficits, and decreased socio-sexual behaviors. Prenatal exposure to BPA and other EDCs leads to longstanding and harmful effects on gut microbiota with reductions in beneficial bacteria, i.e., gut dysbiosis, and such microbial changes are linked to host changes in fecal metabolites, including those involved in carbohydrate metabolism and synthesis, and neurobehavioral alterations in adulthood, in particular, social and cognitive deficits. Gut dysbiosis is increasingly being recognized as a key driver of a myriad of diseases, ranging from metabolic, cardiovascular, reproductive, and neurobehavioral disorders via the gut-microbiome–brain axis. Thus, EDCs might induce indirect effects on physical and mental health by acting as microbiome-disrupting chemicals. Findings raise the important question as to whether pregnant women should consume a probiotic supplement to mitigate pernicious effects of EDCs, especially BPA, on themselves and their unborn offspring. Current studies investigating the effects of maternal probiotic supplementation on pregnant women’s health and that of their unborn offspring will be reviewed. Data will inform on the potential application of probiotic supplementation to reverse harmful effects of EDCs, especially BPA, in pregnant women unwittingly exposed to these compounds and striving to give their offspring the best start in life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights)
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47 pages, 1055 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Association between Exposure to Flame Retardants and Thyroid Function
by Brandon Yeshoua, Horacio Romero Castillo, Mathilda Monaghan and Maaike van Gerwen
Biomedicines 2024, 12(6), 1365; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12061365 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1146
Abstract
Flame retardants have been shown to cause widespread physiological effects, in particular on endocrine organs such as the thyroid. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the association between flame retardants and thyroid function within humans. A search in [...] Read more.
Flame retardants have been shown to cause widespread physiological effects, in particular on endocrine organs such as the thyroid. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the association between flame retardants and thyroid function within humans. A search in the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health PubMed database through January 2024 yielded 61 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently analyzed flame retardants across all thyroid hormones were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in particular BDE-47 and BDE-99. Ten studies demonstrated exclusively positive associations between flame retardants and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Six studies demonstrated exclusively negative associations between flame retardants and TSH. Twelve studies demonstrated exclusively positive associations for total triiodothyronine (tT3) and total thyroxine (tT4). Five and eight studies demonstrated exclusively negative associations between flame retardants and these same thyroid hormones, respectively. The effect of flame retardants on thyroid hormones is heterogeneous; however, the long-term impact warrants further investigation. Vulnerable populations, including indigenous people, individuals working at e-waste sites, firefighters, and individuals within certain age groups, such as children and elderly, are especially critical to be informed of risk of exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Human Diseases—Molecular Insights)
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