Environmental health economics and genomics: government regulation, green finance, public health outcomes, and ELSI in gene-environment interactions

The intersection of environmental quality and economic productivity has become a central focus for global policymakers. However, with the rapid advancement of genomics and bioinformatics, the dialogue is shifting from general health outcomes to understanding how environmental exposures interact with human genetics, specifically through gene-environment interactions. As nations transition toward low-carbon economies, the health externality of energy consumption and industrial activities present significant genetics and economic challenges. Environmental health economics must now incorporate a genomic perspective to quantify how pollutants affect genome stability and hereditary health risks. While existing literature has explored macro-level correlations, there is an urgent need for research that addresses the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of using genomic data to guide environmental policy and green finance decisions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for decoupling economic growth from genetic degradation and ensuring equitable health outcomes.This research topic aims to bridge the gap between environmental economics and genomic science. We seek to foster a comprehensive dialogue on how innovative financial mechanisms, such as green credit and regulatory policies can mitigate not just general pollution, but specifically genotoxic risks and adverse epigenetic alterations. The primary goal is to evaluate the ELSI of integrating genomic data into public health policy and economic modeling. We aim to provide a platform for studies that use bioinformatics and AI to assess how environmental policies influence genetic health, and how policymakers can navigate the ethical complexities of genetic privacy and justice in the face of environmental risks.This research topic solicits original research articles that utilize rigorous empirical methods to explore the ELSI of environmental genomics. We welcome contributions that integrate genetics, economics, and policy analysis. We are particularly interested in manuscripts that address:• Gene-environment interaction and policy: Evaluating the impact of energy transitions and carbon-reduction policies on epigenetic markers and genetic susceptibility to diseases in diverse populations.• Green finance for genomic health: Investigating how green finance facilitates technological upgrades that reduce mutagenic and teratogenic risks in industrial zones.• Genomic data governance and justice: Assessing the ethical and legal implications of collecting and using genomic data to define environmental vulnerability. This includes discussions on genetic privacy, data ownership, and the risk of genetic discrimination in insurance or employment due to environmental exposure sensitivities.• AI and bioinformatics in environmental health: Utilizing machine learning to model the economic burden of environmentally induced genetic disorders and to predict the long-term human capital loss associated with genomic instability.• Sociogenomics and inequality: Assessing the distributive economic effects of environmental health risks across genetic ancestries and socioeconomic groups, focusing on health equity and justice. Topic editors: Da Gao, Huwei Wen, Xuan-Hoa Nghiem Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78800/environmental-health-economics-and-genomics-government-regulation-green-finance-public-health-outcomes-and-elsi-in-gene-environment-interactions