New Methods and Approaches in Toxicology of Emerging Environmental Contaminants: Volume II

Building on the success of our first volume, this Research Topic continues to address one of the most pressing challenges in modern toxicology: understanding and evaluating the risks posed by emerging environmental contaminants. Since the publication of Volume 1, the field has continued to evolve rapidly, with new contaminants entering the environment and novel methodological advances offering increasingly powerful tools for their assessment.Emerging contaminants, including microplastics and nanoplastics, PFAS, tire wear particles, e-waste derivatives, and other synthetic compounds, continue to accumulate in ecosystems and biological systems at an alarming rate. Their capacity to integrate into food chains, be inhaled, or cross biological barriers makes them a critical concern for both human health and environmental integrity. At the same time, the complexity of real-world exposure scenarios, involving mixtures, combined routes of exposure, and vulnerable populations, demands approaches that go beyond traditional single-substance, single-endpoint testing.This second volume aims to capture the latest methodological advances and push the conversation further, with a particular focus on emerging technologies, cross-species and cross-endpoint applications, and the integration of new tools into regulatory frameworks. Special attention will be given to the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in predictive toxicology, the refinement of advanced in vitro systems, and the growing contribution of omics technologies to mechanistic understanding. The goal remains to bridge the gap between innovative methodologies and their practical application in risk assessment and regulatory decision-making, while promoting the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in toxicology testing.The scope of this Research Topic includes, but is not limited to: advanced analytical techniques for detecting and quantifying emerging contaminants; novel in vitro and in vivo models for toxicity testing; computational toxicology, mathematical models, and AI-driven approaches; 3D systems, organ-on-a-chip, and microphysiological systems; in vitro to in vivo extrapolation; mixture toxicology; biomonitoring studies; omics technologies; and the development of biomarkers for assessing exposure and health effects.We invite submissions of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address these themes and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the toxicological risks associated with emerging environmental contaminants. We particularly encourage contributions that build on or complement findings from Volume 1, and that offer new insights into the protection of human and environmental health. Topic editors: Martin Ezechias, Michal Sima, Jaroslav Semerád, Henri Hakkarainen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82621/new-methods-and-approaches-in-toxicology-of-emerging-environmental-contaminants-volume-ii