Plastic-Derived Xenobiotics in Endocrine and Metabolic Disease

The rapid expansion of global plastic production has led to pervasive human exposure to plastic derived xenobiotics across the life course. Additives and byproducts associated with plastics, including bisphenols, phthalates, plasticizers, flame retardants, stabilizers, and oligomers, as well as nano and microplastic particles themselves, are increasingly recognized as contributors to endocrine and metabolic dysfunction. Emerging evidence links these exposures to insulin resistance, adipose tissue remodeling, beta cell stress, altered lipid handling, mitochondrial impairment, and heightened cardiometabolic risk. In addition, plastic particles may act as vectors for co-occurring contaminants, modifying bioavailability, immune activation, and tissue-specific responses.This Research Topic aims to consolidate mechanistic, translational, and population-level research examining how plastic derived xenobiotics influence endocrine regulation and metabolic health. We seek contributions that clarify causal pathways, characterize tissue distribution and biological persistence, identify vulnerable windows of exposure, and address the impact of chronic low dose and mixture exposures relevant to real world settings. Original Research and Review articles integrating experimental models, clinical investigations, and epidemiological studies are welcome. Subthemes of interest include, but are not limited to:• Molecular and endocrine mechanisms linking plastic associated chemicals to metabolic dysfunction, including nuclear receptor signaling, hormone disruption, mitochondrial impairment, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic regulation• Biological effects of nano and microplastics, including tissue distribution, immunometabolic responses, barrier integrity, and interactions with adsorbed contaminants• Developmental and transgenerational effects of early life plastic exposure within the DOHaD framework• Human biomonitoring and exposomic approaches connecting plastic related exposures with metabolic biomarkers and disease risk• Organ and systems level outcomes in liver, pancreas, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, cardiovascular tissues, and neuroendocrine circuits• Real world mixture effects of plastic additives and associated pollutants, including mixture modeling and causal inference strategies Topic editors: Rafael Moreno-Gómez-Toledano, D'Angelo Carlo Magliano, Rafael Ramirez Carracedo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78722/plastic-derived-xenobiotics-in-endocrine-and-metabolic-disease