Toxicological Challenges in Circular Economy and Material Reuse

The field of environmental toxicology is increasingly intersecting with the global shift towards a circular economy, where resource efficiency and material lifecycle extension are paramount. As industries and policymakers promote recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing to minimize environmental impact, questions arise about the toxicological implications of these strategies. Recent studies have highlighted how mechanical reprocessing, thermal and chemical treatments, as well as prolonged material use can alter chemical compositions, leading to the emergence of new contaminants or increasing the bioavailability of legacy substances. Notably, additives, nanomaterials, and previously inert compounds may become reactive or mobile during circular life stages, posing unknown risks to humans and ecosystems. These trends underscore gaps in the current toxicological assessment paradigms, which largely focus on pristine, single-use materials and do not account for dynamic transformations in circular processes. Despite growing awareness, a systematic understanding of real-world exposure scenarios, transformation products, and cumulative risks remains lacking, creating significant uncertainty for regulators and industry stakeholders striving to implement circularity without compromising health or environmental safety.This Research Topic aims to advance interdisciplinary understanding of the toxicological challenges posed by circular economy strategies and material reuse. The objective is to identify critical hazards, exposure pathways, and knowledge gaps associated with recycled, degraded, or remanufactured materials. By facilitating exchange between toxicologists, material scientists, exposure assessors, and policymakers, this initiative seeks to generate actionable evidence and methodological innovations that can inform the development of safer circular systems. Of particular interest are studies elucidating transformation mechanisms, exposure assessments reflecting real-life use cycles, and conceptual or regulatory frameworks capable of capturing the complexity of circular material flows.This Research Topic is focused on the toxicology of materials as they move through circular life cycles, encompassing both intentional reuse and the management of end-of-life products, but excluding traditional linear-use toxicology studies. The scope encourages interdisciplinary approaches that address the interface between safety, material innovation, and sustainability.We welcome contributions on, but not limited to, the following themes:- Toxicity of recycled, reused, aged, or degraded materials- Formation and identification of transformation products in recycling and end-of-life treatments- Release and exposure assessment of additives, impurities, or embedded substances- Nanomaterial and advanced material risks in circular applications- Development and validation of new assessment methodologies for circular systems- Real-world human and environmental exposure scenarios resulting from circular material use- Regulatory, policy, and methodological challenges in ensuring safety in circular economies- Case studies illuminating trade-offs or synergies between circularity and toxicological safetyThis Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methods papers. Interdisciplinary submissions that bridge toxicology, material science, exposure assessment, life-cycle analysis, or policy are especially encouraged, especially those relevant to practical applications and sustainable design. Topic editors: Lya G. Soeteman-Hernandez, Blanca Suarez-Merino Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77623/toxicological-challenges-in-circular-economy-and-material-reuse