Special Issue on “Heavy Metal Toxicity: Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment”

Exposure to toxic metals is a well-known problem in industrialized countries. Metals interfere with a number of physiological processes, including the central nervous system (CNS) and haematopoietic, hepatic and renal functions. This results in the development of numerous health disorders in humans. Although numerous studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanisms implicated in the toxicity of various metals, further studies are still needed in order to improve pharmacological treatments.

The Special Issue “Heavy Metal Toxicity: Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment” aimed to collect and present the most recent research on cellular and molecular alterations caused by exposure to heavy metals.

A total of fourteen papers (ten research papers and four review papers) in various fields of heavy metal toxicity, including metal pollution, bioindicators, environmental indicators, phytoremediation, epigenetics and detoxification therapies, are presented in this Special Issue.

Selvaggi et al. [1] developed a new technique for the passive monitoring of particulate matter exploiting olive pollen as a bioindicator.

Pretorius et al. [2] reported that the hatchability and survival of Lamproglena clariae is negatively affected by increased concentrations of Al. By removing this ectoparasite from living fish, the need to kill the host organism is eliminated, underscoring the utility of L. clariae as a bioindicator of metal pollution.

Sánchez Lara et al. [3] discussed the elemental composition and the level of environmental risk of heavy metals of selected medicinal plants. The extracts of these plants were investigated using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, and the studied plants were Croton dioicus and Phoradendron villosum, native to Mexico. Both plants showed high levels of Cu and Ni, while their extracts presented levels within the permissible range.

Windisch et al. [4] investigated the presence of toxic elements in sediment and water from the Crocodile River (West) system, an area heavily influenced by gold mining, indicating a risk of further and chronic mobilization of toxic elements from this site and a possible threat to the connected river system.

Macías et al. [5] used a variety of assessment tools, methods, and indices to evaluate lead contamination in soils and sediments in Aguascalientes, México. The results of the study indicated that soils and sediments were contaminated with Pb. Soils and sediments nearest to mining activity presented the highest geo accumulation index and metal enrichment factors.

In the study of Jakubus et al. [6], the effectiveness of the introduced substances (compost and fly ash) was assessed in terms of their influence on the content of Cu and Zn in the soil as well as their potential accumulation in the cultivated camelina and oat, and thus in food products prepared from these plants.

The study of Valiente et al. [7] was designed to determine the potential sources and concentration of heavy metals in sediments and greater flamingo tissues from a protected saline wetland in Central Spain.

Shimizu et al. [8] studied the cellular effects of silver nanoparticle suspensions on lung epithelial cells and macrophages.

Curcio et al. [9] reported morphological and molecular alterations induced by lead in Danio rerio embryos and larvae. The obtained results confirmed that both developmental stages are valuable early warning indicators of pollution and may play a major role in the monitoring of ecosystems and human health.

Merola et al. [10] determined the concentrations of certain heavy metals in the edible tissue of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta trutta) from two different rivers located in the Abruzzi region (Italy) and investigated the levels of variation in vitellogenin (VTG) associated with the presence of metalloestrogens. No significant difference in the concentrations of each metal was reported between the trout from the two rivers, and no significant difference for VTG levels was found between male and female fish. Furthermore, it was interesting to note that high concentrations of Al/Zn were found, while the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Hg in all of the samples were found to be lower than those established by the European Commission.

Zhou et al. [11] described new methods in the area of microbial-based heavy metal bioremediation. These techniques showed potential for the effective decontamination of soil and can significantly contribute to the protection of human and environmental health.

Genchi et al. [12] presented an overview of arsenic uses, toxicity, epigenetics, and detoxification therapies.

Furthermore, Genchi et al. [13] provided an update to general information about the uses and toxicity of thallium, focusing their attention on detoxification therapies.

Finally, the review from Genchi et al. [14] underlined the important role of Cr(III) for human health and the dangerousness of Cr(VI) as a toxic element. The opposite roles of this metal make it particularly interesting.

Although submissions for this Special Issue have been closed, the second volume of “Heavy Metal Toxicity: Risk Assessment for Human and Environmental Health” will allow for further exploration in this topic and development of other innovative research works addressing the relevant topics mentioned above.