Back to the Future: Lessons Learned from Nanosafety Research

This Research Topic is proposed in association with the “Living and Working in Health Promoting Environment” workshop held in Rome, Italy, on June 9th-10th, 2023. The workshop is organized by Luisa Campagnolo, Andrea Magrini, Luca Coppeta, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Antonio Pietroiusti, Unicamillus University of Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy; Lang Tran, Institute of Occupational Medicine, UK.

Considerable economic investments have been made to assess the impact of engineered and incidental micro- and nanoparticles on human health and the environment. Especially in the EU, major efforts have been made to address nanosafety with respect to hazard assessment of engineered nanomaterials for human health and the environment, as well as exposure assessment of these materials, and risk assessment and management. Exposure to incidental particles, e.g., diesel exhaust and micro/nano plastic particles, has also been investigated and an association with the etiopathology of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases has been proposed, posing questions on intervention measures. On the other hand, engineered nanoparticles have become fundamental components of industrial progress and their potential adverse effects for human health and the environment have been extensively studied using complementary approaches.

The aim of the Research Topic is to discuss what has been achieved so far in the field of nanosafety, and how this may promote a healthy living and working environment.

To this end, we invite papers on epidemiological data, toxicological data, and on the potential use of biomarkers of exposure and hazard for specific (susceptible) populations, e.g., workers and pregnant women. Additionally, we welcome papers exploring the application of modelling, e.g., quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modelling, and IATA (integrated approaches to testing and assessment) approaches for nanomaterial assessment based on multiple sources of data to identify missing information. Finally, we invite papers on future perspectives for a safe and sustainable development and use of the nanotechnologies. Contributors are welcome to submit Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Perspectives and Opinion Papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Nanosafety, health promotion, incidental particles, hazard assessment, nanomaterials exposure assessment, risk assessment and risk management.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.