Metal Toxicity in Animals: Recent Insights on Physiological and Molecular Aspects

Dear Colleagues,

Heavy metals are one of the oldest known toxicants. Despite this, their presence in the environment is still increasing, as is the presence and bioaccumulation of other metals, which show multiple industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical, and technological applications. Among them, the toxic action of rare earth elements (or lanthanides) is of particular concern. Metals that have no biological functions share pathways through which essential elements are transported into an organism, thus disrupting key cellular functions. Exposure to these heterogenous class of metals is associated with an increased risk of cancer, metabolic disorders, neurodevelopmental effects, genotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, in humans and animals. In addition, scientific studies are highlighting the adverse effects of exposure to a mixture of different environmental contaminants. The risk assessment of a single metal may generate data that underestimate the toxic potential of the substance in the environment.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and reviews on the physiological and molecular pathways modified by metals. Articles focusing on the combined effects of mixtures of different metals, or mixtures of metals and other pollutants, aimed at understanding how they can cause toxicity or disease, the molecular interactions that can occur, the potentiating and synergistic effects that can cause an unexpected toxicological response or an attack on another target organ, are particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Rosaria Scudiero
Guest Editor

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• heavy metals
• lanthanides
• physiological and molecular pathways of cellular toxicology
• environmental pollution
• risk assessments
• risk of mixing contaminants