Explorations of Environmental Exposures in Carcinogenicity

It is estimated that 80% to 90% of cancer cases can be linked to environmental factors, including lifestyle practices such as smoking and diet, as well as exposure to environmental carcinogens through contaminated water, air, or food. While certain environmental carcinogens such as asbestos, aflatoxin, arsenic, and benzene are well-studied for their roles in human cancers, the prevalence of carcinogens in the environment has yet to be fully defined. The effect of chronic, low-dose exposures to suspected human carcinogens also remains to be fully elucidated. Additionally, environmental carcinogens may exert their influence through multifaceted mechanisms – for instance, by impacting the endocrine system, inducing DNA damage, or triggering epigenetic alterations. Fully understanding the implications of environmental carcinogens and the impacts of the ever-changing environment on human health will require in-depth and multidisciplinary research. In exploring the nexus of endocrinology, genetics, epigenetics, medicine, environmental health, toxicology, pharmacology, and oncology, our compilation seeks to unravel the complexities of the interplay between environmental exposures and carcinogenesis. This Collection aims to collect articles focusing on the impact of known or suspected environmental carcinogens on cancer etiology and welcomes articles exploring this question through experimental systems or epidemiological data.

Keywords: environmental carcinogens, exposures, carcinogenesis, modifiable risk factors for cancer