Human activities release toxic metals into the environment. These metals pollute the soil, air, and water, which leads to the contamination of animals and plants. For the general population, food is the main route of exposure, and metals will accumulate in various organs depending on their specificity. There is strong evidence of a link between exposure to metals and the incidence of chronic diseases. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metal toxicity are far to be understood. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a more profound understanding of the impact of metal pollution on human health. This understanding is essential for alerting public authorities and implementing new strategies to prevent it.

The aim of this Collection is to present an overview of recent data on metal toxicity related to cell dysfunction and disease progression, and to propose new studies or hypothesis. This collection is expected to include a variety of studies on toxic metals to which humans may be exposed in connection with environmental pollution. A particular emphasis will be placed on elucidating the mechanisms by which these metals are transported across the plasma membrane. Additionally, the impact of intracellular accumulation of these metals on the disruption of cell function at the metabolic, genomic, or signaling pathway levels will be examined. These studies may concern cellular or integrated models.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.

Keywords: metal toxicology, metal poisoning, ion channels, transporters, cell signaling pathway, chronic diseases

The rapid evolution of the illicit drug market has led to the continuous emergence of new psychotropic substances (e.g., synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, opioids) with diverse chemical structures, unprecedented potency, and, most importantly, poorly understood toxicological profiles. These compounds pose major challenges to toxicologists, forensic scientists, clinicians, and regulators, as traditional risk-assessment frameworks struggle to keep pace with their dynamic nature.

This Collection intends to bring together cutting-edge research that elucidates the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of emerging psychotropic substances. Emphasis is placed on studies that interrogate molecular and cellular targets, toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic pathways, and mechanistic signatures (e.g., epigenetic modulation, neurodevelopmental disruption, long-term cellular dysfunction). Contributions integrating innovative in vitro, in vivo, and computational approaches are particularly encouraged.

In parallel, the Collection highlights advances in analytical and forensic toxicology that enable the identification, monitoring, and interpretation of these substances in biological and non-biological matrices. By bridging mechanistic insights with exposure assessment, epidemiology, and regulatory science, the Collection aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of how novel psychotropic compounds translate from molecular perturbations to individual and population-level harm.

Through this multidisciplinary perspective, the Collection seeks to support evidence-based risk assessment, contribute to inform public-health interventions, and guide regulatory responses in an increasingly complex drug landscape. It provides a platform for toxicologists and allied researchers to share knowledge that is essential for anticipating emerging threats and mitigating the impact of new psychotropic substances on public health.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.

Keywords: Emerging psychotropic substances; mechanistic toxicology; molecular targets; forensic toxicology; clinical toxicology; risk assessment