The intensification of human activities and the expansion and densification of urban areas cause various damages to the environment, necessitating continuous monitoring to assess the impact and extent of potential risks to both the environment and human health, in order to ensure urban sustainability.

This collection, “Monitoring Environmental Pollution and Impact on Health,” invites contributions that utilize tools related to health impact assessment, human health risk, ecological risk, data modeling, geospatial data, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze impacts within urban environments. We also encourage the publication of research on the dynamics of pollution and health in rural and peri-urban areas, interdisciplinary studies between environmental sciences and public health, epidemiology, and urban planning for a holistic assessment of the multifaceted impacts of pollution on human well-being. In addition, studies that contribute actionable policy recommendations for local governments, environmental agencies, or public health institutions dealing with urban pollution are welcome. Research (time series or longitudinal studies) that demonstrate public health trends related to chronic exposure to pollutants, aiming for a better understanding of long-term urban sustainability issues, are also encouraged. Studies addressing health risks for vulnerable populations (such as children, the elderly, or low-income communities) exposed to environmental pollution in densely populated areas are of particular interest. We welcome studies on participatory monitoring and the development of citizen science, empowering communities to act in collaboration with local environmental health surveillance managers. Research involving satellite pollution monitoring and remote sensing is also encouraged. Comparative studies on pollution and health across different regions, identifying critical hotspots and globally replicable mitigation strategies, are of interest. We also welcome research that investigates environmental justice and urban socio-demographic inequalities/disparities in health due to environmental pollution. Review studies and meta-analyses exploring trends, methodologies, and gaps in urban environmental health research are also welcome.

Keywords: Health impact assessment, Environmental quality monitoring (air, water, and soil), Pollution sources and emissions, Spatial analysis, Geospatial technology, Climate change, Urban sustainability, Machine learning, Ecological risk assessment, Human health risk assessment

This Collection supports and amplifies research aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 11.

This collection brings together original research articles, case studies, and critical reviews that provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental and human health risks arising from exposure to xenobiotics, defined as chemical substances foreign to biological systems that may cause adverse effects on organisms and ecosystems. This collection aims to consolidate scientific contributions addressing the identification, characterization, quantification, and management of risk associated with chemical contaminants of industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and domestic origin, including pesticides, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, endocrine disruptors, emerging pharmaceuticals, and other persistent compounds. Interest is given to studies employing multidisciplinary approaches, including environmental toxicology, analytical chemistry, epidemiology, ecotoxicology, exposure modeling, environmental impact assessment, and public health policy analysis. The collection seeks to advance scientific knowledge and evidence-based decision-making by promoting prevention, mitigation, and control strategies that protect human health and sustain ecosystems amid the increasing presence of xenobiotics in the environment.

This Collection is strategically positioned to advance the next generation of integrated environmental–human health risk assessment frameworks addressing xenobiotics under real-world conditions. Rather than treating environmental contamination, toxicological endpoints, and epidemiological outcomes as isolated domains, the Collection explicitly promotes a systems-based approach that connects analytical detection, exposure pathways, dose–response relationships, and risk management within a unified, policy-relevant continuum.

We particularly encourage submissions that bridge high-resolution chemical analysis, exposure modeling, and measurable health outcomes, thereby strengthening causal interpretation and reducing fragmentation between chemistry-focused and public health contributions. Methodological advances in cumulative risk assessment, mixture toxicology, and low-dose chronic exposure evaluation are strongly welcomed, reflecting the complex multi-chemical realities faced by populations and ecosystems worldwide.

The Collection explicitly invites research on emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, microplastics-associated chemicals, transformation products, endocrine disruptors, and persistent pollutants, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory priorities and environmental challenges. Comparative and longitudinal studies across regions, ecosystems, and vulnerable populations are encouraged to generate generalizable insights into transboundary pollution, food-chain transfer, and socio-environmental exposure dynamics.

To enhance coherence and scientific impact, contributions will be structured along the risk assessment continuum: hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose–response analysis, and risk management translation. Special emphasis will be placed on studies that move beyond risk characterization toward actionable outputs, including regulatory threshold development, mitigation strategies, and public health interventions applicable in both developed and developing contexts.

By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among analytical chemists, toxicologists, exposure scientists, epidemiologists, environmental modelers, and social scientists working on risk perception and communication, this Collection aims to position Discover Environment as a leading platform for integrative, policy-relevant, and globally impactful environmental health research.

Keywords: Xenobiotics, Environmental Risk Assessment, Health Risk Assessment, Chemical pollution, Toxicological exposure, Ecotoxicology, Integrated Risk Assessment, Cumulative and Mixture Toxicity, Exposure Pathways, Emerging Contaminants, Risk Management, Policy Translation, Transboundary Pollution