The Chemical Exposure Multiverse: A Call for Papers that Provide Accurate Toxicity and Exposure Data in the Laboratory and Beyond

Abstract

Published as part of ACS Chemical Health & Safety virtual special issue “The Chemical Exposure Multiverse”. ACS Chemical Health& Safety (ACS CHAS) is calling for papers for a Virtual Special Issue (VSI) that represents different types of chemical exposures that workers, researchers, and the public may encounter. As previous publications in ACS CHAS have shown, (1−8) the prevention, mitigation, management, and response of occupational chemical exposures (chronic and acute) is multifaceted. For example, maker spaces, palm oil mills, laboratories, medical facilities, and art restoration must all quantify and control chemical exposures albeit in different ways. This VSI will showcase high-impact contributions in the field by collating perspectives and research from all the relevant disciplines such as toxicology, industrial and chemical hygiene, chemistry, engineering, epidemiology, health, education, public health, and public policy. Societies across the world are dependent upon synthetic chemicals to support modern living standards. More than ever, it is necessary to maximize the benefits of chemical usage while simultaneously minimizing the inherent risks associated with the transfer of chemicals from the controlled industrial environment to diverse settings, where they are repeatedly encountered by a workforce less able to recognize and mitigate hazards. The United Nations recognized these challenges in its 2022 sustainable development goals (SDGs), (9) which among others include the (i) assurance of good health and well-being (3), (ii) reduction of inequalities (10), (iii) decent work and economic growth (8), (iv) innovation in industry and infrastructure (9), and (v) responsible consumption and production (12). It is therefore imperative to support the U.N. SDGs by collecting, validating, and analyzing data on chemical exposure in diverse occupational environments and, ultimately, to provide reliable scientific reports and tools to inform effective decision-making and risk management. There have been tremendous progress and development to establish accurate toxicities and exposure limits as well as countless efforts to support productivity while protecting human health. This issue aims at capturing, highlighting and disseminating the current research, new developments and studies as well as challenges, creative solutions, best practices, and accounts from the “trenches”. The intentional multidisciplinary perspective adopted here is essential for a scientifically valid understanding of potential risks and their mitigation (Figure 1). As a consequence, we invite contributions of all manuscript types that address topics within ACS CHAS scope, including (but not limited to): Occupational and environmental exposures Toxicology and toxicological studies Epidemiology Chemical safety education Public health and public safety accounts Chemical hygiene Chemical safety and safety culture management Modeling of chemical exposure Figure 1. Multiverse of chemical exposures. The aim is to have “The Chemical Exposure Multiverse” manuscripts submitted by February 2025 with an intent to publish the final VSI in the summer. In VSIs like this one, ACS publishes the articles on a rolling basis in a regular issue shortly after acceptance. Once all the VSI papers are ready and published online, ACS collects them on a single webpage, giving additional exposure to each author’s work. As organizing guest editors, we look forward to strong interest in this VSI from a wide community of authors and readers. This article references 9 other publications. This article has not yet been cited by other publications. Figure 1. Multiverse of chemical exposures. This article references 9 other publications.