A new peer-reviewed article has been published in The European Physical Journal Plus, presenting—for the first time in the CBRNe domain—a comprehensive integration of the exposome framework into Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive risk assessment.
The article, entitled “Integrating the exposome framework in CBRNe risk assessment: a holistic approach to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats” (open access)
This innovative work builds upon an idea originally proposed by Prof. Vasilis Vasiliou (Yale School of Public Health) and further expanded and operationalized for the CBRNe field by Prof. Andrea Malizia (University of Rome Tor Vergata), in close collaboration with an exceptional international team of researchers:
Authors and Affiliations
• Andrea Malizia¹²
• Joanne McGovern³
• Dimosthenis Sarigiannis⁴⁵⁶⁷
• Spyros Karakitsios⁴⁵⁶
• Paul T. Anastas⁸
• Gian Marco Ludovici¹²
• Guglielmo Manenti¹²
• Vasilis Vasiliou³
¹ Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
² International Master Courses in Protection against CBRNe Events, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
³ Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, USA
⁴ National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
⁵ Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
⁶ Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI), HERACLES Research Center on Exposome and Health, Thessaloniki, Greece
⁷ University School for Advanced Study (IUSS), Pavia, Italy
⁸ Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering, Yale University, USA
Scientific Contribution
Traditional CBRNe risk assessments focus primarily on immediate, acute exposures. This article demonstrates how adopting the exposome perspective—which considers all environmental exposures across a person’s lifetime—represents a profound shift in understanding:
• chronic, low-dose exposures
• synergistic effects with other environmental factors
• long-term health impacts on first responders and communities
• vulnerabilities of populations living near CBRNe sites
• residual contamination and cumulative biological burden
The paper highlights the importance of integrating omics technologies (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics), personal exposure monitoring, and AI-driven models to forecast individual and population-level health outcomes more accurately.
Policy and Preparedness Implications
The exposome-centered approach promotes:
• more accurate long-term risk projections
• revised protection strategies for first responders
• enhanced monitoring systems in contaminated or post-event areas
• proactive public health preparedness policies
• integrated emergency management bridging science, medicine, and environmental health
The article is fully open access, ensuring the widest possible dissemination within scientific, operational, and policymaking communities.
🔗 Read the full article here (Open Access):
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-07030-4
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