Pollutant Class

Examples

Primary Target Organ (s)

Key Mechanisms

Particulate Matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀)

Diesel exhaust, ambient PM

Lung, brain

Mitophagy-ferroptosis, microglial activation, neuroinflammation

Occupational Dusts

Coal dust, crystalline silica

Lung

NLRP3 inflammasome, fibrosis, macrophage activation

Heavy Metals

Cadmium, lead, arsenic, manganese

Kidney, liver, brain

Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, ATF4-CHOP axis

POPs & EDCs

PCBs, dioxins, PFAS, bisphenol A

Liver, kidney

Nuclear receptor interference, epigenetic changes, transporter inhibition

Emerging Contaminants

Microplastics, pharmaceuticals

Liver, gut

Gut-liver axis disruption, dysbiosis, LPS translocation

Mixed Exposures

Pesticides, solvents

Liver (TAFLD)

Steatosis, steatohepatitis, lipid metabolism dysregulation