Exposome research: definition, scope and the need for multidisciplinary research

Mentioned for the first time in 2005, the exposome concept initially emerged in response to the need to reflect in research the significant impact of the environment on health and disease. Since its emergence, in line with the rapid developments in general knowledge and technology, as well as with the dramatic changes in geoclimatic conditions, the notion has been in remarkable progress. Originally meant as a call for the development of more complex methods of environmental exposure assessment, applicable at individual level and throughout the individual's life span, the scope of the concept has now been expanded to also incorporate the associated biological response. In result of over 15 years of research and evolution, exposomics now involves adopting a global and multidisciplinary approach meant to integrate and develop the top-down, bottom-up and functional study strategies already established in the field, as well as their complementation with other methods, increasing efforts for their standardization and validation, thus rendering exposomics increased utility in clinical practice. This review is focused on the introduction of the exposome concept and the development of research from its perspective that can only be achieved under the conditions of multidisciplinary collaboration, with the participation of scientific fields such as environment, social sciences, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, toxicology, epidemiology and medicine.