This contributed volume is a comprehensive resource on the eventual fate of xenobiotics in the environment and their impact on the human genetic material in one integrated approach. The book offers a multi-disciplinary expertise of authors who are specialized in environmental science, toxicology, genetics, and epidemiology for a thorough understanding of complex interactions of xenobiotics with the environment and human health. The book offers both theory chapters and case studies, including studies on how omics technologies like genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics may be applied in order to assess the effect of xenobiotics on human genetic material.

Environmental toxicology is a multidisciplinary field that investigates adverse effects of xenobiotics, such as pollutants and toxic substances, on living organisms and the environment. The fate of xenobiotics in the environment is characterized by their release, transport, transformation, and degradation, which can cause bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food chains. The impact of exposure to xenobiotics has been documented to be catastrophic for human health, ranging from genetic damage to mutations and epigenetic changes. Exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals has been identified to increase the risk of cancer, reproductive problems, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Such influences of xenobiotics on human genetic material are the reason for much concern, because this can lead to heritable changes and affect not only the person but also his future generations. Epigenetic modification, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can also influence the expression of genes and raise susceptibility to diseases.

Dr. Kanu Priya, is working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Life Science in the School of Bioscience and Technology at Sharda University, Greater Noida, India. Her specialization is in animal biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, environmental biotechnology, and pharmacology and toxicology. She has been teaching graduate and postgraduate students of biotechnology with total experience of more than 9 years. She had served as head of the department in her previous institution. She has taught topics related to animal biotechnology, microbiology, genetic engineering, and IPR. She has authored more than 35 scientific articles and 6 book chapters from international publishers. She has 14 patents published (4 granted). She has received 40 lakhs project from Ministry of Ayush. She has also completed 2 small granted projects. She received a best women research award for excellence in research in 2025 by Springer Nature under “Her research, our future”. She has presented her work on national and international platforms in conferences and workshops. She has served as an editorial board member and reviewer for several reputed international journals.

Dr. Shiv Kumar Giri is a renowned academic and researcher, currently serving as the Head of Department and Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Maharaja Agrasen University, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. With over 15 years of research expertise and a decade of teaching experience, Dr. Giri’s areas of specialization include environmental toxicology, genomics, bioinformatics, and stem cell technology. Dr. Giri has successfully guided four PhD scholars and completed a prestigious research project on stem cell funded by the DST-SERB, Government of India, in 2016, showcasing his ability to lead impactful research initiatives. He has also made significant contributions to scientific literature through numerous research papers, book chapters, and as an editor of three books within his field. Prior to his current role, Dr. Giri served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at University College, Kurukshetra University. His career reflects a strong commitment to advancing biotechnology education and research innovation.