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Open research questions in Occupational and environmental lung diseases

152 gap statements mined from Occupational and environmental lung diseases papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 854 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Occupational and environmental lung diseases? See the ranked Medicine journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • The need to develop in vitro models that accurately reflect the in vivo effects of respirable PM exposure. The challenge of identifying the specific mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of respirable PM exposure on NK-cell function.

    Respirable Particulate Matter Induces Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction via Oxidative Stress-Mediated Lysosomal and Mitochondrial Injury: Implications for Mineral-Rich Mining Dust Exposure · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for a simulation study to evaluate the differences between the two versions.

    Simulation Study of the Decision Logic for 95% Upper Confidence Limit Calculations Applied in ProUCL 5.2 · 2026 · DOI

  • The current understanding of fluoro-edenite's distribution and properties is limited. There is a need to fully assess the impact of fluoro-edenite on public health. The risk of fiber exposure may extend beyond urban areas to surrounding soils and volcanic formation, which is not fully characterized yet.

    Fluoro-Edenite from Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy): A Comprehensive Review and New Perspectives on a Fibrous Amphibole of Geological and Health Concern · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for evidence-based diagnostic and follow-up recommendations for non-malignant asbestos-related diseases. The current regulations in Colombia mandate a national care pathway for exposed individuals, but there is a lack of guidance on how to implement this. The paper aims to fill this gap by providing clinical practice recommendations.

    Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations for Non-Malignant Asbestos-Related Diseases in an Asbestos-Exposed Population: An Evidence-to-Decision Framework · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to adjust for underground mining tenure when comparing disease prevalence across mining occupations and geographic regions.

    Assessment of pneumoconiosis by dusty job type among underground coal miners participating in the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program,1991–2024 · 2026 · DOI

  • The evidence guiding post-recurrence management in patients with pleural mesothelioma remains limited. The role of surgery within multimodality treatment for PM is uncertain.

    Post-Recurrence Treatment Patterns and Outcomes After Curative-Intent Multimodality Strategy in Patients with Pleural Mesothelioma: A Retrospective Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap identified is the lack of consideration of asbestos hazards as unintended byproducts. The study bridges the information gap by testing the marble dust for asbestos presence. The research gap is the need to investigate the presence of asbestos in marble waste and its implications.

    Marble Waste Dump Yard in Rajasthan, India Revealed as a Potential Asbestos Exposure Hazard · 2025 · DOI

  • The reasons for the absence of cytotoxicity in 2f remain unclear. The study does not provide information on the long-term effects of the novel compounds. The study only tested the compounds against two human MPM cell lines and non-cancerous lung fibroblasts.

    Exploring the Anticancer Potential of NO-Donor Oxadiazole Assemblies Against Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma · 2025 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of the novel compounds. The study suggests that the methoxy substituent at the C5 carbon atom of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring is not a favorable structural element from a molecular design perspective, which could be further explored.

    Exploring the Anticancer Potential of NO-Donor Oxadiazole Assemblies Against Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma · 2025 · DOI

  • Further toxicological studies are needed to assess the carcinogenic potential of biopersistent fibers. Research on the hazard classification of CF fragments is required.

    Selective Enrichment of Fibrous Fragments Formed from Milled Carbon Fibers by Means of Gravitational Settling in a Liquid · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited data from epidemiological and toxicological studies on the hazard of carbon fiber fragments. No carbon fiber-specific occupational exposure limits have been implemented.

    Selective Enrichment of Fibrous Fragments Formed from Milled Carbon Fibers by Means of Gravitational Settling in a Liquid · 2025 · DOI

  • However, large-scale South African studies examining all-cause mortality in this population are lacking.

    An Evaluation of Mortality Rates and Their Determinants in a Cohort of Former Asbestos Miners in South Africa · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the data supporting this sequence are primarily based on efficacy observed in the first-line setting, while evidence regarding the use of platinum/pemetrexed following first-line nivolumab/ipilimumab remains scarce.

    Outcomes of Platinum Plus Pemetrexed and Treatment Patterns Following First-Line Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Pleural Mesothelioma: Real-World Results From the German MesoNet Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The impact of early-life exposure to asbestos on disease risk remains uncertain.

    Mortality and Cancer Incidence After Exposure to Blue Asbestos in Childhood: A Further 10 Years of Follow‐Up · 2025 · DOI

  • No studies have reported the costs of workers' compensation claims for silicosis; we therefore examined cost trends in Victoria, Australia, and projected claim costs to 2031.

    Counting the Costs of Silicosis in Victoria, Australia, 2019–2024, With Projections to 2031 · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning mesothelioma's progression remain insufficiently understood.

    DNA methylation-regulated HLA-C expression modulates immune responses and metabolic alterations to influence prognosis in mesothelioma · 2025 · DOI

  • Similar studies at other mine locations are needed, and timely interventions are warranted to protect nearby residents.

    Understanding exposure risk using soil testing and GIS around an abandoned asbestos mine · 2025 · DOI

  • There are limited studies examining soil contamination and asbestos exposure to nearby residents due to abandoned mines.

    Understanding exposure risk using soil testing and GIS around an abandoned asbestos mine · 2025 · DOI

  • In resectable PM, multimodality treatment including surgery and chemotherapy remains preferred, yet pathological complete response (pCR) rates remain low at approximately 5%, and the role of perioperative immunotherapy is still poorly defined.

    CHIMERA: A Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Combination With Cisplatin or Carboplatin and Pemetrexed Followed by Surgery and Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Pleural Mesothelioma · 2026 · DOI

  • Prolonged occupational exposure causes asbestosis, lung cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma, but in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) the true burden is underreported due to weak regulation, low awareness, limited diagnostics, and inadequate occupational health systems.

    Challenges in Identifying and Diagnosing Asbestos-Related Diseases in Emerging Economies: A Global Health Perspective · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the effects of respirable PM exposure on NK-cell function in vivo, - Examining the role of oxidative stress in NK-cell dysfunction, - Studying the impact of different types of respirable PM on NK-cell…

    Respirable Particulate Matter Induces Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction via Oxidative Stress-Mediated Lysosomal and Mitochondrial Injury: Implications for Mineral-Rich Mining Dust Exposure · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could focus on revising the decision tree in ProUCL to provide an appropriate balance between coverage and accuracy, - Advanced users could evaluate alternative performance criteria within applicable regulatory…

    Simulation Study of the Decision Logic for 95% Upper Confidence Limit Calculations Applied in ProUCL 5.2 · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate the effects of respirable coal mine dust and respirable crystalline silica exposures on lung cancer risk, - Examine the relationship between underground mining tenure and radiographic severity of pneumoconiosis, - Study the impact of occupational history on disease…

    Assessment of pneumoconiosis by dusty job type among underground coal miners participating in the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program,1991–2024 · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate asbestos presence in marble mines, - Study the effects of asbestos exposure on the mining and quarrying industries of marble…

    Marble Waste Dump Yard in Rajasthan, India Revealed as a Potential Asbestos Exposure Hazard · 2025 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to determine the comparative effectiveness of different post-recurrence treatments, - Research on the optimal timing and selection of patients for active post-recurrence treatment, - Investigations into the prognostic factors that influence post-recurrence…

    Post-Recurrence Treatment Patterns and Outcomes After Curative-Intent Multimodality Strategy in Patients with Pleural Mesothelioma: A Retrospective Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Occupational and environmental lung diseases

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need to fully assess the impact of fluoro-edenite on public health (“Fluoro-Edenite from Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy): A Comprehensive Review and New…”, 2026); (2) There is a need for evidence-based diagnostic and follow-up recommendations for non-malignant asbestos-related diseases (“Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations for Non-Malignant Asbestos-Related…”, 2026); (3) The evidence guiding post-recurrence management in patients with pleural mesothelioma remains limited (“Post-Recurrence Treatment Patterns and Outcomes After Curative-Intent…”, 2026); (4) Large-scale South African studies examining all-cause mortality in this population are lacking (“An Evaluation of Mortality Rates and Their Determinants in a Cohort of Former…”, 2026); (5) The data supporting this sequence are primarily based on efficacy observed in the first-line setting, while evidence regarding the use of platinum/pemetrexed following first-line nivolumab/ipilimumab remains scarce (“Outcomes of Platinum Plus Pemetrexed and Treatment Patterns Following…”, 2026). 152 gap statements have been mined from Occupational and environmental lung diseases papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 854 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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