Four Decades of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology

Since the first issue of the Korean Journal of Environmental Toxicology was published in 1986, we are now celebrating our 40th volume.Our journal has experienced a notable evolution, transitioning to a fully open-access format with a new journal title, Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), in 2011, which was subsequently indexed in Scopus [1].This scope was broadened further when it became Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology (EAHT) [2].Over the last decade, EAHT has grown into a representative international journal, publishing papers from authors in more than 20 countries.This growth would not have been possible without the dedication of the many authors, reviewers, and editors who have accompanied us on this journey.Throughout its history, EAHT has been a platform for important research.Several key articles reviewing and providing perspectives on topics such as microplastics [3,4], cadmium toxicity [5], and the bioaccumulation of pesticides [6], have attracted many citations, making a significant impact on the field.In this special 40th-anniversary issue, we proudly present seven articles -one perspective, four original articles, and two reviews [7-13] -that set a milestone for future research.These papers cover critical areas such as exposure and toxicity of emerging contaminants [7,10], a deeper mechanistic understanding of toxicity [10,13], new testing strategies [8,9], the roles of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in environmental health [12], and the impact of climate change [11].They not only reflect the evolution of our discipline, but also provide critical insights into its future.These papers collectively underscore a fundamental truth: environmental analysis, health, and toxicology are no longer isolated disciplines.Our path forward lies in integrating new technologies like AI to predict toxicity, tackling complex, real-world problems like mixture toxicity and emerging contaminants, and recognizing the global scale of our work by linking planetary health to human well-being.We are confident that with the continued support of our community, EAHT will remain at the forefront of this interdisciplinary journey for decades to come.