Review Article | | Peer-Reviewed

One Health and Roles of Chemical Sciences

Received: 1 April 2025     Accepted: 15 April 2025     Published: 22 May 2025
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Abstract

One Health is a framework that recognises the interconnection between human health, animal health and environmental health. It is a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that aims to develop strategies to prevent and control diseases, improve health outcomes, and address the global challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety, and environmental degradation. Chemical science plays a crucial role in supporting the One Health framework. Chemical sciences should have a significant role, but its integration has been insufficient. Specifically, the lack of systemic chemical surveillance, the continued use of environmentally persistent compounds, and inadequate chemical risk assessment models present substantial obstacles to achieving One Health objectives. This article examines the central yet underutilised role of chemical sciences in catalysing the One Health paradigm shift. The aim is to demonstrate how chemical sciences can provide molecular-level insights and technologies to predict, prevent, and mitigate health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. From the design of safer pharmaceuticals and veterinary drugs to the monitoring and remediation of environmental contaminants, chemistry is uniquely positioned to contribute transformative tools and knowledge. The integration of chemical sciences into One Health is challenged by a lack of research collaboration, insufficient interdisciplinary training, and regulatory frameworks that account for the ecological impact of chemicals. This review explores the contributions of chemical sciences to the One Health concept and advocates for the detection, analysis, and mitigation of chemical hazards that impact human, animal, and environmental health. This review also addresses possible solutions: (1) the incorporation of One Health principles into chemical science education and training; (2) the development of collaborative research platforms that bridge chemistry with epidemiology, veterinary sciences, and ecology; (3) policy reforms to strengthen regulation of chemical use across sectors; and (4) the advancement of green chemistry and sustainable design principles to minimise environmental and biological impacts at the source. Additionally, innovations in chemical informatics and sensor technologies can enhance real-time surveillance and facilitate data-driven decision-making. Meanwhile, chemical sciences should be repositioned as one of the core pillars of the One Health framework, and the practice should be holistic, sustainable and preventive instead of reactive.

Published in Science Journal of Chemistry (Volume 13, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12
Page(s) 55-64
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

One Health, Chemical Sciences, Animal Health, Human Health, Environmental Health

References
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[2] UMASH – the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center – brings a multidisciplinary approach guided by One Health principles to improve the health and safety of agricultural workers and their families in the Upper Midwest region.
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[4] Vamathevan, J., Clark, D., Czodrowski, P. et al. Applications of machine learning in drug discovery and development. Nat Rev Drug Discov 18, 463–477 (2019).
[5] Wells, S., Jones, M. A., Brown, R., Ellis, J., Buck, E., Newton, S. M., & Smith, R. A. (2021). Repurposing drugs for new uses in infectious diseases: A systematic review. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 76(3), 656–670.
[6] World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Pollution and Health: A Global Review.
[7] Meyer, S., & Hamer, S. A. (2022). The intersection of environmental health and One Health: The importance of chemical exposures. Environmental Health Perspectives, 130(1), 015001.
[8] Mackenzie, J. S., Jeggo, M., Daszak, P., & Richt, J. A. (2013). One Health: The Human-Animal-Environment Interfaces in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Springer. Mackenzie, J. S., & Jeggo, M. (2019). The One Health Approach—Why Is It So Important? Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 4(2), 88.
[9] Pushpakom S, Iorio F, Eyers PA, Escott KJ, Hopper S, Wells A, et al. Drug repurposing: progress, challenges and recommendations. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2019; 8(1): 1–58.
[10] Díaz, P., Cantón, R., & Potel, G. (2020). Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria: Impact on public health and One Health strategies. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 1426.
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[16] Behers, B. J., Patrick, G. A., Jones, J. M., Carr, R. A., Behers, B. M., Melchor, J., Rahl, D. E., Guerriero, T. D., Zhang, H., Ozkardes, C., Thomas, N. D., & Sweeney, M. J. (2022). Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports. The Yale journal of biology and medicine, 95(2), 237–247.
[17] Tassinari, P., Bovo, M., Benni, S., Poggesi, M., & Costa, A. (2021). A decision-support system for precision livestock farming: Detecting health issues in dairy cows through automated behavioral analysis. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 185, 106158.
[18] Weber, S., Zimmer, A., & Mockey, M. (2022). Advances in mRNA vaccine development for animal diseases: A review. Journal of Veterinary Science, 23(2), e1-e11.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Nwatoka, C. V., Ehgomare, O. H., Amaechi, M., Chukwu, C. O., Anzah, K. M. L. (2025). One Health and Roles of Chemical Sciences. Science Journal of Chemistry, 13(3), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12

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    ACS Style

    Nwatoka, C. V.; Ehgomare, O. H.; Amaechi, M.; Chukwu, C. O.; Anzah, K. M. L. One Health and Roles of Chemical Sciences. Sci. J. Chem. 2025, 13(3), 55-64. doi: 10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12

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    AMA Style

    Nwatoka CV, Ehgomare OH, Amaechi M, Chukwu CO, Anzah KML. One Health and Roles of Chemical Sciences. Sci J Chem. 2025;13(3):55-64. doi: 10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12,
      author = {Chidozie Vivian Nwatoka and Okan Hillary Ehgomare and Mbah Amaechi and Chukwu Otuh Chukwu and Kagoro Mary Luka Anzah},
      title = {One Health and Roles of Chemical Sciences
    },
      journal = {Science Journal of Chemistry},
      volume = {13},
      number = {3},
      pages = {55-64},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjc.20251303.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjc.20251303.12},
      abstract = {One Health is a framework that recognises the interconnection between human health, animal health and environmental health. It is a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that aims to develop strategies to prevent and control diseases, improve health outcomes, and address the global challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety, and environmental degradation. Chemical science plays a crucial role in supporting the One Health framework. Chemical sciences should have a significant role, but its integration has been insufficient. Specifically, the lack of systemic chemical surveillance, the continued use of environmentally persistent compounds, and inadequate chemical risk assessment models present substantial obstacles to achieving One Health objectives. This article examines the central yet underutilised role of chemical sciences in catalysing the One Health paradigm shift. The aim is to demonstrate how chemical sciences can provide molecular-level insights and technologies to predict, prevent, and mitigate health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. From the design of safer pharmaceuticals and veterinary drugs to the monitoring and remediation of environmental contaminants, chemistry is uniquely positioned to contribute transformative tools and knowledge. The integration of chemical sciences into One Health is challenged by a lack of research collaboration, insufficient interdisciplinary training, and regulatory frameworks that account for the ecological impact of chemicals. This review explores the contributions of chemical sciences to the One Health concept and advocates for the detection, analysis, and mitigation of chemical hazards that impact human, animal, and environmental health. This review also addresses possible solutions: (1) the incorporation of One Health principles into chemical science education and training; (2) the development of collaborative research platforms that bridge chemistry with epidemiology, veterinary sciences, and ecology; (3) policy reforms to strengthen regulation of chemical use across sectors; and (4) the advancement of green chemistry and sustainable design principles to minimise environmental and biological impacts at the source. Additionally, innovations in chemical informatics and sensor technologies can enhance real-time surveillance and facilitate data-driven decision-making. Meanwhile, chemical sciences should be repositioned as one of the core pillars of the One Health framework, and the practice should be holistic, sustainable and preventive instead of reactive.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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    AU  - Chidozie Vivian Nwatoka
    AU  - Okan Hillary Ehgomare
    AU  - Mbah Amaechi
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Author Information
  • Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria

  • Department of General Studies, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria

  • Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria

  • Department of Public Health, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemistry, University of Jos, Jos North, Nigeria

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