Networks at the nexus of systems biology and the exposome

Abstract Research on the impact of environmental exposures on health has largely been reductionistic. The field is now complementing the mechanism-based work with systems-based approaches to better understand the effects of exposure on complex biology. Borrowing principles from systems biology, systems toxicology has emerged as a way to study complex biological responses to exposures. By using the exposome framework, we can capture the complex nature of exposures, as well, and determine the underlying structure of real-world exposures. We discuss recent advances in measuring the exposome and the use of systems approaches in toxicology. We believe the integration of systems biology principles, network science, systems toxicology, and the exposome can help synthesize the complex interplay between the environment and biology.