It has been a privilege to serve as the Editor of the Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology for the past 15 years. I fondly recall that sunny June day in 1989 when Drs. Paul Lioy, Lance Wallace, Myron Mehlman, and I met in Princeton, New Jersey, and plotted to create a journal where scientists could report their findings. At the time, I was serving as a Section Editor for Exposure in the Toxicology and Industrial Health (Princeton Scientific Publishing Co.), and the newly formed International Society for Exposure Analysis (ISEA) needed its own journal. With a wealth of enthusiasm overshadowing a paucity of experience, I accepted the role of Editor-in-Chief for ISEA's new Journal of Exposure Analysis. Myron was serving as the Managing Editor of Princeton Scientific, and after a couple of years we decided to broaden the publication's editorial scope, re-christening it the Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology (JEAEE).

During my tenure, JEAEE has published numerous cutting-edge articles on exposure analysis. Research on human exposure to toxic chemicals grew from a fledgling area of study to a mature scientific discipline — exposure science. The ensuing trends in the variety and quality of articles published and the breadth of the exposure field covered are evidence of the discipline's maturation. Clear trends emerge in five-year blocks when examining published articles in JEAEE.

From 1990 to 1995, papers on inhalation exposure dominated the literature. More than 60% represented primarily two chemical classes of pollutants: inorganic gases and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Furthermore, human exposure studies were primarily focused on adults, with little regard to sensitive populations. Published research included both direct and indirect (modeling) estimation of exposure. The focus was on understanding what and how much pollutant people were exposed to. During this time, the most under-represented research included methods for making exposure measurements to toxic chemicals, human activity patterns, exposure through ingestion and dermal routes, and environmental epidemiology (i.e., the use of exposure measurements to help explain health outcome observations). Total or aggregate exposure of people via all routes — inhalation, ingestion, and dermal — had yet to be addressed.

In contrast, from 1996 to 2000, there was not only an increase in the number of submissions, but also a shift to a more balanced number of papers published across chemical classes that included metals, pesticides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dioxins, in addition to VOCs and inorganic gases. Papers on aerosol research increased almost 10-fold, while a few articles on exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) were beginning to appear. Similarly, numerous papers were published on modeling, human activity patterns, and ingestion exposure. Dietary exposure research had come into its own, almost 5 years after publication of the seminal paper on dietary exposure strategies. Research on sensitive populations such as the elderly and children were under way, and hypotheses formulated on mechanisms of exposure and pathways leading to human toxic chemical exposure were tested (e.g., the contribution of showering and bathing as pathways to inhalation and dermal exposure). Bursting onto the research scene were comprehensive multimedia, multipollutant, multiroute designs of population-based studies that examined aggregate exposure. But still, innovative methods development for chemical measurements, dermal exposure, and environmental epidemiology were under-represented in submissions and publications. Nevertheless, these trends support the fact that the exposure research field was expanding its base, while also implementing more sophisticated study designs. Exposure analysis was no longer a narrow field of study.

From 2001 to 2005, the number of publications on pesticides, PAHs, and dioxins substantially increased, while those on inorganic gases decreased relative to prior years. Papers on environmental epidemiology (i.e., those with a strong combination of exposure and health outcomes research) were now well represented. Aerosols publications were still persistent, as were exposure analyses involving bioaerosols, radon, EMF, and ultraviolet radiation. The most significant trend was the increased number of papers on children's exposure to pesticides and aerosols and hypothesis-driven research on mechanisms that lead to children's exposure. Exposure of the elderly to coarse and fine particles was also reported, with a shift in focus toward answering questions regarding how and why people were being exposed. Papers on environmental justice and communication of exposure results to study participants were published. During the entire 15-year period, few papers were published that significantly improved the ability to collect and measure chemicals at the personal level, suggesting that the development of new exposure techniques remains an area in need of attention. And finally, a vocabulary of exposure terms that permits more precise communication among scientists was adopted.

I am pleased to report that, since its inception, JEAEE's impact factor has steadily increased along with its stature. This is the result of much hard work by my Associate Editors — Aaron, Antonia, Bernd, Clifford, Debra, Demetrios, Erik, Gerry, George, James, Joan, Julian, Lance, Lisa, Michael, Naihua, Natalie, Patricia, Rogene, Scott, Steven, Thomas, and Yoram, among others. I have deep respect and gratitude for these individuals, who served with me to bring the journal to its present-day status and prestige. JEAEE's success is also rooted in the generosity and service of numerous reviewers, who gave valuable time to critique manuscripts — especially the beloved reviewer, who sometimes provided critiques that were invariably longer than the manuscripts themselves.

As JEAEE moves forward on its journey toward becoming a premier publication, it continues to experience an increase in global ranking and visibility. Since October 2004, when online submission of articles became possible, 61% of papers originated from North America, 20% from Europe, 1.3% from Japan, and 17.3% from the rest of the world. The web has also increased interest in JEAEE articles and, in 2005, all JEAEE web pages had over 300,000 views. The JEAEE web site features e-mail registration for “Table of Contents alerts” that inform users of upcoming content. The number of people registered for e-alerts has increased by 20% over the last year and is over the 30,000 mark. Finally, in June 2005, ISI's latest impact factor listing ranks the journal in the top 50 of more than 300 publications in the categories of environmental science, toxicology, and public, environmental, and occupational health.

To seize this moment marking the journal's stature and maturity, and to anchor its role as an independent medium for reporting quality science, we have changed its name to the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. This new title more accurately reflects the journal's contemporary character and journey toward premiership.

I leave my position as Editor with full confidence that the journal is in good hands and will remain the first choice for reporting outstanding research by the next generation of research leaders who will take the field of exposure science to an even higher level of excellence. It has been a pleasure and an honor to have been a part of its evolution.