Abstract Background Dementia is an overarching term for memory-affecting and progressive diseases interfering with cognitive abilities, behaviour and daily living of persons affected. Deterioration of cognitive function influences the processes of memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, learning and language capacity as well as judgement. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, prevalent in approximately 50-70% of the dementia cases. In 2015, there were 47 million people affected by dementia worldwide, and the figure was estimated to increase to 75 million by 2030 and to 132 million by 2050. Genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle patterns are risk factors for developing AD. Methods In the framework of the “European Human Biomonitoring Initiative” (HBM4EU, https://www.hbm4eu.eu/), a set of 18 substances or substance groups were prioritized for investigation. For each of these, a scoping document was developed, summarizing current knowledge and policy-related knowledge gaps. This work presents a scoping review of chemical substances, which may be associated with AD, based on the HBM4EU scoping documents and relevant recent scientific literature. Results Exposure to pesticides is possibly a risk factor for AD. Exposure to mercury is possibly associated with AD development, but results are inconsistent. Though results on cadmium and arsenic and AD are conflicting, they are possibly associated with the risk of disease. The evidence regarding lead is weak. Harmful exposures to these substances in Europe were mostly connected to occupational settings. Conclusions Although there is tentative evidence on exposure to environmental substances and risk for AD, more research is needed. Some evidence is inconsistent and there is a lack of extensive human studies. Attention should be paid to certain occupations, such as farmers exposed to pesticides and workers exposed to heavy metals, since these substances may be linked to increased disease rates of AD. Key messages Exposure to pesticides, mercury, cadmium and arsenic may adversely affect cognitive abilities and contribute to risk of AD. High-quality epidemiological research is needed to confirm the findings. Because adverse environmental chemical exposures affect both workers in certain occupations and general public, protecting humans from the chemical hazards is an essential public health issue.