Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.5
3.9
Journals
Toxics
Special Issues
Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants
share announcement

Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Contaminants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2024) | Viewed by 6695

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kun Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Interests: emerging contaminants; environmental toxicology; environmental chemical process; water ecology; environmental microorganisms; microplastics; artificial nanomaterials; biofilms; activated sludge
Prof. Dr. Jin Qian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
2. College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: water environment system planning theory and method; river and lake water pollution management and ecological restoration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of emerging contaminants is an outlet for world-leading researchers to address problems associated with environmental contamination caused by emerging contaminants and their solutions.

Emerging contaminants are synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals or any microorganisms that are not commonly monitored in the environment but have the potential to enter the environment. They are usually accompanied by trace amounts, are difficult to degrade, have persistent properties, etc., and cause known or suspected adverse ecological and/or human health effects. Currently, there is no international consensus on the classification of emerging contaminants; in general, endocrine disruptors (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), drinking water disinfection byproducts, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), artificial nanomaterials, and microplastics all fall into this category. Studies have shown that these emerging pollutants have been detected in various environmental media (soil, air, and water) and even in living organisms to a greater or lesser extent. They also include endocrine-disrupting compounds, analgesics, antibiotics, hormones, and a whole range of other pharmaceutical compounds including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-epileptic drugs. The threat lies in the fact that the environmental and human toxicology of most of these compounds has not yet been studied and in the fact that many of these compounds are not or cannot be tested for in the environmental ecosystem. In addition, when these contaminants are transported in the environment, by-products are generated, the chemical properties of which are as yet undetermined. Biological emerging contaminants are discussed, which are also of significant concern. However, technical control measures and innovative governance concepts for emerging pollutants in the environment also need further development and research.

This Special Issue of the Toxics focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding “Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants”. New research papers, reviews, case reports, and conference papers are welcome to be submitted this issue. Papers dealing with new approaches to derive emerging contaminant standards or risk assessment and management are also welcome. Other manuscript types accepted include methodological papers, position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

We will accept manuscripts from different disciplines including the investigation and distribution of contaminant sources, exposure assessment science, risk and health impact assessment, risk management including toxicology and environmental benchmarks (standards), the environmental process and transformation of contaminants, combined effect and synergistic pollution, etc.

All in all, we encourage papers addressing science that facilitates greater understanding of the nature, extent, and impacts of the presence of emerging contaminants in the environment; technology that exploits original principles to reduce and control their environmental presence; as well as the development, implementation, and efficacy of national and international policies to protect human health and the environment from emerging contaminants.

Dr. Kun Li
Prof. Dr. Jin Qian
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • emerging contaminants
  • ecological risk
  • biological effect
  • environmental assessment
  • ecotoxicology
  • control techniques and measures
  • pollution status and sources
  • detection methods and environmental standards
  • environmental benchmarks
  • new techniques

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 2014 KiB  
Article
Occurrence, Bioaccumulation, and Risk Assessment of Organophosphate Esters in Rivers Receiving Different Effluents
by Shuyan Da and Jun Wang
Toxics 2024, 12(8), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12080612 - 20 Aug 2024
Viewed by 877
Abstract
Organophosphate esters (OPEs), as alternatives to brominated flame retardants, are extensively used in both production and daily life, with their environmental contamination and toxic effects being a concern. This study investigated the concentration levels, bioaccumulation, and ecological effects of OPEs in five different [...] Read more.
Organophosphate esters (OPEs), as alternatives to brominated flame retardants, are extensively used in both production and daily life, with their environmental contamination and toxic effects being a concern. This study investigated the concentration levels, bioaccumulation, and ecological effects of OPEs in five different effluent-receiving rivers. The results demonstrate that the concentration range of Σ13OPEs across the five rivers was between 142.23 and 304.56 ng/L (mean: 193.50 ng/L). The highest pollution levels of OPEs were found in rivers receiving airport and industrial wastewater, followed by agricultural wastewater, mixed wastewater, and domestic wastewater. Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP), triethyl phosphate (TEP), and tricresyl phosphate (TCrP) were identified as the main pollutants. The accumulation concentrations of OPEs in fish ranged from 54.0 to 1080.88 ng/g dw, with the highest bioaccumulation found in Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, followed by Carassius auratus and Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. The brain was the primary organ of accumulation, followed by the liver, gills, intestine, and muscle. Tri-n-propyl phosphate (TPeP) and TEP exhibited the highest bioconcentration, with log BAF values exceeding three. The bioaccumulation of OPEs was influenced by pollutant concentration levels, hydrophobic properties, and biological metabolism. Ecological risk assessment revealed that the cumulative risk values of Σ13OPEs ranged from 0.025 to 16.76, with TCrP being the major contributor. It posed a medium–low risk to algae but a high risk to crustaceans and fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 3684 KiB  
Article
Elucidating Amendment Resources for Reclaiming Efficacy of Sodic Soils around Abaya and Chamo Lakes, South Ethiopia Rift Valley
by Azmera Walche, Wassie Haile, Alemayehu Kiflu and Dereje Tsegaye
Toxics 2024, 12(4), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12040265 - 31 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1343
Abstract
Background: Sodic soils are harmful to agricultural and natural environments in Ethiopia’s semi-arid and arid regions, leading to soil degradation and reduced productivity. This study investigated how amendment resources could help improve the chemical properties of sodic soils around the Abaya and Chamo [...] Read more.
Background: Sodic soils are harmful to agricultural and natural environments in Ethiopia’s semi-arid and arid regions, leading to soil degradation and reduced productivity. This study investigated how amendment resources could help improve the chemical properties of sodic soils around the Abaya and Chamo Lakes in the South Ethiopia Rift Valley. Methods: A factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects of gypsum (GYP) and farmyard manure (FYM) on sodic soil reclamation. The experiment had four levels of GYP (0, 50, 100, and 150%) and four levels of FYM (0, 10, 20, and 30 tons ha−1), with three replications. The pots were incubated for three months and leached for one month, after which soil samples were collected and analyzed for chemical properties. ANOVA was performed to determine the optimal amendment level for sodic soil reclamation. Results: The study found that applying 10 ton FYM ha−1 and gypsum at 100% gypsum required (GR) rate resulted in a 99.8% decrease in exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP) compared to untreated composite sodic soil and a 1.31% reduction over the control (GYP 0% + FYM 0 ton ha−1). As a result, this leads to a decrease in soil electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium (Ex. Na), and ESP values. The results were confirmed by the LSD test at 0.05. It is fascinating to see how different treatments can have such a significant impact on soil properties. The prediction models indicate that ESP’s sodic soil treatment effect (R2 = 0.95) determines the optimal amendment level for displacing Ex. Na from the exchange site. The best estimator models for ESP using sodic soil treatment levels were ESP = 1.65–0.33 GYP for sole gypsum application and ESP = 1.65–0.33 GYP + 0.28 FYM for combined GYP and FYM application, respectively. Conclusion: The study found that combined GYP and FYM applications reduced ESP to less than 10% in agriculture, but further research is needed to determine their effectiveness at the field level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1503 KiB  
Article
Associations between Urinary Mercury/Cadmium Concentrations and Anthropometric Features in Korean Children
by Min Won Shin, Hyo-Bin Kim, Ahreum Kwon, Mi Jung Park and Shin-Hye Kim
Toxics 2024, 12(3), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12030175 - 24 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1690
Abstract
Investigating the impact of urinary mercury and cadmium on anthropometric parameters in Korean children is crucial amid growing concerns about heavy metal exposure and childhood growth. Using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2015–2017), we assessed age- and sex-specific associations of [...] Read more.
Investigating the impact of urinary mercury and cadmium on anthropometric parameters in Korean children is crucial amid growing concerns about heavy metal exposure and childhood growth. Using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2015–2017), we assessed age- and sex-specific associations of urinary mercury and cadmium with height and body mass index (BMI) z-scores in 1458 children aged 3–5 (n = 571) and 6–11 years (n = 887). Overall, 5.0% had stunted height (3–5 years: 6.9%, 6–11 years: 3.8%), whereas older children exhibited higher overweight/obesity prevalence (29.2%) than younger ones did (22.2%). In 3–5-year-old boys, urinary mercury correlated negatively with height z-scores (p < 0.001), whereas in girls, urinary cadmium correlated positively (p = 0.015). Boys aged 6–11 years showed positive associations between mercury/cadmium levels and BMI z-scores (p = 0.012). Logistic regression indicated associations between urinary mercury and stunted height likelihood (p = 0.001) and between urinary cadmium and reduced overweight likelihood (p = 0.039) in 3–5-year-old boys. In boys aged 6–11 years, urinary cadmium levels were positively associated with overweight likelihood (p = 0.003). This study underscores the link between elevated urinary mercury, cadmium levels, and growth disruptions in Korean children, emphasizing the need for public health strategies for reducing childhood heavy metal exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

29 pages, 1203 KiB  
Review
Proposing Effective Ecotoxicity Test Species for Chemical Safety Assessment in East Asia: A Review
by Jin Wuk Lee, Ilseob Shim and Kyunghwa Park
Toxics 2024, 12(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010030 - 30 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2020
Abstract
East Asia leads the global chemical industry, but environmental chemical risk in these countries is an emerging concern. Despite this, only a few native species that are representative of East Asian environments are listed as test species in international guidelines compared with those [...] Read more.
East Asia leads the global chemical industry, but environmental chemical risk in these countries is an emerging concern. Despite this, only a few native species that are representative of East Asian environments are listed as test species in international guidelines compared with those native to Europe and America. This review suggests that Zacco platypus, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Hydrilla verticillata, Neocaridina denticulata spp., and Scenedesmus obliquus, all resident to East Asia, are promising test species for ecotoxicity tests. The utility of these five species in environmental risk assessment (ERA) varies depending on their individual traits and the state of ecotoxicity research, indicating a need for different applications of each species according to ERA objectives. Furthermore, the traits of these five species can complement each other when assessing chemical effects under diverse exposure scenarios, suggesting they can form a versatile battery for ERA. This review also analyzes recent trends in ecotoxicity studies and proposes emerging research issues, such as the application of alternative test methods, comparative studies using model species, the identification of specific markers for test species, and performance of toxicity tests under environmentally relevant conditions. The information provided on the utility of the five species and alternative issues in toxicity tests could assist in selecting test species suited to study objectives for more effective ERA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop