Polluted Environments: Effects of Chemicals and Mixtures on Fish Physiology and Biochemistry

Dear Colleagues,

The quality and scarcity of water resources are major global concerns, as aquatic ecosystems are increasingly compromised by mixtures of chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, micro- and nanoplastics, and other emerging contaminants. Climate change and extreme events further intensify these pressures, affecting water quality and ecosystem resilience. Fish are widely recognized as bioindicators of the ecosystems’ ecological status, as they show physiological, biochemical, and behavioral responses that link environmental health to human well-being.

This Special Issue aims to highlight innovative research on emerging pollutants and their mixtures that affect fish biology across multiple levels of biological organization, from molecular and cellular mechanisms to behavioral and population-level outcomes. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies that integrate ecotoxicology, physiology, and environmental risk assessment to better understand the combined impacts of contaminants and global change.

By highlighting fish as sentinel species in their interactions with contaminants and changing environments, this Special Issue aligns closely with the journal’s scope on animal biology, welfare, and their broader ecological context. Contributions will provide novel insights into the physiological, biochemical, and behavioral responses of fish, combining fundamental research, applied perspectives, and regulatory frameworks, and promoting sustainable strategies for aquatic ecosystem protection.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Ecotoxicological approaches integrating environmental risk assessment and One Health perspectives;
• Physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of fish to single contaminants and mixtures;
• Behavioral assays and biomarkers linking contaminant exposure to ecological outcomes;
• Gene expression studies and novel molecular tools for ecotoxicology;
• Impacts of climate change and extreme events on contaminant dynamics and fish responses;
• Methodological advances in experimental designs, assays, and modeling for aquatic toxicology;
• Physiological, biochemical, and behavioral effects of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plastics, and other emerging pollutants on fish health and welfare;
• Environmental monitoring of aquatic ecosystems and integration of scientific evidence into regulatory and policy frameworks.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Ines Lacchetti
Dr. Arnold Rakaj
Guest Editors

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