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Applied Sciences
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Impact of Environmental Pollution: Towards Contaminant Assessment and Sustainable Remediation
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Impact of Environmental Pollution: Towards Contaminant Assessment and Sustainable Remediation

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 1118

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dario Savoca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
2. National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: environmental pollution; persisten organic pollutants; endocrine active substances; emerging pollutant; trace elements; contaminant fate and exposure effects; bioaccumulation; biodistribution; environmental toxicology; environmental monitoring; bioremediation; extraction and analysis of pollutants; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Silvia Orecchio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Physical and Chemical Department, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Ed. 17, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Interests: environmental degradation; metals; contamination; voltammetry; sustainable solutions; materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution represents a growing threat to ecosystems, human health, and biodiversity. The continuous release of contaminants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine-active substances (EASs), contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) necessitates a deeper understanding of their fate, bioaccumulation, and toxicological effects. Investigating their distribution in environmental matrices and their impact on living organisms is crucial for developing effective monitoring and remediation strategies. Additionally, estimating bioaccumulation potentials/descriptors is essential to assesing contaminant behavior.

This Special Issue explores innovative approaches to environmental monitoring, pollutant extraction and analysis, and risk assessment. We welcome contributions focusing on advanced analytical techniques for detecting contaminants, assessing their ecological and health risks, and evaluating their transport and transformation in the environment. Special attention will be given to biomonitoring techniques that utilize biological indicators to track exposure and ecosystem health. Additionally, we encourage research on sustainable remediation, including bioremediation, degradation processes, nature-based solutions, and novel pollutant removal technologies.

This Special Issue aims to advance research in environmental toxicology and sustainable remediation, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address pollution challenges.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Environmental monitoring and pollutant detection.
  • Fate, transport, and bioavailability of contaminants.
  • Bioaccumulation and biodistribution in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
  • Estimation of bioaccumulation potentials and descriptors.
  • Toxicological effects.
  • Biomonitoring using biological indicators.
  • Extraction, identification, and analysis of pollutants.
  • Risk assessment approaches.
  • Photodegradation and other degradation processes.
  • Sustainable and nature-based remediation techniques.
  • Bioremediation strategies for pollutant removal.

Dr. Dario Savoca
Guest Editor

Dr. Silvia Orecchio
Guest Editor Assistant

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • analytical chemistry
  • environmental chemistry
  • environmental impact
  • xenobiotic substances
  • toxic compounds
  • exposure effects
  • bioindicator
  • biomagnification
  • pollutant removal
  • environmental remediation

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 1387 KB  
Article
Assessment of Effectiveness of Organic and Mineral Sorbents for In Situ Stabilisation of Petrol-Contaminated Soils: Effect on Trace Element Bioaccumulation in Oats (Avena sativa L.)
by Mirosław Wyszkowski and Natalia Kordala
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(21), 11555; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152111555 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 418
Abstract
Soil contamination with petroleum-derived substances, including petrol, is one of the most serious environmental issues of the modern era. These products are characterised by their durability and stability in the environment, their capacity for bioaccumulation and their toxicity to many organisms, including plants. [...] Read more.
Soil contamination with petroleum-derived substances, including petrol, is one of the most serious environmental issues of the modern era. These products are characterised by their durability and stability in the environment, their capacity for bioaccumulation and their toxicity to many organisms, including plants. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of petrol contamination on trace element content in the above-ground parts of oats (Avena sativa L.) and to determine the effectiveness of in situ stabilisation methods using compost, bentonite and calcium oxide in reducing bioaccumulation of these elements. Petrol contamination of the soil significantly altered the biomass yield and the concentration of trace elements in the plants. It caused a decrease in the dry matter yield and an increase in the content of most trace elements in the above-ground parts of oats. The most pronounced effects were observed for Cd, Ni, Fe, Co, Cr and Mn, whose concentrations in the plants increased across the entire range of petrol doses. Petrol had a similar effect on Zn and Pb content in the above-ground parts of oats, but only up to a medium level of contamination (5 cm3 kg−1). In contrast to the aforementioned elements, soil contamination with petrol contributed to a decrease in the copper content of the above-ground parts of oats. The materials applied to the soil had a beneficial effect on the biomass and the concentration of certain trace elements in plants. The compost and especially calcium oxide had a positive influence on plant yield. Compared to the series without their application to the soil, all materials reduced the content of Cr, Fe, Cd and, especially, Mn in the above-ground parts of plants. Compost also reduced the content of Pb, while bentonite and calcium oxide reduced the content of Co. Calcium oxide also reduced the content of Cu in the above-ground parts of oats. However, bentonite had a weaker effect than compost and calcium oxide. Changes in the content of other elements in plants after application of the aforementioned materials were often opposite (and dependent on the type of material), with the clearest effect being on nickel content. The materials used in the study produced good results in limiting the impact of minor soil contamination with petrol on the content of certain trace elements in plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Environmental Pollution: Towards Contaminant Assessment and Sustainable Remediation)
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Review

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27 pages, 1865 KB  
Review
Silent Disruptors: The Multifaceted Impact of Phthalates Across Aquatic Invertebrate and Vertebrate Taxa
by Dario Savoca, Chiara Martino, Antonella Maccotta, Vincenzo Arizza, Diana Amorello, Giuseppe Arrabito and Silvia Orecchio
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(24), 12937; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152412937 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 351
Abstract
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous pollutants with reported endocrine-disruption and multiplex toxic activities in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. In the present review, the molecular and physiological effects of phthalate exposure on invertebrates, as well as less characterized vertebrates [...] Read more.
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous pollutants with reported endocrine-disruption and multiplex toxic activities in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. In the present review, the molecular and physiological effects of phthalate exposure on invertebrates, as well as less characterized vertebrates such as amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, are thoroughly examined. PAEs induce a series of adverse effects, such as reproductive toxicity, oxidative stress, immune system impairment, and neuroendocrine disruption. The effects can extensively vary depending on the species, developmental stage, and environmental conditions, ranging from impaired hormone signaling, developmental malformations, and thyroid impairment in amphibians and reptiles to lipid metabolism disturbances and epigenetic changes in mammals. This review will place particular emphasis on transgenerational effects, mixture toxicity, and chronic low-level exposure. By integrating evidence from in vivo, in vitro, and omics studies, this review defines areas of knowledge gaps and the necessity to integrate these taxa in integrated ecological risk assessments, as well as regulatory policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Environmental Pollution: Towards Contaminant Assessment and Sustainable Remediation)
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