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Research in Emerging Contaminants: Impact and Solutions
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Research in Emerging Contaminants: Impact and Solutions

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Earth Science and Medical Geology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 10027

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cheng Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: ecotoxicology; environmental health of emerging contaminants
Dr. Xiaokai Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: soil remediation; biochar; heavy metal pollution; environmental risk assessment; whole-cell bioreporter technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the acceleration of global industrialization, urbanization, and other human activities, various anthropogenic chemicals are used and discharged into the environment. Continuous exposure to the pollutant environment will lead to adverse biological effects, which damage the growth and reproduction of animals and plants. It also endangers human health throughout the food chain, leading to various chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, reproductive abnormalities, and organ damage. To understand the direct and indirect effects of human activities on the total environment, it is necessary to explore the biological response of environmental contaminants and provide the theoretical basis for preventing and reducing environmental contaminations. It is conducive to the rational control of environmental contamination and solving environmental problems gradually if we can master the migration and transformation of contaminants in environmental media through in-depth research.

This special issue aims to evaluate the potential risks of emerging contaminants (microplastics, nanomaterials, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and other emerging compounds) to the distinctive ecological environment, biota, and human health. On this basis, after exploring the interactions among various contaminants, bioavailability, ecotoxicology, and biodiversity, the establishment of a biogeochemical cycle model of environmental contaminants and risk assessment through biological response mechanism can promote the effective control of contaminants. It is committed to solving the mechanism of the pollution process and effect, related technologies, and methods, and then offers great support to the control of environmental pollution and their potential risk assessment.

Dr. Cheng Zhang
Dr. Xiaokai Zhang
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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 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 2500 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

  • environmental contamination
  • biogeochemical behavior
  • toxicity
  • risk assessment
  • contamination control
  • ecotoxicology

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 4145 KiB  
Article
Facile Phase Control and Photocatalytic Performance of BiVO4 Crystals for Methylene Blue Degradation
by Heshan Cai, Linmei Cheng, Huacong Chen, Rongni Dou, Junfeng Chen, Yuxin Zhao, Fuhua Li and Zheng Fang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3093; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043093 - 10 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1148
Abstract
Emerging contaminants, which mainly exist as organic pollutants and pose adverse biological effects, could be removed using photocatalytic degradation, resulting in a low-cost and environmentally friendly solution. Herein, BiVO4 nanoparticles with different morphologies and photocatalytic performances were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment at [...] Read more.
Emerging contaminants, which mainly exist as organic pollutants and pose adverse biological effects, could be removed using photocatalytic degradation, resulting in a low-cost and environmentally friendly solution. Herein, BiVO4 nanoparticles with different morphologies and photocatalytic performances were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment at different residence times. The XRD and SEM results indicate that the crystal phase of BiVO4 gradually transformed from a single tetragonal phase to a single monoclinic crystal phase as the hydrothermal time increased, and with the extension of the hydrothermal time, the morphology of BiVO4 nanoparticles gradually differentiated from a smooth spherical shape to flower-like shapes composed of polyhedrons; the size of the crystals also increased accordingly. Methylene blue (MB), used as a probe of organic pollutants, was degraded under visible light irradiation by all BiVO4 samples to investigate its photocatalytic activities. The experimental results show that the longer the hydrothermal time, the better the photocatalytic performance. The optimum hydrothermal time was 24 h, at which the sample showed the highest photocatalytic activity for MB degradation. This work shows a convenient strategy for control of the crystal phase of BiVO4-based photocatalysts based on the understanding of the crystal morphology evolution mechanism, which will benefit the researchers in designing new BiVO4-based photocatalysts with high efficiency for emerging contaminants’ degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Emerging Contaminants: Impact and Solutions)
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18 pages, 5005 KiB  
Article
Phosphate Removal Mechanisms in Aqueous Solutions by Three Different Fe-Modified Biochars
by Yiyin Qin, Xinyi Wu, Qiqi Huang, Jingzi Beiyuan, Jin Wang, Juan Liu, Wenbing Yuan, Chengrong Nie and Hailong Wang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010326 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2074
Abstract
Iron-modified biochar can be used as an environmentally friendly adsorbent to remove the phosphate in wastewater because of its low cost. In this study, Fe-containing materials, such as zero-valent iron (ZVI), goethite, and magnetite, were successfully loaded on biochar. The phosphate adsorption mechanisms [...] Read more.
Iron-modified biochar can be used as an environmentally friendly adsorbent to remove the phosphate in wastewater because of its low cost. In this study, Fe-containing materials, such as zero-valent iron (ZVI), goethite, and magnetite, were successfully loaded on biochar. The phosphate adsorption mechanisms of the three Fe-modified biochars were studied and compared. Different characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were used to study the physicochemical properties of the biochars. The dosage, adsorption time, pH, ionic strength, solution concentration of phosphate, and regeneration evaluations were carried out. Among the three Fe-modified biochars, biochar modified by goethite (GBC) is more suitable for phosphate removal in acidic conditions, especially when the pH = 2, while biochar modified by ZVI (ZBC) exhibits the fastest adsorption rate. The maximum phosphate adsorption capacities, calculated by the Langmuir–Freundlich isothermal model, are 19.66 mg g−1, 12.33 mg g−1, and 2.88 mg g−1 for ZBC, GBC, and CSBC (biochar modified by magnetite), respectively. However, ZBC has a poor capacity for reuse. The dominant mechanism for ZBC is surface precipitation, while for GBC and CSBC, the major mechanisms are ligand exchange and electrostatic attraction. The results of our study can enhance the understanding of phosphate removal mechanisms by Fe-modified biochar and can contribute to the application of Fe-modified biochar for phosphate removal in water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Emerging Contaminants: Impact and Solutions)
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Review

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18 pages, 1202 KiB  
Review
Biochar for the Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Aquatic Systems: A Review
by Mingying Dong, Lizhi He, Mengyuan Jiang, Yi Zhu, Jie Wang, Williamson Gustave, Shuo Wang, Yun Deng, Xiaokai Zhang and Zhenyu Wang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031679 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3660
Abstract
Water contaminated with emerging pollutants has become a serious environmental issue globally. Biochar is a porous and carbon-rich material produced from biomass pyrolysis and has the potential to be used as an integrated adsorptive material. Many studies have shown that biochar is capable [...] Read more.
Water contaminated with emerging pollutants has become a serious environmental issue globally. Biochar is a porous and carbon-rich material produced from biomass pyrolysis and has the potential to be used as an integrated adsorptive material. Many studies have shown that biochar is capable to adsorb emerging pollutants from aquatic systems and could be used to solve the water pollution problem. Here, we provided a dual perspective on removing emerging pollutants from aquatic systems using biochar and analyzed the emerging pollutant removal efficiency from the aspects of biochar types, pollutant types and coexistence with heavy metals, as well as the associated mechanisms. The potential risks and future research directions of biochar utilization are also presented. This review aims to assist researchers interested in using biochar for emerging pollutants remediation in aquatic systems and facilitate research on emerging pollutants removal, thereby reducing their environmental risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Emerging Contaminants: Impact and Solutions)
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20 pages, 477 KiB  
Review
Toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Aquatic Invertebrates, Planktons, and Microorganisms
by Tingting Ma, Chaoran Ye, Tiantian Wang, Xiuhua Li and Yongming Luo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16729; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416729 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2517
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), recognized worldwide as emerging pollutants, may pose a substantial threat to human health and our environment due to their stability, high concentrations, wide distribution, and easy accumulation. Ever since perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid were recognized by the [...] Read more.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), recognized worldwide as emerging pollutants, may pose a substantial threat to human health and our environment due to their stability, high concentrations, wide distribution, and easy accumulation. Ever since perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid were recognized by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the public has become increasingly concerned about potential contamination and the environmental risks associated with PFASs. Ubiquitous PFAS contamination of drinking water, groundwater, surface water, and sediment has been detected, especially in areas with rapid industrial and economic development. Its accumulation in living organisms and foods has accentuated the importance of investigations into aquatic organisms at the bottom of the food chain, as the stability and integrity of the food web as well as the population quantity and structure of the aquatic ecosystem may be affected. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the toxic and toxicity-related effects of PFASs on aquatic plankton, aquatic invertebrates and microorganisms, the characteristics of different target aquatic organisms in toxicity investigations, and a feasibility evaluation of PFAS substitutes to provide valuable suggestions for further utilization and regulation of PFASs and their substitutes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Emerging Contaminants: Impact and Solutions)
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