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Emerging Contaminants as Vectors of Global Change: Ecotoxicology, Bioaccumulation and...
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Emerging Contaminants as Vectors of Global Change: Ecotoxicology, Bioaccumulation and Risk

A special issue of Journal of Xenobiotics (ISSN 2039-4713). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 3838

Editors

Prof. Dr. Damià Barceló

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Guest Editor
Chemistry and Physics Department, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Interests: emerging contaminants; microplastics; sewage epidemiology; water treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Paolo Pastorino

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Guest Editor
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Turin, Italy
Interests: freshwater ecology; high-mountain lakes; antibiotic resistance; aquaculture; conservation of biodiversity; ecotoxicology; emerging contaminants; fish biology; fish diseases; invasive alien species; micro(nano)plastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging contaminants are increasingly acknowledged as pervasive drivers of global environmental change, owing to their continuous release, environmental persistence, and complex interactions with biological systems. This Special Issue entitled “Emerging Contaminants as Vectors of Global Change: Ecotoxicology, Bioaccumulation and Risk”, aims to consolidate current advances in the understanding the occurrence, fate, and biological effects of contaminants of emerging concern within aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

The SI invites original research articles and reviews addressing a broad spectrum of emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, micro- and nanoplastics, industrial chemicals, and their transformation products. Particular emphasis is placed on ecotoxicological responses across multiple levels of biological organization, bioaccumulation and trophic transfer dynamics, and the integration of mechanistic toxicological endpoints into environmental risk assessment frameworks. Contributions exploring mixture toxicity, chronic and sublethal effects, and environmentally realistic exposure scenarios are especially encouraged.

By integrating developments in analytical chemistry, ecotoxicology, and environmental risk assessment, this Special Issue seeks to elucidate the role of emerging contaminants as systemic stressors interacting with other global change drivers. Overall, the collected contributions aim to inform monitoring strategies and regulatory decision-making, supporting the protection of ecosystem integrity and public health under current and future environmental conditions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Diversity.

Prof. Dr. Damià Barceló
Dr. Paolo Pastorino
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 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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Xenobiotics 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 1600 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

  • bioaccumulation
  • ecotoxicology
  • emerging contaminants
  • environmental risk assessment
  • global change drivers
  • mixture toxicity
  • trophic transfer

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2024 KB  
Article
Residue of Organophosphate Esters (OPEs) in the Crustacean from Southeast China and Its Dietary Exposure Risk Assessment
by Hai-Tao Shen, Jian-Long Han, Xiao-Min Xu and Xiao-Dong Pan
J. Xenobiot. 2026, 16(2), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox16020058 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 798
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive investigation of OPE residues, distribution patterns, and dietary exposure risks in crustaceans from southeast China. OPEs were detected in over 90% of samples, with mean total concentrations (ΣOPEs) of 5.80 μg/kg wet weight (ww) in freshwater shrimp, 6.52 [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive investigation of OPE residues, distribution patterns, and dietary exposure risks in crustaceans from southeast China. OPEs were detected in over 90% of samples, with mean total concentrations (ΣOPEs) of 5.80 μg/kg wet weight (ww) in freshwater shrimp, 6.52 μg/kg ww in marine prawn, and 1.25 μg/kg ww in marine crab. Tributyl phosphate (TiBP), triethyl phosphate (TEP), and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) emerged as the dominant congeners, accounting for 68.1% of ΣOPEs, which indicates inputs from industrial emissions, plastic waste leaching, and aquaculture equipment. Spatial analysis revealed striking regional differences: coastal industrial cities (Zhoushan, Taizhou) exhibited ΣOPE levels up to 12-fold higher than inland mountainous areas (Quzhou, Lishui), while no significant temporal variations were observed. Human health risk evaluation, based on estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ), demonstrated negligible non-carcinogenic risks for the general population (HI < 1), though children and frequent seafood consumers have slightly elevated exposure. These findings indicate the value of crustaceans as bioindicators for OPE contamination and require long-term monitoring of emerging OPEs and their synergistic effects with co-occurring pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants as Vectors of Global Change: Ecotoxicology, Bioaccumulation and Risk)
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Review

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47 pages, 2047 KB  
Review
Analysis and Risks of Emerging Contaminants and Microplastics in Natural and Treated Waters and Human Health: A Critical Review
by Maryam Mallek and Damià Barceló
J. Xenobiot. 2026, 16(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox16030093 - 23 May 2026
Viewed by 1674
Abstract
Emerging contaminants (ECs) and microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in surface waters, wastewaters, and drinking water, often as complex mixtures, transformation products, and particle-associated burdens that challenge routine monitoring. This critical review examines current analytical strategies for the detection and characterization of both [...] Read more.
Emerging contaminants (ECs) and microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in surface waters, wastewaters, and drinking water, often as complex mixtures, transformation products, and particle-associated burdens that challenge routine monitoring. This critical review examines current analytical strategies for the detection and characterization of both molecular and particulate emerging contaminants in aquatic systems, with particular emphasis on their relevance to environmental and human health risk assessment. For molecular ECs, targeted LC–MS/MS and GC–MS and GC–MS/MS approaches are evaluated alongside high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based suspect and non-target screening, retrospective data mining, and transformation-product elucidation. For MPs, particle-resolved vibrational spectroscopy including µ-FTIR and µ-Raman is critically assessed in comparison with complementary thermal analysis methods, such as pyrolysis–GC–MS and thermal extraction–desorption GC–MS (TED–GC–MS). Particular attention is given to the influence of sampling design, matrix-adapted sample preparation, analytical confidence, and method-dependent size and polymer coverage on data quality and interstudy comparability. The review further highlights the risks of ECs in relation to exposure pathways, mixture effects, and the potential carrier role of MPs for ECs, additives, and microorganisms. Finally, key priorities are identified for next-generation monitoring frameworks, including harmonized workflows, transparent confidence reporting, and stronger integration of analytical evidence with fate, exposure, and risk assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants as Vectors of Global Change: Ecotoxicology, Bioaccumulation and Risk)
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Other

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32 pages, 7030 KB  
Systematic Review
Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater: A Systematic PRISMA-Guided Review on Risk, Genetic Transfer, and the Effectiveness of the Photo-Fenton Process for Their Removal
by María del Rocío Duarte-Martínez, Aldo Amaro-Reyes, Juan Campos-Guillen, Miguel Angel Ramos-López, Eloy Rodríguez-de León, Monserrat Escamilla-García, Vanessa Vallejo-Becerra, Alejandra Álvarez-López, Yesenia Mendoza-Burguete, Mónica López Velarde-Santos, Héctor Pool, Luisa Ramírez-Granados, Ricardo Chaparro-Sánchez and José Alberto Rodríguez-Morales
J. Xenobiot. 2026, 16(3), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox16030094 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 653
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a growing global threat, facilitated by the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, compiles the risks associated with ARGs, as well as the factors that promote [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a growing global threat, facilitated by the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, compiles the risks associated with ARGs, as well as the factors that promote horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and the technologies applied for their removal. The literature shows that WWTPs act as reservoirs, where biological treatment conditions and the presence of sub-inhibitory contaminants (antibiotics, metals, and pharmaceuticals) accelerate HGT. Although conventional methods (chlorination, ozonation, UV) are effective at eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), their ability to degrade persistent genetic material is insufficient. Therefore, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) emerge as a key solution, with the photo-Fenton process standing out due to efficiently generating hydroxyl radicals, achieving the degradation of ARGs, an essential step to mitigate the spread of AMR into the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants as Vectors of Global Change: Ecotoxicology, Bioaccumulation and Risk)
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