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

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

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