Tracking the Environmental Fate of Heavy Metals: Migration, Accumulation, and Detection Techniques
A special issue of Journal of Xenobiotics (ISSN 2039-4713).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 8
Special Issue Editor
Interests: environmental geochemistry; mine environmental engineering; ecological geology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Heavy metal pollution poses a critical threat to ecosystems and human health due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Understanding the environmental behavior of heavy metals—from their release into ecosystems to their long-term impacts—is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies. This Special Issue, "Tracking the Environmental Fate of Heavy Metals: Migration, Accumulation and Detection Techniques", invites researchers to contribute cutting-edge studies that address the dynamic pathways and ecological risks of heavy metals and innovative methods for their detection in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems.
We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies focusing on the following. Migration Mechanisms: investigations into the transport pathways of heavy metals across environmental matrices, including soil–water interactions, atmospheric deposition, and biogeochemical cycling. Bioaccumulation and Ecotoxicity: studies on metal uptake by biota, trophic transfer dynamics, and ecotoxicological impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Advanced Detection and Monitoring: novel analytical techniques (e.g., spectroscopy, biosensors, nanomaterials) and modeling approaches for the real-time tracking and predictive analysis of metal contamination. Remediation and Risk Management: sustainable strategies for metal immobilization, phytoremediation, and policy frameworks to reduce environmental exposure. Emerging Challenges: the impacts of climate change, industrial activities, and urbanization on metal mobilization and distribution.
Dr. Liugen Zheng
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- heavy metal contamination
- environmental fate
- migration mechanisms
- bioaccumulation
- detection techniques
- ecotoxicity
- remediation strategies
- pollution monitoring
- risk assessment
- climate change impacts
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