Xenobiotics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Fate, Toxicity, and Sustainable Remediation

Dear Colleagues,

Xenobiotics are increasingly detected in freshwater and marine environments, raising growing concerns about their fate and biological impacts. Although notable advances have been made, major knowledge gaps persist regarding the transformation, persistence, and bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, PFAS, heavy metals, personal-care products, and other emerging contaminants. These substances can accumulate in aquatic animals and interfere with key physiological functions - including endocrine balance, reproduction, immune responses, growth, and behaviour-compromising survival and fitness across a wide range of species. Because humans rely on aquatic organisms for food, economic activities, and ecosystem - derived services, such impairments inevitably carry implications for human health through trophic transfer, exposure to contaminated water, and reduced availability of safe biological resources.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate cutting-edge research on the occurrence, distribution, and ecotoxicological effects of xenobiotics in aquatic fauna, alongside sustainable strategies for their mitigation. Contributions are invited on analytical and modelling approaches, mechanistic insights into acute and chronic toxicity, and innovative, low-impact remediation technologies. By mobilising interdisciplinary expertise, this Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of xenobiotic risk assessment and support safer, more sustainable management of aquatic environments.

Dr. Rachele Macirella
Guest Editor

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. 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.