Presence of Emerging and Persistent Contaminants in Environmental Matrices
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 69
Special Issue Editor
Interests: environmental chemistry; omics; mass spectrometry; organic contaminants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Emerging and persistent contaminants have become a major concern for environmental and public health due to their widespread occurrence, persistence, and potential toxicological effects. Among these compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted particular attention because of their extreme environmental stability, mobility, and bioaccumulation potential. PFAS, together with other classes of contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial additives, and plastic-related chemicals, are increasingly detected in a wide range of environmental matrices, including surface waters, groundwater, soils, sediments, and biota.
The continuous release of these substances from industrial activities, wastewater treatment plants, and diffuse sources poses significant challenges for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. Furthermore, conventional treatment technologies are often insufficient to fully remove many of these compounds, leading to their long-term persistence in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Advanced analytical techniques, including high-resolution mass spectrometry and non-target screening approaches, play a crucial role in improving detection, identification, and prioritization of these contaminants.
This Special Issue aims to gather original research and review articles addressing the occurrence, fate, transformation, and ecological risks of emerging and persistent contaminants, with particular emphasis on PFAS, in diverse environmental matrices. Contributions focusing on analytical advancements, monitoring strategies, toxicological effects, and mitigation approaches are especially welcome.
Dr. Cristian Gómez-Canela
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- emerging contaminants
- persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
- environmental matrices
- environmental risk assessment (ERA)
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