Plant Responses to Emerging Contaminants and Remediation Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging contaminants, also referred to as contaminants of emerging concern, comprise a broad and heterogeneous class of synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals that are not yet comprehensively regulated but pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health. This group includes pharmaceuticals and personal care products, endocrine-disrupting compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, antibiotics, pesticides, flame retardants, nanomaterials and microplastics. Although the term “emerging contaminants” gained prominence in the early 2000s—particularly through initiatives such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Contaminant Candidate List and the growing attention to pharmaceuticals and personal care products—concerns regarding these substances predate this period. Advances in analytical techniques have since enabled their widespread detection in water, soil and air, revealing their pervasive environmental presence. Characterized by persistence, bioaccumulation potential and often subtle or chronic toxicity, emerging contaminants originate from diverse sources, including industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, wastewater effluents and everyday consumer products. Even at environmentally relevant low concentrations, they can enter food chains, disrupt endocrine systems, promote antibiotic resistance and exert long-term adverse effects on biodiversity.

Plants, as primary producers and fundamental components of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, are particularly susceptible to emerging contaminant exposure through contaminated soil, irrigation water and atmospheric deposition. Elucidating plant responses to emerging contaminants is therefore essential for ecological risk assessment, the protection of agricultural productivity and the maintenance of food security. To cope with emerging contaminant-induced stress, plants deploy a suite of defense mechanisms. Physical barriers, such as root exudates and leaf cuticular waxes, can restrict contaminant uptake and translocation. At the biochemical level, plants activate detoxification pathways, including enhanced antioxidant enzyme systems—such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidases—to scavenge reactive oxygen species and alleviate oxidative damage. In parallel, Phase I and Phase II metabolic processes, often mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and conjugating enzymes, facilitate the transformation, sequestration and detoxification of xenobiotics. At the molecular scale, emerging contaminant exposure induces extensive transcriptional reprogramming, with the upregulation of genes associated with stress responses, secondary metabolism and transport processes. For example, under microplastic stress, some plant species increase the synthesis of phenolic compounds and flavonoids as protective metabolites, while others exhibit changes in root architecture, impaired photosynthetic performance, or altered nutrient acquisition.

Beyond their intrinsic tolerance mechanisms, plants also represent powerful tools for the remediation of emerging contaminant-contaminated environments. Phytoremediation—the use of plants, often in conjunction with associated microbial communities, to extract, degrade, stabilize, or volatilize contaminants—offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional physicochemical remediation technologies. Strategies such as phytoextraction (accumulation of contaminants in harvestable biomass), phytodegradation (enzymatic transformation within plant tissues), rhizofiltration (root-mediated removal from aqueous systems) and phytostabilization (immobilization of contaminants in soils) have demonstrated considerable potential for mitigating emerging contaminant pollution. The use of hyperaccumulator species, genetically engineered plants, or plant–microbe consortia can further enhance remediation efficiency, particularly for recalcitrant compounds such as PFAS and antibiotics.

This Special Issue brings together state-of-the-art research on plant–emerging contaminant interactions, encompassing physiological, biochemical and molecular responses, as well as innovative phytoremediation strategies. The contributions address key topics including uptake and translocation dynamics, toxicity thresholds, adaptive and tolerance mechanisms and practical applications in contaminated soils and aquatic environments. By integrating fundamental mechanistic insights with applied remediation approaches, this collection aims to advance sustainable, plant-based solutions for mitigating the risks posed by emerging contaminants, supporting resilient agroecosystems and protecting global environmental health in the face of increasing anthropogenic pollution.

We sincerely look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Fei Xu
Prof. Dr. Zhengquan He
Dr. Chao Zhou
Dr. Renying Zhuo
Guest Editors

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