Editor’s Choice Articles

The general spread of water safety awareness and enforcement often masks the escalating risks of emerging contaminants (ECs) that evade standard detection and monitoring techniques. Traditional monitoring infrastructures depend heavily on localized laboratory-based testing, which is expensive, time-consuming, and reliant on specialized infrastructure and skilled personnel. While specific types of ECs and detection technologies have been examined in numerous studies, a significant gap remains in compiling and commenting on this information in a concise framework that incorporates global impact and monitoring strategies. We aimed to compile and highlight the impact ECs have on global water safety and how advanced sensor technologies, when integrated with digital tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), geographic information systems (GIS), and cloud-based analytics, can enhance real-time EC detection and monitoring. Recent case studies were reviewed for the assessment of EC types, global contamination, and current state-of-the-art for EC detection and their limitations. An emphasis has been placed on areas that remain unaddressed in the current literature: a cross-disciplinary integration of integrated sensor platforms, multidisciplinary research collaborations, strategic public–private partnerships, and regulatory bodies engagement will be essential in safeguarding public health, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring the quality and resilience of our water resources worldwide. Full article

The alarming increase in the use of chemically driven pesticides for enhanced crop productivity has severely affected soil fertility, ecosystem balance, and consumer health. Inadequate handling protocols and ineffective remediation strategies have led to elevated pesticide concentrations, contributing to human respiratory and metabolic disorders in humans. In the current context, where agricultural activities and pesticide applications are intertwined, strong and sustainable remediation strategies are essential for environmental protection without sacrificing crop productivity. Various bio-inspired methods have been reported, such as phytoremediation, bioremediation, and in situ remediation; however, limited success has been observed with either single or combined approaches. Consequently, biopolymer biomanufacturing, nanoparticle-based bioengineering, and computational biology for improved understanding of mechanisms have been revisited to incorporate updated methodologies that detail the fate and action of harmful chemical pesticides in agriculture. An in silico mechanistic approach has been emphasized to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in agricultural pesticides’ degradation using nanomaterials. A roadmap has been created by integrating cutting-edge machine learning techniques to develop nature-inspired sustainable agricultural practices and contaminant disposal methods. This review represents a pioneering effort to explore the roles of wet-lab chemistry and in silico methods in mitigating the effects of agricultural pesticides, providing a comprehensive strategy for balancing environmental sustainability and agricultural practices. Full article

Milk and dairy products play a key role in the human diet but may also be vehicles for toxic contaminants, particularly heavy metals and metalloids (HMs), such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). This integrative review examines peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 to examine sources, occurrence, and health risks associated with HM contamination in milk and dairy products. Key sources include industrial emissions, agricultural runoff, contaminated feed and water, and inadequate packaging. This review highlights regulatory inconsistencies, limited surveillance, and underuse of metal speciation analysis, which hinder accurate toxicity assessment. Advances in trace-level HM detection systems are discussed in terms of sensitivity, accessibility, and feasibility. Studies from diverse geographic regions frequently report high levels of Pb and Cd in samples originating from industrialized areas in low- and middle-income countries. Health risk indicators, such as target hazard quotients (THQs) and margins of exposure (MOEs), often exceed safety thresholds, particularly in children, indicating significant public health risks, especially with prolonged exposure. These findings underscore the urgent need for systematic contaminant monitoring, harmonized regulations, source-focused mitigation policies, and investment in rapid, cost-effective testing technologies to safeguard milk and dairy product safety worldwide. Full article

Environmental risk assessment (ERA) for pesticide approval in the context of predatory insects remains inadequate as it often overlooks the influence of agricultural practices. An increasing number of studies have shown that prolonged and synergistic pesticide exposure can elevate insect mortality. However, such effects remain largely unstudied in non-target predatory carabid beetles. The carabid beetle Platynus assimilis was subjected to repeated oral and continuous contact exposure to low doses of prothioconazole (20 g·ha⁻¹), lambda-cyhalothrin (0.4 g·ha⁻¹), or their combination over a 64-day period. The food consumption rate, body mass, locomotor activity, and mortality were monitored throughout the experiment. All pesticide-treated groups showed significantly increased final mortality, with median lethal times (LT₅₀) of 51.6 days for prothioconazole, 60.3 days for lambda-cyhalothrin, and 12.2 days for their combination. A significant synergistic effect on mortality was observed in the combined treatment group, with the highest synergistic ratio detected 20 days after the first exposure. Pesticide-treated beetles exhibited significant abnormalities in locomotor activity and body mass compared to the untreated group. These findings demonstrate that both time-cumulative mortality and potential synergistic interactions, reflecting field-realistic conditions, must be considered in ERA. Failure to do so may lead to an underestimation of pesticide toxicity to predatory carabids. Full article

Agriculture relies on the widespread application of nitrogen fertilisers to improve crop yields and meet the demands of a growing population. However, the excessive use of these fertilisers has led to significant water quality challenges, posing risks to aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. This study examines the relationship between synthetic nitrogen fertiliser usage and water pollution while identifying gaps in existing research to guide future studies. A systematic search across databases (Scopus, Web of Science, and Greenfile) identified 18 studies with quantitative data, synthesised using a single-group meta-analysis of means. As the data were continuous, the mean was used as the effect measure, and a random-effects model was applied due to varied study populations, with missing data estimated through statistical assumptions. The meta-analysis found an average nitrate concentration of 34.283 mg/L (95% confidence interval: 29.290–39.276), demonstrating the significant impact of nitrogen fertilisers on water quality. While this average remains marginally below the thresholds set by the World Health Organization (50 mg/L NO₃⁻) and EU Nitrate Directive, it exceeds the United States Environmental Protection Agency limit (44.3 mg/L NO₃⁻), signalling potential health risks, especially in vulnerable or unregulated regions. The high observed heterogeneity (I² = 100%) suggests that factors such as soil type, agricultural practices, application rate, and environmental conditions influence nitrate levels. While agriculture is a key contributor, other anthropogenic activities may also affect nitrate concentrations. Future research should comprehensively assess all influencing factors to determine the precise impact of nitrogen fertilisers on water quality. Full article

The threats posed by Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) impact food safety and, by implication, food security in the polar regions. POPs tend to persist in the environment and the fatty tissues of animals, thereby constituting long-term contamination. Due to the cold climate and geography of these polar regions, they create a sink for these pollutants, which travel from their source of production and accumulate in food chains, resulting in health risks to the ecosystem, animals, and humans of the Arctic and Antarctica. In this paper, we draw attention to the threats posed by POPs and how they can lead to food insecurity, negatively affecting health due to unsafe traditional foods. A narrative synthesis methodology was employed, systematically analyzing historical data, activities, and research trends on POP contamination in polar ecosystems. We also highlight resilience promoted by Arctic governance, with a focus on how the issues of POPs became an international matter from the 1970s, with three United Nations (UN) conventions: the UN-Environment Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the UN Minamata Convention on mercury, and the UN-ECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. These conventions led to the start of several monitoring activities in the polar regions, transforming the POPs into a global topic. We also consider the intertwined effect of climate change on POPs. Additionally, the human rights paradigm in relation to food security and sovereignty for polar communities is explored. Strengthening the resilience of communities in the polar regions requires recognition of these nutritious traditional foods as an aspect of cultural identity that must be safe and easily accessible. We focus on developments, improvements, the role of international cooperation, and frameworks to assist in research and regulations. Furthermore, establishing systems that engage local communities to consistently monitor POPs regularly will lead to a better understanding of these threats. Ultimately, this narrative provides a look into the past and current research of POPs and their monitoring in the polar regions. Full article

This study evaluated heavy metal (HM) contamination in sediments from the Malbasag River in the Ormoc City port, Leyte, Philippines. A total of thirty sediment samples were collected randomly from ten locations along the river using an Ekman grab sampler. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed HM concentrations in the order of Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd. All HMs exceeded their sediment quality guideline (SQG) thresholds except for Mn. Contamination was assessed using indices such as the contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (I_geo), and enrichment factor (EF). The CF values indicated “moderate to considerable” contamination for Zn, Ni, and Cd, while Cu and Pb showed “very high” contamination levels. The PLI results indicated severe sediment degradation in 20% of samples. The I_geo analysis classified 60% of the samples as “heavily to extremely polluted” for Cd, Cu, and Pb. EF analysis suggested that anthropogenic sources contributed to elevated HM levels, including port activities and agricultural runoff. Ecological risk index (RI) analysis revealed moderate risk in 40% and considerable risk in 20% of sampling locations. Multivariate analyses suggested significant anthropogenic contributions to HM contamination, highlighting the need for further studies to assess the ecological impacts. Full article

Two sets of sediment samples were collected from the Sarigiol basin, Greece, aiming to evaluate the environmental consequences of the industrial activity in the area by assessing their magnetic properties with the magnetic susceptibility method. Chemical composition and morphological characteristics of magnetic particles were defined by EDX analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Based on the results, most of the study area shows positive values of the difference between X_LF values of the samples, indicating the influence of fly ash dispersion from Agios Dimitrios and Kardia power plants and the conveyor belt, down to a depth of 50 cm. Negative values in the NE, W and S parts of the study area are attributed to ophiolite complexes. Anthropogenic and lithogenic magnetic particles were identified at a 50 cm depth, in the form of spheres and octahedrons, respectively. Fe is the dominant element while Al, Si, Mg and Ca were found in minor amounts. Cr increases with depth, pointing mainly to a lithogenic source, while Ti decreases, suggesting a relationship with the dispersed fly ash particles. Mn and Zn were found in limited magnetic spheres. These findings highlight the need for effective environmental management strategies and are valuable keys for soil pollution control. Full article

Acid mine drainage (AMD), which is primarily caused by the exposure of sulfidic minerals to oxygen and water during mining operations, remains a significant contributor to environmental pollution. Numerous technologies have been developed to prevent/control and treat AMD, including the isolation of waste from the atmosphere and treatment systems for AMD-impacted water. Many field studies on mine site reclamation have involved an individual AMD source and/or technology, with a limited number of studies looking at reclamation programs integrating multiple approaches to manage AMD stemming from both surface and underground sources. The former Franklin mine site in Nova Scotia, Canada, was impacted by the deposition of waste rock across the site and the discharge of mine water from underground workings, with the adjacent Sullivan’s Pond serving as the main environmental receptor. Site reclamation was completed in 2010 and involved the following: (1) excavation of the dispersed waste rock (117,000 m²) and backfilling with clean soil; (2) consolidation of the excavated waste rock into a covered, compact waste rock pile (WRP) (25,000 m²); and (3) construction of a passive treatment system for the discharging underground mine water. An extensive field sampling program was conducted between 2011 and 2018 to monitor a range of meteorological, cover material, waste rock, groundwater, and surface water quality parameters. The results confirm that the multi-layer, geomembrane-lined WRP cover system is an extremely effective barrier to air and water influx, thereby minimizing the rate of AMD generation and seepage into groundwater and eliminating all contaminated surface water runoff. A small AMD groundwater plume emanates from the base of the WRP, with 50% captured by the underground mine workings over the long term and 50% slowly migrating towards Sullivan’s Pond. Excavation of the former waste disposal area eliminated the AMD source from the previously dispersed waste, with only clean surface water runoff and a diminishing legacy groundwater plume remaining. Finally, the passive treatment system, which contains a series of treatment technologies such as a limestone leach bed and settling pond, successfully treats all mine water loading (~50 kg/day) discharging from the underground workings and surface runoff. Its additional treatment capacity (up to ~150 kg/day) ensures it will be able to manage any potential drop in treatment efficiency and/or increased AMD loading from long-term WRP seepage. This comprehensive study of mine site reclamation and AMD management at an abandoned mining site can be of great reference value for environmental management and policymakers in the mining sector. Full article

In the present study, the toxicity of nicosulfuron to Danio rerio embryos was evaluated in three experiments through standardized toxicity tests according to OECD TG236 guidelines. In the first experiment, six concentrations of nicosulfuron (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 mg/L) were tested under optimal conditions (26 °C, pH 7.0) to assess the general sensitivity of zebrafish embryos to nicosulfuron. The second and third experiment examined the effects of different pH levels (5.0 and 9.0) and temperatures (21 °C and 31 °C) on the toxicity at four nicosulfuron concentrations (0, 10, 100, 1000 mg/L). Additionally, the sub-organismic effects of nicosulfuron on stress protein levels (Hsp70) of fish embryos were analyzed. Throughout the embryo experiments, no malformations were observed in all experiments. The survival rate exceeded 80% in all groups except for the 21 °C (pH 7.0) treatment groups. No significant effect of nicosulfuron on the survival rate was found at the same temperature or pH (p > 0.05). No significant difference in the heart rate was found among all nicosulfuron groups (p > 0.05) at 21 °C. The heart rate of fish embryos at 31 °C, pH 5.0 and pH 9.0 increased with nicosulfuron concentrations. Except for the pH 5.0 (26 °C) and 21 °C (pH 7.0) treatment groups, nicosulfuron was found to increase the hatching rate of embryos in other treatments; however, the corresponding times of action were different. At 21 °C (pH 7.0), the embryos did not hatch until 144 h post-fertilization. In terms of proteotoxicity, nicosulfuron was found to be more toxic to zebrafish embryos in the 21 °C, pH 5.0 and pH 9.0 treatment groups. However, at 31 °C, no significant difference in Hsp70 levels was found among all the different nicosulfuron concentrations (p > 0.05). Our results show that nicosulfuron exerts a weak toxicity to zebrafish embryos; however, this toxicity is amplified by inappropriate pH or temperature conditions. Full article