Environmental Behavior and Ecological Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments
A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Contaminants".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 139
Special Issue Editors
Interests: environmental technologies; chemical engineering; microplastics; emerging contaminants; water treatment; environmental monitoring; pollution control
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; water and wastewater treatment; polymer degradation; air pollution control; microplastics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue focuses on advancing an integrated understanding of the environmental behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic systems, examining their sources, transformation processes, transport pathways, and ultimate fate. The objective of this project is to compile studies that elucidate how these particles interact with key physicochemical parameters, how their surface properties evolve in natural waters, and how they influence the mobility and bioavailability of other emerging contaminants. This Special Issue also welcomes contributions that assess exposure routes and ecological effects across multiple trophic levels, from microorganisms to keystone aquatic species. In addition, the objective is to emphasise methodological innovations in detection, quantification, and modelling approaches, with a particular focus on nanoplastics, which continue to present technically challenging characterisation issues.
This Special Issue is part of a rapidly expanding body of literature driven by global concern over plastic pollution. Despite extensive research conducted on microplastics, significant knowledge gaps remain concerning the dynamics of nanoplastics, their sublethal effects, and their role as vectors for chemical and biological agents. Current studies often remain fragmented, with limited integration between laboratory experiments, field observations, and predictive modelling. By bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to bridge these gaps, identify methodological inconsistencies, and promote more coherent conceptual frameworks that enhance ecological risk assessment and support evidence-based mitigation strategies.
Dr. Agata Egea-Corbacho Lopera
Prof. Dr. María del Pilar Yeste Sigüenza
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.
Keywords
- microplastics
- nanoplastics
- aquatic environments
- environmental behaviour
- ecological risk assessment
- contaminant interactions
- toxicity mechanisms
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