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Toxics
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Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Aquatic Environment: Sources, Monitoring...
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Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Aquatic Environment: Sources, Monitoring and Potential Risks

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Contaminants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 August 2026 | Viewed by 2703

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Asfandyar Shahab

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: heavy metals; drinking water quality; water quality; assessment environmental geochemistry; hydrogeochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Habib Ullah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Interests: heavy metals; drinking water quality; water quality; assessment environmental geochemistry; hydrogeochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The Special Issue “Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Aquatic Environment: Sources, Monitoring and Potential Risks” focuses on the growing threat posed by unregulated or understudied pollutants in water systems. These contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, Per/poly-floro alkyl substances (PFASs), microplastics, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, enter aquatic ecosystems through wastewater discharge, agricultural runoff, and urban activities, often bypassing conventional treatment processes.

This collection highlights recent advances in identifying sources, tracking environmental pathways, and assessing ecological and human health risks. Contributions explore innovative monitoring techniques, such as high-resolution mass spectrometry and bioanalytical tools, to detect trace-level contaminants. Studies also evaluate the long-term effects of these pollutants on aquatic organisms, ecosystems, and drinking water supplies, emphasizing the need for updated regulatory frameworks.

Additionally, the Special Issue examines remediation strategies, including advanced oxidation processes, biofiltration, and nature-based solutions, to mitigate contamination. By integrating multidisciplinary research, this Special Issue aims to enhance the understanding of emerging contaminants and support policies for sustainable water management. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working to safeguard water quality in the face of evolving environmental challenges.

Dr. Asfandyar Shahab
Dr. Habib Ullah
Guest Editors

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. 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

  • emerging contaminants
  • aquatic pollution
  • environmental monitoring
  • wastewater contaminants
  • ecological risk assessment
  • remediation technologies

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4749 KB  
Article
Occurrence of Substituted p-Phenylenediamine Antioxidants and Their Quinone Derivatives in the Pearl River Estuary Water System, China
by Yihao Yin, Binbin Deng, Wenzi Tu, Yongtong Guo, Lixian Chen, Yongjin Liang, Yanlong Zhao, Shaoxian Du and Yi Li
Toxics 2026, 14(5), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14050356 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 496
Abstract
Substituted p-phenylenediamines (PPDs) and their quinone derivatives (PPD-Qs) are emerging contaminants associated with tire-related antioxidants and antiozonants and have raised increasing concern because of their potential environmental effects. However, information on their occurrence in estuarine systems, particularly their combined distribution in water [...] Read more.
Substituted p-phenylenediamines (PPDs) and their quinone derivatives (PPD-Qs) are emerging contaminants associated with tire-related antioxidants and antiozonants and have raised increasing concern because of their potential environmental effects. However, information on their occurrence in estuarine systems, particularly their combined distribution in water and sediment, remains limited in the Pearl River Estuary. In this study, 30 water samples and five sediment samples collected from the Pearl River Estuary were analyzed for selected PPDs and PPD-Qs. Four target compounds were detected in water, whereas nine were found in sediments, indicating broader occurrence in the sediment phase. The total concentration of PPDs ranged from below the detection limit to 17.6 ng/L in water and from 0.140 to 1.37 ng/g in sediments. In water, 6PPD and 6PPD-Q showed relatively high detection frequencies, while elevated IPPD concentrations were observed at several sites near urbanized coastal areas. In sediments, the highest ΣPPDs level was recorded in Shenzhen Bay. The observed spatial patterns suggest that mixed anthropogenic inputs may influence the occurrence of these compounds in the estuary, although direct source attribution requires further investigation. Overall, this study provides preliminary baseline information on the occurrence and phase-specific distribution of PPDs and PPD-Qs in the Pearl River Estuary and supports future investigations into their environmental fate and ecological relevance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Aquatic Environment: Sources, Monitoring and Potential Risks)
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18 pages, 4557 KB  
Article
Preparation and Application of Hydrophobic Film-Coated Recycled Low-Iron Crushed Glass via SiO2–Mixed TiO2 Through Sol–Gel for Efficient Removal of Water Contaminants Photocatalytically
by Jiaxin Liu, Saeed Rad, Junfeng Dai, Cheng Chang and Chongmin Liu
Toxics 2026, 14(4), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040304 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 846
Abstract
Traditional nano-titanium dioxide films have strong photocatalytic performance; however, their hydrophilic surfaces make it easier for pollutants or by-products resulting from the reaction processes to deposit on the membrane surface and occupy their active sites, which reduces the coating degradation efficiency and shortens [...] Read more.
Traditional nano-titanium dioxide films have strong photocatalytic performance; however, their hydrophilic surfaces make it easier for pollutants or by-products resulting from the reaction processes to deposit on the membrane surface and occupy their active sites, which reduces the coating degradation efficiency and shortens their service life. In the current study, nano-TiO2 was mixed with SiO2 for hydrophobic film coating by the sol–gel method. The surface morphology of the membrane was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the composition of the coating was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and its stable hydrophobicity was verified by contact angle testing (θw = 117°). The specific surface area Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) revealed between 0.0561 (for 3 layers) and 0.0868 m2/g after 9 layers of coating. Through establishing a simplified photocatalytic reactor under UV, the new coating’s abilities in the degradation of methylene blue, its anti-fouling, and durability were examined. Results revealed that when the common TiO2 films were combined with hydrophobic films, nearly 100% of methylene blue was degraded, and the degradation capacity remained stable after three rounds of tests. Moreover, it was observed that only a small amount of methylene blue adhered to the new film surface comparatively. Outcomes confirmed that the SiO2-mixed TiO2 thin films exhibited enhanced hydrophobicity. When integrated with ordinary TiO2 coatings, the composite structure demonstrated superior photocatalytic efficiency and stability in the degradation of aqueous pollutants compared to pure TiO2 coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Aquatic Environment: Sources, Monitoring and Potential Risks)
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16 pages, 1052 KB  
Article
DGT-Based Assessment of Antibiotics and Hormones in a Typical Wastewater Treatment Plant and Its Receiving Water in Shanghai: Implications for Aquaculture Reuse
by Yin Huang, Zheng Zhang, Chaofeng Sun, Luting Wen, Qian Wang and Yanhao Yang
Toxics 2025, 13(11), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13110970 - 11 Nov 2025
Viewed by 840
Abstract
Assessment of the environmental behavior of environmental hormones and antibiotics along the processes in typical wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) based on bioavailable concentrations reflects the negative effects of pollutants from WWTPs on aquatic organisms more directly, as well as the potential for reusing [...] Read more.
Assessment of the environmental behavior of environmental hormones and antibiotics along the processes in typical wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) based on bioavailable concentrations reflects the negative effects of pollutants from WWTPs on aquatic organisms more directly, as well as the potential for reusing the effluent and receiving waters for aquaculture. This study measured bioavailable concentrations in a typical WWTP and its receiving water body using the XAD-DGT samplers during dry and wet seasons. Firstly, the results confirmed the applicability of XAD-DGT in WWTP and the receiving water. Then, significant season and process-dependent variations were observed. The primary treatment occasionally led to concentration rebound due to desorption during the dry season, secondary treatment exhibited considerable variability depending on the physicochemical properties of the contaminants, and tertiary treatment consistently performed well (>80%). Based on XAD-DGT-measured bioavailable concentrations, the risks posed by environmental hormones and antibiotics in the effluent and receiving water body were determined to assess their potential for aquaculture reuse. The result indicated that the effluent water is applicable for fish aquaculture; however, further removal techniques, like adsorption or advanced oxidation, should be applied to crustacean cultivation, especially for contaminants like environmental hormones. For the water body, it was only feasible for crustacean aquaculture. Pre-treatments based on adsorption, sedimentation, or oxidation processes are necessary to remove environmental hormones and antibiotics if these areas are planned for aquaculture. This study provides an important scientific basis for a more accurate assessment of the environmental behavior of emerging contaminants, reuse directions of WWTP effluent, as well as the corresponding receiving waters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Aquatic Environment: Sources, Monitoring and Potential Risks)
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