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 February 2026 | Viewed by 655

Special Issue Editors


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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

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

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

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 435
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
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