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Toxics
Special Issues
Exploring Toxicity, Metabolism, and Transformation of Organic Pollutants
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Exploring Toxicity, Metabolism, and Transformation of Organic Pollutants

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Toxicity Reduction and Environmental Remediation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2319

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jianteng Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China
Interests: transformation of pollutants; metabolism; emerging pollutants; the regional occurrence of organic pollutants; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaolong Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China
Interests: toxic effect; organic pollutants; ecological risk; proteomics; metabolomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing consumption and production of organic chemicals have led to significant global environmental challenges. A growing number of emerging pollutants are being widely detected across various environmental compartments, with their metabolites also found in both biota and human samples. Biotransformation is a key process that occurs when organic pollutants move from the environment into organisms, playing a crucial role in altering the environmental behavior and toxicity of these substances. Many organic pollutants exhibit toxic effects on both animals and humans. The adverse impacts of these pollutants, as well as their metabolites on plants and animals, have become significant research topics. Therefore, new evidence is needed to further understand the occurrence and transformation of emerging pollutants, while attention must also be given to the potential risks posed by their transformation products. These findings will provide insights for improving policies aimed at strengthening the global oversight of organic pollution.

This Special Issue of Toxics focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding the occurrence, transformation, and toxic effects of organic pollutants and their metabolites. The following are examples of topics that could be addressed in this Special Issue:

  1. The level and distribution of organic contaminants in the environment and organisms.
  2. The migration and biotransformation of organic pollutants in animals, plants, microbes, and humans.
  3. The toxicity and ecological risks of organic pollutants and their metabolites.
  4. Metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomes, and metagenomes.
  5. Human health risks associated with organic pollutants.
  6. Emerging organic pollutants.

Prof. Dr. Jianteng Sun
Dr. Xiaolong Yu
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 organic pollutants
  • soil pollution
  • migration and biotransformation
  • environmental occurrence
  • metabolism
  • bioaccumulation
  • transformation products

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 8775 KiB  
Article
Spatial Variation Characteristics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Derivatives in Surface Water of Suzhou City: Occurrence, Sources, and Risk Assessment
by Jinxu Fan, Zhangwei Jing, Feng Guo, Jing Jia, Yu Jiang, Xiaoyu Cai, Shuting Wang, Hu Zhao and Xianjing Song
Toxics 2025, 13(5), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13050403 - 16 May 2025
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Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their substituted derivatives (SPAHs) are persistent organic pollutants derived from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and industrial processes. These compounds are of global concern due to their carcinogenicity and environmental persistence. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis [...] Read more.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their substituted derivatives (SPAHs) are persistent organic pollutants derived from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and industrial processes. These compounds are of global concern due to their carcinogenicity and environmental persistence. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of PAH and SPAH contamination in Suzhou’s rapidly urbanizing watersheds, integrating ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry with multidimensional risk assessment to address critical gaps in understanding pollutant dynamics in urban aquatic systems. Key findings reveal that SPAHs were significantly more abundant than parent PAHs (mean ∑19 SPAHs = 107.43 ng/L vs. ∑8 PAHs = 48.05 ng/L), with hydroxylated derivatives accounting for 67.9% of the total SPAHs, indicating active environmental transformation processes. Source apportionment identified coal combustion and industrial emissions as the dominant contributors (58.2% of PAHs), directly linking contamination patterns to localized anthropogenic activities. Notably, industrial zones exhibited unexpected toxicity hotspots, where SPAH toxicity equivalents (e.g., 3-OH-BaP) surpassed parent PAHs 2–5-fold, demonstrating substituent-driven toxicity enhancement—a critical finding for regulatory prioritization. This study advances the field by uncovering SPAHs as emerging risks in urban waterways, challenging traditional PAH-centric monitoring frameworks, and providing a novel integration of analytical chemistry and spatial risk mapping to guide targeted pollution control (e.g., prioritizing industrial discharges and non-exhaust traffic emissions). Furthermore, it highlights the urgent need for updated toxicological databases to account for substituted PAH derivatives and advocates for the regulatory inclusion of SPAHs. These insights underscore the necessity of adapting environmental policies to address complex pollutant mixtures in rapidly developing regions, emphasizing the replicability of the proposed framework for urban watershed management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Toxicity, Metabolism, and Transformation of Organic Pollutants)
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14 pages, 3347 KiB  
Article
Efficient Degradation of Tetracycline by Peroxymonosulfate Activated with Ni-Co Bimetallic Oxide Derived from Bimetallic Oxalate
by Qi Zhang, Mingling Yu, Hang Liu, Jin Tang, Xiaolong Yu, Haochuan Wu, Ling Jin and Jianteng Sun
Toxics 2024, 12(11), 816; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12110816 - 14 Nov 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 900
Abstract
In this work, NiCo2O4 was synthesized from bimetallic oxalate and utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst to active peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of tetracycline (TC). The degradation efficiency of TC (30 mg/L) in the NiCo2O4 + PMS [...] Read more.
In this work, NiCo2O4 was synthesized from bimetallic oxalate and utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst to active peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of tetracycline (TC). The degradation efficiency of TC (30 mg/L) in the NiCo2O4 + PMS system reached 92.4%, with NiCo2O4 exhibiting satisfactory reusability, stability, and applicability. Radical trapping test and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) results indicated that SO4•−, •OH, O2•−, and 1O2 were the dominating reactive oxygen species (ROS) for TC degradation in the NiCo2O4 + PMS system. Seven intermediates were identified, and their degradation pathways were proposed. Toxicity assessment using T.E.S.T software (its version is 5.1.1.0) revealed that the identified intermediates had lower toxicity compared to intact TC. A rice seed germination test further confirmed that the NiCo2O4 + PMS system effectively degraded TC into low-toxicity or non-toxic products. In conclusion, NiCo2O4 shows promise as a safe and efficient catalyst in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the degradation of organic pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Toxicity, Metabolism, and Transformation of Organic Pollutants)
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Review

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18 pages, 2560 KiB  
Review
A Review on Flame Retardants in Soils: Occurrence, Environmental Impact, Health Risks, Remediation Strategies, and Future Perspectives
by Trang Le Thuy, Tuan-Dung Hoang, Van-Hiep Hoang and Minh-Ky Nguyen
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030228 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 816
Abstract
As novel pollutants, flame retardants (FRs) are prone to accumulating in soil and might increase human health risks. It is advisable to emphasize the biomagnification of FRs within the terrestrial food chain, particularly concerning mammals occupying higher trophic levels. Exposure to soil particles [...] Read more.
As novel pollutants, flame retardants (FRs) are prone to accumulating in soil and might increase human health risks. It is advisable to emphasize the biomagnification of FRs within the terrestrial food chain, particularly concerning mammals occupying higher trophic levels. Exposure to soil particles laden with FRs may result in numerous health complications. These findings offer significant insights into FR pollutant profiles, tracing origins and recognizing health risks associated with soil samples. Reports have revealed that exposure to FRs can pose serious health risks, including neurodevelopmental impairments, endocrine system disruption, and an increased likelihood of cancer. Nanomaterials, with their high surface area and flexible properties, possess the ability to utilize light for catalytic reactions. This unique capability allows them to effectively degrade harmful contaminants, such as FRs, in soil. Additionally, biological degradation, driven by microorganisms, offers a sustainable method for breaking down these pollutants, providing an eco-friendly approach to soil remediation. These approaches, combined with optimum remediation strategies, hold great potential for effectively addressing soil contamination in the future. Further research should prioritize several key areas, including ecological behavior, contaminant monitoring, biological metabolomics, toxicity evaluation, and ecological impact assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Toxicity, Metabolism, and Transformation of Organic Pollutants)
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