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Toxics
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Sources, Characteristics, and Environmental Pollution Control of Organic Pollutants in...
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Sources, Characteristics, and Environmental Pollution Control of Organic Pollutants in the Atmosphere

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 17 July 2026 | Viewed by 2917

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yanqin Ren

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Interests: organic aerosols; volatile organic compounds; source apportionment of particulate matter and ozone pollution; POPs
Dr. Junling Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Interests: secondary organic aerosols; S/IVOCs; physicochemical properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric organic pollutants pose a significant threat to air quality, public health, and ecosystem stability. A comprehensive understanding of their emission sources, chemical characteristics, environmental behavior, and control strategies is essential for the development of targeted and effective pollution mitigation measures. Originating from diverse natural and anthropogenic activities, these pollutants undergo complex atmospheric processes that influence their persistence, transformation, and potential impacts on both environmental and human health. This Special Issue, entitled "Sources, Characteristics, and Environmental Pollution Control of Organic Pollutants in the Atmosphere", aims to gather high-quality original research and authoritative review articles that address the entire lifecycle of these contaminants. We welcome submissions focusing on, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Source identification, source apportionment, and the development of emission inventories;
  • Physicochemical characterization and advanced analytical methodologies;
  • Atmospheric transport, chemical transformation, and mechanisms of secondary pollutant formation;
  • Ecological and human health risk assessments, including exposure pathways and toxicological effects;
  • Innovative pollution control technologies and policy-relevant mitigation strategies.

Dr. Yanqin Ren
Dr. Junling Li
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

  • air pollution sources
  • environmental monitoring
  • human exposure assessment
  • health risk assessment
  • atmospheric chemistry

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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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21 pages, 6041 KB  
Article
Unraveling the Drivers of Continuous Summer Ozone Pollution Episodes in Bozhou, China: Toward Targeted Control Strategies
by Ke Wu, Xuezhong Wang, Dandan Zhang, Hong Li, Fang Bi, Zhenhai Wu, Fanxiu Li, Wanghui Chu and Cong An
Toxics 2026, 14(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14010037 - 29 Dec 2025
Viewed by 723
Abstract
Given the deteriorating situation of ambient ozone (O3) pollution in some areas of China, understanding the mechanisms driving O3 formation is essential for formulating effective control measures. This study examines O3 formation mechanisms and ROx (OH, HO2, [...] Read more.
Given the deteriorating situation of ambient ozone (O3) pollution in some areas of China, understanding the mechanisms driving O3 formation is essential for formulating effective control measures. This study examines O3 formation mechanisms and ROx (OH, HO2, and RO2) radical cycling driven by photochemical processes in Bozhou, located at the junction of Jiangsu–Anhui–Shandong–Henan (JASH), a region heavily affected by O3 pollution, by applying a zero-dimensional box model (Framework for 0-Dimensional Atmospheric Modeling, F0AM) coupled with the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM v3.3.1) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF 5.0) to characterize O3 pollution, identify volatile organic compound (VOC) sources, and quantify radical budgets during pollution episodes. The results show that O3 episodes in Bozhou mainly occurred in June under conditions of high temperature and low wind speed. Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs), alkanes, and halocarbons were the dominant VOCs groups. The CH3O2 + NO reaction accounted for 24.3% of O3 production, while photolysis contributed 68.7% of its removal. Elevated VOCs concentrations in Bozhou were largely maintained by anthropogenic sources such as vehicle exhaust, solvent utilization, and gasoline evaporation, which collectively enhanced O3 production. The findings indicate that O3 formation in the region is primarily regulated by NOx availability. Therefore, emission reductions targeting NOx, along with selective control of OVOCs and alkenes, would be the most effective strategies for lowering O3 levels. Model simulations further highlight Bozhou’s strong atmospheric oxidation capacity, with OVOC photolysis identified as the dominant contributor to ROx generation, accounting for 33% of the total. Diurnal patterns were evident: NOx-related reactions dominated radical sinks in the morning, while HO2 + RO2 reactions accounted for 28.5% in the afternoon. By clarifying the mechanisms of O3 formation in Bozhou, this study provides a scientific basis for designing ozone control strategies across the JASH junction region. In addition, ethanol was not directly measured in this study; given its potential to generate acetaldehyde and affect local O3 formation, its possible contribution introduces additional uncertainty that warrants further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sources, Characteristics, and Environmental Pollution Control of Organic Pollutants in the Atmosphere)
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Review

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18 pages, 1123 KB  
Review
Source, Monitoring Techniques and Prospects of Bioaerosols: A Review
by Jiaqing Wu, Chun Chen, Hong Geng, Bixin Zhao and Jian Gao
Toxics 2026, 14(5), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14050404 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 828
Abstract
Bioaerosols play significant roles in ecological interactions, climate change, and public health. Their diverse origins contribute to a dynamic atmospheric microbiome with considerable spatiotemporal variability, which are generally categorized as natural and anthropogenic sources. Accurate monitoring and source apportionment are critical for assessing [...] Read more.
Bioaerosols play significant roles in ecological interactions, climate change, and public health. Their diverse origins contribute to a dynamic atmospheric microbiome with considerable spatiotemporal variability, which are generally categorized as natural and anthropogenic sources. Accurate monitoring and source apportionment are critical for assessing environmental impacts and health risks. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics of bioaerosol sources and emphasizes emission risks from intensive human activities. This study also elucidates source apportionment strategies of bioaerosols and analyzes the technological evolution from traditional culture-based methods to advanced molecular and real-time physicochemical systems. In addition, the shift of bioaerosol monitoring technologies towards high-sensitivity, culture-independent, and online monitoring is emphasized in this review. An outlook on future research priorities is provided in the end. We emphasize the pressing need to establish localized characteristic databases, develop integrated real-time monitoring systems coupling rapid screening with deep biological analysis, and optimize the application of machine learning and AI algorithms to enhance the precision of multi-source contribution modeling in complex environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sources, Characteristics, and Environmental Pollution Control of Organic Pollutants in the Atmosphere)
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25 pages, 1115 KB  
Review
Advances and Challenges in Understanding Atmospheric Oxidizing Capacity in China: Insights from Chemical Mechanisms and Model Applications
by Peixuan Li, Yanqin Ren, Fang Bi, Fangyun Long, Junling Li, Haijie Zhang, Zhenhai Wu and Hong Li
Toxics 2026, 14(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020159 - 8 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1006
Abstract
The ability of the atmosphere to convert primary pollutants into secondary pollutants through atmospheric oxidants is referred to as the atmospheric oxidizing capacity (AOC). This study systematically reviews the generation mechanisms, influencing factors, and quantitative characterization methods of major oxidants, along with advances [...] Read more.
The ability of the atmosphere to convert primary pollutants into secondary pollutants through atmospheric oxidants is referred to as the atmospheric oxidizing capacity (AOC). This study systematically reviews the generation mechanisms, influencing factors, and quantitative characterization methods of major oxidants, along with advances in chemical mechanisms and modeling. We provide a comparative analysis of AOCs across diverse environments, including urban, suburban, and rural regions, highlighting the distinct impacts of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions on oxidation regimes. Despite advancements in chemical transport models and machine learning, limitations such as sparse observations, imperfect parameterizations, and unresolved chemical mechanisms lead to significant underestimations of the AOC. Future research must prioritize multi-scale observational networks and the elucidation of key chemical processes to refine model accuracy and improve the effectiveness of pollution control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sources, Characteristics, and Environmental Pollution Control of Organic Pollutants in the Atmosphere)
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