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Toxics
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Characteristics, Sources, Occurrence and Toxicological Mechanisms of Environmental Pollutants in...
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Characteristics, Sources, Occurrence and Toxicological Mechanisms of Environmental Pollutants in Aquatic Systems

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2026 | Viewed by 5810

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Desheng Pei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Interests: animal disease model; toxicological effects; sterile model; environmental pollutants; pathogenic molecular mechanism
Dr. Panpan Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Interests: environmental toxicity; pollutants; microbiota; GF fish model; developmental mechanism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the sources of various pollutants in the water environment, including industrial emissions, agricultural pollution, and domestic sewage. To study the distribution, migration, and transformation processes of pollutants in water bodies and their potential effects on environmental and human health, hazard risk assessments include an analysis of emerging contaminants such as endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, antibiotics, perfluorinated compounds, microplastics, etc.

The existing literature shows that researchers have developed various analytical techniques to identify and measure pollutants in the water environment and used various models to assess the toxicity of contaminants. However, it is still a challenge to extrapolate laboratory results to ecological risk assessments in complex natural systems.

Thus, this Special Issue will cover the latest research on aquatic toxicology, including toxicity tests for pollutants, the development and application of biomarkers, and chronic and acute toxic effects after exposure to pollutants. Advances in environmental monitoring will include detection technologies for emerging pollutants, standardization and automation of environmental DNA monitoring technologies, and how these assessment methods and monitoring technologies can be applied to practical water environment management and protection strategies.

Prof. Dr. Desheng Pei
Dr. Panpan Jia
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

  • aquatic systems
  • environmental pollutants
  • neurodevelopmental and developmental toxicity
  • animal models
  • exposure and detection methods
  • human health
  • molecular mechanisms

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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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15 pages, 2250 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Copper-Induced Cytotoxicity and Transcriptomic Change Using a RTgill-W1 Cell Line as an Alternative Replacing Fish Test
by Jin Wuk Lee, Ilseob Shim and Kyunghwa Park
Toxics 2025, 13(11), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13110924 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 543
Abstract
The RTgill-W1 cell line serves as an alternative for acute fish toxicity testing. This study aims to study the reliability of the RTgill-W1 cell line in copper cytotoxicity using transcriptomic analysis followed by comparison with existing literature. As a result, the study found [...] Read more.
The RTgill-W1 cell line serves as an alternative for acute fish toxicity testing. This study aims to study the reliability of the RTgill-W1 cell line in copper cytotoxicity using transcriptomic analysis followed by comparison with existing literature. As a result, the study found that the average EC50 (375 μg/L ± 181 μg/L) in cell viability was similar to previous literature results (0.093–530 μg/L), suggesting the system’s reliability as an alternative. The transcriptome changes of the RTgill-W1 cell line caused by copper exposure are supported by the existing literature on individual fish. For example, osmoregulatory disturbances, regulation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, energy metabolism alterations, metal detoxification, and chaperone protein expression were found in the RTgill-W1 cell line in response to copper exposure, indicating the utility of this cell line for transcriptome analysis. Finally, through RT-PCR confirmation and literature analysis, this study suggests that sirtuin 1, sirtuin 4, Na+/K+-ATPase, aifm4, bcl2, carbonic anhydrase, hsp70, hsp30, and other biomarkers could be used for detecting copper stress in aquatic organisms. This study is helpful for understanding the toxicity mechanism of copper and can be referred to as scientific data for regulating copper release into the aquatic environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characteristics, Sources, Occurrence and Toxicological Mechanisms of Environmental Pollutants in Aquatic Systems)
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32 pages, 46726 KB  
Article
Potentially Toxic Elements and Natural Radioactivity in Nasser Lake Sediments: Environmental Risks in a Key Egyptian Freshwater Lake
by Esraa S. El-Shlemy, Ahmed Gad, Mohammed G. El Feky, Abdel-Moneim A. Mahmoud, Omnia El-Sayed and Neveen S. Abed
Toxics 2025, 13(9), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090745 - 31 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1536
Abstract
A necessary evaluation of freshwater ecosystem pollution levels and radiation risks remains crucial for maintaining environmental health, especially within economically developing areas. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the mineralogical, geochemical, and radiological characteristics of sediments in Nasser Lake, Egypt, to determine [...] Read more.
A necessary evaluation of freshwater ecosystem pollution levels and radiation risks remains crucial for maintaining environmental health, especially within economically developing areas. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the mineralogical, geochemical, and radiological characteristics of sediments in Nasser Lake, Egypt, to determine potential ecological and health risks. Forty sediment samples were collected from multiple locations, including both surface and bottom sediments, for analysis of textural attributes, mineral composition, potentially toxic elements, and natural radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 40K). Results revealed sand-dominated sediments with low organic matter content. The heavy mineral assemblages derived from Nile River inputs, wind-deposited materials, and eroded igneous and metamorphic rocks. Geochemical analysis showed that arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead concentrations exceeded upper continental crust background values, with enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indices indicating significant anthropogenic contributions. The pollution indices revealed heavy contamination levels and extreme ecological risks, which were primarily driven by arsenic and cadmium concentrations. Radiological assessments detected activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K below the world average, with hazard indices indicating minimal radiological risk except where localized hotspots were present. The study emphasizes the need for targeted monitoring and sustainable management practices to mitigate pollution and preserve the crucial freshwater environment of Nasser Lake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characteristics, Sources, Occurrence and Toxicological Mechanisms of Environmental Pollutants in Aquatic Systems)
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Review

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15 pages, 2763 KB  
Review
Deciphering Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Mechanistic Insights and Environmental Risks
by Yang Pei, Péter Hamar and De-Sheng Pei
Toxics 2025, 13(4), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13040303 - 12 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2993
Abstract
The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) presents a significant challenge to clinical treatment and environmental risks. This review delves into the complex mechanisms underlying MDR development in P. aeruginosa, such as genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer (HGT), [...] Read more.
The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) presents a significant challenge to clinical treatment and environmental risks. This review delves into the complex mechanisms underlying MDR development in P. aeruginosa, such as genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and the interaction between virulence factors and resistance genes. It evaluates current detection methods, from traditional bacteriology to advanced molecular techniques, emphasizing the need for rapid and accurate diagnostics. This review also examines therapeutic strategies, including broad-spectrum antibiotics, novel drug candidates, combination therapies, and innovative approaches like RNA interference, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and bridge RNA-guided gene editing. Importantly, this review highlights the distribution, migration, and environmental risks of MDR P. aeruginosa, underscoring its adaptability to diverse environments. It concludes by stressing the necessity for continued research and development in antimicrobial resistance, advocating for an integrated approach that combines genomics, clinical practice, and environmental considerations to devise innovative solutions and preserve antibiotic efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characteristics, Sources, Occurrence and Toxicological Mechanisms of Environmental Pollutants in Aquatic Systems)
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