Persistent Organic Pollutants and Ecotoxicology in the Aquatic Environments
A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editors
Interests: acoustics, anthropogenic and environmental pressures; bioenergetics; cetaceans; conservation biology; conservation physiology; ecology; ecotoxicology; endocrinology; marine mammals; One Health; oxidative stress biomarkers; physiological responses; physiology; sirenians; toxicology; wildlife; zoology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biological oceanography; environmental chemistry; ecotoxicology; One Health; food safety; (metalo) proteomics; conservation of natural and fishery resources; scientific dissemination and environmental education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) represent a class of toxic chemicals that resist degradation, bioaccumulate in aquatic food webs, and pose significant risks to environmental and human health. These compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides, new emerging compounds such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and pseudo POPs such as organophosphate esters (OPEs) among others, are globally distributed and often detected in sediments, biota, and water, even in remote marine ecosystems. Their persistence and lipophilicity enable trophic transfer and long-term exposure, particularly in aquatic environments.
This Special Issue aims to highlight current advances in the ecotoxicological assessment of POPs in aquatic environments, from freshwater systems to estuaries and coastal and oceanic zones. We invite contributions that investigate the fate, transport, and effects of POPs using bioaccumulation models, biomarker approaches, and novel detection technologies. Emphasis is placed on studies that link contaminant exposure to molecular, cellular, and organismal responses, including endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, reproductive impairment, and dysbiosis.
We encourage original research and reviews addressing cross-species comparisons, long-term monitoring, and the integration of POP-related effects with conservation and risk assessment frameworks. Submissions focusing on emerging POPs, mixtures, interactive stressors, and their implications for One Health and ecosystem resilience are especially welcome.
Dr. Leila Soledade Lemos
Dr. Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
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
- bioaccumulation
- trophic transfer
- endocrine disruption
- aquatic toxicology
- environmental persistence
- organic pollutants
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