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Emerging Techniques in Monitoring and Mitigating Health Risks of Potentially...
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Emerging Techniques in Monitoring and Mitigating Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the Environment

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Exposome Analysis and Risk Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 829

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiongyi Miao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
Interests: bioconversion of trace elements; migration and input of trace elements in rivers; ecotoxicological risk identification and environmental monitoring; environmental remediation of soil and sediments
Dr. Shi Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR and GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin 541004, China
Interests: karst environment; carbon cycle; water cycle; chemical weathering; hydrogeochemistry; hydrogeology; atmospheric precipitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhongkang Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
Interests: environmental monitoring and assessment; trace metals biogeochemistry; ecotoxicology and risk assessment; environmental remediation of soil
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs), such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, pose escalating threats to environmental sustainability and human health due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. These contaminants infiltrate ecosystems through industrial activities, agricultural practices, and natural processes, contaminating soil, water, and air. Chronic exposure to PTEs is linked to severe health outcomes, including neurological disorders, organ damage, and cancer, underscoring the urgent need for innovative solutions to monitor, diagnose, and mitigate their risks.

This Special Issue, titled "Emerging Techniques in Monitoring and Mitigating Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the Environment," will compile cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary advancements addressing the challenges of PTE contamination. We aim to highlight novel methodologies, technologies, and strategies that enhance detection accuracy, improve exposure management, and enable sustainable remediation. By bridging gaps between environmental science, biotechnology, and public health, this Special Issue will foster actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working toward global environmental safety.

We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, and case studies focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:

  1. Advanced Testing and Monitoring Methods for PTEs: Innovations in sensors, remote sensing, AI-driven analytics, and real-time detection systems.
  2. Breakthroughs in the Diagnosis and Treatment of PTE Exposure: Biomarkers, chelation therapies, nanomedicine, and personalized healthcare approaches;
  3. Mechanisms of PTE Migration and Transformation: Dynamics of PTEs in soil–water–air systems, bioavailability studies, and biogeochemical interactions;
  4. Smart Remediation Technologies: Phytoremediation, biochar, nanotechnology, and AI-guided decontamination strategies;
  5. Emerging Risk Identification Tools: Machine learning models, geospatial mapping, and integrative risk assessment frameworks;
  6. Novel Mitigation Strategies: Policy innovations, circular economy solutions, and community-engaged risk reduction programs.

By synthesizing global expertise, this Special Issue will advance the frontier of PTE research and empower stakeholders to combat environmental toxicity. We eagerly anticipate receiving your contributions to this vital scientific endeavor.

Dr. Xiongyi Miao
Dr. Shi Yu
Dr. Zhongkang Yang
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

  • potentially toxic elements
  • smart remediation technologies
  • risk assessment and mitigation
  • biogeochemical cycles
  • biomarkers of exposure
  • bioavailability and toxicity mechanisms
  • environmental monitoring

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 8942 KiB  
Article
Biogeochemical Mechanisms of HCO3–Ca Water and NO3− Pollution in a Typical Piedmont Agricultural Area: Insights from Nitrification and Carbonate Weathering
by Li Xu, Bo Xin, Wei Liu, Haoyang Liu, Guoli Yang and Guizhen Hao
Toxics 2025, 13(5), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13050394 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
Water hardening and NO3− pollution have affected water quality globally. These environmental problems threaten social sustainability and human health, especially in piedmont agricultural areas. The aim of this study is to determine the biogeochemical mechanisms of HCO3–Ca water and [...] Read more.
Water hardening and NO3− pollution have affected water quality globally. These environmental problems threaten social sustainability and human health, especially in piedmont agricultural areas. The aim of this study is to determine the biogeochemical mechanisms of HCO3–Ca water and NO3− pollution in a typical piedmont agricultural area (Qingshui River, Zhangjiakou, China). Here, an extensive biogeochemical investigation was conducted in a typical piedmont agricultural area (Qingshui River, China) using multiple hydrochemical, isotopic (δ2H-H2O, δ18O-H2O and δ13C-DIC) and molecular-biological proxies in combination with a forward model. In the region upstream of the Qingshui River, riverine hydrochemistry was dominated by HCO3–Ca water, with only NO3− concentrations (3.08–52.8 mg/L) exceeding the acceptable limit (10 mg/L as N) for drinking water quality. The riverine hydrochemistry responsible for the formation of HCO3–Ca water was mainly driven by carbonate dissolution, with a contribution rate of 49.8 ± 3.96%. Riverine NO3− was mainly derived from agricultural NH4+ emissions rather than NO3− emissions, originating from sources such as manure, domestic sewage, soil nitrogen and NH4+-synthetic fertilizer. Under the rapid hydrodynamic conditions and aerobic water environment of the piedmont area, NH4+-containing pollutants were converted to HNO3 by nitrifying bacteria (e.g., Flavobacterium and Fluviimonas). Carbonate (especially calcite) was preferentially and rapidly dissolved by the produced HNO3, which was attributed to the strong acidity of HNO3. Therefore, higher levels of Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3− and NO3− were simultaneously released into river water, causing riverine HCO3–Ca water and NO3− pollution in the A-RW. In contrast, these biogeochemical mechanisms did not occur significantly in the downstream region of the river due to the cement-hardened river channels and strict discharge management. These findings highlight the influence of agricultural HNO3 on HCO3–Ca water and NO3− pollution in the Qingshui River and further improve the understanding of riverine hydrochemical evolution and water pollution in piedmont agricultural areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Techniques in Monitoring and Mitigating Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the Environment)
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18 pages, 4165 KiB  
Article
Using Geochemistry, Stable Isotopes and Statistical Tools to Estimate the Sources and Transformation of Nitrate in Groundwater in Jinan Spring Catchment, China
by Kairan Wang, Mingyuan Fan, Zhen Wu, Xin Zhang, Hongbo Wang, Xuequn Chen and Mingsen Wang
Toxics 2025, 13(5), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13050393 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 244
Abstract
Nitrate (NO3−) pollution resulting from anthropogenic activities represents one of the most prevalent environmental issues in karst spring catchments of northern China. In June 2021, a comprehensive study was conducted in the Jinan Spring Catchment (JSC), where 30 groundwater and [...] Read more.
Nitrate (NO3−) pollution resulting from anthropogenic activities represents one of the most prevalent environmental issues in karst spring catchments of northern China. In June 2021, a comprehensive study was conducted in the Jinan Spring Catchment (JSC), where 30 groundwater and surface water samples were collected. The sources and spatial distribution of nitrate pollution were systematically investigated through hydrochemical analysis combined with dual-isotope tracing techniques (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3). Analytical results revealed that the predominant anion and cation sequences were HCO3− > SO42− > Cl− > NO3− and Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, respectively, with HCO3·SO4-Ca identified as the primary hydrochemical type. Notably, the average NO3− concentration in groundwater (46.62 mg/L) significantly exceeded that in surface water (4.96 mg/L). Among the water samples, 11 locations exhibited substantial nitrate pollution, demonstrating an exceedance rate of 42%. Particularly, the NO3−-N concentrations in both the upstream recharge area and downstream drainage area were markedly higher than those in the runoff area. The spatial distribution of NO3− concentrations was primarily influenced by mixing processes, with no significant evidence of denitrification observed. The isotopic compositions ranged from −1.42‰ to 12.79‰ for δ15NNO3 and 0.50‰ to 15.63‰ for δ18ONO3. Bayesian isotope mixing model (MixSIAR) analysis indicated that domestic sewage and manure constituted the principal nitrate sources, contributing 37.1% and 56.9% to groundwater and surface water, respectively. Secondary sources included soil organic nitrogen, rainfall and fertilizer NH4+, and chemical fertilizers, while atmospheric deposition showed the lowest contribution rate. Additionally, potential mixing of soil organic nitrogen with chemical fertilizer was identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Techniques in Monitoring and Mitigating Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in the Environment)
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