Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
4.1
Journals
Toxics
Special Issues
Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants in Soil
share announcement

Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants in Soil

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Contaminants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 March 2026 | Viewed by 1484

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaona Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment and Ecology, Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: transport and degradation of emerging pollutants; environmental behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics; rhizosphere effects of emerging contaminants; bioremediation of emerging pollution contaminated soil; meta-analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
Interests: the fate and toxicity of emerging contaminants in the food and agricultural plants; the application of nanotechnology in plants to improve crops' nutritional qualities and suppress plant diseases; nanomaterials and plant interaction using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques; nanomaterial synthesis and surface modification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiupei Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Interests: detection, characterization, and quantification of emerging contaminants; interactions between micro- and nanoplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); environmental behaviors and fate of micro- and nanoplastics; ecological and toxicological impacts of micro- and nanoplastics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue entitled “Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants in Soil” focuses on elucidating the processes governing the retention, degradation, mobility, and bioavailability of emerging contaminants (ECs) in soil. This collection aims to synthesize state-of-the-art knowledge on ECs in soil systems, fostering collaboration among environmental chemists, toxicologists, hydrologists, and policymakers. It seeks to bridge gaps between laboratory research, field applications, and policy implementation to safeguard soil health and food security. It emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to assess their ecological and health impacts, as well as innovative solutions for monitoring, risk assessment, and sustainable mitigation. Emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and industrial chemicals, pose significant risks to soil ecosystems and human health due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and unknown long-term effects. Understanding their fate, transport, and transformation in soil systems is critical to developing effective remediation strategies and regulatory frameworks. This Special Issue invites cutting-edge research and reviews addressing the behavior, modeling, and management of ECs in terrestrial environments. 

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Mechanisms: Sorption–desorption dynamics, biotic/abiotic degradation, and interactions with soil organic matter.
  • Modeling: Predictive tools for contaminant transport, bioavailability, and exposure pathways.
  • Analytical Methods: Advanced techniques for detecting and quantifying ECs in complex soil matrices.
  • Ecotoxicity: Effects on soil microbiota, plants, and terrestrial organisms.
  • Remediation: Bioremediation, phytoremediation, and engineered strategies for EC removal.
  • Policy and Risk Assessment: Regulatory challenges, lifecycle analysis, and global case studies.

Dr. Xiaona Li
Dr. Yi Wang
Dr. Xiupei Zhou
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

  • emerging contaminants
  • soil pollution
  • ecotoxicology
  • transport and transformation
  • degradation mechanisms
  • remediation technology
  • environmental policy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 1060 KB  
Article
Physiological Responses of Serratia marcescens to Magnetic Biochars and Coexisting Microplastics and the Relationships with Antibiotic Resistance Genes
by Guixiang Zhang, Rui Ren, Xiaohui Zhang, Yuen Zhu, Yanxia Li and Long Ping
Toxics 2026, 14(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14010035 - 28 Dec 2025
Viewed by 41
Abstract
Magnetic biochars (MBCs) have been shown to inhibit the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soils, both with and without microplastics (MPs); however, the underlying molecular biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the effects of MBCs and coexisting polybutylene adipate [...] Read more.
Magnetic biochars (MBCs) have been shown to inhibit the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soils, both with and without microplastics (MPs); however, the underlying molecular biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the effects of MBCs and coexisting polybutylene adipate terephthalate microplastics (PBAT MPs) on the physiological characteristics of Serratia marcescens ZY01 (a host strain carrying the tet gene) and further investigated their relationships with the absolute abundance of the tet gene in soil. The results demonstrated that MBCs promoted prodigiosin synthesis in Serratia marcescens ZY01 by mediating the electron transfer process, the effect of which was further enhanced in the presence of PBAT MPs. In treatments without PBAT MPs, MBCs generally suppressed the production of both proteins and polysaccharides in the extracellular polymeric substances. In contrast, in treatments containing PBAT MPs, the protein content gradually decreased with decreasing iron-to-biochar ratios, while the polysaccharide content remained largely unchanged. MBCs also elevated intracellular ROS levels due to the increased oxidative stress, particularly in treatments with PBAT MPs. A positive correlation between intracellular ROS levels and cell membrane permeability indicates that intracellular ROS was the primary driver of the increased cell membrane permeability. The presence of MBCs and PBAT MPs generally provided favorable habitats for Serratia marcescens ZY01, thereby enhancing its cell viability. Mantel test analysis indicated that MBCs influenced Serratia growth in soil by modulating its cell viability. Furthermore, the increased intracellular ROS level was significantly positively correlated with the absolute abundance of the tet gene in soil, implying the horizontal transfer of the tet gene at the intra-genus level. These findings offer helpful insights for developing environmental remediation strategies based on biochar–iron composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants in Soil)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4639 KB  
Article
A Nitrifying Bacteria-Based Oxygen Consumption Assay for Multifaceted Soil Toxicity Monitoring
by Suleman Shahzad, Aparna Sharma, Syed Ejaz Hussain Mehdi, Fida Hussain, Sandesh Pandey, Mudassar Hussain, Woochang Kang and Sang Eun Oh
Toxics 2025, 13(11), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13110937 - 30 Oct 2025
Viewed by 625
Abstract
Soil toxicity resulting from either natural or anthropogenic heavy metal contamination was evaluated through a nitrifying bacteria bioassay focused on the inhibition of oxygen consumption. Every contaminated soil sample inhibited the nitrifying bacteria bioassay, with inhibition levels ranging from 71% to 100%. The [...] Read more.
Soil toxicity resulting from either natural or anthropogenic heavy metal contamination was evaluated through a nitrifying bacteria bioassay focused on the inhibition of oxygen consumption. Every contaminated soil sample inhibited the nitrifying bacteria bioassay, with inhibition levels ranging from 71% to 100%. The optimal conditions for maximizing O2 consumption during the test procedure were established as follows: a test culture volume of 1 mL, a soil sample weight of 1 g, a rotation rate of 100 revolutions per minute, and a reaction duration of 48 h. In low- or uncontaminated soils, oxygen consumption ranged from 3.2 mL to 3.0 mL from a headspace volume of 1 mL filled with O2. In contrast, contaminated soils exhibited a lower range, with values between 0.1 mL and 1.0 mL. EC50 levels for NB O2 consumption were: Cr6+ 1.21 mg/kg; Cu2+ 6.92 mg/kg; Ag+ 8.38 mg/kg; As3+ 8.99 mg/kg; Ni2+ 10.35 mg/kg; Hg2+ 11.01 mg/kg; Cd2+ 31.33 mg/kg; Pb2+ 129.62 mg/kg. Values for inherent test variability (CVi), variation resulting from the natural characteristics of soil (CVns), and minimal detectable difference (MDD) were found to range between 1.6% and 4.7%, 7.8% and 14.6%, and 2.9% and 5.9%, respectively. A 10% toxicity threshold was set as the maximal tolerable inhibition (MTI) for effective soil toxicity assessment. Nitrifying bacteria bioassays offer a fast, affordable, and user-friendly tool for real-time soil toxicity assessment, boosting soil health monitoring and ecosystem protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants in Soil)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 589 KB  
Review
Molecular Mechanisms of Root Exudate-Mediated Remediation in Soils Co-Contaminated with Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
by Lingyun Sun, Jinling Mo, Zhenjiang Wang, Sen Lin, Dan Wang, Zhiyi Li, Yuan Wang, Jianan Wu, Wuyan Guo, Jiehua Chen, Zhipeng Wu and Lian Chen
Toxics 2025, 13(12), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121044 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 659
Abstract
Soil co-contamination with heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represents a widespread and challenging environmental issue that is difficult to address using conventional remediation methods. This review systematically examines the molecular mechanisms by which plant root exudates mediate the remediation of [...] Read more.
Soil co-contamination with heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represents a widespread and challenging environmental issue that is difficult to address using conventional remediation methods. This review systematically examines the molecular mechanisms by which plant root exudates mediate the remediation of co-contaminated soils through synergistic interactions with rhizosphere microorganisms. We detail how plants dynamically adjust the composition and secretion of root exudates—such as organic acids, amino acids, sugars, and secondary metabolites—in response to combined HM-PAH stress. These exudates play multifaceted roles in remediation, including chelating HMs, enhancing PAH solubility and bioavailability, and acting as chemoattractants and metabolic substrates for rhizosphere microbes. In return, the recruited microbial communities contribute to pollutant detoxification through various mechanisms, such as biosurfactant production, enzymatic degradation, and improved plant nutrient acquisition. This reciprocal interaction forms a synergistic plant-microbe feedback loop that effectively mitigates combined contamination stress. By integrating evidence from diverse plant–soil systems, this review provides a comprehensive mechanistic framework for understanding root exudate-microbe interactions, offering critical insights for developing enhanced phytoremediation strategies to address complex environmental pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants in Soil)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop