Elemental and Isotopic Geochemistry Tracing of Aquatic Pollutants: Source Apportionment and Ecological Health Risk

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic ecosystems worldwide face increasing pressures from anthropogenic contaminants, ranging from legacy pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, trace metals, and persistent organic compounds. Traditional monitoring approaches based on contaminant concentration measurements, while valuable for identifying pollution hotspots, often prove insufficient for distinguishing between multiple potential sources, elucidating complex biogeochemical transformation pathways, or predicting long-term ecological consequences. In recent years, elemental and isotopic geochemical tracers have emerged as transformative tools for aquatic pollution research. Unlike concentration data alone, which can only indicate the presence of contamination, isotopic systematics provide diagnostic information about sources (e.g., distinguishing between geogenic weathering, industrial emissions, agricultural runoff, and urban wastewater), transport mechanisms, and in situ biogeochemical processes. 

This Special Issue will showcase innovative applications of elemental and isotopic geochemistry for tracing aquatic pollutants, identifying their sources, and assessing associated ecological risks. 

Contributions integrating isotopic data with advanced techniques (hydrological model and machine learning, etc.) for quantitative source apportionment are particularly encouraged. We also welcome submissions on contaminant transport and biogeochemical transformations, as well as those linking source tracing to ecological and human health risk assessments by using bioassays or probabilistic models. By bridging geochemical research with environmental management, this Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of pollutant dynamics and support evidence-based mitigation strategies in diverse aquatic systems.

Dr. Hao Jiang
Prof. Dr. Jie Zeng
Prof. Dr. Guilin Han
Guest Editors

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