Emerging Contaminants in Groundwater: Multidisciplinary Approaches for a Complex Challenge

Dear Colleagues,

Given the growing scientific interest in the detection, fate, and transport of emerging contaminants in groundwater, we are pleased to announce the Special Issue entitled “Emerging Contaminants in Groundwater: Multidisciplinary Approaches for a Complex Challenge.”

Emerging Contaminants (ECs) encompass a wide range of substances, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), and industrial additives. These compounds, often linked to human activities, are of particular concern due to their persistence in the environment and their potential impact on human health and ecosystems. The interaction between surface water and groundwater becomes particularly critical when surface waters, heavily exposed to human-generated pollution, contribute to aquifer recharge through lateral transfer or percolation processes. In this context, emerging contaminant pose a significant challenge: once released into wastewater, they are not effectively removed during treatment processes and can further compromise groundwater quality in the event of sewer pipe failures, which allow contaminants to be directly released into the surrounding environment. This Special Issue focuses on themes related to emerging contaminats in groundwater, such as: ground- surface- water interfaces and interactions; diffuse groundwater pollution from urban/agriculture/industrial sources; point sources and natural attenuation strategies; urban and suburban groundwater; decision-making for sustainable management of groundwater quality; groundwater quality across scales: from lab to field, from site to megasite. Multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged, including isotopic and microbiological investigations, the development of innovative analytical protocols for the detection of trace contaminants, as well as the integration of field testing. Topics may include, but are not limited to, groundwater flow processes, contaminant dynamics, recharge mechanisms and the characterization of diverse aquifer types.

This Special Issue of Water aims to provide readers with multidisciplinary tools and approaches to enhance the understanding of groundwater contamination by emerging contaminants, with particular attention to their transport, persistence and natural attenuation

Dr. Andrea Zanini
Prof. Dr. Fulvio Celico
Guest Editors

Dr. Laura Ducci
Guest Editor Assistant

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