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The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater
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The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Wastewater Treatment and Reuse".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 9962

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Changqing Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, China
Interests: single-atom catalysis; emerging contaminant removal; advanced oxidation process; theoretical simulation; adsorption
Dr. Chen Ling

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: heavy metal; PPCPs; adsorption; polymer; biochar; interface interaction; complexed wastewater
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as antibiotics, endocrine disruptors and microplastics, are potentially significant threats to water safety and human health, but their monitoring and management are far from meeting the current needs.

This Special Issue focuses on ECs in wastewater and publishes research on their occurrence, fate and removal, including but not limited to the traceability analysis of ECs in wastewater treatment plants and their evolution along the treatment process, the development of advanced materials and technologies for the treatment of ECs, toxic effects and mechanisms of ECs in wastewater on biological systems and human health, and interference-resistant high-throughput detection methods of multiple species of ECs in real wastewater. The purpose is to improve the knowledge of these contaminants in wastewater and provide scientific references for their effective identification and the development of efficient control strategies.

This Special Issue will summarize the existing research on ECs in wastewater and highlight the latest research advances, in order to better clarify the research lineage concerning ECs in wastewater and point out cutting-edge directions.

Dr. Changqing Zhu
Dr. Chen Ling
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. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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
  • wastewater
  • monitoring
  • management
  • treatment technology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2554 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Adverse Potential of Six SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals by Aliivibrio fischeri Assay: Toxicity Analysis of Single Agent Solutions and Binary Mixtures
by Viktorija Martinjak, Martina Miloloža, Marinko Markić, Lidija Furač, Matija Cvetnić, Tomislav Bolanča, Dajana Kučić Grgić and Šime Ukić
Water 2024, 16(24), 3607; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16243607 - 15 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1082
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the development of new antiviral agents specifically intended for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but has also increased the use of some already known antiviral agents originally intended for other viruses. Although the pandemic has ended, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the development of new antiviral agents specifically intended for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but has also increased the use of some already known antiviral agents originally intended for other viruses. Although the pandemic has ended, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is expected to be present in the human population forever, as is the case with the influenza virus, for example. Such a scenario guarantees the continued use of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals and, accordingly, their continued release into the environment. Unfortunately, there is little or no information on the adverse potential of most of these antiviral agents. In this study, the acute toxicity of six antiviral agents used in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections was determined. These are atazanavir, ribavirin, emtricitabine, nirmatrelvir, sofosbuvir and oseltamivir, sorted according to their toxicity, starting with the most toxic agent. Toxicity was determined using the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri according to the ISO 11348-1:2007 standard. In addition to the toxicities of the individual antiviral solutions, the toxicities of binary antiviral mixtures were also determined. By comparing the experimentally determined toxicities of the mixtures with the values estimated by the concentration addition model and the independent action model, we analyzed the mode of joint toxic activity of these antiviral agents. Additive behavior was observed for most binary combinations. The combination of nirmatrelvir and sofosbuvir led to an antagonistic deviation from the concentration addition model, while a synergistic deviation was observed for the combinations of emtricitabine with atazanavir and with nirmatrelvir, as well as for the combinations of ribavirin with atazanavir, oseltamivir and sofosbuvir. All tested binary combinations showed a synergistic deviation from the independent action model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater)
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11 pages, 3195 KiB  
Article
Embryotoxicity of Diafenthiuron to Zebrafish (Danio rerio) After Advanced Oxidation Treatment
by Menglan Su, Rongkai Bao, Bo Gao, Xiaobin Liao, Peng Xiao and Wenhua Li
Water 2024, 16(23), 3478; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233478 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 742
Abstract
Diafenthiuron is a novel derivative of thiourea and is highly toxic to non-target organisms, necessitating its efficient removal from wastewater before discharge. This study compared diafenthiuron removal efficiencies at a target concentration of 1 µM using three methods: a 4 mg/L ozone (O [...] Read more.
Diafenthiuron is a novel derivative of thiourea and is highly toxic to non-target organisms, necessitating its efficient removal from wastewater before discharge. This study compared diafenthiuron removal efficiencies at a target concentration of 1 µM using three methods: a 4 mg/L ozone (O3) treatment; an ultraviolet (UV) light treatment, applying UV254 radiation with a fluence of 60 mJ/cm2 for 10 min; and a combined O3/UV treatment utilizing ozone and ultraviolet light. An acute toxicity assessment was conducted using a modeled zebrafish embryo (Danio rerio). The diafenthiuron removal efficiencies were 49.59%, 54.51%, and 68.90% for the UV light, O3, and O3/UV treatments, respectively. The treatments showed additional benefits of exerting no negative impacts on the survival rate, heart rate, or body length of the zebrafish larvae posttreatment. The survival and heart rates at 120 hpf, as well as the body length at 96 and 120 hpf, showed significant differences between the advanced oxidation and 1 μM diafenthiuron treatment groups. However, these parameters remained consistent with those of the control group. The three treatments alleviated the spatiotemporal downregulation of the liver-specific marker fabp10a caused by diafenthiuron exposure. The UV light and O3/UV treatments were efficient at degrading diafenthiuron, causing decreased reactive oxygen species levels and increased pomc and prl expression levels. The O3-treated diafenthiuron and 1 μM diafenthiuron treatments increased the reactive oxygen species levels and decreased the pomc and prl expression levels. The combined O3/UV treatment showed the highest removal efficiency and the least toxicity, making it the most effective method for diafenthiuron degradation. This study provides valuable insights into the treatment of diafenthiuron-laden wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater)
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11 pages, 1413 KiB  
Article
Fate and Proliferation of Vancomycin Resistance Genes in Two Typical Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment Plants
by Xinyan Guo, Xiaohui Zhang, Ni Ni, Mali Shi and Na Wang
Water 2024, 16(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010114 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1722
Abstract
The emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and vancomycin resistance genes (VRGs) complicates the application of vancomycin, which is a last-line agent for human infectious diseases, and pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants (PWWTPs) are widely thought to be important sources of corresponding antibiotic resistance genes [...] Read more.
The emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and vancomycin resistance genes (VRGs) complicates the application of vancomycin, which is a last-line agent for human infectious diseases, and pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants (PWWTPs) are widely thought to be important sources of corresponding antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, two VRGs (vanA and vanB) were evaluated in two PWWTPs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis to characterize the occurrence and fate of VRGs. The VRG concentration tended to decrease throughout all processing stages, while anaerobic treatment promoted the propagation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and led to an increase in VRG abundance. Finally, the absolute concentrations of vanA and vanB exceeded 104 copies/mL in the effluents, and a significant amount of VRGs was transferred to sludge at 1.68 × 1017 copies/d. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the relative abundance of ARGs was significantly correlated with the concentrations of vancomycin and COD. Furthermore, the relative abundance of vanA was increased in wastewater with multiple antibiotics, while the relative abundance of vanB only increased in the presence of vancomycin. This observation implied different intrinsic resistance mechanisms for different VRG subtypes. Overall, in this report, we describe the first comprehensive study on the fate and behavior of VRGs with different physicochemical or biochemical treatments and different antibiotic selection pressures in PWWTPs; this report provides important references for the environmental spread of VRGs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater)
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Review

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39 pages, 1037 KiB  
Review
Current Status of Emerging Contaminant Models and Their Applications Concerning the Aquatic Environment: A Review
by Zhuang Liu, Yonghai Gan, Jun Luo, Xiao Luo, Chengcheng Ding and Yibin Cui
Water 2025, 17(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17010085 - 1 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2434
Abstract
Increasing numbers of emerging contaminants (ECs) detected in water environments require a detailed understanding of these chemicals’ fate, distribution, transport, and risk in aquatic ecosystems. Modeling is a useful approach for determining ECs’ characteristics and their behaviors in aquatic environments. This article proposes [...] Read more.
Increasing numbers of emerging contaminants (ECs) detected in water environments require a detailed understanding of these chemicals’ fate, distribution, transport, and risk in aquatic ecosystems. Modeling is a useful approach for determining ECs’ characteristics and their behaviors in aquatic environments. This article proposes a systematic taxonomy of EC models and addresses gaps in the comprehensive analysis of EC models and their applications. The reviewed models include conventional water quality models, multimedia fugacity models, and machine learning (ML) models. Conventional water quality models have higher prediction accuracy and spatial resolution; nevertheless, they are limited in functionality and can only be used to predict contaminant concentrations in aquatic environments. Fugacity models are excellent at depicting how contaminants travel between different environmental media, but they cannot be used directly to analyze contaminant variations in different parts of the same environmental media because the fugacity model assumes that contaminant concentrations are constant within the same environmental compartment. Compared to other models, ML models can be applied to more scenarios, such as contaminant identification and risk assessments, rather than being confined to the prediction of contaminant concentrations. In recent years, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, ML models have surpassed fugacity models and conventional water quality models, becoming one of the newest hotspots in the study of ECs. The primary challenge faced by ML models is that the model outcomes are difficult to interpret and understand, and this influences the practical value of an ML model to some extent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater)
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23 pages, 1502 KiB  
Review
A Review of Wastewater Pollution by Diuron: From Its Origin to Treatments for Safe Reuse
by Cristian Yoel Quintero-Castañeda, Claire Tendero, Thibaut Triquet, Oscar H. Moreno-Torres, María Margarita Sierra-Carrillo and Caroline Andriantsiferana
Water 2024, 16(23), 3524; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233524 - 7 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1357
Abstract
By 2030, the global deficit in freshwater resources is projected to reach 40%, in direct correlation with global population growth. To cope with this increase in demand, the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations, specifically goal No. 6 of the 2030 [...] Read more.
By 2030, the global deficit in freshwater resources is projected to reach 40%, in direct correlation with global population growth. To cope with this increase in demand, the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations, specifically goal No. 6 of the 2030 agenda, have identified wastewater as a new resource. Indeed, the reuse of wastewater offers three primary advantages: (i) Reused wastewater can serve as an alternative to water from natural reserves, particularly in sensitive geographical areas experiencing water stress. (ii) Wastewater reuse limits the discharge of treated water into the natural environment, which is often a source of pollution, thus helping preserve ecosystems. (iii) Wastewater reuse also facilitates the extraction of valuable compounds, such as fertilisers and precious metals, along with energy generation. This review focuses on various uses of water and the global reuse of treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The focus then shifts to pesticides, exploring the origins of these emerging contaminants and their impacts on aquatic environments. An in-depth analysis of diuron follows, examining its origin, toxicity and regulation and the performance of existing advanced treatments to produce safe water from WWTP effluents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater)
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17 pages, 3148 KiB  
Review
Elimination of Residual Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in a Low-Temperature Post-Denitrifying Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)
by Stephan Leonhard, Marc Wichern and Rita Hilliges
Water 2024, 16(13), 1829; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131829 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) are compact biofilm systems that provide a sustainable solution for biological nitrogen removal. A study was conducted on an innovative post-denitrification method as a polishing step to reduce low nitrate nitrogen concentrations (10 mg/L) to 2.1–4.9 mg/L. The [...] Read more.
Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) are compact biofilm systems that provide a sustainable solution for biological nitrogen removal. A study was conducted on an innovative post-denitrification method as a polishing step to reduce low nitrate nitrogen concentrations (10 mg/L) to 2.1–4.9 mg/L. The objective was to minimize residual chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the effluent caused by the external carbon source required for this final treatment step. Therefore, four continuous flow reactors with varying synthetic loads and hydraulic retention times (HRTs), as well as two carrier sizes, were operated over 335 days. The results showed that an HRT of 2 h is necessary to successfully reduce the residual COD to 5–6 mg/L. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the protected volume of the biofilm carriers has a significant impact on MBBRs compared to the protected surface, which is commonly discussed in the literature. The available protected volume can limit biofilm growth, as demonstrated by measuring the total biofilm solids (TBS) and biofilm thickness on the carrier at varying COD eliminations. When providing sufficient protected volume for the biofilm through the filling ratio and carrier size, a COD elimination rate of 1.4 to 1.45 kg/(m3d) was achieved with a biofilm thickness of only 500 µm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Occurrence, Fate and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater)
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