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Environmental Fate and Transport of Organic Pollutants in Water
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Environmental Fate and Transport of Organic Pollutants in Water

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2025 | Viewed by 2656

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tengyi Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Interests: organic pollutants; water pollution; environmental risk assessment; fate and transport; aquatic toxicity; remediation and mitigation
Prof. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Interests: sustainable urban water development; sustainable urban water systems; planning and design; low-impact development techniques; climate change; urban water management; eco-restoration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Haomiao Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Huayang West Road #196, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: contaminations migration and transformation; agricultural non-point source pollution; water environment simulation; ecological restoration; optimization algorithm; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The occurrence of organic pollutants in water has become a significant concern worldwide, with numerous studies highlighting the presence of these pollutants in various water sources, including surface water, groundwater, seawater, wastewater, and even drinking water. These pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, can pose environmental risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Despite the widespread occurrence of these pollutants, there remains lack a comprehensive understanding of their fate and transport in water environments. This knowledge gap hinders the development of effective strategies for mitigating their environmental risks and protecting human health. To address this knowledge gap, research published in this Special Issue should include the occurrence, fate, and environmental risk assessment of organic pollutants in water. The Special Issue will feature original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that examine the sources, transportation, and transformation of these pollutants in various water environments. The contributions will also discuss the implications of these pollutants on aquatic ecosystems and human health, as well as the effectiveness of existing treatment technologies and mitigation strategies.

By enriching the website with this Special Issue, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding organic pollutants in water and the need for continued research and innovation in this area. The Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to develop effective solutions for managing these pollutants and protecting the environment.

Dr. Tengyi Zhu
Prof. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh
Dr. Haomiao Cheng
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

  • organic pollutants
  • environmental risk assessment
  • fate and transport
  • remediation and mitigation
  • heavy metals
  • bioremediation
  • anaerobic digestion
  • stormwater management
  • conventional and emerging contaminants
  • water environment simulation
  • ecological remediation

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 5156 KiB  
Article
Integrative Assessment of Surface Water Contamination Using GIS, WQI, and Machine Learning in Urban–Industrial Confluence Zones Surrounding the National Capital Territory of the Republic of India
by Bishnu Kant Shukla, Lokesh Gupta, Bhupender Parashar, Pushpendra Kumar Sharma, Parveen Sihag and Anoop Kumar Shukla
Water 2025, 17(7), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071076 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 633
Abstract
This study proposes an innovative framework integrating geographic information systems (GISs), water quality index (WQI) analysis, and advanced machine learning (ML) models to evaluate the prevalence and impact of organic and inorganic pollutants across the urban–industrial confluence zones (UICZ) surrounding the National Capital [...] Read more.
This study proposes an innovative framework integrating geographic information systems (GISs), water quality index (WQI) analysis, and advanced machine learning (ML) models to evaluate the prevalence and impact of organic and inorganic pollutants across the urban–industrial confluence zones (UICZ) surrounding the National Capital Territory (NCT) of India. Surface water samples (n = 118) were systematically collected from the Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Sonipat, Gurugram, Jhajjar, and Baghpat districts to assess physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters. The application of spatial interpolation techniques, such as kriging and inverse distance weighting (IDW), enhances WQI estimation in unmonitored areas, improving regional water quality assessments and remediation planning. GIS mapping highlighted stark spatial disparities, with industrial hubs, like Faridabad and Gurugram, exhibiting WQI values exceeding 600 due to untreated industrial discharges and wastewater, while rural regions, such as Jhajjar and Baghpat, recorded values below 200, reflecting minimal anthropogenic pressures. The study employed four ML models—linear regression (LR), random forest (RF), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and support vector machines (SVM)—to predict WQI with high precision. SVM_Poly emerged as the most effective model, achieving testing CC, RMSE, and MAE values of 0.9997, 11.4158, and 5.6085, respectively, outperforming RF (0.9925, 29.8107, 21.7398) and GPR_PUK (0.9811, 68.4466, 54.0376). By leveraging machine learning models, this study enhances WQI prediction beyond conventional computation, enabling spatial extrapolation and early contamination detection in data-scarce regions. Sensitivity analysis identified total suspended solids as the most critical predictor influencing WQI, underscoring its relevance in monitoring programs. This research uniquely integrates ML algorithms with spatial analytics, providing a novel methodological contribution to water quality assessment. The findings emphasize the urgency of mitigating the fate and transport of organic and inorganic pollutants to protect Delhi’s hydrological ecosystems, presenting a robust decision-support system for policymakers and environmental managers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Fate and Transport of Organic Pollutants in Water)
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13 pages, 13368 KiB  
Article
Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids on the Transport of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Saturated Goethite-Coated Sand Columns
by Feiyu Chen, Xiaocheng Peng, Xiaocheng Liu, Biaodian Chen, Lidong Chen, Taotao Lu and Yi Gong
Water 2024, 16(23), 3500; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233500 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 742
Abstract
The widespread use of nanoplastics inevitably contributes to pollution in aquatic environments and soils. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these particles migrate in soils with diverse organic matter. This study investigated the effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on the migration [...] Read more.
The widespread use of nanoplastics inevitably contributes to pollution in aquatic environments and soils. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these particles migrate in soils with diverse organic matter. This study investigated the effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on the migration of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in goethite-coated quartz sand. The experiments utilized two organic acids, propanoic acid (PA) and tartaric acid (TA), under varying aqueous conditions, including pH levels (4.0, 7.0), ionic strengths (1 mM, 10 mM), and cations (Na+, Ca2+, Ba2+). The experimental results indicated that with the presence of Na⁺, organic acids promoted the migration of PS-NPs through electrostatic forces and steric hindrance, with TA having a greater effect than PA. When pH < pHpzc, increased concentrations of positively charged goethite coating provided favorable deposition sites for the negatively charged PS-NPs, thereby increasing their deposition. Using the DLVO theory, low pH and high ionic strength (IS) decreased the energy barriers between PS-NPs and porous media, whereas high pH and low IS increased these barriers, thus enhancing PS-NPs transport. Divalent cations Ca2+ and Ba2+ enhanced the migration of PS-NPs through complex-forming and -bridging agents. These findings offered significant insights for predicting and analyzing the migration behavior of plastic nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Fate and Transport of Organic Pollutants in Water)
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Review

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24 pages, 1863 KiB  
Review
A Review of Eco-Corona Formation on Micro/Nanoplastics and Its Effects on Stability, Bioavailability, and Toxicity
by Haohan Yang, Zhuoyu Chen, Linghui Kong, Hao Xing, Qihang Yang and Jun Wu
Water 2025, 17(8), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081124 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) have become prevalent in aquatic environments due to their widespread applications. Likewise, ubiquitous ecological macromolecules can adsorb onto M/NPs to form an “eco-corona”, which significantly alters their environmental behaviors including aggregation dynamics, adsorption/desorption, and bioavailability. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze [...] Read more.
Micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) have become prevalent in aquatic environments due to their widespread applications. Likewise, ubiquitous ecological macromolecules can adsorb onto M/NPs to form an “eco-corona”, which significantly alters their environmental behaviors including aggregation dynamics, adsorption/desorption, and bioavailability. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the role of eco-corona in assessing the environmental risks of M/NPs. This review systematically summarizes the formation mechanisms of eco-corona and evaluates its regulatory effects on the stability and ecotoxicity of M/NPs. Compared with other ecological macromolecules (e.g., natural organic matter and extracellular polymeric substances), humic acid (HA) tightly binds to M/NPs through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, significantly affecting their hetero-aggregation behavior and colloidal stability. In terms of bioavailability, the various functional groups on the HA surface can regulate the surface charge and hydrophobicity of M/NPs, thereby affecting their bioaccumulation and “Trojan horse” effect. Notably, the HA corona alleviates M/NPs-induced growth inhibition and oxidative stress. Genotoxicity assessment further showed that HA corona can regulate the expression of genes related to oxidative stress response and detoxification pathways. Future studies should focus on the synergistic effects between eco-corona and co-existing pollutants in complex aquatic environments to elucidate the long-term ecological risks associated with eco-corona formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Fate and Transport of Organic Pollutants in Water)
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29 pages, 51230 KiB  
Review
Mechanism and Risk Control of Chlorine-Resistant Bacteria in Drinking Water Supply Systems: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis
by Yue Wang, Zhiming Zhang, Mingqian Xia, Xiaomin Zhang, Rongxing Lan, Binqing Wei, Yi Liu, Yi Lu and Gongduan Fan
Water 2025, 17(7), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17070956 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 457
Abstract
Ensuring safe drinking water is a global priority, with pathogen control being an essential aspect. Chlorine disinfection is widely adopted for its affordability and potent antimicrobial effects. However, certain bacteria, known as chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB), can still survive in water systems with residual [...] Read more.
Ensuring safe drinking water is a global priority, with pathogen control being an essential aspect. Chlorine disinfection is widely adopted for its affordability and potent antimicrobial effects. However, certain bacteria, known as chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB), can still survive in water systems with residual chlorine, posing risks to water quality and distribution systems. Their emergence, ironically, can be partially attributed to the very application or increased dosage of chlorine disinfectants in certain cases, which unintentionally promoted the selection and adaptation of CRB in the environment. Despite their significance, research on CRB remains fragmented, with few systematic reviews or bibliometric analyses. Thus, this study addresses the gap by analyzing 1367 publications (1984–2025) regarding CRB in drinking water supply systems (DWSSs) using CiteSpace. Important aspects including typical species, potential risks, resistance mechanisms, and inactivation methods are reviewed. Contributions from key countries/institutions/journals/authors are also examined. More importantly, overlooked issues like CRB’s impact on taste and odor (T&O) issues in water and their molecular resistance mechanisms are also highlighted. The identification of these gaps in CRB research motivates further studies on their hazards, intrinsic mechanisms and control, which would hopefully help with the delivery of high-quality, safe drinking water worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Fate and Transport of Organic Pollutants in Water)
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