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Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: Biogeochemical Processes, Ecological Impacts
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Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: Biogeochemical Processes, Ecological Impacts

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2026 | Viewed by 3847

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhenjie Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 208 Paige Laboratory, 161 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9286, USA
Interests: environmental geochemistry; heavy metal; trace elements; aquatic chemistry; soil chemistry; biogeochemical cycles; microplastics and nanoplastics; environmetal risk assessment; source appointment; health risk assessment
Prof. Dr. Zengping Ning

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
Interests: remediation; mining; soil; cadmium; contamination; pollution water; air pollution; acid mine drainage; bioremediation; environment
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,

Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, wetlands, and estuarine systems are increasingly affected by a diverse array of environmental contaminants. In addition to traditional inorganic pollutants, such as heavy metals, emerging organic contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, and other persistant irganic pollutants (POPs) found in personal care products have raised significant concerns due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential ecological and human health risks. These pollutants can negatively impact water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, posing a serious challenge to environmental sustainability.

This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, and case studies that explore the sources, distribution, mobility, transport, transformation, and fate of contaminants in aquatic environments. We also welcome studies focusing on the interactions between contaminants and sediments or biota, their ecological and health implications, and the development of novel analytical or modeling approaches. Contributions that investigate the dynamics of multiple stressors and redox-driven processes are encouraged.

By integrating multidisciplinary approaches, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of contaminant behavior in aquatic ecosystems and foster the development of science-based solutions for ecosystem protection and management.

Dr. Zhenjie Zhao
Prof. Dr. Zengping Ning
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 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. 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

  • aquatic ecosystems
  • heavy metals
  • PFAS
  • POPs
  • emerging pollutants
  • ecological risk assessment
  • water quality
  • redox processes

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 4147 KB  
Article
Physicochemical Conditions Shaping Phytoplankton Development in Shallow Lakes of Bellsund During the Ablation Season, West Spitsbergen
by Marta Ziółek, Małgorzata Poniewozik, Łukasz Franczak and Magdalena Kończak
Water 2026, 18(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18010091 - 30 Dec 2025
Viewed by 811
Abstract
The small freshwater lakes of Spitsbergen remain poorly studied compared to surrounding marine ecosystems despite their sensitivity to rapid environmental changes. During the short ablation season, these shallow lakes exhibit physicochemical variability influenced by the harsh Arctic climate, local geology, and hydrology. This [...] Read more.
The small freshwater lakes of Spitsbergen remain poorly studied compared to surrounding marine ecosystems despite their sensitivity to rapid environmental changes. During the short ablation season, these shallow lakes exhibit physicochemical variability influenced by the harsh Arctic climate, local geology, and hydrology. This study analyzed six lakes located on marine terraces, moraine areas, and outwash plains in the Bellsund region to assess how physicochemical variability in their waters affects phytoplankton development. The lakes exhibited local and temporal variations in temperature, conductivity, ion composition, and nutrient levels, with generally low nutrient availability limiting biological productivity. Phytoplankton communities were quantitatively and qualitatively poor, dominated by green algae, either flagellates or mixed communities, including cyanobacteria. Green algae clearly dominated in lakes closest to the fjord shoreline, while dinoflagellates and cryptophytes dominated in inland lakes. Phytoplankton abundance and biomass were extremely low in one of the lakes situated on the raised marine terraces within the tundra vegetation zone (3 × 103 ind L−1 and 0.004 mg L−1, respectively). In contrast, the much larger lake situated within the tundra zone nearer the fjord shoreline had values that were comparable to fertile lakes in the temperate zone (~30 thousand × 103 ind L−1 and ~28 mg L−1, respectively). It should be noted that Monoraphidium contortum and Rhodomonas minuta dominated some of the lakes almost entirely. Phytoplankton abundance was related to physicochemical conditions: green algae increased with increasing ion concentrations (Cl−, Na+, K+, SO42−), Pmin, Fe, and Mn; flagellates preferred colder waters with higher Nmin and low TOC; cyanobacteria occurred in waters with lower COND, TOC, Ca2+, Si, Cu, and Zn. Phytoplankton biomass increased in July with increasing water temperature. Bird activity likely facilitated phytoplankton dispersal, increasing taxonomic diversity in frequently visited lakes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: Biogeochemical Processes, Ecological Impacts)
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17 pages, 3997 KB  
Article
Hydrogeochemical Characterization, Processes, and Water Quality Assessment of Groundwater in an Agricultural Reclamation Area of the Sanjiang Plain, China
by Min Wang and Mingguo Wang
Water 2025, 17(22), 3257; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223257 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Understanding groundwater quality and its controlling mechanisms is vital for the sustainable use of water resources in agriculturally intensive regions. This study evaluates the hydrochemical characteristics, controlling geochemical processes, and overall water quality of 226 groundwater samples collected from a typical agricultural reclamation [...] Read more.
Understanding groundwater quality and its controlling mechanisms is vital for the sustainable use of water resources in agriculturally intensive regions. This study evaluates the hydrochemical characteristics, controlling geochemical processes, and overall water quality of 226 groundwater samples collected from a typical agricultural reclamation area in the Sanjiang Plain, northeastern China. Major ion compositions indicate that groundwater is predominantly of the Ca–HCO3 type, with bicarbonate, calcium, and magnesium as the dominant constituents. Spatial and statistical analyses reveal that rock weathering—particularly the dissolution of carbonates and silicates—is the primary natural process influencing groundwater chemistry, while cation exchange contributes moderately. Anthropogenic inputs, especially from fertilizers, livestock waste, and wastewater discharge, were found to elevate concentrations of NO3−, Cl−, and SO42− in localized zones. The entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) was applied to assess overall groundwater suitability. Results show that 89.8% of samples fall into “excellent” or “good” categories, though 6.6% of samples indicate poor to very poor water quality. This study identified the hydrochemical characteristics, sources of substances, and water quality of groundwater in the reclamation area, providing a basis for scientific prevention and control, rational utilization, and protection of groundwater resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: Biogeochemical Processes, Ecological Impacts)
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13 pages, 1321 KB  
Article
Adsorption–Desorption of Antimony (V) and Phosphorus (V) in Two Typical Soils: Release Behavior and Environmental Implications
by Xingyu Lu, Yuting Zhao, Kefeng Yao, Fande Meng, Feiyue Li, Zhenyu Wu and Yongbing Cai
Water 2025, 17(21), 3038; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213038 - 22 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 859
Abstract
The competitive adsorption between phosphorus (V) and antimony (V) may influence the release of antimony from Sb-contaminated soils. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of P(V) on the adsorption–desorption behavior and transport of Sb(V) in two typical soil types. [...] Read more.
The competitive adsorption between phosphorus (V) and antimony (V) may influence the release of antimony from Sb-contaminated soils. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of P(V) on the adsorption–desorption behavior and transport of Sb(V) in two typical soil types. Specifically, the simultaneous adsorption, competitive interactions, and miscible displacement dynamics of P(V) and Sb(V) in these soils were investigated. Results clearly indicated that the competitive effect of P(V) on Sb(V) adsorption is more pronounced in acidic red soil than in alkaline calcareous soil. The adsorption capacity of Sb(V) decreased with increasing solution pH, leading to greater mobility of Sb(V) in both soils. P(V) was preferentially adsorbed over Sb(V) in both soil types. Sb(V) adsorption isotherms fitting by Freundlich model yielded higher coefficients of determination (R2) compared to the Langmuir model, while the Langmuir model provided a good fit to the P(V) adsorption isotherms. The total released amounts of P(V) and Sb(V) accounted for 0% and 0.4%, respectively, in red soil and 2.7% and 48.6%, respectively, in calcareous soil, relative to their adsorption capacities. The red soil exhibited remarkably strong binding affinity, with only minimal amounts of P(V) and Sb(V) released after five consecutive desorption steps. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) revealed that the presence of P(V) can promote significant Sb(V) release from the soils, which persists over an extended duration. This study on the adsorption–desorption behavior of P(V) and Sb(V) in two typical soils enhances our understanding of their mobility, fate, and associated environmental risks. In conclusion, the assessment of environmental risks from antimony-contaminated soils should take into account the competitive adsorption–desorption interactions between Sb(V) and P(V). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: Biogeochemical Processes, Ecological Impacts)
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Review

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16 pages, 1602 KB  
Review
Multi-Stable Isotope Constraints on the Sources and Evolution of Potash-Forming Fluids in the Mahai Basin, Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
by Zhendong Wang, Qiugui Wang, Zengping Ning, Weigang Su, Ying Ma, Yujun Ma, Enzong Xiao and Xiaohang Lu
Water 2026, 18(4), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18040443 - 7 Feb 2026
Viewed by 751
Abstract
The Mahai Basin (MHB), situated in the northern Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, hosts significant Quaternary potash resources. Nevertheless, the sources and evolutionary pathways of potash-forming fluids remain controversial. In this study, a comprehensive multi-isotope dataset and online-first publications spanning the period [...] Read more.
The Mahai Basin (MHB), situated in the northern Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, hosts significant Quaternary potash resources. Nevertheless, the sources and evolutionary pathways of potash-forming fluids remain controversial. In this study, a comprehensive multi-isotope dataset and online-first publications spanning the period from 2015 to 2025 were compiled to constrain the end-member characteristics and evolution of brines in the MHB. δD-δ18O indicates that the initial fluids were derived mainly from Qilian Mountains precipitation and snowmelt, delivered via surface runoff and concentrated through prolonged evaporation under arid, semi-closed conditions, forming a river-lake-brine evolution sequence. δ7Li (+7‰ to +40‰) systematically increases with salinity and K content, reflecting long-term low-temperature water–rock interactions and selective 6Li adsorption by secondary clays, while deep Ca-Cl brines represent highly evolved endmembers. Elevated 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7113–0.7122) confirm silicate weathering contributions, with intercrystalline brines acting as key intermediate end members. B, S, and Cl isotopes further highlight deep fluid ascent along faults and anticlines, driving K co-enrichment, while sandy–gravel brines inherit highly evolved paleo-lake signatures. These multi-isotope constraints define an integrated evolutionary model involving surface runoff recharge, evaporation-driven concentration with water–rock interaction, deep fluid mixing, lateral migration, and final potash precipitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: Biogeochemical Processes, Ecological Impacts)
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