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Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2024) | Viewed by 6547

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fanhao Song

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: dissolved organic matter; black carbon; biomass pyrolysis; environmental pollutants; water quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaodong Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: environmental behaviour; environmental remediation of soil and groundwater; advanced oxidation processes; free-radical processes in environment
Dr. Qiuheng Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Eco-Environment Research, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: emerging contaminants; environmental behavior; ecotoxicology; ecological engineering; environmental remediation; environmental microorganisms; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pollution of water environments is becoming an increasingly serious issue, especially considering the emergence of new pollutants of even more significant concern, such as antibiotics, personal care products, etc. The presence of these compounds in the water environment can have negative impacts on both human health and the environment, including endocrine disruption, cancer, and mutations in aquatic organisms.

This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest research on the identification, characterization, ecological effects and control of these emerging contaminants. We welcome contributions from researchers and practitioners in fields such as environmental chemistry, toxicology, engineering and environmental policy. This Special Issue is focused on the risk formation mechanisms and management strategies for emerging contaminants. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Contaminant source analysis;
  2. Environmental behavior, such as storage, transport and transformation;
  3. Ecological effects and toxicology;
  4. Risk assessment;
  5. Control strategies.

We believe that this Special Issue will offer a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, promoting collaboration and identifying new research directions in the field of water environment pollution control. We invite you to join us in exploring this important topic.

Dr. Fanhao Song
Dr. Xiaodong Li
Dr. Qiuheng Zhu
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
  • environmental behavior
  • ecotoxicology
  • ecological engineering
  • environmental remediation
  • treatment technologies
  • environmental microorganisms
  • natural processes
  • risk assessment

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

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 153 KiB  
Editorial
Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies
by Qiuheng Zhu, Xiaodong Li and Fanhao Song
Water 2025, 17(9), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17091329 - 29 Apr 2025
Abstract
The acceleration of industrialization and urbanization has rendered water pollution one of the most pressing environmental issues worldwide [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies)

Research

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13 pages, 1951 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Parabens and Their Mixtures on Daphnids
by Anne Leung, Emma Rowan, Flavia Melati Chiappara and Konstantinos Grintzalis
Water 2024, 16(23), 3409; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233409 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1065
Abstract
Parabens are recognized as emerging contaminants. Used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, they present significant ecological risks to aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the effects of two parabens—methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben) and propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben)—both individually and as a mixture on daphnids. Through [...] Read more.
Parabens are recognized as emerging contaminants. Used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, they present significant ecological risks to aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the effects of two parabens—methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben) and propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben)—both individually and as a mixture on daphnids. Through a series of controlled exposure experiments, phenotypic endpoints, including mortality, feeding behaviour, and enzymatic activity, were measured. The results demonstrate that propyl paraben and the mixture of propyl and methyl paraben exhibit greater toxic potential compared to methyl paraben alone. We observed a dose-dependent impact on key enzymes, indicating significant metabolic disruption. These findings underscore the necessity of utilizing model systems to investigate the complex interactions and cumulative impacts of pollutant mixtures in aquatic environments. Furthermore, this study provides critical insights regarding the underlying toxicity mechanisms of parabens, highlighting the need for comprehensive water quality monitoring and risk assessment frameworks to address the challenges posed by emerging contaminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies)
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12 pages, 2846 KiB  
Article
Land Use Cover and Flow Condition Affect the Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter in the Yongding River
by Siyi Gu, Kai Wang, Mingqi Ruan, Fanhao Song and Meiling Xu
Water 2024, 16(17), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172391 - 26 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1113
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is involved in many biogeochemical processes and plays an important role in aquatic ecosystems. This study integrated three-dimensional fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM), fluorescence regional integration (FRI), and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) to better understand the distribution and component characteristics [...] Read more.
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is involved in many biogeochemical processes and plays an important role in aquatic ecosystems. This study integrated three-dimensional fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM), fluorescence regional integration (FRI), and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) to better understand the distribution and component characteristics of DOM in the Yongding River and explore the response of DOM to natural and anthropogenic activities. The results showed that the relative abundance of fulvic-like materials of DOM in the river was the highest, with an average of 68.64%. PARAFAC identified three fluorescent components, namely, C1 (microbial humic-like components), C2 (terrestrial humic-like components), and C3 (protein-like components), and their changes with flow confirmed that the riverine DOM was generally influenced by microbial sources and terrestrial inputs. The upper reaches showed strong autochthonous characteristics and a high humification degree of DOM due to a fast flow rate, while the middle reaches showed biological or aquatic bacterial origin due to a moderate flow rate. The lower reaches of the river showed characteristics of biological and bacterial origin, most strongly influenced by human activities. The findings can help provide a basis for identifying DOM characteristics in the Yongding River basin and understanding the geochemical cycle of DOM at a regional scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies)
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14 pages, 2956 KiB  
Article
Effect of Aeration and External Carbon Source on Nitrogen Removal and Distribution Patterns of Related-Microorganisms in Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands
by Hao Zhang, Rongxin Li, Yue Shi and Fuxia Pan
Water 2024, 16(5), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050632 - 21 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1750
Abstract
Nitrogen pollution of surface water is still a critical issue worldwide. In this study, a total of four treatments were conducted in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSFCWs) to explore the removal rate of nitrogen in the carbon-deficient wastewater, including combination of aeration [...] Read more.
Nitrogen pollution of surface water is still a critical issue worldwide. In this study, a total of four treatments were conducted in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSFCWs) to explore the removal rate of nitrogen in the carbon-deficient wastewater, including combination of aeration and external carbon source (CW_CA), external carbon source (CW_C), aeration (CW_A), and control group without aeration and carbon source (CW_CK). Results showed that the removal rates of total nitrogen (TN) in the enhanced treatments were increased compared with CW_CK. The highest removal rates of COD (66.56%), NH4+-N (73.51%), NO3−-N (79.31%), and TN (76.19%) were observed in the CW_CA treatment. The bacterial community structure at the fore and rear ends of HSSFCWs was simultaneously changed in the CW_CA and CW_C treatments, respectively. The highest richness index at both the fore and rear ends of HSSFCWs was found in the CW_CA treatment. The richness and diversity indices of CW_C declined at the fore ends of HSSFCWs, but increased at the rear ends of HSSFCWs. Furthermore, the functional bacteria and genes significantly changed among different treatments. At the fore ends of HSSFCWs, the highest relative abundance of nitrifiers and absolute abundance of amoA and nxrA were obtained in CW_A, and the highest relative abundance of denitrifying bacteria and absolute abundance of nirS, nirK, nosZ were found in CW_C. However, at the rear ends of HSSFCWs, the highest relative abundance of nitrifiers and denitrifying bacteria as well as the absolute abundance of related genes were also observed in the CW_CA treatment. Overall, CW_CA improved the nitrogen removal rate by increasing the abundance of nitrogen-converting functional microbes and the genes associated with nitrification and denitrification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies)
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13 pages, 4316 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Acetochlor on Nitrogen-Cycling-Related Microbial Communities in Riparian Zone Soils
by Chunjian Lyu, Jianglong Cui, Fangyuan Jin, Xiaojie Li and Yaning Xu
Water 2024, 16(3), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030461 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1534
Abstract
The riparian zone has a proven ability to reduce agricultural nonpoint-source nitrogen pollution. However, prior studies have only assessed nitrification and denitrification and their influencing factors, such as hydrology, climate, vegetation, and soil physicochemical properties, and overlooked the role of pesticide accumulation, which [...] Read more.
The riparian zone has a proven ability to reduce agricultural nonpoint-source nitrogen pollution. However, prior studies have only assessed nitrification and denitrification and their influencing factors, such as hydrology, climate, vegetation, and soil physicochemical properties, and overlooked the role of pesticide accumulation, which is an important nonpoint-source anthropogenic pollutant. This study investigated the response of the soil microbial nitrogen cycle in riparian zones to 60 days of acetochlor (ACE) exposure at doses of 0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg. The results showed that ACE inhibited the transformation of soil NH3-N, NO3−-N, and NO2−-N and also decreased potential nitrification and denitrification rates by affecting the respective enzyme activities and related microbial communities. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that the expression of functional genes associated with NO3−-N transformation processes, including denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, and assimilatory nitrate reduction, declined the most. The recommended field dose (0.5 mg/kg) showed a slight effect on soil microbial nitrogen transformation and the related microbial communities, whereas doses 5 and 10 times the recommended dose were highly inhibitory. This is a novel study exploring the effects of ACE on the microbial nitrogen cycle in riparian soils, also suggesting that pesticide accumulation in riparian zones could affect the health of aquatic ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies)
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Review

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11 pages, 226 KiB  
Review
Application of eDNA Metabarcoding Technology to Monitor the Health of Aquatic Ecosystems
by Xu Liang, Xinyu Yang, Na Sha, Jun Wang, Guanglei Qiu and Ming Chang
Water 2025, 17(8), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081109 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 321
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is DNA isolated from environmental samples. It is distinctly different from genomic DNA, which is extracted directly from biological specimens. eDNA metabarcoding technology is a novel surveillance tool combining eDNA and second-generation high-throughput sequencing technology. Different from conventional approaches and [...] Read more.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is DNA isolated from environmental samples. It is distinctly different from genomic DNA, which is extracted directly from biological specimens. eDNA metabarcoding technology is a novel surveillance tool combining eDNA and second-generation high-throughput sequencing technology. Different from conventional approaches and biomonitoring techniques, eDNA metabarcoding technology (eMT) has many advantages, such as promising timeliness and accuracy, lower time consumption, and low cost, and thus is widely used in ecological and environmental monitoring, including that in rivers, lakes, oceans, soils, and sediments. As a tool, eDNA metabarcoding technology supplements the evaluation of environmental qualities by monitoring both the diversity of aquatic biology communities and target species. In addition, it is essential to understand the limitations of eDNA metabarcoding technology in practical applications. As a tool, eDNA metabarcoding technology features high efficiency, providing indicators of environmental health and allowing for the indirect estimation of the impact and extent of water pollution with respect to aquatic ecosystems. It provides new insights for aquatic environment protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Natural and Engineered Water Environments: Environmental Behavior, Ecological Effects and Control Strategies)
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