Sources, Migration and Variation Characteristics of Pollutants in Aquatic Environments

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of escalating anthropogenic pressures and climate variability, karst groundwater systems face unprecedented contamination risks due to their unique hydrological and geological characteristics. The rapid migration of pollutants through fissures and conduits, coupled with slow natural remediation processes, poses significant challenges to water security, ecosystem health, and sustainable development. This Special Issue highlights cutting-edge research on karst groundwater contamination mechanisms, contamination risk assessment, and innovative strategies for mitigating contamination, aiming to bridge scientific understanding and practical governance.

The key topics include the following:

• ​Pollution Mechanisms and Migration Pathways

Karst aquifers are highly vulnerable to pollutants from industrial discharge (e.g., heavy metals, organic compounds), agricultural runoff (e.g., nitrates, pesticides), and urban wastewater. Contaminants propagate rapidly through interconnected conduits, with transport influenced by hydrogeological heterogeneity and climate-driven hydrological shifts.

• ​Risk Assessment and Modeling

Advanced tools like PMF (Positive Matrix Factorization) and 3D hydrogeological modeling quantify pollution sources (e.g., sulfuric acid acocunted for 48.6% of pollution in a Chinese chemical park), while risk zoning has revealed that 67% of industrial areas are classified as high-risk due to carcinogenic metals (Cd, As).

• ​Climate Change Interactions

Altered precipitation patterns exacerbate contamination by concentrating pollutants during droughts or accelerating their transport during heavy rainfall. Studies show increased ionic concentrations (e.g., Na⁺, Cl⁻) in Southwest China linked to reduced dilution effects.

• ​Integrated Management and Remediation

Case studies emphasize source control (e.g., relocating high-risk industries to low-permeability zones), real-time monitoring networks, and bioremediation as solutions to water contamination. Therefore, policy frameworks must integrate geological vulnerability maps with socio-economic factors.

• ​Interdisciplinary Solutions

Remote sensing and isotopic tracing (e.g., δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) are used to decode the origins of pollution at heritage sites like Lijiang, while participatory governance engages communities in conservation.

Dr. Zuobing Liang
Prof. Dr. Jie Zeng
Guest Editors

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