New Emerging Contaminants Identification and Determination

Dear Colleagues,

New emerging contaminants (NECs) are previously unidentified, unregulated, or poorly understood chemical, biological, or particulate substances whose presence is increasing in environmental matrices and that may pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health. These contaminants arise from diverse and continually evolving sources, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products; industrial and consumer chemicals; pesticides and other agrochemicals; micro- and nanomaterials; water disinfection processes; food additives; and transformation products generated during treatment or natural environmental processes. Advances in manufacturing, consumer product use, and wastewater reuse have further contributed to the continuous introduction of NECs into aquatic systems, often at trace concentrations. The identification and determination of NECs remain particularly challenging due to unknown chemical structures, low environmental abundance, complex matrices, and the absence of reference standards. Consequently, advanced analytical tools such as thermal desorption–pyrolysis high-resolution mass spectrometry, non-target and suspect screening, and innovative preconcentration techniques are essential for their reliable detection and characterization. In parallel, the development of effective strategies for the removal and degradation of NECs is critical, as conventional water and wastewater treatment processes are not designed specifically for these contaminants. Emerging treatment technologies, including advanced oxidation and reduction processes, adsorption, membrane-based systems, and biologically enhanced approaches, show promise for mitigating NECs and their transformation products. This Special Issue highlights recent advances in NEC source identification, analytical determination, pre-concentration, removal, and degradation to support improved water quality management and risk assessment.

Dr. Mahmut Selim Ersan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sources of new emerging contaminants (NECs)
• current detection technologies
• occurrence in potable water and wastewater reuse
• non-target and suspect screening
• occurrence, formation, and transformation of NECs in engineered and natural systems
• nondestructive advanced water and wastewater treatment processes
• destructive advanced oxidation and reduction processes (AOPs/ARPs)
• preconcentration and sample preparation techniques for trace detection
• toxicology of NECs