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Environments
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Advanced Research on Micropollutants in Water
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Advanced Research on Micropollutants in Water

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2024 | Viewed by 3057

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Cátia Alexandra Leça Graça

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: water treatment; advanced oxidation processes; membrane technology; ozonation; catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Micropollutants have the capacity to disturb physiological processes, resulting in unfavorable neurological, immune, developmental and reproductive effects on both humans and wildlife. These substances are frequently detected in aquatic ecosystems and encompass active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), personal care products (PCPs), pesticides and microplastics. Understanding the sources, transport, and fate of micropollutants in the environment is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate their impacts. In natural waters exposed to sunlight (surface waters), solar-radiation-mediated degradation constitutes an important natural depuration process of micropollutants, especially those resistant to biological degradation. However, these natural processes might not be enough to remove such substances, and complementary remediation strategies must be explored. These strategies can include advanced wastewater treatment technologies, the development of best practices in agriculture and industry to reduce pollutant inputs, and policy measures to limit the release of micropollutants. This Special Issue seeks research papers dealing with advances in micropollutant detection, environmental fate and removal in waters, to provide a well-rounded and complete understanding of the topic.

Dr. Cátia Alexandra Leça Graça
Guest Editor

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. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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

  • water quality monitoring
  • contaminant identification
  • wastewater management
  • environmental impact
  • discharge regulations
  • pollution control
  • water treatment
  • environmental destination
  • remediation technologies
  • integrated water management

Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 1455 KiB  
Article
Detection and Screening of Organic Contaminants in A Riverine System of Georgia using Non-Targeted Analysis
by Gayatri Basapuram, Srimanti Duttagupta and Avishek Dutta
Environments 2024, 11(5), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11050089 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 228
Abstract
Numerous organic chemicals exist within aquatic environments, yet effectively screening and prioritizing them is a huge challenge. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the ecological dynamics of the North Oconee River within Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, with a specific focus on the distribution [...] Read more.
Numerous organic chemicals exist within aquatic environments, yet effectively screening and prioritizing them is a huge challenge. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the ecological dynamics of the North Oconee River within Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, with a specific focus on the distribution of 33 identified compounds, including a prominent pesticide. The research, conducted in the riverine ecosystems proximal to the Firefly trail, employs advanced analytical techniques to elucidate potential contamination sources arising from agricultural and urban runoff. Intriguingly, the study reveals North Oconee River near the Firefly Trail as a notable site for heightened pesticide contamination, warranting a meticulous exploration of its origins. Furthermore, the investigation unveils the intricate microbial degradation processes of malathion within the North Oconee River, elucidating the pivotal role played by microbial activity in river water. The detection of degradant byproducts prompts the considerations of bioavailability and toxicity, associating potential implications for the river’s overall ecological health. Ongoing research endeavors to precisely quantify environmental risks and unravel indigenous microbial degradation pathways, presenting pivotal contributions to the scientific community’s understanding of complex riverine ecosystems. This research serves as a foundational piece in informing sustainable environmental management practices and emphasizes the urgency of comprehensive stewardship in safeguarding aquatic ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Micropollutants in Water)
30 pages, 7845 KiB  
Article
Linking Clusters of Micropollutants in Surface Water to Emission Sources, Environmental Conditions, and Substance Properties
by Tessa E. Pronk, Elvio D. Amato, Stefan A. E. Kools and Thomas L. Ter Laak
Environments 2024, 11(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030046 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1160
Abstract
Water quality monitoring programs yield a wealth of data. It is often unclear why a certain substance occurs in higher concentrations at a certain location or time. In this study, substances were considered in clusters with co-varying concentrations rather than in isolation. A [...] Read more.
Water quality monitoring programs yield a wealth of data. It is often unclear why a certain substance occurs in higher concentrations at a certain location or time. In this study, substances were considered in clusters with co-varying concentrations rather than in isolation. A total of 196 substance clusters at 19 monitoring sites in the rivers Rhine and Meuse were identified. A total of nine clusters were found repeatedly with a similar composition at different monitoring sites. Several environmental conditions and substance properties could be linked to clusters. In addition, overlap with reference substance lists was determined. These lists group multiple substances according to emission sources, substance types, or type of use. The reference substance lists revealed that Rhine and Meuse are similarly affected. The nine ‘repeating clusters’ were analyzed in more detail to identify drivers. For instance, a repeating cluster with herbicides was specifically linked to high temperatures and a high number of hours in the sun per day, e.g., summer conditions. A cluster containing polychlorinated biphenyls, identified as persistent and with a high tendency to bind organic matter, was linked to high river discharge and attributed to a potential release from sediment resuspension. Not all substances could be clustered, because their concentration did not structurally vary in the same way as other substances. The presented explorative cluster analyses, along with the obtained relations with substance properties, local environmental conditions, and reference substance lists, may facilitate the reconstruction of the processes that lead to the observed variation in concentrations. This knowledge can subsequently be used by water managers to improve water quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Micropollutants in Water)
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32 pages, 9751 KiB  
Article
Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA
by Oguz Sariyildiz, Buddhi R. Gyawali, George F. Antonious, Kenneth Semmens, Demetrio Zourarakis and Maya P. Bhatt
Environments 2024, 11(3), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030040 - 21 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1184
Abstract
Kentucky is one of the largest coal-producing states; surface coal mining has led to changes in natural land cover, soil loss, and water quality. This study explored relationships between actively mined and reclaimed areas, vegetation change, and water quality parameters. The study site [...] Read more.
Kentucky is one of the largest coal-producing states; surface coal mining has led to changes in natural land cover, soil loss, and water quality. This study explored relationships between actively mined and reclaimed areas, vegetation change, and water quality parameters. The study site evaluated 58 watersheds with Landsat-derived variables (reclamation age and percentage of mining, reclaimed forest, and reclaimed woods) as well as topographic variables (such as elevation, slope, drainage density, and infiltration). Water samples were collected in spring (n = 9), summer (n = 14), and fall (n = 58) 2017 to study changes in water quality variables (SO42−, alkalinity, conductivity, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Al3+, and Fe2+, Fe3+) in response to changes in land cover. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that conductivity has strong to very strong relationships with water quality variables related to coal mining (except Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, elevation, slope, and drainage density) and land cover variables. In addition, separate regression analyses were performed, with conductivity values based on samples collected in the fall. First, conductivity responses to mining percentage, reclamation age and topographic variables were examined (adjusted R2 = 0.818, p < 0.01). Next, vegetation cover change parameters were added to the same model, which yielded slightly improved R2 (adjusted R2 = 0.826, p < 0.01). Finally, reclamation age and mining percentages were used to explain the quantity of reclaimed forested areas as a percentage of watersheds. The model was significant (p < 0.01), with an adjusted R2 value of 0.641. Results suggest that the quantity (area as a percentage) of reclaimed forests may be a predictor of the mining percentage and reclamation age. This study indicated that conductivity is a predictable water quality indicator that is highly associated with Coal-Mine-Related Stream Chemistry in areas where agriculture and urban development are limited. Water quality is not suitable for various purposes due to the presence of contaminants, especially in mined sites. These findings may help the scientific community and key state and federal agencies improve their understanding of water quality attributes in watersheds affected by coal mining, as well as refine land reclamation practices more effectively while such practices are in action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Micropollutants in Water)
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