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Emerging Contaminants in Soils and Plants: Inventory, Monitoring, Impacts on Human Health, and Mitigation Strategies

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 753

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue will present articles on emerging and persistent pollutants, both inorganic and organic, that pose a significant environmental risk in mainly soil ecosystems. Soil is an integral part of the environment, and yet it is an important reservoir reflecting long-term pollution; furthermore, it is a habitat for food cultivation and human living. It is, therefore, necessary to monitor its pollution levels frequently and permanently, to record the levels and type of pollutants, their synergistic or competitive action, their kinetics, and their fate on the solid surface or in the soil solution.

Contaminant transfer to plants or humans along with potential health risks is indisputable, making labeling imperative. In addition, analytical methods that already exist or that are being developed which rapidly or simultaneously identify a number of these pollutants will constitute an important part of this Special Issue. Strengthening interdisciplinary interactions and regulatory frameworks will improve environmental protection and sustainability. Ultimately, remediation methods for contaminated soils can be a valuable application, giving contaminated soils a further chance for development and sustainability. Improving soil health and quality is the ultimate goal of this Special Issue, as soil is an important and irreplaceable resource.

Prof. Dr. Evangelia Golia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • emerging & persistent pollutants
  • pollutants in urban & rural soil environment
  • health risk assessments
  • pollution monitoring
  • artificial intelligence & geostatistical methods for sustainable management and development
  • phyto- & bio-remediation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1182 KB  
Article
Microplastics in Mediterranean Agricultural Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Metal Accumulation in Plants, and Implications for Sustainable Agroecosystems
by Dimitrios Alexiadis, Evangelia E. Golia, Rafaella Vogia, Vasiliki Liava and Ana Pérez-Gimeno
Sustainability 2026, 18(6), 2777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18062777 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 216
Abstract
The influence of three different types of microplastics (PE, PET, and PS) on soil physicochemical properties is the main scope of the present investigation. To this end, a pot experiment has been conducted, incorporating each kind of microplastic (MP) in two different soil [...] Read more.
The influence of three different types of microplastics (PE, PET, and PS) on soil physicochemical properties is the main scope of the present investigation. To this end, a pot experiment has been conducted, incorporating each kind of microplastic (MP) in two different soil samples in equal portions. The soils were typical of Mediterranean areas, moderately contaminated with Pb and Zn. Furthermore, two different plants, Nicotiana tabacum L. (Burley cv.) and Cannabis sativa L. (Fedora cv.), were planted to study the influence of a multi-contaminated soil environment on plant growth, along with their ability to absorb metals in their tissues. The addition of microplastics caused stronger reactions in slightly acidic soil, where the bioavailability of zinc and lead increased by 5–20% compared to alkaline soil rich in CaCO3. Plant-to-soil indices have been calculated to monitor the plant’s capacity to transfer metals from the soil environment to plant tissues. PE induced the strongest and most consistent responses, increasing Zn and Pb bioavailability and systematically enhancing total concentration factors (TC), bioaccumulation factors (BAF), and translocation factors (TF) by up to 20%, particularly in acid soil, while PET reduced the mobility of metals on the surface while enhancing vertical transport, and PS caused moderate but stable changes. Plant responses were cultivar-dependent. Plant biomass increased by approximately 7–15% in Cannabis sativa L. (cv. Fedora 17), while Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv. Burley) showed greater sensitivity to the presence of microplastics. Even low MP inputs can subtly but persistently modify soil structure, metal dynamics, and soil–plant transfer processes without increasing total metal loads, highlighting the importance of soil chemistry and polymer type in assessing the environmental risk of microplastics for sustainable agroecosystems. Full article
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24 pages, 3837 KB  
Article
Agro-Environmental Potential of Biosulfate as a New Soil Fertilizer: Herbicide Retention–Release and Effects on Ligninolytic Fungi and Horticultural Plants
by Elisabetta Loffredo, Nicola Denora, Danilo Vona and Nicola Colatorti
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2457; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052457 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 224
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture is increasingly reliant on reducing anthropogenic inputs and recycling organic waste while protecting ecosystems. In this context, this study investigated the agro-environmental properties of biosulfate, focusing on its interaction with herbicides and its effects on soil fungi and horticultural plants. Two [...] Read more.
Sustainable agriculture is increasingly reliant on reducing anthropogenic inputs and recycling organic waste while protecting ecosystems. In this context, this study investigated the agro-environmental properties of biosulfate, focusing on its interaction with herbicides and its effects on soil fungi and horticultural plants. Two biosulfate samples obtained from urban sewage sludge from the Barletta (BIO-BA) and Foggia (BIO-FO) treatment plants were characterized by Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption/desorption of the herbicides metribuzin (MET), S-metolachlor (S-ME) and cycloxydim (CYC) on biosulfates was evaluated by studying adsorption kinetics and isotherms. All herbicides reached adsorption equilibrium within a few hours, according to pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating a predominant chemical interaction between biosulfate and the molecules. Considering the organic C content of BIO-BA (~21%) and BIO-FO (~17%), which was less than half that commonly measured for other organic fertilizers, such as compost and digestate, their adsorption capacity was high, with Freundlich adsorption constants ranging from 772 µg g−1 (S-ME on BIO-BA) to 1464 µg g−1 (CYC on BIO-FO). A low hysteresis coefficient indicated a rather slow and incomplete release of the molecules from the biosulfate. Exposure of the fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii to 1, 2, 3, and 4% BIO-BA and BIO-FO stimulated mycelium growth, indicating that responses depended on fungal species and biosulfate dose. Finally, germination and early growth of lettuce and basil were generally unaffected by either biosulfate, as parameters such as germination percentage, root and shoot length, and fresh and dry biomass were not statistically different from the control. Some growth stimulation was observed in basil. Overall, biosulfate appears to be a promising soil fertilizer, as it can contribute to soil organic matter, retain xenobiotics, and exert biostimulatory effects under controlled conditions. Full article
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