The Occurrence, Fate, Transport, and Toxicity of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)

Dear Colleagues,

CECs, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, POPs, PFASs, microplastics, and resistance genes, have the potential to enter water bodies, terrestrial ecosystems, and the atmosphere. These chemicals have been proven to affect the growth and reproduction of organisms, disrupt ecological processes, and pose risks to human health. The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide updated insights into the impacts of these contaminants on various environmental systems and to discuss monitoring and risk assessment strategies for CECs.

The scope of the discussion in this Special Issue will cover various aspects related to CECs, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. The occurrence of CECs in the environment: this includes the sources, distribution, and temporal and spatial trends seen in CECs in different environmental matrices, such as water, sediments, and biota.
2. The fate and transport of CECs: this includes the processes that influence the fate and transport of CECs in the environment, such as biodegradation, sorption, and volatilization.
3. The toxicity of CECs: this includes the adverse effects of CECs on human health, aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and the environment.
4. The monitoring and risk assessment of CECs: this includes the development and implementation of monitoring programs for CECs in different environmental matrices, as well as the use of risk assessment strategies in order to evaluate the potential risks associated with exposure to CECs.

In terms of the existing literature, this Special Issue will build upon previous research related to CECs by providing updated information on their occurrence, fate, transport, and toxicity in various environmental systems. The Special Issue will also discuss new monitoring and risk assessment strategies for CECs, which can contribute to the development of more effective management and mitigation efforts. By situating it within the existing literature, the Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on CECs and identify the knowledge gaps that require further research.

Prof. Dr. Xinyi Cui
Prof. Dr. Qian Sui
Prof. Dr. Xiaomin Li
Dr. Zhijiang Lu
Guest Editors

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• microplastics
• POPs
• PFASs
• resistance genes
• human health
• aquatic system