Biomonitoring for Emerging Contaminants: From Detection to Risk Assessment

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 91

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Interests: persistent organic pollutants (POPs); modeling; pollutant risk assessment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the advancement of environmental science, there are increasing concerns about the potential impacts of emerging contaminants (such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pharmaceuticals, personal care products, etc.) on ecosystems and human health. These substances have garnered attention due to their ubiquitous presence, persistence, and potential toxicity. However, our understanding of their behavior in the environment, exposure pathways, and effects on organisms remains limited. There is an urgent need for systematic approaches that are able to monitor, assess, and manage the risks associated with these emerging contaminants to be developed.

This Special Issue aims to collate original research articles, reviews, and case studies focusing on biomonitors, methodological advancements, exposure routes, and risk assessment strategies for emerging contaminants. Contributions exploring novel biomarkers, improvements in detection technologies, assessments of human and environmental exposures, and the application of biomonitoring data to risk management practices are particularly welcome to be submitted.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Innovative detection techniques and methodologies for emerging contaminants;
  • Development and application of biomarkers in biomonitoring;
  • Exposure assessment of emerging contaminants in various media (water, air, soil, food);
  • Uptake, metabolism, and effects of emerging contaminants in humans and ecosystems;
  • Development and validation of risk assessment models addressing emerging contaminants;
  • Risk management strategies based on biomonitoring data.

We look forward to receiving contributions from researchers around the world sharing their insights and latest findings, enhancing our understanding of emerging contaminants and promoting more effective risk management measures.

Dr. Wenlong Li
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 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

  • biomonitoring
  • emerging contaminants
  • risk assessment
  • detection
  • identification

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 286 KB  
Article
Insights from Expert Interviews on Navigating the Complexity of Prioritizing Chemicals for Human Biomonitoring in Latvia
by Linda Matisāne, Lāsma Akūlova, Ilona Pavlovska, Monta Matisāne and Ivars Vanadziņš
Toxics 2025, 13(9), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090715 (registering DOI) - 25 Aug 2025
Abstract
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a vital tool for assessing chemical exposure in populations and informing evidence-based public health policy. For smaller countries such as Latvia, establishing a national HBM program presents specific challenges, including limited prior experience, national data gaps, and resource constraints. [...] Read more.
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a vital tool for assessing chemical exposure in populations and informing evidence-based public health policy. For smaller countries such as Latvia, establishing a national HBM program presents specific challenges, including limited prior experience, national data gaps, and resource constraints. This study explores the expert experiences and reflections gathered during the development of Latvia’s national HBM chemical prioritization process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight experts who were directly involved in evaluating and selecting substances for inclusion in the program. The focus of this study is not on the outcomes of the prioritization itself—published elsewhere—but rather on the strategies applied, challenges encountered, and lessons learned in navigating the prioritization process. A qualitative content analysis identified several key themes, including limitations in data availability, institutional coordination challenges, differences in expert opinion, and the complexity of adapting international methodologies to the national context. Despite these obstacles, the process benefitted from interdisciplinary collaboration, iterative methodological refinement, and the strategic use of international frameworks. The findings offer practical insights for countries with limited resources that are initiating or refining their national HBM programs. This study highlights the importance of national data infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, and tailored methodological approaches to ensure an effective and context-sensitive prioritization process. Full article
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