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Agronomy
Special Issues
Risk and Management of Organic Contaminants in the Agricultural Environment
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Risk and Management of Organic Contaminants in the Agricultural Environment

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1234

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jian Wang

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: toxicology; soil chemistry; soil pollution and soil analysis; pesticides contaminated soil remediation; crop production safety
Prof. Dr. Lei Xiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Interests: soil pollution ecology; soil pollution remediation; organic pollutant pollution characteristics; risk assessment; agricultural product safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic "Risk and Management of Organic Contaminants in the Agricultural Environment" delves into a multifaceted and pressing issue concerning the presence of organic contaminants in agricultural ecosystems and their subsequent risks and strategies for effective management. This subject matter highlights the urgent need to address the accumulation of emergent organic pollutants, such as perfluoroalkyl substances, phthalic acid ester, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, endocrine-disrupting compounds, industrial chemicals—which pose a significant threat to the sustainability of agricultural production.

The proposed articles for this topic include transport mechanisms and transformation processes of these contaminants within the agricultural environment, emphasizing their potential adverse effects on soil health, water quality, and agricultural product safety. Furthermore, the solicitation seeks manuscripts that propose innovative and practical management approaches to mitigate the entry of organic contaminants into agricultural systems, control their movement and transformation within the environment, and facilitate their safe disposal or resource recovery. Potential solutions might encompass promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices, enhancing environmental monitoring and early warning systems, and implementing remediation strategies for contaminated sites.

In summary, this call for papers invites contributions that comprehensively address the risks associated with organic contaminants in agriculture and offer insightful perspectives on managing these risks through scientific research, policy recommendations, and innovative technologies, thereby safeguarding agricultural sustainability, environmental integrity, and public health.

Dr. Jian Wang
Prof. Dr. Lei Xiang
Guest Editors

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. Agronomy 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 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

  • organic contaminants
  • soil contamination
  • food safety
  • agricultural environment
  • risk management
  • soil remediation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5914 KiB  
Article
Effect of Microplastics on the Bioavailability of (Semi-)Metals in the Soil Earthworm Eisenia fetida
by Xue Xiao, Jia-Ling Li, Wan-Li Rao, Chun-Mei Zhao, Er-Kai He, Ye-Tao Tang, Hua-Yi Chen and Rong-Liang Qiu
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051052 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2025
Abstract
Microplastics have a large surface area and hydrophobic characteristics, which helps them to easily adsorb organic matter and trace metals in soil. This interaction has the potential to alter soil physicochemical properties, affect the bioavailability of metals, and finally influence the toxicity of [...] Read more.
Microplastics have a large surface area and hydrophobic characteristics, which helps them to easily adsorb organic matter and trace metals in soil. This interaction has the potential to alter soil physicochemical properties, affect the bioavailability of metals, and finally influence the toxicity of organisms. In the present study, we exposed Cd or As (Cd/As) to the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) in uncontaminated paddy soil, both in the presence and absence of polystyrene (PS) MPs (100~300 μm). The results show that MPs exhibit a significant influence on the physicochemical properties of As-contaminated soil, notably reducing the pH while increasing the electrical conductivity (EC), redox potential (Eh), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), relative to single As treatment. At a Cd concentration of 40 mg·kg−1, the addition of MPs substantially altered the soil properties, decreasing the pH while increasing the EC and DOC. The effect of MPs on the bioavailable Cd content in soil was associated with Cd concentration. Specifically, MPs significantly increased the content of DGT (diffusion gradient technology)-Cd at a Cd concentration of 60 mg·kg−1. Regarding the bioavailable As content in the soil, MPs led to an increase at a high As concentration (40 mg·kg−1). Moreover, the addition of MPs amplified the uptake rate constants (ku) of DGT-Cd/As at various exposure concentrations, expediting the uptake of Cd/As by earthworms. In addition, compared to Cd treatment, the growth inhibition of earthworms in the As-treatment group was more significant due to microplastics. The results show that MPs in terrestrial environments magnify the negative effects of (semi-)metals, a phenomenon intricately tied to the degree of contamination by (semi-)metals. The interaction between MPs and metals may induce higher ecological risks for organisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Management of Organic Contaminants in the Agricultural Environment)
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Review

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17 pages, 2143 KiB  
Review
Contamination of Phthalic Acid Esters in China’s Agricultural Soils: Sources, Risk, and Control Strategies
by Jin Han, Zhenying Jiang, Pengfei Li, Jian Wang and Xian Zhou
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020433 - 10 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), as an emergent pollutant in China’s agricultural environment, have raised significant environmental and health concerns due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential risks. This review explores the sources, distribution, ecological impacts, and human health risks associated with PAEs in [...] Read more.
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), as an emergent pollutant in China’s agricultural environment, have raised significant environmental and health concerns due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential risks. This review explores the sources, distribution, ecological impacts, and human health risks associated with PAEs in agricultural soils and crop systems across China. PAEs primarily originate from agricultural plastic materials, wastewater irrigation, and agrochemical additives, leading to widespread contamination. Concentrations of PAEs vary significantly by region, with hotspots identified in areas with intensive agriculture and industrial activities. The transfer of PAEs from soil to crops is a critical pathway for human exposure, particularly through vegetables and grains, posing carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. The review highlights the fate and transformation processes of PAEs, including adsorption, migration, volatilization, and microbial degradation, which influence their environmental behavior and risks. Effective risk control measures, such as microbial remediation and advancements in biodegradation technologies, offer sustainable solutions to mitigate PAE contamination. This study emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive monitoring systems, stringent regulatory frameworks, and the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices to effectively reduce PAE concentrations in soils, thereby safeguarding soil health, ensuring food safety, and protecting human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Management of Organic Contaminants in the Agricultural Environment)
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