Special issue: Emerging pollutants and their interactions with micron-scaled organisms or other natural substances in the aquatic environment.

Introduction:

With urbanization, both intentional and unintentional releases of emerging pollutants into the environment have led to increased safety and health concerns. Nano-engineered particles, microplastics, antibiotics, drugs, steroids, endocrine disruptors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, industrial additives, and e-waste are among the emerging pollutants causing increasing alarm worldwide. These pollutants are labeled as 'emerging' due to increasing apprehension surrounding them, with some remaining unregulated by national or international legislation, thereby posing elevated risks to livelihoods. After their release into the environment, emerging pollutants may persist in the environmental medium, interacting with diverse micron-scaled organisms (e.g., microalgae, microscopic bacteria) and other natural substances (e.g., natural organic matter, sand, aquatic life), leading to potential ecological disturbances and environmental consequences.

This Special Issue aims to uncover the impact of emerging pollutants in the environment by exploring the underlying surface and interface science. Submissions related to water treatment strategies for the effective removal of various emerging pollutants are also encouraged. This Special Issue aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field, fostering collaboration among researchers and practitioners working towards solutions for mitigating the impact of emerging pollutants on the environment.

Topics covered:

We invite submissions of Original Research, Full Review, and Mini Review on themes including, but not limited to:

• Water treatment Strategies for Removing Emerging Pollutants
• Impact of Microplastics on Environmental Ecosystem
• Fate and Transportation of Nano-engineered Particles in the Environment
• Microalgae Responses to Emerging Pollutants
• Antibiotics and Drug Residues in Aquatic Environments
• Endocrine Disruptors in Aquatic Systems
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Their Effects on Micron-Scaled Organisms
• Pesticides and Their Impact on Aquatic Life
• Impact of Industrial Additives on Aquatic Environments
• Electronic Waste Contamination and Its Impact to the Environment
• Interaction of Emerging Pollutants with Natural Organic Matters
• Aquatic Plant Responses to Emerging Pollutants
• Microbial Communities and Emerging Pollutants

Important Deadlines:

• Submission deadline: 15 December 2024

Submission Instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online, please select Emerging pollutants on submission.

Guest Editors:

• Swee Pin Yeap, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, Malaysia.
  Email: yeapsw@ucsiuniversity.edu.my

• Jing Yao Sum, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, Malaysia.
  Email: sumjy@ucsiuniversity.edu.my

• Vahid Khosravi, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, Malaysia.
  Email: vahid@ucsiuniversity.edu.my

• Pey Yi Toh, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia.
  Email: tohpy@utar.edu.my