Featured Articles — Latest published articles in environmental chemistry section

Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology (ENCECO)  journal publishes studies that examine the environmental chemistry (distribution, dynamics and fate) of pollutants, the biologic and toxic effects of man-made chemical pollutants on ecotoxicological animal models and plants.

Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology has the following sections:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Ecotoxicology
• Environmental Remediation Strategies
• Ecological Risk Assessment

Featured Articles — Latest published articles in environmental chemistry section:

1. In vivo nitration mechanisms of bisphenol compounds in vegetables and risk assessment at the cellular and subcellular levels

Authors: Zelian Yu, Xiaojia Li, Xiangxiang Li, Yina Guan, Tian Gao, Kai Zheng, Chunguang Liu

The study identifies nitrogen-containing products derived from bisphenol F in vegetables and uses subcellular investigations, inhibitor experiments and molecular analyses to connect reactive nitrogen species with chloroplast-associated transformation. It places chemical transformation inside edible plants at the center of environmental chemistry and raises a clear food-safety question. The toxicity evidence includes predictions and a cell model, so field-scale dietary risks should not be overstated.

2. Heterogeneous aggregation of microplastics and mineral particles in aquatic environments: Effects of surface functional groups, pH, and electrolytes

Authors: Yanhua Wang, Zhengli Tang, Yingnan Liu, Yilin Qian, Shuo Yang, Anqi Wang, Zhibao Dong, Baoshan Xing

By comparing pristine and protein-coated polyethylene with different oxide and clay minerals, this research investigates how surface chemistry, electrolytes and pH influence heteroaggregation. It offers a mechanistically focused account of particle mobility and potential transport behavior in aquatic systems, complementing pollutant occurrence studies.

3. High-resolution two-dimensional mapping of arsenic concentration in soil-water micro-interfaces with diffusive gradients in thin films

Authors: Xitong Li; Jiahui Zuo; Chuangchuang Zhang; Tieliang Zhang; Zeying He; Qiwen Zhou; Yujie Zhao; Wenjng Liu

This work develops a bio-TiO2-based DGT binding material for high-resolution two-dimensional arsenic measurements. Its imaging approach exposes microscale chemical heterogeneity that bulk measurements can miss, providing a useful technique for understanding contaminant mobility in soils and sediments.

4. Fate of trace elements and emerging environmental pollutants (benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles) from a glacier-fed river in the mixing zone of an Arctic fjord system

Authors: Jos´ephine Amey, Øyvind Mikkelsen

Field measurements of trace elements, benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles follow contaminant patterns where glacier-fed freshwater mixes with seawater. The work connects a remote polar environment with contaminant transport, sediment interactions and changing freshwater inputs, offering an environmentally relevant fate study.

5. A highly sensitive biosensor for estradiol detection in environmental water samples using aptamer conformational switching and RCA-Cas12a amplification

Authors: Chenqi Niu, Chong Zhang, Changwen Ye

An estradiol-binding aptamer coupled with rolling-circle amplification and Cas12a produces a sensitive analytical method for environmental water. Reported detection limits reach 5.2 ng/L, with spike recoveries of 89–110% in wastewater. This paper adds methodological breadth to the selection, while requiring further development for lower-concentration samples and simpler field deployment.

6. Modelling the association between the El Ni ˜ no Southern Oscillation and levels of legacy pollutants in Alaskan seabird eggs from 1999 to 2010

Authors: Caitlin A. McConaghy; Vrinda Kalia; Amina Salamova; Lance A. Waller; Matthew O. Gribble

Using seabird eggs collected from Alaska between 1999 and 2010, this study models associations between ENSO phases and legacy organic pollutants. Its combination of long-term biomonitoring and climate-related statistical analysis offers an engaging perspective on how climate variability may influence contaminant exposure in remote ecosystems. The associations should not be presented as direct proof of a specific transport mechanism.

7. Still there: Persistent Organic Pollutants in fish from two Italian high-mountain lakes

Authors: Aina Queral-Beltran; Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Romà Tauler; Silvia Lacorte

This field-based study combines validated GC–Orbitrap mass spectrometry with fish samples from two alpine lakes collected across multiple years. Detecting several long-regulated POPs in fish demonstrates the persistence of legacy contamination in remote ecosystems and underscores the value of continued surveillance. The study documents occurrence and bioaccumulation rather than directly establishing contaminant transport pathways.

8. A comprehensive analytical approach to monitoring selected emerging contaminant classes in sewage sludge and e-waste from Norway

Authors: Daniel Gutiérrez-Martín; Gabriela Castro; Susana V. González; Hans Peter H. Arp; Rebeca López-Serna; Alexandros G. Asimakopoulos

Featured angle: One analytical workflow for 75 contaminants across complex waste matrices

The authors developed and applied a validated UPLC–MS/MS workflow for 75 contaminants spanning seven chemical classes in sewage sludge and electronic waste. Its cross-matrix approach and method-performance data make it especially suitable for showcasing ENCECO’s environmental analytical chemistry expertise and practical relevance to waste management.

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The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 300 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).