Fluorinated liquid crystal monomers (FLCMs) have recently emerged as persistent organic pollutants, while microplastics serve as important environmental carriers of persistent organic pollutants. However, their interactions with aged microplastics and the consequent ecological risks remain a critical blind spot. This study examined the adsorption-desorption dynamics of a representative FLCM (4-ethoxy-2,3-difluoro-4′-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl) biphenyl, EDPB) on aged polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride under both abiotic (i.e., environmental) and biotic (i.e., simulated gastrointestinal) conditions. Surface oxidation and increased roughness of aged polymers markedly enhanced EDPB adsorption, through combined hydrophobic attraction and fluorine‑mediated dipole interactions. Desorption was strongly medium dependent. In simulated gastric fluid, pepsin facilitated partial release (12.6–24.8%) by disrupting π–π interactions and promoting surface hydration. In contrast, intestinal components induced substantial remobilization (up to 52.8%) via the formation of hydrophobic cavities and micelle-like structures, increasing dissolved EDPB concentrations by approximately 20 μg L−1. This biphasic desorption profile highlights the critical role of intestinal processes in remobilizing adsorbed FLCMs and elevating their bioaccessible fractions. Subsequent cytotoxicity assays in Caco‑2 cells showed dose‑ and time‑dependent inhibition of cell viability, with transcriptomic analysis delineating a mitochondrial dysfunction–driven cascade. EDPB acts as a metabolic disruptor that impairs mitochondrial energetics and redox homeostasis, triggering downstream genomic instability and cell cycle arrest, which ultimately implicating oxidative stress–mediated apoptosis. This work synthesizes critical insight into the coupled environmental and biological behaviors of FLCMs, revealing their potential as transboundary persistent toxic substances and advancing the understanding of their risks in microplastic‑dominated systems.

Water diversion projects are widely implemented to address water scarcity, improve water quality, and restore ecological conditions in degraded aquatic systems. This study applies a process-based hydrodynamic-environmental model to investigate the dynamics of eutrophication and the representative antibiotic tetracycline in Chaohu Lake under the influence of the Yangtze–Chaohu Water Diversion Project. To explore the influence of different diversion pathways, two numerical scenarios were developed representing two alternative water diversion options: western and eastern routes. The model was validated against field data, achieving Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values ranging from 0.34 to 0.80 and absolute relative differences between 9.31% and 18.64%, indicating satisfactory performance. Assessment results revealed that tetracycline posed high ecological risks during summer, while nutrient concentrations and eutrophication levels remained within mild to moderate ranges throughout the study period. Comparison of the two scenarios indicated that the western route more effectively reduced ecological risks, yielding annual reductions of 9.12% in total phosphorus, 13.68% in chlorophyll-a, and 11.5% in tetracycline concentrations. This study provides critical insights for optimizing the operation of water diversion projects and supports the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in mitigating the combined threats of eutrophication and antibiotic pollution.

This work reviews the complex interplay between climate change and the fate of persistent mobile (PM) and very persistent very mobile (vPvM) substances, with a particular focus on how rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, shifts in pH, and changes in how organic matter concentrations impact these contaminants in the aquatic environment. According to literature research, climate change exerts opposing effects on the persistence (P) and mobility (M) of these substances in the environment. The high uncertainties discussed here underscore the need for comprehensive monitoring, improved process understanding, and appropriate modeling strategies to assess the climate change impacts on PM and vPvM substances.

Purpose of Review: Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), used extensively in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), have emerged as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic organic pollutants. A network analysis of SCOPUS data revealed significant knowledge gaps, especially concerning the fate of LCMs in WWTPs. The available literature highlights that influent LCM concentrations vary widely, with elevated levels linked to industrial and e-waste recycling activities. This review examines the occurrence, fate, and treatment of LCMs, particularly fluorinated LCMs (F-LCMs), in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Recent Findings: Conventional WWTP processes achieve moderate removal efficiencies (~ 84%) for LCMs, but F-LCMs often persist. Advanced treatment techniques such as UV/peroxydisulfate (UV/PDS) showed removal rates of 77–84% for LCMs with biphenyl and ethoxy groups. These groups alter electron distribution, making the molecules more susceptible to oxidative attack by reactive species such as hydroxyl and sulfate radicals. Degradation pathways include cleavage of biphenyl, ethoxy, and C-F bonds, producing less toxic by-products such as oxalic acid and cyclohexane. However, some degradation intermediates formed are toxic, necessitating further research of the treatment processes. Summary: This review underscores the need for systematic monitoring of LCMs in wastewater and their transformation products in treated wastewater and sludge, alongside advancements in treatment technologies to mitigate environmental and health risks. This review highlights the urgency of improving wastewater management strategies for LCMs and the need for future research to address the critical knowledge gaps.

Fluorinated liquid crystal monomers (FLCMs) are emerging aquatic pollutants that co-occur with microplastics (MPs); however, their combined ecological impacts remain poorly understood. This study investigated the interactions between a representative FLCM, 4-Ethoxy-2,3-difluoro-4′-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl) biphenyl (EDPB), and four major types of MPs: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The results revealed plastic-type-dependent adsorption capacities (PE > PS > PP > PVC; 380–850 μg/g) through distinct mechanisms: hydrophobic interactions predominantly influenced PE and PP adsorption, while π-π coordination enhanced PS binding. Microcosm experiments demonstrated that MP-EDPB composites significantly altered sediment microbiomes, showing consistent declines in Proteobacteria abundance (27–29 % vs 36.8 % in controls), pathogen enrichment in marine sediments (Acinetobacter 1.2 → 3.5 %; Vibrio 0.8 → 2.1 %), and ecosystem-specific functional disruptions. Notably, marine systems exhibited greater biodiversity shifts, while freshwater environments showed stronger nitrogen cycle inhibition. These findings provide mechanistic insights into FLCM-MP co-pollution effects on aquatic ecosystems. Environmental implication: Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) and microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that increasingly co-occur in aquatic ecosystems, yet their interactions and co-exposure risks remain poorly understood. This study demonstrated that the adsorption of LCMs onto microplastics was significantly influenced by plastic type, with equilibrium capacities (Q_max) following the order: PE (849.5 ± 1.2 μg/g) > PS (825.3 ± 0.8 μg/g) > PP (629.1 ± 0.3 μg/g) > PVC (380.2 ± 0.2 μg/g). The MPs-LCMs composites affected microbial composition and functions in sediments across both freshwater and seawater environments. These findings provide a quantitative basis for assessing the environmental partitioning and potential ecological risks associated with MPs-LCMs composite pollutants.

This mini review explores the potential of visible light–driven bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄)-based photoanodes for removing trace organic pollutants from water. It highlights the advantages of using BiVO₄-based photoanodes over conventional UV-driven photoanodes in water treatment. The mechanism of reactive species generation through water oxidation is discussed. The review also highlights the role of sulfate and sulfite radicals in enhancing pollutant degradation. Furthermore, it evaluates how heterojunction formation improves the removal efficiency of BiVO₄-based photoanodes by reducing charge carrier recombination. Limited research on BiVO₄-based photoanodes for the simultaneous removal of multiple organic pollutants at low concentrations (<1 mg L⁻¹) from real wastewater is identified as a key knowledge gap. Addressing this gap could advance the application of BiVO₄-based photoanodes in photoelectrocatalytic-based advanced oxidation processes.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic environments poses a critical threat to both environmental and human health. This study presents a novel hybrid modeling framework that integrates a process-based hydrodynamic-environmental model with a data-driven approach to predict the spatiotemporal dynamics of AMR in coastal waters. Macrolide-related antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs_Macro) were selected as representative markers. The model results were validated using data from a monthly sampling campaign conducted across Singapore’s coastal waters, yielding a mean coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.693, a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.589, and a root-mean-square deviation (RMSE) of 0.0257 GC/16S rRNA across 12 sampling points. Lincomycin, pH, dissolved oxygen, zinc and temperature were identified as significant influencers of ARGs_Macro. Although Lincomycin is not classified as a macrolide, it ranks as the most important driver of ARGs_Macro due to its shared resistance mechanisms with macrolides, potentially facilitating cross-resistance. The spatiotemporal model results revealed that coastal areas, particularly in the northern part of Singapore, are vulnerable to significant ARG accumulation, with monsoon seasons amplifying the spread of AMR due to hydrodynamic conditions. This study highlights the development of a robust modeling framework that provides valuable insights into the environmental drivers of AMR in coastal waters, offering a foundation for regulatory strategies and future research aimed at mitigating the risks of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments.

Purpose of the Review: Climate change is intensifying the pressures on aquatic ecosystems by altering the dynamics of contaminants, with cascading effects on ecological and human health. This review synthesizes recent evidence on how rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events influence chemical and microbial contaminant dynamics in aquatic environments. Recent Findings: Key findings reveal that elevated temperatures enhance phosphorus pollution and algal blooms, increase heavy metal release from sediments, and promote the mobilization of organic pollutants. Concurrently, climate change exacerbates microbial contamination by facilitating the spread of waterborne microbial contaminants, especially posing more pressure to antimicrobial resistance-related contaminants through temperature-driven horizontal gene transfer and extreme precipitation events. Complex interactions between chemical and microbial contaminants like heavy metals co-selecting for antibiotic resistance further amplify risks. The compounded effects of climate change and contaminants threaten water quality, ecosystem resilience, and public health, particularly through increased toxicant exposure via seafood and waterborne disease outbreaks. Despite growing recognition of these interactions, critical gaps remain in understanding their synergistic mechanisms, especially in data-scarce regions. Summary: This review highlights the urgent need for integrated monitoring, predictive modeling, and adaptive policies under a One Health framework to mitigate the multifaceted impacts of climate-driven contamination. Future research should prioritize real-world assessments of temperature effects, urban overflow dynamics during extreme weather, and the socio-behavioral dimensions of contaminant spread to inform effective mitigation strategies.

Waste-to-Energy: Sustainable Approaches for Emerging Economies presents the latest developments and applications for the conversion of waste into biofuels and other energy products. Divided into two parts, Section I reviews the major sources of solid waste and their management strategies in developing countries, and includes the collection, composition, segregation, and dispersal of various waste streams, as well as the generation of biogas and other value-added products. Section II examines the transformation of waste into biofuels and the management strategies required to efficiently implement waste-to-energy processes. Methods for the production of hydrogen, biomethane, biofuels, and bioenergy, as well as resource recovery are discussed in depth, and mathematical models are provided for anaerobic digestion techniques. The benefits and challenges of waste-to-energy as a waste management strategy are explored through dedicated chapters on the techno-economics, environmental and social regulation, and the operation of WtE plants. The final chapter of the book presents a lifecycle assessment and environmental impact analysis of the technologies and strategies discussed.