Cheng Zhang
Aiju Liu
Peng Gao- 1School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Institute of Environmental Processes and Contamination Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- 2School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
- 3Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Editorial on the Research Topic
Biogeochemical behavior and biological response of environmental contaminants
The current pace of industrialization has escalated the discharge of contaminants into the environment, transforming environmental contamination into a pressing global issue. This contamination poses significant risks to both flora and fauna. For instance, plant growth and reproduction can be hindered (Li et al., 2023), while humans face heightened risks of chronic diseases (Shetaia et al., 2023). The magnitude of environmental contamination correlates with human activity, underscoring the importance of studying the biogeochemical behaviors and biological responses to these contaminants. This provides the essential theoretical groundwork for addressing and mitigating environmental contamination. By understanding the migration and transformation of contaminants across various environmental media, we can better manage and potentially alleviate these issues.
Studies in this realm aim to discern the distribution, behavior, and toxic effects of environmental contaminants. It is imperative to comprehend the biogeochemical behavior and biological repercussions of these contaminants to effectively control and manage them. Doing so aids researchers in better gauging potential risks and crafting interventions. For instance, delving into the mechanisms by which contaminants affect organisms can inform the creation of preventive measures to shield organisms from harm.
Many contaminants pose toxicity risks to various organisms, highlighting the pressing need for research aimed at ensuring ecological safety and protecting human health. A seminal study by Guo et al. employed a comprehensive quantitative analysis of numerous peer-reviewed articles, revealing the deleterious effects of microplastics on earthworms. Their research underscored histopathological damage and oxidative stress as primary toxic mechanisms. Moreover, they identified critical concentrations of microplastics that trigger neural and DNA damage in earthworms due to oxidative stress. Their findings contribute significantly to the theoretical foundation necessary for fostering an ecologically sustainable soil environment. Furthermore, environmental contamination can spur the adaptive evolution of microorganisms. Notably, certain microorganisms, with the potential to effectively break down pesticides, can be isolated from pesticide-contaminated soils (Sun et al., 2022). In a pivotal study, Zhang et al. cultivated strains specifically adept at degrading diesel oil, offering a promising solution to mitigate the environmental harm posed by diesel contamination and underscoring its utility in bioremediation efforts for diesel-polluted soils. The pervasive nature of organic contamination is alarming, particularly in the absence of robust monitoring tools. Emphasizing the urgency of this issue, Ma et al.highlighted the unique propensity of cats to accumulate organic contaminants, particularly those associated with indoor environments. Intriguingly, a majority of these organic compounds remain undegraded within their systems, positioning cats as potential bio-indicators or “sentries” for monitoring indoor contaminants. In another insightful study, Li et al. leveraged advanced techniques involving double isotopes and Bayesian models. This approach facilitated the identification and quantification of multiple contamination sources, paving the way for a more nuanced understanding of the source, movement, and alteration of nitrogen within the Cao’e River basin.
However, understanding contaminants in the environment is not straightforward. Often, it is not a singular contaminant but a combination, necessitating bespoke experimental approaches. Given the vast array of contaminants, comprehensive sample analysis can be costly and time-intensive. Consequently, establishing contamination models using extensive data for simulation becomes a viable strategy (Zhang et al., 2023). Yet, the absence of authoritative databases limits the potential of such modeling. Additionally, the use of experimental animal models is indispensable for understanding the behavioral responses to contaminants. The integrity of these models is paramount, as it directly impacts the accuracy and reliability of research findings (Zhang et al., 2022).
In light of the above, the editors anticipate this Research Topic will captivate the readership of Frontiers in Environmental Science, sparking further advancements in understanding the biogeochemical behaviors and biological impacts of environmental contaminants.
Author contributions
CZ: Conceptualization, Writing-original draft. AL: Supervision, Writing-review and editing. PG: Supervision, Writing-review and editing.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
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References
Li, G. L., Zhao, X. X., Iqbal, B., Zhao, X., Liu, J. J., Javed, Q., et al. (2023). The effect of soil microplastics on Oryza sativa L. root growth traits under alien plant invasion. Front. Ecol. Evol. 11, 1172093. doi:10.3389/fevo.2023.1172093
Shetaia, S. A., Nasr, R. A., Lasheen, El S. R., Dar, M. A., Al-Mur, B. A., and Zakaly, H. M. H., (2023). Assessment of heavy metals contamination of sediments and surface waters of Bitter lake, Suez Canal, Egypt: Ecological risks and human health. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 192, 115096, doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115096
Sun, M. M., Xu, W., Zhang, W. L., Guang, C. E., and Mu, W. M. (2022). Microbial elimination of carbamate pesticides: Specific strains and promising enzymes. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 106, 5973–5986. doi:10.1007/s00253-022-12141-4
Zhang, Z. N., Yang, L. H., Yan, C., and Cai, W. B. (2022). Research and innovation in the practice of animal quality control in a university laboratory animal center. Chin. J. Comp. Med. 32, 77–81. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1671-7856.2022.12.010
Keywords: environmental contamination, biogeochemical behavior, toxicity, risk assessment, contamination control, ecotoxicology
Citation: Zhang C, Liu A and Gao P (2023) Editorial: Biogeochemical behavior and biological response of environmental contaminants. Front. Environ. Sci. 11:1277691. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1277691
Received: 15 August 2023; Accepted: 16 August 2023;
Published: 21 August 2023.
Edited and reviewed by:
Oladele Ogunseitan, University of California, Irvine, United StatesCopyright © 2023 Zhang, Liu and Gao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Aiju Liu, aijvliu@sdut.edu.cn; Peng Gao, peg47@pitt.edu