Sea level rise and saltwater intrusion can reactivate legacy-contaminated coastal soils, changing them from contaminant sinks to episodic sources of As. However, the coupled controls of redox potential (Eh) and salinity on Fe-As-S transformations during inundation and flooding recovery are poorly constrained. Here, we combine controlled redox-salinity experiments with synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (μ-XANES) spectroscopy, and mechanistic kinetic modeling to quantify the impact of seawater inundation on As cycling in contaminated coastal wetlands. Iron(III) reductive dissolution is the dominant driver of As release, but seawater amplified both the magnitude and persistence of dissolved As by weakening sorption via ionic competition and stabilizing reduced As by sulfate reduction and likely chloride complexation. The μ-XANES shows a sequential transformation of Fe-bound As(V) to As(III) and As-Fe-S phases, followed by a geochemically significant incomplete re-oxidation that produced persistent As(III) and chemical hysteresis. The mechanistic model successfully quantified the coupled controls defined thresholds: where 50% of Fe(III) sites are active of -150 ± 15 mV, sulfide inhibition onset near -260 ± 20 mV, and a salinity amplification factor of 0.03 ± 0.008 L g-1. Redox-salinity coupling sustains As mobilization and persistence due to chemical hysteresis, which allows for elevated dissolved As even after re-oxidation following inundation. These results provide a quantitative framework for forecasting As mobilization risk in wetlands experiencing salinization globally.

As emerging contaminants, microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater environments has received increasing attention due to their potential hazardous effects on human and environmental health. However, there is still limited understanding on variability of MP diversity and distribution patterns in riverine ecosystem compartments and field data are also lacking. This has hindered understanding and science-based information regarding mechanisms of fate and transport in freshwater environments. Hence, our study focused on reporting variability of MP diversity and distribution patterns in riverine ecosystem compartments. By undertaking MP community analyses, we found that distribution and variation in MP characteristics and communities among ecosystem compartments differed significantly. Moreover, structural characteristics of MP communities across compartments were distinct but not fully isolated, reflecting a balance between dispersion and niche differentiation (environmental filtering). Specifically, surface water and sediments mainly accumulated a greater abundance of smaller-sized, low-density, and fibrous MPs. MP distribution patterns were similar and mainly affected by population density, flow velocity, and precipitation. The distance-decay relationship of MP communities in surface water was stronger (p < 0.001) compared to sediments and soils. The longitudinal connectivity of the river, input of pollution sources and tributaries also facilitated transport of MP particles. Meanwhile, the retention of MPs in sediment was significantly influenced by MP characteristics and sediment grain size; and higher observed diversity (1.82) and abundance of MPs (130.32 items/kg) deposited in sediment also suggested continuous accumulation. The transport of MPs in riparian soils revealed a preference via vertical pathways and to adjacent sites. Considering limited transport capacity and significant correlations between topsoil and water/sediment, riparian soil may act as a potential long-term sink for river MPs. Our case-specific results are analyzed within a wider framework to further understand fate and transport dynamics of MPs within global riverine ecosystems.

Soil contamination results in loss of valuable land. Phytomanagement with the use of non-edible industrial crops can be a viable green practice that would generate income to soil end-users. This review examines phytomanagement with industrial crops, which, while using marginal soils, can simultaneously produce biomass for renewable energy production. It surveys a spectrum of contaminants, from persistent organic pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and microplastics (MPs), to toxic metal(loid)s (TMs). The fate, toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation risk posed by these pollutants often impede conventional remediation efforts. The novelty of our approach is not only the examination of a wide range of contaminants under one roof, but also the thorough study of key insights concerning (a) the function of plant-associated microbes interactions in enhancing pollutant degradation and uptake, (b) the significance of location-based phytomanagement designs tailored to contaminant profiles and local conditions for optimal outcomes, and (c) the strategies for coupling phytomanagement with economic feasibility to support real-world implementation, and the effective treatments of post-phytomanagement biomass. Moreover, it identifies critical research gaps, such as tackling recalcitrant emerging pollutants like PFAS and MPs, addressing the scientific community’s limited attention to using degraded lands for energy crop cultivation, and in scaling up these approaches for real-world field implementation. In conclusion, this review underscores a promising synergy between environmental cleanup, sustainable agriculture, and bioenergy expansion.

Nanoplastics (NPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 100 nm, are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants in both soil and aquatic ecosystems. Their widespread presence, originates from plastic mulching, wastewater irrigation, atmospheric deposition, and the breakdown of larger plastics. Recent studies have reported NP concentrations in aquatic environments ranging from 0.3 to 488 μg/L, while agricultural soils may contain up to 6.6 Mt of microplastics, highlighting the scale of the problem. These particles can be taken up by plants via root and potentially foliar pathways, with experimental evidence of accumulation in edible crop plants and reports of microplastics in fruits and vegetables, raising potential concerns for food safety and human health. NPs can induce oxidative stress, impair photosynthesis, shift soil microbiota, and alter aquatic biodiversity, thereby threatening ecosystem stability and agricultural productivity. This review synthesizes current knowledge on NP sources, distribution, and behavior in terrestrial and aquatic systems, emphasizing their interactions with plants and soil microbiota. Special focus is given to nature-based remediation strategies, including phytoremediation and bioremediation, as eco-friendly and scalable approaches to mitigate NP contamination. By integrating environmental fate, ecological impacts, and remediation strategies, this review provides critical insights to support sustainable management of nanoplastic pollution in soil and aquatic ecosystems.

Environmental Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) interact with each other and with socio-economic SDGs in complex ways, involving both positive and negative influences of varying strength. Understanding these interactions is critical for identifying transformative actions that reduce trade-offs, enhance synergies, and accelerate progress toward environmental sustainability. However, the causal interactions remain underexplored, and priorities for coordinated governance actions are still unclear. This study assessed the weighted and directed interactions of 40 environmental targets within the SDG system based on expert elicitation. By using complex network analysis, we systematically analyzed the causal network, focusing on node-level importance, macro-level causal structure, edge vulnerability under multiple scenarios, and latent linkages. Our findings indicate that prioritizing target 13.1 (strengthen capacity to climate-related hazards) could be highly effective. Coordinated action between climate adaptation and marine ecosystem conservation can accelerate overall environmental progress. Furthermore, causal links along multiple shortest paths serve as critical bridges that sustain network resilience; targeted interventions on these links can amplify synergies and reduce trade-offs. Out of 2107 latent causal links predicted, six strongest positive interactions, primarily related to climate policy and forest management, stand out as potential focal points for environmental governance. This study offers new valuable insights for global environmental sustainability governance and supports progress toward achieving the 2030 Agenda.

The Asian Water Tower (AWT) region, which sustains nearly 2 billion people, faces mounting challenges from climate change, resource imbalances, and fragmented governance, all of which constrain progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To characterize long-term interactions within the water-energy-food nexus (WEFn), an SDG-aligned indicator framework was constructed for 17 countries from 2000 to 2022 and evaluated using an integrated analytical approach that combines the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, the Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) model, and the Random Forest (RF) model. The results show that although subsystem security and interlinkages have improved, overall coordination remains low, with CCD values fluctuating between 0.49 and 0.55 despite consistently high coupling. Water and food subsystems exhibit the strongest bidirectional feedback, while the energy subsystem remains weakly connected and generates mainly delayed effects. Structural imbalance persists across most countries, with food subsystem development lagging behind progress in water and energy subsystems. Changes in dominant drivers further indicate a regional shift from reliance on land resources and basic infrastructure toward environmental efficiency and reduced energy-related emissions. As the first multi-decadal, transboundary assessment of the WEFn in the AWT region, this study highlights emerging vulnerabilities. It underscores the need for enhanced multiscale governance, institutional collaboration, and strategic resource coordination to advance sustainable development.

Neonicotinoid pesticides (NEOs) are emerging contaminants with potential ecological and human health risks. However, their sources, transformation dynamics, and emission pathways in urban wastewater systems remain poorly quantified. This study systematically investigates the spatial distribution, sources, and transformation of 8 parent NEOs (pNEOs) and 6 metabolites (mNEOs) in the influents of 21 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in suburban Shanghai, China. The average concentrations of ΣpNEOs and ΣmNEOs were 568.17 ng/L and 478.20 ng/L, respectively, with significant spatial variations. pNEOs were dominated by nitenpyram (NIT) and dinotefuran (DIN), while mNEOs, such as desnitro-imidacloprid (DN-IMI) and dinotefuran-urea (DIN-U), showed higher abundances. Correlation and cluster analyses reveal pNEOs primarily originate from agricultural activities, whereas mNEOs likely stem from both agricultural and industrial sources, including pesticide production residues. A novel model incorporating Monte Carlo simulations estimates point-source emissions from the 21 WWTPs at 264.57 kg/a for pNEOs and 269.34 kg/a for mNEOs, with total Shanghai-wide emissions reaching 2947.03 kg/a and 1056.56 kg/a, respectively. This study highlights the critical role of WWTPs in discharging NEOs into receiving water bodies, underscoring the need for integrated management strategies targeting agricultural and industrial inputs to WWTPs as well as for the advancement of WWTP processes designed to eliminate emerging contaminants.