Environmental Management: Emerging Contaminants

Environmental Management: Emerging Contaminants (JEMEC) is a specialized spinoff journal within the Journal of Environmental Management (JEM) series, dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and practical solutions for the growing challenge of emerging contaminants. As a key member of the JEM family, JEMEC provides a global, interdisciplinary platform for high-quality research addressing pollutants that are newly recognized, insufficiently regulated, or increasingly prevalent in the environment. By bridging fundamental research with applied management, JEMEC aims to translate scientific discoveries into evidence‑based decisions and regulatory frameworks that protect ecosystems and human health.

Emerging contaminants include, but are not limited to:

• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).

• Pharmaceuticals, hormones and endocrine‑disrupting chemicals (EDCs), encompassing prescription and over‑the‑counter drugs, synthetic hormones and other endocrine disruptors.

• Personal care products (PPCPs) and cosmetic ingredients (e.g., preservatives, ultraviolet filters, antimicrobials, fragrances and colorants).

• Agricultural chemicals and pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

• Industrial chemicals and additives, such as surfactants and their metabolites, solvents, flame retardants (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers), gasoline additives and other industrial byproducts.

• Disinfection by-products (DBPs).

• Radionuclides and nuclear waste from medical, industrial and energy applications.

• Micro- and nano-plastics and chemical additives: including plasticizers (phthalates), bisphenols and biodegradable polymers.

• Engineered nanomaterials and nanoparticles such as carbon‑based nanomaterials, metal oxides and quantum dots.

• Novel synthetic chemicals and substances of unknown or variable composition (UVCBs) arising from new industrial processes or complex reaction products.

The journal emphasizes innovative analytical methods, advanced detection technologies, and novel treatment and remediation strategies, with a strong focus on translating research into actionable environmental management practices and policy recommendations.

Topics of Interest Include (but are not limited to):

• Occurrence, identification and prioritization of emerging contaminants in water, soil, sediments, air, food and biota.

• Environmental fate, transport, transformation and bioaccumulation including mechanistic studies and modelling of physicochemical processes at local, regional and global scales.

• Exposure assessment, ecotoxicology and risk characterization for humans and ecosystems, employing omics technologies, toxicology systems, cumulative and life‑cycle risk assessment, and consideration of vulnerable populations.

• Development and field‑scale evaluation of removal, destruction and resource‑recovery technologies, spanning physical, chemical, biological and nature‑based solutions, with emphasis on scaling up, energy efficiency and circular‑economy concepts.

• Source control and emission reduction strategies including green chemistry, sustainable product design, supply‑chain management, extended producer responsibility, behavioral interventions and regulatory measures.

• Data‑driven modelling and digital innovation such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, system dynamics, remote sensing and big‑data analytics for predicting contaminant occurrence, transport and impacts.

• Regulatory science, policy analysis and socio‑economic evaluation covering policy development, governance frameworks, risk communication, public perception, cost–benefit analysis and stakeholder engagement.

• Case studies and applied research demonstrating real‑world contamination events, mitigation and adaptation measures, technology implementation, policy outcomes and community responses.

• Foresight and emerging issues such as smart materials, green nanomaterials, novel therapeutics, and synthetic biology, and their implications for environmental management.

JEMEC welcomes both fundamental research and applied studies, supporting interdisciplinary approaches that integrate environmental chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, engineering, ecology, and policy science. The journal aims to foster collaboration across academia, industry, and government to address the complex challenges posed by emerging contaminants and to promote sustainable environmental management.

The journal accepts a variety of article types, including:

• Full-length research articles

• Review articles

• Short communications

• Opinions and perspectives

Interested in organizing a Special Issue? Please contact the Editor-in-Chief and refer to the Guide for Authors for proposal guidelines.