Featured Articles — Latest published articles in Ecotoxicology 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 Ecotoxicology section

1. Developmental toxicity and mechanistic insights of tralopyril in marine medaka: Epigenetic disruptions and ferroptosis

Authors: Bin Liu, Cun-Long Wang, Teng-Zhou Li, Jian-Xue Feng, Yu-Qing Ma, Ling Liu, Ping Li, Zhi-Hua Li

Combining behavioral assessment, transcriptomics, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and inhibitor rescue experiments, this study examines how tralopyril affects marine medaka development. Its integrative evidence connects molecular pathways with cardiac, skeletal and locomotor responses, making it a compelling example of mechanism-oriented ecotoxicology.

2. Assessment on acute and multigenerational toxicity of 1,3-diphenylguani dine (DPG) on freshwater water fleas ( Moina macrocopa ): Developmental, reproductive and oxidative stress effects

Authors: Suman Thodhal Yoganandham, Soo-Yeon Kim, Younghoon Jang, Junho Jeon

The study follows acute and repeated-generation exposure to 1,3-diphenylguanidine in water fleas, moving beyond single-generation mortality to reproductive, developmental and oxidative-stress endpoints. It highlights the importance of generational responses when assessing the ecological effects of chemicals released from tires.

3. The blockage of the electron transport chains caused by PFOA isomers induced metabolic damage of Arabidopsis leaves

Authors: Hao Wang, Jianxiong Mei, Zeying He, Bingjie Liu, Jishi Wang, Yue Geng, Yanwei Zhang

Through integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses, the authors compare the effects of PFOA isomers on Arabidopsis, linking differences in molecular structure to electron-transport disruption and metabolic damage. The paper broadens PFAS ecotoxicology beyond conventional aquatic animal endpoints.

4. Chemical leachates from car tyre granulates and PET bottles induce toxic effects on Mytilus edulis haemocytes

Authors: M. Elisabetta Michelangeli, Sicco H. Brandsma, Maria Margalef, Emelie Forsman, Sebastian Kuehr, Davide Spanu, Tˆania Gomes

Flow-cytometry measurements of mussel haemocytes assess the biological effects of leachates from tire granulates and PET bottles. Focusing on released chemicals rather than assuming all damage is caused by particles helps sharpen the interpretation of plastic-associated toxicity in marine systems.

5. Low pH aggravates the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in crab Eriocheir sinensis: Evidence from metabolome and intestinal microflora

Authors: Zhigang Yang, Jiani Liu, Chunyu Chen, Khor Waiho, Chenchen Zhang, Aqin Chen, Youji Wang

This 21-day crab exposure experiment combines a lower-pH condition with polystyrene microplastics and evaluates immune indicators, gut microbial profiles and hepatopancreas metabolomics. The multiple-stressor design is particularly relevant to ecotoxicology under changing environmental conditions; broader ecological extrapolation remains limited by controlled exposure scenarios.

6. Assessment of the ecotoxicity of extracts from sugarcane bagasse biochars activated with zinc chloride

Authors: Júlia Martins Carolino; Gabrielle Schultz Braz; Jaqueline do Carmo Lima Carvalho; Filipe Gomes Fagundes; Pablo Aislan Freitas e Silva; Isis Orika Hernandez Rocha; Marina Costa Patrocínio; Evaneide Nascimento Lima; Robson Pereira de Lima; Magno André de Oliveira; Augusto César da Silva Bezerra; Osania Emerenciano Ferreira; Alan Rodrigues Teixeira Machado

Rather than measuring removal performance alone, this Brazilian short communication tests potential ecological hazards of zinc-chloride-activated sugarcane biochar extracts using Artemia salina and Lactuca sativa. Its comparison of preparation temperatures highlights why remediation materials should undergo independent ecotoxicity evaluation before environmental deployment. The organism-specific assays cannot alone establish field-scale ecosystem risk.

7. Perinatal exposure to PBDE-47 decreases brain glucose metabolism in male adult rats: Associations with shifts in triiodothyronine and neurobehavior

Authors: Qian Sun; Hui Gao; Pei Li; Luming Liu; Chen Luo; Jing Li; Aiguo Wang; Tao Xia; Shun Zhang

Perinatal PBDE-47 exposure was examined in a rat model using neurobehavioral testing, thyroid-hormone measurements and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography. The study connects early exposure with later neurobehavioral and brain-metabolic outcomes, adding a mechanistic dimension to developmental toxicology. Because it relies on a mammalian laboratory model, it is less directly representative of wildlife ecotoxicology than the other two additions.

8. Microplastics as persistent and vectors of other threats in the marine environment: Toxicological impacts, management and strategical roadmap to end plastic pollution

Authors: Sameh S. Ali; Mohammed Hussein M. Alsharbaty; Rania Al-Tohamy; Michael Schagerl; Majid Al-Zahrani; Michael Kornaros; Jianzhong Sun

This internationally authored review synthesizes the ecotoxicological consequences of microplastics and their role as carriers of other pollutants in marine ecosystems, linking biological effects to management and mitigation priorities. Its broad scope and practical roadmap make it an accessible thematic feature for readers interested in emerging contaminant risks. As a review, it should be promoted for synthesis and perspective rather than as a new experimental demonstration.

Access all open access papers.