Emerging Contaminants最新文献

{"title":"Elucidation of chemicals of emerging concern in placenta by non-targeted and suspect screening approaches","authors":"A. Domínguez-Liste ,&nbsp;L. Espín-Moreno ,&nbsp;M.O. Schweiss ,&nbsp;A. Rodríguez-Carrillo ,&nbsp;V. Mustieles ,&nbsp;M.F. Fernandez ,&nbsp;J. Arrebola ,&nbsp;C. Freire ,&nbsp;O. Ballesteros ,&nbsp;J. Pérez-del-Palacio ,&nbsp;F. Vela-Soria","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past century, anthropic activities in industrialized countries have generated exposure to a vast array of environmental chemical families. Many of these may have harmful effects on human health, and xenobiotic exposure during the fetal period is particularly concerning. Large-scale, open-ended characterization of the chemical exposome is increasingly investigated using non-targeted screening (NTS) and suspect screening (SS) approaches. The aim of this study was to increase knowledge of fetal exposure to xenobiotics by using NTS and SS to identify the presence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in human placenta samples. After comparing the performances of salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction plus dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (SALLE-DLLME) and enhanced matrix removal (EMR) as sample preparation techniques, EMR was applied in 65 placenta samples from the BAZA Spanish cohort. Twenty-one compounds from various chemical classes were identified, including agrochemicals, preservatives, plasticizers, cosmetics, fabric dyes, fragrances, additives, industrial intermediates, and drugs, and some of these have not previously been reported in placenta samples. The findings confirm the crucial value of non-targeted methodologies for the comprehensive assessment of human exposure during the prenatal period and their potential to unveil previously unknown or overlooked exposures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100536"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144517487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polychlorinated naphthalenes in the serum of individuals with thyroid dysfunction and their potential mechanisms of impact on disease progression","authors":"Yuhao Fan ,&nbsp;Dan Chen ,&nbsp;Xinyu Lou ,&nbsp;Ye Wu ,&nbsp;Jie Sun ,&nbsp;Zhiyan Liu ,&nbsp;Jun Jin ,&nbsp;Tan Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100517","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100517","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) comprise 75 congeners, with varying concentrations and major congeners across different populations. Recent studies have found a relationship between PCNs and thyroid hormone levels, suggesting they may interfere with thyroid function. Investigating the concentrations of PCNs in individuals with thyroid dysfunction helps identify the predominant congeners and enables targeted analysis of their interference with thyroid function. In this study, serum concentrations of PCNs from 55 adults with thyroid dysfunction were measured. PCN-13, -15, −17/25/26, −20, −23, and −24/14 detected at over 70 %, and PCN-23 and -24/14 being the major congeners. No significant difference in PCN concentrations was found between males and females, but the concentrations of PCN-23 and -24/14 increased with age. Logistic regression and QGC models revealed a significant association between PCN-23 and thyroid dysfunction, while mediation analysis indicated PCN-23 affects physiological processes involving the BRAF 600E gene, which influences normal thyroid function. Molecular docking results showed that all six PCNs impacted thyroid hormone metabolism and receptor binding, with PCN-23 binding more effectively to TBG and disrupting thyroid hormone transport compared to PCN-24/14. Future studies should focus on the concentrations of trichlorinated PCNs, particularly PCN-23, in the human body and their relationship with thyroid function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100517"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144296953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human Health: Emerging evidence and future directions","authors":"Sona Alungal Sadique ,&nbsp;Muxina Konarova ,&nbsp;Xufeng Niu ,&nbsp;Istvan Szilagyi ,&nbsp;Nilesh Nirmal ,&nbsp;Li Li","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plastics are extensively used across industries, leading to microplastic (MPL) and nanoplastic (NPL) contamination in ecosystems. Exposure to these particles occurs primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, raising significant human health concerns. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in understanding the human health impacts of MPLs/NPLs, focusing on their routes of exposure including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and the mechanisms of cellular uptake and toxicity. While MPL/NPL pollution is a well-recognised environmental hazard, the conclusive evidence linking their exposure to specific health outcomes in humans remains limited. We discuss methodological gaps in assessing their toxicological impacts, particularly in vitro models, and the need for more sophisticated in vivo studies to simulate real-life exposures. Future research directions, including the exploration of the corona formation on MPL/NPL particles and its influence on cellular interactions, are outlined to bridge existing knowledge gaps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100545"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144757031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastics in settled indoor dust: Implications for human exposure","authors":"Hassan Khalid Ageel,&nbsp;Stuart Harrad,&nbsp;Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, microplastics (MPs) occurrence in indoor environments has raised significant concerns due to their distinctive physicochemical properties and potential toxicity. Indoor dust is well-documented as important vector for human exposure to emerging contaminants via inadvertent ingestion. Consequently, the main aim of the present study is to assess human exposure to MPs in settled indoor dust by determining concentrations, and characteristics (size, shape, and polymer type) of MPs in dust samples collected from houses (n = 30) and workplaces (n = 30) in Birmingham, UK. The average MPs concentrations were 155 ± 222 MP/mg in homes, and 125 ± 209 MP/mg in workplaces. Statistical analysis revealed the mean concentration of MPs in the studied homes was significantly higher than that in workplaces, which was attributed mainly to carpeting. In terms of morphology, various shapes of MPs (e.g., fiber, fragment, foam, foil) were identified, with fibres and fragments constituting ∼90 % of the identified MPs in all studied samples. Within the MPs particle size range (10–150 μm) investigated in the current study, the particle size fraction (50–100 μm) was predominant (&gt;49 %) in all the studied samples, followed by particles &gt;100 μm, with fibres having the largest average size (67 μm) among the detected MPs shapes. Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) were the most abundant polymer types in the studied samples, followed by Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Typical daily exposures of UK adults and toddlers to MPs through inadvertent ingestion of indoor dust were estimated at 56 and 103 MPs/day. The higher exposure of toddlers was exacerbated by their lower body weight with an estimated typical exposure of 9.7 MP/kg Bw/day, compared to 0.8 MP/kg Bw/day for adults. The higher ingestion exposure to MPs in toddlers raises concern over potential adverse health effects due to their incompletely developed immune and nervous systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100506"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143806857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial distribution of microplastic pollution and its relation to pollution index-based water quality status in Progo River, Indonesia","authors":"Prieskarinda Lestari,&nbsp;Bayu Dwi Apri Nugroho,&nbsp;Hanggar Ganara Mawandha,&nbsp;Chandra Setyawan,&nbsp;Eka Riskawati,&nbsp;Anggraeni Intan Maharani,&nbsp;Brillian Ravi Alvriano,&nbsp;Dhanny Riski Hutama,&nbsp;Nashita Andjani Ludmila Saraswita","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Progo River, one of the largest rivers on Java Island, serves as the primary source of clean water and irrigation for Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Despite its importance, the Progo ranks among the top 20 global plastic-polluted rivers. Therefore, the objectives of this study were 1) to investigate spatial distribution and characteristics of microplastic (MP) pollution in the Progo River, and 2) to examine MP relation to the Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI) based water quality status, 15 physicochemical biological water quality parameters, flow velocity and anthropogenic factors, marking the first comprehensive effort in Indonesia. Water and MP samples were collected simultaneously from eight sampling locations. MP abundance in the Progo River ranged from 75.02 to 435.53 particles/m³. The MP characteristics were predominantly large, transparent, film-shaped particles, and identified variably as LDPE, PET, PP, PS, PAA, cellophane. The Pearson Correlation Test results revealed positive correlations between MP abundance and nine water quality parameters (TSS, turbidity, salinity, BOD, COD, phosphate, nitrate, detergent, Cd) and flow velocity. The other six parameters (pH, temperature, TDS, DO, total coliforms, Pb) and two anthropogenic factors (population number and density) were negatively correlated with MP abundance. Notably, DO exhibited a strong and significant negative correlation with MP abundance (<em>r = -0.770, p = 0.043</em>). NPI scores (2.10–16.02) revealed slight to heavy polluted levels in the Progo River and were positively correlated with MP abundance (<em>r=0.336, p=0.461</em>). Multiple Linear Regression analysis (<em>R</em>^<em>2</em> = <em>0.639</em>) identified flow velocity, BOD, COD, turbidity, total coliform, and population number as significant predictors of MP distribution. These findings emphasize the impact of MP pollution on river water quality status, highlighting the need of a novel approach to incorporate MP pollution in periodic water quality assessment to address ecological risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100510"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transformation pathways, detection, removal, and sustainable alternatives of 6PPD and its quinone derivative (6PPDQ): A comprehensive review","authors":"Kavya Somepalli,&nbsp;Gangadhar Andaluri","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is a widely used antioxidant and antiozonant in vehicle tires, commonly used to enhance rubber durability and performance. However, its environmental transformation, particularly into 6PPD-Quinone (6PPDQ) through oxidative processes like ozonation, has emerged as a serious concern due to the acute toxicity in aquatic systems. 6PPDQ has been linked to significant mortality in sensitive fish species, including coho salmon, at 41 ng/L concentrations. This review synthesizes recent advances in the understanding of 6PPD degradation pathways, including ozonation, photodegradation, hydrolysis, microbial metabolism, and atmospheric reactions. This paper systematically examines the formation and characterization of various TPs and outlines the methods used for their detection across water, air, soil, sediments, and biota. It also evaluates the efficiency of treatment approaches such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), microbial degradation, adsorption, and membrane technologies for the removal of 6PPDQ from contaminated media. Additionally, emerging research on bio-based, synthetic, and engineered antioxidant alternatives to 6PPD is reviewed, with attention to their environmental compatibility and industrial feasibility. The paper concludes with a comprehensive outline of future research priorities focused on improving analytical detection, understanding long-term environmental fate and toxicity, optimizing treatment technologies, and guiding the development of safer alternatives. Collectively, this review provides a foundation for environmental risk assessment, regulatory policy development, and sustainable innovation in rubber manufacturing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100547"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144725069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gadolinium exposure in Procambarus clarkii: tissue-specific bioaccumulation and oxidative stress responses","authors":"Paolo Pastorino ,&nbsp;Alessandra Maganza ,&nbsp;Camilla Mossotto ,&nbsp;Serena Anselmi ,&nbsp;Francesca Provenza ,&nbsp;Alice Gabetti ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Esposito ,&nbsp;Caterina Faggio ,&nbsp;Antonia Concetta Elia ,&nbsp;Monia Renzi ,&nbsp;Marino Prearo","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gadolinium (Gd), a rare earth element widely used in medical imaging and industry, is increasingly detected in aquatic environments. This study examines tissue-specific bioaccumulation and antioxidant responses in <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> following exposure to environmentally relevant Gd concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/L) over 14 days. Bioaccumulation was evident in the gills and hepatopancreas at higher exposure levels (10 and 100 μg/L), whereas muscle concentrations remained below the limit of quantification. Oxidative stress responses varied by tissue, with no clear trend revealed by the non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDs), suggesting limited antioxidant activation likely due to low Gd accumulation and short exposure duration. However, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity significantly increased in the gills and hepatopancreas at higher Gd concentrations. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity showed inconsistent trends, while glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was elevated in hepatppancreas and muscle only at 0.1 μg/L. Lipid peroxidation was most pronounced in the gills. The Integrative Biomarker Response-Threshold (IBR-T) index revealed low-dose effects consistent with hormetic responses, highlighting biologically relevant alterations observed at the lowest Gd concentrations. These findings suggest that <em>P. clarkii</em> exhibits tissue-specific Gd bioaccumulation and oxidative stress responses, albeit with variable biomarker activation. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of Gd exposure in freshwater crustaceans, particularly given rising anthropogenic Gd inputs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100544"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144695261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fresh tire wear particles from moving vehicles: Dispersion dynamics, exposure, and prevention strategy","authors":"Yiwei Xu ,&nbsp;Licheng Wang ,&nbsp;Ruilin Wang ,&nbsp;Weiqi Jiang ,&nbsp;Longfei Du ,&nbsp;Haibo Huang ,&nbsp;Liwu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yan Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100503","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100503","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tire Wear Particles (TWPs) have emerged as a significant source of non-exhaust emissions, posing potential exposure risks due to increased vehicle ownership and the advent of new energy vehicles. However, the dispersion and flow dynamics of fresh TWPs remain largely unexplored. Here, we used a finite element aerodynamic simulation model to investigate the distribution of fresh TWPs from a moving vehicle and to assess human respiratory exposure near the vehicle. In addition, actual on-road particle level measurements were performed to qualitatively validate the results obtained from our model while developing a laboratory-scale emission reduction solution. Conservative data show that fresh TWPs (of 0.1–10 μm diameter) disperse up to 3.2 m wide and 2.2 m high, with minimal influence of particle size. At 1–2 m from the side of the vehicle driven at 60 km/h, the maximum concentration was found at a height of 0.8 m, reaching 5.0 μg/m3, demonstrating a significant exposure of children and adolescents. The emission reduction solution designed to mitigate the exposure risk (i.e., a collection channel mounted near the wheel cover) was shown to effectively reduce fresh TWP emissions, achieving a capture rate of &gt;40 % at high speeds. Overall, the results obtained underscore the potential health issues associated with TWPs in urban areas, but also the ability to reduce exposure, provided that appropriate mitigation strategies are adopted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100503"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution of legacy, precursor and emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in environmental waters in South Africa and their potential health risk to the population","authors":"Bulelwa Batayi ,&nbsp;Cornelius Rimayi ,&nbsp;Peter Daso ,&nbsp;Jonathan Okonkwo","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present a study of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water samples from 48 sites in 8 South African provinces. Twenty-six targeted PFASs were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), after solid phase extraction (SPE). Of the different PFAS classes detected, the PFAS precursor 8:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) was among the prominent PFAS detected, with the sum concentration (∑8:2 FTOH, all sites) of 1042.1 ng L⁻¹ (mean = 4.9 ng L⁻¹, median = 1.1 ng L⁻¹). In comparison, the most dominant legacy PFAS was PFBA, with the sum concentration (∑PFBA, all sites) of 8174.8 ng L⁻¹ (mean = 146.7 ng L⁻¹, median = 25.7 ng L⁻¹). Out of the groups of PFASs, perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the most detected PFASs, though the average concentrations were not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05) between all the provinces assessed. Seasonally, the individual concentrations varied in each province, but generally, the concentrations were higher during the wet season than the dry season. Moreover, detection frequency (DF%) amongst the PFASs varied with only detections during the dry season achieving &gt;70 %. Since PFASs were never manufactured in South Africa, the potential sources of PFAS contamination were linked to the use of PFAS containing products that may be used in the surroundings of the sampling sites. The potential sources identified were domestic and industrial discharges, agricultural activities, wastewater effluents and other anthropogenic activities. The non-dominance of the long-chain legacy PFASs may indicate a shift on the use of fluorinated alternatives. The trend could also be due to long chain PFAS adsorption on to solids such as sediments in the aquatic environment. In addition, the health assessment risk to humans from contaminated surface water was low to moderate for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and no significant risk was observed for the rest of the compounds at the detected concentrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100534"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144365929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conjugation effects on antibiotic resistance genes at various salt Levels: Insights from single-factor and simulation study","authors":"Pei Jiang ,&nbsp;Yu Xia ,&nbsp;Jiali Chang ,&nbsp;Cheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Xia Li ,&nbsp;Le Fang ,&nbsp;Xinhui Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100522","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100522","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dissemination mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) under salinity fluctuations remain poorly understood, despite their critical implications for environmental resistance ecology. This study systematically decoupled salinity-driven conjugation dynamics through controlled single-factor experiments and simulated sediment microcosms. Controlled conjugation assays revealed a threshold-dependent response, with RP4 plasmid transfer frequencies peaking at 2.00 % salinity (4.58–13.51-fold increase vs. 0.85 % control, p &lt; 0.01), mechanistically linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated SOS pathway activation. In simulated sediment systems, salinity gradients drove host-specific ARGs enrichment, with plasmid-borne tetA and <em>bla</em>TEM abundances increasing 1.49–4.39 fold under brackish conditions (2.00 % salinity). Multidrug resistance genes <em>flo</em>R, <em>qac</em>H-01 exhibited synergistic diffusion patterns (r = 0.77–0.94, p &lt; 0.05), while salt-tolerant phyla <em>Campylobacterota</em> and <em>Spirochaetota</em> became dominant ARGs reservoirs at 3.50 % salinity (2.05–3.17 fold enrichment vs. controls). Although exogenous antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) introduction marginally reduced α-diversity, phylum-level community structure remained stable. Salinity preferentially suppressed rare taxa, amplifying ARGs co-occurrence networks through niche restructuring. These findings establish salinity as a dual regulator of ARGs dissemination, directly enhancing conjugation via oxidative stress pathways and indirectly reshaping resistance landscapes through microbial host selection. The results underscore the necessity of integrating salinity gradients into ARGs risk assessments, particularly in coastal ecosystems where tidal fluctuations may potentiate resistance propagation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100522"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144240854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}