Emerging contaminants in Taihu lake Basin: Multi-dimensional prioritization, colloidal adsorption, and trophic-level disruptions

Emerging contaminants (ECs) pose significant threats to aquatic ecosystems across multiple trophic levels. This year-long study in China's Taihu Lake Basin investigated the spatiotemporal distribution, environmental behavior, and ecological impacts of ECs in diverse aquatic systems. Key findings revealed strong spatiotemporal heterogeneity, with industrial areas exhibiting the highest EC concentrations (mean: 1888.28 ng/L), dominated by perfluorinated compound. Seasonal variations showed spring EC levels twice those of other seasons, linked to intensified industrial activity. Colloidal adsorption played a critical role in EC fate, contributing 0.74–45.48 % to pollutant distribution, particularly for antibiotics and bisphenols. A multidimensional prioritization framework integrating concentration, detection rate, colloidal adsorption, toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation identified nine priority ECs, including erythromycin, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). ECs significantly disrupted plankton communities, with zooplankton diversity experiencing stronger suppression than phytoplankton, indicating trophic-level-dependent impacts. This study underscores the need for integrated monitoring strategies and regulatory thresholds to mitigate EC risks in complex aquatic ecosystems.