Machine learning (ML) has been extensively employed in the field of ecotoxicological research, with a notable application in predicting ecotoxicity. Typically, researchers employ chemical substance property data, environmental exposure data, and species information to predict the potential toxicity of pollutants through specific ML models and algorithms. <a>(1)</a> However, it is difficult to gather systematic collected toxicological data as they are costly and time-consuming to generate, while endless combination…

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic long-lasting chemicals. Marine sediment is a major repository for PFAS in the environment; accordingly, this work investigated 45 legacy and emerging PFAS in samples of surface sediments and sediment cores (1940s-2020s) collected in the Pearl River outlets, its estuary, and the adjacent northern South China Sea (NSCS), one of the global pollution hotspots. The range of total PFAS concentrations in surface sediments from the river outlets and the NSCS was 244…

Rivers play an important role as reservoirs and sinks for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, it remains underexplored for the resistome and associated mobilome in river ecosystems, and hosts of riverine ARGs particularly the pathogenic ones are rarely studied. This study for the first time conducted a longitudinal metagenomic analysis to unveil the resistome, mobilome, and microbiome in river water, by collecting samples from 16 rivers in Hong Kong over a three-year period and using both short-read and l…

Yangtze River Basin (YRB) is the largest agricultural and economic corridor in Asia, accounting for 40 % of China's rice production and 49 % of its arable land. Additionally, the Huangpu River (HR), the largest river in Shanghai, features developed agriculture and an extensive shipping industry. Overall, extensive agricultural activities coupled with frequent pesticide applications have resulted in aquatic contamination. This study investigated the spatial distribution and partitioning trends of 57 common pesticid…

Despite existing regulations, many emerging environmental contaminants remain ungoverned, posing serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Here, we outline governance challenges and propose a global roadmap for their regulation. Proactive identification, risk assessment, and international collaboration are urgently needed to close regulatory gaps and ensure a safer, healthier environment for all.