Nature-Based and Bio-Based Solutions for Emerging Contaminant Removal in Water and Soil

The global occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs)—including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—in water and soil environments has become a major environmental and public health concern. Conventional wastewater and soil treatment technologies are often ineffective at removing these micropollutants, which are detected at ng/L to μg/L concentrations and can induce chronic effects on aquatic organisms, including altered growth, reproduction, and behavior . The situation is further complicated by the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes, directly linked to the pervasive release of antibiotics into the environment . In this context, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and bio-based approaches emerge as sustainable, cost-effective alternatives that harness natural processes for ecosystem restoration and pollutant mitigation.Despite growing interest in NBS for EC removal, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding quantitative performance evaluation, mechanistic understanding, and comparative effectiveness across diverse contaminant classes and treatment systems. Recent studies demonstrate that biofilters can achieve >80% removal for hydrophobic organic micropollutants, while constructed wetlands show average removal efficiencies of 88% for a wide range of ECs, with performance strongly influenced by design parameters such as vegetation, substrate composition, and hydraulic retention time. However, challenges remain for refractory pollutants, which can pass through conventional green infrastructure and potentially contaminate groundwater.This Research Topic aims to address these gaps by compiling high-quality contributions that advance the scientific understanding and practical performance of NBS and bio-based solutions for EC removal. We seek to bridge the divide between laboratory-scale mechanistic studies and field-scale applications, fostering the development of design guidelines and performance benchmarks. A key objective is to promote integrated assessment frameworks combining chemical analysis with ecotoxicological approaches, as recent work has shown that evaluating the "toxic cocktail" effect through behavioral biomarkers provides a more comprehensive understanding of treatment efficacy. We particularly encourage contributions that explore hybrid systems (e.g., NBS coupled with advanced materials or microbial augmentation) and multi-criteria evaluation (combining performance, life cycle assessment, and socio-ecological co-benefits).We welcome original research, reviews, methods, and perspective articles addressing, but not limited to:- Quantitative performance assessment of constructed wetlands, biofilters, floating treatment wetlands, phytoremediation systems, and bio-based materials (biochar, natural polymers, enzymes) for EC removal, including microplastics, PFAS, pharmaceutical residues, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors- Mechanistic studies elucidating removal pathways (adsorption, biodegradation, phyto-uptake, photodegradation) and their dependence on contaminant properties and system design - Hybrid approaches integrating NBS with advanced materials (biochar-amended substrates, functionalized geomedia) or microbial augmentation for enhanced removal of recalcitrant compounds - Multi-criteria evaluation frameworks combining chemical, ecotoxicological, and life cycle assessment indicators to capture co-benefits and trade-offs - Scaling studies from laboratory microcosms to pilot and field-scale implementations, with emphasis on long-term performance and operational parameters- Policy-relevant research addressing the integration of NBS into regulatory frameworks for EC control and water quality management We particularly encourage submissions that provide quantitative data, mechanistic insights, and comparative analyses that can inform future design and implementation of NBS for emerging contaminant mitigation. Topic editors: Borhane Mahjoub, Efthalia Chatzisymeon, Nikolaos Tzoupanos Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79523/nature-based-and-bio-based-solutions-for-emerging-contaminant-removal-in-water-and-soil