Emerging Micropollutants in Agro-ecosystems

Dr. Kuldeep Bauddh is currently an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at the Centre for Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, India. Dr. Bauddh is currently engaged in teaching in key areas of environmental sciences like Environmental Pollution and Management, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology, Soil Science, and Hazardous Waste Management. He is also an Associate Editor of the journal “Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability” as well as the co-editor of the magazine “Kahaar”. His main research areas are phytoremediation, ecological restoration and slow release fertilizers. Swati Sachdev is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Department of Liberal Education, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. She completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, U. P., India, in 2019. She has worked on biological approaches for management of plant pathogens to reduce disease severity and improve plant productivity. Her expertise and research interest areas are sustainable agriculture, plant-microbe interaction, plant-stress management, and bioremediation. She has more than five years of research and three years of teaching experience. She has published 12 research articles, 1 Authored book, and 11 book chapters. She was a gold medallist in her post-graduate program (2007-2009) and awarded a University Grant Commission-Junior Research Fellowship (UGC-JRF) in 2013. Dr. John Korstad is a Professor of Biology and Past Director of the Honors Program at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA). His educational background includes a BA in Geology and BS in Biology from Calif. Lutheran University, a MS in Environmental Science from Cal. State Hayward, and a MS and Ph.D. in Zoology from the Univ. Michigan. His specialty is Limnology (lake ecology) with specific expertise in nutrient-phytoplankton (microalgae)-zooplankton interactions and lake management. He has vast experience in aquaculture, including two sabbatical years doing research at The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) in Trondheim, Norway (the second one funded by a Fulbright Fellowship).

• Section I. Anthropogenic sources, detection, fate of micropollutants in agro-ecosystems1. A snapshot of emerging micropollutants in agro-ecosystem. origin, distribution, and detection techniques2. Pharmaceutical and personal care products. sources, distribution, and qualitative/quantitative analysis in agricultural environment3. Micro- and nano-plastics. sources, distribution, and qualitative/quantitative analysis in agricultural environment4. Pesticides, steroid hormones, and algal toxins. sources, distribution, and qualitative/quantitative analysis in agricultural environment5. Engineered nanoparticles as EMPs. sources, distribution, and qualitative/quantitative analysis in agricultural environment6. Amphiphilic compound Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and surfactants in agro-ecosystem. sources, distribution, and qualitative/quantitative analysis in an agricultural environment7. Case study on distribution and fate of emerging micropollutants in agricultural soilSection II. Ecotoxicology effects of emerging micropollutants in agro-ecosystems8. The effect of emerging micropollutants on the physicochemical properties of agricultural soil increasing soil degradation9. Analysing the toxic effects of microplastics on soil biota10. Assessing the increasing risk of contamination of surface and groundwater with EMPs from agricultural runoff and water percolation and effect on aquatic life11. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of emerging micropollutants through food chain. An emerging threat to wildlifeSection III. Human health hazards of EMP pollution in agro-ecosystems12. Effect of endocrine disrupting emerging micropollutants on human health13. Human health challenges faced due to antimicrobial resistance development14. Oxidative stress in humans linked with exposure to EMPs in food15. Case study on the risk of cancer development in humans by emerging micropollutants16. Suppressed immune system, increasing reproductive issues, and developmental problems in humans by EMPsSection IV. Physicochemical approaches for remediation17. Practical application of traditional physical methods in remediation of emerging micropollutants from agricultural soil18. Implication of chemical methods for removal of emerging micro-contaminants from agro-ecosystems19. Application of advance electro-kinetic approach for mitigation of emerging micropollutants from agro-ecosystems20. Use of nanofiltration and other nano-technology-driven method for treating agricultural soil contaminated with emerging micropollutants21. Use of new generation absorbents for removal of EMPs22. Case study on effective application of physicochemical methods for remediation of EMP contaminated soil and irrigation waterSection V. Role of biological approaches in mitigation of EMPs23. Phytoremediation. A greener path for restoration of contaminated agro-ecosystem24. Plant microbiome as sustainable drivers of ecosystem restoration25. Mycorrhizal fungi being a catalyst for reclamation of emerging micropollutants affected agricultural environment26. Bioaugmentation and biostimulation facilitating effective removal of micropollutants from agro-ecosystems27. Role of biofilm reactors for elimination of EMPs from contaminated soil28. Treatment of emerging micropollutants contaminated agricultural soil and irrigation water using constructed wetlands29. Cost-benefit analysis of using biological approach for remediation of EMP contaminated agro-ecosystemsSection VI. Technological and policy-driven strategies for abridging emerging micropollutants from agro-ecosystems30. Genetic engineering as a tool for improving plant-microbe mediated bioremediation process31. Use of novel enzymes for mitigation of emerging micropollutants32. Application of Artificial Intelligence-based sensors for real-time monitoring of emerging micropollutants in agro-ecosystems33. Comparing and contrasting perspectives of international agencies on the management of EMPs in agroecosystems through the formulation of policies.34. Addressing the need for formulating new policies and setting regulatory measures for effective removal of micropollutants from agro-ecosystems35. Importance and approaches of increasing public awareness for better environmental stewardship