Editorial: Emerging contaminants in water-soil-plant systems

Emerging contaminants (ECs) comprise a heterogeneous group of chemical substances that have attracted increasing attention due to their potential risks to human health and ecosystems (Nishmitha et al. 2025). These contaminants are referred to as "emerging" because they have historically been excluded from, or only partially included in, routine monitoring programs and regulatory frameworks.However, advances in analytical techniques have enabled their detection at low concentrations in environmental matrices, while scientific evidence has further advanced our understanding of their occurrence, environmental fate, and potential effects. Emerging contaminants encompass a diverse range of substances, including pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and personal care products, disinfection by-products, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and microplastics (Wang et al. 2024).The primary sources of these compounds are wastewater treatment plant effluents, agricultural and urban runoff, and landfill leachate or improper disposal (Sujan Sai et al. 2026). Therefore, the widespread occurrence of these contaminants in groundwater, surface water, and wastewater is a concern, as aquatic systems can act as key pathways for their transport to other environmental compartments, with potential long-term implications for ecosystem integrity and human health (Rodríguez et al. 2026). Agricultural systems are of particular concern, as irrigation can facilitate the introduction of emerging contaminants into soils and their subsequent uptake by crops. Recent studies provide evidence of these processes, with Aydin et al. (2025) reporting increased microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils irrigated with treated wastewater, while Mininni et al. (2024) demonstrated the uptake and translocation of carbamazepine (CBZ) and fluconazole (FCZ) into the aboveground tissues of olive plants.For future advanced research and studies regarding ECs, the Frontiers in Soil Science launched the Topic Research entitled "Emerging Contaminants in Water-Soil-Plant Systems" within the SoilPollution & Remediation section. The initiative aimed to highlight advanced framework in addressing ECs, whose management remains a major challenge due to their diverse physicochemical properties and complex interactions with environmental matrices.In this context, the contributions included in this edition (Fig. 1) address complementary aspects of the selected complex issue: (i) the sources, fate, and impacts of microplastics in agroecosystems;(ii) the influence of irrigation regimes and beneficial microbial inoculation on the fate and uptake of PhACs in durum wheat; (iii) the effects of atrazine on soil microbial communities and its biodegradation in semi-arid soils; and (iv) the fate and uptake of ECs in durum wheat irrigated with treated wastewater, with particular attention to their accumulation in soil and plant systems.Collectively, the presented studies emphasize the needs to strengthen monitoring and risk assessment while developing integrated mitigation strategies that combine advanced upstream removal technologies in wastewater treatment plants with downstream agronomic practices aimed at limiting contaminant persistence, bioavailability, and transfer within agroecosystems. In their considerable review, Rustagi et al. ( 2026) provided a comprehensive overview of the sources, environmental pathways, and ecotoxicological implications of microplastics in agroecosystems. A key feature of their contribution is the integrated soil-microplasticmicroorganism-plant perspective, linking microplastic occurrence and fate with soil functioning, microbial processes, plant uptake, crop productivity, and food safety. The authors identified major research gaps, including the need for long-term field studies, standardized detection methods, and a better understanding of microplastic behavior under realistic environmental conditions.Pharmaceuticals are important ECs that can enter agricultural food chains. Tortorici et al. (2026) investigated the combined effects of irrigation regimes and beneficial microbial inoculation on the fate and uptake of PhACs in durum wheat irrigated with treated wastewater. CBZ and clarithromycin (CLR) were the only parent compounds detected in soil at the end of the experiment, together with transformation products mainly associated with CBZ, while CBZ was the only PhAC detected in plant tissues. Notably, all PhACs remained below their respective limits of quantification in the grain, indicating negligible transfer to the edible fraction under the tested conditions. Microbial inoculation reduced contaminant residues, including some transformation products, while lower irrigation volumes decreased contaminant inputs to soil.Complementing these findings, Denora et al. ( 2024) assessed the fate and uptake of different PhACs in a tomato-durum wheat rotation under Mediterranean conditions in southern Italy. The study compared freshwater irrigation with treated wastewater containing concentrations of PhAC represented an average of TWW×1 European levels and a threefold higher load of TWW×3.Fluconazole and CBZ showed the greatest uptake, with accumulation detected in plant tissues and grain, particularly under the higher exposure level. Conversely, the fate of several other compounds was less clearly defined, likely reflecting differences in soil degradation processes and crop-specific behavior. Together with the findings of Tortorici et al. ( 2026), the study illustrates how PhAC fate and transfer in agroecosystems depend on contaminant load, irrigation management, soil processes, and crop characteristics.Beyond microplastics and PhACs, herbicides also remain contaminants of environmental concern in agricultural soils. Elgaber et al. ( 2026) investigated the concentration-dependent effects of atrazine on culturable soil microbial communities and its biodegradation in a semi-arid soil.During long incubation, atrazine significantly altered microbial populations, with responses varying according to concentration and exposure time. Initial inhibition of bacterial and fungal groups was followed by the recovery of some populations and the enrichment of atrazine-tolerant taxa, particularly Mycobacterium spp., suggesting microbial adaptation to prolonged herbicide contact.Atrazine degradation increased over time but slowed at higher concentrations, with estimated halflives up to 125 days. These findings underscore the close relationship between herbicide concentration, soil microbial dynamics, and contaminant persistence.The studies collected in this Research Topic provide converging evidence on the occurrence and behavior of ECs in agroecosystems and highlight the need for a better understanding of their environmental dynamics.Integrated mitigation strategies are therefore increasingly needed. Beneficial microorganisms, appropriate irrigation regimes, and the strategic use of water containing ECs according to crop type and growth stage may help reduce contaminant transfer. Potential approaches include alternating contaminated and conventional irrigation water, restricting contaminated water to the early stages of annual crop cycles, or using it for non-food or perennial crops. Increasing soil organic matter or applying organic amendments may further reduce contaminant bioavailability and plant uptake.Future research should assess the long-term effectiveness of these strategies under field conditions.