Proposed scientific scope for the Call for Abstracts and programme publication
(Each subitem in a category has a description—click the arrow to learn more)
I. Advances in Environmental Analytical Chemistry
1. Advanced and Green Analytical Methods for Environmental Pollutant Determination (DCA - DCE)
This session will highlight advances in analytical methodologies for the reliable identification and quantification of environmental pollutants across diverse matrices. Contributions addressing enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, robustness and analytical performance are welcome, alongside approaches that reduce resource consumption, waste generation and the environmental footprint of chemical analysis. The session will encompass innovative sample preparation, separation and detection strategies, miniaturized and automated methods, sensor-based approaches, and developments supporting field and on-site analysis. Particular emphasis will be placed on analytical solutions that combine high-quality measurement with the principles of green and sustainable analytical chemistry and enable their application to emerging environmental challenges.
2. High-Resolution Screening in Environmental Analysis (HRMS and Beyond)
This session will explore advanced screening strategies for characterizing the increasingly complex chemical composition of environmental systems. Particular attention will be given to high-resolution mass spectrometry and complementary analytical and computational approaches enabling suspect and non-target screening, identification of transformation products and previously unrecognized contaminants, and comprehensive chemical fingerprinting. Contributions addressing data acquisition, compound identification, spectral libraries, harmonization, quality assurance and innovative data-processing workflows are encouraged. The session will also provide a forum for emerging technologies that extend beyond conventional HRMS-based analysis and contribute to more comprehensive characterization of environmental chemical exposure.
3. Long-Term Environmental Monitoring: Methods and Technologies (DCE - IUPAC)
Long-term environmental observations are essential for identifying trends, evaluating regulatory measures and understanding changes in chemical pollution under evolving environmental and societal conditions. This session will address methodological and technological advances supporting robust, comparable and sustainable monitoring over extended temporal and spatial scales. Topics may encompass monitoring networks, passive and automated sampling, sensor technologies, harmonized analytical strategies, retrospective analysis, environmental specimen banking, data comparability and integration of historical and contemporary datasets. Contributions linking monitoring data with changes in chemical use, regulation, land use, climate and environmental quality are particularly encouraged.
II. Environmental Fate and Processes
4. Water Chemistry and Water Pollution: Occurrence, Fate, Monitoring and Environmental Processes
This session will address the occurrence, distribution, transformation and fate of chemicals in natural and human-impacted aquatic systems. Contributions are invited on processes controlling chemical speciation, persistence, mobility, partitioning, degradation and transport in surface waters, groundwater and related aquatic compartments. The session will encompass monitoring and assessment of water pollution, interactions between contaminants and natural water constituents, biogeochemical processes, transformation products and the influence of changing environmental conditions on contaminant behaviour. Studies integrating analytical observations, laboratory investigations, field studies and modelling are particularly welcome.
5. Soil Chemistry and Soil Pollution
This session will focus on the chemical processes governing the occurrence, behaviour, persistence and bioavailability of contaminants in soils and related terrestrial environments. Contributions may address interactions between pollutants and soil constituents, sorption and desorption, transformation and degradation, transport to groundwater and surface waters, and the influence of soil properties and environmental conditions on chemical fate. Studies concerning legacy and emerging contaminants, contaminated sites, agricultural and urban soils, soil – plant interactions and links between chemical pollution and soil health are welcome. Integrated experimental, analytical, field-based and modelling approaches are particularly encouraged.
6. Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution
Air pollution is a complex chemical mixture that poses risks worldwide on health and the environment. However, large uncertainties still exist on the atmospheric processes. This session will explore air pollution and related health risks, metrics and parameters to address these, emerging pollutants, and their atmospheric fate from source areas to background and remote environments. Presentation of research on new analytical methodology development for the determination of chemical pollutants and their implication on health effects is encouraged.
7. Pollution of Marine Ecosystems
Marine and coastal environments receive complex mixtures of contaminants originating from terrestrial, atmospheric, maritime and direct ocean-based sources. This session will address the occurrence, transport, transformation, accumulation and effects of chemical pollution in marine and coastal ecosystems. Contributions may encompass legacy and emerging contaminants, land-sea transfer, sediment – water interactions, marine biogeochemistry, bioaccumulation, ecosystem exposure and pollution associated with maritime and coastal activities. Studies examining interactions between chemical pollution and broader pressures such as climate change, eutrophication and ecosystem degradation are particularly encouraged.
III. Emerging Contaminants
8. Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Occurrence, Monitoring, Environmental Impact and Regulation
This session will address the occurrence, distribution, transformation and fate of chemicals in natural and human-impacted aquatic systems. Contributions are invited on processes controlling chemical speciation, persistence, mobility, partitioning, degradation and transport in surface waters, groundwater and related aquatic compartments. The session will encompass monitoring and assessment of water pollution, interactions between contaminants and natural water constituents, biogeochemical processes, transformation products and the influence of changing environmental conditions on contaminant behaviour. Studies integrating analytical observations, laboratory investigations, field studies and modelling are particularly welcome.
9. Nanomaterials, Microplastics and Emerging Polymeric Contaminants in the Environment
This session will focus on the chemical processes governing the occurrence, behaviour, persistence and bioavailability of contaminants in soils and related terrestrial environments. Contributions may address interactions between pollutants and soil constituents, sorption and desorption, transformation and degradation, transport to groundwater and surface waters, and the influence of soil properties and environmental conditions on chemical fate. Studies concerning legacy and emerging contaminants, contaminated sites, agricultural and urban soils, soil – plant interactions and links between chemical pollution and soil health are welcome. Integrated experimental, analytical, field-based and modelling approaches are particularly encouraged.
IV. Chemical Hazard, Exposure and Risk Assessment
10. Chemical Pollution: From Exposure to Effects – Mixtures, Effect-Based Approaches and Environmental Riskn
This session will explore the continuum from environmental chemical exposure to biological effects and ecological risk. Contributions are invited on exposure characterization, bioavailability, mixture toxicity, effect-based monitoring, biomarkers and bioassays, adverse effects across levels of biological organization and approaches linking chemical occurrence with biological responses. Particular attention will be given to complex and realistic environmental exposures, combined effects of multiple stressors and integration of chemical and effect-based information. The session aims to strengthen connections between environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology and risk assessment and to support more comprehensive evaluation of chemical pollution.
11. New Strategies and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Chemical Risk and Persistence Assessment (DCE - PARC)
This session will focus on innovative approaches that advance the assessment of chemical hazards, risks and environmental persistence while reducing reliance on conventional testing paradigms. Contributions may include New Approach Methodologies, in vitro and in silico approaches, high-throughput and high-content methods, computational models, read-across, mechanistic frameworks and integrated testing and assessment strategies. Particular attention will be given to approaches addressing persistence, mobility, bioaccumulation and toxicity and to their integration into next-generation chemical assessment. Contributions demonstrating regulatory relevance, validation, applicability domains and translation of emerging methodologies into decision-making are particularly encouraged.
12. Omics in Environmental Exposure and Effects Assessment: Molecular, Mechanistic and Systems-Level Approaches
This session will examine the contribution of omics and systems-level approaches to understanding environmental exposure, mechanisms of toxicity and biological responses to chemical stressors. Contributions employing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and related molecular profiling strategies are welcome, as are multi-omics and integrative approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed on linking molecular responses with exposure, adverse outcomes and environmentally relevant effects, identifying biomarkers and mechanistic signatures, and improving understanding of complex chemical mixtures. Studies combining omics with analytical chemistry, toxicology, bioinformatics and computational modelling are encouraged.
13. Food–Environment Interactions and Safety Challenges: Contaminants, Exposure and Food Safety (FCD - DCE)
This session will address the interconnected pathways through which environmental chemical pollution can influence food quality, food safety and human exposure. Contributions may examine the transfer and transformation of contaminants across environmental and food systems, occurrence of legacy and emerging contaminants in food-related matrices, bioaccumulation, dietary exposure and analytical challenges associated with complex food matrices. Research addressing interactions between environmental conditions, food production systems and chemical safety is particularly welcome. The session aims to strengthen interdisciplinary exchange between environmental chemistry, food chemistry, exposure science and risk assessment.
14. Chemistry of the Indoor Exposome: From Sources and Mixtures to Human Uptake, Early Warning and Prevention
Indoor environments are dynamic sources, sinks and transformation compartments for chemicals originating from building materials, furnishings, consumer products, cooking, heating, cleaning and outdoor infiltration. They also contain biological determinants such as microbes and allergens. This session will examine how environmental chemistry can make the indoor external exposome measurable, source-resolved, comparable, actionable and policy-relevant. Contributions are invited from studies of homes, schools, childcare facilities, workplaces, hospitals and long-term-care settings. Topics may include targeted, suspect and non-target screening of indoor air, dust, surfaces, products and materials; passive sampling and real-time sensing; chemical mixtures and transformation products; indoor – outdoor exchange; source attribution; exposure modelling; interactions with microbiome-related and other biological determinants; harmonised metadata; and environmental sample archiving. Particular attention will be given to early-life exposure, vulnerable populations, housing inequality, environmental justice, data interoperability and responsible communication of screening results. The session aims to explore how indoor exposome research can move beyond chemical detection towards early warning, exposure reduction, prevention and evidence-based policy.
V. Innovative and Sustainable Technologies
15. Innovative and Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies
This session will showcase advances in technologies for the removal, transformation and management of chemical contaminants in water and wastewater. Contributions are invited on physical, chemical, biological and hybrid treatment processes, including innovative oxidation and reduction processes, adsorption, membrane-based technologies, biological treatment and nature-inspired solutions. Particular emphasis will be placed on treatment of emerging contaminants, process efficiency and selectivity, transformation products, energy and resource requirements, and environmental sustainability. Studies bridging fundamental process understanding with technological development, scale-up and real-world implementation are particularly encouraged
16. Modern Remediation Strategies: Nature-Based and Material-Enabled Solutions
This session will explore innovative strategies for the remediation and restoration of contaminated environmental systems. Contributions may address nature-based solutions, advanced functional materials, sorbents, catalysts, reactive media, biological and hybrid remediation technologies, and approaches integrating natural processes with engineered interventions. Studies concerning soils, sediments, groundwater, surface waters and other contaminated matrices are welcome. Particular attention will be given to remediation effectiveness, contaminant transformation and immobilization, environmental compatibility, long-term performance and sustainability. Research supporting the transition from laboratory concepts to field-scale and environmentally responsible remediation is encouraged.
17. Waste Valorization, Resource Recovery and Critical Raw Materials: Circularity and Sustainable Recovery
This session will address the recovery of valuable resources from wastes, wastewaters and secondary material streams within the transition toward a circular and resource-efficient economy. Contributions may encompass recovery and separation of critical raw materials, nutrients, metals and other valuable compounds; waste valorisation; urban mining; and innovative processes enabling the conversion of waste into useful resources. Particular attention will be given to environmental performance, selectivity, technological feasibility, contaminant management and the balance between resource recovery and potential environmental impacts. Research linking environmental chemistry with circularity and sustainable resource management is especially welcome.
18. Environmental Electrochemistry and Bioelectrochemical Technologies
This session will focus on electrochemical and bioelectrochemical approaches for understanding, monitoring and addressing environmental challenges. Contributions may include electrochemical treatment and remediation, electrocatalysis, electrochemical transformation of contaminants, resource recovery, environmental sensing and monitoring, microbial electrochemical systems and related bioelectrochemical technologies. Studies addressing mechanisms, materials, process optimization, energy efficiency, selectivity and environmental performance are encouraged. Particular interest will be given to approaches that integrate pollution control with resource or energy recovery and contribute to more sustainable environmental technologies.
VI. Sustainability, Innovation and Societal Dimensions
19. Circular Economy and Bioeconomy in Environmental Chemistry: Safe and Sustainable by Design (DCE -IUPAC)
This session will showcase advances in technologies for the removal, transformation and management of chemical contaminants in water and wastewater. Contributions are invited on physical, chemical, biological and hybrid treatment processes, including innovative oxidation and reduction processes, adsorption, membrane-based technologies, biological treatment and nature-inspired solutions. Particular emphasis will be placed on treatment of emerging contaminants, process efficiency and selectivity, transformation products, energy and resource requirements, and environmental sustainability. Studies bridging fundamental process understanding with technological development, scale-up and real-world implementation are particularly encouraged
20. Life-Cycle Assessment as a Decision-Support Tool for Green and Sustainable Chemistry (EuChemS DCE – Italian Network Association LCA)
This session will explore innovative strategies for the remediation and restoration of contaminated environmental systems. Contributions may address nature-based solutions, advanced functional materials, sorbents, catalysts, reactive media, biological and hybrid remediation technologies, and approaches integrating natural processes with engineered interventions. Studies concerning soils, sediments, groundwater, surface waters and other contaminated matrices are welcome. Particular attention will be given to remediation effectiveness, contaminant transformation and immobilization, environmental compatibility, long-term performance and sustainability. Research supporting the transition from laboratory concepts to field-scale and environmentally responsible remediation is encouraged.
21. Artificial Intelligence, Modeling and Data Analytics in Environmental Research
This session will address the recovery of valuable resources from wastes, wastewaters and secondary material streams within the transition toward a circular and resource-efficient economy. Contributions may encompass recovery and separation of critical raw materials, nutrients, metals and other valuable compounds; waste valorisation; urban mining; and innovative processes enabling the conversion of waste into useful resources. Particular attention will be given to environmental performance, selectivity, technological feasibility, contaminant management and the balance between resource recovery and potential environmental impacts. Research linking environmental chemistry with circularity and sustainable resource management is especially welcome.
22. Environmental Chemistry Education, Communication and Ethics
This session will focus on electrochemical and bioelectrochemical approaches for understanding, monitoring and addressing environmental challenges. Contributions may include electrochemical treatment and remediation, electrocatalysis, electrochemical transformation of contaminants, resource recovery, environmental sensing and monitoring, microbial electrochemical systems and related bioelectrochemical technologies. Studies addressing mechanisms, materials, process optimization, energy efficiency, selectivity and environmental performance are encouraged. Particular interest will be given to approaches that integrate pollution control with resource or energy recovery and contribute to more sustainable environmental technologies.