Aims and Scope
Journal of Air and Water-Borne Diseases (JAWD) publishes research on the environmental transmission, microbial ecology, and control of pathogens in air and water systems. We focus on the intersection of environmental science, microbiology, and public health as it relates to disease transmission through environmental media.
Core Research Domains
Waterborne Pathogen Ecology
- Bacterial contamination in water systems (E. coli, Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter)
- Protozoan parasites in water sources (Cryptosporidium, Giardia)
- Viral contamination and persistence (Norovirus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Enterovirus)
- Legionella ecology in engineered water systems
- Biofilm formation and pathogen survival
- Water quality indicators and monitoring methods
Airborne Pathogen Transmission
- Aerosol transmission dynamics and particle physics
- Respiratory pathogen dispersal (Influenza, Tuberculosis, Respiratory syncytial virus)
- Indoor air quality and pathogen concentration
- Ventilation systems and disease transmission
- Environmental sampling and detection methods
- Airborne bacterial and fungal pathogens
Environmental Surveillance & Detection
- Molecular detection methods for environmental pathogens
- Wastewater-based epidemiology and surveillance
- Environmental sampling strategies and protocols
- Rapid detection technologies for water and air
- Biosensor development for pathogen monitoring
- Metagenomic approaches to pathogen identification
Water & Air Treatment Technologies
- Disinfection efficacy against waterborne pathogens
- Advanced oxidation processes for pathogen inactivation
- Filtration technologies and pathogen removal
- UV treatment and photocatalytic disinfection
- Air filtration and purification systems
- Desalination and pathogen control
Secondary Focus Areas
Environmental Epidemiology
Outbreak investigations linking environmental contamination to disease incidence. Spatial and temporal analysis of waterborne and airborne disease patterns. Risk assessment models for environmental pathogen exposure.
Climate & Environmental Change
Impact of climate variability on pathogen survival and transmission. Extreme weather events and waterborne disease outbreaks. Temperature and precipitation effects on water quality and pathogen ecology.
Sanitary Engineering & Infrastructure
Water distribution system design and pathogen control. Wastewater treatment plant performance and pathogen removal. Building water systems and Legionella prevention. Stormwater management and pathogen transport.
One Health Approaches
Animal-environment-human pathogen transmission pathways. Zoonotic pathogens in water and air (Leptospirosis, Q fever, Hantavirus, Avian influenza). Agricultural runoff and waterborne pathogen contamination.
Antimicrobial Resistance in Environment
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water systems. Environmental reservoirs of resistance genes. Wastewater treatment and antimicrobial resistance dissemination.
Policy & Risk Communication
Water safety planning and risk management frameworks. Air quality standards and pathogen control policies. Public health interventions for environmental disease prevention. Community engagement in water and air quality monitoring.
Emerging Research Areas
Explicitly Out of Scope
We Do NOT Consider:
Rationale: Our focus is environmental transmission, not clinical management. Papers on antibiotic therapy, vaccine efficacy in patients, or clinical outcomes belong in medical journals. Exception: Studies linking environmental exposure to disease burden are acceptable.
Rationale: Immunological responses and vaccine trials are outside our environmental science scope. Submit to immunology or infectious disease journals. Exception: Environmental factors affecting vaccine stability or delivery in water/sanitation contexts.
Rationale: Food safety and foodborne pathogens belong in food science journals unless water contamination is the transmission route. Exception: Agricultural water use contaminating food crops is in scope.
Rationale: Mosquito, tick, and flea-borne diseases are not air or waterborne. Submit to vector biology or tropical medicine journals. Exception: Aquatic breeding sites for vectors affecting water management.
Rationale: Chemical pollutants, heavy metals, and non-pathogenic air/water quality issues without infectious disease components. Submit to environmental health or toxicology journals.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Expedited Review
- Original Research Articles
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Methods & Protocols
- Outbreak Reports
- Data Descriptors
Regular Review
- Short Communications
- Technical Notes
- Perspectives
- Review Articles
- Commentaries
Rarely Considered
- Case Reports (single events)
- Opinion Pieces
- Letters to Editor
- Book Reviews
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- STROBE for observational studies
- CONSORT for intervention trials
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- ARRIVE for animal studies
- STARD for diagnostic accuracy
Data Transparency
- Raw data deposition in public repositories
- Code availability for computational analyses
- Protocols registered before study initiation
- Materials and reagents clearly documented
- Statistical methods fully described
Ethics & Compliance
- IRB/Ethics approval for human subjects research
- IACUC approval for animal studies
- Informed consent documentation
- Biosafety protocols for pathogen handling
- Environmental permits for field sampling
Open Science Policies
- Preprints encouraged (bioRxiv, medRxiv)
- Open peer review option available
- Post-publication commenting enabled
- ORCID required for all authors
- CRediT taxonomy for author contributions
Publication Metrics & Timelines
Ready to Submit?
Ensure your manuscript aligns with our scope by reviewing the domains above. For scope inquiries or pre-submission questions, contact our editorial team.
Contact Editorial Office
