Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050283

Authors: Alexandre Aleluia Luís Gabriel Barboza Carla Novais Patrícia Antunes Ana R. Freitas Joana C. Prata

Microplastics (MPs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), emerging pollutants in surface waters, are viewed as a serious risk to freshwater ecosystems and public health. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge, regulatory approaches, and monitoring methodologies on the presence and impact of these contaminants following a drivers-pressures-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework. Major anthropogenic factors, such as pharmaceutical consumption and agricultural intensification, are putting pressure on water bodies through industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and untreated or inadequately treated wastewaters. In order to gauge the current environmental state and discuss the impact on human and ecosystem health within a One Health framework, it is necessary to generate monitoring data and identify methodological gaps in the interaction between MPs and ARGs. Despite recent European Union (EU) regulatory progress, such as the Drinking Water Directive and the Water Framework Directive, substantial gaps remain in methodology standardization as well as practical implementation. This review underscores the need to establish enforceable thresholds and standardize monitoring protocols to effectively mitigate the growing prevalence and consequences of these contaminants.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050282

Authors: Nelson de Almeida Gouveia Sabrina Aparecida Ramos da Fonseca Lucas de Farias Mota Manuela Santos Santana Douglas Francisco Marcolino Gherardi Maikon Di Domenico Kyssyane Samihra Santos Oliveira Fábio Cavalca Bom Nadson Ressyé Simões Gisele Daiane Pinha Renato David Ghisolfi Mônica Maria Pereira Tognella Fabian Sá Fabiana de Matos Costa Iurick Costa Saraiva Fábio Campos Pamplona Ribeiro Laís Altoé Porto Karen Otoni de Oliveira Lima Beatrice Padovani Ferreira

Large-scale disasters can result in chronic pollution of coastal environments with unanticipated and poorly quantified impacts, such as the reshaping of marine connectivity. A recent example is the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam in 2015, which released about 50 million m3 of mine waste into the Doce River, affecting one of Brazil’s largest estuarine–mangrove systems. Here, we combine a high-resolution CROCO hydrodynamic simulation with an individual-based Lagrangian model (Ichthyop) to track the dispersal of mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) larvae from four estuaries along the southeastern Brazilian margin between 2022 and 2024. Trajectories crossing seasonal msPAF fields derived from in situ water-quality measurements were used to quantify larval exposure to contaminants from mine waste. These fields were based on measured concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, and Al. Results show that surface shelf flow and mesoscale activity in the vicinity of the Doce River mouth contribute to offshore export of larvae, while the reef-dominated Abrolhos shelf promotes retention. Interannual variability alternates between long-distance export and local retention, associated with regional climate variability. Larval mortality rates caused by offshore advection and lethal temperature are high (65–75%). In addition to these modeled mortality sources, surviving cohorts frequently crossed areas with elevated msPAF values during transport, indicating potential exposure to metal(loid) mixtures. This suggests that the regional connectivity of U. cordatus is under chronic stress that likely compromises the integrity and resilience of coastal populations, since southern estuaries depend strongly on northern larval sources. The integration of Lagrangian simulations with in situ contaminant monitoring and spatially explicit exposure metrics demonstrates that transport pathways regulate not only connectivity among estuaries but also the duration and intensity of larval exposure to pollutants.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050281

Authors: Xiaocheng Zhu Ling Lin Karen L. Bell Hanwen Wu David Gopurenko

Highly sensitive and non-invasive detection of macroorganisms using environmental nucleic acids (eNA) has transformed biosecurity surveillance. However, the persistence of legacy DNA compromises the spatiotemporal accuracy of environmental DNA (eDNA)-based detection, leading to false indications of contemporary species presence. This review critically evaluates emerging molecular approaches aimed at improving the temporal resolution of eNA signals and distinguishing living organisms from historical residues. We examine environmental RNA (eRNA), long-fragment eDNA (LFeDNA), propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment, and organelle-to-nuclear DNA ratios as indicators of eDNA age, assessing their principles, technical challenges, and practical potential. While eRNA offers the strongest theoretical link to organism viability, its application is constrained by rapid decay and stringent handling requirements. LFeDNA presents a more practical alternative but requires careful assay design. PMA treatment has shown limited effectiveness in excluding legacy DNA, whereas organelle-to-nuclear DNA ratios remain promising but underexplored. We identify key research priorities needed to transition these approaches from experimental studies to operational biosecurity tools. Addressing these gaps will improve interpretation of eNA signals, enabling more accurate detection of living invasive organisms and enhancing the reliability of biosecurity surveillance.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050280

Authors: Narongchai Autsavapromporn Aphidet Duangya Sawaeng Kawichai Susira Bootdee Sopittaporn Sillapapiromsuk Chutima Kranrod Donovan Anderson Yohei Fujishima Tomisato Miura Shinji Tokonami

Humans spend a substantial proportion of their time indoors, where exposure to environmental pollutants such as radon gas and particulate contaminants in household dust is common. While radon is a well-established risk factor for lung cancer, household dust may serve as a reservoir for a complex mixture of indoor and outdoor pollutants. However, the biological effects of such exposures, particularly under sequential conditions, remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of sequential exposure to household dust extract followed by indoor radon using human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells as an in vitro model. Household dust samples from upper northern Thailand were extracted and applied to cells, followed by controlled radon exposure. Cellular responses were evaluated using cell viability assays, cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) formation assays, and Western blot analysis of oxidative stress-related (Nrf2/HO-1), DNA damage-related (γ-H2AX), autophagy-related (LC3), and inflammatory-related (IL-6) protein expression. Exposure to household dust extract was associated with reduced cell viability and increased MN formation, while radon exposure alone produced relatively modest effects under the present conditions. Sequential exposure to household dust extract followed by indoor radon was associated with increased oxidative stress-related responses and elevated DNA damage than either treatment alone under the present experimental conditions. A trend toward autophagy-related responses was also observed, and the overall findings may indicate possible combined biological responses under sequential exposure conditions. These findings suggest that sequential exposure may be associated with changes in oxidative stress-related pathways, DNA damage responses, and autophagy-related processes in this in vitro model. However, the results should be interpreted with caution as they are derived from a single cancer cell line and there are limitations to the in vitro exposure model. Further studies using additional cell models and in vivo systems are warranted to further clarify the potential biological and human health relevance of these findings.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050279

Authors: Saeid Masoudiashtiani Richard C. Peralta

Numerical simulations quantify the transient impacts of implementing green infrastructure (GI) grass swales on unconfined aquifer storage and groundwater-surface water interactions around the Red Butte Creek (RBC) of Utah, USA. The Red Butte Creek Watershed (RBCW) transitions from undeveloped mountainous National Forest land to downstream urbanized areas within Salt Lake Valley (SLV). This reconnaissance-level study demonstrates that increasing stormwater infiltration in urbanized areas during the rainy months (April-June) can, until at least the subsequent March, (a) enhance aquifer recharge and support sustainable groundwater yields; and (b) improve surface water availability. Simulations predict hydrologic impacts of aquifer recharge resulting from hypothetical grass-swale implementation within a 704-acre area located around RBC. The employed model, HyperRBC, is an adaptation of a United States Geological Survey (USGS) transient numerical flow, MODFLOW, model implementation for SLV. Adaptations involved (a) uniformly refined horizontal discretization of seven aquifer layers within a sub-area encompassing parts of RBCW and an adjacent watershed; (b) updated input data; and (c) MODFLOW’s Streamflow-Routing (SFR) package to simulate RBC flow and aquifer-stream seepage. Model predictions indicated that by the end of next March: (a) about 3% of the GI-induced recharge would remain within the unconfined aquifer in the HyperRBC area; (b) 66.6% of the recharge would flow northward into the downgradient continuation of the unconfined aquifer; and (c) 30.3% would discharge to nearby stream and river. In summary, predicted hydrologic changes due to the short-term GI-induced recharge highlight increased groundwater availability within and outside the study area for at least the subsequent 12 months, including high-water-demand summer. These findings show the importance of GI in interim environmental management and in enhancing the effective use of water resources.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050278

Authors: Martha Johana Álvarez-Álvarez Jesus Abel Mejía Marcacuzco Edilberto Guevara Pérez Eduardo Chávarri Velarde Julio Johnny Regalado-Jalca

Water-quality degradation in semi-arid basins is strongly influenced by spatial heterogeneity and cumulative anthropogenic pressure. This study characterises spatial gradients, identifies contamination hotspots, and evaluates system behaviour in the Jipijapa River micro-basin, Ecuador, through an integrated analytical framework. A multi-year dataset (2023–2025; n = 27) from nine monitoring sites was analysed using non-parametric statistics, regulatory exceedance-based hotspot detection, the BMWP/Col index, Spearman correlations adjusted by false discovery rate, and exploratory machine-learning models (Random Forest and ε-SVR) with leave-one-out cross-validation. Results showed a significant longitudinal gradient, with dissolved oxygen decreasing from 6.1 to 2.1 mg L−1 and BOD5 increasing from 6.1 to 111.0 mg L−1 downstream. Five hotspots were identified, mainly in the lower reach, while BMWP/Col values declined from 118.3 to 37.0, indicating ecological degradation. Correlation analysis revealed strong coupling between BOD5 and dissolved oxygen (ρ = −0.916), modulated by altitude and vegetation cover. Machine-learning models showed high internal consistency, although their use was restricted to diagnostic pattern detection rather than operational prediction. Overall, the convergence of physicochemical, ecological, hotspot, and modelling evidence supports an inferred spatial resilience gradient and provides a locally adaptable framework for prioritising watershed interventions in data-limited semi-arid basins.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050277

Authors: Hassan Boukita Najiba Brhadda Rabea Ziri

The accelerating pace of urbanization, both locally and regionally, is undoubtedly one of the main drivers impacting the structure and diversity of vegetation cover. However, the relationship between the diversity and distribution of plant communities and the degree of urbanization remains a topic requiring further research. This contribution aims to reveal the impact of the urbanization gradient on the structure and diversity of wild flora in the urban setting of a Mediterranean city (Témara, Morocco). The study area was subdivided into three sectors according to a decreasing urbanization gradient: the first sector delimits the city center (built-up area exceeding 75%), the second covers an area with a built-up area between 50 and 75%, and the third delimits the city’s peripheral area with a built-up area of less than 50%. Each sector was surveyed using four transects, and each transect was surveyed six times, resulting in 24 surveys covering 260.5 m2 per sector. The comparative study of diversity between the three sectors was based on the calculation of alpha diversity (Shannon–Weaver index and Pielou’s evenness index) and beta diversity (Jaccard similarity index). The results showed modest specific similarity among the four transects (mean Jaccard index = 0.385) and greater floristic richness in the peripheral area than in the city center. However, no significant difference (F = 0.675, α = 0.05) was observed in specific diversity among the three sectors. In addition, the therophyte rate calculation revealed significant therophytization in the city center compared with the outskirts. Such findings may lead to a more complete understanding of the processes underlying the relationship between urbanization and plant diversity, which may have implications for the conservation of this diversity in urban settings.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050276

Authors: Maria Elena Bini Mario V. Balzan Alessandra Bonoli

Cities are artificial ecosystems that suffer most from environmental issues and climate change. Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects represent an increasing challenge, especially for compact Mediterranean cities characterized by high population density and extensive impervious surfaces. This study assessed localized microclimatic conditions within the small Maltese coastal town of Isla through a 15-day summer field monitoring campaign. Air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were measured across urban locations characterized by different levels of vegetation coverage and thermal vulnerability. The analysis combined descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U testing, and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models. In addition, site-specific Nature-based Solutions (NbS) scenarios were proposed as context-sensitive strategies to support urban heat mitigation and climate resilience. The results highlighted distinct microclimatic responses between the sites investigated. In particular, the MLR analysis suggested that non-vegetated areas were more sensitive to short-term atmospheric variability associated with wind speed and relative humidity fluctuations. These findings suggest that urban vegetation may contribute not only to localized cooling, but also to increased microclimatic stability within compact Mediterranean urban environments.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050275

Authors: Gabriela Espinosa Santa Paola Andrea Montero Castrillón Aura Falco Elsa De La Cadena María Virginia Villegas Adriana Correa

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are a growing public health concern within the One Health framework. This study aimed to characterize ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in industrial and artisanal organic fertilizers marketed in southwestern Colombia. Five commercial fertilizer brands were analyzed using a selective culture on ceftriaxone supplemented media (4 µg/mL), antimicrobial susceptibility testing by broth microdilution to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), phenotypic synergy testing for ESBL confirmation, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes. Overall, 18.6% of the samples showed growth of ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacterales, predominantly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. ESBL producers accounted for 84% of the isolates, all of which carried at least one bla gene, predominantly blaCTX-M. Statistically significant differences in bacterial growth frequency were observed among fertilizer types, with higher positivity rates observed in manure-based artisanal formulations (p < 0.05). Whole-genome sequencing of selected isolates identified Klebsiella pneumoniae ST37 and Escherichia coli ST224, both harboring blaCTX-M-55 and additional resistance and virulence determinants. These findings demonstrate that organic fertilizers, particularly manure-derived products, may act as reservoirs and potential dissemination routes for clinically relevant antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This is the first study in Colombia documenting the presence of ESBL-producing bacteria in organic fertilizers. These results underscore the need to incorporate surveillance of these products into national policies under a One Health perspective.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050274

Authors: Anastasia Nazarova Vildan Sultanaev Olga Mostovaya Enzhe Gatina Polina Kuryntseva Yulia Bukarinova Nataliya Pronovich Svetlana Selivanovskaya Pavel Padnya Ivan Stoikov

The widespread use of herbicides in agriculture results in their accumulation in the environment, which has a negative impact on non-target biota. One way to reduce environmental risks while maintaining the effectiveness of plant protection products is to apply supramolecular chemistry principles to agricultural practices. Although pillar[n]arenes are used in the production of sensors and antidotes for pesticides, their influence on the herbicidal properties and ecotoxicity of herbicides toward aquatic organisms and higher plants has hardly been studied. The effect of pillar[5]arenes on the herbicidal activity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate (Glyp), as well as the ecotoxicity of the resulting binary systems toward Ceriodaphnia affinis and Paramecium caudatum, was assessed for the first time. The association constants of pillar[5]arenes with Glyp (logKa = 3.92–4.06) were an order of magnitude higher than the corresponding values for 2,4-D (logKa = 2.66–3.06) with the stoichiometry of 1:1. The formation of stable associates (143–177 nm) with negative zeta potential values (from −20.9 to −7.8 mV) was demonstrated for the pillar[5]arene/herbicide systems. Low phytotoxicity of pillar[5]arenes against Chlorella vulgaris was shown. The addition of pillar[5]arenes to 2,4-D reduced the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germination index by 4.5-fold compared to the pure herbicide. Forming associates between decamethoxypillar[5]arene and Glyp increased the LC10 by more than twofold compared to the individual herbicide against Paramecium caudatum and Ceriodaphnia affinis. It was demonstrated that combining pillar[5]arenes with Glyp can reduce ecotoxicity while partially preserving or selectively modifying phytotoxicity. The results obtained in this study are encouraging for the development of materials and supramolecular systems that could boost agricultural efficiency while reducing its environmental impact.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050273

Authors: Kun-Chou Lee Shi-Qi Chen

This study uses data from Taichung Fengyuan Station in Taiwan’s Civil IoT to conduct short-term forecasting of the Air Quality Index (AQI). We compile multiple pollutant and meteorological features and develop three models—Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with exogenous variables (ARIMAX)—together with a persistence baseline for comparison. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether deep sequence models and a classical statistical model can provide reliable one-hour-ahead AQI forecasts at the site level and to examine the practical value of such forecasts for early warning and air-quality management. Results show that GRU achieves the lowest overall prediction errors, followed by LSTM. The persistence baseline outperforms ARIMAX but remains clearly inferior to both recurrent models. In sum, the study shows that site-level AQI forecasting can benefit from recurrent deep-learning models not only in terms of numerical accuracy, but also in terms of capturing short-term temporal structure beyond a naive carry-forward baseline. These findings provide a benchmark-oriented and application-oriented reference for short-horizon AQI warning scenarios.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050272

Authors: Nadejda G. Vurdova Tatyana I. Ovchinnikova Svetlana V. Tertychnaya Alexandra A. Kulikova Valeriia D. Meshchanova Petr Yu. Vurdov Yuri A. Birman Maria V. Krotova Anastasia A. Yakusheva

The problem of industrial waste disposal is becoming increasingly pressing. For a long time, one of the primary methods of managing hazardous industrial waste was to dispose of it for long periods (decades) in engineered landfills. However, over time, due to various climatic, geological, and other changes, landfills begin to cause significant harm to the environment and human health. Old landfills, many built in the mid-20th century, pollute the air, soil, and groundwater. Therefore, the issue of decommissioning “old” landfills is becoming increasingly pressing. This study aimed to develop technological solutions for the safe extraction and processing of hazardous liquid waste from an aged industrial landfill. An integrated treatment chain was designed, comprising extraction, multi-barrier water treatment, vacuum evaporation, and lithification. Optimal lithification compositions were identified: for the salt concentrate–sludge–spent media mixture, a ratio of 68.2% sorbent D, 28.0% salt concentrate, and 3.8% dewatered sludge/spent media yielded a loose granular geocomposite; for oil-containing waste, the optimal ratio using lime and opoka was 1:0.9:0.5 (bottom sediments/CaO/opoka). Biotesting confirmed that the lithified waste is Hazard Class V (non-hazardous), whereas the untreated waste is Class III (moderately hazardous). The resulting geocomposite is suitable for on-site technical reclamation, closing the material cycle.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050271

Authors: Rae-Ann Eifert Patrick Gorski Madeline Magee Sean Strom

Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, is a popular waterfowl hunting location with thousands of waterfowl hunters visiting the area annually. Despite its popularity, the potential exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through the consumption of waterfowl harvested in the area is unknown. Between 2022 and 2024, mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) breast tissue was collected from Green Bay and an unimpacted reference location to better understand waterfowl hunters’ exposure to PFAS. Results indicate that PFAS exposure is site-specific, as only two mallards from the reference location had detectable levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the breast tissue, while mallard breast tissue detection rates ranged from 67% to over 90% in two Green Bay locations. PFOS concentrations in the duck breast tissue were high enough to warrant a “one meal per month” (10 ng/g) and a “do not eat” (40 ng/g) advisory for mallards from Middle and Lower Green Bay, respectively, based on current consumption advisory thresholds used in Wisconsin. Paired water samples at the Lower Green Bay mallard collection site had PFOS concentrations higher than the Wisconsin surface water criteria of 8 ng/L, and the relative composition of PFAS in the water indicated multiple sources of PFAS to the area.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050270

Authors: Oskay Ozen Jonathan Magin Matthias Weigold

The German industrial and energy sectors accounted for over 52% of national greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. This is influenced both by an ongoing demand for fossil fuels and the usage of emission-intensive raw and processed materials. With the current European directive on corporate sustainability reporting, a push is being made for companies to publish annual emission reports. However, as per a study conducted by the authors, small and medium-sized companies have difficulties accurately calculating emissions across their supply chain without relying on external service providers. As a scientific institute with a real production facility for metal machining, the ETA (Energy Technologies and Applications) Factory bridges the gap between academia and manufacturing enterprises. The authors have used this disposition to calculate scope 1–3 emissions for the factory as per the Greenhouse Gas Protocol across three years, while progressively attempting to automate data collection for all scopes. CO2e emissions for the years 2022–2024 were 86.3 tCO2e, 146.9 tCO2e, and 86.1 tCO2e, respectively. Emission categories were assessed in terms of relevance to the institute and subsequently used to analyze the emission activities of the factory. The highest contributor to emissions was electricity purchasing for 2022 and 2024, along with business travel for 2023. Within scope 3, the emissions produced by business travel showed the highest impact across all years, followed by either energy-related activities or purchased goods. The sensitivity of CO2e factors was also investigated, showing discrepancies between 25% and 130% for the utilized CO2e factor for steel. Automation of data collection benefits largely from implemented manufacturing systems, such as manufacturing execution systems or enterprise resource planning systems.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050269

Authors: Isaac Boatey Akpatsu Wuletawu Abera Abdelghani Chehbouni Ahmed Laamrani

Globally, land use and land cover (LULC) change is a major driver of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in mountainous ecosystems, where steep slopes, shallow soils, and strong climatic gradients amplify land use impacts. This review systematically synthesises empirical evidence regarding how LULC transitions influence SOC dynamics in mountainous landscapes, with particular emphasis on dominant trends, underlying mechanisms, methodological bottlenecks, and future research perspectives. Following PRISMA guidelines, we evaluated 30 carefully screened peer-reviewed studies that explicitly link temporal LULC change to carbon dynamics in mountainous environments. The results show SOC losses across most LULC transitions, especially following forest and rangeland conversion to cropland and built-up land. In contrast, SOC recovery is time-lagged, partial, and often decoupled from rapid aboveground biomass recovery. Methodologically, while static carbon models (e.g., InVEST) are demonstrated to systematically underrepresent lateral erosion-driven SOC losses, they have been highly adopted in the synthesised studies, highlighting their practical scalability in data-scarce and complex mountain terrains. Finally, the synthesis reveals a strong geographic bias in the literature, with most studies emerging from Asia, highlighting substantial knowledge gaps in other regions. Prioritising empirical multidecadal SOC monitoring in highly vulnerable and underrepresented regions, such as African mountainous systems, where socioeconomic pressures are expected to intensify, is critical for developing integrative, evidence-based strategies for sustainable land management under accelerating LULC change.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050268

Authors: Tingting Shen Yunhui Zhang Ying Liang Jiao Cai Gang Zhang Chao Shen

Subsurface contamination at low-permeability petrochemical sites necessitates long-term multi-phase extraction (MPE), yet operational sustainability is frequently compromised by well-bore clogging. This study develops a “prevent–identify–remediate” strategy through integrated laboratory and field-based investigations. Laboratory bench tests identified a critical packing density threshold of 70%, above which permeability loss escalates rapidly. Furthermore, rounded quartz sand maintained a significantly higher permeability ratio (0.4) compared to irregular zeolite (0.1). These findings were validated through a longitudinal two-year field pilot study in a silty-clay formation. Innovative large-diameter wells (200 mm) utilising optimised quartz sand showed high resilience, with only a 20% reduction in discharge capacity over 24 months. In contrast, conventional wells using local yellow sand exhibited severe physical clogging, resulting in a 57% decrease in stable flow. The study also characterised a diameter effect, where small-diameter wells (63 mm) proved inherently more vulnerable to rapid performance degradation regardless of filter media. To address existing impairment, high-pressure water jetting and dilute hydrochloric acid washing restored flow capacity by 50% and 40%, respectively. By coupling mechanistic insights with field evidence, this research provides a comprehensive platform for the sustainable design and maintenance of subsurface remediation infrastructure, ensuring long-term operational efficiency and reduced resource consumption.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050267

Authors: Mohd Akmal Ab Karim Wan Zakiah Wan Ismail Farrah Masyitah Mohd Shuib Nor Azlina Ab Aziz Anith Khairunnisa Ghazali

Water pollution poses significant risks to human health and environmental sustainability, highlighting the need for accurate water quality assessment and prediction. This review examines the application of machine learning (ML) in Water Quality Index (WQI) assessments, focusing on WQI formulation, predictive modelling approaches, and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques. A structured literature review is conducted using major scientific databases, including ScienceDirect, Springer, and other relevant sources, following a systematic study selection process. The review analyzes commonly used water quality parameters and highlights how the deterministic structure of WQI influences machine learning modelling, often leading to high predictive performance that reflects predefined formulations rather than independent pattern learning. A comprehensive comparison of single, hybrid, and ensemble ML models is presented, showing that hybrid approaches generally provide improved robustness and accuracy in complex water quality scenarios. In addition, the role of XAI methods in enhancing model interpretability and supporting transparent decision-making is discussed. Key challenges, including limited generalization, model complexity, and interpretability constraints, are identified, and future research directions are proposed to develop more reliable and practical AI-based water quality monitoring systems. Overall, this review provides insights into the integration of machine learning and WQI, emphasizing the importance of balancing predictive accuracy with interpretability for sustainable water resource management.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050266

Authors: Nataša Turić Goran Vignjević Nataša Bušić Martina Temunović Branka Bruvo Mađarić

The genus Hydrochara (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) comprises large-bodied water beetles associated with shallow, well-vegetated freshwater habitats and is characterised by considerable taxonomic complexity. While Hydrochara caraboides is relatively well studied in western and central Europe, lineage diversity and species boundaries within the genus remain poorly resolved in eastern and south-eastern Europe. This study uses an integrative approach combining mitochondrial DNA data, morphometric analyses, and male genital morphology to investigate Hydrochara populations in continental Croatia. Specimens were collected from floodplain and lowland aquatic habitats across major river basins, morphologically identified and verified using cytochrome oxidase subunit I (16S) sequences through comparison with reference data from public databases (GenBank and BOLD). Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of H. caraboides and Hydrochara flavipes in continental Croatia. A single specimen from the upper Drava River basin (CROH030-26) formed a distinct mitochondrial lineage positioned between H. caraboides and Hydrochara dichroma in the COI phylogeny. Morphometric analyses showed extensive overlap between this specimen and H. caraboides, indicating no clear differentiation in external body size. In contrast, examination of male genitalia revealed an intermediate aedeagus morphology with transitional characters between H. caraboides and H. dichroma. Haplotype network analysis revealed a star-like structure with a dominant central haplotype shared by most H. caraboides specimens and several low-frequency variants, while the divergent specimen occupies a peripheral position, separated from the main cluster by multiple mutational steps. These results indicate that H. caraboides is a genetically heterogeneous taxon comprising multiple divergent mitochondrial lineages, suggesting that lineage diversity within this species may be underestimated. By integrating molecular and morphological evidence, this study provides new insights into the lineage diversity of Hydrochara in floodplain ecosystems of south-eastern Europe and highlights the importance of integrative approaches for resolving species boundaries and informing freshwater biodiversity conservation.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050263

Authors: Ahlem Bargougui David Dewez Abdelkrim Azzouz

The effects of exchangeable cations on bisphenol A adsorption and degradation were investigated in montmorillonite-catalyzed ozonation and compared to the parent bentonite. Total BPA removal (100%) can be achieved after only 5 min adsorption on NaMt and by 15 min ozonation with all clay catalysts but without complete mineralization. The BPA degradation level was found to correlate to the ecotoxicity of the ozonized BPA mixtures, using the aquatic plant Lemna minor as a bioindicator species. Liquid chromatography revealed that BPA adsorption contributes to the ozonation process and that BPA degradation rates and ecotoxicity strongly depend on the exchangeable cation and the particle size of the clay catalyst. These factors also appear to govern the ozonation and adsorption process through catalyst dispersion in the liquid medium, with direct effects on the toxicity towards the living species. The results of the present work allow envisaging clay-based oxidative water treatments with advanced BPA removal that drastically reduce the amounts of persistent derivatives.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050265

Authors: Yugyeong Oh Miguel Enrico Robles Leehyung Kim

Various types of antibiotics used excessively in the livestock industry are often discharged into aquatic environments without being fully removed. The release of these antibiotics into natural systems causes a variety of issues, including water pollution and ecological toxicity. This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms that govern microbial growth by analyzing the behavior of antibiotics and the changes in microbial communities in a constructed wetland (CW) treating effluent from a livestock wastewater treatment plant (LWTP). The main groups of antibiotics detected in the wetland were sulfonamides and tetracyclines. While most antibiotics showed high removal efficiency in the CW, some were found to persist or accumulate in the wetland over a prolonged period. Distinct shifts in microbial community composition were observed between inflow and outflow samples, indicating that the CW functions as an ecological filter that selects for microbial taxa associated with antibiotic persistence and transformation. Bacillus belonging to the phylum Firmicutes was found to play a role in antibiotic removal as it produces various antibiotic-degrading enzymes. Moreover, the phyla Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Acidobacteria appeared to experience no growth inhibition due to antibiotics and were not directly involved in their degradation. The phylum Actinobacteria was found to possess selective degradation abilities. These findings provide insights for improving constructed wetland design by supporting microbial communities, such as Firmicutes (Bacillus) that are associated with enhanced antibiotic removal and compound-specific degradation.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050264

Authors: Peishan Yang Yu Cao Peng Zheng Ying Liu Mingxin Zhu Hua Zhou Shunlong Pan

Achieving stable partial nitritation (PN) in mainstream municipal wastewater treatment is critical for energy-efficient anammox-based nitrogen removal. However, selectively suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) while retaining ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) remains challenging. This study investigated the performance and microbial mechanisms of PN in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) under zero-pressure aeration. The results showed that zero-pressure aeration achieved a nitrite accumulation ratio (NAR) of 82.14%, significantly higher than that under constant aeration (13.2%) and intermittent aeration (53.5%). Zero-pressure aeration led to a significant increase in the fluorescence intensities of tyrosine/tryptophan protein in extracellular polymeric substances. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that zero-pressure aeration achieved a modest reduction in the relative abundance of NOB Nitrospira from 3.39% to 2.74% while increasing the relative abundance of AOB Nitrosomonas from 0.04% to 1.09%. Enzyme activity assays further showed that zero-pressure aeration significantly decreased nitrite oxidoreductase (NXR) activity while maintaining ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) activities, providing direct functional evidence for NOB suppression. Zero-pressure operation required no external air supply, representing a passive aeration strategy for PN. These results suggest that zero-pressure aeration may reshape the competition between AOB and NOB by enriching AOB and suppressing NOB, providing a new energy-efficient pathway for mainstream nitrogen removal.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050262

Authors: Mihaela Kavran Dubravka Pudar Aleksandra Ignjatović Ćupina Dušan Petrić Dragana Šunjka Sanja Lazić Nađa Kukić Sara Šiljegović Marija Zgomba

Culex pipiens is a widespread mosquito species with high ecological plasticity that thrives in urban, peri-urban and rural aquatic habitats. It is a major vector of West Nile virus (WNV), contributing to virus transmission among bird reservoirs and serving as a bridge vectorfor transmission to humans and mammals, which can result in neuroinvasive disease and fatalities. Controlling its populations reduces biting nuisance and associated economic and health burdens, making vector management essential for effective public health protection. Available methods to control this species are limited and require significant improvement because conventional strategies are often short-term, non-specific and ecologically problematic. The present study evaluated the efficacy of cyromazine granules on the Biodac carrier in laboratory, semi-field (in barrels) and field experiments (in canals). Content of cyromazine was 0.5 or 2%. Two formulations were tested: granules coated with stearate and uncoated granules. The highest efficacy was demonstrated by application of 2% cyromazine, both coated and uncoated, compared to the cyromazine with 0.5% active substance. Cyromazine showed high efficacy in the control of Cx. pipiens ranging from 85.8% to 100% in the laboratory, 68.1% to 100% in the semi-field and 48.1% to 98.8% in the field conditions (depending on the formulation applied), enabling long-lasting suppression of juvenile stages. In the laboratory, 53 days post-treatment, the residues were still present in the water. In the field experiment (in canals) the population reduction was recorded up to the 56th day post-treatment.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050261

Authors: Ebtihal Abdelfatah-Aldayyat Iván Orlando Cabeza Jairo E. Rubiano Xiomar Gómez

The transition toward low-carbon energy systems and circular economy frameworks has intensified interest in biomass and waste valorization technologies that deliver reliable energy carriers while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Among the thermo-chemical pathways, gasification has emerged as a particularly flexible and robust option for transforming biomass resources into synthesis gas suitable for power generation, hydrogen production, and synthetic fuels. This review critically examines biomass gasification as a feasible alternative for valorizing waste and producing syngas. The manuscript discusses the physicochemical characteristics of biomass, highlights its influence on syngas quality, tar formation, and cold gas efficiency. The fundamental stages of the gasification process and the effects of different operating parameters were systematically reviewed. Special attention was given to the challenges posed by low-quality biomass, such as sewage sludge, digestates, and manures, which are characterized by high-ash content and high moisture levels. Syngas energy content reported across different experiences was usually around 4–5 MJ/m3 when operating with low-quality biomass, resulting in lower efficiencies than those reported for lignocellulosic biomass (around 30–70%, expressed as cold gas efficiency (CGE)). Current small-scale commercial gasification technologies were also reviewed, with emphasis on operational constraints. This review provides an integrated perspective on the operational challenges associated with low-quality biomass gasification and discusses technological pathways to enhance process efficiency and salability. Although biomass gasification cannot yet be regarded as a fully mature technology across all feedstocks, it nonetheless constitutes a technically significant pathway for strengthening energy system resilience and advancing the production of sustainable fuels within a net zero carbon framework.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050260

Authors: Elias Afif Rubén Forján

Modern society is currently facing two pressing environmental crises: the systemic loss of fertile, healthy soil due to various forms of degradation and the escalating generation of diverse waste streams [...]

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050259

Authors: Jhoreene A. Julian Fibor J. Tan Benyamin Khoshnevisan Cris Edward F. Monjardin Morten Birkved Delia B. Senoro Jerome G. Gacu

Brine generated from seawater desalination presents significant environmental challenges due to its high salinity and pollutant content, particularly when discharged without adequate treatment. While advanced brine treatment systems offer opportunities for resource recovery and pollution reduction, they often involve increased energy and material demands, creating trade-offs between environmental benefits and resource consumption. This study integrates Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the freshwater sustainability of circular brine treatment systems under different process configurations. The framework is applied to four treatment scenarios, including variations in precipitation agents (NaOH and Ca(OH)2) and the inclusion of calcination processes, and compared with a reference scenario representing direct brine discharge. The results show that the blue water footprint is primarily driven by indirect water use associated with energy consumption, while pollutant loads influence the grey water footprint. Although advanced scenarios increase gross water demand, significant reductions are achieved through avoided water contributions from resource recovery and internal water reuse. Among the evaluated configurations, Scenario 2 exhibits the highest total water footprint due to elevated energy and pollutant-related impacts, whereas Scenarios 3 and 4 demonstrate improved performance through enhanced recovery efficiency. The water–carbon trade-off analysis highlights that minimizing carbon emissions does not necessarily reduce water consumption, emphasizing the importance of integrated assessment. Overall, the findings demonstrate that sustainable brine treatment design requires balancing water use, pollution control, energy demand, and resource recovery. The proposed WFA–LCA framework provides a robust decision-support tool for optimizing circular brine management systems.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050258

Authors: Stanislav Frančišković-Bilinski Neven Cukrov Nuša Cukrov

To evaluate the use of the magnetic susceptibility (MS) method as a rapid screening tool for metal enrichment in the karst estuarine systems, a case study was conducted in the Krka River Estuary (Croatia). Magnetic measurements were performed on 36 surface sediment samples collected along the entire estuary, as well as in 6 sediment cores taken from areas with different sedimentological properties and/or varying levels of anthropogenic pressure. The efficacy of MS as a proxy for metal enrichment was evaluated by correlating the obtained datasets with previously published metal concentrations in the same samples, utilising statistical methods to quantify these relationships. Susceptibility values in the Krka River Estuary are generally low (mean value 0.123 × 10−3 SI), reflecting a carbonate-dominated background typical of uncontaminated karst systems, but various local anomalies (max value 0.799 × 10−3 SI) coincide with areas of metal enrichment previously linked to industrial and port activities. Correlation and multivariate analyses show that, despite a low overall magnetic signal, elevated MS can successfully detect hotspots with increased metal levels (e.g., Pb, Mn), confirming that with careful calibration to local magnetic background values, this method provides an effective and analytically simple proxy for metal-enriched sediments in sensitive karst estuaries.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050257

Authors: Santosh Rajbanshi Maheteme Gebremedhin James C. Hower George Fouad Antonious Jacob Brown Ife Familusi

Fly ash (FA) is a coal combustion product with variable mineral composition, high alkalinity, and elevated enrichment of heavy metals (HMs) such as As, Se, Mo, Cd, and Pb. Fly ash greatly influences soil dynamics by altering soil pH, nutrient mobility, microbial activity, soil structure, and texture. This review evaluates phytoextraction as a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy for remediating FA-contaminated soils. It explores the physicochemical properties of FA, the impact of FA and associated heavy metals (HMs) on soil, the mechanisms of HM hyperaccumulation in plants, and the effectiveness of phytoextraction based on the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF). Case studies from various regions demonstrate the great potential of hyperaccumulator species to extract toxic HMs from FA-impacted soils. However, challenges such as low metal bioavailability, limited field validation, and inadequate management of contaminated biomass hinder large-scale application. Future research should focus on optimizing biomass utilization, developing comprehensive hyperaccumulator databases, and advancing genetic and policy frameworks to enhance the scalability and effectiveness of phytoextraction.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050256

Authors: John G. Bartzis Ioannis A. Sakellaris Spyros Andronopoulos Alexandros Venetsanos Fernando Martín-Llorente Stijn Janssen

Reliable and timely estimation of air pollution exposure at high spatial and temporal resolution remains challenging in complex urban environments, where pollutant concentrations vary due to traffic emissions, urban morphology, and meteorological conditions. This study presents a physics-informed machine learning framework for near-real-time estimation of NO2 concentrations at fine spatial scales. The approach combines a limited set of steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with operational meteorological and air-quality data. CFD simulations under specific wind directions are first used to characterize site-specific dispersion patterns. These outputs are then scaled using hourly meteorological observations to generate physics-based concentration descriptors. A machine learning predictor, implemented using Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting, is trained to refine these estimates by incorporating additional environmental and observational features. The method is applied to a 1 km × 1 km urban district in Antwerp, Belgium, within the FAIRMODE intercomparison framework. Validation against measurements from 105 passive samples collected over one month shows substantial improvement compared to standalone dispersion modeling, with coefficients of determination up to R2 = 0.965 and reduced bias across locations. These findings demonstrate that integrating physical modeling with machine learning enables accurate and computationally efficient high-resolution exposure assessment in urban settings.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050255

Authors: Dominika Galová Jelena Pavlović Zuzana Farkas Andrea Puškárová Mária Bučková Lucia Kraková Wei-Yu Chen Jer-Horng Wu Domenico Pangallo

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly when linked to mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and specific microbial hosts. We applied Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing using complementary contig- and read-based approaches to profile the resistome, mobilome, and host taxonomy in influent and effluent samples from WWTPs in Slovakia and Taiwan. Multidrug resistance was the dominant class in all samples, reaching 40.29–60.06% in Taiwanese and 20.00–35.56% in Slovak WWTPs, followed by MLS and tetracycline resistance. These differences reflect country-specific inputs: Taiwanese WWTPs receiving hospital effluent showed higher multidrug resistance, while Slovak WWTPs, fed by municipal and agricultural wastewater, were dominated by tetracycline resistance and Aliarcobacter cryaerophilus. In Taiwan, Acinetobacter baumannii carried multiple ARGs, including msrE and the regulatory gene ompR, co-localized with MGEs on plasmid- and chromosome-associated contigs. Clinically important Enterococcus faecium (Taiwan) and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (Slovakia), both WHO-priority pathogens, were identified as hosts for MLS and multidrug resistance genes co-localized with MGEs. These findings suggest that integrating contig- and read-based long-read analyses improves ARG compartmentalization, MGE co-localization, and host assignment in wastewater environments beyond either approach alone.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050254

Authors: Jasmina Rinkovec Nikolina Račić Suzana Sopčić

Platinum group elements (PGEs), especially platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh), are analyzed as emerging airborne contaminants in urban environments. This study aimed to monitor the spatial and temporal distribution of PGEs in urban air and to evaluate their potential as indicators of traffic-related emissions. The paper presents a five-year monitoring of Pt, Pd, and Rh mass concentrations in airborne particulate matter collected from three urban locations (North, Center, and South) with different traffic loads in Zagreb, Croatia. Weekly samples were digested in acid under high temperature and high pressure, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). At the monitoring location South, mass concentrations of all PGEs were generally 20–40% higher than at other locations, consistent with its higher traffic density. The PGEs showed seasonal variability, with 40–60% higher mass concentrations in winter and autumn than in spring and summer. The spatial and temporal distribution of PGE mass concentrations across urban locations demonstrates their potential as indicators of traffic-related activity. Palladium mass concentrations were consistently the highest, as a result of its increased use in modern catalytic converters. These findings underscore the relevance of long-term PGE monitoring for understanding urban atmospheric pollution dynamics within changing environmental conditions.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050253

Authors: Cengiz Okay Irfan Basturk Selda Murat Hocaoglu Recep Partal Georgy Mozzhukhin Pavel Kupriyanov Bulat Rameev

The application of low-field time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) to measure water content and assess moisture-related relaxation behavior in sludge samples has been investigated. The results of TD-NMR measurements on 26 dewatered sludge samples revealed a strong correlation between sludge water content and key features of the T2 distribution curves, including the maximum relaxation time and peak area, demonstrating the potential of the TD-NMR method for estimating sludge moisture content. No consistent relationship was observed between the peaks in T2 relaxation distribution curves obtained by Inverse Laplace Transform (ILT) and the expected water fraction ratios, apparently because the sludge structure is highly variable from sample to sample. Despite the complex and heterogeneous nature of sludge samples, the direct correspondence between key features of the T2 relaxation curves and moisture content demonstrates the high potential of TD-NMR as a tool for rapid and reliable moisture monitoring, even in an online device configuration.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050252

Authors: Tijana Blanusa James Hadley Elisabeth K. Larsen Jordan Bilsborrow Mark B. Gush

Single-species hedges can help mitigate a range of urban and climate change-related issues, such as slowing stormwater flow and reducing rainfall runoff, particularly during the growing season. There is, however, little information on the service delivery of mixed hedges and their comparison to single-species, year-round, as well as on the practicality of functional rather than ornamental plant mixing. Here, we report on an initial case study to address this. Chosen hedge taxa (Crataegus monogyna, Elaeagnus × submacrophylla ‘Gilt Edge’, Ligustrum ovalifolium, Thuja plicata ‘Atrovirens’) represented a range of plant characteristics. These were trialled outdoors in Reading (SE England, UK) as treatment groupings of either single-species or mixed-species (‘evergreen’ and ‘broadleaf’ mix), along with a bare soil control, in 110 L troughs. We applied 5 min simulated rainfall onto each treatment twice in every meteorological season and assessed canopy throughfall. We also monitored substrate moisture content change as a proxy for evapotranspiration and substrate storage capacity of subsequent rainfall. During summer, the deciduous taxa and mixed hedges had the highest evapotranspiration rates, suggesting their potential to influence soil water storage, but in our experimental setup, that did not translate into significant differences in substrate moisture between treatments. During autumn and winter, the single-species Thuja treatment had the highest rainfall interception rate, followed by both mixed species treatments. In winter, canopy and leaf characteristics rather than physiological activity correlated with increased rainfall attenuation. However, by the end of the experiment (spring 2023), Crataegus, Thuja and both mixed hedge treatments had significantly lower throughfall (higher interception) compared to bare soil. We are continuing to test these treatments in a longer-term field experiment. Management of mixed-species hedges for rainfall attenuation is practically achievable, despite some differences in individual species’ growth rates and plant habits.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050251

Authors: Paulina Beatriz Gutiérrez-Martínez Blanca Catalina Ramírez-Hernández Marcela Mariel Maldonado-Villegas Sara Villanueva-Viramontes Amayaly Becerril-Espinosa Héctor Ocampo-Alvarez Elena Sandoval-Pinto Hector Leal-Aguayo Rosa Cremades

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural production is a significant public health issue in Mexico, as it directly impacts food safety and population exposure through dietary intake. Available scientific evidence indicates that vegetables and other plant-derived foods can serve as significant exposure pathways for toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, chromium, and mercury. The consumption of contaminated foods may contribute to cumulative adverse health effects, including neurological, renal, and reproductive alterations, as well as an increased risk of chronic diseases. In Mexico, risk assessment is further constrained by methodological heterogeneity across studies and by difficulties in translating scientific evidence into concrete regulatory actions. Critically, the national regulatory framework lacks specific standards establishing maximum permissible limits for heavy metals in fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains, despite their central role in the population’s diet. Regulations focus primarily on drinking water quality and selected processed foods, creating a regulatory gap in the direct control of contaminants in crops. The findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen public policies by establishing crop-specific regulatory standards, implementing systematic monitoring programs, and integrating food safety considerations more effectively into environmental, agricultural, and public health policies in Mexico.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050250

Authors: Hussaini Yusuf Norhaslinda Mohamed Tahrin Hwee San Lim

Atmospheric aerosols strongly regulate surface solar irradiance in tropical coastal environments through scattering and absorption. This study examines aerosol–irradiance interactions over Penang, Malaysia, using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations of aerosol optical depth (AOD), single scattering albedo (SSA), and extinction Ångström exponent (AE); NASA’s Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) irradiance data; and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications Version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis for aerosol compositional context. Bottom-of-atmosphere radiative forcing efficiency (BOA RFE) was quantified for global, direct and diffuse irradiance (GHI, DNI and DHI) under clear- and all-sky conditions during 2014–2018. Results show persistent aerosol-induced attenuation of surface radiation, with GHI and DNI RFE predominantly negative, while DHI RFE remains consistently positive, indicating redistribution of solar energy from direct to diffuse components. Time resolved analysis reveals daily GHI RFE typically ranging from approximately −0.5 to −3.5 W m−2 per unit AOD, with episodic excursions below −4 W m−2 per AOD during high-aerosol events, whereas DNI RFE frequently reaches values below −0.8 W m−2 per AOD, confirming its greater sensitivity to aerosol extinction. In contrast, DHI RFE commonly exceeds +5 W m−2 per AOD and intermittently surpasses +10 W m−2 per AOD, reflecting enhanced scattering and multiple-scattering effects. AOD-stratified analysis demonstrates a nonlinear weakening of forcing efficiency with increasing aerosol burden, with mean GHI RFE decreasing from approximately −1.6 to −0.4 W m−2 per AOD between low- and high-AOD regimes, accompanied by corresponding reductions in DNI (−0.35 to −0.1 W m−2 per AOD) and DHI (+3.3 to +0.8 W m−2 per AOD). Overall, aerosol loading is identified as the dominant control on BOA radiative forcing efficiency in this tropical coastal environment, while SSA and AE act as secondary modulators.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050249

Authors: Tamíris da Costa Nicholas M. Holden Daniele Costa Mateus Guimaraes da Silva

The transition toward sustainable energy systems is recognised as a complex, multi-dimensional challenge that extends far beyond the deployment of low-carbon technologies [...]

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050248

Authors: Sergio Ulgiati

As Editor-in-Chief of the journal Environments, I am pleased to announce a major step forward in how research results are reported and shared, thanks to the establishment of six new Sections in the journal [...]

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050247

Authors: Eloy Mondragón-Zarza María del Consuelo Hernández-Berriel Fredy Cuellar-Robles Elena Regla Rosa Domínguez Sylvie Jeanne Turpin-Marion Nicolás Flores-Álamo

In developing countries, final disposal sites exhibit different levels of operational control, which influence their environmental performance. This study evaluated the environmental performance of four types of final disposal sites in Mexico: sanitary landfill with energy recovery (SLF+ER) and sanitary landfill with gas flaring (SLFGF), controlled site (CS), and open dump (OD), using life cycle assessment for 1 t of municipal solid waste. Biogas generation was estimated using the Mexican Biogas Model 2.0, and Ecoinvent processes were adapted to local conditions; six impact categories were assessed, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted. The SLF+ER scenario showed the lowest impact in global warming, followed by SLFGF and CS, while OD recorded the highest impact, mainly associated with biogas management. In contrast, scenarios with gas capture and treatment showed higher contributions in categories related to combustion processes. Normalized results indicated that freshwater eutrophication and human carcinogenic toxicity are the dominant impact categories. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the influence of the organic fraction on CH4 generation without altering the relative ranking among scenarios. Overall, increasing the level of environmental control reduces impacts from fugitive emissions but introduces trade-offs across other impact categories, highlighting the need for comprehensive assessments to support decision-making.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050246

Authors: Aksorn Saengtienchai Yared Beyene Yohannes Somkiat Sreebun Yoshinori Ikenaka Shouta M. M. Nakayama Mayumi Ishizuka Usuma Jermnak

The increasing prevalence of cancer in Thailand over the past decade has resulted in a substantial rise in the use of anticancer drugs, which are eventually discharged into municipal wastewater through hospital and domestic effluents. The inability of conventional wastewater treatment systems to completely remove these pharmaceuticals has been widely reported. The continuous release of these emerging anticancer agents into aquatic environments reduces water quality and threatens biodiversity. Even at trace levels, these compounds may act as persistent pollutants capable of impairing ecosystem. This study investigated the occurrence and concentration levels of three widely used chemotherapeutic agents including cyclophosphamide (COP), doxorubicin (DOX), and vincristine (VIN) in Bangkok’s municipal wastewater to evaluate their potential environmental risks. Thirty-two influent and effluent wastewater samples were collected from eight large-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from October 2024 to January 2025. Samples were processed using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The analytical method demonstrated high precision and reproducibility, with relative standard deviations (%RSD) below the 20% acceptance limit for all compounds. Method accuracy ranged from 81.84% to 107.21%. Results showed the presence of only COP in almost influent and effluent at levels ranging from 0.26 to 2.06 µg/L. In contrast, DOX and VIN levels remained consistently below the limits of quantitation (LOQ) in all WWTP samples. This study establishes the first baseline for COP, DOX, and VIN contamination in Bangkok’s municipal wastewater. Notably, the residue of COP in wastewater suggests that current wastewater treatment facilities in Thailand are insufficient for its removal, posing a potential long-term risk to local aquatic ecosystems.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050244

Authors: Agapol Junpen Savitri Garivait Pham Thi Bich Thao Penwadee Cheewaphongphan Orachorn Kamnoet Athipthep Boonman Jirataya Roemmontri

Accurate, high-resolution emission inventories are essential for air quality modeling and policy evaluation, yet national-scale inventories for Thailand remain limited in spatial and temporal detail. This study develops a comprehensive national emission inventory for Thailand in 2019 (EI–TH 2019), covering 12 major air pollutants and greenhouse gases across key sectors, including energy, transport, industry, agriculture, waste, and residential activities. The inventory is constructed using country-specific activity data from official statistics and sectoral surveys, combined with GAINS-consistent emission factors and control assumptions. Emissions are resolved at 1 × 1 km spatial resolution and monthly temporal resolution to capture Thailand-specific emission dynamics. The results show that emissions across major pollutants are dominated by a limited number of source groups, with biomass burning and residential solid-fuel use driving particulate matter, transport dominating NOx and CO emissions, large-scale combustion and industry controlling SO2 emissions, and agriculture contributing the majority of NH3 emissions. Strong seasonal variability is observed in PM2.5, CO, and NH3, primarily driven by dry-season biomass burning, whereas NOx and SO2 exhibit relatively stable temporal patterns. The reliability of EI–TH 2019 is supported by a multi-dimensional evaluation framework. Temporal consistency is demonstrated through strong agreement between modeled PM2.5 emissions and ground-based observations, as well as between NOx emissions and satellite-derived TROPOMI NO2 (r = 0.93; ρ = 0.96). Biomass burning timing is further validated using satellite fire activity (VIIRS), showing consistent seasonal patterns. Comparisons with global inventories (EDGAR v8.1, HTAP v3.2, and GFED5.1) reveal systematic differences in sectoral contributions, temporal profiles, and emission magnitudes, particularly for biomass burning, reflecting the importance of country-specific data and assumptions. Overall, EI–TH 2019 provides a robust, high-resolution, and policy-relevant emission dataset that improves the representation of emission processes in Thailand. The results highlight key priority sectors—biomass burning, transport, industry, and agriculture—for targeted emission-reduction strategies and support applications in chemical transport modeling, exposure assessment, and integrated air-quality and climate-policy analysis.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050245

Authors: Naser F. Al-Tannak Sylvester N. Ugariogu Samya S. Alenezi Naser A. Albazzaz Ujupaul J. M. Ikezu

Kuwait experiences persistently high levels of air pollution driven by industrial emissions, transportation, oil-related activities, and frequent desert dust storms. This study aims to synthesize and critically evaluate the available evidence on the relationship between air pollution, Air Quality Index (AQI), and health outcomes in Kuwait using a guided narrative review approach. A guided literature search identified 26 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2026 about Kuwait air pollution, which were assessed for methodological characteristics, pollutant types, health outcome categories, and vulnerable populations. The most frequently examined pollutants were particulate matter (PM2.5: 69%; PM10: 38%), followed by NO2 (23%), multi-pollutant and AQI-based (19%), O3 (12%), SO2 (12%), VOCs and PAHs (8%). Health-related investigations most commonly addressed mortality and respiratory morbidity, while cardiovascular, metabolic, biomarker-based, and cancer-related outcomes were less frequently represented. Among studies reporting direct health outcomes, elevated PM2.5 exposure was generally associated with increased risks of respiratory hospitalizations, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality. Susceptible populations identified across the literature include children, older adults, individuals with pre-existing chronic conditions, and outdoor workers, who may experience higher exposure levels and greater health vulnerability. However, a substantial proportion of the included studies focused primarily on exposure characterization or pollutant modeling without direct assessment of health outcomes. These studies nonetheless indicate consistently elevated pollutant levels and seasonal variability, which may plausibly contribute to population health risks. Overall, while the available Kuwait-specific evidence suggests potential adverse health effects linked to air pollution, the strength of direct epidemiological evidence remains limited. Important gaps persist, including the scarcity of long-term cohort studies, limited multi-pollutant analyses, and insufficient integration of AQI categories with health outcomes. These limitations highlight the need for more robust and longitudinal research to better quantify health risks and inform public health policy in Kuwait.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050243

Authors: Buhle Francis Charlie Shackleton

Invasive alien species such as Lantana camara L. impact native species and soil properties, but context-specific effects in transfrontier conservation areas remain poorly understood. Understanding these effects is essential for biodiversity conservation and management. We assessed associations between L. camara presence and native woody species composition and structure, as well as soil nutrients, in protected and communal areas within the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), Zimbabwe. The study hypothesised that invasion effects on vegetation are stronger in communal areas due to higher disturbance, and that soil changes are influenced by land-use intensity. We used stratified random sampling to select 60 plots across invaded and uninvaded sites. Woody vegetation was assessed for species composition and richness, stem density, canopy cover %, height, and diameter at breast height. Soil samples were analysed for nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, and pH. The presence of L. camara was negatively associated with native species richness, density, height, and canopy cover %, with stronger effects in communal plots. Invaded plots had lower pH (e.g., 6.1 in Park areas) and higher levels of some soil nutrients, particularly phosphorus and organic carbon, though patterns varied by land-use type. These results suggest that anthropogenic disturbance amplifies invasion impacts. We conclude that L. camara reduces native vegetation diversity and structure in this species-rich transfrontier area. Management should prioritise control at communal edges to support woody species resilience, ecosystem services, and biodiversity, with strategies adapted to local land-use conditions.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050242

Authors: Sneha Ghosh Emily Sue Zak Md Alamin Carrie L. Turner James Hartrick Jeffrey L. Ram

Wastewater surveillance emerged as a critical public health tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling early detection of community-level pathogen circulation independent of clinical testing. Its ability to capture signals from both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals highlighted the importance of optimizing sampling methodologies to improve sensitivity and reliability. A key question is whether the several-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 detectability observed when using passive tampon swab sampling compared with paired grab samples also applies to other respiratory viruses, including influenza A (including its avian influenza H5N1 subtype), influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We collected 24 h passive swab samples with same-day grab samples from Detroit sewersheds, concentrated and purified nucleic acids, and using RT-ddPCR, quantified respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, and H5N1 influenza A viruses using markers RSV, SC2, InfA, InfB, and H5, respectively. Samples testing positive for H5 (marker for H5N1 influenza A) were further analyzed by targeted PCR and amplicon sequencing. Across three sites, median 24 h swab:grab ratios of virus copies were 7.0 for RSV, 9.2 for SC2, 9.9 for InfA, and 3.6 for InfB. A 239 bp hemagglutinin sequence from a sample with a strong H5 signal (795 copies/10 mL) had 100% identity to avian influenza viruses from Canada geese. Twenty-four-hour swab sampling greatly improves viral detectability across diverse targets and enabled the first confirmed detection of H5 in Detroit wastewater. Combined with magnetic bead purification, the overall sensitivity gain over conventional PEG-NaCl-Qiagen methods is approximately 36-fold, enabling earlier warning of community pathogens than grab samples. By integrating 24 hour passive swab sampling with high-efficiency nucleic acid purification, we expand the sensitivity of wastewater surveillance to enable detection and confirmation of low-abundance pathogens like avian influenza (H5).

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050241

Authors: Angela Maffia Federica Alessia Marra Santo Battaglia Carmelo Mallamaci Emilio Attinà Adele Muscolo

Agricultural soils play a dual role in the climate system, acting both as carbon sinks and natural sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which may be intensified under unsustainable management. However, the comparative effectiveness of different soil management strategies, particularly organic amendments derived from agro-industrial residues, remains insufficiently clarified. This review aims to critically synthesize current scientific evidence on soil stewardship practices for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing soil carbon sequestration. The analysis is based on a structured review of peer-reviewed literature published over the last decade, including field experiments, long-term trials, and LCA studies. Comparative insights are provided across conventional mineral fertilization, organic amendments, and circular fertilization approaches based on agro-industrial by-products. The results indicate that organic amendments such as compost, digestate, and vermicompost generally increase soil organic carbon stocks (up to +40% in long-term systems) and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint compared with mineral fertilization, although responses vary depending on soil, climate, and management conditions. The review evaluates the effects of different management practices on soil organic carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas fluxes, nutrient use efficiency, and soil biological functioning. Special emphasis is placed on the role of waste-derived fertilizers—such as composts, digestates, and vermicompost—in promoting soil carbon stabilization while reducing the environmental burden associated with synthetic inputs. Evidence consistently indicates that soil stewardship strategies grounded in circular economy principles can lower net carbon footprints, improve soil resilience, and mitigate trade-offs between productivity and climate mitigation. By framing soil management within the context of global warming mitigation, this review highlights the multifunctional role of soils as climate regulators and underscores the potential of agro-industrial waste valorization as a scalable pathway toward climate-smart and low-emission agricultural systems.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050240

Authors: Alexandr Ivaneev Anton Brzhezinskiy Vasily Karandashev Mikhail Ermolin Petr Fedotov

Nanoparticles (NPs) of urban dust can be hazardous to human health due to the possibility of a high accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), high penetration ability into organisms, and their ability to cause injury to cells, tissues, and organs. The composition of NPs of urban dust may vary during the year; however, there are so far no studies on the seasonal changes in their elemental composition and related ecological and health risks. The current work was carried out using samples of urban dust from Moscow, the largest megacity in Europe, collected in spring, summer, and autumn. It was found that NPs of urban dust are polluted by PTEs, namely W, Bi, Hg, P, S, Sn, Mo, Cu, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn. The highest pollution and ecological risks were found in NPs of urban dust collected in summer (RI = 592) as compared to autumn (RI = 399) and spring (RI = 231). The same regularity was observed for health risks. The highest possible cancerogenic risk was found in summer NPs (CTCR = 3.0 × 10−4) followed by autumn NPs (CTCR = 2.5 × 10−4) and spring NPs (CTCR = 3.5 × 10−5). However, the difference between mean values obtained for the three seasons was not statistically significant. Additionally, it was demonstrated that vehicle emissions are one of the main sources of pollution of NPs, and their intensity does not significantly change throughout the year in Moscow. The results obtained offer new insights into the regularities of seasonal variations in elemental composition, pollution, and related ecological and health risks of NPs of urban dust.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050239

Authors: Matthew Duus Ahmed S. Elshall Michael L. Parsons Ming Ye

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by Karenia brevis (K. brevis) present a persistent ecological and public health challenge across coastal Florida. Reliable bloom forecasting is critical for protecting public health, supporting coastal economies, and enabling timely management responses. This study develops a regionally integrated machine learning framework to predict weekly K. brevis bloom occurrence using environmental data from both the Peace and Caloosahatchee Rivers, combined with coastal bloom records from Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay to enhance the spatial and temporal continuity of the response record. A Random Forest classifier was trained on a multi-decadal dataset incorporating river discharge, nutrient concentrations (total nitrogen and total phosphorus), wind forcing, sea surface temperature, salinity, and sea surface height anomalies as a proxy for Loop Current variability. The model achieved strong predictive performance on a chronologically withheld test set, with an overall accuracy of ~90%, balanced accuracy of 87.6%, and ROC–AUC of 0.972, indicating strong discrimination between bloom and non-bloom conditions with high precision and recall for bloom events. Bloom timing and persistence were captured with strong agreement during ongoing bloom periods, while non-bloom conditions were identified with low false-positive rates. Feature-response analyses indicated that bloom probability increased most sharply under moderate discharge and nutrient conditions, with diminished sensitivity at higher extremes. Learning curve analysis demonstrated robust training performance and stable generalization, with validation accuracy plateauing near 84%, suggesting a data-limited ceiling on forecast skill. By aggregating nutrient inputs across multiple watersheds and integrating spatially aligned bloom observations, this study demonstrates the utility of multi-source machine learning frameworks for regional-scale HAB prediction. The results support the development of early warning tools and provide a reproducible foundation for evaluating how combined watershed loading and physical forcing are associated with K. brevis bloom occurrence in complex estuary systems with watershed and coastal coupling.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050238

Authors: Ioana-Antonia Cimpean Daniela Simina Stefan Florentina Laura Chiriac

This review examines microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, their interactions with organic pollutants (OPs), effects on organisms, and implications for human and ecological health. MPs are ubiquitous, persistent contaminants. Their small size and large surface area enhance adsorption of diverse OPs; however, the extent to which MPs influence pollutant transport, fate, and bioavailability remains highly context-dependent and is still under scientific debate. Sorption processes are influenced by polymer type, pollutant properties, environmental factors, and aging processes that increase surface reactivity, further contributing to the variability of MP–OP interactions. Detection of MPs in human tissues raises concerns about long-term health effects, including inflammatory, immune, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and endocrine responses. Despite advances in analytical techniques, challenges remain in identifying and quantifying small particles in complex matrices. This review emphasizes the need for integrated, multi-technique, and environmentally realistic studies to understand MP–OP interactions and support risk assessment. Future research should focus on standardizing methodologies, improving nano-sized particle detection, and elucidating long-term effects, including trophic transfer and potential tissue accumulation.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050237

Authors: Satoshi Soda Shimpei Goto Hiroki Eguchi Abd Aziz Amin

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are a low-energy alternative for treating dye-containing wastewater; however, the mechanisms enabling azo dye removal without external carbon supplementation remain unclear. This study demonstrates that azo dye reduction can proceed under oxic bulk conditions in CWs through vegetation-induced microscale redox heterogeneity. Lab-scale CWs planted with cattail and papyrus were evaluated for the removal of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16, monoazo) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5, diazo) at influent concentrations of 10–50 mg/L under varying ambient temperature (2–36 °C) and hydraulic retention time (1–15 days). Vegetated CWs consistently outperformed the unplanted system, achieving 60–95% removal for RO16 and up to 98% removal for RB5, whereas the unplanted CW showed substantially inferior performance, with removal efficiencies below 54% for RO16 and below 37% for RB5. Dye-decolorizing bacteria, including Priestia megaterium and Clostridium spp., were isolated exclusively under anaerobic conditions from vegetated CWs despite oxic bulk dissolved oxygen levels. The isolates did not decolorize dyes under aerobic conditions or when dyes were provided as sole carbon sources, indicating that azo dyes functioned as electron acceptors and required additional electron donors. These results suggest that vegetation promotes localized reductive microenvironments and supplies endogenous organic carbon, enabling anaerobic azo bond reduction within otherwise oxic systems. The findings indicate a mechanistic basis for plant–microbe interactions in CWs and support the design of sustainable treatment systems for dye-containing wastewater without external carbon input, particularly in warm regions. This study resolves a long-standing question of how azo dye reduction proceeds in CWs without external carbon input.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050236

Authors: Peter Grabusts Jurijs Musatovs Maksims Feofilovs Nidhiben Patel Mara Zeltina Luca Adami Francesco Romagnoli

In the context of green energy, the use of lake reeds is becoming an increasingly important factor. Therefore, research into the availability of reeds, determining their area in lakes, predicting the potential biomass volume and calculating the carbon footprint are important. Currently, there have been no significant research results on the availability of reeds and the assessment of the sustainability of reed products in Latvia. However, these aspects are crucial for the development of reed products, as they help to assess their market potential and environmental impact. The main goal of this work is to develop a method for modeling the distribution of lake reeds in order to predict their availability in the future, which would allow assessment of the volume of biomass and its impact on the environment. This research develops an integrated GIS–LCA framework that combines Sentinel-2 satellite data, machine learning-based classification, biomass estimation, and carbon footprint modeling. Using Lake Cirma as a case study, the classification results show that reed stands occupy 2.18–3.51 percent of the lake area in certain years, corresponding to approximately 1158–1861 tons of biomass. The framework enables quantification of harvesting potential while considering ecological constraints that limit annual extraction to approximately 50% of total biomass. The proposed GIS–LCA framework provides a replicable methodology for assessing reed biomass availability and environmental performance across lake ecosystems. It supports evidence-based decision-making for sustainable reed resource management and contributes to the development of low-carbon bioeconomy pathways in line with EU climate and bioeconomy strategies.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050234

Authors: Daria Russo Sara Tunesi Antonio Giampiero Russo

Extreme heat is a major weather-related cause of death and is expected to intensify in European cities. We quantified Milan-specific temperature–mortality relationships, defined impact-based heat thresholds around the minimum mortality temperature (MMT) and identified vulnerable subgroups using individual-level risk factors. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study including 2230 natural deaths among Milan residents aged ≥75 years occurring between 15 July and 15 September 2022. The MMT (29 °C) was used as the reference temperature [odds ratio (OR) = 1], and mortality risks were evaluated across high-impact (1.20 < OR ≤ 1.50, ≥35 °C) maximum temperature (Tmax) days. Compared with MMT days, mortality was higher on high-impact days (OR 1.44), with somewhat larger estimates among adults aged ≥85 years (OR 1.63) and men (OR 1.50). Disability (OR 1.51) and socioeconomic deprivation (OR 1.89) were also associated with higher vulnerability, with relatively higher estimates observed in women aged ≥85 years and in men with comorbidities or living alone. Overall, the findings suggest that extreme heat may have had a greater impact on the oldest old and on socially or clinically vulnerable groups, highlighting the possible relevance of targeted heat–health interventions and neighborhood-focused prevention strategies.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050235

Authors: Ana Emilia Navas-Ulloa Fidel Vallejo Diana Yánez Jorge Nei Brito César Ayabaca-Sarria Angélica Tirado-Lozada Diego Venegas-Vásconez

This study examines the evolution of the scientific literature on mining and heavy metals, with a particular focus on biosanitary risks associated with childhood exposure. The research integrates a systematic literature review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology, combined with a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications, international epidemiological data, and an evaluation of the socio-environmental context in Ecuadorian mining regions. The PRISMA-based screening process was applied to identify, filter, and select relevant peer-reviewed studies, enabling the delimitation of a focused corpus of literature, with particular attention given to scientific contributions produced by Latin American researchers and institutions. The results reveal a significant concentration of knowledge production among a limited number of countries and institutions, the dominance of English as the main language of scientific communication, and the centrality of journals in environmental sciences and toxicology. While notable progress has been made in identifying contaminants and exposure pathways, governance structures, territorial disparities, and policy implementation processes remain insufficiently explored. In Ecuador, the rapid growth of mining concessions in ecologically sensitive zones presents potential threats to children’s neurocognitive development, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing surveillance, biomonitoring programs, and preventive public health measures. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening regional research capacity and fostering more equitable international scientific collaborations to ensure that knowledge production is responsive to local contexts and effectively safeguards vulnerable populations.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13050233

Authors: Georgia Sarikaki Matthaios Panou Christina Miskaki Ifigeneia Grigoriadou Georgia Dimitropoulou Ioanna Dalla Vasiliki Tsioni Themistoklis Sfetsas

Insect farming generates frass as a co-product alongside insect biomass, creating interest in its valorization within circular bioeconomy strategies and in its use as a fertilizer, soil improver, or plant biostimulant. This review adopts a claim-led framework linking product classification, composition, post-treatment, microbiological safety, environmental risks, and the evidence required to support specific agronomic claims, with particular emphasis on the EU regulatory context. Evidence from incubation, pot, greenhouse, and field studies, together with regulatory and technical sources, show that frass is a heterogeneous material whose performance depends on insect species, rearing substrate, product fraction, soil conditions, application rate, and processing history. Its relevance is increasing, particularly in regions where insect farming is expanding under established regulatory and industrial frameworks, including the European Union, North America, and parts of Asia. Across the reviewed evidence, the most scientifically and regulatorily defensible current positioning of frass is as a product-specific fertilizer or soil improver, whereas broader biostimulant or plant-protection claims require stronger product-level evidence. The review further concludes that safe and credible deployment depends on transparent characterization, appropriate hygienization and storage, contaminant screening where relevant, and claim-specific alignment with the applicable regulatory route.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040232

Authors: Jesus A. Martínez-Espinosa Gustavo Ruiz-Pulido José Navarro-Antonio Mario J. Romellón-Cerino Raquel Murillo-Ortíz Dora I. Medina Heriberto Cruz-Martínez

Graphene-based aerogels (GAs) exhibit outstanding performance in the adsorption of organic contaminants. Consequently, numerous studies have investigated the use of GAs for this purpose. In this work, the synthesis methods commonly used to produce GAs are first briefly described, and their key characteristics are summarized. Subsequently, GAs are classified according to the modifications applied to improve their adsorption properties toward organic pollutants. Furthermore, the quantitative relationships between surface area, density, surface chemistry, and adsorption performance for organic contaminants are systematically reviewed. The analysis revealed that the adsorption of two representative organic contaminants, toluene and methylene blue, is not dependent on the surface area of GAs. In contrast, GAs with lower density exhibit an improved adsorption capacity for toluene. Additionally, the relationship between the surface chemistry of GAs and their adsorption capacity toward methylene blue was analyzed considering the concentration of carboxylic sites. The available data suggests a potential correlation between the concentration of carboxylic groups on the surface of GAs and their adsorption capacity for methylene blue. This observation is supported by the analysis of methylene blue species in aqueous solution and the pH at the point of zero charge of GAs, which indicate that the interaction occurs mainly through electrostatic attractions resulting from the deprotonation of acidic surface sites. Finally, several opportunity areas and future research directions regarding the use of GAs for pollutant adsorption are discussed.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040231

Authors: Ukam Uno Worapong Singchat Thitipong Panthum Aingorn Chaiyes Ekerette Ekerette Uduak Edem Saharuetai Jeamsripong Anurak Uchuwittayakul Weekit Sirisaksoontorn Chomdao Sinthuvanich Kornsorn Srikulnath

Aquaculture sustainability in rapidly urbanizing regions is increasingly threatened by heavy metal contamination originating from complex anthropogenic land-use patterns. This study used an integrated model to evaluate the molecular-to-human health continuum in hybrid catfish (Clarias gariepinus × Clarias macrocephalus) sourced from Pathum Thani, Thailand’s primary aquaculture hub. We integrated geospatial land-use data with heavy-metal quantification, oxidative-stress biomarkers, and transcriptional profiling to assess how canal-specific water quality modulates fish health and consumer risk. The results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in metal concentrations, corresponding to the province’s 27% urban–industrial land-use footprint. While water quality generally met regulatory limits, a pronounced aqueous–biotic discrepancy, “bioaccumulation paradox” was identified at certain sites, where muscle and hepatic tissues exhibited lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) levels that substantially exceeded international safety standards. Biochemical and molecular analyses provided functional evidence of physiological distress, specifically significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the transcriptional modulation of cat, cyp1a, gpx, met, tnf, and star genes indicated that chronic metal exposure overwhelmed antioxidant defenses and induced potential endocrine disruption. Moreover, human health risk assessments revealed that the hazard index (HI) and target cancer risk (TR) exceeded unacceptable thresholds at multiple hotspots, indicating that Cr is a primary carcinogenic driver. These findings highlight a “GAP Paradox,” where farm-level certifications are insufficient to mitigate risks posed by the surrounding canal network. This study presents vital evidence-based risk profiles that necessitate a transition to a spatially based regulatory framework, incorporating geospatial land-use monitoring into national food safety policies to protect both aquaculture viability and public health.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040230

Authors: Maria Gabriela Mendonça Peixoto Gustavo Alves de Melo Denisie Ellen de Iovanna Matheus de Sousa Pereira Davi de Freitas Evangelista Francisco Gabriel Gomes Dias Rafaela Fogaça Resende

This study proposes and analyzes an integrated framework for monitoring potable water quality and laboratory effluent management in universities, with emphasis on its practical application in a Brazilian public institution. Adopting a qualitative and documentary approach, the research was based on high-impact scientific publications, institutional reports, and environmental databases. The results demonstrate that effective water and effluent governance depends on the interaction of three core dimensions: regulatory compliance, technological innovation, and institutional governance. These elements operate synergistically to ensure transparency, risk prevention, and environmental accountability. The proposed University Laboratory Water Monitoring Framework (UL-WMF) illustrates how universities can transform water control into a managerial and educational tool aligned with sustainability goals. The illustrative institutional application revealed potential for integrating Internet of Things (IoT) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) technologies into environmental management routines, reinforcing universities’ strategic role in achieving global sustainability objectives. Despite relying on secondary data, this study provides a scalable foundation for decision support systems and future empirical validation. The novelty of the University Laboratory Water Management Framework (UL-WMF) lies in its integration of potable water monitoring and laboratory effluent governance into a single operational framework, addressing a gap in the existing literature and offering a model specifically tailored to the context of universities in developing countries. The applied component of the study consists of an illustrative institutional case constructed exclusively from publicly available environmental and governance reports. This illustration serves to demonstrate the operational relevance of the proposed framework, without implying field measurements or primary data collection.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040229

Authors: Zhanar Ozgeldinova Altyn Zhanguzhina Dana Akhmetova Zhandos Mukayev Meruyert Ulykpanova Karshyga Turluybekov

Wildfires are among the key drivers of transformation in boreal ecosystems; however, the mechanisms of postfire recovery in the arid regions of Eurasia remain insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to identify the role of burn severity and associated edaphic and hydrological factors in shaping the natural regeneration trajectories of Scots pine forests in the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan. This study is based on the integration of field data on seedling regeneration and soil conditions with the analysis of long-term satellite-derived indices (NDVI, NDMI, and NBR). Sample plots were grouped according to fixed burn severity classes, which enabled a consistent statistical comparison and reduced the interpretative ambiguity that has characterized previous studies in the region. The results indicate that pine forest regeneration is most successful under low and moderate burn severity, where seed sources are preserved and favourable moisture conditions are maintained. In contrast, high burn severity leads to a reduction in regenerative potential and a shift in recovery trajectories toward deciduous or sparsely vegetated communities. The spectral indices derived from the remote sensing data strongly agreed with the field-based indicators, confirming their suitability for assessing postfire vegetation dynamics. Soil properties act as important modifying factors of recovery processes, particularly under conditions of limited water availability. These findings enhance the current understanding of postfire recovery mechanisms in the arid part of the boreal zone and highlight the need for differentiated management of postfire landscapes. The integration of field observations with remote sensing data provides a robust framework for monitoring and forecasting recovery processes under an increasingly intensified fire regime.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040228

Authors: Mohammed Hmimou Ahmed Laamrani Soufiane Hajaj Faissal Sehbaoui Abdelghani Chehbouni

Efficient soil fertility monitoring is essential for sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental management across Africa, yet conventional laboratory methods remain prohibitively costly and slow for continental-scale applications. Soil spectroscopy is considered as a rapid, non-destructive alternative with transformative potential. This review provides a systematic synthesis of spectroscopic applications across Africa, encompassing laboratory, field, airborne, and satellite-based platforms, while examining major data sources including the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) and GEO-CRADLE spectral libraries. We critically evaluate the evolution of modeling approaches, revealing that Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) dominates, but a shift toward advanced frameworks like hybrid physically based models, ensemble learning and deep neural networks is essential. Critically, we identify a pronounced imbalance wherein laboratory spectroscopy prevails while imaging and satellite-based approaches remain comparatively underutilized, despite their unparalleled potential for scaling point measurements to continental extents. The review consolidates findings on key soil properties, demonstrating consistent successes for primary constituents with direct spectral responses (i.e., organic carbon), while revealing relative uncertainty for properties inferred indirectly via covariance (e.g., available phosphorus, potassium). Despite significant local and regional progress, the absence of a standardized pan-African spectral library and the intractable transferability problem remain formidable barriers. Future research must pivot decisively toward imaging spectroscopy and satellite platforms, mitigating PLSR dominance through systematic adoption of ensemble methods, transfer learning, and model harmonization frameworks to fully operationalize these technologies in support of Africa’s sustainable development goals.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040227

Authors: Jiřina Száková Petr Maršík Michael O. Asare Zolboo Nguyen Klára Nejdlová Pavel Klouček Pavel Tlustoš

Medicinal plants represent important sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on human health. However, many medicinal species are ruderal plants capable of growing in soils with elevated contents of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Cd, Pb, and Zn. In addition to the potential accumulation of PTEs in plant biomass, the response of the plant metabolome—including bioactive substances with beneficial health effects—to elevated PTE levels in plants should also be considered. The potential impact of soil PTEs on the plant metabolome was investigated in three widely used medicinal plants, Taraxacum sp., Achillea millefolium, and Hypericum maculatum, sampled in an area polluted with PTEs. The total soil contents of the PTEs ranged between 7.7 and 65 mg/kg for Cd, 1541 and 3897 mg/kg for Pb, and 245 and 6553 mg/kg for Zn. A qualitative analysis of the whole plant metabolomes of the three plant species indicated close interrelationships between the selected metals and bioactive substances. Subsequently, a model pot experiment was conducted in which Taraxacum sp. plants were cultivated in three soils with stepwise increasing Cd, Pb, and Zn contents, and selected bioactive compounds were quantified. The results showed a decrease in the concentrations of some phenolic compounds in the aboveground parts of Taraxacum sp. grown in extremely polluted soil, supporting the hypothesis that stress induced by PTEs may affect the metabolic pathways of these compounds. In contrast, higher levels of phenolic compounds were observed in Taraxacum sp. roots grown in moderately contaminated soil, suggesting that milder soil contamination may activate defence mechanisms and stimulate phenolic metabolism. However, although the contents of bioactive compounds in plants indicate an improvement of the quality of these medicinal plants, the elevated element contents in the plant biomass can represent a potential risk for consumers.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040226

Authors: Angela Maffia Federica Alessia Marra Santo Battaglia Carmelo Mallamaci Emilio Attinà Adele Muscolo

The growing global food demand has increased the use of chemical fertilizers, causing environmental issues. Previous studies have often assessed waste-derived fertilizers separately in terms of soil improvement or environmental impact, with limited integration of these aspects across different recycling processes. This study evaluated the effects on soil quality and the environmental impact of fertilizers produced with different percentages of food wastes and different recycling processes. The fertilizers investigated include vermicompost (VC, 70% wood sawdust + 30% food wastes), Compost 1 (C1, 50% wood sawdust + 50% food wastes), Compost 2 (C2, 10% straw + 90% food wastes), and sulfur–bentonite (SBC, 90% SB + 10% food wastes). Six months post-fertilization, vermicompost significantly improved soil properties, increasing soil organic matter from 3.01% to 4.70% (+56%) and total nitrogen from 0.15% to 0.22%, along with an increase in microbial biomass compared to the unfertilized control. Compost treatments also improved soil quality, although to a lesser extent. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed across the entire life cycle of the fertilizers. Vermicompost showed the lowest environmental impact, with a global warming potential of 45 kg CO2 eq ton−1, compared to 93 and 100 kg CO2 eq ton−1 for C1 and C2, respectively, and 167 kg CO2 eq ton−1 for SBC. The results evidenced that vermicompost improved soil quality by increasing soil organic matter, total nitrogen, microbial biomass, and biological activity and that it emitted less CO2 eq, SO2 eq and PO43− during the vermicomposting process, emphasizing its environmental sustainability. The two composts improved soil quality with a moderate environmental impact. SBC positively affected soil properties but with a strong negative environmental impact. From the benefit–cost perspective, the sustainable fertilizer ranking was VC > C2 > C1 > SBC. These findings underscore that these waste management processes represent a possible transition to sustainable fertilizers derived from waste materials to mitigate the environmental degradation associated with the production and use of conventional fertilizers. By adopting these practices, the agricultural sector can boost productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability standards.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040225

Authors: Hossam D. Mostagab Ashraf R. Baghdady Ahmed Al-Rashid Ahmed Gad

Petroleum hydrocarbons frequently contaminate arid oilfield soils, but remediation is challenging because these soils typically contain little organic matter, retain little moisture, and are exposed to high temperatures, that hinder natural attenuation. This study evaluated indigenous bioaugmentation of an aged crude oil-contaminated sandy soil from the Burgan oilfield in Kuwait, in contrast to exogenous commercial microbial products and to natural attenuation. In a 140-day bench-scale tray study, aged crude oil–contaminated soil from the Burgan oilfield (initial TPH 2.49–4.78%, dry wt.) was treated with an enriched indigenous consortium, a commercial consortium, or no inoculum under controlled moisture, nutrient, and aeration conditions. TPH was quantified as hexane-extractable material, and degradation kinetics were evaluated using a first-order model. A statistical comparison of replicate-derived decay constants (k) was conducted using one-way ANOVA and subsequent post hoc testing. Among the replicated treatments, the indigenous consortium showed the strongest performance. In the low-TPH indigenous group, TPH removal reached 63.8 ± 3.1% and fell below 1% by day 140; at higher starting TPH, removal remained substantial but slower. Commercial inoculation was less effective and more variable, while uninoculated controls showed minimal decline. The decay constant for the indigenous (0.0053–0.0075 day−1) was much higher (p < 0.001) than those in commercial (0.0025 day−1) and natural attenuation (0.0005 day−1). Furthermore, the model fit was robust for indigenous treatments (R2 = 0.89–0.91) but weaker for commercial and uninoculated controls. The study findings demonstrate that bioaugmentation utilizing well-adapted indigenous consortia offers a statistically validated and kinetically predictable strategy for TPH remediation in desert soils.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040224

Authors: Boris L. Kozlovsky Pavel A. Dmitriev Olga I. Fedorinova Mikhail V. Kuropyatnikov Anastasiya A. Dmitrieva Mikhail M. Sereda Valeriy K. Tokhtar

Invasive plants represent a significant global threat to natural ecosystems and biodiversity. The aim of this study was to classify alien woody plants according to their invasion status based on their phenological characteristics using machine learning. Data from phenological observations of 63 tree species, including both native and alien (introduced and invasive) species, were used for the analysis. The dataset contains information on long-term (1977–2024) observations of the timing of 18 phenological phases and the duration of 6 interphase intervals. The F1-score values for identifying the ‘introduced plant’ class in the ‘Native–Introduced’ pair were 81.3%. The values of this same indicator for identifying the ‘invasive plants’ class in the ‘Native–Invasive’ and ‘Introduced–Invasive’ pairs were 85.0% and 71.2% respectively. It has been shown that the invasive status of alien tree species can be predicted based on their phenological characteristics using machine learning algorithms. It has also been shown that information on six phenological phases may be sufficient for such predictions.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040223

Authors: Markéta Škrabalová Dana Adamcová Vladimír Král

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are seldom regarded as potential sources of airborne mineral fibres, notwithstanding the possible presence of legacy asbestos-containing materials within mixed waste streams. Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibres is well established as causally associated with severe adverse health outcomes, prompting stringent regulatory measures across the European Union, most recently reinforced by Directive (EU) 2023/2668 amending Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to asbestos exposure. This study presents systematic annual monitoring of airborne mineral fibres (MinFib), including asbestos fibres (AsbFib), conducted between 2019 and 2025 at an MSW landfill in the Czech Republic. Personal air sampling targeted heavy equipment operators as the most exposed occupational group and was conducted in accordance with established occupational hygiene principles. Fibre identification and quantification were carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX) according to accredited laboratory internal standard operating procedures (SOPs). Across all monitoring campaigns, asbestos fibre concentrations remained below the analytical detection limits, including during handling of asbestos-containing materials. However, the analytical sensitivity appears to be within the range relevant to the current EU occupational exposure limit (0.01 fibres/cm3), potentially limiting the ability to identify very low-level exposures. These findings indicate that occupational exposure under routine operational conditions was below analytical detection limits, suggesting a low exposure potential. However, non-detectable results should be interpreted as method-limited rather than as indicating that exposure did not occur. Continued monitoring using more sensitive analytical approaches is therefore warranted.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040220

Authors: Orlando Vaselli Federica Meloni Jacopo Cabassi Barbara Nisi Marta Lazzaroni Francesco Bianchi Daniele Rappuoli

Mercury (Hg) decontamination in active and decommissioned mining areas is a difficult task since Hg may affect environmental matrices and man-made materials. Despite its toxicity as an inorganic form being rather limited with respect to organic compounds (e.g., methyl-Hg), severe effects to human health and ecosystems are recognized. In this work, we review the geochemical activities carried out in the last 13 years at the Abbadia San Salvatore (AbSS) mining and production area. This site belongs to Mt. Amiata (Tuscany, central Italy), which is considered the third-largest Hg-district in the world. Air, water, soil and man-made materials within the AbSS area were investigated to verify to what extent such matrices were affected by Hg contamination. The geochemical investigations are used as important tools to proceed with specific remediation operations of edifices, mining structures and machineries as well as the local groundwater system. To the best of our knowledge, restoration of decommissioned areas affected by Hg contamination at a large scale, such as the AbSS exploitation and production site, is rather uncommon. Currently, the remediation activities in the AbSS area are going on and they are expected to be concluded at the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027, when the former mining area will turn into a public archeometallurgical museum.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040222

Authors: Mirna Castro-Bello Denisse Peralta-Rojo Carlos Virgilio Marmolejo-Vega Cornelio Morales-Morales Daniel Angeles-Herrera Areli Barcenas-Nava Sergio Ricardo Zagal-Barrera Yanet Evangelista-Alcocer

Inadequate Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management constitutes a critical environmental challenge, as approximately 40% of waste reaches uncontrolled disposal sites where open-air incineration generates significant air, soil, and water pollution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the MSW Environmental Management System (EMS) in Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, Mexico, through sustainability indicators and applicable Mexican environmental regulations to identify operational and structural deficiencies that guide a comprehensive improvement in its management. The methodology comprised an analysis of the EMS via the Municipal Development Plan, the identification of environmental indicators and applicable Mexican standards, and an evaluation of the EMS through waste characterization and sustainability metrics. A sample of 208 kg was defined in accordance with standards NMX-AA-015-1985 and NMX-AA-022-1985. The results indicate a generation rate of approximately 350 tons per day (1.2 kg/capita/day), with municipal collection coverage of 70% of the territory across 24 daily routes operated by 30 vehicles. Indicators revealed a recycling rate of 4.86%, collection coverage of 79.66%, a 0% treatment rate due to the absence of composting or material recovery facilities, and 95% of waste directed to the Final Disposal Site (FDS). These findings demonstrate substantial deficiencies in the current EMS, highlighting that the systematic application of indicators is an effective diagnostic tool for identifying gaps and guiding evidence-based improvements in MSW governance.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040221

Authors: Kyriaki Kiskira Sofia Plakantonaki Dimitrios Nikolopoulos Emmanouela Sfyroera Nikitas Gerolimos Georgios Priniotakis Georgios Zakynthinos

The growing environmental impacts associated with conventional plastics and textiles have intensified interest in bio-based and circular material alternatives. This study presents a qualitative and structured literature review of the valorization of fruit and nut agricultural residues as sustainable feedstocks for biomaterials and biotextiles, with a strategic focus on Greece. Drawing on international literature, regional agricultural production data, and validated processing technologies, the review synthesizes existing evidence on residue availability, conversion routes, environmental performance, and market trends. The reviewed literature indicates that residues such as grape pomace, olive by-products, citrus peels, and nut shells have been widely reported as suitable sources of cellulose, lignin, and pectin for the development of fibers, films, and composite materials. Findings from published life cycle assessment (LCA) studies suggest potential reductions in water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and land-use intensity compared with conventional cotton and synthetic textiles, although results vary depending on system boundaries and processing conditions. The review further highlights enabling factors, technical limitations, and policy considerations relevant to the Greek context. This study provides a qualitative integrative perspective on the opportunities and constraints associated with agricultural residue valorization, identifying key research gaps and strategic directions for future development within Greece and similar Mediterranean regions.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040219

Authors: Patrícia Gomes Marta Pinheiro José Martins

Water scarcity and pollution from anthropogenic activities are major challenges, increasing the need for sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. Constructed wetlands mimic natural wetland ecosystems using macrophytes and substrates, representing a possible nature-based solution aligned with circular economy principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. So, this revision integrates recent literature, providing an overview of natural wetlands and examining the design and operation of constructed wetland systems. Also, incorporates a case study that focuses on a constructed wetland implemented at an eco-friendly dog shelter in Portugal—a unique example globally—demonstrating practical wastewater treatment and small-scale water reuse, and offering insights for sustainable management. Performance assessment based on previous work indicates that the system effectively reduces most water quality parameters to levels compliant with national and European irrigation standards. Removal efficiencies exceeded 97% for chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and turbidity, while maintaining low energy consumption and minimal maintenance. Overall, constructed wetlands emerge as a sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment systems; however, several challenges remain to be addressed. Future research should focus on improved aeration strategies, optimized substrate–macrophyte combinations, and long-term monitoring under climate variability, with floating wetlands offering promising opportunities to further enhance treatment efficiency.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040218

Authors: Ayoup M. Ghrair Saja Aldmour Mazen Ateyyat Issam M. Qrunfleh Da’san M. M. Jaradat Iyad Y. Natsheh Majd M. Alsaleh

The green synthesis of nanoparticles offers a solution to control pesticide-resistant pests while minimizing environmental and health risks. Thrips tabaci is an injurious pest that attacks garlic crops and spreads the Iris yellow spot virus. The present research was performed to evaluate the synergistic effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized by Teucrium polium with Spinosad against T. tabaci and assess their impact on garlic photosynthetic pigments. The characterization of the prepared nanoparticles was carried out by SEM, XRD, and Malvern zeta sizer. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using microdilution. Photosynthetic pigments were measured with a spectrophotometer after treating garlic cloves with four different concentrations of AgNPs and Spinosad mixture along with positive control (Spinosad) and negative control (tap water). Toxic bioassays were conducted under laboratory, greenhouse, and open field conditions. The results indicate all treatments, except for the 100% AgNPs, resulted in 100% second instar larvae and adult mortality after 72 h in the laboratory. In greenhouse conditions, the 50% Spinosad–50% AgNPs achieved 93.85% larvae mortality, and the 75% Spinosad–25% AgNPs achieved 100% adult mortality after a week. In open field conditions, the combination 50% Spinosad–50% AgNPs showed high efficacy, resulting in 65.97% mortality of larvae and 73.06% mortality of adults after 72 h. This study reveals that AgNPs have active pesticide properties against T. tabaci with minimal environmental and health risks.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040217

Authors: Eva Doménech Isabel Escriche

In the context of the One Health approach, this study assessed the environmental and human health risks posed by 21 chemical elements in soil and in food products (bee pollen, honey, and orange fruits). Data were collected from three cultivated and one uncultivated field, considering the agricultural practices employed. Findings revealed higher metal concentrations in the uncultivated field: Zn > Fe > Pb > Co > Cr > Mn > Ni > Al > Mo > P > B. No significant differences were noted for Ca, Cd, Cu, Sb, Se, and U. The geo-accumulation index indicated moderate Cu accumulation in cultivated fields. Only Hg in uncultivated soil poses a considerable risk at the 95th percentile. Orange fruits showed the lowest metal concentration, whereas bee pollen displayed the highest. In this last product, some elements are present at levels up to 10 times those in other food items, primarily Al, Fe, Zn, and Mn. The hazard quotient for non-genotoxic effects was below 1, indicating low concern. In terms of cancer risk, the levels of Pb and Cd were acceptable, while Ni in beehive products and orange fruits posed a moderate risk.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040216

Authors: Hugo Ramírez-Aldaba Estela Ruiz-Baca Miguel Ángel Escobedo-Bretado Emily García-Montiel Pablo Jaciel Adame-Soto René H. Lara

In bioleaching processes, the use of microbial consortia establishes a favourable environment that supports the growth and activity of multiple microorganisms, thereby enhancing their synergistic interactions during leaching. Mineral dissolution efficiency is consistently higher in consortia than in monocultures. Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans exhibit metabolic complementarity and synchrony, including interactions with thermophilic microorganisms. Bioleaching is typically conducted under highly acidic conditions (pH 1–2), where microorganisms utilize essential resources such as nutrients and oxygen, while tolerating elevated concentrations of heavy metals. This review aims to examine the characteristics and current applications of microbial consortia, with particular emphasis on their interactions with heavy metals, the behaviour of their exopolysaccharides (EPS) under toxic conditions, their role in bioremediation across diverse environmental systems, and their potential for industrial implementation. Microbial consortia represent a high-value biotechnological tool in both mining and environmental remediation. Their synergistic interactions enable enhanced efficiency in the bioleaching of sulphide minerals, promoting the mobilization of both economically valuable and contaminant metals, and significantly outperforming individual cultures. Consequently, microbial consortia constitute a versatile, resilient, and eco-efficient platform for metal recovery and the mitigation of environmental liabilities. This review focuses on the applications of bacterial consortia in bioleaching processes and highlights their potential for emerging and future use.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040215

Authors: Lu Liu Mengyao Wu Xuechun Wei Heli Wang Yilu Sun

Landfill leachate membrane concentrate (LLMC) is a high-salinity and high-organic wastewater stream that poses significant treatment challenges to conventional evaporation technologies. This study investigated the treatment performance and operating costs of a low-temperature atmospheric evaporation (LTAE) system for LLMC treatment under mild operating conditions. The effects of key operational parameters—including evaporation temperature (60–95 °C), pH (5–11), air–liquid mass ratio (A/L = 0.5–10), and concentration factor (CF = 5–20)—were systematically evaluated based on condensate quality parameters (UV254, CODCr, and NH3–N). Results demonstrated that the LTAE system achieved a higher concentration ratio (CF = 20) compared to the on-site mechanical vapor compression (MVC) system (CF ≈ 10). The optimal operating conditions for meeting effluent discharge standards were determined to be 70 °C, pH: 5, A/L = 5 and CF = 20. Under these conditions, the condensate contained ~5.6 mg/L NH3–N and ~91.6 mg/L CODCr, while the concentrate reached ~4200 mg/L NH3–N and ~38,000 mg/L CODCr, indicating that some organic matter and ammonia nitrogen escaped from the system and a gas scrubbing unit is recommended to minimize secondary pollution. Within the experimental range, the system achieved the highest KcA = 22,871.25 kW/(m3·°C) and the highest KdA reached 6.52 kg/m3·s. Economic analysis revealed a specific energy consumption of 110.5 kWh/t of freshwater produced. Despite the relatively high energy consumption, the LTAE system demonstrates considerable potential for the advanced treatment of high-organic wastewater, offering enhanced freshwater recovery under mild thermal conditions. This study provides theoretical and data support for the application of LTAE technology in LLMC treatment and similar challenging organic wastewater.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040214

Authors: Samantha Seiden Nikki Pearl Patrick L. Gurian Franco A. Montalto

This study investigates microclimatic variation across four environmentally and socially vulnerable neighborhoods in Philadelphia, utilizing ground-based measurements to assess urban heat (UH) and heat stress (HS). HS metrics, specifically Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and heat index (HI), were calculated from UH measurements, including dry bulb and globe temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The methodology incorporates statistical modeling to identify significant predictors of HS, with street orientation (north–south and east–west) emerging as a key determinant, while categorical shade conditions were not statistically significant. Notably, Kingsessing exhibited lower HS and a unique humidity profile, whereas temperatures in Point Breeze and Grays Ferry and Hunting Park were consistently elevated. The research demonstrates that neighborhood-scale measurements can reveal critical spatial differences in UH and HS that are helpful in customizing mitigation strategies to specific communities. The approach is adaptable for integration with public health and emergency response initiatives, supporting data-driven decision-making for local governments and community-based organizations. Although assessment of physiological metrics and sampling during peak heat periods were not possible, overall, the study provides a practical framework for addressing urban heat vulnerability and underscores the importance of context-specific, community-engaged solutions to protect at-risk populations from extreme heat impacts.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040213

Authors: Pavlos Tziourrou Evangelia E. Golia Edoardo Barbieri Maria Androudi Eleni Triantafyllidou Dimitrios Kalaronis Eleni Tsaliki

Phytoremediation is one of the most widely used techniques for the removal of heavy metal pollutants from soil. This investigation explored the effect of soil co-contamination on Cd accumulation levels in hemp. To this end, a series of experiments were carried out on Cd-contaminated Mediterranean soils, which were subsequently contaminated with different levels of additional metals (Zn, Cu and their combination). The amount of Cd accumulated in hemp plants grown in the mono- and multi-contaminated soils was determined in each case, along with the Cd distribution in the different plant parts. The results showed that Cd accumulated mainly in the roots of hemp plants, regardless of the presence or absence of Cu and Zn. Co-contamination with Zn at moderate levels resulted in antagonistic effects on Cd uptake, whereas higher Zn concentrations increased hemp’s Cd accumulation capacity. On the other hand, Cu presence resulted in a synergistic increase in Cd uptake, notably at higher levels of contamination. Both Cu and Zn presence did not significantly alter Cd accumulation patterns, suggesting that hemp remains a sustainable candidate for phytoremediation in multi-metal contaminated soils. These findings provide valuable insights regarding the potential of hemp for soil remediation, highlighting its suitability for Cd-contaminated soils, even in complex contaminated environments. In light of the ongoing accumulation of heavy metals in soil environments, the implementation of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable remediation strategies is becoming increasingly necessary and can be regarded as essential.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040212

Authors: Guodong Zheng Shengcheng Mei Yiping Wu Pengyi Cui

Industrialization has led to the substantial release of heavy metals and organic pollutants into soil and groundwater, resulting in severe contaminated site issues that pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health. This review aims to systematically review the current development status and challenges of contaminated site remediation technologies, and explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in site remediation, to provide a theoretical reference for advancing intelligent remediation. Conventional remediation technologies mainly include physical methods (e.g., solidification/stabilization (S/S), soil vapor extraction (SVE), thermal desorption, pump and treat (P&T), groundwater circulation wells (GCWs)), chemical methods (e.g., chemical oxidation/reduction, electrokinetic remediation (EKR), soil washing), and biological methods (phytoremediation, microbial remediation), along with combined strategies that integrate multiple approaches. Although these technologies have achieved certain successes in engineering practice, they still face common challenges such as risks of secondary pollution, long remediation periods, high costs, poor adaptability to complex hydrogeological conditions, and insufficient long-term stability, making it difficult to fully meet the remediation demands of complex contaminated sites. Subsequently, the potential of emerging technologies—including nanomaterial-based remediation, bioelectrochemical systems, and molecular biology-assisted remediation—is introduced. On this basis, the forefront applications of AI in contaminated site remediation are discussed, covering site monitoring and characterization, risk assessment, remedial strategy selection, process prediction and parameter optimization, material design, and post-remediation intelligent stewardship. Machine learning (ML), explainable AI (XAI), and hybrid modeling approaches have markedly improved remediation efficiency and decision-making. Looking forward, with advancements in XAI, mechanism-data fusion models, and environmental foundation models, AI is poised to drive a paradigm shift toward intelligent and precision remediation. However, challenges related to data quality, model interpretability, and interdisciplinary expertise remain key barriers to overcome.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040211

Authors: Jesús Alejandro Prieto-Amparán Gilberto Sandino Aquino-de los Ríos María Cecilia Valles-Aragón Leonor Cortés-Palacios Griselda Vázquez-Quintero César Guillermo García-González Myrna C. Nevárez-Rodríguez

Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation is a global problem affecting the environment and public health. The current landfill’s useful life is reaching its end, making new site selection a priority to guarantee proper MSW management. This research evaluated the suitability of the metropolitan area of the municipalities of Chihuahua, Aldama, and Aquiles Serdan, using Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) integrated with Multi-criteria Decision-making (MCDM) and hierarchical analysis, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to determine potential sites for new Metropolitan landfill development in a semi-arid region. Results showed that 44.7% of the areas studied present a high suitability level, while 29.52% corresponds to a very high suitability level. These areas are located mainly in the north and center zones of the Chihuahua and Aldama municipalities, with some isolated areas in Aquiles Serdan. The key selection criteria were airport distance, land slope, and proximity to the intermunicipal boundary, which enabled the identification of sites with lower environmental impact and greater technical and economic feasibility. This study demonstrates that SDSS and GIS are efficient tools for identifying potential landfill sites. The results highlight the importance of integrating technical, environmental, and social criteria into MSW management planning to achieve sustainable, efficient management in the region.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040210

Authors: Liliana Rodríguez-Flores César Camacho-López Claudia Romo-Gómez Otilio A. Acevedo-Sandoval Fernando Salas-Martínez José B. Leyva-Morales César. A González-Ramírez

Acetaminophen, more commonly known as paracetamol (APAP), is one of the most widely used analgesics and antipyretic drugs worldwide. Its presence in the environment poses a risk to the organisms it comes into contact with, which is why it has been classified as an emerging contaminant. Given its adverse effects and continuous discharge into water bodies, it is necessary to study efficient, environmentally sustainable processes for its complete removal. Denitrification is a biological process that has been studied for the biodegradation of recalcitrant compounds and certain pharmaceuticals such as 17β-estradiol and ampicillin, transforming them into harmless products such as N2 and HCO3−. In the present study, the biodegradation of 6 mg L−1 of APAP-C was evaluated through a denitrifying process. Batch experiments were conducted, achieving acetaminophen (APAP) removal efficiencies (EAPAP-C) of 83.3 ± 0.86% and nitrate removal efficiencies (EN-NO3−) of 100%. The substrates were predominantly converted into HCO3− and N2, with yields greater than 0.9, while intermediates such as NO2− were observed only transiently during the reaction. At the end of the experimental period, no secondary metabolites were detected, indicating that intermediates did not accumulate to quantifiable levels.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040209

Authors: Kamila Soares Joana Paiva Juan García-Díez Irene Oliveira Alexandra Esteves Cristina Saraiva

(1) Background: University food service establishments are complex environments, where high turnover and handling practices create conditions for microbial persistence. Food-contact surfaces (FCSs) and handlers’ hands (FHs) function as dynamic reservoirs, facilitating the circulation of contaminants within these institutional settings. This study aimed to characterise the microbiological contamination of FCSs and FHs in university food service establishments in Northern Portugal and to evaluate their role as interconnected environmental reservoirs within the indoor built environment. (2) Methods: A total of 590 samples were analysed from two universities in Northern Portugal (L1, L2), comprising 380 FCS and 210 FH samples. Aerobic colony counts (ACCs), Enterobacteriaceae, and Moulds and yeasts (MYs) were analysed according to ISO methods. FH samples were additionally screened for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. (3) Results: Overall, 35.5% of FCSs were classified as non-compliant, according to microbial criteria based on guideline values from the National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo-Jorge (INSA), with non-compliance primarily driven by elevated ACCs and MYs. Based on a Generalised Linear Model (GLM), establishment types (canteens vs. cafes) were associated with Enterobacteriaceae levels (p = 0.016), whereas ACCs and MYs were not significantly associated with district, establishment type, or functional surface category (p > 0.05). Differences between left and right hands showed small effect sizes, and location was a highly significant determinant of hand hygiene acceptability. (4) Conclusions: FCSs and FHs act as relevant contamination reservoirs in these settings. The results indicate that Enterobacteriaceae levels on FCSs differed between establishment types, while ACCs and MYs showed no significant variation across the evaluated environmental factors. Marked differences in hand hygiene acceptability between campuses support the implementation of targeted interventions, including the optimisation of cleaning and disinfection protocols, the structured training of food handlers, and the routine microbiological monitoring of surfaces and hands to improve institutional food safety.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040208

Authors: Antonio Calisi Davide Gualandris Elisa Gamalero Francesco Dondero Teodoro Semeraro Tiziano Verri

Aquaculture marks the transition from the simple activity of harvesting aquatic animal resources, carried out through the catching practices of fishing, to the farming of aquatic organisms in fresh, brackish and sea waters, carried out through human intervention aimed at increasing production. To date, research is proceeding towards expanding the range of species that can be farmed, improving the number and quality of products, and reducing the environmental impact of aquaculture activities; these efforts are supported by the improvement of our knowledge of the biology of the relevant species, the significant updating/upgrading of the rearing technologies, and the increasing awareness of the importance of water quality in optimising farming conditions. While necessarily dependent on market demand, aquaculture needs to fully leverage its environmental potential; and the relationship between aquaculture and the environment requires a system of production that combines eco-compatibility and eco-sustainability. Here, we report and analyse insights and perspectives in eco-sustainable aquaculture, spanning from sustainability and innovation processes in aquaculture to antibiotic control and aquaculture ecosystem services, in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040207

Authors: Ricardo Jiovanni Soria-Herrera Luis F. Muñoz-Mateo Margarita Hernández-Mixteco Moisés León-Juárez Addy Cecilia Helguera-Repetto Laura Gabriela Flores-Aviña Virginia A. Robinson-Fuentes Erika Beatriz Angeles-Morales Graciela Castro-Escarpulli Carlos Cortes-Penagos Jorge Francisco Cerna-Cortés

Purified water from vending machines offers consumers an alternative source of clean, safe water. However, data regarding its microbiological quality are limited, particularly concerning the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring virulence traits. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of 125 purified water samples collected from vending machines across six cities of Michoacan, Mexico. Additionally, it sought to assess the occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and characterize its antimicrobial resistance profiles and biofilm-forming capacity. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) were detected in all analyzed samples. A total of 71 (56.8%), 40 (32.0%), and 31 (24.8%) samples were positive for total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), and Escherichia coli, respectively. Among the samples, 43 (34.4%) were positive for P. aeruginosa. There were significant correlations between the presence of P. aeruginosa and AMB (rho = 0.4445; p < 0.0001), TC (rho = 0.4094; p < 0.0001), FC (rho = 0.3389; p = 0.0001), and E. coli (rho = 0.3242; p = 0.0002). Moreover, the presence of TC in purified water samples increased the risk of P. aeruginosa nearly seven-fold (odds ratio = 6.91; p < 0.001). The resistance rate among P. aeruginosa strains to the most tested antibiotics ranged from 2.3 to 16.3%, and two (4.6%) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. All P. aeruginosa strains were strong biofilm producers. Consequently, we recommend periodic maintenance of vending machines, the establishment of P. aeruginosa control protocols, and enhanced regulatory monitoring of the water vending industry.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040206

Authors: Wa Ode Uswatun Miladina Putri Harafah Muhammad Erza Aimar Rizky Herdis Herdiansyah Syifa Istighfarani

Rapid electronic waste (e-waste) accumulation poses a critical challenge for urban sustainability in emerging economies. However, few studies have examined what motivates households to actively participate in formal disposal systems, particularly in contexts where infrastructure remains limited. This study investigates the determinants of e-waste recycling intention and behavior in Surabaya, Indonesia. A total of 168 active recyclers are surveyed and analyzed using structural equation modeling and importance–performance mapping. The findings reveal that awareness of environmental consequences significantly influences both recycling intention and actual behavior. Interestingly, while the perceived cost of recycling significantly shapes residents’ intention to participate, it does not translate into a significant effect on their actual recycling behavior. Similarly, the convenience of recycling services shows no significant influence on either intention or behavior. Mediation analysis confirms that environmental awareness indirectly shapes recycling behavior through its effect on intention. These findings suggest that, among early adopters of formal e-waste recycling in a developing-country context, cognitive drivers such as awareness outweigh structural barriers like cost and convenience in shaping long-term recycling engagement. For policymakers, this underscores the importance of highlighting awareness of e-waste impacts and the benefits of proper recycling, alongside efforts to remove physical and financial barriers for broader segments of the population.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040204

Authors: Maria Taboada-Alquerque Felipe Figueroa Juan Valdelamar-Villegas Jesus Olivero-Verbel

Exposure to road traffic noise is an increasing public health concern in developing countries. However, limited research has explored its effect on children’s cognitive function in contexts with common lifestyles and socioeconomic conditions in these countries. This study aims to evaluate the association between residential outdoor traffic noise exposure in Sincelejo, Colombia, the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and the effects on cognitive functions in children with a cross-sectional deisgn. Noise levels were estimated using the CNOSSOS model and spatially linked to selective attention and working memory of children, assessed with standardized cognitive tests. Associations were estimated with logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and school characteristics and stratified by MPI. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the consistency of the associations. The results indicated a statistically significant yet weak association between a 1 dBA increase in noise levels and reduced processing speed (≤95) in selective attention tasks, particularly in the area with the highest prevalence of MPI < 50. However, sensitivity analyses did not corroborate these findings, and the observed association should therefore be interpreted with caution as exploratory and hypothesis generating.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040205

Authors: Áron Sárközy Eszter Nagy Attila Bende Ágnes Csivincsik Brigitta Bóta Gábor Nagy Melinda Kovács Tamás Tari

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silently escalating global crisis, presenting a specific challenge for the One Health approach. Landscapes can serve as reservoirs of AMR bacteria and genes, while synurban wildlife may act as vectors of bidirectional exchange. However, these species can also be utilised as sentinels of landscape AMR load. Herbivorous avian bioindicators, such as the Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), continuously sample the landscape during foraging and drinking, providing a homogenous spatial overview on the state of AMR. This study aimed to investigate the potential of this species for assessing the impact of landscape diversity on bacterial communities and their AMR patterns. Toward this objective, two spatial units of 4 km in diameter located at an upstream and a downstream section of a river, relative to a provincial town, were compared using 16 cloacal samples per site. Heterotrophic plate count techniques resulted in 60 isolates, of which 48 were identified, and 35 were tested for AMR using the VITEK 2 Compact system. The association between bacteriological findings and landscape diversity was analysed using Rényi diversity profiles. The Gram-positive/Gram-negative ratio was the only parameter that proved to be significantly different between the two study sites. The investigation detected six MDR isolates, with two methicillin-resistant phenotypes (Staphylococcus gallinarum, Mammaliicoccus lentus) and two carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates. We established that the small sample size limits drawing definitive conclusions. However, exploring the link between landscape diversity and the cultivable faecal microbiota of herbivorous birds is a promising approach for more extensive research.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040203

Authors: Patrizia Ghisellini Yanxin Liu Ivana Quinto Renato Passaro Sergio Ulgiati

Food waste prevention and reduction are some of the important initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of food systems. The global agenda of the United Nations provides a framework of targets and actions against food waste to which the European Union (EU), within the “Farm to Fork” strategy, aims to contribute. In this context, evaluating the impacts of food prevention measures is of great importance for supporting policies. This LCA analyzes the impact of classic lasagna from cradle to grave, through a generic food case study, prepared by food shops in Bologna (Northern Italy). Four scenarios are simulated, comparing the impacts of some end-of-life alternatives for the management of leftover lasagna (landfilling, composting, and redistribution with the digital application of the circular start-up “Squiseat”) versus the ideal scenario where no leftover lasagna is assumed. The results show that the preparation of classic lasagna generates non-negligible impacts on the analyzed LCA categories due to some of its ingredients, such as Bolognese sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano, and their associated production processes. For this reason, it is important to prevent classic lasagna leftovers from being wasted. The comparison of the four scenarios shows that redistribution is the scenario with the lowest impacts in all the investigated impact categories, including global warming (6.24 kg CO2 eq./kg of lasagna). The impacts are also lower than the ideal scenario due to the assumption of more sustainable means of transport. Normalization of characterized results confirms that Global Warming (GW) is only one of the most relevant impact categories in the life cycle of classic lasagna. The results have practical implications for raising awareness concerning the impacts of food production throughout the whole life cycle and the need for preserving the value of food by avoiding waste. Moreover, this study also shows that a reduction in the impact is a shared outcome that could be achieved by the joint efforts of all the stakeholders involved in the life cycle of food. In this regard, urban centers are confirmed to be important hubs of circular and more sustainable innovation. Finally, the LCA enriches the current research by investigating redistribution through the relationship of the food shop–virtual intermediate–consumer. So far, the prevalent focus of the LCA research allows us to assess the redistribution of collected surplus food from retailers and its delivery to the consumers by means of physical intermediaries and related infrastructures (e.g., food hubs, food banks, and food emporiums).

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040202

Authors: Catalin Gabriel Smarandache Madalina Irina Mitran Cristina Iulia Mitran Cristiana Cerasella Dragomirescu Gabriela Loredana Popa Andrei Alexandru Muntean Mircea Ioan Popa

In recent decades, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become an increasingly urgent public health concern. The uncontrolled use of antibiotics, along with inadequate implementation of prevention and control measures, is the primary factor contributing to this issue. The hospital environment is a major source of multidrug-resistant bacteria, and in recent years, there has been growing concern about hospital wastewater, which acts as a significant reservoir for these bacteria and their resistance genes. This situation leads to the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the environment. One particular concern is Acinetobacter, especially Acinetobacter baumannii, which has emerged as a pathogenic threat in healthcare-associated infections. This bacterium is found in high densities in hospital wastewater. Most strains of A. baumannii express resistance not only to carbapenems but also to several other classes of antibiotics, including tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides. These strains must be combated through effective measures. Bacteriophages represent a potential mitigation strategy for antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter spp. originating from hospital wastewater. This review summarizes studies from online databases regarding the identification and characterization of Acinetobacter strains in hospital wastewater worldwide, and presents progress in isolating and characterizing bacteriophages against A. baumannii found in hospital wastewater.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040201

Authors: Persi Vera-Zelada Emma Verónica Ramos-Farroñán Alexander Fernando Haro-Sarango Luis Alberto Vera-Zelada Julio Roberto Izquierdo-Espinoza Kevin Litman Florez-Tolentino Pamela Maidolly Torres-Moya Roberto Justo Tejada-Estrada Gary Christiam Farfán-Chilicaus

This study evaluates the factors associated with municipal solid waste management performance under a circular economy approach in the municipalities of Cajamarca, Peru. A hybrid analytical design was applied to 120 municipal observations, combining partial least squares structural equation modeling to estimate the measurement and structural properties of four latent constructs—legal-regulatory framework, institutional capacity, operational management, and perceived performance—and XGBoost with SHAP to explore predictive classification of participation in circular economy training. The structural results indicate that operational management plays the central articulating role in linking regulation and institutional capacity to perceived performance, whereas the predictive component showed only modest out-of-sample discrimination (AUC-ROC = 0.519). Overall, the findings suggest that the proposed hybrid pipeline is more informative for explanatory integration and variable-importance analysis than for strong predictive discrimination under the current specification.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040200

Authors: Zaniyah Ward Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi

Background: Human lead exposure is a multi-pathway phenomenon that integrates internal biological burden with persistent residential environmental reservoirs. Although individual lead metrics have been linked to cardiometabolic dysfunction, current research often fails to capture the ‘exposome’ reality of joint, nonlinear, and interaction-dependent effects on metabolic outcomes like BMI. Objectives: To evaluate associations between biological (blood and urinary) and residential dust (window and floor) lead measures and BMI, and to characterize nonlinear and interaction-dependent mixture effects using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). Methods: We analyzed data from NHANES 2001–2002, a nationally representative survey of the U.S. noninstitutionalized civilian population. Window and floor dust lead (µg/ft2) were obtained from the NHANES household dust component, and blood lead (µg/dL) and urinary lead (µg/L) were measured using standardized NHANES laboratory protocols. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. Missing data were addressed using multivariate imputation by chained equations. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression were used to estimate adjusted associations between individual lead metrics and BMI, controlling for age, gender, income, race/ethnicity, and education. BKMR was then applied to evaluate joint mixture effects, estimate univariate and bivariate exposure–response functions, and quantify relative exposure importance using posterior inclusion probabilities (PIPs). Results: In covariate-adjusted linear regression, blood lead (β = −0.485; 95% CI: −0.566, −0.405; p < 0.001) and window dust lead (β = −0.00047; 95% CI: −0.00067, −0.00026; p < 0.001) were inversely associated with BMI, whereas floor dust lead was positively associated (β = 0.258; 95% CI: 0.209, 0.306; p < 0.001). Urinary lead was inversely but not significantly associated with BMI (β = −0.111; 95% CI: −0.235, 0.013; p = 0.079). In BKMR, blood lead was the dominant contributor, with a posterior inclusion probability (PIP; proportion of iterations in which an exposure is selected) of 1.00. Window dust lead showed modest inclusion (PIP = 0.26), whereas urinary and floor dust lead were not selected (PIP = 0.00). Exposure–response functions indicated modest nonlinearity for blood lead and greater divergence for the blood lead–window dust lead pairing at higher exposure levels. The overall mixture effect declined across increasing joint exposure quantiles, crossing the null near the median and becoming increasingly negative at higher mixture levels. Conclusions: In our study, lead metrics showed heterogeneous associations with BMI, and BKMR indicated that internal lead burden (blood lead) primarily drove mixture-related BMI patterns, with evidence that window dust lead may modify mixture effects at higher co-exposure levels. These findings support evaluating multiple lead exposure pathways jointly and using flexible mixture models to capture nonlinear and interaction-dependent relationships with BMI.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040199

Authors: Jesus D. Rhenals-Julio Stiven J. Sofán-Germán Mirna P. Iriarte Jorge I. Martínez Taylor De la Vega González Jorge M. Mendoza-Fandiño

This study examines the potential of using agricultural residues for energy production in the Córdoba department of Colombia in response to the need to diversify the energy matrix and reduce inequality in energy access. The aim was to estimate and visually represent the energy potential of nine key crop residues using agricultural data from 2015 to 2018, physical-energy characterisation, and UPME and SERI models integrated into a geographic information system (GIS). A total annual generation of 2.6 million tonnes of residual biomass was identified, with Tierralta, Lorica and Montería emerging as the main generators. Although maize did not produce the largest volume of residue, it had the highest theoretical energy potential (2621 GWh/year) due to its low moisture content and high calorific value. The total theoretical energy potential of the available biomass was estimated at 4550 GWh/year, which could cover over twice the department’s electricity demand and avoid around 745 thousand tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. This study demonstrates that the strategic use of this biomass can promote a just and sustainable energy transition and proposes a replicable model combining technical and territorial analysis to inform public policy and encourage decentralised bioenergy projects.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040198

Authors: Tilemachos K. Koliopoulos Gregorio García-Fernández

Today, the risks and hazards arising from climate change should be reduced by implementing appropriate environmental strategies, health and safety standards, monitoring schemes, geoinformation utilities, and digital risk management tools for sustainable development [...]

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040197

Authors: Dinda Azizah Evi Frimawaty Ernoiz Antriyandarti

The adoption of biogas technology in smallholder livestock systems is increasingly recognized as a dual solution for rural energy transition and livestock waste management; however, actual implementation remains limited due to low community readiness, particularly driven by knowledge gaps and resource constraints. This study examines the determinants of community readiness for biogas adoption in rural Indonesia, addressing the limited attention of prior studies to readiness factors at the household level. A cross-sectional survey of 98 smallholder cattle farmers was conducted using structured questionnaires, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to identify key determinants of readiness. The results indicate generally positive perceptions toward biogas, with knowledge, prior waste processing experience, perception scores, education level, and herd size significantly influencing readiness (p < 0.05). While awareness of biogas benefits and willingness to process manure emerged as key drivers, limited technical knowledge and time and cost constraints remained major barriers, suggesting an awareness–adoption gap. These findings align with behavioral adoption frameworks, highlighting the roles of knowledge, perceived benefits, and enabling conditions in shaping adoption readiness. Policy interventions emphasizing capacity-building, financial incentives, and adaptable biogas technologies are therefore essential to support rural adoption.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040196

Authors: Silvije Davila Suzana Sopčić Gordana Pehnec Ivan Bešlić

Levoglucosan (LG), a tracer of biomass-burning air pollution, was measured in PM10 particulate matter during a year-long study at an urban background site in Zagreb, Croatia. It is known that the atmospheric lifetime of LG is not constant and undergoes degradation through reactions with hydroxyl radicals, ozone, photooxidation, etc. In this study, daily variations in LG were examined and evaluated in relation to NO2, O3, and meteorological conditions, including temperature, relative humidity, solar irradiance, UV index, and wind characteristics. The annual mean PM10 concentration was 22 µg m−3, while LG average was 0.312 µg m−3, both exhibiting pronounced seasonal variability. Elevated LG levels occurred during winter and autumn, consistent with residential wood combustion and stable atmospheric conditions, whereas markedly lower concentrations were observed in spring and summer. Moderate correlations of LG with PM10 and NO2 indicate contributions from combustion sources, while weak wind speeds and limited dispersion favored pollutant accumulation. In contrast, significant negative relationships were found between LG and ozone, temperature, and UV index. The results revealed non-linear behavior and an exponential decrease in LG with increasing oxidant levels, suggesting pseudo–first-order degradation driven by enhanced photochemical activity and hydroxyl radical formation. These findings highlight the importance of considering both emission patterns and atmospheric processing when using levoglucosan as a tracer of biomass burning in urban environments.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040195

Authors: Christian Bux Mariarosaria Lombardi Roberto Leonardo Rana Caterina Tricase

The decarbonization of agri-food supply chains represents a critical challenge and an opportunity for achieving global climate targets and Sustainable Development Goals, extending beyond pure environmental mitigation to integrated sustainability management. This study focuses on the wine industry, a major global sector with significant macroeconomic weight and substantial potential for emission reductions. Through a systematic literature review, this research maps scientific trends and identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain, from viticulture and winemaking to distribution and waste valorization. Analyzing 65 publications, this study identifies three thematic clusters: (i) agronomic and environmental practices (Cluster 1); (ii) innovation, social welfare, and corporate governance (Cluster 2); and (iii) energy transitions and methodological accounting tools (Cluster 3). The key findings highlight that while packaging and logistics remain primary emission hotspots, significant mitigation can be achieved through soil carbon sequestration, renewable energy adoption, and circular economy practices. This research contributes a cohesive set of sustainability-oriented operational strategies derived from previously fragmented technical mitigation strategies. By acknowledging that decarbonization strategies extend beyond ecological metrics, this framework address the intersecting socioeconomic and operational impacts experienced by local communities. The results reveal a disconnect between macro-level legislative frameworks, such as the European Green Deal, and micro-level operationalization. This review highlights the need for a shift toward harmonized governance and standardized metrics to reconcile competitiveness with climate stewardship.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040194

Authors: Mona A. Abdel-Fatah Ashraf Amin

Effective management of wastewater discharges requires understanding the spatial distribution of pollutants both within engineered infrastructure and in receiving environments. However, spatial data sparsity constrains comprehensive assessment. This critical review examines the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical interpolation techniques in bridging these data gaps for wastewater-derived pollutants. Moving beyond a simple compilation of methods, this paper provides a synthesizing framework that categorizes and evaluates interpolation techniques-from deterministic and geostatistical approaches to emerging machine learning (ML) and hybrid models- based on their ability to address specific challenges in wastewater systems. A key contribution is a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines, synthesizing evidence from 22 studies that directly compare interpolation methods for wastewater-relevant parameters (BOD5, COD, nutrients, heavy metals) in both engineered systems and impacted water bodies. Results indicate that machine learning methods significantly outperform traditional approaches, with a pooled 21% reduction in RMSE compared to Ordinary Kriging (95% CI: 15–27%). However, subgroup analyses reveal context dependency: ML advantages are most pronounced for organic pollutants (29% reduction) and data-rich environments (27% reduction with n > 100), while geostatistical methods remain competitive for physical parameters (8% reduction, non-significant) and data-sparse scenarios (12% reduction with n < 50). Co-Kriging achieves 15% RMSE reduction over Ordinary Kriging when auxiliary variables are available. The review explores applications in pollutant tracking, infrastructure planning, and environmental impact assessment, highlighting how integration of real-time sensor data (IoT) and remote sensing is transforming static maps into dynamic monitoring tools. Finally, a forward-looking research roadmap is presented, emphasizing hybrid modeling frameworks, digital twin integration, and improved uncertainty communication for decision support. By quantitatively synthesizing the current state-of-the-art and identifying critical knowledge gaps, this review aims to guide future research towards more intelligent, adaptive, and reliable spatial assessments of wastewater-derived pollutants.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040193

Authors: Armando Cazzetta Francesco Zangaro Francesca Marcucci Olumide Temitope Julius Marco Rainò Mahallelah Shauer Roberto Massaro Teodoro Semeraro Alberto Basset Maurizio Pinna

Transitional water ecosystems exhibit pronounced spatio-temporal variability and increasing anthropogenic pressures, posing substantial challenges for ecological monitoring and management. Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL), has emerged as a powerful framework for addressing the structural complexity of these systems. This systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies applying ML and DL to ecological research and monitoring in transitional waters. A structured search of the Scopus® database was conducted up to 31 December 2024, and studies were screened according to predefined eligibility criteria and PRISMA 2020 guidance; methodological quality was appraised using a structured assessment framework. Ninety-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Regression was the most frequent analytical task (44.1%), followed by classification (36.2%) and clustering (19.7%), with water quality monitoring representing the dominant thematic domain. Tree-based and kernel-based ML models prevailed overall, whereas DL architectures increased markedly after 2020, particularly in remote sensing and high-dimensional applications. Despite methodological heterogeneity and variable validation practices, the evidence indicates that ML and DL approaches effectively accommodate non-linearity, data heterogeneity, and scale mismatches typical of transitional waters. Standardized validation strategies and improved model interpretability remain essential for robust ecological inference and operational implementation.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040192

Authors: Snježana Herceg Romanić Ivana Jakovljević Maja Đokić Nina Bilandžić Goran Jakšić Gordana Mendaš Martina Biošić Gordana Pehnec Tijana Milićević Gordana Jovanović

The Kupa River (Croatia), a tributary of the Danube basin forming part of the Slovenian border, was heavily contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) between 1962 and 1985 due to improper handling and downstream transport via the Krupa and Lahinja rivers. This study evaluated the occurrence, interspecific distribution, and human health implications of PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish (Northern pike, Common carp, Grass carp, Pike-perch, Wels catfish, Bream, and Chub) from the Croatian Kupa River. PCB concentrations were consistently higher than PAH levels across all species. In 30% of samples, Σ6 non-dioxin-like PCBs exceeded the European Commission maximum permissible level for freshwater fish (125 ng⋅g−1 wet weight). Of the 11 PAHs analyzed, only fluoranthene and pyrene were detected. Self-Organizing Map identified distinct pollutant patterns, with chub showing the highest variability and accumulation. PCB concentrations position the Kupa River among moderately to highly impacted European freshwater systems affected by legacy industrial contamination. Health risk assessment, incorporating updated national consumption data, indicates that long-term, uncontrolled consumption of Kupa River fish may pose risks due to PCB exposure, while PAH-related risks appear negligible. These findings highlight the persistence of legacy PCB pollution and the need for integrated sediment–biota monitoring.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040191

Authors: Vanina Mitseva Tsvetelina Isheva Mila Ihtimanska Emilia Varadinova

Coal-fired power plants can adversely affect aquatic ecosystems through wastewater discharge, waste landfills, and the atmospheric deposition of toxic substances released during coal combustion. These processes degrade the water quality of nearby surface and underground water bodies. The study presents the impact of the coal-fired power plant Contour Global Maritza East 3 on the ecological status of the Sokolitsa River, reflected by changes in the composition and structure of the sensitive phytobenthos and macrozoobenthos communities and supporting environmental variables, including water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, nutrients, sulfates, calcium, and calcium carbonate hardness. Methods for monitoring and assessing the ecological status of surface water bodies compliant with European and national legislation were applied to the studied biological quality elements and key physicochemical variables. Historical monitoring data from a ten-year period, 2013–2022, together with data collected during the study in 2023 and 2024 were analyzed and evaluated. The results indicated a significant increase in most physicochemical variables downstream of the CFPP compared with the upstream site, including water temperature, conductivity, calcium carbonate hardness, calcium, sulfates and nitrogen (N) nutrients (ammonium N, nitrite N, nitrate N, total N). The ecological status of the river deteriorated, as indicated by the negatively affected aquatic habitats and the changes in the taxonomic richness and abundance of the studied organism groups.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040190

Authors: Soongil Kwon Hyewon Kim Chiung Ko Yoon-Seong Chang

This study assesses long-term structural changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity across 38 OECD member countries over the period of 2000–2020 using a multidimensional Z-score standardization framework. GHG intensity was measured using three activity-based indicators—emissions per unit of land area, per capita emissions, and emissions per unit GDP—which were then aggregated into a Composite GHG Intensity Score (GHGIS) to facilitate cross-country comparison while accounting for differences in territorial scale, demographic structure, and economic output. The results reveal substantial heterogeneity in both the level and trajectory of composite GHG intensity across OECD member states. Countries such as Sweden (ΔScore = −0.84) and Denmark (ΔScore = −0.67) demonstrated a decrease in GHGIS, reflecting relative improvements in emission efficiency, while Korea (ΔScore = +0.92) and Türkiye (ΔScore = +1.15) recorded positive shifts in relative positioning over the study period. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Israel, exhibited divergent trends across land-, population-, and GDP-based measures, highlighting the multidimensional nature of national emission structures. These findings demonstrate that relative changes in GHG intensity vary across structural dimensions and cannot be adequately characterized by single-indicator measures alone. While the analysis does not identify causal drivers of observed patterns, the standardized composite framework provides a transparent and replicable tool for examining long-term comparative shifts in multidimensional emission intensity. By applying a consistent methodology across all OECD member countries over two decades, the study contributes to comparative assessments of structural GHG intensity dynamics.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040189

Authors: Dwi Rahayu Nugraheni Dwinowo Martono Ernoiz Antriyandarti

Sustainable water use behavior in households is a crucial component in facing the impacts of climate change on water conditions, especially in urban areas and their surroundings in countries like Indonesia. This study examines household water use behavior in urban and peri-urban areas of Surabaya and Sidoarjo in Indonesia by integrating environmental spatial characteristics and using psycho-social factors. This research methodology includes statistical analysis with the aim of examining the variable in relation to household water behavior and then integrating with spatial analysis using nearest neighborhood analyses and spatial overlay with land use/land cover (LULC) and Urban Heat Island (UHI) data, doing so to identify behavioral clustering patterns and assess spatial risk distribution. The results suggest that there is generally positive orientation toward sustainable household water use among respondents. Households in peri-urban areas show better water management behavior than those in urban areas. The implications of spatial risk in urban areas are higher due to poor behavior facing high environmental pressures. On the other hand, when overlaid with clusters of well-behaved respondents, the risk of water shortages decreases, supporting climate change mitigation efforts.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040188

Authors: Carmen Díaz-López Carmen Muñoz-González Alejandro Morales-Ruiz Rubén Mora-Esteban

Schools are increasingly recognised as critical public infrastructure for urban climate adaptation, particularly in heat-vulnerable and park-poor neighbourhoods. This study examines schoolyards as distributed cooling systems, social spaces, and educational landscapes and proposes an integrated decision support approach for programme comparison and prioritisation. A comparative review of nine international schoolyard transformation programmes (Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, New York, Melbourne, and Santiago de Chile) was conducted using municipal plans, reports, and implementation guidance. Design strategies, governance configurations, and monitoring approaches were synthesised through a CAME (Correct, Adapt, Maintain, Explore) framework. Building on this synthesis, a Multicriteria Analysis framework was developed to support prioritisation across four criteria families: environmental and climatic performance, social and educational equity, urban integration and accessibility, and feasibility and co-benefits. The results highlight a recurrent toolkit of interventions—depaving, tree planting, shade provision, cool and permeable surfaces, nature-based drainage systems, and monitoring practices—that is consistently associated in the reviewed evidence with improved thermal comfort, stormwater performance, biodiversity, and community use beyond school hours. It is concluded that a combined CAME–Multicriteria Analysis structure provides a transferable basis for transparent, criteria-based prioritisation of schoolyard interventions by local governments and school authorities.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040187

Authors: Leticia Citlaly López-Teloxa Patricia Ruiz-García Alejandro Ismael Monterroso-Rivas

This study examines the dynamics of aridity in Mexico in relation to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases (El Niño, La Niña and neutral conditions) between 1999 and 2024. The aim is to identify ecosystems that are exposed to emerging aridification. Aridity was estimated using the Lang index at a resolution of 1 km across nearly two million grid cells. Aridity intensity and long-term trends were calculated and analysed by ENSO phase to identify areas of double exposure. Over 60% of Mexico is classified as arid or semi-arid. During El Niño, up to 100% of the central and southern regions exhibit increased aridity, affecting an area of 290,852 km2 (14.7%), where both the intensity and the trend are high. Although La Niña typically brings wetter conditions, 150,022 km2 (7.6%) still exhibit increasing aridity. Areas exposed to aridity under both ENSO phases cover 16,224 km2 (0.8%), particularly affecting cloud forests, secondary vegetation and agricultural landscapes. This suggests a process of persistent aridification. The average arid area was 64% ± 7.51% during El Niño, 67% ± 1.44% during La Niña and 64% ± 8.14% during neutral years, indicating substantial variability beyond phase dependence. These findings reveal a complex, non-linear ENSO influence and suggest chronic hydroclimatic stress in some regions. Understanding which ecosystems experience recurrent aridity is crucial for effective water management, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation planning.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040186

Authors: Benjamaporn Janplang Napaporn Phankamolsil Kiattisak Sonsri

Land use practices are a key driver of soil nitrogen (N) dynamics, yet their influence on N accumulation within distinct soil organic matter (SOM) fractions remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to elucidate the responses of N accrual in different SOM fractions to contrasting land uses. To achieve this purpose, soil samples were collected from seven representative land uses: forest, pasture, corn plantation, sugarcane plantation, cassava plantation, orchard, and abandoned land. Subsequently, soil samples were fractionated into free particulate SOM (fSOM), occluded light SOM (oSOM), weakly bound form SOM (wSOM), and strongly bound form SOM (sSOM) fractions, and N contents were quantified for each fraction. The results showed pronounced land use effects on both the magnitude and distribution of N among SOM fractions. The forest land use consistently promoted greater N accumulation in fSOM (0.15 g N kg−1 soil), oSOM (0.14 g N kg−1 soil), and wSOM fractions (0.29 g N kg−1 soil), reflecting high organic inputs and low disturbance intensity. The pasture land use exhibited the highest N accumulation in the sSOM fraction (1.01 g N kg−1 soil), indicating enhanced stabilization of N through strong organo-mineral associations. Intensively managed croplands and abandoned land generally displayed lower N storage across SOM fractions. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of land use in regulating N partitioning and stabilization within SOM fractions and underscore the importance of low-disturbance, perennial vegetation systems for improving long-term soil N retention.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040185

Authors: Dzheni Karadzhova Miroslav Vasilev Petya Veleva Zlatin Zlatev

This study evaluates the ability of three classification procedures to distinguish areas with different levels of atmospheric pollution, based on biomonitoring carried out by analyzing the color and spectral characteristics of mulberry (Morus L.) and linden (Tilia L.) leaves. Sampling was carried out in areas that were grouped into four classes according to the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and gaseous pollutants (TVOC, NOx, SOx, CO, and eCO2), measured using a specialized multisensor device. A total of 57 informative features were analyzed, representing indices obtained from two color models (RGB and Lab), as well as from VIS and NIR spectral characteristics measured for the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. The data processing methodology includes feature selection using the ReliefF method and a comparative analysis between two approaches to dimensionality reduction—principal components (PC) and latent variables (LV). The results indicate that data reduction using PC provides significantly higher accuracy and better class separability, regardless of the classifier used, compared to LV, where errors exceed 40%. The comparison between classifiers shows a clear superiority of nonlinear models. While linear discriminant analysis demonstrates low efficiency, quadratic discriminant analysis (Q and DQ) and SVM with radial basis function (RBF) achieve high accuracy of class separability, reaching 100% in the SVM-RBF model for both tree species. The study also reveals functional asymmetry: the adaxial side of the leaves is more informative for spectral indices, while the abaxial side is more sensitive to color changes. The results confirm that the combined optical characteristics obtained from the leaf surface of bioindicators form a reliable method for ecological monitoring of air quality in urban areas.

Environments doi: 10.3390/environments13040184

Authors: Maria-Emanuela Mihailov Alina-Daiana Spinu Alexandru-Cristian Cindescu Luminita Buga

This study examines the hydro-sedimentological–radioecological controls governing the distribution of natural (K-40, Ra-226, Th-232) and anthropogenic (Cs-137) radionuclides in surface sediments of the western Black Sea shelf. Activity concentrations were determined by high-resolution gamma spectrometry, and radiological indices—including radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external hazard index (Hex), and annual effective dose (AED)—were calculated to evaluate environmental safety. All indices remained well below internationally accepted thresholds, confirming the absence of radiological hazard in both coastal and offshore settings. Strong correlations between Ra-226 and Th-232 indicate dominant lithogenic control of natural radionuclides, whereas Cs-137 exhibits geochemical decoupling consistent with its behavior. A significant relationship between the fine-grained sediment fraction (<63 µm) and Cs-137 activity highlights the grain size effect, with offshore depositional zones acting as sediment-focusing areas where Cs-137 and excess Pb-210 co-accumulate under low-energy hydrodynamic conditions. Despite localized offshore enrichment, dose contribution analysis shows that natural radionuclides dominate the absorbed-dose budget, while Cs-137 contributes only marginally. Spatial predictive modeling using Artificial Neural Networks, validated under a Spatial Leave-One-Group-Out framework, yielded moderate generalization capacity (R2 = 0.61 for Ra-226; R2 = 0.41 for Cs-137), reflecting smoother spatial gradients of lithogenic radionuclides than heterogeneous radiocesium deposition. Furthermore, Machine Learning algorithms provided significant analytical value: a Random Forest (RF) model successfully classified environments (nearshore/shelf/depositional basin) based on distinct radionuclide signatures. At the same time, an optimized Artificial Neural Network (ANN-GA) enabled the nonlinear reconstruction of radiometric–granulometric patterns to identify local anomalies. The results show that radionuclide distributions are primarily structured by sediment provenance, grain size sorting, and hydrodynamic energy gradients rather than ongoing anthropogenic inputs.