Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2025.101400
Farhad Hossain , Janifar Hakim Lupin , Md. Mahin Uddin , Md. Yousuf Gazi , Md. Zillur Rahman , A. S. M. Maksud Kamal
Rapid urbanization in developing countries often leads to elevated transportation infrastructure, yet the localized thermal impacts of such linear developments remain understudied. This research provides critical insight into how Dhaka’s newly constructed elevated metro rail (MRT Line-6) disrupts the urban thermal balance, acting as a heat corridor through the city. Using high-resolution satellite data (2015–2023), we quantify a 3–5.5°C rise in Land Surface Temperature (LST) along the metro route, driven by vegetation removal and heat-absorbing concrete structures. Spatio-temporal analysis reveals peak LST (36°C in 2020) during intensive construction, while the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) shows expansion of extreme Urban Heat Island (UHI) zones from 29.5% (2015) to 33.8% (2023). A reversal in the NDVI-LST relationship from negative (cooling by vegetation) to positive (warming by impervious surfaces) highlights the strong thermal influence of the metro corridor. Climatic data indicate that land-cover modification associated with metro construction played a dominant role in the observed temperature anomalies, while broader urban processes likely contributed to background warming. These findings underscore the need to address linear infrastructure as a distinct contributor to UHI effects. We recommend targeted mitigation strategies (e.g., green roofs, vertical vegetation) to offset thermal impacts. This integrated approach connects the link between rising heat and infrastructure, providing an applied roadmap for designing more sustainable and climate-resilient transport systems in one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.
{"title":"Impact of elevated transportation infrastructure on urban thermal environment in Dhaka Megacity, Bangladesh","authors":"Farhad Hossain , Janifar Hakim Lupin , Md. Mahin Uddin , Md. Yousuf Gazi , Md. Zillur Rahman , A. S. M. Maksud Kamal","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid urbanization in developing countries often leads to elevated transportation infrastructure, yet the localized thermal impacts of such linear developments remain understudied. This research provides critical insight into how Dhaka’s newly constructed elevated metro rail (MRT Line-6) disrupts the urban thermal balance, acting as a heat corridor through the city. Using high-resolution satellite data (2015–2023), we quantify a 3–5.5°C rise in Land Surface Temperature (LST) along the metro route, driven by vegetation removal and heat-absorbing concrete structures. Spatio-temporal analysis reveals peak LST (36°C in 2020) during intensive construction, while the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) shows expansion of extreme Urban Heat Island (UHI) zones from 29.5% (2015) to 33.8% (2023). A reversal in the NDVI-LST relationship from negative (cooling by vegetation) to positive (warming by impervious surfaces) highlights the strong thermal influence of the metro corridor. Climatic data indicate that land-cover modification associated with metro construction played a dominant role in the observed temperature anomalies, while broader urban processes likely contributed to background warming. These findings underscore the need to address linear infrastructure as a distinct contributor to UHI effects. We recommend targeted mitigation strategies (e.g., green roofs, vertical vegetation) to offset thermal impacts. This integrated approach connects the link between rising heat and infrastructure, providing an applied roadmap for designing more sustainable and climate-resilient transport systems in one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2025.101391
Kizito Ngowi , Min Ji , Hanyu Ji , Zequn Liu , Pengfei Song
Large-scale infrastructure corridors in developing regions face mounting environmental constraints as hydrological stress intensifies and climate variability accelerates, underscoring the need for diagnostic, spatially explicit risk assessment tools. To address this critical gap, this study implements an enhanced, uncertainty-bounded geospatial framework to quantify environmental liabilities along Tanzania’s three principal development axes—the Central Corridor, Standard Gauge Railway, and Mtwara Corridor—over 2019–2024. The analysis integrates multi-temporal Sentinel-2 MSI, MODIS NDVI, and CHIRPS precipitation datasets to construct a validated Standardized Water Stress Index (WSI) derived from anomaly-based MNDWI Z-scores and independently verified against the Standardized Precipitation Index (Spearman’s ρ = –0.62, p < 0.001). A diagnostic Composite Climate Resilience Index (CRI) developed through PCA (KMO = 0.84; cumulative variance = 81.0 %) enables decomposition of dominant vulnerability drivers. Findings show that 42.1 % (95 % CI: 40.2–43.8 %) of transport infrastructure and 50.0 % (95 % CI: 47.9–52.1 %) of new urban expansion (1810 ha) lie within high water-stress zones (WSI > 0.80), indicating substantial exposure to hydrological deficits. Temperature Stability (35.0 % ± 2.8 %) and Precipitation Consistency (28.0 % ± 2.4 %) were identified as the principal determinants of climate resilience, generating marked regional disparities (CRI range: 0.45–0.75). All workflows were implemented in Google Earth Engine and Python, with full reproducibility ensured through a permanently archived DOI. The study introduces a scalable pre-development screening protocol linking hydrological reliability and climatic stability to infrastructure viability, delivering actionable diagnostics for climate-sensitive planning, targeted adaptation, and SDG-aligned development in data-limited regions.
{"title":"Geospatial assessment of environmental liabilities: Water stress and climate resilience along Tanzania's Belt and Road Initiative Corridors","authors":"Kizito Ngowi , Min Ji , Hanyu Ji , Zequn Liu , Pengfei Song","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large-scale infrastructure corridors in developing regions face mounting environmental constraints as hydrological stress intensifies and climate variability accelerates, underscoring the need for diagnostic, spatially explicit risk assessment tools. To address this critical gap, this study implements an enhanced, uncertainty-bounded geospatial framework to quantify environmental liabilities along Tanzania’s three principal development axes—the Central Corridor, Standard Gauge Railway, and Mtwara Corridor—over 2019–2024. The analysis integrates multi-temporal Sentinel-2 MSI, MODIS NDVI, and CHIRPS precipitation datasets to construct a validated Standardized Water Stress Index (WSI) derived from anomaly-based MNDWI Z-scores and independently verified against the Standardized Precipitation Index (Spearman’s ρ = –0.62, <em>p</em> < 0.001). A diagnostic Composite Climate Resilience Index (CRI) developed through PCA (KMO = 0.84; cumulative variance = 81.0 %) enables decomposition of dominant vulnerability drivers. Findings show that 42.1 % (95 % CI: 40.2–43.8 %) of transport infrastructure and 50.0 % (95 % CI: 47.9–52.1 %) of new urban expansion (1810 ha) lie within high water-stress zones (WSI > 0.80), indicating substantial exposure to hydrological deficits. Temperature Stability (35.0 % ± 2.8 %) and Precipitation Consistency (28.0 % ± 2.4 %) were identified as the principal determinants of climate resilience, generating marked regional disparities (CRI range: 0.45–0.75). All workflows were implemented in Google Earth Engine and Python, with full reproducibility ensured through a permanently archived DOI. The study introduces a scalable pre-development screening protocol linking hydrological reliability and climatic stability to infrastructure viability, delivering actionable diagnostics for climate-sensitive planning, targeted adaptation, and SDG-aligned development in data-limited regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101391"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A seasonal, multi-index examination of surface water quality was performed for the Mekong River at the Thailand-Lao transboundary section in Nakhon Phanom Province, utilizing six internationally recognized Water Quality Indices such as MRC-WQIal, PCD-WQI, NSF-WQI, CCME-WQI, BIS-WQI, and EU-WQI. The monitoring period showed that the Mekong River always had good oxygen levels (DO = 7.48–8.77 mg/L), which shows that it has a strong ability to clean itself. However, pronounced nutrient amplification during the dry season became the primary ecological control, with ammonium levels rising from 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.27–0.39 mg/L, nitrate levels from 0.23 to 0.32 to 1.86–1.95 mg/L, and total phosphorus levels from 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.43–0.48 mg/L, surpassing eutrophication thresholds by nearly threefold. Microbial contamination exhibited an inverse seasonal trend, with total coliforms reaching their zenith in the wet season (1.69–1.90 × 10⁴ MPN 100 mL⁻¹) because of storm runoff and diffuse fecal loading, subsequently experiencing a 5–6-fold reduction in the dry season. The assessment of heavy metals revealed that most elements had low concentrations. However, cadmium consistently exceeded international safety limits, resulting in hazard quotients as high as 6.67 and dominating the overall ecological risk index. There was a big difference between the WQI frameworks. Ecological indices (MRC-WQIal and CCME-WQI) showed a clear change from good to very good quality in the wet season to bad to marginal quality in the dry season. On the other hand, general-use indices (PCD-WQI, NSF-WQI, BIS-WQI) still rated the river as good to very good, showing that single-index interpretation can hide a lot of risk. The Mekong River has two types of seasonal risks right now: wet-season microbial contamination and dry-season phosphorus-driven eutrophication. There is also a constant risk of cadmium. These results show reliable transboundary river management and early warning of ecological degradation in the Lower Mekong Basin, which need integrated, multi-index, seasonally resolved frameworks.
{"title":"Multi-index evaluation of surface water quality at the transboundary section of the Mekong River: A case study of Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand","authors":"Torpong Kreetachat , Saksit Imman , Nopparat Suriyachai , Nathiya Kreetachat , Sukanya Hongthong , Kowit Suwannahong , Panarat Phadee , Athicha Janthakhot , Surachai Wongcharee","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A seasonal, multi-index examination of surface water quality was performed for the Mekong River at the Thailand-Lao transboundary section in Nakhon Phanom Province, utilizing six internationally recognized Water Quality Indices such as MRC-WQI<sub>al</sub>, PCD-WQI, NSF-WQI, CCME-WQI, BIS-WQI, and EU-WQI. The monitoring period showed that the Mekong River always had good oxygen levels (DO = 7.48–8.77 mg/L), which shows that it has a strong ability to clean itself. However, pronounced nutrient amplification during the dry season became the primary ecological control, with ammonium levels rising from 0.03 to 0.04 to 0.27–0.39 mg/L, nitrate levels from 0.23 to 0.32 to 1.86–1.95 mg/L, and total phosphorus levels from 0.04 to 0.06 to 0.43–0.48 mg/L, surpassing eutrophication thresholds by nearly threefold. Microbial contamination exhibited an inverse seasonal trend, with total coliforms reaching their zenith in the wet season (1.69–1.90 × 10⁴ MPN 100 mL⁻¹) because of storm runoff and diffuse fecal loading, subsequently experiencing a 5–6-fold reduction in the dry season. The assessment of heavy metals revealed that most elements had low concentrations. However, cadmium consistently exceeded international safety limits, resulting in hazard quotients as high as 6.67 and dominating the overall ecological risk index. There was a big difference between the WQI frameworks. Ecological indices (MRC-WQIal and CCME-WQI) showed a clear change from good to very good quality in the wet season to bad to marginal quality in the dry season. On the other hand, general-use indices (PCD-WQI, NSF-WQI, BIS-WQI) still rated the river as good to very good, showing that single-index interpretation can hide a lot of risk. The Mekong River has two types of seasonal risks right now: wet-season microbial contamination and dry-season phosphorus-driven eutrophication. There is also a constant risk of cadmium. These results show reliable transboundary river management and early warning of ecological degradation in the Lower Mekong Basin, which need integrated, multi-index, seasonally resolved frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101414"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Limited access to piped water infrastructure has made drinking water quality a critical public health concern in many developing countries, including Indonesia. In densely populated urban areas of Greater Jakarta, households within the Ciliwung Watershed continue to rely heavily on groundwater sources that are vulnerable to chemical and microbiological contamination. This study comprehensively assessed drinking water quality, performed a screening-level environmental health risk assessment, and evaluated household awareness and preventive capacity in the Ciliwung Watershed. Water samples were collected from four locations representing upstream, midstream, and downstream sections of the watershed and analyzed for chemical parameters (Mn, NO3-, Fe, and Zn) and microbiological indicators (total coliforms). A screening-level environmental health risk assessment was performed following the US EPA framework, considering ingestion and dermal contact exposure pathways. Household risk perception and vulnerability were evaluated using the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) questionnaire. The results showed that levels of Mn, NO3-, and total coliforms exceeded WHO guideline values at multiple sites, with the highest levels observed downstream, indicating cumulative urban influences on groundwater quality. In contrast, Fe and Zn concentrations remained low and within acceptable limits across all sites. Comparative analysis revealed that well water contained significantly higher levels of Mn, NO3-, and total coliforms than piped water, but not levels of Fe and Zn. Although contaminant concentrations were generally lower in piped water, ingestion remained the dominant pathway of potential health risk concern. While households demonstrated high awareness of water-related risks, preventive capacity differed between well-water and piped-water users. These findings underscore the need for integrated interventions combining risk communication, improved water quality monitoring, and expanded access to safe water in urban watershed settings.
{"title":"Drinking water quality, environmental health risk assessment, and household perceptions of preventive capacity in the Ciliwung Watershed, Indonesia","authors":"Fitri Kurniasari , Bambang Wispriyono , Sifa Fauzia , Ghina Labibah , Alfian Fauzi Firdaus , Masashi Kato","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Limited access to piped water infrastructure has made drinking water quality a critical public health concern in many developing countries, including Indonesia. In densely populated urban areas of Greater Jakarta, households within the Ciliwung Watershed continue to rely heavily on groundwater sources that are vulnerable to chemical and microbiological contamination. This study comprehensively assessed drinking water quality, performed a screening-level environmental health risk assessment, and evaluated household awareness and preventive capacity in the Ciliwung Watershed. Water samples were collected from four locations representing upstream, midstream, and downstream sections of the watershed and analyzed for chemical parameters (Mn, NO3-, Fe, and Zn) and microbiological indicators (total coliforms). A screening-level environmental health risk assessment was performed following the US EPA framework, considering ingestion and dermal contact exposure pathways. Household risk perception and vulnerability were evaluated using the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) questionnaire. The results showed that levels of Mn, NO3-, and total coliforms exceeded WHO guideline values at multiple sites, with the highest levels observed downstream, indicating cumulative urban influences on groundwater quality. In contrast, Fe and Zn concentrations remained low and within acceptable limits across all sites. Comparative analysis revealed that well water contained significantly higher levels of Mn, NO3-, and total coliforms than piped water, but not levels of Fe and Zn. Although contaminant concentrations were generally lower in piped water, ingestion remained the dominant pathway of potential health risk concern. While households demonstrated high awareness of water-related risks, preventive capacity differed between well-water and piped-water users. These findings underscore the need for integrated interventions combining risk communication, improved water quality monitoring, and expanded access to safe water in urban watershed settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101416"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cyanide contamination from industrial and mining effluents poses a serious environmental and public health risk. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and parametric optimization of copper-modified low-silica X (Cu-LSX) zeolite for efficient cyanide ions (CN⁻) removal. The adsorbent was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and copper ion exchange, and characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The results show that Cu-LSX possesses a higher surface area (432.1 m²/g) than unmodified LSX (285.2 m²/g), along with improved porosity, stability, and a preserved crystalline structure. SEM image confirmed the formation of a porous morphology, which is suitable for adsorption. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm analysis for CN⁻ on the Cu-LSX zeolite showed that the Langmuir model (R² = 0.9975) provided a slightly better fit than the Freundlich model (R² = 0.9930). This suggests that CN⁻ adsorption proceeds predominantly via monolayer coverage on a homogeneous surface, indicating the Langmuir isotherm as the more appropriate model for describing the adsorption process. Optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) (central composite design (CCD)) revealed an optimal CN⁻ removal efficiency of 96.7 %. The two-factor interaction (2FI) model provided the best fit (R² = 0.997), confirming the reliability of the predictions. These findings demonstrate that Cu-LSX zeolite is a robust, high-capacity adsorbent with significant potential for industrial wastewater treatment applications.
{"title":"Synthesis, characterization, and response surface methodology-based parametric optimization of copper-modified LSX zeolite for efficient cyanide ion removal","authors":"Leta Dereje Wilessa, Abdi Nemera Imana PhD, Abdisa Jabesa PhD, Gadissa Tokuma Gindaba","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cyanide contamination from industrial and mining effluents poses a serious environmental and public health risk. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and parametric optimization of copper-modified low-silica X (Cu-LSX) zeolite for efficient cyanide ions (CN⁻) removal. The adsorbent was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and copper ion exchange, and characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The results show that Cu-LSX possesses a higher surface area (432.1 m²/g) than unmodified LSX (285.2 m²/g), along with improved porosity, stability, and a preserved crystalline structure. SEM image confirmed the formation of a porous morphology, which is suitable for adsorption. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm analysis for CN⁻ on the Cu-LSX zeolite showed that the Langmuir model (R² = 0.9975) provided a slightly better fit than the Freundlich model (R² = 0.9930). This suggests that CN⁻ adsorption proceeds predominantly via monolayer coverage on a homogeneous surface, indicating the Langmuir isotherm as the more appropriate model for describing the adsorption process. Optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) (central composite design (CCD)) revealed an optimal CN⁻ removal efficiency of 96.7 %. The two-factor interaction (2FI) model provided the best fit (R² = 0.997), confirming the reliability of the predictions. These findings demonstrate that Cu-LSX zeolite is a robust, high-capacity adsorbent with significant potential for industrial wastewater treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101385"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-14DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2025.101392
Carel Johannes Kriek , Thia Hennessy , John Quinn , Fiona Thorne
The climate and biodiversity crises have prompted most industries to adopt nature-positive actions that support ecosystem functioning and decarbonisation. This shift is prominent in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, particularly multinational alcoholic beverage companies, where regulatory pressure, capital markets, and consumer demand have accelerated efforts to engage suppliers on sustainability. This paper assessed the environmental and economic performance of spring barley suppliers to a global alcoholic beverage company (BC) in Ireland as a case study. To understand performance variability, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide national context, spring barley farmers supplying the BC in Ireland were compared with a nationally representative sample in 2020 and 2023. Estimates of emissions per euro of output and per tonne of spring barley were produced to support the BC’s understanding of its Scope 3 emissions. BC supplying farms outperformed national farms economically, with higher output and margins. The BC farmers had higher total emissions in 2020, decreasing by 2023, resulting in improved emissions efficiency, with BC farms emitting less per euro of output, whilst national farms increased. Synthetic fertiliser emissions were the highest source of emissions for both years. Differences between the years in emissions and economic performance highlight the environmental and economic volatility farmers face in the tillage industry. Our study produces emission efficiency metrics useful to F&B companies, highlights the importance of harmonised data and verification methods for companies wishing to improve sustainability performance. Our findings support F&B companies in working more effectively with suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions accountably.
{"title":"A comparative analysis of farm-level economic and greenhouse gas emissions performance: A case study of an alcoholic beverage company’s suppliers in Ireland","authors":"Carel Johannes Kriek , Thia Hennessy , John Quinn , Fiona Thorne","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The climate and biodiversity crises have prompted most industries to adopt nature-positive actions that support ecosystem functioning and decarbonisation. This shift is prominent in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, particularly multinational alcoholic beverage companies, where regulatory pressure, capital markets, and consumer demand have accelerated efforts to engage suppliers on sustainability. This paper assessed the environmental and economic performance of spring barley suppliers to a global alcoholic beverage company (BC) in Ireland as a case study. To understand performance variability, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide national context, spring barley farmers supplying the BC in Ireland were compared with a nationally representative sample in 2020 and 2023. Estimates of emissions per euro of output and per tonne of spring barley were produced to support the BC’s understanding of its Scope 3 emissions. BC supplying farms outperformed national farms economically, with higher output and margins. The BC farmers had higher total emissions in 2020, decreasing by 2023, resulting in improved emissions efficiency, with BC farms emitting less per euro of output, whilst national farms increased. Synthetic fertiliser emissions were the highest source of emissions for both years. Differences between the years in emissions and economic performance highlight the environmental and economic volatility farmers face in the tillage industry. Our study produces emission efficiency metrics useful to F&B companies, highlights the importance of harmonised data and verification methods for companies wishing to improve sustainability performance. Our findings support F&B companies in working more effectively with suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions accountably.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101392"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-25DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2026.101444
Peyman Karami , Sajad Tavakoli , Mina Esmaeili
Environmental pressures demand effective habitat conservation through systematic, long-term monitoring of key ecological indicators. In this study, seasonal averages of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were derived from MODIS data (2003–2024) and categorized into winter, spring, summer, and autumn. LST data were downscaled using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) with NDVI, while the Vegetation Health Index (VHI)—a drought indicator—was analyzed.
Long-term seasonal trends and seasonal anomalies were identified using the Mann-Kendall test (95 % significance) and median absolute deviation, with the Elbow method quantifying anomaly extents. Seasonal cycles were further evaluated by comparing standardized Z-score values, and long-term microclimate patterns were characterized through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of time-series VHI, LST, and topographic variables. Additionally, Random Forest Regression (RFR) assessed the influence of environmental factors on microclimate fluctuations.
Findings reveal that increasing summer and autumn LST trends affected 4314.78 and 2761.12 km² of suitable habitat, with 58 and 33 population cores exhibiting rising trends, respectively. Fall is warming up, and southern demographics are experiencing rising trends in LST and VHI. Notably, LST and VHI anomalies covered smaller habitat areas than overall LST trends, with the sharpest long-term seasonal shifts observed from winter to autumn. RFR results indicate that these microclimates are primarily driven by topography-related factors, including the Compound Topographic Index and openness measures.
Our integrated analysis of vegetation and temperature trends offers a robust framework for conservation planning by pinpointing habitats most vulnerable to climate-induced changes.
{"title":"Facing climate change complexity: microclimate and distribution range dynamics revealed by long-term monitoring of the kaiser mountain newt (Neurergus kaiseri) in Iran","authors":"Peyman Karami , Sajad Tavakoli , Mina Esmaeili","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental pressures demand effective habitat conservation through systematic, long-term monitoring of key ecological indicators. In this study, seasonal averages of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were derived from MODIS data (2003–2024) and categorized into winter, spring, summer, and autumn. LST data were downscaled using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) with NDVI, while the Vegetation Health Index (VHI)—a drought indicator—was analyzed.</div><div>Long-term seasonal trends and seasonal anomalies were identified using the Mann-Kendall test (95 % significance) and median absolute deviation, with the Elbow method quantifying anomaly extents. Seasonal cycles were further evaluated by comparing standardized Z-score values, and long-term microclimate patterns were characterized through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of time-series VHI, LST, and topographic variables. Additionally, Random Forest Regression (RFR) assessed the influence of environmental factors on microclimate fluctuations.</div><div>Findings reveal that increasing summer and autumn LST trends affected 4314.78 and 2761.12 km² of suitable habitat, with 58 and 33 population cores exhibiting rising trends, respectively. Fall is warming up, and southern demographics are experiencing rising trends in LST and VHI. Notably, LST and VHI anomalies covered smaller habitat areas than overall LST trends, with the sharpest long-term seasonal shifts observed from winter to autumn. RFR results indicate that these microclimates are primarily driven by topography-related factors, including the Compound Topographic Index and openness measures.</div><div>Our integrated analysis of vegetation and temperature trends offers a robust framework for conservation planning by pinpointing habitats most vulnerable to climate-induced changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101444"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2026.101433
Tomiwa V. Oluwajuwon, Robin L. Chazdon, Liz Ota, Nestor Gregorio, John Herbohn
Assisted natural regeneration (ANR) offers a promising strategy to restore native vegetation after deforestation or severe degradation. However, limited studies have evaluated its ecological impacts, especially across growth stages and incorporating broader ecological attributes. This study assessed ANR outcomes in two regions of the Philippines and examined the roles of remnant vegetation, topography, and soil on native vegetation recovery. We established 50 plots of 0.05 ha across two study sites (Bohol – 20 and Zambales – 30), equally divided between ANR (with weeding and firebreaks implemented in 2017) and adjacent natural regeneration areas of similar history but without ANR interventions (UNR). We sampled woody vegetation across three size classes (i.e., seedlings, saplings, and trees) to compare ecological metrics between treatments after controlling for environmental covariates, and used fixed-effects models to evaluate environmental and landscape drivers of recovery. Within 7 years of recovery, ANR generally promoted more recruitment of endemic, native, zoochorous, and secondary species, whereas UNR plots recruited more exotic and pioneer species. However, effects on species diversity, composition, forest structure, and biomass were strongly site-dependent: ANR effects were strong and positive across all size classes in Bohol but weak, inconsistent, or absent in Zambales. Multivariate analyses further revealed that remnant tree density was the strongest environmental/landscape predictor of forest recovery in Bohol, whereas distance to forest fragments was the strongest predictor in Zambales. Soil variables and aspect affected specific ecological metrics in both sites. While trees and saplings responded predictably to different environmental factors, seedlings exhibited more stochastic relationships in both sites. Our findings show that low-cost ANR interventions, such as firebreaks and grass removal, can enhance native tree species diversity, biomass, and structure of degraded forests, but their effectiveness varies with biotic legacies, abiotic conditions, and landscape contexts. It may take longer for positive outcomes of ANR to emerge in harsher environments. Restoration planning and monitoring should consider these factors to ensure ANR effectiveness and promote long-term forest resilience.
{"title":"Early ecological outcomes of assisted natural regeneration are strongly site-dependent: Evidence from the Philippines","authors":"Tomiwa V. Oluwajuwon, Robin L. Chazdon, Liz Ota, Nestor Gregorio, John Herbohn","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101433","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assisted natural regeneration (ANR) offers a promising strategy to restore native vegetation after deforestation or severe degradation. However, limited studies have evaluated its ecological impacts, especially across growth stages and incorporating broader ecological attributes. This study assessed ANR outcomes in two regions of the Philippines and examined the roles of remnant vegetation, topography, and soil on native vegetation recovery. We established 50 plots of 0.05 ha across two study sites (Bohol – 20 and Zambales – 30), equally divided between ANR (with weeding and firebreaks implemented in 2017) and adjacent natural regeneration areas of similar history but without ANR interventions (UNR). We sampled woody vegetation across three size classes (i.e., seedlings, saplings, and trees) to compare ecological metrics between treatments after controlling for environmental covariates, and used fixed-effects models to evaluate environmental and landscape drivers of recovery. Within 7 years of recovery, ANR generally promoted more recruitment of endemic, native, zoochorous, and secondary species, whereas UNR plots recruited more exotic and pioneer species. However, effects on species diversity, composition, forest structure, and biomass were strongly site-dependent: ANR effects were strong and positive across all size classes in Bohol but weak, inconsistent, or absent in Zambales. Multivariate analyses further revealed that remnant tree density was the strongest environmental/landscape predictor of forest recovery in Bohol, whereas distance to forest fragments was the strongest predictor in Zambales. Soil variables and aspect affected specific ecological metrics in both sites. While trees and saplings responded predictably to different environmental factors, seedlings exhibited more stochastic relationships in both sites. Our findings show that low-cost ANR interventions, such as firebreaks and grass removal, can enhance native tree species diversity, biomass, and structure of degraded forests, but their effectiveness varies with biotic legacies, abiotic conditions, and landscape contexts. It may take longer for positive outcomes of ANR to emerge in harsher environments. Restoration planning and monitoring should consider these factors to ensure ANR effectiveness and promote long-term forest resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101433"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2026.101405
Alexandria E. West , Paul A. Moore
A prevalent source of sensory pollution in freshwater ecosystems is recreational motorboats, that impacts freshwater fish through several mechanisms. Auditory and visual sensory disturbances are of particular importance as fish use these cues during critical reproductive behaviors such as parental care. To understand how sensory noise disrupts behavior, we conducted a field-based study to examine how auditory noise and visual cues impact smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) parental care behaviors. Smallmouth bass were exposed to two sequential treatments: auditory noise and visual disturbances. During auditory disturbances, smallmouth bass were exposed to playback noise recordings, while during visual disturbances smallmouth bass were exposed to a solid object moving in their visual field. Each disturbance treatment consisted of three phases: a five-minute pre-disturbance phase, a one-minute disturbance exposure phase and a five-minute post-disturbance phase. Our findings indicate bass were most aggressive during the pre-visual disturbance phase (p = 0.02) and spent more time swimming off the nest after both auditory and visual disturbances (p = 0.017). Further, bass altered their behavioral repertoire. During and immediately following a visual disturbance, smallmouth bass increased percentage of time spent stationary on the nest (37 % and 46 %, respectively) compared to the pre-disturbance phase (32 %). Conversely, when exposed to auditory disturbances, bass increased time spent swimming off the nest (72 %) compared to the pre-disturbance phase (50 %). Our results demonstrate that visual and noise disturbances affect smallmouth bass behaviors differently. This suggests an integrated approach must be considered to truly understand the impact of motorboat activity.
{"title":"Comparative effects of auditory and visual disturbances on parental care behaviors of smallmouth bass","authors":"Alexandria E. West , Paul A. Moore","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A prevalent source of sensory pollution in freshwater ecosystems is recreational motorboats, that impacts freshwater fish through several mechanisms. Auditory and visual sensory disturbances are of particular importance as fish use these cues during critical reproductive behaviors such as parental care. To understand how sensory noise disrupts behavior, we conducted a field-based study to examine how auditory noise and visual cues impact smallmouth bass (<em>Micropterus dolomieu</em>) parental care behaviors. Smallmouth bass were exposed to two sequential treatments: auditory noise and visual disturbances. During auditory disturbances, smallmouth bass were exposed to playback noise recordings, while during visual disturbances smallmouth bass were exposed to a solid object moving in their visual field. Each disturbance treatment consisted of three phases: a five-minute pre-disturbance phase, a one-minute disturbance exposure phase and a five-minute post-disturbance phase. Our findings indicate bass were most aggressive during the pre-visual disturbance phase (p = 0.02) and spent more time swimming off the nest after both auditory and visual disturbances (p = 0.017). Further, bass altered their behavioral repertoire. During and immediately following a visual disturbance, smallmouth bass increased percentage of time spent stationary on the nest (37 % and 46 %, respectively) compared to the pre-disturbance phase (32 %). Conversely, when exposed to auditory disturbances, bass increased time spent swimming off the nest (72 %) compared to the pre-disturbance phase (50 %). Our results demonstrate that visual and noise disturbances affect smallmouth bass behaviors differently. This suggests an integrated approach must be considered to truly understand the impact of motorboat activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101405"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-07DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2025.101387
Abubakar Umar , Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi
Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) poses heightened radiological risks in tropical and subtropical ecosystems due to environmental conditions that enhance its mobility. Yet, a diagnostic bibliometric analysis of 38 empirical studies (2005–2024) reveals that knowledge production is shaped by epistemic asymmetry rather than ecological need. We find a reactive research agenda, thematic overemphasis on soil systems, and a stark productivity–impact decoupling: Brazil and India produce 60 % of studies but receive only 22 % of citations, reflecting systemic inequities in visibility and authority. High-risk regions including Malaysia and Central Africa remain absent from authorship and discourse. These patterns constrain the validity of region-specific risk assessments. We propose three evidence-based shifts: (1) IAEA-coordinated tropical-specific radioecological protocols; (2) targeted funding for underrepresented ecosystems; and (3) equitable international collaboration through co-leadership and open data sharing. All data are publicly archived (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17529451).
{"title":"Global imbalances in tropical Cesium-137 bioaccumulation research: A PRISMA-guided bibliometric assessment of geographic and methodological disparities","authors":"Abubakar Umar , Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) poses heightened radiological risks in tropical and subtropical ecosystems due to environmental conditions that enhance its mobility. Yet, a diagnostic bibliometric analysis of 38 empirical studies (2005–2024) reveals that knowledge production is shaped by epistemic asymmetry rather than ecological need. We find a reactive research agenda, thematic overemphasis on soil systems, and a stark productivity–impact decoupling: Brazil and India produce 60 % of studies but receive only 22 % of citations, reflecting systemic inequities in visibility and authority. High-risk regions including Malaysia and Central Africa remain absent from authorship and discourse. These patterns constrain the validity of region-specific risk assessments. We propose three evidence-based shifts: (1) IAEA-coordinated tropical-specific radioecological protocols; (2) targeted funding for underrepresented ecosystems; and (3) equitable international collaboration through co-leadership and open data sharing. All data are publicly archived (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17529451).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}