Journal of Environmental Management最新文献

Geothermal energy has expanded rapidly worldwide, but declining reservoir pressures pose a challenge to its long-term sustainability. Supplementing reservoirs with surface water offers a potential solution. However, the environmental and operational impacts of such injections remain poorly understood, limiting effective management strategies. In this study, we developed a multiphysics modeling framework integrating heat transfer, fluid flow, and geochemical reactions to simulate the hydrochemical and porosity evolution in geothermal reservoirs under transient surface water injection. We identified distinct thermal, hydraulic, hydrochemical, and porosity influence zones around the injection well and quantified their spatiotemporal evolution. Results revealed time-dependent expansion of impact zones, shifts between dominant mineral dissolution and precipitation regions, changes in water quality, and accumulation of carbonate scales that reduced porosity by up to 0.03 % within 0.15 m of the well. These insights can guide water source selection, injection management, and production strategies, improving injection efficiency while mitigating clogging risks. This study provides a framework for assessing environmental and operational consequences of surface water injection in geothermal reservoirs, supporting sustainable geothermal resource management.

Malodorous gas emissions present a major constraint to the widespread adoption of composting technologies. In this study, a lab-scale simulated composting system was used to evaluate the effects of different carbonaceous additives on the emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) during tomato straw composting. Compared with the control, rice husk biochar, acid-modified rice husk biochar, and a lignin-based resin reduced NH₃ emissions by 32.84%, 54.23%, and 42.89%, respectively. However, their effects on H₂S emissions varied: acid-modified rice husk biochar and lignin-based resin reduced emissions by 12.78% and 31.35% respectively, but pristine rice husk biochar instead increased them by 18.18%. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the acid-modified biochar utilized acidic surface functional groups to chemically immobilize NH₃ while enhancing porous adsorption of H₂S. The lignin-based resin exhibited a synergistic effect, suppressing both gases through combined adsorption and microbial activity modulation, thereby emerging as the most effective additive for simultaneous reduction of NH₃ and H₂S. This research provides theoretical basis for selecting efficient and environmentally benign deodorants in composting and offers a practical framework for their application in agricultural waste management.

Decomposition of crop residues plays a vital role in carbon (c)- and nitrogen (N)- cycling. This study assessed the decomposition and N-release dynamics of maize and wheat residues using a nylon mesh-bag method under eight integrated crop management practices (ICMPs) in a long-term (2014-24) maize-wheat cropping rotation. In the CA-based ICMPs:_5-8, maize residues were surface-retained, while in the CT-based ICMPs:_1-4, the residues were incorporated. Residue decomposition and N-release followed first-order kinetics, modeled using accumulated thermal time (ATT). At 150 days (2736 °C ATT), CA-based plots retained 56.3-71.4% (maize) and 37.3-56.4% (wheat) more residue biomass than CT. The N-release from surface-retained residues was 32-38% and 33.1-38.4% lower in maize and wheat, respectively than to incorporated residues. After 365 days, N-release was reduced by 24.4-31% (maize) and 26-30.8% (wheat) under surface retention. Surface residue (SR) retention delayed residue-derived N release in CA-based ICMPs:_5-8 despite higher crop N uptake, creating an early-season (30-90 d) N synchrony gap. Although SR supplied more N later in the season, early N limitation was evident compared with soil incorporation under CT-based ICMPs:_1-4. The CA practices increased NO₃^--N in 0-15 cm soil by 29.4-44.4% (maize) and 26-33% (wheat) at flowering. However, N-use efficiency (NUE) improved by 16-19% (maize) and 6.3-10.2% (wheat), while N uptake rose by 75.7-88.2% and 65-74.5%, respectively. Moreover, the plots maintained for the CA-based ICMPs led to the ∼19.3-20.4% (maize) and ∼14% (wheat) increased grain yields compared to the CT. Thus, the surface retention of residues with a wider carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, such as maize and wheat can improve the soil health through slower decomposition rates, thereby positively impacting the soil N-dynamics and sustaining the long-term crop productivity.

Microplastics (MPs) are becoming a ubiquitous global contaminant, with impacts on ecosystems and human well-being worldwide. As such, this review aims to consolidate the current state of knowledge in relation to MPs pollution, describing: sources; transport pathways and fate; impact on biota; environmental sampling techniques, technologies and methods for quantification; issues surrounding regulation; and research priorities within the various environments investigated (marine, freshwater, terrestrial and atmospheric). Rivers represent a significant pathway for MPs into the oceans, with an estimated 1.15-2.41 million metric tons of plastic debris entering the oceans annually through riverine systems. The review highlights the influence of microplastics on ecosystem processes, such as reduced carbon fixation by marine phytoplankton (up to 20 % reductions in photosynthesis rates). We also discuss the potential consequences of microplastics for climate change, documenting tentative evidence of microplastic-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The review analyses, in a critical manner, alternative protocols for removing microplastics and new technologies, including advanced filtration and nanomaterials, with examples of performance enhancement, scaling-up capacity, and environmental impact. Notwithstanding these advances, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the long-term ecological and health impacts of these particles, underscoring the critical importance of harmonized methods, interdisciplinary research, and an integrated global strategy to address this emerging challenge.

With European Union initiatives mandating gender quotas on corporate boards, a key question arises: Is greater board gender diversity (BGD) associated with better emissions performance (EP)? To answer this question, we examine the influence of BGD on EP across a sample of European firms from 2016 to 2022. Using panel regressions, advanced machine learning algorithms, and explainable AI, we reveal a non-linear relationship. Specifically, EP improves with BGD up to an optimal level of approximately 35 %, beyond which further increases in BGD yield no additional improvement in EP. A minimum BGD threshold of 22 % is necessary for meaningful improvements in EP. To assess the legitimacy of EP outcomes, this study examines whether ESG controversies weaken the BGD-EP relationship. The results show no significant effect, suggesting that BGD's impact is driven by governance mechanisms rather than symbolic actions. Additionally, path analysis indicates that while environmental innovation contributes to EP, it is not the mediating channel through which BGD promotes EP. The results have implications for academics, businesses, and regulators.

Algal blooms, intensified by eutrophication, pose persistent ecological challenges in aquatic systems. This study investigated the transformation of phosphorus (P) in lake surface sediments under anaerobic conditions using microcosms amended with varying amounts of Lyngbya, a cyanobacterium, to evaluate the impact of algal biomass. Phosphorus pools were monitored via sequential extraction and microbial communities were characterized through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that higher algal biomass loadings markedly enhanced P solubilization and mineralization, leading to a significant increase in total extractable P. Sequential extraction further indicated a shift from mineral-bound P to more labile forms over time, particularly in treatments with elevated biomass loadings. Solution ³¹P NMR confirmed the dominance of orthophosphate and a decline in monoester-P, suggesting active microbial turnover of organic P. Sediment chemistry analyses revealed an increase in Fe(II) and a shift toward more reducing conditions, implying reductive dissolution of Fe minerals that may contribute to subsequent release of Fe-bound P. Microbial community analysis highlighted Firmicutes dominance after long-term sediment incubation with high algal biomass input, along with considerable enrichment of anaerobic fermenters and Fe(III) reducers within this phylum. Furthermore, predictive microbial metabolic function profiling recognized possible pathway shifts due to high biomass loading, promoting organic matter fermentation and enhancing P solubilization. Collectively, these findings underscore the role of algal detritus in reshaping sedimentary P dynamics and offer new insights into internal P cycling mechanisms that may guide eutrophication management yielding long lasting effects.

Understanding public perceptions of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in urban coastal wetland ecological restoration areas was essential for coastal resource management and sustainable development. Although social media data has been increasingly utilized to develop CES indicators, significant technical challenges remained in conducting CES assessments and analyzing the primary influencing factors intelligently, accurately, and efficiently from large volumes of textual comments. To address these challenges, this study developed two artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods-using large language models with prompt engineering-to automatically identify CES categories and associated sentiments, and to analyze the key influencing factors. Using the coastal wetland ecological restoration area in Xiamen, China, as a case study, the results indicated that recreation (31.69%) and aesthetics (23.54%) were the two most commonly perceived CES categories. The average sentiment score across the nine CES categories in all restoration areas was positive (4.0-4.6). Differences in CES perceptions among the three distinct types of restoration areas-mangroves, beaches, and bays-were minimal. Public perceptions were primarily influenced by the ecological environment, historical culture, and management practices. These findings provide targeted recommendations for improving restoration planning and sustainable management in urban coastal wetlands. This study demonstrated an innovative interdisciplinary integration of computer science and marine ecology, highlighting the advantages of AI in advancing CES research and offering a new paradigm for understanding public perception.