Pub Date : 2025-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100626
Stefania Papatheodorou , Souzana Achilleos
Sand and dust storms are frequent environmental events characterized by high winds lifting large amounts of dust, reducing visibility and affecting air quality globally. While natural sources such as deserts are the primary contributors to dust emissions, human activities like deforestation and unsustainable agriculture, compounded by climate change, significantly enhance soil erosion, increasing dust storm prevalence. These storms carry high concentrations of pollutants across large distances, posing serious health risks. This review summarizes the different health impacts of dust storms using the most recent epidemiological evidence across several regions. Recent advancements in epidemiological research can guide future research to mitigate these effects.
{"title":"Epidemiological insights into the health impacts of dust storms","authors":"Stefania Papatheodorou , Souzana Achilleos","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sand and dust storms are frequent environmental events characterized by high winds lifting large amounts of dust, reducing visibility and affecting air quality globally. While natural sources such as deserts are the primary contributors to dust emissions, human activities like deforestation and unsustainable agriculture, compounded by climate change, significantly enhance soil erosion, increasing dust storm prevalence. These storms carry high concentrations of pollutants across large distances, posing serious health risks. This review summarizes the different health impacts of dust storms using the most recent epidemiological evidence across several regions. Recent advancements in epidemiological research can guide future research to mitigate these effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100626"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147557","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 : 2025-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100627
Valeria Mardoñez-Balderrama , Néstor Y. Rojas , Andrea Pineda Rojas , S. Enrique Puliafito , María Cazorla , Thiago Nogueira , Caroline Wikuats
South American cities experience high levels of air pollution. Studies on its health impacts, however, are scarce when compared with those in wealthier regions. This review focuses on recent research on air pollution and health impacts in this continent, including studies that have been focused on vulnerable groups such as infants and children, lower-income groups, and rural and indigenous populations. Impacts of household air pollution are also discussed. South America would greatly benefit from expanded monitoring networks, improved air quality modeling, and detailed health data to better understand exposure–health relationships and multipollutant interactions.
{"title":"Health impacts of air pollution in South America: Recent advances and research gaps","authors":"Valeria Mardoñez-Balderrama , Néstor Y. Rojas , Andrea Pineda Rojas , S. Enrique Puliafito , María Cazorla , Thiago Nogueira , Caroline Wikuats","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100627","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>South American cities experience high levels of air pollution. Studies on its health impacts, however, are scarce when compared with those in wealthier regions. This review focuses on recent research on air pollution and health impacts in this continent, including studies that have been focused on vulnerable groups such as infants and children, lower-income groups, and rural and indigenous populations. Impacts of household air pollution are also discussed. South America would greatly benefit from expanded monitoring networks, improved air quality modeling, and detailed health data to better understand exposure–health relationships and multipollutant interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100627"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144134769","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 : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100625
Yuan Chang , Liping Zhang , Long D. Nghiem , Yuquan Wei
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants of critical concern, acting as substrates for microbial colonization while releasing toxic compounds. Composting, a key method for organic waste recycling, serves as a major pathway for MPs to enter agricultural ecosystems but MPs disturb decomposition processes and alter microbial successions. This review explores interactions between MPs and microbial communities in composting, focusing on plastisphere dynamics and ecological implications. Microbial strategies including biostimulation, bioaugmentation, advanced composting technologies, and innovations in synthetic biology are highlighted for mitigating MP impacts. Advanced approaches, including hyperthermophilic or mineral-supplemented composting paired with plastic-degrading microbes, are viable options in practical composting. Future research should prioritize microbial interactions in the composting plastisphere, enzyme identification, and biosynthetic pathway optimization by interdisciplinary approaches to achieve sustainable organic waste management.
{"title":"Enhanced microbial strategies to mitigate microplastic transfer via composting to agricultural ecosystems—A short review","authors":"Yuan Chang , Liping Zhang , Long D. Nghiem , Yuquan Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants of critical concern, acting as substrates for microbial colonization while releasing toxic compounds. Composting, a key method for organic waste recycling, serves as a major pathway for MPs to enter agricultural ecosystems but MPs disturb decomposition processes and alter microbial successions. This review explores interactions between MPs and microbial communities in composting, focusing on plastisphere dynamics and ecological implications. Microbial strategies including biostimulation, bioaugmentation, advanced composting technologies, and innovations in synthetic biology are highlighted for mitigating MP impacts. Advanced approaches, including hyperthermophilic or mineral-supplemented composting paired with plastic-degrading microbes, are viable options in practical composting. Future research should prioritize microbial interactions in the composting plastisphere, enzyme identification, and biosynthetic pathway optimization by interdisciplinary approaches to achieve sustainable organic waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100625"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072662","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 : 2025-04-28DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100624
Fabrizio Lisi, Gaetano Siscaro, Antonio Biondi, Lucia Zappalà, Michele Ricupero
As synthetic insecticides impair the ecosystem services provided by beneficial arthropods, bioinsecticides are gaining interest worldwide as a more sustainable approach to agricultural pest management. Although supposedly considered safe for non-target species, bioinsecticides can still have adverse effects on arthropod natural enemies. This review aims to summarise the literature of the last two years on the non-target effects of botanical and microbial bioinsecticides focussing on the evaluation of lethal and sublethal toxicity to predators and parasitoids. Essential oils show promising compatibility with parasitoids, but their effects on predators are variable. Among microbials, most of the experiments have been conducted with fungi followed by bacteria and viruses with different endpoints, resulting in a general compatibility with biocontrol agents but some results are controversial. Further laboratory studies should be carried out to improve bioinsecticide formulations. Extensive field studies are needed to assess more complex sublethal endpoints at the individual and community levels.
{"title":"Non-target effects of bioinsecticides on natural enemies of arthropod pests","authors":"Fabrizio Lisi, Gaetano Siscaro, Antonio Biondi, Lucia Zappalà, Michele Ricupero","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As synthetic insecticides impair the ecosystem services provided by beneficial arthropods, bioinsecticides are gaining interest worldwide as a more sustainable approach to agricultural pest management. Although supposedly considered safe for non-target species, bioinsecticides can still have adverse effects on arthropod natural enemies. This review aims to summarise the literature of the last two years on the non-target effects of botanical and microbial bioinsecticides focussing on the evaluation of lethal and sublethal toxicity to predators and parasitoids. Essential oils show promising compatibility with parasitoids, but their effects on predators are variable. Among microbials, most of the experiments have been conducted with fungi followed by bacteria and viruses with different endpoints, resulting in a general compatibility with biocontrol agents but some results are controversial. Further laboratory studies should be carried out to improve bioinsecticide formulations. Extensive field studies are needed to assess more complex sublethal endpoints at the individual and community levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100624"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099791","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 : 2025-04-22DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100623
Jorge P. Arenas
The transition from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) in modern cities has significantly increased in recent years. Since electric motors are considerably quieter than internal combustion engines, this transition may reduce noise pollution in large urban settings. This reduction is important because noise is still the second most significant environmental risk after air pollution. There is consensus that EVs can reduce noise at low speeds and frequencies, especially for heavy-duty vehicles. However, case studies indicate that at speeds over 50 km/h, EVs do not contribute significantly to noise reduction. Additionally, the effect of mandatory Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems and fast-charging facilities on overall noise levels is still unclear. This article concisely reviews recent developments about replacing ICEVs with EVs in urban areas from an environmental noise viewpoint. It intends to summarize the available literature and highlight future research trends.
{"title":"On the impact of electric vehicle transition on urban noise pollution","authors":"Jorge P. Arenas","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) in modern cities has significantly increased in recent years. Since electric motors are considerably quieter than internal combustion engines, this transition may reduce noise pollution in large urban settings. This reduction is important because noise is still the second most significant environmental risk after air pollution. There is consensus that EVs can reduce noise at low speeds and frequencies, especially for heavy-duty vehicles. However, case studies indicate that at speeds over 50 km/h, EVs do not contribute significantly to noise reduction. Additionally, the effect of mandatory Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems and fast-charging facilities on overall noise levels is still unclear. This article concisely reviews recent developments about replacing ICEVs with EVs in urban areas from an environmental noise viewpoint. It intends to summarize the available literature and highlight future research trends.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100623"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143924632","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}
Environmental DNA (eDNA) signatures are indicative of various conditions in nature. Groundwater systems are vital for diverse ecosystems, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for environmental DNA (eDNA) applications. Ecosystem monitoring, conservation management, and biodiversity evaluation in groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) rely heavily on eDNA. Groundwater eDNA sources, including plant and animal life, are discussed in this article, along with their applications in determining salinity, water quality, and ecosystem dynamics. In groundwater ecosystems, eDNA is invaluable in detecting species that are otherwise difficult to monitor due to the subterranean nature of the habitat. Interpretation limitations (e.g. lack of reference databases) and technical challenges (e.g. contamination, extraction and detection techniques) are key concerns in GDE. The review also suggests numerous future possibilities, such as integrating eDNA with other techniques like aquifer matrix, hydrogeochemistry, isotopes, and hydrological modeling to improve our understanding of groundwater ecosystems.
{"title":"Environmental DNA signatures as a tool to trace the groundwater contamination mechanisms and its associated biodiversity; Applications, limitations and future directions","authors":"Amjad Al-Rashidi , Chidambaram Sabarathinam , Dhanu Radha Samayamanthula , Bedour Alsabti , Nazima Habibi , Nithyanandan Manickam","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental DNA (eDNA) signatures are indicative of various conditions in nature. Groundwater systems are vital for diverse ecosystems, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for environmental DNA (eDNA) applications. Ecosystem monitoring, conservation management, and biodiversity evaluation in groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) rely heavily on eDNA. Groundwater eDNA sources, including plant and animal life, are discussed in this article, along with their applications in determining salinity, water quality, and ecosystem dynamics. In groundwater ecosystems, eDNA is invaluable in detecting species that are otherwise difficult to monitor due to the subterranean nature of the habitat. Interpretation limitations (e.g. lack of reference databases) and technical challenges (e.g. contamination, extraction and detection techniques) are key concerns in GDE. The review also suggests numerous future possibilities, such as integrating eDNA with other techniques like aquifer matrix, hydrogeochemistry, isotopes, and hydrological modeling to improve our understanding of groundwater ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100622"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899532","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}
Recently, plastic products have played a significant role in life-supporting appliances, but after their shelf life, they are causing ubiquitous micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution in natural environments. Scientific studies have proved that MNP contamination significantly contributes to global climate change to alter biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen (N), carbon (C), and phosphorus (P). These elements are essential for all living organisms to function properly, but their excessive amounts can negatively affect the ecosystem. Thus, biogeochemical cycles should be investigated to maintain a sustainable environment. This mini review aims to summarize the existing knowledge on how the biogeochemical cycles have been affected by MNP pollution at terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric levels. MNP presence may affect environmental matrix properties or the physiology of the microorganisms and plants/animals, resulting in changes in plant uptake and metabolic efficiency. These insights will help researchers frame comprehensive strategies and fruitful engineering solutions to address environmental and climatic risks in the foreseeable future.
{"title":"Role of micro- and nano-plastics in altering biogeochemical cycles","authors":"Nguyễn Hoàng Ly , Lalitha Gnanasekaran , Tejraj M. Aminabhavi , Yasser Vasseghian , Sang-Woo Joo","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, plastic products have played a significant role in life-supporting appliances, but after their shelf life, they are causing ubiquitous micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution in natural environments. Scientific studies have proved that MNP contamination significantly contributes to global climate change to alter biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen (N), carbon (C), and phosphorus (P). These elements are essential for all living organisms to function properly, but their excessive amounts can negatively affect the ecosystem. Thus, biogeochemical cycles should be investigated to maintain a sustainable environment. This mini review aims to summarize the existing knowledge on how the biogeochemical cycles have been affected by MNP pollution at terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric levels. MNP presence may affect environmental matrix properties or the physiology of the microorganisms and plants/animals, resulting in changes in plant uptake and metabolic efficiency. These insights will help researchers frame comprehensive strategies and fruitful engineering solutions to address environmental and climatic risks in the foreseeable future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100621"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912981","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 : 2025-04-09DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100620
Paolo Pastorino , Giuseppe Esposito , Marino Prearo , Christian Sonne
Invasive alien species (IAS) are significant drivers of biodiversity loss, threatening ecosystems through predation, competition, disease transmission, and habitat alteration. Recently, IAS have been proposed as bioindicators in environmental chemistry, offering an innovative approach to chemical pollution monitoring. Their adaptability, resilience, and widespread distribution enable the assessment of contaminant bioaccumulation, particularly in degraded habitats where native species are rare or protected, minimizing additional ecological stress. This mini-review examines the emerging use of IAS, such as bivalves, crustaceans, fish, mammals, and plants, in detecting a wide range of contaminants. A targeted literature search (2022–2024) identified 15 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the potential of IAS in monitoring trace elements, persistent pollutants, and emerging contaminants. For instance, bivalves such as Dreissena polymorpha accumulate mercury, crustaceans like Procambarus clarkii reflect microplastic pollution, and semiaquatic mammals such as Myocastor coypus provide insights into wetland microplastic contamination through fecal analysis. However, IAS are not yet integrated into established biomonitoring programs and are currently used only in individual case studies or research efforts. The main limitation lies in physiological and ecological differences between IAS and native species, which can lead to variable bioaccumulation patterns and complicate ecological risk assessments. Additional challenges include ethical considerations, regulatory constraints, and methodological inconsistencies across studies. Addressing these challenges through refined protocols, molecular tools, and appropriate risk mitigation will be crucial for integrating IAS into environmental monitoring frameworks. This strategy can complement existing methods, improving chemical pollution tracking while supporting global efforts to manage contamination and protect biodiversity.
{"title":"The role of invasive alien species as bioindicators for environmental pollution","authors":"Paolo Pastorino , Giuseppe Esposito , Marino Prearo , Christian Sonne","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive alien species (IAS) are significant drivers of biodiversity loss, threatening ecosystems through predation, competition, disease transmission, and habitat alteration. Recently, IAS have been proposed as bioindicators in environmental chemistry, offering an innovative approach to chemical pollution monitoring. Their adaptability, resilience, and widespread distribution enable the assessment of contaminant bioaccumulation, particularly in degraded habitats where native species are rare or protected, minimizing additional ecological stress. This mini-review examines the emerging use of IAS, such as bivalves, crustaceans, fish, mammals, and plants, in detecting a wide range of contaminants. A targeted literature search (2022–2024) identified 15 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the potential of IAS in monitoring trace elements, persistent pollutants, and emerging contaminants. For instance, bivalves such as <em>Dreissena polymorpha</em> accumulate mercury, crustaceans like <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> reflect microplastic pollution, and semiaquatic mammals such as <em>Myocastor coypus</em> provide insights into wetland microplastic contamination through fecal analysis. However, IAS are not yet integrated into established biomonitoring programs and are currently used only in individual case studies or research efforts. The main limitation lies in physiological and ecological differences between IAS and native species, which can lead to variable bioaccumulation patterns and complicate ecological risk assessments. Additional challenges include ethical considerations, regulatory constraints, and methodological inconsistencies across studies. Addressing these challenges through refined protocols, molecular tools, and appropriate risk mitigation will be crucial for integrating IAS into environmental monitoring frameworks. This strategy can complement existing methods, improving chemical pollution tracking while supporting global efforts to manage contamination and protect biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100620"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895646","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 : 2025-04-08DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100619
Kexin Guo , Lei Han , Jingyang Luo , Guanghua Lu , Yiping Li , Jianchao Liu
Antibiotic contamination has become a global environmental issue, particularly in soils, where the accumulation of antibiotics negatively impacts soil health and microbial communities. Recent studies have shown high detection rates of tetracyclines and sulfonamides in soil, which significantly disrupt nitrogen and carbon cycling. They also alter microbial structures and reduce soil biological activity and fertility. While existing research highlights the detrimental effects of antibiotics on soil ecosystems, studies on their long-term environmental behavior and ecological risks remain limited. This review summarizes the accumulation characteristics of antibiotics in soil and their impacts on carbon and nitrogen cycles, highlighting the need for further research into the long-term effects of antibiotics on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions.
{"title":"Occurrence and accumulation characteristics of antibiotics in soil and effects of carbon and nitrogen cycle","authors":"Kexin Guo , Lei Han , Jingyang Luo , Guanghua Lu , Yiping Li , Jianchao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic contamination has become a global environmental issue, particularly in soils, where the accumulation of antibiotics negatively impacts soil health and microbial communities. Recent studies have shown high detection rates of tetracyclines and sulfonamides in soil, which significantly disrupt nitrogen and carbon cycling. They also alter microbial structures and reduce soil biological activity and fertility. While existing research highlights the detrimental effects of antibiotics on soil ecosystems, studies on their long-term environmental behavior and ecological risks remain limited. This review summarizes the accumulation characteristics of antibiotics in soil and their impacts on carbon and nitrogen cycles, highlighting the need for further research into the long-term effects of antibiotics on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100619"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882952","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 : 2025-03-25DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100612
Jonathan Willow , Guy Smagghe
Advancing agricultural production in an environmentally sustainable manner will be a vital component in meeting food security needs of the future. Targeted messenger RNA (mRNA) downregulation, relying on in planta or sprayed applications of specifically tailored RNA molecules, represents an expanding field of nucleotide sequence-specific management of agricultural pests/pathogens. Here we discuss several current commercial RNA interference (RNAi) applications toward improving food security. We also discuss and highlight additional emerging approaches within RNAi-based management of pests/pathogens that affect food security, focusing on studies that represent a diverse array of potential applications, conceptual hurdles, focal environments, and taxonomic groups (regarding both food resource and pest/pathogen). This discussion is intended to showcase both well- and lesser-known RNAi applications currently being implemented in support of food security; and promote further research and development into some interesting recent areas of exploration, especially those regarding underrepresented areas of inquiry and those backed by recent and highly promising research findings.
{"title":"RNAi applications toward environmentally sustainable food security","authors":"Jonathan Willow , Guy Smagghe","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Advancing agricultural production in an environmentally sustainable manner will be a vital component in meeting food security needs of the future. Targeted messenger RNA (mRNA) downregulation, relying on <em>in planta</em> or sprayed applications of specifically tailored RNA molecules, represents an expanding field of nucleotide sequence-specific management of agricultural pests/pathogens. Here we discuss several current commercial RNA interference (RNAi) applications toward improving food security. We also discuss and highlight additional emerging approaches within RNAi-based management of pests/pathogens that affect food security, focusing on studies that represent a diverse array of potential applications, conceptual hurdles, focal environments, and taxonomic groups (regarding both food resource and pest/pathogen). This discussion is intended to showcase both well- and lesser-known RNAi applications currently being implemented in support of food security; and promote further research and development into some interesting recent areas of exploration, especially those regarding underrepresented areas of inquiry and those backed by recent and highly promising research findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100612"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143830369","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}
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