Environmental Sciences Europe最新文献

Background

The 2020 moss survey in Germany was designed as a pilot study and aimed to 1. validate the analysis of various organic contaminants developed in the previous moss survey; 2. develop the microplastic analysis methodology; 3. analyse the spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in moss samples collected in Germany in 2020; and 4. compare the spatial deposition patterns with the results of current atmospheric deposition models. This article describes the latter objective

Methods

The collection of mosses at 21 sites within Germany and the chemical analysis of organic pollutants was carried out according to ICP Vegetation (Heavy metals, nitrogen and POPs in European mosses. Monitoring manual survey 2020. Bangor (United Kingdom) and Dubna (Russian Federation), 2020). Geostatistical methods were used to analyse the spatial structure of the discrete measurement data and to produce maps based on this. The mapped concentrations in the mosses were compared with the modelled total annual deposition.

Results

The spatial distribution of the substances often shows a concentration gradient with higher values in densely populated and industrialised areas in western Germany and lower concentrations in eastern areas. A triangle with comparatively higher values in central Germany is recognisable. No correlations were found between the concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in the mosses and the modelled B[a]P deposition. However, the direct comparison at the moss sampling sites shows better agreement between the measured and modelled data in the north-western half of Germany than in the other regions. Medium correlations were found between the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) in the mosses and the modelled PCDD/F deposition, and strong and very strong correlations were found with the geostatistical surface estimates. The most obvious similarities in the spatial patterns of the measured PCDD/F and modelled data were found in southern Bavaria, in a strip from North Rhine-Westphalia via northern Hesse to Thuringia and in the triangle between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, northern Brandenburg and eastern Lower Saxony.

Conclusions

The study made it possible to describe the spatial distribution of persistent organic substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Germany and, at least in the case of PCDD/F, produced a good agreement between the modelled deposition and the measured concentrations in mosses. The moss data should be analysed in greater depth and statistically validated.

Sustainable development (SD) is a key priority in EU policy, particularly in sectors with significant economic and environmental impacts, such as transport and storage. The influence of macroeconomic indicators, GDP per capita, unemployment rate, average wages, external balance of goods and services, and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), on sustainability outcomes was analysed across 25 EU Member States, grouped into Western, Northern, Southern, and Central and Eastern Europe. The data from 2008–2023, analysed using fixed-effects panel models, ANOVA, and Scheffé tests, indicate regional differences in how macroeconomic indicators relate to sustainability performance. Unemployment and GDP per capita emerged as the most influential factors, though their effect varied by region, while HICP showed limited relevance. GDP per capita was particularly significant in Southern Europe. In contrast, environmental sustainability in Northern and Central and Eastern Europe appears driven mainly by nonmacroeconomic factors. Northern Europe achieved the highest sustainability scores, especially in the environmental dimension, whereas Southern Europe recorded the weakest performance overall. These findings highlight the need for region-specific strategies to support SD in the EU transport and storage sector.

Background

The textile industry is facing increasing concerns due to resource-intensive value chains spanning the globe, the use of fossil feedstocks for fiber production, and the consistent accumulation of non-recyclable textile waste. Integrating textiles into a circular economy is one of the key strategies to reduce the human-induced pressure on the planet, as also emphasized by the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. However, a more circular value chain will also have an impact on the environment, and potential environmental hotspots need to be identified in early development stages.

Results

This research performed the Life Cycle Assessment of a cycling jersey that intentionally employs approaches of proximity and sustainable manufacturing principles. The potential impacts of marine microplastic emissions were included in the analysis. Energy use was identified as the main driver of environmental impacts. Impacts due to marine microplastics were found to be in the same order of magnitude as damage due to marine eutrophication. Detailed scenario analyses also revealed that changes both within the production (up to 10–14% impact reduction) and within the use phase (up to 33% impact reduction) have the potential to drastically reduce the environmental impact of the circular jersey, while still maintaining proximity manufacturing.

Conclusions

The results emphasize the inclusion of producers and consumer awareness in efforts to improve the environmental performance of textiles in the context of a circular economy, addressing the goals of the EU’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The assessment of some proximity manufacturing scenarios within Europe shows that site-specific and regional energy supply are also important factors influencing the environmental impacts. Microfiber emissions into the marine environment mostly result from waste mismanagement, which underlines the need for prevention.

Background

Kenyan coastal forests comprise about 145 fragmented islands of different size and protection status. Cultural ecosystem services provided by Kaya forests for the Mijikenda community in Kenya have helped to preserve relevant parts of this tropical landscape, which today, however, are exposed to strong land use pressures due to a growing population living in poverty. With regard to conservation measures for the Kaya, there is an urgent need to analyse the human–environment relationship of the local population. The aim of the study was to identify the factors and their interactions on the willingness of the local population to protect Kaya Kambe, which was defined as a dependent variable in two statistical models. Methods. The data needed were collected in the year 2022 by means of a questionnaire. The two statistical models were carried out using Chi Square Automatic Interaction Detection. In the first model, those descriptive variables were used that were also used in the hypothesis test based on individual contingency tables not presented here. This hypothesis-verifying approach was supplemented by a hypothesis-explorative second model. It also used descriptive variables that were not considered in the hypothesis testing.

Results

The first model confirms the following interacting constraints on willingness to protect: importance of Kaya trees, personal benefit from protecting Kayas, importance of Kaya animals and usefulness of Kayas as a source of minerals. The second model discovers the following additional influences: access to Kaya, independent tree planting in own plot and in Kaya, monthly income, knowledge of national laws governing the use of Kayas, cultural value of Kayas, and Kayas as a source of energy.

Conclusions

The following recommendations were derived from the results and their discussion: creation of alternatives for the extraction of construction timber and firewood, participation of the local population in sustainable forest management, creation of alternative sources of income, enabling reforestation on private land and in the Kaya, as well as education and awareness-raising measures.

Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to various global and regional factors, with climate change and the associated warming of the oceans being one of the primary drivers. Recreational beach activities lead to the direct emission of sunscreen products and their UV filters into coastal marine environments and thus may impact coral health. However, although sunscreen formulations may be optimized in some regions by using non-hazardous UV filters, in many countries with coral reef abundance, additional emissions may occur due to untreated and insufficiently treated wastewater. For lipophilic ultraviolet absorbing (UV) filters, however, adequate treatment of domestic wastewater would significantly (up to > 90%) reduce such indirect emissions. Furthermore, such measures would also help to improve both river and coastal water quality, as domestic wastewater typically contains many more substances resulting from other uses such as personal and homecare, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, and biocides. As these provisions are both cost and time consuming, prioritization of improvement needs may be supported by standardized and validated test methods (preferably under ISO) that allow for a toxicity assessment of effluent streams on corals. Furthermore, these methods may also be used to identify substances considered critical for coral health. The ban of certain cosmetic UV filters in some regions may not be considered a suitable solution to maintain coral reefs. Thus, from a more holistic approach, improving wastewater management would contribute to the maintenance of coral reefs on a local scale, especially in areas (e.g., islands originating from volcanic activities) that are less affected by rising sea surface water temperatures.

Calcareous red algae (CRA) are key ecosystem engineers in marine environments, shaping reef architecture and sustaining biodiversity. Through calcification, they produce approximately 1.6 × 10⁹ tonnes of CaCO₃ annually, driving long-term carbon storage and contributing to global carbon cycling at rates comparable to mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. This review presents a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on calcareous red algae (CRA), including their evolving taxonomic classification based on the morphology, life cycles, reproduction and molecular phylogenetic markers. We also describe the algal habitat and ecosystem dynamics, including responses to abiotic factors, such as light intensity, temperature, and depth (> 270 m). This review elaborates on the cellular and biochemical mechanisms underlying the intricate CRA calcification process and discuss abiotic conditions affecting CRA growth to guide process-centered cultivation optimization. In addition, the impact of climate change on these organisms is explored, highlighting documented reductions in calcification under ocean acidification and warming, and the need for conservation and sustainable cultivation. Despite their ecological importance, exploratory economic potential of CRA remains underreported as compared to seaweed macroalgae. To that end, we provide an outlook on potential economic application in emerging fields, such as construction biotechnology and biomaterials production, linked to biogenic carbon sequestration. This review offers comprehensive and up–to–date information to researchers, industry experts, as well as policy makers, and outlines research priorities requiring interdisciplinary collaboration to fully realize the ecological and biotechnological value of CRA.

Freshwater ecosystems face dual threats from microplastic pollution and global warming, both of which disrupt ecological balance and hinder progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the combined effects of microplastics and elevated temperatures on freshwater invertebrates using meta-analysis and systematic review approach. The analysis encompasses 137 observations across four biological endpoints: growth, mortality, reproduction, and stress. While the combined stressors negatively impacted the invertebrates' growth, reproduction, and stress responses, they did not significantly increase mortality rates. Subgroup analyses highlighted species–specific and geographical differences, with Daphnia magna showing resilience in growth but heightened sensitivity in reproduction and stress endpoints. The findings demonstrate that microplastics exacerbate oxidative stress, disrupt endocrine systems, and impair energy allocation, with elevated temperatures amplifying these effects. Species feeding modes and ecological niches played critical roles in modulating responses, with filter feeders (e.g., Daphnia magna) being more affected than shredders and detritivores. These results align with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), emphasizing the need to reduce microplastic pollution to protect freshwater biodiversity and water quality. In support of SDG 13 (Climate Action), the study highlights how warming intensifies the ecological impacts of microplastics. Proposed practical solutions include improving wastewater treatment, reducing single-use plastics, and promoting nature-based strategies. Long-term field-based research is critical for developing effective conservation measures and enhancing ecosystem resilience.

The sustainable management of dredged material requires robust risk characterization of contaminated sediment to protect both dredging areas and destination sites. However, integrated frameworks for assessing sediment quality prior to management are rarely applied. This study presents a paradigmatic case using a quantitative Weight of Evidence (WoE) approach on sediments from a canal in the Venice Lagoon (Italy), designated for future dredging. The aim is to assess whether integrating biological and chemical lines of evidence (LoEs) provides a more robust framework for dredged material risk assessment and management. Multiple LoEs were integrated, including chemical analyses of inorganic and organic contaminants, ecotoxicological bioassays, bioaccumulation tests, biomarker responses, and a novel transcriptomics LoE. Uncertainty in LoE integration was addressed probabilistically to quantify confidence in the final risk assessment. Results revealed a spatial gradient in sediment quality, with higher degradation near the industrial area. However, biological data indicated potential toxicity in sediments far from non-industrial sites that chemical analyses alone failed to detect. This discrepancy suggests the possible presence of not-targeted contaminants or other unknown factors, warranting further investigation. The study emphasizes the importance of assessing sediment effects across biological levels, tracing hazards to specific LoEs, and explicitly addressing uncertainty: these are three key steps for effective sediment risk assessment and informed decision-making.

Graphical Abstract

The rising contamination of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in urban water bodies is causing severe environmental and public health concerns, especially due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The study highlights the prevalence of four PPCPs: paracetamol, gentamicin, naproxen and metronidazole across 11 water samples collected from sewage treatment plants and water bodies of Mysuru city. Maximum concentrations were observed for Naproxen (8.517 µg/L) at site 1. Ecotoxicological risk were observed for four drugs: high risk for gentamicin, low/medium for paracetamol, for naproxen RQ > 1, while metronidazole was RQ < 0.1. AMR was contributed with a high risk for metronidazole and gentamicin in all the samples. The geographical variation in the results indicates that the contamination levels are highly affected by untreated pharmaceutical waste and hospital effluents.

Groundwater supplies up to 65% of drinking water in the European Union and approximately 70% in Germany, making it essential to preserve both its quality and quantity. However, climate change, land use pressures, and socio-economic developments increasingly threaten groundwater resources, posing significant challenges for current and future water supply. To safeguard drinking water sources, water protection areas (WPAs) are designated to mitigate contamination risks. This study introduces the first harmonized, country-wide dataset of all 11,406 designated German WPAs, integrating hydrogeological, land cover, and socio-economic characteristics, to assess groundwater vulnerability. We found these WPAs to cover the full range of the country's hydrogeological characteristics while they have higher forest cover fractions than the entire country. A cluster analysis with key characteristics classified all WPAs into 11 distinct characteristic typologies. Comparing the clusters’ groundwater chemical status as per EU Water Framework Directive mapping as an indicator of groundwater vulnerability shows that a complex interplay of hydrogeological conditions, land use patterns, and socio-economic pressures determines the differences. Our study provides a data-driven basis to support sustainable groundwater protection and drinking water resource management across Germany. It stands as exemplary for how to determine a reduced set of WPA types and situations for which to design specific measures. The results also underscore the importance of harmonized WPA designation practices to improve comparability and ensure equitable protection standards across federal states. As the current German Drinking Water Regulation operationalizes the EU Drinking Water Directive, the developed typology may also inform risk-based groundwater protection efforts in other EU Member States.