Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management最新文献

{"title":"Supporting Integrated Chemical Risk Management: Aligning Safe and Sustainable by Design and EU Ecolabel Decision Frameworks.","authors":"Arthur Ribas de Souza Sales","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing proliferation of policy-driven frameworks addressing chemical safety and sustainability has intensified the need for coherence and integration in environmental assessment and management. In the European context, Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) and the EU Ecolabel represent influential but conceptually distinct instruments that may yield divergent conclusions when applied to the same product system, potentially challenging transparent and consistent decision-making. This study examines the extent to which such divergences arise from differences in assessment logic rather than from conflicting scientific evidence, using a structured case study of a representative consumer product formulation. An integrated assessment approach was applied, combining exposure-informed regulatory risk characterization with life-cycle-based toxicity prioritization. Occupational and environmental risks were quantified using established regulatory tools (Chesar® and EUSES 2.1.2), while potential human toxicity and freshwater ecotoxicity impacts were evaluated using USEtox® characterization factors. Results indicate that regulatory acceptability thresholds were achieved for nearly all modeled exposure scenarios, with a marginal exceedance of the average dermal risk characterization ratio observed for Cocamidopropyl betaine under conservative occupational exposure assumptions. In contrast, life-cycle toxicity indicators revealed marked differences in relative substance contributions to potential human and ecological impacts, reflecting intrinsic hazard and fate properties rather than exposure-driven risk. The comparative analysis demonstrates that apparent inconsistencies between SSbD and EU Ecolabel outcomes are primarily attributable to differences in decision logic, assessment scope, and the weighting of hazard-, exposure-, and life-cycle-based information. Building on these findings, a conceptual integration model is proposed to support transparent interpretation and reconciliation of assessment results across frameworks. The study contributes to ongoing discourse within the environmental assessment community by illustrating how complementary use of regulatory risk assessment and life-cycle toxicity indicators can enhance chemical risk management, reduce misalignment between policy instruments, and support more informed and consistent sustainability-oriented decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148684436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The applicability of acute-to-chronic ratios and in silico tools in estimating chronic aquatic toxicity of ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.","authors":"Júlia Beatriz Vaz de Oliveira, Laura Sada Vieira, Natália de Albuquerque Vita de Abreu, Dâmaris Cristine Marios Ferreira Pinto, Gabriela de Oliveira Prado Corrêa, Andrezza Di Pietro Micali Canavez, Desirée Cigaran Schuck, Cynthia Bomfim Pestana, Daniela Morais Leme","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the potential environmental impact of cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) and successfully developing eco-friendly formulations requires knowledge of the aquatic toxicity of ingredients. However, for the cosmetic industry, aquatic toxicity assessments are challenged by the large number of ingredients, restrictions on animal testing and lack of chronic toxicity data. Therefore, alternative approaches are required to fill these gaps. This study aimed to evaluate the potential applicability of acute-to-chronic ratios (ACRs) and in silico tools (VEGA and OECD QSAR Toolbox) to estimate chronic aquatic toxicity values (NOECs for algae, daphnids, and fish) for a set of 41 ingredients of cosmetics and PCPs with well-defined molecular structures. Extrapolations and predictions were compared to experimental chronic toxicity data. We observed that ACR-based extrapolations were strongly correlated with experimental NOECs, particularly when using the lowest ACRs, with algae showing the strongest correlation. MoA-based ACRs did not improve the prediction of chronic values when compared to general ACRs. Extrapolated values were not consistently conservative, with both over- and underpredictions observed. The OECD QSAR Toolbox yielded more acceptable chronic toxicity predictions than VEGA, yet both exhibited weaker correlations with experimental data than the ACR-based approach. Predictive performance of the in silico models improved when analyzing the subgroup of MoA 1 substances for algae. Overall, our findings support the use of ACRs for filling chronic toxicity data gaps in screening-level assessments within environmental hazard-based tools for developing eco-friendly cosmetics and PCPs, while the freely available in silico tools require further refinement to improve performance in this context.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148678324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global Framework for Lip Product Safety: A Review of the Regulatory Blind Spot in the Modern Market.","authors":"Laura DiGirolamo, Heather Bustos, Ke Chris Tang, L Cristiana Gheorghe, Iseult Lynch, Robert G Lee","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lip products occupy a regulatory blind spot. Classified as cosmetics for external application across all major jurisdictions, there are two distinct adverse outcome pathways: cutaneous absorption via lip tissue with significantly diminished barrier function, and oral ingestion documented at levels reaching half a kilogram annually for high-frequency users. We present a comparative analysis of how the United States, European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, China, and South Korea regulate lip products, revealing a systemic gap in how regulations address their actual exposure profile. Three critical gaps are common across all frameworks: definitional miscategorization of the exposure profile; absence of appropriate safety assessment for either ingestion or lip-tissue absorption pathways; and testing duration requirements that are absent in the majority of frameworks and, where they exist, capped at subchronic endpoints that do not reflect continuous real-world use extending far beyond 90 days. Baseline exposure data underpinning global safety assessments were collected in 2003-2005 and predate contemporary lip product categories; contemporary studies document 95th-percentile lip balm consumption at 1,270 mg/day, a 14.6-fold increase over regulatory baselines. Two regulatory paradoxes within the EU crystallize the classificatory failure: titanium dioxide, banned as a food additive over oral ingestion genotoxicity concerns, remains unrestricted in lip cosmetics with an identical ingestion pathway; and microplastics are restricted in lip products under EU chemicals regulation because of environmental release through human ingestion, while the Cosmetics Regulation assesses them under dermal parameters. This demonstrates that regulatory sophistication cannot overcome classificatory error, and that meaningful reform requires updated, population-specific exposure studies reflecting contemporary usage patterns, product categories, and consumer demographics. We recommend development of lip-appropriate assessment methodology via validated non-animal methods (within existing cosmetic regulatory frameworks, without product reclassification) and the potential extension of the food-grade ingredient safety principles accepted in industry voluntary guidance to all lip product ingredient categories.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Trade-offs Between Carbon Storage and Timber Production with Alternative Rotation and Harvest Policies: Insights from a Real-World Forest Management Area.","authors":"Emin Zeki Baskent, Jan Kašpar, Eyyub Başkent","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forests provide essential ecosystem services, particularly timber production and carbon sequestration, both of which play critical roles in climate change mitigation and sustainable forest management. However, the long-term consequences of alternative management strategies on carbon-timber trade-offs remain insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by analysing the combined effects of rotation length, harvest regulation strategies, and tree-size dynamics on forest carbon storage and timber production using the ETÇAP decision support system (DSS). Four management scenarios were developed by combining short and long rotation periods with area-control and volume-control harvesting policies, while explicitly accounting for tree-size-dependent carbon dynamics. Simulations were conducted for a representative forest planning unit in Türkiye over a 100-year planning horizon. Results showed that longer rotations and volume-control harvesting consistently projected the largest increase in carbon storage by promoting the development and retention of larger trees, whereas shorter rotations and area-control harvesting enhanced timber production but intensified trade-offs with carbon sequestration. While tree-size dynamics influenced the magnitude of carbon accumulation, they did not substantially alter the overall trade-off patterns among management strategies. These results indicate that management decisions affecting age structure and harvesting regimes are important determinants of long-term carbon-timber outcomes. As the analysis is based on deterministic simulations that exclude major disturbance processes such as wildfire, pest outbreaks, and climate extremes, the results need to be interpreted as scenario-based projections. Nevertheless, the study highlights the value of integrating ecosystem-based forest management with decision support systems to systematically evaluate long-term management alternatives and support climate-informed forest planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Permeable Lip: A Critical Knowledge Gap for Systemic Exposure to Lip Cosmetic Chemicals.","authors":"Iseult Lynch, L Cristiana Gheorghe, Nora Hassas, Robert G Lee, John Milligan, Laura DiGirolamo","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pervasive use of lip cosmetics results in chronic, low-dose exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals via multiple routes, yet current cosmetic safety regulations treat lip products as conventional topical applications to skin. While the EU safety assessment framework acknowledges ingestion as an exposure route for lip products, standardised lip-specific testing models do not currently exist. The US requires no mandatory pre-market safety review for cosmetic ingredients and systemic exposure consideration is confined to voluntary industry assessment (except for colour additives). In both jurisdictions, exposure estimates are based on usage data from 2005 that do not reflect current real-world usage patterns of lip cosmetics, including frequent reapplication, product layering, and marketing based on food characteristics. The unique physiology of the lips, which represent a transitional tissue between external skin and oral mucosa provides an additional exposure route: the vermilion and labial mucosa are characterized by a markedly thinner and incompletely keratinised epithelium, reduced lipid barrier components, high vascularisation, and constant moisture-collectively conferring substantially higher permeability than facial skin. Evidence from pharmacology demonstrates that oral mucosal tissues are deliberately exploited for rapid systemic drug delivery. By comparing how the oral mucosal exposure route is evaluated across cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical regulatory regimes, this review identifies a critical regulatory gap: chemicals applied to the lips are assessed under frameworks designed for low-permeability skin, despite a biological reality more consistent with mucosal exposure. This mismatch undermines the accuracy of current risk assessments and may lead to systematic underestimation of internal dose for certain lip cosmetic ingredients including microplastics. Addressing this gap will require lip-specific exposure models, physiologically relevant in vitro systems, and updated regulatory guidance to ensure that cosmetic safety assessment accurately reflects the unique exposure profile of lip products.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Hurricane Helene on Microplastic Deposition in the Mountainous Southeastern United States.","authors":"Austin Gray, Jason Love, Nathaniel Barrett, James Campbell, Jerry Miller, Radmila Petric, Robert Youker, Xinyue Huang, Hosein Foroutan","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to climate change, we expect more intense hurricanes, leading to higher precipitation than previously observed. Historic storms, such as Hurricane Helene, that struck the southeastern United States (U.S.) in September 2024, deposited between 508 and 762 mm (20-30 in) of rainfall in rural, mountainous parts of Western North Carolina, resulting in catastrophic flooding. Less well known is the extent of microplastic (MP) deposition in these less developed areas. While there is insight into MP deposition due to typhoon events in Eastern Hemisphere, in our assessment, we conducted the first-ever study U.S. based assessment of MP deposition in a severely affected southeastern U.S. region at multiple locations (Iron Duff, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (Coweeta), and Highlands Biological Station (HBS), months before (January to September), during (September), and weeks post-hurricane (October to November). Our findings show that Hurricane Helene contributed to elevated MP deposition at all sites (3 to 22x higher than pre-Hurricane Helene levels), where total storm MP deposition was 1,280, 2,179, and 10,243 MP/m² at Iron Duff, Coweeta, and HBS, respectively. This historic storm accounted for 4.2, 4.6, and 18.8% of the annual MP deposition at Iron Duff, Coweeta, and HBS, respectively. Using backward trajectory analysis, we found that air masses reaching our sampling locations differed during Hurricane Helene compared to pre- and post-Helene periods. Our regression model estimated that the total anomalous deposition over the area of the U.S. affected by Hurricane Helene (3,798,756.55 km²) was 3.85 × 10¹⁵ MPs. Polyamide, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyethylene were the main polymers detected before and during Hurricane Helene. Our findings underscore how extreme storms can produce short-term spikes in MP deposition above ambient levels in a region. Thus, highlight the need to prioritize funding and policy initiatives to better assess risks posed by MPs to vulnerable ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Review of the Fate and Effects of Selected Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners and Their Probabilistic Risk to Aquatic Organisms.","authors":"Patrick D Guiney, Christopher M Holmes","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are increasingly prevalent in food and beverages, with significant consumption growth in recent decades. This trend has led to heightened research into monitoring these non-nutritive sugar substitutes in environmental matrices, especially surface water. Many LNCS are excreted largely unchanged and are highly soluble in water, resulting in their detection in aquatic environments at concentrations ranging from ng/L to µg/L, primarily due to municipal or household wastewater discharge. While LNCS are generally considered safe for human consumption with established Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI), their ecological risks remain an interest due to their global ubiquitous use, eventual entry into surface waters, and limited use of contemporary ecological risk assessment methodologies for these substances. We investigated five common LNCS: aspartame (ASP), cyclamate (CYC), saccharin (SAC), sucralose (SUC), and steviol glycosides (SG), an emerging natural sweetener. Utilizing data from Euromonitor International, we assessed global consumption patterns in food and beverages and generated probabilistic exposure distributions using models for the U.S. (iSTREEM®) and Europe (HydroFATE). These were compared to retrospective exposure values based on 75 curated aquatic concentration monitoring studies spanning the world. A relative exposure index was created to contextualize modeled results globally across seven regions. We integrated comprehensive aquatic ecotoxicity data from 54 additional studies with our exposure assessments for a probabilistic ecological risk evaluation. Predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values were established for ASP (68.8 µg/L), CYC (20-20,000 µg/L), SAC (2,000 µg/L), SG (10,000 µg/L), and SUC (9,300 µg/L). These PNECs were significantly higher than predicted environmental concentrations and observed data by one to four orders of magnitude, depending on the LNCS and exposure scenario. This suggests high margins of safety and minimal ecological risk at current usage levels. Routine updates of this risk assessment are recommended to maintain on-going aquatic safety as LNCS usage evolves.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparing farm-level carbon footprint calculators for dairy production with a case study of Viikki Research Farm in Finland.","authors":"Yajie Gao, Marja Roitto, Teng Hu, Tapani Jokiniemi, Mari Sandell, Hanna L Tuomisto","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dairy farms are under pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Various carbon footprint (CF) accounting tools have been developed for calculating GHG emissions and pinpointing hotspots to support mitigation efforts. However, inconsistent methodologies often lead to variations of their results, unclear discrepancies pose barriers to credible reporting and decision making. Five open access, farm-level CF accounting tools applicable to EU livestock production were evaluated and compared for their methodologies. They were further tested through a case study of a dairy Farm in Finland for their consistency in quantifying emissions of milk production. The sensitivity of each tool was analyzed across nine mitigation scenarios to evaluate their practical utility in guiding mitigation strategies. A significant variability in total GHG emissions was observed, ranging from 415 to 913 t CO2 eq y-1, derived mainly from differences in scopes and the adoption of varying method tiers (in IPCC 2006 or IPCC 2019). While enteric fermentation and feed production remained the primary emission sources across all tools, their contributions fluctuated based on calculation methods. Solagro and the Cool Farm Tool were most responsive to mitigation strategies regarding manure management and yield improvements, while GLEAM-i and CAP'2ER (level 1) lacked the flexibility to model specific management shifts. The lack of methodological harmony causes inconsistent results, requiring careful tool selection to align with specific goals and data availability. Methodological frameworks can be harmonized with evolving standards (Product environmental footprint category rules for dairy products), meanwhile adapting scientific advances into calculations to ensure transparency and comparability.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148669367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regional risk assessment Part I: prioritization of potentially contaminated sites.","authors":"Giulia Minolfi, Fabio Rosada, Elisa Giubilato, Alex Zabeo, Stephane Belbèze, Virginie Derycke, Timo Tarvainen, Isadora Antoniano Villalobos, Elena Semenzin, Lisa Pizzol","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil contamination remains a critical barrier to endurable land use and environmental health worldwide. A stepwise and risk-based approach to identify, assess and manage potentially contaminated sites across complex land uses, is presented. Unlike traditional site-specific risk assessments, which are often limited to detailed studies of individual locations, this large-scale approach (known as regional risk assessment - RRA) integrates diverse data sources - historical or current data on anthropogenic activities - with pathways relevance information and receptors vulnerability to support prioritisation when dealing with a very large number of sites. The methodology is implemented within a GIS-based framework, and integrate spatial data on hazards, pathways, and receptors to produce regional-scale risk maps. The output provides a relative ranking of potentially contaminated sites based on estimated risk levels, supporting the prioritisation of sites requiring further site-specific investigation or remediation. Applied to the metropolitan area of Toulouse, the framework demonstrates its applicability across urban and peri-urban landscapes. This methodology responds to emerging regulatory requirements, such as the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, and offers practical support to strategic planning efforts aligned with EU policy initiatives. By enabling more efficient and risk-based site management, the framework contributes to the protection of human health and the land resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148619509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scientific Storytelling: Considerations and Implications for Research Communication and Engagement.","authors":"Adriana C Bejarano, Ann-Hayward Walker, Stephen R Gittings","doi":"10.1093/inteam/vjag119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective engagement between scientists and layperson audiences can enhance public understanding of scientific research, strengthen trust and foster support for scientific advancement. Among the various forms of science communication strategies available, narrative approaches, particularly storytelling, have gained attention for their ability to frame scientific findings within meaningful contexts. When used as a complementary form to traditional formats (e.g., technical documents), storytelling can help scientists connect more personally with layperson audiences and strengthen the impact of the intended message. By reducing cognitive barriers and presenting information in clear, relatable and human-centered ways, storytelling can support the interpretation of complex scientific concepts across diverse contexts. This paper examines the foundations and elements of scientific storytelling, including relevant cognitive and psychological principles, narrative structure and the role of soft skills in effective communication. It also explores challenges and ethical considerations associated with narrative approaches and illustrates how storytelling principles have been applied through selected case studies in environmental sciences. These insights highlight how thoughtful and context-appropriate use of storytelling can broaden the reach, impact and appreciation of scientific research, support shared understanding and strengthen engagement and connections between science and society.</p>","PeriodicalId":13557,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148602413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}