Environmental Sciences Europe最新文献

{"title":"Developing a low-cost nitrate and DOC sensor for natural water samples","authors":"Heinke Paulsen,&nbsp;Christof Hübner,&nbsp;Markus Weiler","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01397-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01397-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nitrate continues to be a major threat to drinking water resources, but rapid changes in concentrations cannot be addressed by standard laboratory approaches. This study introduces a low-cost optical sensor for real-time, in-situ monitoring of nitrate (NO₃⁻) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in natural water samples (soil water, groundwater and river water). Utilizing absorbance and fluorescence at specific wavelengths with LEDs and photodiodes, this sensor system offers an alternative to expensive and complex laboratory or in-situ spectrometer methods and is suited to be paired with flux measurements (e.g., lysimeters) to assess trends and dynamics. Rather than relying on costly xenon lamps and spectrometers, and therefore external power supply, our system consists of three modules that use only LEDs and photodiodes and are optimized for detection at the specific UVA, UVC and red wavelengths. This configuration enables measurements on a broad variety of samples including laboratory standards, groundwater, stream water, and soil water extracts. Initial tests with laboratory nitrate standard solutions up to 100 mg/l achieved high accuracy, with a linear model exhibiting an R² of 0.99 and mean absolute error (MAE—average magnitude of errors in a set of predictions) of 2.63 mg/l. Although the sensor's accuracy does not fully match that of traditional laboratory analyses like ion chromatography or photogrammetric approaches, it maintains good predictive capabilities with R² values exceeding 0.9 and MAE of 4.2 mg/l NO₃⁻ for a sample mixture of groundwater, stream water and soil water with concentrations up to 66 mg/l NO₃⁻. DOC can be predicted with a MAE of 2.2 mg/l. Challenges such as the interference of DOC and turbidity with the nitrate absorbance signal, intense calibration procedures and site-specific variability remain, necessitating further refinement. Nevertheless, this sensor system provides a significant step toward accessible, continuous water quality monitoring and lays the foundation for linking nitrate concentrations to in-situ fluxes. These advancements are crucial for enhancing nutrient management and environmental protection practices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01397-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Curcumin nanoparticles attenuate copper nanoparticle-induced systemic toxicity in rats: a proof-of-concept study for a systemic protective strategy","authors":"Asmaa S. Morsi,&nbsp;Hager M. Ramadan,&nbsp;Ahmed M. Youssef,&nbsp;Nadia A. Taha","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01379-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01379-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are known to trigger systemic toxicity through the disruption of copper homeostasis and the generation of profound oxidative stress. Given their widespread industrial applications, concerns persist regarding environmental and human exposure. This cascade of molecular injury drives multi-organ damage, immune suppression, and genomic instability. To address this concern, the present study systematically evaluates the potential of engineered curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) against CuO-NPs-induced toxicity in a rodent model as a proof of principle. Sixty adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into five experimental groups: control, vehicle (corn oil), CuO-NPs (50 mg/kg), Cur-NPs (50 mg/kg), and CuO-NPs + Cur-NPs co-treatment, administered orally for 30 days. Toxicological endpoints included oxidative stress biomarkers, immune functional assays (total leukocyte count, phagocytic index), regulation of apoptotic pathways (Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activity), DNA integrity via the alkaline comet assay, and detailed histopathological examination of the liver, kidneys, and spleen. Exposure to CuO-NPs alone triggered severe oxidative damage, marked immunosuppression, a pro-apoptotic imbalance, and significant hepatic DNA fragmentation. Histopathology confirmed systemic injury, including hepatic necrosis, renal tubular degeneration, and splenic lymphoid depletion. Co-treatment with Cur-NPs significantly mitigated these effects, restoring antioxidant defences, immune competence, and apoptotic balance, while reducing DNA damage and tissue pathology. Cur-NPs alone maintained profiles comparable to controls, confirming their safety. Collectively, these findings reveal that Cur-NPs confer potent protection primarily by re-establishing redox homeostasis and modulating critical immune and apoptotic pathways, with copper chelation representing a proposed but unconfirmed contributory mechanism. This study provides a strong rationale for a plant-based, nanomaterial-enabled intervention to systemically protect against engineered nanomaterial toxicity in occupational settings, offering a foundation for developing exposure mitigation strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01379-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges in human micro- and nanoplastic risk assessment: stocktaking and the road ahead","authors":"Dana Kühnel,&nbsp;Anita Jemec Kokalj,&nbsp;Anja F. R. M. Ramsperger,&nbsp;Damjana Drobne,&nbsp;Anna Undas,&nbsp;Annegret Potthoff,&nbsp;Korinna Altmann,&nbsp;Willie Peijnenburg,&nbsp;Nina Jeliazkova,&nbsp;Anani Komlavi Afanou,&nbsp;Martin G. J. Löder,&nbsp;Christian Laforsch,&nbsp;Rudolf Reuther,&nbsp;Bernd Giese","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01376-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01376-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Environmental hazards of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and associated chemicals have been investigated for more than a decade. However, the field of human MNPs health risk assessment is still confronted by many uncertainties regarding exposure, fate, as well as the identification of potential health effects. Among others, the lack of reference test MNPs, natural particles as validated reference control, and toxicological test methods that are tailored for MNPs and specifically address the characteristic properties of MNPs, further contribute to data scarcity and hence complicate human risk assessment. Elucidating the complex relationship between MNPs and human health, from early life to adulthood, has been addressed by five European research projects. The aim of these projects organized within the European research cluster to understand the health impacts of MNPs (CUSP) was to provide reliable data regarding human exposure and hazard posed by MNPs. However, in view of the numerous properties of MNP, it is impossible to test all variants and the mixture of associated chemicals. Hence, pragmatic approaches are needed as substitute for experimental testing, including strategies to deal with data gaps and the associated uncertainties, whilst considering the specific properties of MNPs. In this work, partners from the CUSP projects PlasticsFatE and POLYRISK critically review and structure the data needs for human MNP risk assessment and propose options for prioritization to overcome the identified general and material-specific challenges. We identified six priority areas for future research, covering, (1) Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), 2) MNP material provision with various compositions and properties, (3) Appropriate control particles for toxicity testing, (4) Exposure and hazard assessment for plastic associated chemicals (incl. plastic additives), (5) Assessing the joint effects of MNP and associated chemicals, and (6) Characterization of functional biomarkers for MNP exposure and effect. These priority areas can be used to structure future research in the field.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01376-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use cases from the German NTSPortal on the systematic use of high-resolution mass spectrometry non-target screening data in environmental monitoring and chemicals management","authors":"Anna Lena Kronsbein,&nbsp;Ronya Mona Wallis,&nbsp;Eric Winter,&nbsp;Nicole Bandow,&nbsp;Kevin S. Jewell,&nbsp;Georg Dierkes,&nbsp;Arne Wick,&nbsp;Jan Koschorreck","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01368-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01368-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Society aims for a pollutant-free environment, reflected in initiatives under the European Green Deal, which seek to reduce hazardous substances and promote safe, sustainable chemical use. Comprehensive exposure data are needed to identify sources, understand mixtures and eliminate sources of chemical pollution. High-resolution mass spectrometry non-target screening (HRMS NTS) is increasingly used in environmental regulatory context to chemically characterise the environment as completely as possible and retrospectively screen for known and emerging substances.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>This study provides use cases for monitoring and chemicals management with data from the German NTSPortal, a database and visualisation tool for HRMS NTS data from surface water and suspended particulate matter of major German rivers. Its internal spectral library enables substance identification comparable to standardised target analysis, supporting regulatory acceptance of HRMS NTS data for prioritisation and mixture assessment. To demonstrate its potential to research and regulation, we characterised the spatial and temporal distribution of riverine chemical mixtures and present selected use cases relevant to EU environmental, emission, and chemical legislation. Despite pronounced spatial variability, mixture composition based on presence–absence data remained stable over time, with 855 of 1721 substances detected at least once and 247 occurring ubiquitously. Declining trends for regulated substances such as carbendazim and climbazole illustrate the effectiveness of regulatory measures. Overall, the results showed that NTS data repositories can help overcome fragmented exposure information and enable more consistent use of monitoring data across policy areas, including evaluation of the revised Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and One Health concepts.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Data from the German NTSPortal enabled a multi-matrix and temporal characterisation of riverine chemical mixtures, revealing both stable mixture compositions over time and persistent, catchment-specific substances. These data facilitated high-resolution mixture assessments across space and time, alongside trend analyses that meet regulatory needs in environmental monitoring and chemical risk assessment. Further temporal, spatial, chemical and matrix-spanning expansion of HRMS NTS repositories will enhance their value for environmental monitoring programmes. Strengthening interoperability, implementing FAIR data principles, and developing advanced tools for prioritisation, quantification and toxicity prediction, including AI-based approaches, will be crucial to fully realise the regulatory potential of NTS portals in the future.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01368-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicogenomic signatures and behavioral effects for mechanistic differentiation of the effects of prochloraz and endosulfan on Daphnia magna","authors":"Rieke Schulte,&nbsp;Alexandra Loll,&nbsp;Fabian Essfeld,&nbsp;Hannes Reinwald,&nbsp;Lena A. Kosak,&nbsp;Sebastian Eilebrecht","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01371-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01371-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Chemical contamination of aquatic ecosystems presents a major environmental challenge, with pesticides constituting a significant portion of these pollutants. This study investigates the acute and sublethal effects of the fungicide prochloraz and the insecticide endosulfan as model substances with known modes of action (MoA) on aquatic invertebrates, utilizing <i>Daphnia magna</i> as a model organism. Acute toxicity tests were conducted in accordance with OECD test guideline 202 and complemented by monitoring of swimming activity as well as transcriptomic analyses as sublethal endpoints to elucidate and differentiate the MoA of both compounds. The acute toxicity assays yielded EC₅₀ values consistent with previous literature as well as the registration dossiers of the substances. In subsequent behavioral assays employing sublethal nominal test concentrations, prochloraz induced a significant reduction in swimming activity, whereas endosulfan increased swimming activity with increasing test concentrations, providing preliminary evidence of substance-specific MoA. The toxicogenomic analysis revealed significant alterations in gene expression for both pesticides. While some secondary downstream cellular processes were affected by both substances, functional transcriptome analysis underscored clear MoA distinctions: prochloraz primarily regulated genes involved in lipid, sterol, and steroid biosynthesis, whereas endosulfan predominantly influenced ion transport-related genes. In summary, our study demonstrates distinct MoA-specific behavioral and gene expression responses provoked by prochloraz and endosulfan in <i>D. magna</i>, offering valuable mechanistic insights for environmental risk assessment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01371-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147643085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Atmospheric deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in southwestern German soils: sources, cancer risks and policy implications","authors":"Mark M. Scerri,&nbsp;Kristin Haas,&nbsp;Adam Gauci,&nbsp;Thomas Schiedek","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01362-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01362-3","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) comprise a group of persistent carcinogenic pollutants whose transfer from air to soil via the atmospheric deposition represents a major chronic exposure pathway. Regulatory frameworks across Europe and beyond rely heavily on single compound indicators such as benzo[a]pyrene and focus predominantly on point source contamination, creating potential blind spots for contamination by deposition. This observational study quantified concentrations, identified emission sources and assessed the lifetime cancer risk of 20 PAHs in 97 topsoil samples from four locations in southwestern Germany.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The total concentrations of the 16 USEPA priority pollutants ranged from 52 to 3956 µg/kg, with median values between 214 µg/kg (Hunsrück) and 371 µg/kg (Saarland/Palatinate Forest). Most sites (76%) were classified as “not” or “weakly” contaminated, while 12% were “heavily contaminated”. PMF identified four major sources accounting for 97% of the total PAH mass: coal/coke combustion (34.5%), biomass combustion (9.8%), petrogenic sources (15.8%) and combustion of liquid fuels from vehicles and stationary sources (37.0%). A Monte Carlo based cancer risk assessment for ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation indicated cumulative risks between 10&lt;sup&gt;–4&lt;/sup&gt;–10&lt;sup&gt;–6&lt;/sup&gt;, with ingestion and dermal contact as the dominant pathways. Localized hotspots with elevated risks were identified, indicating the need for site specific follow up.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Liquid fuel combustion represents the dominant process influencing soil contamination by atmospherically deposited polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the study area. While measured concentrations at most sites remain within current regulatory limits, the cumulative toxicity of PAH mixtures results in cancer risks that are not negligible. These findings point to a structural limitation in existing EU and national soil protection frameworks (e.g., the German BBodSchG/BBodSchV), which remain primarily oriented toward contamination from identifiable point sources and do not adequately account for diffuse deposition-driven inputs. Consequently, soils affected by atmospheric PAH deposition may fall outside current regulatory attention despite carrying a cumulative toxic burden of potential relevance for human health. Strengthening soil quality assessment approaches to incorporate cumulative toxicity metrics and deposition-driven contamination pathways would improve health protection and better align soil policy with contemporary emission patterns.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Graphical Abstract&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;figure&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;picture&gt;&lt;source&gt;&lt;img&gt;&lt;/source&gt;&lt;/picture&gt;&lt;span&gt;The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Article highlights&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;ol&gt;\u0000 &lt;li&gt;\u0000 &lt;span&gt;1.&lt;/span&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Soils in the study area were mostly “no","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01362-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A critical review of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their adverse effects on human health: insights from the past six years","authors":"Mahnoush Beygisangchin,&nbsp;Jaroon Jakmunee,&nbsp;Siti Kartom Kamarudin,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Baghdadi,&nbsp;Songpon Saetang,&nbsp;Songporn Thipprasert","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01367-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01367-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants of global concern due to their widespread occurrence, environmental persistence, and well-documented adverse effects on human health. In recent years, a rapidly expanding body of literature has reported PAH contamination across diverse environmental matrices, necessitating an updated and integrative evaluation of current knowledge. This review critically synthesizes PAH-related studies published between 2020 and 2026, with a focus on their occurrence, environmental distribution, and associated health risks in air, water, soil, sediments, and food. Emphasis is placed on comparing reported concentration levels, dominant sources, and transport behavior of PAHs across different environmental compartments, as well as on evaluating human exposure pathways and toxicological implications. In addition, recent progress in PAH detection and determination methods, including chromatographic, spectroscopic, and sensor-based approaches, is critically discussed with respect to analytical performance, applicability, and limitations. By identifying current research trends, methodological challenges, and knowledge gaps, this review provides a consolidated reference for environmental monitoring and risk evaluation of PAHs and offers perspectives to guide future research and regulatory efforts.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01367-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decarbonising university operations: strategies and challenges for Higher Education Institutions","authors":"Walter Leal Filho,&nbsp;Alexandre de Oliveira e Aguiar,&nbsp;Muhammad Manzoor Elahi,&nbsp;Fardous Mohammad Safiul Azam,&nbsp;Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis,&nbsp;João Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio,&nbsp;Muhammad Mazhar,&nbsp;Janaina Mazutti,&nbsp;Andrea Gatto,&nbsp;Iker Etxano,&nbsp;Aristea Kounani,&nbsp;Yusuf A. Aina,&nbsp;Maria Viota","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01358-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01358-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Universities have significant carbon emissions impact and face pressure to cut their operational carbon emissions around the world. This leads to growing interest of the academic and practice community in effective pathways for carbon reduction within higher education. In this context, the aim of the research is to investigate the strategies for decarbonising university operations and challenges being faced. Drawing from a mixed-method approach, a review of case studies, and a survey involving Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in nearly 40 countries, it explores the interconnectedness of awareness, cultural and political dimensions, internal institutional structures, and technical approaches in achieving decarbonisation goals.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The findings underscore awareness initiatives that enhance understanding of decarbonisation among educators and students in universities, and communities. The case studies as a review of experiences from diverse geographical regions illustrate varying strategies for carbon emissions reduction in HEIs, underscoring the adaptability of decarbonisation efforts across contexts. Additionally, cultural and political factors emerge as key determinants, requiring tailored strategies to navigate diverse contexts and garner public support. Finally, institutional structures, including financial constraints and regulatory barriers, and ageing infraestructure are identified as key barriers to effective decarbonisation efforts.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The novelty of the paper resides on the fact that it highlights the need for integrating decarbonisation goals into institutional governance and planning mechanisms is essential for achieving long-term goal of net zero carbon and aligning with the global UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study advocates for a holistic approach that considers social, economic, environmental and institutional dimensions in advancing decarbonisation within HEIs, rather than treating emissions as a purely technical issue. The effectiveness of decarbonisation measures is dependent on breaking down chronic structural and financial factors in the implementation, and is substantially supported by institutional practices that promote the engagement of all stakeholders and an open, transparent measurement of its impact. By addressing barriers, HEIs can pave the way for a sustainable and low carbon future while serving as catalysts for broader societal change.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01358-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polystyrene microplastics impair mouse oocyte maturation by interfering with fatty acid oxidation","authors":"Zhiqiang Liu,&nbsp;Xiaohan Huang,&nbsp;Yu Yu,&nbsp;Chunxiao Liang,&nbsp;Hongze Xia,&nbsp;Xiangwei Fu,&nbsp;Yunpeng Hou","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01366-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01366-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics (MPs) represent a significant environmental pollutant and have raised considerable concern due to their tendency to accumulate in animals, plants, and humans, thereby posing potential health risks. In this study, female mice were exposed to different doses of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) (0, 0.3, 3, and 30 mg/kg) via intragastric administration for 35 days to investigate their effects on female reproductive health. The results showed a significant reduction in first polar body extrusion (PBE) and glutathione (GSH) levels, accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes in the 30 mg/kg group. Based on these findings, the 30 mg/kg dose was selected for subsequent reproductive toxicity assessments. Compared with the control group, oocytes from the PS-MPs treated group exhibited a significant increase in spindle abnormalities and lipid droplet accumulation. RNA sequencing and experimental validation in mouse oocytes demonstrated that PS-MPs exposure led to upregulation of SIRT4 protein expression and downregulation of genes associated with fatty acid oxidation. Treatment with BEC2, a CPT1A activator, partially reversed the inhibitory effects of PS-MPs on fatty acid oxidation and improved oocyte maturation. Further analyses revealed that PS-MPs exposure reduced HSPA1A protein expression, potentially contributing to the activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in ovarian cells. In addition, PS-MP exposure significantly altered the expression of genes related to ovarian fibrosis, angiogenesis, and aging. Knockdown of <i>Hspa1a</i> in the mouse granulosa cell line KK1 reduced cell proliferation and viability, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, and triggered ER stress. Collectively, these findings suggest that PS-MPs exposure may accelerate ovarian aging by disrupting protein homeostasis and impair oocyte maturation in mice by disrupting fatty acid oxidation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01366-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The pressing need to close environmental knowledge gaps in emerging business leaders","authors":"Denis Vasiliev,&nbsp;Zane Drinke,&nbsp;Rosita Zvirgzdina,&nbsp;Rodney Stevens,&nbsp;Lennart Bornmalm,&nbsp;Richard Hazlett,&nbsp;Sarah Greenwood","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01363-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01363-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Turning the unprecedented tide of biodiversity loss is impossible without joint efforts from across a range of stakeholder groups. Engagement of the private sector in conservation efforts is, therefore, critically important. However, for businesses to deliberately support biodiversity conservation leaders and managers have to be aware of potential synergies and trade-offs between economic, biodiversity and climate benefits. This understanding can be gained through company collaboration with non-governmental organizations, governmental programs or educational institutions. Awareness-building efforts may be expensive and labor-intensive, likely limiting conservation engagement to a limited number of large corporations. To involve a broader range of companies, integration of environmental education into business programs taught at universities could potentially allow for cost-effective and widespread engagement with future leaders. Currently the idea of sustainability and sustainable development is being promoted at educational institutions in many countries across the globe. However, it is not clear whether business students receive sufficient training to help them make informed decisions supporting sustainable development of the companies that they may lead or establish in the future. This study aims, therefore, to initially document and evaluate student awareness of environmental sustainability. We identified significant gaps that can prevent future business leaders from supporting biodiversity conservation in their business activities, indicating a clear need for integration of environmental education in business-education curricula.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01363-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}