Environmental Sciences Europe最新文献

{"title":"Synergistic impacts of flupyradifurone and uniconazole on oxidative stress biomarkers and immune-related gene expression in honey bees","authors":"Liping Chen,&nbsp;Qian Liu,&nbsp;Mingfei Xu,&nbsp;Liangang Mao,&nbsp;Xinju Liu,&nbsp;Dou Wang,&nbsp;Changxin Wu,&nbsp;Yanhua Wang","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01280-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01280-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The widespread application of pesticides in modern agriculture has been recognized as a key driver of declines in honey bee populations. Butenolide insecticide flupyradifurone (FLU) and triazole-based plant growth regulator uniconazole (UNI) are frequently found together in agricultural ecosystems, raising serious concerns about their combined toxicological impacts on pollinators.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>FLU and UNL mixture elicited an acute synergistic toxic effect on <i>A. mellifera</i>, significantly enhancing physiological stress. Enzymatic activity assays revealed notable alterations in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), indicative of intensified oxidative stress, impaired detoxification mechanisms, and compromised immune function. Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses showed that the expression of five key genes, <i>abaecin</i>, <i>domeless</i>, <i>relish</i>, <i>vitellogenin</i> (<i>vtg</i>), and <i>CRBXase</i>, was more profoundly affected under combined exposure compared to individual treatments, highlighting disruptions in immune regulation, longevity pathways, and detoxification processes at the molecular level.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>These results provided compelling evidence that the co-occurrence of FLU and UNI posed a heightened biochemical and genetic threat to honey bees, likely due to synergistic interactions that amplified their individual toxicities. This study offered crucial insights into the ecological hazards of pesticide combinations. Such informed approaches are vital for minimizing pollinator risk and safeguarding ecosystem services essential to sustainable agriculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01280-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145982407","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":"Precipitation anomalies and all-cause mortality among cancer patients: a UK biobank cohort analysis","authors":"Jingyi Wu,&nbsp;Chunmiao Zhou,&nbsp;Pengfei Li,&nbsp;Luxia Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01265-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01265-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The long-term impacts of climate change on human health have garnered growing attention, but little is known about the effect of climate change on cancer outcomes. This study aims to investigate the long-term effects of anomalous precipitation on all-cause mortality of cancer patients, based on national multicenter cohort data.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We conducted a multicenter cohort analysis based on mortality data of 92,638 patients diagnosed with cancer in UK Biobank. For each patient, we calculated the annual average precipitation as well as anomalous precipitation, defined as the deviation from the long-term local average. A multicenter Cox regression model was conducted to estimate the associations between all-cause mortality of cancer patients and average or anomalous precipitation. Based on a varying-coefficient model, we developed a two-dimensional exposure–response function (ERF) linking mortality to both long-term average and anomalous precipitation, to assess heterogeneity across precipitation zones.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Each 0.1 mm/day increase in absolute values of precipitation anomalies was associated with a 5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.1%, 6.2%) excess risk of mortality for anomalous wet (positive change in precipitation) or an 8.5% (95% CI 7.3%, 9.6%) excess risk for anomalously dry (negative change in precipitation). The two-dimensional ERF suggested considerably heterogeneous effects of anomalous precipitation on mortality across precipitation zones, reflecting differences in population adaptability to local climates. Anomalous wet conditions were associated with a significant hazard to patients living in both arid and humid zones, whereas anomalous dry conditions were mainly hazardous in arid zones, but protective in humid zones.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Anomaly in terms of either dry or wet precipitation was associated with an increased risk of mortality of cancer patients. The effect of anomalous precipitation varied across precipitation zone, reflecting capacity of human adaptation to local climate. In the context of global climate change, the potential of regionally adaptive strategies to reduce cancer mortality should be further explored.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01265-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145982464","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":"Stakeholder perspectives on the REACH revision and the role of the precautionary principle","authors":"Henrik Josefsson,&nbsp;Caroline Gardelli,&nbsp;Marlene Ågerstrand","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01283-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01283-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This article provides a qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives on the European Commission’s revision of the REACH Regulation, highlighting how these perspectives reveal deeper epistemic and normative tensions in EU risk governance. Beyond summarising stakeholder positions, the paper offers an interpretive reading of how the precautionary principle is invoked to justify competing approaches to scientific uncertainty, risk assessment, and regulatory simplification. The analysis identifies three cross-cutting themes—knowledge and precaution, risk versus hazard, and simplification versus improved protection—and discusses how these reflect divergent legal and epistemological visions of chemical safety in EU. By contextualising stakeholder reasoning within EU regulatory traditions, the study contributes to understanding how precaution continues to shape, and be contested within, contemporary EU chemicals governance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01283-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145730124","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":"Asbestos legislation SITREP in the European Union: a mixed-methods analysis of parliamentary questions (1995–2024)","authors":"Ambra Hyskaj,&nbsp;Tamás G. Weiszburg,&nbsp;Erzsébet Harman-Tóth","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01273-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01273-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Asbestos, a group of naturally occurring minerals once known as ‘magic minerals’, is widely regulated due to its carcinogenicity. However, its regulation remains a complex challenge for the European Union (EU). This study analyses how asbestos-related issues are addressed within the EU by studying parliamentary questions submitted to the European Commission over 30 years.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The analysis of 378 parliamentary questions identified four context themes: asbestos presence, related activities, impact, and regulations. Italian Members of the EU Parliament raised 41% of the questions, other countries asked &lt; 10% each. Most cases (69.2%) requested information rather than action, while answers provided additional information (76.7%). Action-based answers included legislative actions, official correspondence, and verification. Responsibility was attributed to Member States in 178 out of 186 answers. Waste management resulted a consistent compliance concern. Within asbestos presence context (19.9% of PQs), questions addressed asbestos containing material (14%), waste (4.6%) and naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) (1.3%). Before the 2005 asbestos ban, questions focused on responsibility and regulatory frameworks, answers highlighted legislative actions, awareness, and commitment. After the ban, questioning declined and shifted to plans, implementation, and compliance issues, while answers highlighted Member State responsibility and compliance.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Asbestos-related Parliamentary Questions expose regulatory, enforcement, and public health challenges across EU Member States but their impact is limited by weak follow-up mechanisms. Due to the nature of EU legislation, adoption, implementation and enforcement of asbestos -related measures depend primarily on national authorities. This can result in uneven application across Member States and many limit the EU’s capacity to ensure continuous protection from asbestos exposure, especially in higher-risk contexts and cross-border activities. Italy’s high number of PQs reflects complex national vulnerabilities, including the presence of NOA along with processed materials and waste. The exclusion of NOA from the current regulations represents a critical oversight. The authors encourage the European Commission to create a regulatory framework for NOA for safer environment for people in risky areas. Future legislation should strengthen and support EU-wide NOA mapping and coordination. This study recommends the use of PQs as a monitoring tool to identify national issues and drive more responsive and effective policy development across the EU, despite potential limitations.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01273-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145982598","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":"Developmental exposure to environmentally relevant PFOS and PFBS disrupts adult behaviour, reproductive fitness, and lipid metabolism in Zebrafish","authors":"Manon Fallet,&nbsp;Jonas Zetzsche,&nbsp;Michela Di Criscio,&nbsp;Coralie Yon,&nbsp;Rudolf Aro,&nbsp;Daniel Duberg,&nbsp;Leo W. Y. Yeung,&nbsp;Adeolu Ogunleye,&nbsp;Philipp Antczak,&nbsp;Nikolai Scherbak,&nbsp;Joëlle Rüegg,&nbsp;Tuulia Hyötyläinen,&nbsp;Steffen H. Keiter","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01281-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01281-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent pollutants affecting wildlife and biodiversity. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and one of its short-chain substitutes, perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), are widely found in environmental components, especially in water. PFOS has been highlighted as causing deleterious effects on various organisms while PFBS adversity is suspected but requires further investigation. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed from 2 h post-fertilization to 28 days post-fertilization to two different concentrations (0.2 µg/L and 2 µg/L) of PFOS or PFBS. We then investigated the impacts of these early exposures later in life on adult fish fitness, growth, morphology, behaviour, and liver lipidomic profiles.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>PFOS exposure significantly reduced egg production, and both PFOS and PFBS altered growth patterns, organ development, and anxiety-like behaviour. Lipidomic analyses revealed persistent shifts in liver lipid composition that correspond to these phenotypic changes.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Taken together, our findings indicate that early-life exposure to low levels of PFOS and PFBS leads to long-term, sex-specific impairments in zebrafish physiology and behaviour, with disruptions in lipid metabolism emerging as a potential underlying mechanism.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01281-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145729534","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 exposure-based prioritisation of substances of very high concern (SVHCs)","authors":"Susann Wolf,&nbsp;Mimmi Leite,&nbsp;Abdulqadir Mohamad Suleiman,&nbsp;Pål Graff","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01282-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01282-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Substances of very high concern (SVHCs), causing serious and often irreversible effects on human health and the environment, are included in the candidate list under the European REACH regulation, awaiting further regulatory processing. There is a need for prioritisation efforts to evaluate hazardous chemicals rapidly and efficiently. Lacking workplace exposure measurements, this paper aimed to evaluate whether it is feasible to make an exposure-based prioritisation of occupationally relevant SVHCs. Exposure surrogates, such as data on product use, production volume and processes, were used to establish exposure profiles among professional workers in the Nordic countries.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>It was challenging to create an exposure-based prioritisation list of SVHCs solely by using publicly available information, mainly due to limited data accessibility in product registers, ECHA Chem and REACH workplace exposure scenarios.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Limited data accessibility hampers an effective and transparent chemical risk assessment and exposure-based prioritisation of substances that is applicable and useful for regulatory authorities and other stakeholders. To enable a more effective chemical risk assessment and exposure-based prioritisation of substances, exposure data needs to be accessible.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01282-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145982678","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":"Spatiotemporal dynamics and potential pathogen fate of microeukaryotic communities in a full-scale waste stabilization pond system","authors":"Mahmoud Gad,&nbsp;Rafat Zrieq,&nbsp;Salman Hamdan Alsaqri,&nbsp;Bandar Alsaif,&nbsp;Awfa Y. Alazzeh,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Marouf,&nbsp;Mariam E. Fawzy","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01267-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01267-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) represent a sustainable, low-cost wastewater treatment option, yet the ecological dynamics of microeukaryotic communities and their pathogenic potential remain underexplored. Here, we investigate how treatment stage and season shape microeukaryotic communities—and the fate of potentially pathogenic taxa—in a full-scale WSP, interpreting patterns with ecological assembly models to inform safe wastewater reuse. Over one year, 48 samples were collected from four stages (inlet, anaerobic, facultative, and outlet) and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and microeukaryotic communities via high-throughput 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Water quality improved markedly along the treatment train, with ≥ 75% removal of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and ammonium nitrogen. Microeukaryotic community composition was significantly structured by treatment stage and season (PERMANOVA, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with the highest diversity observed at the inlet. Opisthokonta, mainly heterotrophic fungi and protists, dominated all stages, while biomarker analysis revealed functional compartmentalization—Ascomycota fungi in the inlet and phototrophic taxa such as Eustigmatophyceae and <i>Scenedesmus</i> in later stages. Ecological modeling showed a shift from stochastic assembly (ecological drift) upstream to deterministic processes (heterogeneous selection) downstream. Notably, 150 potentially pathogenic genera were identified, including <i>Candida</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Acanthamoeba</i>, and <i>Entamoeba</i>, with incomplete removal of some taxa. Persistence of <i>Candida</i> and <i>Saccharomyces</i> in effluent, despite moderate removal (~ 65–81%), highlights potential public health risks. These findings provide novel insights into the ecological functioning of WSPs and underscore the need for improved pathogen monitoring using molecular approaches to ensure safe wastewater reuse.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01267-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145729599","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":"Surface modification of polyethersulfone membranes with alkaline protease-activated L-histidine zwitterion carbon dots to improve anti-protein fouling","authors":"Gül Kaya,&nbsp;Kasim Ocakoglu,&nbsp;Mohammed Saleh,&nbsp;Nadir Dizge,&nbsp;Deepanraj Balakrishnan,&nbsp;Emad M. Elsehly","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01262-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01262-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, L-histidine zwitterionic carbon dots (HZCDs) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The synthesized HZCDs were used to modify polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. Additionally, the HZCDs-modified membranes were activated using the protease enzyme to prepare protease-activated composite membranes. The prepared materials underwent extensive characterization and validation using various techniques, including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses. The blending or activation of HZCDs by the protease enzyme reduced the contact angle of the prepared membranes. The contact angle decreased from 78.75° to 50.12° and 40.02° for 2.0 wt.% HZCDs-PES and PES/Protease-HZCDs membranes, respectively. As the contact angle decreased, the hydrophilic nature of the prepared membranes increased, reflecting a strong affinity for water and efficient wettability. In this context, the pure water flux (PWF) values of PES membranes increased from 140.5 ± 5.3 to 248.7 ± 8.4 L/m².h with rising HZCDs amount from 0 to 2 wt.% HZCDs-PES. Additionally, PWF values for protease-activated composite membranes increased from 140.5 ± 5.3 to 321.1 ± 9.2 L/m². h. BSA flux values of PES membranes increased from 56.4 ± 2.4 to 82.9 ± 0.9 L/m².h with increasing HZCDs amount from 0 to 2.0 wt.% HZCDs-PES. Besides, BSA values for protease-activated composite membranes increased from 56.4 ± 2.4 to 89.8 ± 2.2 L/m².h. The purpose of this modification was to impart hydrophilic properties to the PES membrane and address the issue of membrane fouling, which is a common problem in filtration processes. 2.0 wt.% HZCDs-PES and enzyme-activated membranes PES membranes demonstrated 100% BSA removal efficiency. Also, 2.0 wt.% HZCDs-blended membranes and 2.0 wt.% protease-HZCDs-blended membranes demonstrated remarkable antifouling properties up to 87.7% and 88.8% flux recovery ratio (FRR), respectively. In contrast, BSA flux recovery reached only 67.8% for the pristine PES. When compared to pristine PES membranes, enzyme-activated membranes demonstrated superior filtration and protein rejection efficiencies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01262-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145729600","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":"Are residents prepared for the effects of climate change? A survey-based study in Tâmega e Sousa (Mainland Portugal)","authors":"Hélder S. Lopes,&nbsp;Pedro F. Silva,&nbsp;Margarida Almeida,&nbsp;Inácio Ribeiro,&nbsp;Paula Remoaldo","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01254-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01254-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aims to assess public perceptions of climate change and the adaptive capacity of communities in the NUTS III Tâmega e Sousa, sub-region of northern Portugal—a territory highly vulnerable to climate-related risks. Understanding local awareness, concerns, and behavioral responses is crucial for designing effective climate adaptation strategies and enhancing community resilience in the face of increasing extreme weather events. A structured questionnaire was administered to 391 residents between January and March 2024, following a pilot test and expert validation. The survey evaluated climate change awareness, perceived risks, preparedness, and support for adaptation measures. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests, were used to identify group differences. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to synthesize response patterns and identify key dimensions of adaptive behavior. The study revealed high awareness of climate change impacts (over 90%) but low perceived readiness, with only 38.6% believing current efforts are adequate. Women and individuals with higher education showed greater concern and engagement. Economic limitations were a major barrier, with only 16.9% feeling financially capable of adaptation. The results provide valuable reflections for policymakers aiming to enhance regional resilience by aligning public engagement with adaptive strategies through targeted education and support mechanisms will be crucial for ensuring sustainable adaptation efforts in the NUTS III Tâmega e Sousa. These findings also highlight a disconnect between awareness and action. This is one of the first studies to empirically evaluate public adaptive capacity to climate change in the Tâmega e Sousa.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01254-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145675371","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":"Forced isolation by invisible barriers: international survey on the effects of fragrances on the quality of life","authors":"Heidi Wagner,&nbsp;Ursula Klaschka","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01259-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01259-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Previous cross-sectional surveys showed that between 20 to 35% of the adult population report health effects in contact with fragrances. The present international survey with 3152 self-reported fragrance sensitive persons addresses the situation in more detail, gathered reported symptoms, underlying diseases, strategies to cope with fragrance sensitivity, and the impact on participation in social life and on quality of life.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>On average, every fragrance sensitive person in this survey associates almost ten health symptoms with fragrance exposure, the most frequent ones being cognitive problems, migraine/headaches, mucous membrane problems and breathing problems. More than a third (37.47%) of the survey participants indicate that they have experienced a physical breakdown due to heavy exposure to fragrances. Almost half of the respondents (48.92%) report that their fragrance sensitivity was the reason why they lost their job. Nearly 70% (68,31%) of survey participants indicate that they are excluded from social life almost completely or very strongly, and nearly two thirds (62.53%) indicate that they are forced into increasing isolation almost completely or very strongly. Around three quarters (76.84%) of survey participants state that fragrance exposure affects their quality of life strongly or takes away any quality of life completely.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Fragrance exposure is an invisible barrier that leads to isolation of fragrance sensitive persons in society. General avoidance of fragrances does not heal their sensitivity, but prevents the manifestation of the symptoms, so that fragrance sensitive persons would be able to participate in and contribute to society. Fragrance-free regulations for important areas, such as those implemented partially in Canada and the USA, would be an important improvement.</p><p>Many fragrance substances are hazardous with effects for the human health and the environment, but they are not essential for human health, safety or for the functioning of society. Therefore, hazardous fragrances are obvious candidates for a prompt phase out according to the European essential use concept. A responsible use of fragrances would not only help fragrance vulnerable individuals, but also the general population and the environment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01259-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145930042","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}