Environmental Sciences Europe最新文献

{"title":"Past, present and (possible) future of biofouling regulatory instruments within the international marine environmental protection framework","authors":"Mar Santos-Simón,&nbsp;Ainhoa Fernández-García de la Yedra,&nbsp;Maren Ortiz-Zarragoitia,&nbsp;Agnese Marchini","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01178-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01178-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Marine biofouling is associated with remarkable impacts for many maritime industries and is linked with major environmental concerns. Although national biofouling regulations have been issued by a few countries in the recent past, these remain isolated initiatives. At a global scale, even if biofouling undeniably accounts for important costs and risks, there is currently no international legally binding framework on it. This work focuses on the evolution of international marine environmental protection legislation and analyzes existing regulatory instruments linked to the matter, with particular emphasis on the European legislation and other few regional in-force regulations on biofouling, and eventually focussing on the sector of recreational boating. Finally, the main gaps and challenges for the development of a regulatory framework on biofouling are identified and listed, along with the major learnings and proposals derived from the experimental outcomes of recent works, to provide an integrative tool for suitable antifouling selection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01178-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145170131","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":"Effect of electric field frequency on phytoremediation efficiency and properties of Cd-contaminated soil","authors":"Xiaolan Xu,&nbsp;Chuikang Zhou,&nbsp;Jiaqing Mei,&nbsp;Mao Zhansheng,&nbsp;Dan Liu,&nbsp;Zhengqian Ye,&nbsp;Xianzhi Fang","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01177-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01177-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Electrochemical-phytoextraction is considered as an integrated technology for removal of Cd in contaminated soil. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the how electric field frequency plant Cd enrichment and soil microbial properties, which has restricted the optimized application of electric field technology. This study investigated the influence of alternating electric current (AC) at frequencies of 50 Hz and 300 Hz on Cd accumulation in willow (<i>Salix spp</i>.), soil Cd availability, and soil microbial properties. Exposure to AC at 50 Hz and 300 Hz resulted in different degrees of increase in the biomass production of leaves, branches, stems, and roots; the concentrations of N, P, and K in willow; increased root volume and root surface area; and promoted photosynthesis in willow. Compared with the control, AC at 50 Hz significantly enhanced Cd accumulation in the above-ground parts and roots of willow by 14.65% and 9.48%, respectively. Moreover, exposure to AC significantly increased soil Cd availability by 8.34% and 19.26% at frequencies of 50 Hz and 300 Hz, respectively. AC at 50 Hz and 300 Hz decreased soil urease activity but increased the activity of peroxidase acid, phosphatase, and microbial activity. This suggests that AC electric field modulate the interactions between Cd, enzymes, and microbes. Although Cd generally inhibit enzyme activity, AC electric field can alter the soil environment, reduce toxic effects, and enhance oxidative stress responses and nutrient cycling, which can mitigate Cd toxicity. Therefore, these results indicate that the AC electric field promoted willow growth, increased soil Cd availability, and altered soil properties, ultimately leading to Cd uptake in willow. In particular, 50 Hz AC exhibited greater impacts on plant Cd enrichment.</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":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01177-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169573","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":"Continuous improvement towards environmental protection for pharmaceuticals: advancing a strategy for Europe","authors":"Sam Harrison,&nbsp;Catherine Barnett,&nbsp;Stephen Short,&nbsp;Cansu Uluseker,&nbsp;Patricia V. Silva,&nbsp;Maria D. Pavlaki,&nbsp;Sarah Roberts,&nbsp;Madalena Vieira,&nbsp;Stephen Lofts,&nbsp;Susana Loureiro,&nbsp;David J. Spurgeon","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01180-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01180-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The manufacture, use and disposal of pharmaceutical products can lead to their release into the environment, raising concerns about potential risks to biota and human health. This is recognised in the European Commission’s Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, which has recently overseen the development of a proposed revision of current pharmaceutical legislation. Amongst other things, this strategy and revision broadly offer strengthened protection against environmental risk. For example, it enhances the power authorities have to refuse market authorisation where an identified risk to the environment cannot be sufficiently addressed, includes a requirement for legacy pharmaceutical products to be risk assessed, includes a broadened scope to cover the entire product lifecycle, and places a greater focus on open data. In this publication, we assess the proposed legislation against the latest scientific knowledge, identifying opportunities for strengthening the protection that it offers. These opportunities include moving towards the risk assessment of mixtures, broadening the scope of effects testing to include non-conventional (e.g., behavioural) and chronic endpoints, making better use of predictive modelling such as Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships (QSARs), and better accounting for environmental heterogeneity, such as the influence of temperature and especially pH on risk. Many of the elements discussed apply not just to pharmaceuticals but across other chemical domains and regulatory regimes, particularly when considering mixture assessment. Integrating knowledge across sectors and regulatory regimes is therefore crucial to better address the role of pharmaceuticals as one of many environmental pollutants.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12297009/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144726374","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":"Experimental secondary reference odour mass (SROM) measurement for selected four odorants","authors":"Elisa Polvara,&nbsp;Giacomo Domenico Scolieri,&nbsp;Marzio Invernizzi,&nbsp;Selena Sironi","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01179-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01179-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The selection of panellists in dynamic olfactometry traditionally relies on their sensitivity to n-Butanol. The introduction of <i>secondary reference odour mass</i> (SROM), as proposed in the updated standard EN 13725:2022, offers a potential improvement in the selection process and, consequently, in odour quantification accuracy. This study was conducted at the Laboratorio Olfattometrico of Politecnico di Milano, using the new standardized procedure outlined in EN 13725:2022. This study measured and calculated the SROM values for four odorants (dimethyl sulphide, toluene, methanethiol and acetaldehyde), comparing the results with odour thresholds available in the literature.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The research’s findings show that sulphur-containing compounds, such as dimethyl sulphide and methanethiol, have lower SROM values, respectively 0.0015 and 0.000066 µmol/mol, indicating higher odour potency compared to the other tested substances (SROM_toluene = 0.77 µmol/mol and SROM_acetaldehyde = 0.024 µmol/mol). Focusing on the examiners' response, a slight correlation between their response to investigated odorants and n-Butanol is found. In addition, the response of examiners to odorants is generally found to be less variable compared to their response to n-Butanol under the test conditions. A different trend emerges when comparing the panellists' responses to n-Butanol and acetaldehyde: the variability between individual responses is higher for acetaldehyde, and there is a slight negative correlation between the responses to the two substances.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study provides specific SROM values and experimental evidence supporting the integration of odorant-specific reference materials into panel selection procedures, with the aim of enhancing the reliability of dynamic olfactometry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01179-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169574","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":"Using artificial intelligence in sustainability teaching and learning","authors":"Walter Leal Filho,&nbsp;Eundeok Kim,&nbsp;Jaluza Maria Lima Silva Borsatto,&nbsp;Carla Bonato Marcolin","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01159-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01159-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in sustainability education (SE) represents a forward-thinking approach to teaching and learning, addressing complex global challenges through innovative technology. The deployment of AI offers promising prospects in SE as a means to enhance learning experiences, foster innovative problem-solving skills, and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions. Despite the potential of AI in sustainability teaching and learning, there is a need for studies that explore several key areas, including how AI may enhance educational outcomes, develop sustainable solutions, and prepare students for future challenges. </p><h3>Results</h3><p>By means of a set of case studies and a survey from 45 countries, it examines the current use of AI as a tool towards sustainable development identifying some areas where action is needed. The results show that the integration of AI in SE has the potential to significantly enhance the learning experience by providing personalized instruction and facilitating interactive simulations that deepen students' understanding of complex environmental issues. In addition, AI tools can increase student engagement through personalized learning paths and real-time feedback, fostering a more interactive and immersive educational environment that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving. </p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>While promising, the use of AI in SE requires ongoing research to explore potential challenges and the ethical implications of AI technologies in educational settings.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01159-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166553","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":"Negative impact of oral exposure to polystyrene microplastics on glucose tolerance and intestinal environment in mice is independent of particle size","authors":"Yuto Saijo,&nbsp;Yuka Hasegawa,&nbsp;Takuro Okamura,&nbsp;Yuriko Ono,&nbsp;Takahiro Ichikawa,&nbsp;Naoko Nakanishi,&nbsp;Yutaro Tsuchimura,&nbsp;Tamaki Morioka,&nbsp;Shuhei Tanaka,&nbsp;Hirohisa Takano,&nbsp;Masahide Hamaguchi,&nbsp;Michiaki Fukui","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01158-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01158-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Surging plastic pollution poses health issues worldwide. As the production of plastics has been skyrocketing, the impact of microplastics (MPs) on ecosystems is no longer negligible. Our previous study revealed that oral administration of MPs to mice impaired glucose tolerance in the presence of leaky gut syndrome (LGS) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). This study aimed to elucidate the effect of particle size of MPs on toxicity, specifically against glucose metabolism, in HFD-fed mice. C57BL6/J mice were assigned to four groups: one fed a HFD alone, and three fed a HFD mixed with polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) of different particle sizes (0.5, 10, and 100 µm) for 6 weeks. The dose of PS-MPs administered was 10 mg/kg BW/day. We analyzed glucose tolerance, histological and immunochemical changes in the intestinal tract, gene expression in the small intestine, and gut microbiota.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Regardless of particle size, PS-MPs compromised glucose tolerance in mice. Relative atrophy of the intestinal villi and an increased number of macrophages and natural killer cells were observed in mice administered with PS-MPs. The expression of genes related to glucose metabolism and inflammation in the murine jejunum was altered in mice administered PS-MPs. In HFD + PS-MP 10 µm mice, both composition and diversity of gut microbiota altered, and in HFD + PS-MP 0.5 and 100 µm mice, composition of gut microbiota changed.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Regardless of particle size, oral exposure to PS-MPs triggered impaired glucose tolerance, inflammation in the intestinal tract, and alterations in gene expression and gut microbiota. This study underscores the necessity of mitigating oral exposure to MPs regardless of particle size.</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":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01158-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166534","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":"Acute fish toxicity testing in pesticide risk assessment: still a necessary requirement for the future?","authors":"Elena Adams,&nbsp;Sarah Hartmann,&nbsp;Daniel Faber,&nbsp;Yvonne Wolf,&nbsp;Markus Ebeling,&nbsp;Eric Bruns","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01170-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01170-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The reliance on traditional acute fish toxicity testing in the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products (PPPs) raises ethical and scientific concerns, particularly considering the EU’s commitment to the 3Rs principle (replacement, reduction, refinement) and animal welfare legislation. This study assesses the contribution of acute fish toxicity tests to ERAs for 224 pesticidal active substances (a.s.) approved for use in PPPs in the EU. We analyzed regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) across various aquatic organisms, including fish, invertebrates, sediment-dwelling organisms, algae, and macrophytes using data from publicly available European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conclusions.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Our tiered assessment revealed that only 22 a.s. (approximately 9.8% of the total) were driven by acute fish toxicity in a first-tier assessment. The risk for 20 out of these 22 a.s. was covered considering higher tiers such as geomean RAC calculations, EFSA adaptations of the assessment factor and similar RACs within a factor of 3. For only 2 out of 224 a.s. (0.89%), acute fish toxicity remained the driver in ERA. However, for one substance no chronic fish toxicity test was available. Furthermore, both substances degrade rapidly in water under environmental conditions. As the acute fish toxicity tests were performed under constant exposure, the real acute hazard to fish is substantially lower than indicated by the available data.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The findings advocate for a paradigm shift in regulatory ecotoxicology towards the integration of new approach methodologies, thereby reducing the reliance on vertebrate testing while maintaining environmental protection with regard to acute fish toxicity. This research underscores the potential for regulatory frameworks to minimize animal testing without compromising safety and calls for further investigation into alternative testing methods for specific modes of action.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01170-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166411","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 systematic review and meta-analysis of toxic elements exposure and risk of prostate cancer","authors":"Huamei Zhu,&nbsp;Yutao Chen,&nbsp;Hezhen Chen,&nbsp;Yang Ye,&nbsp;Yuan Chi","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01156-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01156-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The evidence on exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and the risk of prostate cancer has been inconsistent and somewhat unclear. Therefore, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the existing literature comprehensively, to assess the relationship between exposure to PTEs and the risk of prostate cancer.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The execution of this review followed the PRISMA guidelines. An extensive search was carried out in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed to locate relevant English-language articles published up until February 27, 2025. Random-effects linear mixed models (REML) meta-analysis was applied for all evaluated associations. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses were conducted in the meta-analysis to evaluate the reliability of the findings. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg’s test, Egger’s test, funnel plots, and the trim-and-fill method.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 1118 articles were retrieved, resulting in a final set of 41 articles that were incorporated into our review. Most of the studies had a cross-sectional or case–control design and were conducted in the USA of Europe. The meta-analysis, encompassing 14 studies, revealed no significant link between PTEs exposure and prostate cancer risk. Minimal publication bias was detected, and adjustments did not impact results. Subgroup analyses based on publication year, exposure assessment method, and PTE type revealed no significant associations, except for arsenic (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06) and lead (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.05), both of which were linked to a slight increase in prostate cancer risk. In contrast, selenium was inversely associated with prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.03–0.12). Study quality analysis yielded varying risk estimates, with studies classified as “excellent” providing the most consistent results. Meta-regression hinted at a slight, non-significant potential trend of higher standard incidence ratios (SIRs) in recent studies.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Overall, our study suggests that exposure to PTEs through various pathways may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01156-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145165860","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":"Global health and economic impacts of mycotoxins: a comprehensive review","authors":"Amira A. Goda,&nbsp;Jianrong Shi,&nbsp;Jianhong Xu,&nbsp;Xin Liu,&nbsp;You Zhou,&nbsp;Liwen Xiao,&nbsp;Mona Abdel-Galil,&nbsp;Salah H. Salem,&nbsp;Eman G. Ayad,&nbsp;Mohamed Deabes,&nbsp;Ofentse Pooe,&nbsp;M. A. Abou Donia,&nbsp;A. A. K. Abou-Arab,&nbsp;Sherif Ramzy","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01166-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01166-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mycotoxins pose significant health and economic challenges, affecting humans, animals, and commodities. This review examines fungal toxigenicity, its spread, and its impact on crops, ecosystems, and human health. The economic implications of mycotoxins, particularly their detrimental effect on the global economy, are also explored. Global agro-economic industry losses have been reported, emanating from cross-border import/export denials, product destruction, and routine analysis. Mainly victims of these exclusions are goods from regions accounting for 70% of global nut and dried fruit imports. Annual costs of mycotoxin contamination have been estimated to reach USD 100 million. The current review highlights the situation in the Americas, where Bt corn saves US farmers approximately USD 17 million annually by reducing damage from fumonisin and deoxynivalenol. In Africa and Asia, mycotoxin contamination presents severe health and economic challenges. Control measures include early harvesting, rapid drying, seed separation, sanitation, agronomic practices, insect control, the use of botanicals and synthetics, biological control, and detoxification of contaminated commodities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01166-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145165834","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":"Evaluating herbicidal risks of the fungicide tebuconazole: differential sensitivity of dicot and monocot macrophytes in freshwater mesocosms","authors":"Silvia Mohr,&nbsp;Mishal Antony,&nbsp;Valeska Contardo-Jara,&nbsp;Ulrike Scholz,&nbsp;Stefan Bader,&nbsp;Christian Polleichtner,&nbsp;Gertie Arts","doi":"10.1186/s12302-025-01174-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-025-01174-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The triazole fungicide tebuconazole (TBZ) has plant growth regulatory properties and is used as such in, e.g., oilseed rape crop production. To date, very little is known about the phytohormonal effects of TBZ on macrophytes. There are only data for the monocot macrophyte <i>Lemna</i> sp. available in the literature, which indicate a moderate risk for macrophytes. However, dicot macrophyte species are known to generally be more sensitive to growth regulating pesticides, due to the phytohormonal effects of these substances. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if TBZ may impact monocot and dicot aquatic macrophytes differently and to quantify these effects. Two in situ experiments were conducted as part of a comprehensive study in freshwater mesocosms to evaluate direct and indirect effects of TBZ on five macrophyte species, particularly comparing the dicot species <i>Myriophyllum spicatum</i> with monocot duckweed species and the macrophyte standing stock of the mesocosms. For this, six naturally established freshwater mesocosms were dosed once with six different concentrations of TBZ (5–5000 μg/L), two served as controls.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The dicot <i>M. spicatum</i> was the most sensitive species with the lowest EC₅₀ (14 d) of 228 µg/L TBZ. In contrast, the monocot broad-leaved pondweed <i>Potamogeton natans</i> and two duckweed species reacted far less sensitive in this study with <i>Spirodela polyrhiza</i> being the most sensitive monocot species (EC₅₀ (14 d): 1487 µg/L TBZ). Shoots of <i>M. spicatum</i>, which were grown directly as standing stock in the mesocosms, developed strong growth deformities in the form of shorter stems and condensed leaf whorls during the course of the study in the higher TBZ treatments. This effect can be linked to the anti-gibberellic mode of action of TBZ.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The results of this study highlight that short-term in situ experiments are a valuable tool that can efficiently be integrated into comprehensive mesocosm studies investigating aquatic communities, in order to gain reliable EC_x data for several non-standard macrophyte species with different growth forms under near-natural conditions. The results of this research underscore that for regulatory risk assessment of fungicides with a phytohormonal mode of action, dicot aquatic macrophytes need to be included in the first tier of the risk assessment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01174-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166160","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}