Environmental Sciences Europe最新文献

{"title":"Improved reliability of ready biodegradability assessments in the Closed Bottle test (OECD 301D) by omission of ammonium chloride","authors":"Roy Geerts,&nbsp;Jhonatan A. Hernandez Valdes,&nbsp;Marc Geurts,&nbsp;Liesa-Kristin Beuter,&nbsp;Jens Bietz,&nbsp;Ivana Dierdorf","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01354-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01354-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ammonium-nitrogen is supplemented with the medium of the Closed Bottle test (OECD 301D) as macronutrient for growth. Nitrification of this ammonium-nitrogen results in an increased background respiration and a higher chance of generating invalid test results. The omission of ammonium chloride from the Closed Bottle test medium raises regulatory concerns, as this modification is assumed to lead to less stringent test conditions. To address this concern and demonstrate that the removal of ammonium chloride does not result in unduly favorable conditions, the biodegradability of seven test substances was assessed in OECD 301D tests using standard and ammonium-free medium and results were compared. Nitrate and nitrite analyses were included to determine the extent of nitrification. Biodegradation results of the OECD 301D tests performed with standard medium and ammonium-free test medium were comparable and most of the ammonium-nitrogen dosed with the medium was recovered after 28 days in the form of nitrate-nitrogen. These results indicate that sufficient nitrogen for biomass growth of the heterotrophic microorganisms is introduced with the inoculum of the OECD 301D test. The stringency in the OECD 301D tests was demonstrated by the low biomass-to-test substance ratio and the test accuracy was demonstrated by oxygen consumption in the inoculum blank control bottles of ≤ 1.5 mg L⁻¹. OECD 301D tests performed with standard test medium are more likely to exceed the validity criterion for the oxygen consumption in inoculum blank control bottles because of nitrification-caused respiration. Hence, the omission of ammonium chloride from the test medium will improve the reliability of the OECD 301D test by reducing the likelihood ofs generating invalid test results. Scientific evidence demonstrates that the omission of ammonium chloride from the OECD 301D test medium is justified for regulatory acceptance, as empirical data confirms this modification enhances test reliability while maintaining both stringency and accuracy of biodegradability assessment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01354-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559857","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":"Groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment in the Achankovil river Basin, Western Ghats, Southern India: integration of GIS-based DRASTIC-LC model, hydrochemical indicators and multivariate statistical analysis","authors":"S. Kaliraj,&nbsp;S. Firose,&nbsp;S. Richard Abishek,&nbsp;Reji Srinivas,&nbsp;K. Palanivel,&nbsp;V. Stephen Pitchaimani,&nbsp;Shankar Karuppannan","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01359-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01359-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Achankovil River Basin (ARB) is a tropical region of the Western Ghats in Kerala, southern India, facing critical issues with groundwater sources from natural and human-induced activities. This study aims to identify pollution vulnerability to groundwater using a GIS-based DRASTIC-LC model and hydrochemical analysis. Land cover (LC) change (2000 – 2025) was incorporated to evaluate its impacts on groundwater vulnerability. The DRASTIC-LC map indicates a vulnerability index ranging from 74 to 235, classified into five zones such as very low (13%), low (52.2%), moderate (16.6%), high (16.8%), and very high (1.4%). A higher vulnerability rate has been noted in the western coastal and lateritic midlands due to the occurrence of unconfined aquifers with shallow groundwater (&lt; 3 m bgl), characterized by high seepage flow (&gt; 2000 L min⁻¹), formed by coastal sandy alluvium under both natural and human-induced pressures. Wherein the eastern highlands with hard rock formations exhibit a lower vulnerability rate, due to deeper confined aquifers (&gt; 12 m bgl), and lower permeability (&lt; 500 L min⁻¹). In the middle plateaus, the laterite formations were noticed with moderate vulnerability conditions. Model reliability was validated through the strong spatial agreement between high DRASTIC-LC index zones and elevated hydrochemical indicators (EC, TDS, Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, and NO₃⁻). Multivariate analyses (PCA and HCA) further confirmed that depth to water table, recharge, vadose zone characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, and land cover are the dominant controls on groundwater vulnerability. Overall, groundwater vulnerability in the ARB is influenced by urban discharge, agricultural residues, sewage and industrial infiltration, LULC change, the expansion of impervious surfaces, and reduced recharge. The consistency between DRASTIC-LC indices, hydrochemical indicators (EC, TDS, Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, and NO₃⁻), and multivariate statistical results demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach in identifying aquifers prone to pollution. It supports groundwater protection measures aligned with the United Nations SDGs 6, 13, and 15.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01359-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559778","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":"Mechanistic computational framework for human half-lives of 931 organic chemicals","authors":"Mengyao Zhang,&nbsp;Zijian Li","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01360-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01360-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study presents a mechanistic computational modeling framework to estimate chemical dissipation half-lives in the human body. The physiologically based kinetic matrix was developed to simulate organ-specific and whole-body half-lives for 931 chemicals across four exposure routes, incorporating age- and gender-specific physiological parameters. A supplementary database containing human physiological data, physicochemical parameters, and simulation codes is provided for users to perform customized analyses. Model predictions show that whole-body half-lives are longest in infancy and old age and shortest in young adulthood, reflecting developmental patterns of liver and kidney function. Gender differences reverse around age six due to differing maturation trajectories. While physiological parameters mainly determine whole-body half-life, organ-specific results reveal consistently long half-lives in fat and short half-lives in the liver under oral exposure. Predicted and reported values align well, though overestimation can occur. The computational framework can be further refined with improved physiological and chemical-specific data.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01360-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559779","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":"Indoor radon exposure and COPD in never smokers: a case–control study in a radon-prone area in Spain","authors":"Carlota Rodríguez García,&nbsp;Alberto Ruano Raviña,&nbsp;Alvar Agustí,&nbsp;Cristina Represas Represas,&nbsp;Rafael Golpe,&nbsp;Karl Kelsey,&nbsp;Ana Pando Sandoval,&nbsp;Angélica Consuegra Vanegas,&nbsp;Cecilia Mouronte Roibás,&nbsp;Tara Pereiro Brea,&nbsp;Cristina Candal Pedreira,&nbsp;Guadalupe García,&nbsp;Raquel Dacal-Quintas,&nbsp;Julia Rey Brandariz,&nbsp;Luis Valdés,&nbsp;Alberto Fernández Villar,&nbsp;Lucia Martin-Gisbert","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01350-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01350-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Previous studies have linked radon exposure with mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but there is little data assessing the role of indoor radon exposure with the risk of COPD or its severity in never smokers. Objective: To explore whether indoor radon exposure is associated with the risk or severity of COPD in never smokers.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Multicentric, hospital-based, case–control study, located in Northwest Spain. The study included 300 never-smokers with COPD (cases) and 462 never smoking controls. COPD cases and their severity were included following Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease 2019 (GOLD) criteria for COPD diagnosis. Radon concentrations were measured in each participant’s home using long-term (at least 3 months) alpha-track devices. Results were analyzed for cases and controls, and also for different lengths of residence in the last dwelling employing logistic regression. For cases, hospital admissions in the last 3 years due to COPD exacerbations and COPD severity were related to radon concentrations.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>(1) Indoor radon exposure was similar in cases and controls, but radon exposure showed a statistically significant association with COPD when length of residence in the same dwelling was &gt; 40 years. There was an odds ratio (OR) of 2.79 (1.06–7.40) for those with highest (&gt; 300 Bq/m³) vs. lowest radon exposure (&lt; 100 Bq/m³); (2) in cases, the severity of airflow obstruction increased with higher indoor radon exposure, and the proportion of COPD cases with radon exposure above 300 Bq/m³ was higher in GOLD 4 (50%) vs. GOLD 1 (9%).</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Although indoor radon exposure was not higher in cases compared to controls, the association increased for those with higher exposures who lived for longer periods in the same dwelling, reaching statistical significance when length of residence was higher than 40 years. In COPD cases, higher radon exposure was associated with more severe airflow limitation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01350-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559763","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":"Empowering the next generation of environmental scientists: highlights from the 13th SETAC YES meeting in York, UK","authors":"Micha Wehrli,&nbsp;Nahum Ashfield,&nbsp;Isabel Navarro Law,&nbsp;Bianca Stadelmann,&nbsp;Jana-Sophie Appelt,&nbsp;Fábio Chen,&nbsp;Carolina Machado,&nbsp;Stella Jennes,&nbsp;Hajar Bourassi,&nbsp;Bianca Dechent,&nbsp;Marius Schmitt,&nbsp;Kirsten Germing,&nbsp;Shaleen Glasgow,&nbsp;Sophie Oster,&nbsp;Frederik Meyer,&nbsp;Markus Schmitz","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01344-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01344-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The 13th Young Environmental Scientists (YES) Meeting, held in York, United Kingdom, from the 11-15th August 2025, continued the tradition of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and professional development among early-career researchers in environmental sciences. Organised by the SETAC Europe Student Advisory Council (SAC), this student-led conference brought together 111 participants from 22 countries, offering a dynamic platform for scientific exchange across all different disciplines that exist within SETAC. Under the theme, “Between Grinding Gears—Students and Early Career Scientists Under Pressure<i>”,</i> the meeting featured over 100 scientific contributions, four interactive workshops and three keynote lectures that addressed scientific challenges as well as personal- and professional realities faced by students and early career scientists. Beside the academic program, there were also social events to bolster networking among peers, strengthening the community that defines the YES meetings and securing its role as a cornerstone for early-career engagement within SETAC. This commentary highlights the scientific and social achievements of the 2025 edition, the financial support that made it possible, and the collaborative spirit that brought it to life. As we look to the future, the continued success of the YES Meeting depends on the passion and voluntary engagement of students and early-career researchers, whose energy and commitment will continue to advance this unique, student-driven platform thriving as a space for growth, collaboration, and lasting friendships.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01344-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147339323","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":"Date palm waste biochar for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals: a review","authors":"Ali Abdelaal,&nbsp;Abdelgalil Ahmed,&nbsp;Huifeng Wang,&nbsp;Sahar S. Dalahmeh,&nbsp;Mohamed M. Chehimi,&nbsp;Aboubakr M. Abdullah,&nbsp;Khouloud Jlassi","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01333-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01333-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Over the past decade, pharmaceuticals have emerged as a significant class of environmental contaminants due to their adverse impacts on natural ecosystems. The removal of pharmaceuticals from aquatic environments, soils, and wastewater treatment systems using techniques such as adsorption, advanced oxidation, biological degradation, and membrane filtration has been widely investigated. Among these approaches, adsorption attracted considerable attention due to its simplicity, high removal efficiency, and low energy requirements. Date palm waste biomass is abundant biomass source what makes it a promising precursor for biochar and activated carbon adsorbents production for water treatment. This review critically evaluate the impact of the different date palm components, pyrolysis conditions, and activation methods on biochar properties and its performance as an adsorbent of emerging contaminates, particularly pharmaceuticals, from wastewater. Moderate pyrolysis temperatures (400–600 °C) found to generally enhance adsorption performance, while higher temperatures (≥ 700 °C) increase surface area but reduce surface polarity and affinity towards polar pharmaceuticals. Moreover, chemically activated biochars (H₃PO₄, KOH, or ZnCl₂) exhibit an improved porosity and adsorption capacities, reaching 400 mg/g, that is comparable to commercial activated carbons. In contrast, physical activation (steam, CO₂) is a more environmentally friendly approach that relatively increases surface area and pore volume, but shows limited improvement in adsorption capacity. Despite these advances in the literature, the relationship between specific date palm feedstock and adsorption performance remains insufficiently explored, highlighting the need for systematic comparative studies.</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":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01333-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441643","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":"Multiple stressors across ecosystem boundaries: Do light pollution and invasive species change the quality of aquatic prey for terrestrial predators?","authors":"Marina Arias,&nbsp;Gemma Burgazzi,&nbsp;Sebastian Pietz,&nbsp;Alessandro Manfrin,&nbsp;Verena Christina Schreiner,&nbsp;Collins Ogbeide,&nbsp;Florian Burgis,&nbsp;Anne Schrimpf,&nbsp;Thomas Schmidt,&nbsp;Eric Bollinger,&nbsp;Ralf Schulz,&nbsp;Mirco Bundschuh","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01345-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01345-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Freshwater ecosystems provide high-quality and essential fatty acids (FAs) to terrestrial food webs via aquatic emergent insects. Anthropogenic stressors, such as artificial light at night (ALAN) and invasive species, may disrupt these aquatic-terrestrial linkages by altering insect emergence and its nutritional quality for terrestrial predators, with cascading effects on terrestrial food webs. The interaction of these individual stressors may have non-additive impacts in the aquatic-terrestrial linkage, for example, by the direct effect of ALAN on the foraging activity of nocturnal invasive species (e.g., signal crayfish). We assessed the impact of ALAN, the invasive signal crayfish, and their interaction on the fluxes of FA via emergent insects, as well as their effect on the FA content in riparian spiders. We conducted a full factorial experiment between spring and summer (six weeks), employing a mesocosm facility composed of 16 artificial streams and adjacent riparian zones.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The emergent biomass and FA fluxes were highest during the first week of the experiment in spring, and decreased over time. The presence of signal crayfish further reduced FA fluxes, while the FA content in spiders did not significantly differ among treatments. However, there was a tendency for an increased polyunsaturated FA content in spiders under ALAN, suggesting physiological consequences of the exposure to nocturnal illumination. Further, ALAN reduced signal crayfish activity, but this did not translate into a reduction of its effects.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This research demonstrates the effects of global stressors on complex systems such as aquatic-terrestrial meta-ecosystems and calls for a deeper understanding of the interactive effects of multiple stressors in real-world conditions.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><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":"2026-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01345-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147339180","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":"From city waste to river risk: tracking AMR and pathogenic potential in urban water gradient of the Kathajodi river","authors":"Nahid Parwin,&nbsp;Sangita Dixit,&nbsp;Enketeswara Subudhi","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01347-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01347-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Urban rivers are critical recipients of untreated wastes, contributing to the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and pathogenic microbes, as is exemplified in the Kathajodi River gradient.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Shotgun metagenomic sequencing using Illumina HiSeq was employed to profile community diversity, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), metal resistance genes (MRGs), and virulence factors (VFs) across spatially distinct sites; upstream (US), catchment (CM), and downstream (DS) of the Kathajodi River. Functional pathways were annotated using the KEGG and COG databases, and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) connected functional shifts to environmental gradients.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Relatively pristine upstream area hosts stable microbiomes predominately; <i>Proteobacteria</i> (80.32%) and <i>Cyanobacteria</i> (6.70%), has low species richness (138), and a modest resistome (33 ARGs), adapted to natural biogeochemical cycles. In contrast, the catchment, impacted by urban wastewater, shows elevated <i>Bacteroidetes</i> (31.11%), <i>Firmicutes</i> (3.63%), high species richness (663), and diverse ARGs (98) and MGEs (141), driven by heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd) and pollutants (TDS, BOD). It emerges as a hotspot for ARGs, MGEs, and virulence factors, reflecting intense selective pressure from faecal and industrial inputs. Downstream with intermediate diversity (704 species, 53 ARGs, 88 VFs), with persistent <i>Bacteroidetes</i> (25.33%) exhibits partial ecological recovery, yet persistent high-risk ARGs and elevated virulence genes signal ongoing contamination and microbial adaptation to fluctuating stressors. Prediction of energy production and primary metabolism in upstream exhibited core functions. Whereas, membrane transport, defence mechanisms, and mobile element activity in catchment and downstream, as well as pronounced signal transduction, xenobiotic degradation, and bacterial chemotaxis in Catchment indicates stress response. CCA highlights the role of environmental gradients: high dissolved oxygen upstream versus elevated pollutants at the catchment in shaping these microbial shifts. Network analysis further revealed strong co-occurrence between ARGs, MGEs, and MRGs, identifying MGEs as key connectors driving horizontal gene transfer and co-selection processes. The study underscores the co-selection of ARGs and virulence traits under pollution stress, facilitated by MGE-mediated horizontal gene transfer, amplifying public health risks.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>First river metagenomic study from eastern India emphasizes that human activities reshape microbial landscapes. The research advocates for interdisciplinary strategies to mitigate urban pollution, safeguard environmental health, and curb the global spread of antimicrobial resistance, calling for proactive environmental management and policy interventions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01347-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559381","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":"Advancing optical earth observation for EU policies: needs, opportunities, recommendations","authors":"Katja Berger,&nbsp;Patrick Hostert,&nbsp;Martin Schlerf,&nbsp;Markus Immitzer,&nbsp;Zoltan Szantoi,&nbsp;Akpona Okujeni,&nbsp;Saskia Foerster,&nbsp;Rene Colditz,&nbsp;Claudia Giardino,&nbsp;Miriam Machwitz,&nbsp;Marie Weiss,&nbsp;Pierre Defourny,&nbsp;Tiit Kutser,&nbsp;Petra Remeta,&nbsp;Michael Foerster,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Féret,&nbsp;Saeid Asadzadeh,&nbsp;Sabine Chabrillat,&nbsp;Holly Croft,&nbsp;Timothée Stassin,&nbsp;Anke Schickling,&nbsp;Christelle Vancutsem,&nbsp;Marco Celesti,&nbsp;Simon Proud,&nbsp;Inge Jonckheere,&nbsp;Peter Strobl,&nbsp;Robert Milewski,&nbsp;Martin Herold","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01346-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01346-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The effective translation of Earth observation (EO) measurements into actionable information for agriculture and land monitoring is critical to support policy implementation on climate, environment, and sustainable development. However, this translation remains challenging, as EO evolves from an awareness-raising instrument into an operational tool for evidence-based policymaking. To address this gap, we systematically link, for the first time, European Union (EU) land-related agricultural and environmental policies to EO-derived variables that can be generated from enhanced optical satellites expected in the next decade. We present a comprehensive framework for assessing the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of EO variables used to map, monitor, and manage crop, forest, soil, mineral, and water resources, thereby facilitating policy implementation and compliance. Upcoming Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment (CHIME), and the Sentinel-2 Next Generation (S2NG) missions, both developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), will deliver substantial technological advancements for high-level EO-based products, enabling applications such as plant nitrogen and soil organic carbon content (SOC) estimation, species identification, and water quality characterization. Realizing the full potential of CHIME and S2NG for agricultural and environmental policy implementation will require advancing current products from prototype stages (TRL 4–6) to full operational readiness (TRL 9) through robust science-policy interfaces. Within such interfaces, we recommend exploiting existing (hyperspectral) EO data and time series, strengthening in-situ observations for robust model development and validation, and testing synergies between systems. Co-design of tailored products with policymakers is then essential to refine algorithms and align EO outputs with regulatory needs and scales. Upcoming spaceborne imaging spectroscopy and enhanced multispectral data streams thus have the potential to become game-changers and indispensable tools for EU policy implementation, providing greater traceability of key environmental and agricultural processes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01346-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147338527","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":"Optimization of the ensiling process of carbon-rich biomass for enhanced methane production using wastewater sludge inoculum","authors":"Raid Alrowais,&nbsp;Amany A. Metwally,&nbsp;Mahmoud M. Abdel-Daiem,&nbsp;Noha Said","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01348-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01348-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study evaluates the effect of commercial biological and chemical ensiling additives on improving the anaerobic digestibility of sugarcane bagasse, a significant agro-industrial residue. Seven additives, representing homofermentative, heterofermentative, acid-based, and yeast-based pathways, were tested at ambient temperature under anaerobic conditions and compared with untreated and fresh bagasse. The ensiling process significantly modified substrate composition, reducing water-soluble carbohydrates while increasing lactic and acetic acids and alcohol concentrations, thereby influencing methane yield and energy recovery. The most effective ensiling strategy, SILASIL ENERGY.XD (a blend of homo- and hetero-fermentative bacteria), increased methane productivity to 74.53 L/kg, compared to 61.12 L/kg for untreated ensiled bagasse. On organic total solids basis, this represented a 55.37% increase over untreated ensiled bagasse and 27.77% more than fresh bagasse, demonstrating improved digestibility and conversion efficiency. Methane energy values confirmed that effective ensiling strategies could enhance energy recovery, potentially increasing by up to 28.30%, despite some dry matter losses during storage. These findings highlight ensiling as a practical, cost-effective strategy for enhancing methane potential and supporting sustainable waste-to-energy utilization of sugarcane bagasse.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01348-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559606","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}