Environmental Sciences Europe最新文献

{"title":"Towards operationalisation of planetary boundaries in national and regional policies: a DAPSIR-based approach","authors":"Edwin Horlings,&nbsp;Patrick Bogaart,&nbsp;Kiki Kersten,&nbsp;Miranda Mesman,&nbsp;Natascha Spanbroek,&nbsp;Mirjam van Waaij,&nbsp;Leo Posthuma","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01364-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01364-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Humanity is exceeding the safe operating space defined by the Planetary Boundaries. If we continue on this path, we risk irreversible damage to ecosystems and our own future. Urgent action is needed. But where should policymakers begin? The challenge is complex and systemic: it concerns multiple environmental pressures that are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, affecting life from local living environments to the global level. While the concept of Planetary Boundaries may be clear on a global scale, the translation to the national scale and to policies is not. This is why this Policy Brief aims to support the development of tools that enable policy makers to understand and intervene in the complex cause-and-effect chains related to the crossing of the Planetary Boundaries. This is where the DAPSIR framework can help. DAPSIR (Drivers–Activities–Pressures–States–Impacts–Responses) maps out the cause-effect relationships between societal drivers, economic activities, environmental pressures, and their impacts. When linked to Planetary Boundaries, a structure to help understand the complexity of environmental pressures is created. This enables policymakers to justify integrated decisions that address not only the direct and most pressing issues for a single governmental department, but also consider the broader ecological, economic, and health-related effects. To operationalise this connection, robust and meaningful indicators are needed to track pressures and progress. The corresponding indicators can be collected from research on Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Footprints. As the impacts of the transgression of planetary boundaries extend to all aspects of life, it is necessary to take a broader perspective and complement environmental indicators with social and economic indicators. To apply the DAPSIR method a roadmap is proposed and tested. The plan has seven stages: from ‘clarify the issue’ to ‘monitor and evaluate’. This roadmap helps to transform the classic roles of fragmented policymaking into integral thinking. It is in the practical application setting that social and economic aspects will be an evident set of additional considerations, as they are put forward by stakeholders involved in the process. Thus, the proposed framework not only provides insights into current environmental pressures but also highlights where further data collection and research are needed.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01364-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148750863","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":"Remote monitoring on-board diagnostics data-driven models for NOx emission evaluation and high-emitting vehicle screening","authors":"Tao Li,&nbsp;Xin Lou,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Baoli Gong,&nbsp;Honghao Zhang,&nbsp;Kui Wang,&nbsp;Jin Nie,&nbsp;Yong Peng","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01410-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01410-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) are among the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, underscoring the need for effective real-time monitoring. Portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) provide reliable measurements but are costly and unsuitable for large-scale deployment. Remote monitoring On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems represent a practical alternative, offering continuous, low-cost data streams.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>This study develops a systematic framework to process remote OBD data and proposes five emission assessment models: OBD-based Moving Average Window (OBD-MAW), OBD-based Three-Bin MAW (OBD-3BMAW), OBD-based Vehicle Specific Power (OBD-VSP), OBD-based Fuel Consumption Factor (OBD-Fuel), and an OBD-based 50 ppm threshold model (OBD-50 ppm). One month of second-by-second OBD data from 50 China VI diesel vehicles was analyzed. Seven vehicles were consistently identified as vehicles with markedly elevated NOx emissions relative to typical fleet levels by all models, with inspection records confirming aftertreatment malfunctions. In contrast, several vehicles flagged by only one model showed condition-specific above-threshold cases under the adopted criterion, revealing model sensitivity to operating conditions.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Among the five approaches, OBD-Fuel and OBD-50 ppm demonstrated the greatest potential for regulatory application due to their simplicity, minimal data dependency, and real-time compatibility. The proposed methodology supports scalable, data-driven monitoring and provides actionable tools for policymakers to enhance precision in emission supervision.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01410-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614826","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 terminology to approval: reviewing EU regulation of low-risk pesticides","authors":"João Godinho,&nbsp;Anja Coors,&nbsp;Bruno Guimarães,&nbsp;Jeroen Meeussen,&nbsp;Andrea van der Veen,&nbsp;Dimitrios Karpouzas,&nbsp;Jérémy Belzunces,&nbsp;Karen Duis,&nbsp;Kutay Cingiz,&nbsp;Michael Werner,&nbsp;Stefania Loutseti,&nbsp;Stéphan Marette,&nbsp;Justus Wesseler","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01417-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01417-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The European Commission’s recent “Vision for Agriculture and Food” aims to accelerate market access to Low-Risk Pesticides, yet the introduction of these products remains slower than warranted. This study consolidates and reviews the fragmented knowledge concerning the current status of Low-Risk Pesticides in the EU market, including their applications, regulatory constraints, stakeholder expectations, and market dynamics, to support the development of a more coherent and effective risk assessment framework at the EU level.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>A detailed analysis of the current data requirements, regulatory documents, guidance documents, and manuals necessary to complete the risk assessment, in accordance with the framework outlined in Reg. 1107/2009, is provided. A comparison of the EU and US regulatory frameworks for pLRPs highlights potential regulatory barriers, e.g., the absence of formally adopted data requirements for several pLRP categories (botanicals, semiochemicals, and dsRNA), and substantially longer approval timelines relative to the US. We further investigated (i) how regulatory guidance can support National Authorities in interpreting the data requirements for risk assessment, and (ii) whether National Authorities have sufficient resources to assess potential Low-Risk Pesticides. To this end, an inventory of these documents and requirements was compiled and grouped by legal status and product category (microorganisms, botanicals, pheromones/semiochemicals, and dsRNA). In parallel, 19 EU Member States were surveyed regarding their expertise, resources, timelines, and fee structures. Results show wide disparities in National Authorities’ expertise, dedicated expert groups, and application fees. Respondents highlighted the importance of harmonizing waiver criteria, developing fast-track procedures, and improving guidance for specific low-risk pesticide categories as key opportunities.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The current EU regulatory framework for Plant Protection Products, while ensuring high safety standards, presents notable hurdles for the assessment and authorisation of Low-Risk Pesticides. To improve the efficiency-and ultimately the speed-of approving and introducing potential Low-Risk Pesticides into the EU market, while maintaining the adequacy, safety, and rigour of the risk assessment process, regulatory adjustments are required. These include the establishment of dedicated expert teams within National Authorities, harmonized guidance on waiving data requirements, and the adoption of novel assessment tools. These findings suggest concrete steps for enhancing the EU’s regulatory framework to accelerate potential Low-Risk Pesticides authorization while safeguarding health and environmental standards.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01417-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614903","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":"Exergetic and Environmental Sustainability Analysis of Second-Generation Hybrid Biodiesel Blends with α-Al₂O₃ Nano-additive","authors":"Noor Alam,&nbsp;Syed Yousufuddin,&nbsp;Zahir Hasan,&nbsp;Shahir Hussain,&nbsp;Sonachalam Muthuswamy,&nbsp;Surendra Kumar Yadav,&nbsp;Elaf N. Mahrous,&nbsp;Nor’azizi Othman,&nbsp;Ashu Yadav,&nbsp;Rahul Khatri","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01419-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01419-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The increasing demand for sustainable energy has accelerated research on alternative fuels for diesel engines. In this study, the combustion, performance, emission, and sustainability characteristics of biodiesel blends derived from chicken fat (CF20), waste cooking oil (WC20), and their combined blend (CF10WC10), each enhanced with 50 ppm α-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, were experimentally investigated in a variable compression ratio (VCR) diesel engine. The novelty of this work lies in the combined utilization of dual waste-derived biodiesel feedstocks with catalytic α-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles under varying compression ratios, along with a comprehensive evaluation of combustion, thermodynamic (energy–exergy), emission, and sustainability characteristics, which has not been extensively reported in the literature. The combustion analysis revealed that pure diesel exhibited the highest peak cylinder pressure of 68.74 bar, while WC20 showed a comparable value of 66.88 bar, indicating efficient combustion behaviour among the tested blends. Performance results demonstrated that the WC20 blend achieved a maximum energy efficiency of 27.7% and exergy efficiency of 26.1%, showing performance close to conventional diesel fuel. Emission analysis indicated that NOx emissions increased by approximately 18.7% for biodiesel blends compared with diesel under higher load conditions, primarily due to enhanced oxygen availability and elevated combustion temperatures, while other emissions remained within acceptable limits. The sustainability assessment further indicated that WC20 exhibited an improved sustainability index compared with other biodiesel blends. Overall, the results demonstrate that waste-derived biodiesel blends enhanced with α-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles can provide stable combustion characteristics and competitive thermodynamic performance, highlighting their potential as viable alternative fuels for compression ignition engines.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01419-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148751629","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":"Remote sensing based assessment of climate change impacts and ecosystem health in the Baspa River Basin, Western Himalaya, India: implications for SDG 13","authors":"Vinay Kumar Gaddam,&nbsp;Shruti Dutta,&nbsp;Rakesh Ranjan,&nbsp;Anil V. Kulkarni,&nbsp;Shankar Karuppannan","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01425-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01425-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mountain river basins of the Western Himalaya are increasingly exposed to rapid warming and infrastructure expansion. This study presents an integrated remote sensing–based assessment of ecosystem change in the Baspa River Basin (1990–2023) using multi-sensor datasets and a Composite Ecosystem Health Index (EHI). Indicators include land surface temperature (LST), glacier and snow dynamics, NDVI trends, precipitation variability, hydrological change, and land use transitions. Results show significant warming (0.32–0.41 °C decade⁻¹) with elevation-dependent amplification above 4000 m, 12.6% glacier area loss, declining snow persistence (18–25 days decade⁻¹), intensifying precipitation extremes, alpine vegetation browning, and increasing runoff variability. Built-up areas expanded by 9.3% along valley corridors. The EHI identifies ~27% of the basin as degraded, primarily where climatic stress and infrastructure pressure converge. Sensitivity analysis is consistent with index robustness. The elevation-stratified and uncertainty-aware framework strengthens basin-scale ecosystem diagnostics relevant to climate adaptation and SDG 13 in fragile mountain environments. While results indicate strong associations between climatic variability and ecosystem response, direct causality is not inferred.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01425-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614527","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 global diffusion of EU chemical regulation: a review","authors":"Emanuela Bozzini","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01426-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01426-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Chemical pollution has emerged as a critical planetary challenge, yet global regulatory responses remain fragmented and insufficient. In this context, the European Union’s REACH regulation has been considered a potential global benchmark due to its ambitious provisions, including the principle of “no data, no market,” the reversal of the burden of proof onto manufacturers, and the classification and substitution of hazardous substances. This review assesses the extent to which REACH has diffused internationally and influenced domestic chemical regulatory frameworks.</p><h3>Main text</h3><p>The review systematically analysed 36 peer-reviewed studies comparing REACH with chemical policies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and China. Findings indicate only partial diffusion. South Korea and China have incorporated some REACH-inspired provisions, notably the “no data, no market” rule and the reversal of the burden of proof, though both adapted these principles to domestic priorities and implementation capacities. Other jurisdictions, including the United States and Canada, retained the distinction between existing and new chemicals and maintained regulatory approaches that place greater responsibility on public authorities. Australia relies heavily on industry self-assessment, while Japan continues to prioritize risk assessments by government agencies. Across jurisdictions, approaches to the identification and control of hazardous chemicals also diverge: whereas the EU emphasizes hazard-based criteria and substitution, others combine hazard and exposure considerations and allow broader discretion in prioritization.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Nearly two decades after its adoption, REACH has not achieved the global regulatory influence once anticipated. Instead of convergence, national frameworks continue to diverge, reflecting differences in institutional capacity, political priorities, and regulatory philosophies. The EU regime remains distinctive in its precautionary orientation and comprehensive scope, but its global diffusion has been constrained by both practical and ideological barriers. Further comparative and empirical research is needed to assess how national systems function in practice and whether future international initiatives can foster greater harmonization in chemical governance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01426-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614429","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":"Sulfonylurea herbicides in groundwater: frequent occurrence of nicosulfuron and its sulfonamide metabolite ASDM in areas with maize cultivation","authors":"Ignaz J. Buerge,&nbsp;Roy Kasteel,&nbsp;Thomas Poiger","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01416-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01416-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Sulfonylurea and other herbicides inhibiting the enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS) are mobile compounds that may leach to groundwater, as indicated by computer simulations of predicted environmental concentrations (PEC_gw) for authorization in Europe. However, monitoring data for these substances are scarce. In this study, 19 active substances and 12 metabolites were analysed in 177 groundwater samples from 112 sites in Switzerland which are part of the Swiss national groundwater monitoring. Measured concentrations were compared with PEC_gw values from the authorization and with scaled PEC_gw values that take herbicide use into account. Because field-specific use data were not available, herbicide use was estimated based on annual sales volumes for Switzerland, the cultivated areas of crops with authorized uses of the substances, the proportion of these crops in groundwater catchment areas, and mean application rates.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Most herbicides and metabolites were detected only sporadically or not at all in the investigated groundwater samples. However, the maize herbicide nicosulfuron and its metabolite ASDM were frequently found, in 20% and 56% of the samples, respectively, in concentrations of up to 7.8 and 48 ng/L. Concentrations of nicosulfuron-ASDM were significantly higher in regions with arable crops as main land use than in regions where meadows, pastures, urban areas, or forest predominated. For 18 wells, the contributing recharge area had been attributed and a significant correlation was found between the proportion of land cultivated with maize and the concentration of nicosulfuron-ASDM. Furthermore, concentrations of nicosulfuron-ASDM correlated with those of other maize herbicide metabolites (metolachlor-ESA and terbuthylazine-LM6). Measured concentrations of nicosulfuron and nicosulfuron-ASDM were more than an order of magnitude lower than PEC_gw values from the authorization and also below PEC_gw values scaled for the estimated use of nicosulfuron in contributing recharge areas.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Measured concentrations in groundwater of all currently authorized ALS inhibitor herbicides, including some of their metabolites, were consistently below the European (and Swiss) parametric drinking water limit of 100 ng/L even though PEC_gw for some of these compounds would suggest otherwise. When scaled to the estimated use in contributing recharge areas, these PEC_gw describe actual concentrations much better, but still tend to be conservative.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01416-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614509","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":"Facilitating circular transformation in BRICS: the impact of Industry 4.0 and Global Value Chains on circular economy","authors":"Muhammad Uzair Ali,&nbsp;Meryam Bechchar,&nbsp;Qadir Ali","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01418-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01418-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In tackling the dynamics of the circular economy (CCE), Industry 4.0 and Global Value Chains (GVCs) demand vigilant management approaches to leverage their advantages in circular practices. Consequently, the current study aims to investigate the impact of Industry 4.0, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing (CLC), and GVCs on CCE in BRICS countries. System Generalized Method of Moments and Partial Ordinary-Least-Squares econometric tests were used to examine these links. The key findings are: (1) improvements in AI, IoT, and CLC increase the level of CCE practices in BRICS. (2) Upgrade in GVCs position also improves the CCE principles in these economies. Current research has contributed to the current literature in two diverse ways: (1) it offers empirical outcomes on how Industry 4.0 and participation in GVCs encourage the CCE practices in BRICS. (2) It provided insights particular to BRICS economies, where fast growth meets with ecological challenges. The outcomes are associated with and extend theoretical frameworks, containing Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the Business-Technology Adoption model, and Natural Resources-Based Theory. The outcomes illustrated that the policies should be focused on channeling the investments and capital towards digital technologies and infrastructures, and strategic positioning within GVCs to nurture the economic transformations toward circular practices. Policymakers also need to prioritize enhancing digital technology integration within GVCs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01418-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148614558","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":"Short-term exposure to air pollution and acute health effects in a low-pollution region, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany","authors":"Mahakalkar Amruta Umakant,&nbsp;Lorenzo Gianquintieri,&nbsp;Lorenza Gilardi,&nbsp;Thilo Erbertseder,&nbsp;Frank Baier,&nbsp;Simon Dally,&nbsp;Maximilian Leon Arnold,&nbsp;Maxana Baltruweit,&nbsp;Charles R. S. Hatfield,&nbsp;Chelsea Williams Cleary,&nbsp;Enrico Gianluca Caiani","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01406-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01406-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The acute effects of short-term air pollution exposure on human health in regions with low pollution concentrations is not widely explored. This study assesses the risk of mortality and morbidity linked to short-term exposure to NO₂ and PM_2.5 in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, a region that broadly complies with European air quality standards and global guidelines.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We applied a two-stage time-stratified case-crossover design followed by meta-analyses to estimate the relative risks of mortality (all-cause), hospital admission and sick leave (all-cause and cause-specific). Health outcomes between 2013 and 2022 were collected from the regional public insurance records, and exposures were derived from ensemble air quality models. Effect modification by SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) years, age, sex and urbanisation were also evaluated.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Short-term exposure to PM_2.5 and NO₂ was associated with increased risks of several acute health outcomes. Associations were observed for all-cause and cardiovascular-related hospital admissions, as well as sick leave, even at concentrations near the current daily limits set by the European Union. Effect estimates were generally more pronounced for NO₂ and concentrated at immediate lag days. Exposure–response relationships were non-linear across health outcomes, and little evidence of effect modification by demographic or urbanisation characteristics was observed.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study provides evidence of acute health risks from short-term exposure to PM_2.5 and NO₂, even at concentrations below the suggested daily permissible levels, emphasising the need to reassess existing air quality standards.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01406-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148009778","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":"Toxicity and bioaccumulation of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in fish: a review on fish health, with an emphasis on leakage from marine-dumped legacy conventional munitions","authors":"Michael Gabel,&nbsp;Jörn Peter Scharsack","doi":"10.1186/s12302-026-01408-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12302-026-01408-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Vast amounts of conventional munition ended up on sea floors worldwide due to military activity, primarily through intentional dumping of munitions for disposal after the World Wars. In German coastal waters, the amount of conventional marine munitions alone is estimated at 1.6 million tons. After more than 80 years, munition shells are corroding, and toxic compounds from munitions are leaking into marine environments. Since fish are fundamental components of marine ecosystems and an important source of human nutrition, a major concern in the marine munition context is how toxic munition compounds affect fish. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is one of the most abundant toxic explosives in marine-dumped conventional munitions and is leaking into the environment. At marine munition dump sites, TNT and its metabolites are detected in water, sediment, and biota. Generally, TNT concentrations are low (in the ng/l range), but near munition objects higher concentrations have been recorded (µg–mg/l). Leakage of TNT from marine-dumped conventional munitions will likely increase in the future as munition shells continue to corrode. Physical (current, waves, heat) and chemical (acidification) parameters facilitating munition degradation are also expected to intensify due to climate change. High concentrations of TNT (&gt; 1.0 mg/l in water) can negatively affect fish at multiple biological levels. Depending on dosage, fish species and life stage, the effects of TNT exposure range from no physiological effects to DNA damage, modified enzyme activities and embryonic malformations, to damaged gills, aberrant behaviour, reduced fertility, and increased mortality. Accordingly, fish (and other marine biota) are likely to be severely affected by exposure to TNT in their environment. The present review compiles the available information on interactions of fish with TNT and its metabolites. It covers uptake routes, degradation, excretion, and effects on fish health and fertility at various concentrations. The majority of the information on the effects of TNT on fish was obtained from studies conducted in laboratory settings. The present review therefore seeks to connect laboratory findings with observations in the field and to discuss the potential consequences of current and future leakage of TNT from marine-dumped conventional munitions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":546,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Sciences Europe","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-026-01408-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148009651","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}