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Excessive copper (Cu2+) causes adverse effects on human health and the ecological environment. Traditional methods for detecting Cu2+ have drawbacks such as high detection costs, complex operating conditions, and being time consuming. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop simple detection methods to better meet specific health and environment quality needs. In this work, a paper-based fluorescence sensor was prepared (herein referred to as the as-prepared method) by immersing filter paper in aqueous polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution, and its potential use in Cu2+ detection was investigated. The results showed that the as-prepared paper samples, with fluorescence properties obtained by aggregation-induced luminescence of PEI, have selective recognition of Cu2+ based on the internal filtration effect, and the lowest detection limit is 0.03 μM. In addition, the relative error of this method is in the range of 1.80~2.23%, which is relatively comparable to the national standard method (0.63~630 μM), demonstrating high accuracy. Therefore, paper-based sensors with a simple preparation method have potential applications in the detection of Cu2+ in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "Biological plausibility" is a concept frequently referred to in environmental and public health when researchers are evaluating how confident they are in the results and inferences of a study or evidence review. Biological plausibility is not, however, a domain of one of the most widely-used approaches for assessing the certainty of evidence (CoE) which underpins the findings of a systematic review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) CoE Framework. Whether the omission of biological plausibility is a potential limitation of the GRADE CoE Framework is a topic that is regularly discussed, especially in the context of environmental health systematic reviews., Objectives: We analyse how the concept of "biological plausibility", as applied in the context of assessing certainty of the evidence that supports the findings of a systematic review, is accommodated under the processes of systematic review and the existing GRADE domains., Results and Discussion: We argue that "biological plausibility" is a concept which primarily comes into play when direct evidence about the effects of an exposure on a population of concern (usually humans) is absent, at high risk of bias, is inconsistent, or limited in other ways. In such circumstances, researchers look toward evidence from other study designs in order to draw conclusions. In this respect, we can consider experimental animal and in vitro evidence as "surrogates" for the target populations, exposures, comparators and outcomes of actual interest. Through discussion of 10 examples of experimental surrogates, we propose that the concept of biological plausibility consists of two principal aspects: a "generalisability aspect" and a "mechanistic aspect". The "generalisability aspect" concerns the validity of inferences from experimental models to human scenarios, and asks the same question as does the assessment of external validity or indirectness in systematic reviews. The "mechanistic aspect" concerns certainty in knowledge of biological mechanisms and would inform judgements of indirectness under GRADE, and thus the overall CoE. While both aspects are accommodated under the indirectness domain of the GRADE CoE Framework, further research is needed to determine how to use knowledge of biological mechanisms in the assessment of indirectness of the evidence in systematic reviews., (Copyright © 2022 Paul Whaley, Thomas Piggott, Rebecca L. Morgan, Sebastian Hoffmann, Katya Tsaioun, Lukas Schwingshackl, Mohammed T. Ansari, Kristina A. Thayer, Holger Schünemann. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Industrial processes and municipal wastes largely contribute to the fluctuations in iron (Fe) content in soils. Fe, when present in unfavorable amount, causes harmful effects on human, flora, and fauna. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the composition of Fe in surface soils from paper mill and municipal landfill sites and assess their potential ecological and human health risks. Geochemical fractionation was conducted to explore the chemical bonding of Fe across different fractions, i.e., water-soluble (F1) to residual (F6). Different contamination factors and pollution indices were evaluated to comprehend Fe contamination extent across the study area. Results indicated the preference for less mobile forms in the paper mill and landfill, with 26.66% and 43.46% of Fe associated with the Fe–Mn oxide bound fraction (F4), and 57.22% and 24.78% in the residual fraction (F6). Maximum mobility factor (MF) of 30.65% was observed in the paper mill, and 80.37% in the landfill. The enrichment factor (EF) varied within the range of 20 < EF < 40, signifying a high level of enrichment in the soil. The individual contamination factor (ICF) ranged from 0 to >6, highlighting low to high contamination. Adults were found to be more vulnerable towards Fe associated health risks compared to children. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) index showed the highest risk potential pathways as dermal contact > ingestion > inhalation. The study offers insights into potential Fe contamination risks in comparable environments, underscoring the crucial role of thorough soil assessments in shaping land use and waste management policies. [Display omitted] • Geochemical fractionation unveils less bioavailable Fe in contaminated soil. • EF, ICF, and I geo indicate high Fe contamination. • Adults are more susceptible to potential health risks from surplus Fe exposure. • HQ analysis pinpoints dermal contact as the primary pathway for Fe exposure risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: “Biological plausibility” is a concept frequently referred to in environmental and public health when researchers are evaluating how confident they are in the results and inferences of a study or evidence review. Biological plausibility is not, however, a domain of one of the most widely-used approaches for assessing the certainty of evidence (CoE) which underpins the findings of a systematic review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) CoE Framework. Whether the omission of biological plausibility is a potential limitation of the GRADE CoE Framework is a topic that is regularly discussed, especially in the context of environmental health systematic reviews. Objectives: We analyse how the concept of “biological plausibility”, as applied in the context of assessing certainty of the evidence that supports the findings of a systematic review, is accommodated under the processes of systematic review and the existing GRADE domains. Results and discussion: We argue that “biological plausibility” is a concept which primarily comes into play when direct evidence about the effects of an exposure on a population of concern (usually humans) is absent, at high risk of bias, is inconsistent, or limited in other ways. In such circumstances, researchers look toward evidence from other study designs in order to draw conclusions. In this respect, we can consider experimental animal and in vitro evidence as “surrogates” for the target populations, exposures, comparators and outcomes of actual interest. Through discussion of 10 examples of experimental surrogates, we propose that the concept of biological plausibility consists of two principal aspects: a “generalisability aspect” and a “mechanistic aspect”. The “generalisability aspect” concerns the validity of inferences from experimental models to human scenarios, and asks the same question as does the assessment of external validity or indirectness in systematic reviews. The “mechanistic aspect” concerns certainty in knowledge of biological mechanisms and would inform judgements of indirectness under GRADE, and thus the overall CoE. While both aspects are accommodated under the indirectness domain of the GRADE CoE Framework, further research is needed to determine how to use knowledge of biological mechanisms in the assessment of indirectness of the evidence in systematic reviews.

The paper by K. L. Blaxter and J. L. Clapperton (1965) 'Prediction of the amount of methane produced by ruminants. Br J Nutr 19, 511–522' has been cited 656 times according to Web of Science and continues to be cited with increasing frequency to the present day. The analysis described in the paper, or meta-analysis as it would be known now, is of methane production from cattle and sheep based on forty-eight trials using closed-circuit respiration chambers, all carried out at the Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, UK, between 1955 and 1965. Methane emissions per unit of diet fed were shown to vary depending on diet, level of feeding and individual animal. As such, previous notions that methane emissions were essentially proportional to energy intake were set aside. The main reasons for the paper's continuing citation are the set of equations that can be used to predict methane emissions from ruminants when the technically demanding respiration chambers are unavailable, and that it was the first definitive study to describe the complexities of methane emissions with respect to animals and diets. The paper thus provided abundant insights of the relations between ruminant methane emissions and nutritional biology, and rumen microbiology, in particular, that have informed countless research projects in the intervening half-century. Given the importance of methane as a greenhouse gas in the climate change scenario, these insights are at least as relevant today as they were in 1965. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Robust probe is designed by engineering biomimic MOFs with specific pockets. • The probe gives "key-lock" identification and sensitive quantitative information. • Innovatively integrating the probe with filter paper could avoid ring-like deposit. • The well-distributed interface is harvested to reduce colorimetric signal fluctuation. • Self-adaptive signal model allows for monitoring pesticide in colored matrices. Excessive residual pesticides have raised overall environmental damage and health hazard issues, thus the development of facile and sensitive means for pesticide monitoring in different environmental field is desperately needed but challenging. In this work, a flexible paper-based colorimetry beating coffee-ring effect is achieved toward sensing environmental pesticide exposure in user-friendly mode. First, to circumvent poor performance of biomolecules, robust probe is designed by imprinting metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with specific pockets, enabling to provide "key-lock" identification and sensitive quantitative information under harsh environment. Innovatively, integrating the MOF-mediated probe with filter paper, a well-distributed sensing interface is harvested to reduce colorimetric signal fluctuation for reliable detection properties, which is ascribed to superior wetting behavior of filter paper for avoiding ring-like deposit formation. Additionally, the uniform profile is simulated by Fluent numerical software. Further exploiting smartphone-assisted image acquisition and self-adaptive signal model, the simple-to-perform system exhibits good accuracy toward ppb-level thiacloprid free of colored background interference. A low limit of detection of 0.04 μM thiacloprid (corresponding to 0.01 μg g−1 by weight) is achieved. Moreover, it allows for in-filed monitoring thiacloprid exposure in agricultural wastewater, soil, fresh vegetables with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 92.7 % to 109.0 %, verifying the broad potential applications for point-of-use tracking of environmental pesticide and eventually bringing benefits to ecosystem protection in resource-deficient settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planetary health omics has been featured in many articles in I OMICS i over the past several years, and builds upon the rise of planetary health (Horton et al., [4]), the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the introduction of digital technologies to systems science. Planetary health omics is a new field that expands the boundaries and tools of its predecessor fields public health genomics and global health. Planetary health omics as a new field of inquiry in systems science is relevant and timely going forward with COVID-19 as an endemic disease (Katzourakis, [5]), and for both communicable and noncommunicable chronic diseases. [Extracted from the article]

As of today, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues showing signs of its transition towards green development; whilst the Thai sustainable tourism industry is encountering substantial environmental problems of unfavourable water quality and waste management outcomes. This paper dissects how China has been transitioning into the practice of a greener BRI, as well as how Thailand has benefitted from its greener BRI partnership with China in recent years. This paper delineates the major environmental issues faced by Thailand, in order to suggest why Thailand needs to urgently and responsively address any notable environmental concern for long-term economic growth and sustainability. There is a lack, if not an absence, of existing studies that analyse Sino-Thai green BRI partnerships with the presentation of supporting, updated data and statistics. The findings presented in this paper respond to such a research gap. This paper concludes by arguing that should China's distribution of development finance to Thailand be able to enhance the latter's environmental health and landscape, more Southeast Asian (SEA) and global emerging powers may develop an increasing interest in forming or strengthening green BRI partnerships with China. In the long run, such an optimistic outcome allows China's diplomatic influence to grow further. China's greener development finance plan is an ambitious, globally impactful strategy. Such an ambitious strategy aims to capitalise on the opportunities to address countries' developmental and environmental needs to boost China's global competence and image, in addition to elevating its diplomatic influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review seeks to understand how scientific research on trace elements in beef cattle has been developed and how the interaction of this theme with topics related to animal, environmental and human health has been established. Given the duality of many of the trace elements, being known as nutrients in small amounts or toxic when they exceed small concentrations, we brought the One Health perspective to analyse how researchers approach this research theme. In this work, we propose a path through scientific production to promote innovation, sustainability of animal production, food safety and human health. The objective was to investigate the context, approach and research topics present in the papers that analysed trace elements in beef cattle to identify gaps and scientific perspectives for the sustainable management of trace elements in livestock. The main research groups came from the United States, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India and Slovakia, which represented 31% of the papers produced. Only 37% of studies addressed aspects that integrated animal, environmental and human health. The reviewed papers concerned 56 elements and 15 bovine tissues (Cu, Zn, Pb, liver, muscle and kidney highlighted). The main gaps were (1) lack of research in developing countries, (2) the need to understand the impact of different environmental issues and their relationship to the conditions in which animals are raised, and (3) the need to understand the role of many trace elements in animal nutrition and their relationship to environmental and human health. Finally, we highlight possible ways to expand knowledge and provide innovations for broad emerging issues, primarily through expanding collaborative research networks. In this context, we suggest the adoption of the One Health approach for planning further research on trace elements in livestock. Moreover, the One Health approach should also be considered for managers and politicians for a sustainable environmental care and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mine closure is a global challenge. To date, there has been no scientometric analysis of the mine closure literature. This paper uses a scientometric analysis to assess the literature on mine closure. We assessed 2078 papers published since 2002. There was a rapid increase in the research output, with 76% of the papers published in the last 10 years. We identify the journals and co-citation index of journals associated with mine closure research. Geography journals are prominent with 20% of papers, but there is also evidence of journals linked to mining and interdisciplinary journals. Four clusters of universities are working on mine closure (the University of Western Australia, the University of Queensland, the University of the Free State and the University of Alberta) and the co-citation index groups journals into three clusters (environmental and ecological concerns, environmental health, multidisciplinary issues). The co-citation index groups the themes into 20 clusters, which we have regrouped into five themes (health, environment, geography, society, and regulation/politics). We draw seven conclusions. Although original social science research focused on the impact of mining, (1) there is clear evidence of work focusing on mine closure and (2) this work is rapidly increasing. The geography remains important (3) but has negative effects. Despite the geographical focus, ideas and concepts are substantially integrated across the available work (4). Focusing on geographical journals might prevent work from being published in multidisciplinary journals (5). Papers linking theory and mine closure are limited (6) and the available work needs careful thought on planning closures in cities and communities (7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the environmental effects of natural processes and human activities on the water environment in watersheds. It highlights the impact of pollutants from agricultural, urban, and industrial sources on water quality, as well as the accumulation of nutrients and heavy metals. The papers in the special issue focus on topics such as nutrient accumulation, heavy metal contamination, and the origin and transportation of major ions and solutes in river water. Additionally, the document addresses the impact of hydraulic characteristics on water environments in large reservoirs, emphasizing the need for continued research to understand and mitigate the effects of human activities on water quality. [Extracted from the article]

Pollution of air, water, and soil is a pressing global issue with significant implications for environmental and human health. This research paper explores the various methods and technologies employed for the monitoring and remediation of pollutants in these three crucial environmental compartments. It discusses the challenges associated with pollution, the importance of effective monitoring, and the diverse strategies available for pollutant remediation. By synthesizing current research and technologies, this paper aims to provide insights into the state-of-the-art approaches for addressing pollution and promoting environmental sustainability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Small relative effect sizes in observational studies often have policy importance. • Potential residual confounding in these studies lowers the certainty of the evidence. • Use of E-value and reference confounder improves assessment of residual confounding. • Unlikely residual confounding can be reason to upgrade the certainty of the evidence. • Case studies of reviews with small effects support the feasibility of the approach. Small relative effect sizes are common in observational studies of exposure in environmental and public health. However, such effects can still have considerable policy importance when the baseline rate of the health outcome is high, and many persons are exposed. Assessing the certainty of the evidence based on these effect sizes is challenging because they can be prone to residual confounding due to the non-randomized nature of the evidence. When applying GRADE, a precise relative risk >2.0 increases the certainty in an existing effect because residual confounding is unlikely to explain the association. GRADE also suggests rating up when opposing plausible residual confounding exists for other effect sizes. In this concept paper, we propose using the E-value, defined as the smallest effect size of a confounder that still can reduce an observed RR to the null value, and a reference confounder to assess the likelihood of residual confounding. We propose a 4-step approach. 1. Assess the association of interest for relevant exposure levels. 2. Calculate the E-value for this observed association. 3. Choose a reference confounder with sufficient strength and information and assess its effect on the observed association using the E-value. 4. Assess how likely it is that residual confounding will still bias the observed RR. We present three case studies and discuss the feasibility of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and sensitive detection of acrylamide in food samples is important for food safety and public health. Here, we describe a disposable origami paper-based analytical device (denoted doPAD) for colorimetric detection of acrylamide. This device uniquely exploits 3D origami folding paper for spatial control of the target recognition and signal readout, thus resulting in a positive correlation between the signals and the analytes. Under optimal conditions, the device achieved the quantitative analysis of acrylamide with a limit of detection of 1.13 μg/L within 120 min (including a derivatization time of 90 min and an assay time of 21 min). Furthermore, our method allowed the rapid and sensitive detection of acrylamide in complex food matrices. We envision that the platform described will find useful applications in the fields of food safety and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution in rivers and lakes arising due to rapid economic development has been extensively studied by various countries due to its direct impact on ecological health and human well-being. However, there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic reviews addressing the current research status of this subject. In this study, we conducted a visual metrological analysis of the literature from 2001 to 2021 using the Web of Science (WoS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) citation databases. The results show that studies conducted in other countries initially outnumbered those in China; after 2010, China emerged as the foremost contributor. Furthermore, both the WoS and CNKI databases indicate active engagement of Chinese researchers through a significant proportion of published papers on metal research, with prominent contributions coming from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and University CAS. Nevertheless, Chinese research institutions still have relatively low total paper citation numbers and have yet to establish themselves as key players in international scientific research efforts. Additionally, core authors from different countries share substantial similarities in their research directions and focuses. Consistent research hotspots regarding heavy metals in rivers and lakes were identified across both databases, including heavy metal pollution, adsorption, human activities, water quality, and sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jamaica is an island nation with a history that is informed by Taino settlement, European colonisation, chattel slavery, disinvestment, and continued extractivism. This perspective paper leverages a historical analysis to explore environmental injustices affecting the health and quality of life of Jamaicans living in Jamaica. This article hopes to contribute to a growing but limited body of scholarly research that contends with environmental and climate justice in the context of the Caribbean. In discussing a lack of critical environmental infrastructure, such as reliable solid waste management, and the impacts of extractive industries, such as bauxite mining, the paper intends to highlight the environmental, public health, and social harms that are produced. Employing an intersectional approach grounded in Black feminist epistemology put forward by Patricia Hill Collins, the authors use their lived experiences as a source of knowledge. The paper analyses how these environmental injustices harm Jamaican communities at large but underscores the compounded challenges faced by Jamaican women who experience marginalisation on the basis of gender, urban/rural residency, and class. The paper concludes by urging researchers, policymakers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to conduct further research and create sustainable and equitable environmental standards that have considerations for environmental injustice in Jamaica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sustainability represents an increasingly vital yet inconsistently implemented topic in nursing education. Formal concept analysis can promote unified conceptualisation to inform sustainability integration in nursing curriculums. Objective: Analyse the concept of 'nursing education for sustainable development' using the Walker and Avant framework to clarify meaning and application in nursing programmes. Method: The literature was systematically searched for attributes, antecedents and consequences used to formulate a concept definition, and compared to existing conceptualisations. Results: Core concept attributes are interconnectedness of human/ecological health, sustainability‐focused curriculums, competency cultivation and social justice orientations. Antecedents include recognising ecological determinants of health and committed nursing faculty. Consequences encompass the preparation of sustainability‐competent nurses and elevated nursing contributions to sustainable health systems. Conclusion: The concept analysis provides an original synthesised perspective advancing coherence and applicability to guide sustainability education in nursing programmes through a translational framework for competency, curriculum design and content delivery approaches. Reporting Method: We followed the guidelines outlined in the Walker and Avant framework in the conduct and reporting of this paper. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient and public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the concept of outdoor adventure in the context of mental health, proposing an ecological perspective to redefine adventure beyond its traditional associations with risk and physical challenge. We critically examine current frameworks and definitions of adventure, which often emphasise specific activities and natural environments yet overlook the individual's experience and potential mental health benefits. From an ecological perspective, we emphasise the dynamic interplay between the individual, the activity, and the environment. This approach, grounded in ecological psychology, considers the multi-dimensional nature of adventure, including social, psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects. The paper challenges the traditional riskfocused view of adventure, advocating for a broader definition that includes diverse experiences and interactions, as well as the transformative potential of adventure in various environments, including urban settings. We highlight the changing demographics and motivations of adventure participants, moving away from the stereotypical young male risk-seeker, to more diverse and inclusive participant profiles. We argue that adventure facilitates the realisation of fundamental human affordances, often untapped in daily life, thereby enhancing mental health and wellbeing. This ecological perspective opens new avenues for understanding the role of adventure in mental health and wellbeing, offering a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to adventure activities as therapeutic interventions. This redefined understanding of adventure emphasises its potential as a powerful tool for enhancing human wellbeing, harmonising the relationship between people, tasks, and the environment, and offering profound implications for mental health contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield and quality of cultivated food crops are frequently compromised by the prevalent threat from fungal pathogens that can cause widespread damage in both the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. This paper investigates the challenges posed by fungal pathogens to the sustainability and yield of essential food crops, leading to significant economic and food security repercussions. The paper critiques the long-standing reliance on synthetic fungicides, emphasizing the environmental and health concerns arising from their widespread and occasionally inappropriate use. In response, the paper explores the potential of biological control agents, specifically endophytic fungi in advancing sustainable agricultural practices. Through their diverse symbiotic relationships with host plants, these fungi exhibit strong antagonistic capabilities against phytopathogenic fungi by producing various bioactive compounds and promoting plant growth. The review elaborates on the direct and indirect mechanisms of endophytic antagonism, such as antibiosis, mycoparasitism, induction of host resistance, and competition for resources, which collectively contribute to inhibiting pathogenic fungal growth. This paper consolidates the crucial role of endophytic fungi, i.e., Acremonium, Alternaria, Arthrinium, Aspergillus, Botryosphaeria, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Cevidencealdinia, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Muscodor, Nigrospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Phomopsis, Pichia, Pochonia, Pythium, Ramichloridium, Rosellinia, Talaromyces, Trichoderma, Verticillium, Wickerhamomyces, and Xylaria, in biological control, supported by the evidence drawn from more than 200 research publications. The paper pays particular attention to Muscodor, Penicillium, and Trichoderma as prominent antagonists. It also emphasizes the need for future genetic-level research to enhance the application of endophytes in biocontrol strategies aiming to highlight the importance of endophytic fungi in facilitating the transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and has become a focus for climate policies. Traffic‐related air pollution disproportionately affects environmental justice (EJ) communities—neighborhoods that have disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards, but health impact assessments rarely center EJ issues or prioritize the concerns of EJ communities. One explanation for the lack of focus on EJ communities is that both policymakers and academia have often failed to engage these communities. In this paper, academic researchers collaborate with seven EJ organizations in the northeastern US, working with collaboration advisors and facilitators, to design and evaluate potential transportation emissions reduction scenarios using air quality and health benefits modeling tools. We model and estimate the benefits of these scenarios, while working to build collaborative relationships between academic researchers and EJ organizations. The two primary outputs from this process are: quantification of health benefits attributable to emission reduction scenarios of interest to EJ organizations, and enhanced trust and community building between academic researchers and EJ organizations, with reflections on strengths, challenges, and opportunities for future work. We find the largest improvements to health result from scenarios that reduce car and truck traffic. Dialog between academic researchers and EJ organizations reinforce the disconnect between regional‐scale models and local community concerns as well as the more general gaps between statistical models and lived experience. Despite these challenges, the collaboration led to more meaningful models and valued insight for community organizations, and we recommend comparable collaborations in other settings where pollution control is being planned and evaluated in EJ communities. Plain Language Summary: Transportation is a leading contributor to emissions and is a focus for climate policies. Traffic‐related air pollution disproportionately affects environmental justice (EJ) communities, but health impact assessments rarely center EJ issues or prioritize the concerns of EJ communities. One explanation for the lack of focus on EJ communities is that both policymakers and academia have often failed to engage these communities. In this paper, academic researchers collaborate with seven EJ organizations in the northeastern US, working with collaboration advisors and facilitators, to design and evaluate potential transportation emissions reduction scenarios using air quality and health benefits modeling tools. We model and estimate the benefits of these scenarios while working to build collaborative relationships between academic researchers and EJ organizations. We find the largest improvements to health result from scenarios that reduce car and truck traffic. Dialog between academic researchers and EJ organizations reinforce the disconnect between regional‐scale models and local community concerns as well as the more general gaps between statistical models and lived experience. Despite these challenges, the collaboration led to more meaningful models and valued insight for community organizations, and we recommend comparable collaborations in other settings where pollution control is being planned and evaluated in EJ communities. Key Points: Transportation is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and has recently become a focus for climate policiesHealth impact assessments rarely center environmental justice (EJ) issues or prioritize the concerns of EJ communitiesAcademic researchers and EJ communities can collaborate on scenario development to prioritize health and air quality benefits for EJ communities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This investigation is part of a topical situation where wireless equipment is gradually being used for energy transfer, particularly for autonomous systems and the use of decarbonized energies. A characteristic example of decarbonized autonomous use is linked to the substitution of thermal engine vehicles for electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with energy storage batteries. This response was considered in an ecological context of reducing air pollution and defending planetary biodiversity, which are currently vital. These EVs ultimately operate thanks to the wireless charging of their batteries when stationary or running. By changing long-established means of transport that have become a threat to biodiversity, it is necessary to ensure that innovative replacement solutions protect this biodiversity. In addition, the construction of wireless power transfer (WPT) battery chargers for these EVs must offer an optimal ecology of clean energy saving. In such a context, the two concepts of One Health (OH) and Responsible Attitude (RA) will find their place in the design and control of WPT tools in EVs. This contribution aims to illustrate and analyze the roles of the green and non-wasteful OH and RA approaches in the design and control of WPT embedded in EVs for the smart city (SC) environment. In the paper, WPT tools are first introduced. The design and control of EV battery charging tools are then examined. The biological effects on living tissues due to the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation of WPT are analyzed. The phenomena and equations governing the design of WPT and the effects of EMF radiation are then exposed. The OH and RA approaches in the SC context are afterward analyzed. The protection against the unsafe effects of WPT tools in the SC environment is consequently explored. The analyses followed in the paper are supported by examples from the literature. The explorations proposed in this contribution have made it possible to highlight certain notions, allowing a more in-depth understanding of the use of EVs with WPT rechargeable batteries for SCs. Thus, the analysis and fusion of these topics are at the heart of this contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aquaculture, the presence of dead fish on the water surface can serve as a bioindicator of health issues or environmental stressors. To enhance the precision of detecting dead fish floating on the water's surface, this paper proposes a detection approach that integrates data-driven insights with advanced modeling techniques. Firstly, to reduce the influence of aquatic disturbances and branches during the identification process, prior information, such as branches and ripples, is annotated in the dataset to guide the model to better learn the scale and shape characteristics of dead fish, reduce the interference of branch ripples on detection, and thus improve the accuracy of target identification. Secondly, leveraging the foundational YOLOv8 architecture, a DD-IYOLOv8 (Data-Driven Improved YOLOv8) dead fish detection model is designed. Considering the significant changes in the scale of dead fish at different distances, DySnakeConv (Dynamic Snake Convolution) is introduced into the neck network detection head to adaptively adjust the receptive field, thereby improving the network's capability to capture features. Additionally, a layer for detecting minor objects has been added, and the detection head of YOLOv8 has been modified to 4, allowing the network to better focus on small targets and occluded dead fish, which improves detection performance. Furthermore, the model incorporates a HAM (Hybrid Attention Mechanism) in the later stages of the backbone network to refine global feature extraction, sharpening the model's focus on dead fish targets and further enhancing detection accuracy. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of DD-IYOLOv8 in detecting dead fish reached 92.8%, the recall rate reached 89.4%, the AP reached 91.7%, and the F1 value reached 91.0%. This study can achieve precise identification of dead fish, which will help promote the research of automatic pond patrol machine ships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating drones in Indian agriculture presents a transformative potential, ushering in a new era of sustainable farming practices. In India, various incidents tell a story of how pesticides, seeds, and many more applications, once deemed a boon for agricultural progress, have gradually unfolded into a complex web of ecological and health challenges. Presently, the case of drones for spraying purposes in agriculture brings forth compiling advantages. These include enhanced precision in results, alleviation of the diverse adverse effects linked with manual spraying methods, operational feasibility in inclement weather conditions, utility in cultivating tall-standing crops and addressing the complexities of manual spraying for crops such as paddy and sugarcane. This paper explores the role of drones in promoting spraying applications in Indian agriculture. The study addresses two research questions: how can the utilisation of drones for spraying applications contribute to the sustainability of Indian agriculture, and how can drone-assisted spraying applications contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indian agriculture? To accomplish this, a responsible innovation approach is adopted as a theoretical framework to explore the dimensions of innovations in drone mounted spraying in Indian agriculture, juxtaposed by erratic weather conditions and knitted by diverse values and norms. The snowball sampling technique was employed to identify the interviewees and collect qualitative data. For this, in-depth interviews were conducted in person or by using Zoom. The findings suggest that efficiency, capability, effectiveness, gender equality, trust, and accuracy are certain values embedded in drone technology that assist in achieving the SDGs in Indian agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: In recent years, public health has experienced a rapid increase in articles produced by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.The journal now accounts for around 15% of the documents in the Scimago Journal and Country Rank Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health category.The journal's success in attracting authors appears to reside in its ability to rapidly publish manuscripts after brief review.Acceptance rates also appear to be unaffected by the volume of submissions.An academic publishing process focused primarily on speed provides no guarantee of quality, especially if the emphasis is on sheer volume of papers produced.This has the potential to fundamentally weaken the knowledge base of public health which, in turn, will undermine public health practice and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth escalate, the production of wastewater also increases, leading to significant water pollution on a global scale. This pollution poses severe threats to environmental health, wildlife, and human communities. In rural areas where centralised sewage systems are often absent, septic tanks play a crucial role in managing wastewater. They separate solids from liquids and facilitate the biological decomposition of organic matter. This paper utilises a Patent Landscape Review (PLR) to analyse the scope and direction of innovations in septic tank technology. Conducted on 23 September 2022, the patent search targeted filings from January 2001 through June 2022 to identify prevailing trends and advancements within this field. Through a detailed examination of 889 patents, categorised by keywords, processes, materials, and designs, this study offers a comprehensive overview of the patent landscape for septic tanks. Key findings indicate that fibreglass cylindrical tanks dominate the market due to their durability and efficiency. This review also highlights a growing trend towards modular septic systems, which offer scalable solutions adaptable to specific environmental conditions. Furthermore, some patents propose the repurposing of various objects as septic tanks, demonstrating a move towards sustainability by reducing waste and enhancing environmental conservation. This paper emphasises the importance of continued innovation in septic tank technology to address the challenges of effective wastewater management in underserved rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article forms part of a series on "openness," "non-linearity," and "embodiedhealth" in the post-physical, informational (virtual) era of society. This is vital given that the threats posed by advances in artificial intelligence call for a holistic, embodied approach. Typically, health is separated into different categories, for example, (psycho)mental health, biological/bodily health, genetic health, environmental health, or reproductive health. However, this separation only serves to undermine health; there can be no separation of health into subgroups (psychosomatics, for example). Embodied health contains no false divisions and relies on "optimism" as the key framing value. Optimism is only achieved through the mechanism/enabling condition of openness. Openness is vital to secure the embodied health for individuals and societies. Optimism demands that persons become active participants within their own lives and are not mere blank slates, painted in the colors of physical determinism (thus a move away from nihilism-which is the annihilation of freedom/autonomy/ quality). To build an account of embodied health, the following themes/aims are analyzed, built, and validated: (1) a modern re-interpretation and validation of German idealism (the crux of many legal-ethical systems) and Freud; (2) ascertaining the bounded rationality and conceptual semantics of openness (which underlies thermodynamics, psychosocial relations, individual autonomy, ethics, and as being a central constitutional governmental value for many regulatory systems); (3) the link between openness and societal/individual embodied health, freedom, and autonomy; (4) securing the role of individualism/ subjectivity in constituting openness; (5) the vital role of nonlinear dynamics in securing optimism and embodied health; (6) validation of arguments using the methodological scientific value of invariance (generalization value) by drawing evidence from (i) information and computer sciences, (ii) quantum theory, and (iii) bio-genetic evolutionary evidence; and (7) a validation and promotion of the inalienable role of theoretic philosophy in constituting embodied health, and how modern society denigrates embodied health, by misconstruing and undermining theoretics. Thus, this paper provides and defends an up-to-date non-physical account of embodied health by creating a psychophysical-biological-computational-philosophical construction. Thus, this paper also brings invaluable coherence to legal and ethical debates on points of technicality from the empirical sciences, demonstrating that each field is saying the same thing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration is one of the important indicators in water bodies for assessing the ecological health of water quality. In this paper, an OGolden-DBO-XGBoost Chl-a concentration inversion model is proposed using Wuliangsu Lake as the study area, and by combining the Sentinel-2 remote-sensing satellite images and measured Chl-a concentration data in Wuliangsu Lake, the XGBoost model is optimized using the hybrid-strategy-improved dung beetle optimization algorithm (OGolden-DBO), and an OGolden-DBO-XGBoost Chl-a concentration inversion model. The OGolden-DBO-XGBoost model's coefficients of determination (R2s) were 0.8936 and 0.8850 on the training set and test set, according to the results. The root mean squared errors (RMSEs) were 3.1353 and 2.9659 μg/L, and the mean absolute errors (MAEs) were 1.8918 and 2.4282 μg/L. The model performed well and provided a strong support for the detection of Chl-a concentration in Wuliangsu Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of research and publications related to microplastic pollution has been steadily increasing in recent years, but at the same time, our current knowledge on the topic is still based on occasional point measurements. As a result of these point measurements, it becomes obvious that new research areas and disciplines are also connected to the topic of microplastics. Various biotic and abiotic processes can cause microplastics to enter the environment and spread within it. All of these mechanisms can arise from the moisture conditions of the tested medium, temperature differences, or even from the decomposing and transforming activities of microorganisms. The rise of biodegradable and compostable plastic bags can also be considered a source of this kind since polymer products labelled as environmentally friendly can be identified as secondary sources during their decomposition processes. Therefore, both industrial and household compost can contain microscopic polymer residues, the application of which involves a potential risk of environmental pollution. In recent years, several international studies have dealt with various aspects of the degradation of these products, including the use of problems caused by residual microplastics and their environmental effects. The focus of our paper is not on the development of a new scientific methodology but a summary of the current situation formed through research results dealing with the current environmental safety and environmental health risks of microplastic pollution caused by biodegradable polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are the subject of a growing body of research with the potential to positively impact public and ecological health. However, to effect positive change, findings must be communicated beyond the scientific community. Objective: We sought to (a) evaluate the relationships between communications strategy, media attention, and scholarly citations of PFAS research and (b) offer guidance for researchers and communications professionals who would like to publicize future work and increase its impact. Methods: We analyzed 273 peer-reviewed epidemiological studies on PFAS human health impacts with publication years 2018–2020, as collected by a pre-existing database. We investigated whether a press release was issued, open-access status, abstract and press release readability, timing of publication and press release distribution, journal impact factor, study type and sample size, statistical significance of finding(s), number of scholarly citations, and the Altmetric Attention Score (a measure of media attention). Discussion: Of papers reporting a statistically significant association with health harm, those with a press release received 20 times more media attention (as assessed by Altmetric scores) than those that did not. However, only 6.2% of all papers and 7.8% of significant papers issued one. Among papers with a press release, media attention was positively correlated with better abstract and press release readability and speed in issuing the press release. Scholarly citations were positively correlated with media attention, presence of a press release, and open-access status. Conclusion: Most papers with significant findings on PFAS are published without a press release and receive little or no media attention. This reduces the likelihood that important research is reaching the public and decisionmakers who can translate science into action. Issuing a press release and receiving media attention also appear to increase scholarly citations. We provide recommendations for authors to increase the reach and impact of future papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This rapid review is designed to identify existing tools in the Canadian literature that assess the impacts of climate change on the health of perinatal families, particularly those who are equity-denied. Addressing the needs of equity-denied perinatal populations in the face of climate change is crucial to promoting equitable and inclusive perinatal care in Canada., Methods: Rapid review methodology was selected to provide evidence in a timely and cost-effective manner. PubMed/MEDLINE and gray literature (Google and Google Scholar) were searched for English and French papers published from 2013 onward. The original research question, focused on climate change and health, yielded very few relevant results. Therefore, the search was broadened to include environmental health. Garrity et al.'s (J Clin Epidemiol 130:13-22, 2021) nine-stage process was used to identify 11 relevant papers, extract the relevant data, and complete the narrative synthesis., Synthesis: This review revealed a significant lack of tools for comprehensively assessing climate-health impacts on perinatal families and equity-denied perinatal families. While Canadian perinatal health screenings focus on equity via indicators of several social determinants of health (e.g., income, social support), they largely omit climate considerations. Environmental health factors are more commonly included but remain minimal., Conclusion: Climate-health screening tools are lacking yet needed in routine perinatal healthcare. Given the seriousness of climate change, urgent engagement of health systems and healthcare workers is essential to help mitigate and adapt to climate-health challenges, particularly for perinatal families experiencing health inequities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Micropollutants belong to various groups of chemicals. One of the most diverse and large group of them are pharmaceuticals. The presence of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater poses a significant challenge to water quality and environmental health. This paper provides an overview of recent advancements in the removal of pharmaceuticals from water, focusing on various treatment processes and their effectiveness in eliminating micropollutants. Through a review of the literature, including studies on ozonation, UV irradiation, sulfate radical-based technologies, and photocatalytic processes, insights into degradation mechanisms and optimal conditions for their removal are synthesized. Additionally, with new legislation mandating the monitoring of selected micropollutants and the implementation of quaternary treatment in wastewater treatment plants, the paper discusses prospects for future research and recommendations for effective pharmaceutical removal. Key actions include conducting comprehensive laboratory and pilot trials, implementing quaternary treatment of wastewater, continuously monitoring water quality, investing in research and development, and promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. By embracing these strategies, we can work towards safeguarding water resources and protecting public health from the adverse effects of pharmaceutical contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry is very important for a developing country, but the rapid development has caused an excessive generalization of solid construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Many solutions have been discovered to prevent C&D waste from destroying the environment--one of them being the implementation of 'green building' (GB) that focuses on construction activity that is best able to minimize pollution. Therefore, the strategies employed in waste management are becoming vital, especially in GB, as they must be able to cope with future sustainability developments. Hence, this paper attempts to review the strategies for waste management relative to green building practices. The systematic literature review (SLR) method was employed to achieve the aims and objectives of this research paper. Findings from the SLR indicate that construction waste can be minimized during the planning or design stage, the managing or construction period as well as demolition phase. C&D waste can be controlled by selecting the prefabricated materials, good site management skills that help with on-site coordination, communication, just-intime (JIT) ordering and receiving of materials, training of workers that can be achieved by reducing C&D waste. Furthermore, the reusing and recycling of C&D waste during the construction period can be the strategies in managing waste. Besides that, in the aspect of GB practice, waste management can be controlled by applying sustainable operation, resources management, and environmental health in every decision-making throughout the development lifecycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 26 organic micropollutants (OMPs), including pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, industrial chemicals, flame-retardants, herbicides, insect repellents, and caffeine, were analysed in the secondary effluent of the WWTP during dry and wet weather seasons. 10.3390/w14203281 7 Shah S.S., Ramos B., Teixeira A.C.S.C. Adsorptive Removal of Methylene Blue Dye Using Biodegradable Superabsorbent Hydrogel Polymer Composite Incorporated with Activated Charcoal. These micropollutants include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, fire retardants, and others, which are not completely removed by conventional water treatment technologies. [Extracted from the article]

As one of China's sunrise industries, tourism has always been the engine to promote the development of the national economy, and in 2018, the annual income of China's tourism industry exceeded 5 trillion yuan unprecedentedly. In recent years, the traditional extensive production mode has inevitably brought about problems such as environmental pollution and public health threats, while helping the development of new urbanization, thus triggering a series of challenges in the environmental health system. The tourism industry, new urbanization, and environmental health system three cooperate and promote each other, the coordinated development between them for economic growth, new urbanization development, environmental protection, and public health play a vital role, in the post-epidemic era is a special period of historical opportunities, the public's focus from the original sacrifice of environmental health in exchange for economic growth model began to green, low-carbon sustainable development mode, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as a tourism resource endowment rich region, It is of positive significance to explore the coupling degree and coordination between the tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health system, and put forward targeted practical enlightenment, which is of positive significance for promoting the sustainable development of tourism industry. Taking Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as a case study, this paper constructs three comprehensive evaluation index systems of the tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health system, and analyzes and compares the weights of various indicators in the three fields of tourism economy, new urbanization and environmental health system in Guangxi by using the entropy weight TOPSIS method. The coupling coordination model was used to measure the coupling degree and coordination degree of the tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health system construction in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2009 to 2021. The empirical results show that the weights of various indicators change with the development of the social economy. The comprehensive efficacy index of Guangxi's tourism industry has increased year by year for 11 consecutive years; At the end of the evaluation period, after the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the evaluation index of the tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health system all showed a downward trend to varying degrees. Before the pandemic, the coupling coordination type of the three subsystems generally experienced a transformation of "moderate dissonance-reluctant coordination-primary coordination-intermediate coordination," but the overall development level was still poor. After the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the coupling and coordination between the three has been reduced to a state of poor coordination. Because of the above research conclusions, this study proposes to make full use of the important time node of the post-epidemic era and proposes to actively promote the development of the tourism industry, promote the upgrading of the industrial structure, use digital empowerment of the economic form, optimize the environmental health system and other targeted countermeasures to keep the coupling degree and coordination between the three within a reasonable range. This ensures the sustainable development of social systems in the region. This study has made some contributions to the development of high-quality tourism and a healthy environment. First of all, it enriches the content of the environmental health system. This study takes the ecological environment and atmospheric environment in the environmental health system as the entry point and adds the index content of the environmental health evaluation system, which provides a certain supplement for the relevant research on the environmental health system strength. Secondly, the relationship between the tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health is analyzed and into a unified theoretical framework. This study takes the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which is rich in tourism resources, as a case study site, and innovatively explores the coupling and coordination relationship among the tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health system in the case site. Finally, it provides targeted countermeasures for the sustainable development path of the three systems of tourism industry, new urbanization and environmental health in the case site in the future. It is of positive practical significance to compare the coupling and coordination degree between the three, realize the coordinated, orderly, and healthy development of the three in the region, and provide operational suggestions for the upgrading of the tourism industry structure, the benign development of new urbanization, and the formulation of environmental health system policies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Meng, Pi, Nie and Ma.)

Context: Public interest for citizen science (CS) in environmental health is growing. The goals of environmental health research projects are diverse, as are the methods used to reach these goals. Opportunities for greater implication of the civil society and related challenges differ at each step of such projects. These methodological aspects need to be widely shared and understood by all stakeholders. The LILAS initiative (acronym for "application of citizen science approaches such as LIving LAbS to research on environmental exposures and chronic risks") aimed to 1) favor a mutual understanding of the main issues and research methods in environmental health, of their stakes for different actors, but also of the requirements, strengths and limitations of these methods and to 2) identify expected benefits and points of attention related to stronger degrees of participation as part of environmental health research projects., Methods: The LILAS initiative gathered institutional researchers, academics and civil society representatives interested in environmental exposures. Five meetings allowed to collectively identify different types of environmental health research studies and reflect about the benefits, limitations, and methodological issues related to the introduction of growing citizen participation as part of such studies. An analytic table matrix summarizing these aspects was co-created and filled by participants, as a tool devoted to help stakeholders with the definition of future CS research projects in environmental health., Results: For different fields of research (e.g.: studies for assessment of environmental exposures, interventions on these exposures, quantitative risk assessment, epidemiological studies), the matrix lists expected benefits for various stakeholders, the fundamental principles of research methods and related practical constraints, but also advantages and limitations related to the use of CS or conventional research approaches., Conclusion: The LILAS initiative allowed to develop a tool which provides consolidated grounds for the co-creation of research projects on environmental exposures involving CS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)