Sci. Total Environ. [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Context-dependent responses of bats to artificial light at night in urban and natural woodlands.
Meola V, Šestović B, Russo D
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42096857 · Publisher ↗
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive environmental pollutant that disrupts circadian rhythms, behaviour, and ecological interactions across taxa. Bats are particularly vulnerable, as illumination increases per...
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive environmental pollutant that disrupts circadian rhythms, behaviour, and ecological interactions across taxa. Bats are particularly vulnerable, as illumination increases perceived predation risk and interferes with nocturnal foraging. While the spatial and spectral effects of ALAN have been documented, the extent to which prior exposure to ALAN modulates behavioural responses remains unclear. We experimentally tested whether bat responses to a novel lighting event differ between chronically illuminated and naturally dark environments. Using a paired-night illumination design, we compared bat activity and species richness under dark and lit conditions at 72 spatially independent sites in two urban parks chronically exposed to ALAN and in two structurally similar, naturally dark woodlands in Italy and Montenegro. Across 214,825 bat passes representing nine taxa/species groups, artificial light reduced the activity of light-sensitive species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis spp.) far more strongly in dark woodlands than in urban parks, indicating context-dependent attenuation of light responses in urban environments. Other taxa were either consistently depressed by light (Plecotus spp., Nyctaloids) or unaffected by it (pipistrelles, Tadarida teniotis). Species richness declined under light regardless of context. Overall, our results show that bat responses to ALAN depend on landscape context, particularly for light-averse taxa. This highlights that behavioural attenuation in illuminated environments may reflect ecological filtering, behavioural plasticity, or their combination, with implications for managing light pollution and conserving nocturnal biodiversity.
Assessing pesticide pollution in the Río de la Plata: A multi-tiered approach to ecological risk evaluation.
Mac Loughlin TM, Bahl MF, Flores FM … +3 more , Apartin CD, Peluso ML, Demetrio PM
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42092217 · Publisher ↗
Agricultural intensification across the Argentine Pampas is reshaping the contaminant load delivered to the Río de la Plata. This study presents a basin-scale appraisal of pesticide occurrence and ecological risk along t...
Agricultural intensification across the Argentine Pampas is reshaping the contaminant load delivered to the Río de la Plata. This study presents a basin-scale appraisal of pesticide occurrence and ecological risk along the Argentine margin, integrating monitoring at 22 surface-water sites with two sediment campaigns and targeted risk characterization. Eighty pesticides were analyzed; 34 were detected in water above detection limits. Occurrence was dominated by herbicides (glyphosate, atrazine and metabolites), alongside frequent fungicides and insecticides. In sediments, glyphosate and AMPA were ubiquitous across campaigns, whereas pyrethroids and triazole fungicides increased in the summer survey, consistent with seasonal application patterns. Environmental risk was evaluated via a multi-step approach: (i) comparison of measured concentrations with national and international water-quality guidelines (WQGs), (ii) site-level Risk Quotients (RQ), and (iii) derivation of substance-specific guideline values. RQ screening indicated multi-residue risk at 19/22 sites. Risk was disproportionately driven by a small subset of compounds (carbendazim, chlorantraniliprole), whereas frequently detected herbicides generally remained below their WQGs. Following a national framework, species sensitivity distributions (SSD) yielded protective values for imidacloprid (67 ng/L), carbendazim (145 ng/L), and glyphosate (51,165 ng/L); chlorantraniliprole was derived using an assessment-factor approach (29 ng/L). Exceedance analysis showed that adopting SSD-based values materially changes frequency: for imidacloprid, exceedances increased from ∼32% under a conventional benchmark to ∼92% under the SSD-derived value. Findings indicate persistent background contamination overlaid by event-driven peaks, underscore the value of SSD-based derivations for context-specific protection goals, and actionable priorities: periodic revision of WQGs using transparent SSD/AF procedures and integration of sediments in monitoring designs.
Evaluating options to mitigate hydropower impacts on river thermal regimes in a changing climate.
Dorthe D, Pfister M, Lane SN
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42092216 · Publisher ↗
Storage hydropower alters the natural flow regime of rivers through reservoir impoundment, modified residual flows, and hydropeaking operations. These hydrological changes may also affect river temperatures and so aquati...
Storage hydropower alters the natural flow regime of rivers through reservoir impoundment, modified residual flows, and hydropeaking operations. These hydrological changes may also affect river temperatures and so aquatic ecosystems. Hydropower mitigation has primarily focused on hydrological impacts; thermal consequences and interactions with climate change remain poorly understood. To address this gap, this study evaluates the thermal effects of three hydropeaking mitigation strategies for a peri-Alpine river strongly affected by hydropower regulation; regulation basin, diversion tunnel, and residual flow increase; under current and future climate conditions. Under current climate conditions, both regulation basins and residual flow increases significantly reduce short-term thermal rates of change (from approximately 7 to 4 °C/h), though values remain above those observed in natural rivers (around 1.5 °C/h). Only residual flow increases markedly reduce the number of days exceeding critical thermal thresholds (15 °C here), by up to 35 days. In contrast, diversion tunnels show negligible effect on thermal indicators and may increase vulnerability to temperature extremes. Under future climate scenarios, mitigation strategies maintain their relative effectiveness in limiting thermal gradients, but their ability to reduce threshold exceedances declines under the most severe climate scenarios, due to rising reservoir temperatures. These findings illustrate how ecologically relevant thermal indicators can be integrated into mitigation assessment within a modelling framework that accounts for the combined effects of hydropower operations and climate change under current and future conditions. The work shows the limitations of current approaches to assessment, which are often restricted to short-term thermal indicators or rely on idealized reference conditions.
Letter to editor on the paper titled: Respirable mineral dust toxicity across mining locations: A comparative study of field samples in an underground mine by Chen et al., 2026.
Emad MZ
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42085876 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Urban indoor airborne antibiotic resistance genes: Role of antibiotic use and outdoor air pollution.
Amin H, Šantl-Temkiv T, M Wouters I … +6 more , Johannesen A, Sigsgaard T, Schlünssen V, Malinovschi A, Thorarinsdottir H, Bertelsen RJ
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42085875 · Publisher ↗
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in airborne dust represent an emerging concern for public health, particularly in indoor environments where human exposure is prolonged. While external environmental pressures are known...
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in airborne dust represent an emerging concern for public health, particularly in indoor environments where human exposure is prolonged. While external environmental pressures are known to shape the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in indoor dust, their role in ARG dynamics remains underexplored. This study assessed the temporal and spatial patterns of airborne ARGs in indoor dust across four Nordic cities (Aarhus, Bergen, Reykjavik, and Uppsala) using electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs) in the same households at two time points: 2012 and 2022. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed to profile ARGs. National antibiotic consumption data were obtained from the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC-Net), outdoor air pollution data (PM2.5 and PM10) from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), and meteorological parameters from the NASA POWER database. Beta diversity analysis revealed city-specific differences in ARG composition (PERMANOVA, R = 0.18, P = 0.03), but no consistent temporal shift over the 10-year period. Macrolide, tetracycline, and aminoglycoside resistance genes were among the most abundant and persistent classes. A previously undetected macrolide resistance sequence was identified across all cities in 2022. Although national antibiotic consumption declined, cross-sectional correlations between national antibiotic consumption and ARG abundance strengthened from 2012 (Spearman's ρ = 0.25) to 2022 (ρ = 0.37), suggesting sustained ARG presence despite reduced antibiotic consumption. Several ARG classes showed associations with outdoor particulate matter, and these relationships were influenced by local meteorological conditions. For example, higher absolute humidity was associated with a weaker relationship between PM and polymyxin resistance genes, whereas stronger wind speeds were associated with stronger relationships between PM and Sulfonamide resistance genes. These findings highlight the complex environmental interplay between antibiotic consumption, air pollution, meteorological factors, and ARG dynamics in indoor air, emphasizing the need for integrated environmental and AMR surveillance, especially in the context of climate change.
How moss affects urban temperatures: The effects of moss on the thermal dynamics of an urban cementitious surface.
Veeger M, Ottelé M, Jonkers HM
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42085874 · Publisher ↗
Urban surfaces often exhibit higher temperatures than natural ones, increasing heat stress in urban inhabitants. Plants can provide a solution due to their cooling effect. Whereas this has been investigated in vascular p...
Urban surfaces often exhibit higher temperatures than natural ones, increasing heat stress in urban inhabitants. Plants can provide a solution due to their cooling effect. Whereas this has been investigated in vascular plants, this study is the first to investigate the influence of three moss species (Grimmia pulvinata, Ptychostomum capillare, and Brachythecium rutabulum) attached to a cementitious surface on air, surface, and substrate temperatures. They were compared to bare mortar, mortar covered with the climbing plant Hedera helix, and a moss-climber combination under varying weather conditions. Moss was found to affect temperatures in three ways. Firstly, moss increased surface temperatures in direct sunlight, with an average daytime increase of +1.5 °C to +4.1 °C compared to bare mortar. Secondly, moss exhibited insulating properties, dampening the heat flux to and from the underlying substrate. This reduced heat transfer to the substrate during warm days, limiting heat gain, but also reduced heat transfer from the substrate at night, leading to average nighttime temperatures inside the substrate that were higher (+3.0 °C to +3.8 °C) than in the bare samples. Finally, when moss was hydrated, an evaporative cooling effect could be observed, but it lasted only a few hours after watering. These findings suggest that moss could be a net positive in colder seasons or climates, but that under warmer conditions, it is best to keep moss hydrated or shaded during sun-exposed periods. Therefore, a moss-climber combination appears promising, combining the thermal insulation, acoustic and air-quality benefits of moss with the shading effect of climbing plants.
Expression of Concern: "Microplastic contamination in water supply system and treatment technologies" [Sci. Total Environ. 926 (2024) 171793].
Sci Total Environ · 2026 May · PMID 42082290 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Expression of Concern: "The impact of rainwater-borne H2O2-induced Fenton process on root iron plaque formation and arsenic accumulation in rice" [Sci. Total Environ. 908 (2024) 168300].
Sci Total Environ · 2026 May · PMID 42082289 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Land subsidence dynamics in the Mekong Delta: Insights from local high-resolution geomechanical parameterization, numerical modelling, and geodetic observations.
Dörr F, Bauer J, Hoan TV … +5 more , Van LTM, Schenk A, Dörr N, Nestmann F, Norra S
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42081845 · Publisher ↗
Land subsidence poses major threats to human and environmental systems in river deltas worldwide, increasing risks of flooding and damage to civil infrastructure. In deltaic settings, land subsidence can be induced by mu...
Land subsidence poses major threats to human and environmental systems in river deltas worldwide, increasing risks of flooding and damage to civil infrastructure. In deltaic settings, land subsidence can be induced by multiple superimposing processes, including autocompaction, groundwater depletion and infrastructural surface loading. The quantification of each individual process is often uncertain, yet crucial for effective adaptation and mitigation. The Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) is a prominent example of such a subsiding delta, with satellite-derived subsidence rates of up to 30 mm a and surface elevations largely below 1 m above mean sea level. By presenting a fully coupled flow-deformation model with geomechanical parameterization at high vertical resolution, this study, supported by local geodetic leveling observations, provides an unprecedentedly detailed local-scale assessment of land subsidence dynamics for the VMD. The simulation results indicate subsidence rates of 5-6 mm a due to groundwater depletion and local infrastructure loading. Additionally integrating one or multiple well-casing failures as localized subsurface disturbances in the model yields spatially heterogeneous subsidence patterns and increases local subsidence rates by an additional 1-20 mm a, depending on the number of implemented failures. While well-casing failures are known consequences of land subsidence, the hypothesis-driven exploratory simulations employed here indicate that such damage may in turn accelerate subsidence by facilitating subsurface drainage pathways and local head equilibration between aquitards and tapped aquifers. This suggests that well-casing failures could contribute to heterogeneous and locally extreme subsidence dynamics. The results reveal significant delays in subsidence due to past groundwater depletion at the investigated site, underscoring the need for proactive water management strategies in the VMD, supported by comprehensive land subsidence modelling. The insights derived from this localized high-resolution analysis suggest that effective management will require preventing shallow aquifer depletion to avoid triggering the Holocene's pronounced, yet largely inactivated subsidence potential.
Corrigendum to "Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) as sentinels for PFAS biomonitoring in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem" [Sci. Total Environ. 1029 (2026) 181762].
Blackman LE, Mehdi Q, Timshina A … +6 more , Bartoszek IA, Miller MA, Easterling IC, Olejniczak K, Aufmuth J, Bowden JA
Sci Total Environ · 2026 May · PMID 42070923 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Exposure of contaminated sites to landslides and floods in Switzerland.
Grimmer A, Mosimann M, Zischg A … +1 more , Mestrot A
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42070328 · Publisher ↗
Switzerland has around 38,000 registered contaminated sites, including deposit sites, operational sites, shooting ranges, and accident sites. Natural hazards are an effective pathway for remobilising contaminants from su...
Switzerland has around 38,000 registered contaminated sites, including deposit sites, operational sites, shooting ranges, and accident sites. Natural hazards are an effective pathway for remobilising contaminants from such sites - either by physical processes, such as erosion through landslides and dynamic floods, or by chemical processes through static floods. In this study, we assess the exposure of contaminated sites to landslides and floods by spatially intersecting maps of contaminated sites and natural hazard zones. We present examples of contaminated site types where processes of landslides and floods can trigger remobilisation of contaminants. Our exposure analysis identified around 2200 sites prone to landslides and 11,500 sites prone to flooding. In Switzerland, the exposure of contaminated sites to floods, and the associated remobilisation of contaminants, is included in the assessment of the need for remediation. Our study shows that due to the significant number of contaminated sites at risk of landslides, this natural hazard should also be considered when assessing the need for remediation. Especially landslides that remobilise contaminated soil and reach surface waters are expected to cause widespread dispersal of contaminants. The presented method for assessing the exposure of contaminated sites to natural hazards is simple and cost-effective. As long as spatial data on contaminated sites and natural hazards are available, it can be applied in other contexts. Hence, the approach may also be of interest for other countries facing multi-hazard exposure of contaminated sites.
Corrigendum to "Biochar inhibited hydrogen radical-induced Cd bioavailability in a paddy soil" [Sci. Total Environ. 892 (2023) 164521].
Li T, Li W, Yu S … +9 more , Zhao C, Liu L, Li YC, Gao B, Chen H, Wang B, Wang X, Wang S, Rinklebe J
Sci Total Environ · 2026 May · PMID 42067419 · Publisher ↗
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Transfer of belowground carbon into forest vegetation in Icelandic volcanic geothermal fields: Implications for C transfer from subsurface sources.
Uzzaman ST, Biasi C, Jyllilä P … +4 more , Trubnikova T, Sigurdsson BD, Ikonen ATK, Majlesi S
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42066489 · Publisher ↗
Belowground carbon transfer from non-equilibrium sources can alter isotopic signatures in terrestrial ecosystems, yet the transfer of such carbon into vegetation under natural field conditions remains poorly constrained....
Belowground carbon transfer from non-equilibrium sources can alter isotopic signatures in terrestrial ecosystems, yet the transfer of such carbon into vegetation under natural field conditions remains poorly constrained. Understanding these processes is essential for improving radiocarbon (C) transfer models used in environmental risk assessments. Geothermal fields offer natural analogue systems where isotopically enriched CO emitted from the subsurface can be used as a proxy for potential belowground C releases. This study determined the contribution of geogenic versus biogenic carbon to soil gas, near-surface air, and plant functional groups along a geothermal warming gradient in a forested volcanic field in Iceland. Stable isotope analyses (δC) with two-endmember mixing models revealed that geogenic CO dominated soil gas in all warmed plots (≥98%). Near-surface air (5 cm aboveground) showed geothermal influence, with geogenic CO contributing up to 45% in the warmest plots. Despite this pronounced subsurface signal, only lichens assimilated geogenic carbon (10-25%), while bryophytes and all vascular plants assimilated their carbon from biogenic sources. These results highlight physiological and microclimatic differences in carbon acquisition pathways among plant groups, while identifying lichens as sensitive integrators of subsurface CO due to their thallus structure, boundary layer positioning, and hydration dynamics. Overall, these findings provide field-based evidence of non-equilibrium carbon pools in geothermal soils and highlight the limitations of assuming homogeneous isotopic signatures across environmental compartments in most current C biosphere assessment models. Incorporating such species-specific and spatially explicit carbon transfer dynamics will improve the accuracy of radiological impact assessments from subsurface C releases.
An integrated spatial framework to assess telecommuting impacts on transportation network and emission hotspots in a developing country context: The case study of Tehran.
Baghestani A, Aryannejad A, Mahpour A
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42066488 · Publisher ↗
Telecommuting is recognized as a sustainable urban mobility strategy; however, its quantitative impacts on network performance and air quality remains insufficiently understood, particularly in developing countries. This...
Telecommuting is recognized as a sustainable urban mobility strategy; however, its quantitative impacts on network performance and air quality remains insufficiently understood, particularly in developing countries. This study develops an integrated spatial framework that directly links a travel demand forecasting model (EMME/2) with the International Vehicle Emissions (IVE) model to empirically evaluate the effect of telecommuting on network performance and emission hotspots in Tehran. Two scenarios-Business-As-Usual (BAU) and Telecommuting (TELE)-are simulated within EMME/2. The outputs, including vehicle kilometers traveled and speed are employed as primary inputs for the IVE model in order to estimate on-road emissions of major pollutants. The results show that implementation of a 20% telecommuting scenario might decrease total Vehicle Kilometers Traveled (VKT) and Vehicle Hours Traveled (VHT) by 4.6% and 10.9%, respectively; furthermore, the results indicate reductions in emissions of CO, VOCs, NOx, SOx, and PM by up to 7.9%, 7.9%, 5.9%, 4.5%, and 4.4% respectively during the morning peak hour. It's worth mentioning that spatial analysis highlights important emission reduction within the Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) and Restricted-Traffic Zone (RTZ) of Tehran, where most daily business trips are concentrated. The findings provide novel empirical evidence from a developing-country context, demonstrating that even moderate levels of telecommuting adoption can substantially enhance both transportation network efficiency and urban air quality. The framework proposed in this study provides policymakers with a robust, data-driven tool for evaluating travel demand management (TDM) strategies aimed at supporting sustainable urban development.
Understudied and overlooked: Radiological, ecological and biological risk pathways from oil and gas production.
Bozarth SJ, Mousseau TA
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42066487 · Publisher ↗
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) mobilized during oil and gas extraction become Technologically Enhanced NORM (TENORM), creating localized but significant radiological hazards. Radionuclides from the U an...
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) mobilized during oil and gas extraction become Technologically Enhanced NORM (TENORM), creating localized but significant radiological hazards. Radionuclides from the U and Th decay chains, particularly Ra, Ra, Pb, and Po, concentrate in produced water, scales, sludges, drill cuttings, and residual oil ash. Activity concentrations span eight orders of magnitude, reaching up to 10 Bq/kg in scale, and their environmental behavior is governed by complex geochemical and microbial interactions. Produced water discharges, evaporation ponds, and road spreading of brines facilitate transfer of TENORM into soils, sediments, and groundwater, while radon release and airborne radioactive particulates contribute to inhalation exposure. Workers are primarily affected by external gamma radiation and radon inhalation, whereas nearby communities and ecosystems experience chronic low-dose exposures through contaminated water and sediment pathways. Although regulatory limits generally constrain short-term exposures, inconsistent global oversight, the persistence of radium decay products, and the paucity of biological data complicate accurate risk evaluation. Direct laboratory and field studies reveal genotoxicity, oxidative stress, and subtle ecological disruptions at low doses, yet the long-term implications of alpha- and beta-emitter exposure remain underexplored.
Identification and verification of worst-case radiological transport scenarios for Ireland: A simulation-based approach to nuclear emergency preparedness (2011-2024).
Sturrock M, Ryan R, Kelleher K
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42066486 · Publisher ↗
This study presents a comprehensive simulation-based assessment of potential transboundary radiological transport to Ireland from six nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom and France, utilising weather data over a fou...
This study presents a comprehensive simulation-based assessment of potential transboundary radiological transport to Ireland from six nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom and France, utilising weather data over a fourteen-year period (2011-2024). Systematic screening of 2.2 million HYSPLIT atmospheric dispersion simulations identified eighteen worst-case scenarios representing maximum ground deposition, maximum air concentration, and minimum warning time. Independent verification using FLEXPART and HYSPLIT demonstrated expected inter-model variability (factor of 1-10), with both Lagrangian models providing consistent risk assessment brackets. Heysham, despite its complex 19-isotope AGR source term, produced negligible radiological doses to Ireland (<0.01 mSv), substantially below intervention thresholds. More distant continental facilities (Flamanville, Paluel, Sizewell B) showed low but measurable doses (0.1-4.6 mSv), remaining well below the 50 mSv sheltering threshold. This study addresses urgent-phase protective actions only; transitional-phase food chain countermeasures are beyond scope. Hinkley Point C (under construction) showed elevated but sub-threshold doses (0.3-8.5 mSv). However, the cancelled Wylfa Newydd gigawatt-scale project (the site is now proposed for small modular reactors), owing to its extreme proximity to Ireland, exhibited concerning dose predictions: FLEXPART calculated 19.6 mSv under maximum deposition conditions (May 2024 scenario), approaching the 50 mSv sheltering threshold, whilst HYSPLIT predicted 4.5 mSv. This inter-model variability (factor of ∼5) highlights genuine uncertainty for near-source impacts but converges on a critical finding: were a gigawatt-scale reactor constructed at the Wylfa site, severe accidents during specific meteorological patterns could require protective actions in Ireland. Machine learning models (XGBoost) achieved validation accuracies of 85-93% for rapid impact prediction, whilst global sensitivity analysis revealed that meteorological conditions, rather than release parameters, dominate consequence severity. These findings provide quantitative assurance that existing nuclear infrastructure poses low transboundary risk to Ireland well below urgent-phase intervention thresholds (sheltering and evacuation), whilst demonstrating that facility proximity constitutes the dominant factor determining potential radiological impact.
The wide (un)sustainability ranges of agroexporting territories: Insights from Uruguay.
Milani T, Bizzozero F, Mazzeo Beyhaut N … +5 more , Baraibar-Norberg M, Piñeiro-Guerra JM, Rodríguez Tricot L, Garibaldi LA, Jobbágy EG
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42061215 · Publisher ↗
Agroexporting countries play a central role in global food and biomaterials supply, yet their strong external orientation influences the way economic, social, and environmental tensions are navigated at the national scal...
Agroexporting countries play a central role in global food and biomaterials supply, yet their strong external orientation influences the way economic, social, and environmental tensions are navigated at the national scale. Here, we examined how global trade shapes sustainability outcomes in Uruguay through an integrated assessment of key producing sectors: meat, dairy, grains, rice, fruits, vegetables and forestry. We quantified sectoral size, market orientation, multidimensional performance, and the value distribution across farms. We showed that export-oriented land use grew from 74% to 83% between 2005 and 2022, reallocating >1.5 Mha (9% of land) toward external markets. Over the same period, shifts in sectoral composition increased national socioeconomic output. However, sectors differed sharply in their intrinsic footprints (e.g., up to 19-fold differences in water use and 16-fold in pesticide use) and in the biophysical and social pressures associated with generating economic outcomes. Per unit of value generated, pesticide use across export-oriented sectors ranged from 0.43 to 5.10 g per USD, while water use ranged from -1.39 to 7.35 m per USD, implying that compositional shifts toward higher economic output can produce substantial yet contrasting sustainability outcomes. Concentration was marked, with large farms (<0.5% of farms) capturing 28% of gross production value, mainly fueled by forestry and grains. Together, these results confirm that both the extent of territory exposed to global markets and the sectors occupying that space critically shape aggregated footprints. Which sectors occupy the export-oriented land and who captures value ultimately determine national trajectories, making outcomes contingent and politically contested.
Circular economy approaches for improving environmental and economic performance of felt-based living walls.
Gocer O, Ramezannia A
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42061214 · Publisher ↗
This study investigates whether an optimised living wall (LW) system can outperform current business-as-usual (BAU) practices in Australia in terms of environmental and economic performance. A comparative life cycle asse...
This study investigates whether an optimised living wall (LW) system can outperform current business-as-usual (BAU) practices in Australia in terms of environmental and economic performance. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) were conducted over a 30-year service life to evaluate an optimised LW system against a BAU scenario. Compared with the BAU-LW, the OPT-LW system achieved a 68% reduction in global warming potential, a 49% decrease in ozone depletion potential, and a 64% reduction in fossil resource depletion. Lifecycle cost decreased by 48%, indicating strong alignment between environmental and financial performance. Sensitivity analysis showed that environmental outcomes were highly sensitive to the electricity profile and service life, while cost factors remained largely insensitive to user engagement, hourly rate, and inflation. Overall, the OPT-LW system offers a feasible pathway toward lowcarbon, cost-efficient vertical greening with robust long-term sustainability. Despite these gains, LCA/LCCA do not capture broader benefits such as biodiversity, mental well-being, and urban heat mitigation. This study demonstrates that optimised felt-based living walls can substantially reduce environmental impacts and lifecycle costs, highlighting their potential as a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for buildings. However, the broader adoption of such systems is limited by current property development practices, suggesting that policy interventions and financial incentives are needed to enable wider implementation.
Isotope-enabled hydrograph separation reveals groundwater-dominated streamflow in a tropical monsoon basin: The Upper Chao Phraya River, Thailand.
Inseeyong N, Kamdee K, Chuenchum P … +5 more , Chomcheawchan P, Pawana V, Pakoksung K, Chuaicham C, Laonamsai J
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42061213 · Publisher ↗
This study investigates seasonal rainfall-runoff dynamics and groundwater-surface water interactions in the Upper Chao Phraya River Basin (UCPRB), Thailand, using stable isotopes (δO and δH), hydrochemical tracers, and h...
This study investigates seasonal rainfall-runoff dynamics and groundwater-surface water interactions in the Upper Chao Phraya River Basin (UCPRB), Thailand, using stable isotopes (δO and δH), hydrochemical tracers, and hydrograph separation techniques. Rainfall exhibited wide isotopic variability (mean δO = -7.20‰, SD = 4.41‰), with more depleted signatures in the wet season (mean = -7.97‰) and enriched values during the dry season (mean = -3.86‰). River water showed moderated seasonal variation (δO mean = -7.38‰), while groundwater remained relatively stable (mean = -6.65‰, SD = 1.72‰), indicating its buffering role. A three-component end-member mixing analysis (EMMA) revealed that the Nan River contributes the largest portion of discharge to the Chao Phraya River, 66% in the wet season and 63% in the dry season. Two-component isotope hydrograph separation showed that groundwater sustains 61-65% of dry-season river flow, while event water dominates during the monsoon (55-70%). Hydrochemical interpretation using Durov and Stiff diagrams identified dominant HCO₃-Ca and mixed water types, along with ion exchange and calcite dissolution. Strong inter-basin δO correlations (r > 0.75) suggest coherent monsoonal recharge across the region. These findings indicate the critical role of groundwater in maintaining river discharge and demonstrate the value of isotope-enabled hydrograph separation for supporting integrated water resources management in tropical agricultural basins facing climate and land-use pressures.
Genetic insights into the rise of marine turtle strandings in Denmark (1926-2025): Environmental and biogeographic context.
Nielsen TG, Jensen MP, Espinoza J … +2 more , Allentoft ME, Alfaro-Núñez A
Sci Total Environ · 2026 Jun · PMID 42061212 · Publisher ↗
Marine turtles are traditionally restricted to tropical and subtropical waters, where temperature regimes support their thermoregulation, navigation, and migratory behaviour. Despite this, rare strandings have historical...
Marine turtles are traditionally restricted to tropical and subtropical waters, where temperature regimes support their thermoregulation, navigation, and migratory behaviour. Despite this, rare strandings have historically occurred in northern European regions, including Denmark. Here, we present the first century-scale consolidation of marine turtle stranding records in Denmark (1926-2025), revealing a sharp rise in strandings since 2020-particularly between 2024 and early 2025-exceeding all events recorded in the previous 94 years. We conducted mitochondrial DNA analysis on stranded loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) collected over the past 26 years. D-loop haplotypes indicate that most individuals carried lineages previously reported from rookeries in the North Atlantic and Greater Caribbean, with some haplotypes also documented in West Africa. One C. mydas carried a distinct Omani haplotype associated with the northwestern Indian Ocean lineage, consistent with anthropogenic introduction. Environmental parameters, including sea surface temperature, wind speed, and storm frequency, were analysed alongside the stranding records, suggesting associations between stranding events and seasonal climatic conditions, particularly during winter months. Our results suggest that oceanographic conditions and cold-stunning during winter months may contribute to the increasing number of strandings observed in temperate waters. The recent rise in turtle strandings in Denmark highlights the importance of monitoring marine turtle occurrences at the northern limits of their distribution. Integrating genetic data with environmental observations provides a useful framework for understanding how marine turtle movements and strandings may respond to changing marine conditions.
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