Caffeine (CAF) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) are human activity indicators, classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). The long-term effects of these CECs on keystone species are still scarce in the literature. In this study, the molting and reproduction of Daphnia magna were evaluated over chronicle experiments by quantitative and qualitative approaches. The reported environmental concentrations (scenario 1) of CAF (0.005, 0.03, and 0.127 mg L⁻¹) and LAS (0.4, 1.0, and 2.5 mg L⁻¹) did not show statistical differences in molting process. Inhibition for molting index (%IM) was observed in expected effect concentration exposures (scenario 2) to CAF (20, 40, and 60 mg L⁻¹) and LAS (4.1, 4.5, and 4.9 mg L⁻¹). A decrease in the number of offspring (17 to 30%) and anticipation of the release time of the first four broods were observed in exposures to CAF. Moreover, LAS increased the offspring number produced per D. magna in the 1st (33 to 40%) and 2nd (22 to 52%) broods, in addition to a reduction of the time between 2nd and 3rd broods. Evidence of offspring induction in offspring index (%IO) was observed in exposures to LAS in scenario 1 and inhibition was recorded for scenario 2 (all LAS concentration and 60 mg L⁻¹ of CAF). In scenario 2, for CAF and LAS, caused an inhibition on %IO and a significant decrease in the total offspring produced, especially on the 2nd brood (from 26 to 48%). These findings suggest that the D. magna life cycle may be impacted by a wide range of doses of environmentally relevant pollutants, whereas different approaches support interpreting the level of damage to daphnids’ reproduction and development.

Fe(III) (hydr)oxides commonly contained many metal impurities such as Al. The incorporation of Al might change the properties of minerals and consequently affect sorption behaviors of pollutants with polar functional groups (e.g., diclofenac (DCF)). In this study, batch experiments and microscale characterization were conducted to investigate the DCF sorption mechanisms to goethite and Al-substituted minerals. Goethite and Al-substituted products (including Al-goethite, Al-goethite-hematite, and Al-hematite) were synthesized with different Al contents (i.e., 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% (in mol)) by co-precipitation method. Due to difference of ionic radius between Al and Fe and formation of excessive –OH, Al substitution resulted in deviation of cell parameters from the Vegard line. Al substitution caused increasing –OH in Al-goethite and phase transformation caused decreasing –OH in Al-hematite. The total –OH in minerals was positively related to DCF sorption capacity. In the lower initial concentration range (0.4–9 mg/L), the sorption distribution coefficient (Kd) values of goethite, Al-goethite, and Al-hematite were 21.98, 22.25, and 21.18 L/kg, respectively. Desorption characteristics and ion strength effects indicated that DCF sorption to minerals occurred mainly through outer-sphere complexation. Fourier transform infrared analyses revealed that H-bonds could be formed through –OH of minerals and –COOH of DCF, and the H-bond strength on Al-hematite was stronger than that on goethite/Al-goethite. In the normal environmental pH (e.g., 6.0 to 8.0), Kd values of DCF decreased linearly with increasing pH. These findings are helpful for understanding of DCF migration in environment involving Al-substituted minerals.

Clean air is considered as a basic need for human health. However, air pollution is a significant threat to health in developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to estimate the health effects attributed to PM₂.₅ pollutants in the air of Ardabil in 2018 (using Air Q + model). Raw data related to particles were collected from the Department of Environment and processed in Excel software and converted into an input file of the Air Q + model, and in the final stage, by considering appropriate epidemiological parameters and combining these data with air quality data, it was possible to estimate the health effects of air pollution. The results showed that the average annual concentrations of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ were 15.47 and 30.94 in the study year, respectively. The total number of deaths due to ALRI, COPD, lung cancer, IHD, and stroke deaths on average during the study period were estimated to be 73, 11, 7, 15, and 14 deaths, respectively, which include 14.62, 15.78, 4.9, 12.43, and 11.6% of deaths due to ALRI, COPD, lung cancer, IHD, and stroke deaths, respectively. In conditions of concentration above 5 µg/m³, attributed proportion, total number of attributed cases and number of attributed cases per 100,000 population (with moderate relative risk and confidence interval of 95%) for cardiovascular diseases have been estimated to be 0.95% 103 people and 42.19 people. Also, the attributed proportion, the total number of attributable cases, and the number of attributable cases per 100,000 population (with moderate relative risk and confidence of 95%) for the admission of respiratory diseases have been estimated at 97.1%, 68 persons and 3 persons, respectively. Our results suggest that particle exposure even at low concentrations is associated with an increased risk of overall mortality and specific cause mortality and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Output growth uncertainty is a key issue in climate economics, involving the full range of impacts from emissions, through temperature changes to economic damage. The current study introduces output growth uncertainty into the EZ climate model, in which the predicted global carbon emissions under output growth uncertainty are used as weighted input. The objective of the present study is to calculate the future carbon prices represented by marginal abatement cost (MAC), to maximize social welfare. Moreover, the sensitivity of the two output growth uncertainty parameters, namely population growth rate and per capita output growth rate, is analyzed. Lastly, the significance and influence of output uncertainty for carbon price are also discussed. The results exhibit that (1) the optimal prices of per ton CO₂e emission permits in the years 2020, 2030, 2060, 2080, and 2095 are $294.9, $285.3, $238.0, $143.3, and $15.4, respectively. (2) Population growth rate and per capita output growth rate both positively increase the future carbon prices, while the per capita output growth rate has a greater effect. (3) Compared with the performance under output certainty, carbon prices are estimated to be lower with output uncertainty; the high degree of uncertainty about carbon price is also primarily due to the high degree of output uncertainty. These results highlight the importance of research on output growth uncertainty, thus underpinning the EZ climate model for reducing carbon price and improving policymaking.

In recent years, as the abuse of antibiotics, hormones, and herbicides has worsened in aquaculture industry, it is important to monitor the concentrations of those trace contaminants in aquaculture water more effortlessly. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable sampling method for chemical monitoring in aquaculture ponds based on the technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). A binding material (XDA-1 resin) with high adsorption capacity for antibiotics, hormones, and herbicides was selected. In laboratory, the diffusion coefficients of 11 antibiotics, 3 hormones, and 3 herbicides of the XDA-1-DGT devices were tested and ranged from 1.0×10⁻⁶ to 8.7×10⁻⁵ cm²/s. During the in situ application of XDA-1-DGT devices in different aquaculture ponds, concentrations of 11 antibiotics, 3 hormones, and 3 herbicides in aquaculture water (CSOLN) via grab sampling were also analyzed and found ranging from 0.03 to 6.3 ng/L, lower than the results based on DGT (CDGT) (1.2–1.3×10² ng/L). The values of CDGT/CSOLN were larger than one unit, suggesting that the rates of resupply of target chemicals (antibiotics, hormones, and herbicides) by the desorption and diffusion of pond water were higher than the rates of uptake by XDA-1-DGT, and pond water was proved a sufficient reservoir of antibiotics for DGT application. The value of Log (CDGT/CSOLN) of 1.1 derived from the application in the aquaculture ponds of 14 regions in Eastern China can be a reference value for future chemical monitoring based on DGT technique. And the accuracy of this value was found hardly affected by the physical and chemical properties of chemicals with pKa ranging from −1 to 12, Log Kₒw ranging from 0 to 4.5, and Log solubility ranging from 0.0 to 4.0.

With the increasing challenge of attaining sustainable balance in socioeconomic-ecosystem activities, the aspects of the global goals are continously being harnesed in order to ensure a sustainable interaction. As an alliance of the United Nations, the G-20 member countries have not only committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the alliance body has further fostered frameworks that are targeted at advancing global economic and environmental sustainability. Within this context, the current study examined the environmental sustainability effects arising from the economic freedom prowess in the panel of the G-20 economies over the period 2000–2016. Among the sparse studies, the study employed the indices of economic freedom: freedom to trade internationally, regulation, sound money, legal framework, and property right and alongside the real income and renewable energy consumption as explanatory indicators. With the result of the difference- and two-step system GMM (generalized method of moments), the legal system and property right, sound money, freedom to international trade, and regulatory efficiency are detrimental to the panel countries’ environmental quality. Although this is likely to be untrue for countries that have advanced their climate actions and especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, it suggests a dearth in the SDGs achievement among the developing and emerging economies. Moreover, it probably shows the depth of traditional or business-as-usual practices (such as the lack of sustainable economic and environmental practices) and the socioeconomic system that are obtainable in most of the developing and emerging economies. Thus, the study put forward tangible policies that are essential for governance and toward attaining desirable country-specific SDGs.

Lead (Pb) poisoning is a major public health concern in environmental justice communities of the USA and in many developing countries. There is no identified safety threshold for lead in blood, as low-level Pb exposures can lead to severe toxicity in highly susceptible individuals and late onset of diseases from early-life exposure. However, identifying “susceptibility genes” or “early exposure biomarkers” remains challenging in human populations. There is a considerable variation in susceptibility to harmful effects from Pb exposure in the general population, likely due to the complex interplay of genetic and/or epigenetic factors. This systematic review summarizes current state of knowledge on the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in determining individual susceptibility in response to environmental Pb exposure in humans and rodents. Although a number of common genetic and epigenetic factors have been identified, the reviewed studies, which link these factors to various adverse health outcomes following Pb exposure, have provided somewhat inconsistent evidence of main health effects. Acknowledging the compelling need for new approaches could guide us to better characterize individual responses, predict potential adverse outcomes, and identify accurate and usable biomarkers for Pb exposure to improve mitigation therapies to reduce future adverse health outcomes of Pb exposure.

The presence of antibiotics such as oxytetracycline (OTC) in water and wastewater is considered an environmental problem and, consequently, their elimination is an important topic. The present research shows the removal of OTC from aqueous medium using a quartz-based natural aluminosilicate (Q) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified with zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) as alternative adsorbent materials for OTC removal. The ZnNPs were synthesized by chemical reduction method and were used to modify the Q and CNT surface. There were obtained four materials (Q, Q/ZnNPs CNTs. and CNTs/ZnNPs) characterized by SEM–EDX, FTIR, DRX, and pHPZC. The adsorption behavior of OTC, as a function of drug concentration, pH, and temperature, was investigated by adsorption experiments. High adsorption capacities (qₑ) of OTC as 644 and 111 mg/g were obtained for CNTs and CNTs/ZnNPs, respectively. For Q and Q/ZnNPs, the maximum OTC sorption was 177 and 78 mg/g, respectively. It was found that OTC adsorption process using CNTs and CNTs/ZnNPs follows a pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion, while when using the Q and Q/Zn, it follows a pseudo-first-order model. Moreover, isotherm tests were performed on distilled water and drinking water to evaluate the effect of ionic strength. The obtained data were adjusted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Raduskevich isotherm equations, being Freundlich the isotherm that describes the OTC sorption process. The results obtained were indicative of a good OTC adsorption capacity by the alternative prepared materials.

In recent years, Regueb basin has been facing groundwater quality degradation due to the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, which is the result of strong agricultural activities. Physicochemical elements (TDS, NO₃⁻) and several factor types (geologic, hydrogeologic, and geomorphologic) were used in this study. The weighted model (TDLFSGC) was used to determine the groundwater vulnerability index (VI) to the pollution which is subsequently validated by Pearson correlation with nitrate concentrations. The results show that the TDS in groundwater ranged between 1.19 and 16.92 g/L and the NO₃⁻ concentrations varied from 150 to 920 mg/L. The vulnerability map generated using GIS shows three classes of VI in the study area, namely low (31.5–60), moderate (60–75), and high (75–13). The validation of the vulnerability model revealed a good correlation with NO₃⁻ and provided a high discretization of the groundwater vulnerability from anthropogenic pollution. This approach implies that more efforts should be taken to preserve the groundwater of the Regueb basin from contamination. And it could be used as a tool for water resource management in the future in similar regions.

Climate change is bringing drastic changes to the food availability, accessibility, quality, and stability in the world. Pakistan heavily relies on production of wheat for food security. This study investigates the role of climate change on food security over Punjab regions, Pakistan, from 1979–2020. The study utilized the total production of wheat to measure food security. Moreover, the study utilized mean, maximum, minimum temperature, wind speed, and rainfall as a measurement of climate change. This study utilized auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound test cointegration approach to test the long-run cointegration, while ARDL model is applied to investigate the short-run relationship among modeled variables. This study adopted Augmented Dicky Fuller (ADF) and Phillips Parron (PP) test to check the stationarity of the data. Moreover, the study ensures reliability and validity of the model by utilizing Breusch-Godfrey serial correlation, Breusch-Pagan-Godfry HSK, and Ramsey RESET test. This study found that wheat cultivated area (0.46*), total irrigated area (2.67***), total un-irrigated area (1.93***), and total area sown ([1.0809**) have a positive and significant long-run impact on food production in all regions of Punjab Pakistan. However, while average, the maximum and minimum temperature is negatively and significantly associated with food production in all regions of Punjab (− 1.07**; − 3.33***; − 1.84**), except northern Punjab, where maximum temperature affects positively food production Punjab. Rainfall negatively and significantly affects food production in northern (− 0.34**) and central and southern (− 0.13***) Punjab. Furthermore, wind speed negatively affects food production in all regions of Punjab (− 0.22**; − 0.21*; − 0.11**), except northern Punjab. This study implies that government should develop policies to increase irrigation facilities and loan facilities to increase the total area sown that will help to increase wheat yield and ensure food security. Moreover, the government should devise policies for large-scale plantations to minimize climate change impacts. The study also suggests new improved varieties of the wheat crop that can survive and flourish in the presence of adverse climatic changes, high temperature, and high wind speed.