The developing countries have been intensified by urbanization and anthropogenic activities releasing heavy metals into the environment leading to various environmental challenges. This study evaluates Cu and Zn pollution in wetland ecosystems across eight locations in Odisha, India. It utilizes Cattle egret’s feathers and describes these birds as bioindicators to assess the bioaccumulation of these metals. Soil, prey (invertebrates and fish) and feathers were sampled from different sampling locations to measure metal concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Findings have revealed spatial variations, with the highest Cu levels observed in Bhadrak soil (34.27 µg/g), Koraput prey (9.27 µg/g), and Koraput feathers (15.62 µg/g) and lowest in Chandaneswar soil and prey (13.43 µg/g and 2.88 µg/g), in Hirakud Feather (8.39 µg/g). The highest Zn levels were recorded in Koraput soil (55.45 µg/g), Koraput prey (49.94 µg/g), and Koraput feathers (84.05 µg/g) and lowest in Talcher soil (29.71 µg/g), Bhadrak prey (19.61 µg/g) and in Hirakud prey (38.9 µg/g) respectively. Positive correlations were recorded for Cu as well as Zn concentrations among soil, prey and feather samples of different locations which represents the bioaccumulation pattern of heavy metals in the wetland ecosystem and moving up through the trophic levels to the higher organisms, especially to the birds. This can be a contributing factor to the declining population of many wetland dependent birds as well as a threat to the health of other animals and humans that depend on these ecosystems.Clinical trial registration: Not applicable.Graphical

Water monitoring and evaluation form one of the key components of water reforms in South Africa post-1994. These reforms specifically, seek to improve water management, thus balancing water supply and demand, ensuring water quality and supplying water for the growing population and economy. While numerous laws and regulations, frameworks and institutions such as the Department of Water and Sanitation, the South African Local Government Administration, the Water Research Commission, the South African Association of Water Utilities and South African Human Rights Commission have been set up to meet these objectives, very little successes have been achieved. In some situations, there have been outright failure. These are attributed to overly complexities in the monitoring systems. Furthermore, there is lack of transformation in water management structures as well as insufficient data and information to make inform decisions. This paper uses a participatory data collection approach of qualitative and quantitative methods and extensive literature to explore the complexities of monitoring and evaluating water activities in post-independence South Africa. Our findings uncovered that there is conflicting views between the top-down monitoring approach currently used against a broad participatory monitoring strategy. To address these challenges this paper proposes establishing clear performance indicators, investing in data collection and management systems, strengthening institutional capacity, and promoting stakeholder participation. Additionally, we suggest using innovative monitoring techniques, implementing regular assessments and reviews, enhancing transparency and accountability and integrating monitoring and evaluation into planning processes.

Riverine nitrogen export (RNE) and riverine phosphorus export (RPE) are the cumulative results of regional anthropogenic nitrogen and phosphorus inputs combined with land use and hydrological changes that primarily drive the eutrophication of downstream water bodies. This study focuses on the characteristics of high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations as well as low discharge in rivers in arid regions, using the Liao River in northern China as an example. The spatiotemporal patterns of net anthropogenic nitrogen input (NANI) and net anthropogenic phosphorus input (NAPI) in the Liao River Basin during 2010 to 2020 were investigated. Results indicated that the multi-year averages for NANI and NAPI were 9453 kg N km−2 yr−1 and 1916 kg P km−2 yr−1, respectively. Our predictive models constructed based on the aforementioned influencing factors, explained 67% and 75% of the variations in RNE and RPE, respectively. Unlike previous studies, only a small portion of NANI and NAPI was exported through rivers. The RNE and RPE were 37 kg N km−2·yr−1 and 2 kg P km−2·yr−1, accounting for 0.42% of NANI and 0.12% of NAPI. RNE and RPE were significantly influenced by discharge and precipitation. The cropland ratio influenced the output ratio of NANI, whereas RPE was mainly influenced by the NAPI of developed land.

The antibiotics ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole are well-known to be persistent in drinking water, as they have been detected at the highest concentration and frequency, respectively. These antibiotics persist despite their residence time, water treatment, and environmental conditions encountered in drinking water distribution systems. To better understand this phenomenon, the objectives of this study were to determine their degradation kinetics at a residual, sub-minimum inhibitory concentration while exposed to multi-species biofilms in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, as well as examine their effect on total cell count (TCC). The results revealed that both antibiotics continued to be detected after the experimental period of 12 days. Ciprofloxacin concentrations decreased by 31.1% (± 3.9%) and 27.4% (± 7.7%) during exposure to the biofilm and PVC-only control respectively, whereas sulfamethoxazole concentrations decreased by 87.2% (± 15.8%) and 3.6% (± 8.6%) during exposure to the biofilm and PVC-only control, respectively. Biofilm TCC increased significantly when exposed to ciprofloxacin (p-value < 0.005), but showed no significant change when exposed to sulfamethoxazole (p-value > 0.05), which suggested that ciprofloxacin enhanced biofilm formation. These results address the gap in antibiotic persistence research by tracing their concentrations, elucidating the mechanisms of sorption and degradation, and discussing their relative implications. As antibiotics continue to persist in drinking water, their interaction with biofilms may contribute to the long-term selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing potential risks to drinking water safety and public health.

Agroecological practices are essential for sustainable agriculture, enhancing biodiversity, and soil health, and reducing chemical inputs while increasing climate resilience. This comprehensive bibliometric study (1981–2024) examines 376 publications, using co-word map analysis and network visualization to uncover clusters of research topics such as adoption, application, and sustainable agriculture. It highlights the interconnectedness of agroecology-related concepts and tracks the evolution of research interests, providing valuable insights for policymakers to inform strategic decisions. The analysis suggests that supportive policies for agroecology, driven by social movements, farmers’ organizations, and academics, could include financial incentives, subsidies, and grants, as well as education and training programs. Investments in research and development, improved market access, and sustainable land management are also crucial. Implementing collaborative governance, capacity building, robust monitoring and evaluation systems, public awareness campaigns, and integrating agroecological principles into broader policies can create a conducive environment for resilient and sustainable farming systems.

There were some new characteristics of urban transportation in the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the transportation-related emissions in major cities of Canada during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, with a focus on evolving transportation behaviors and environmental effects. The analysis was based on data collected from various provinces in Canada, encompassing greenhouse gases (GHGs), traffic volume, fuel consumption by vehicles and airlines, and air quality. The aviation sector nearly reverted to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, with significant rebounding of kerosene-type jet fuel consumption. Emission analysis from September 2020 to December 2022 showed the changes in NO2, CO, SO2, PM2.5, and O3 levels. Key observations include a gradual return to pre-pandemic emission levels. For instance, the average NO2 levels in Vancouver showed variations from 14.2 ppb in 2020 to 15.4 ppb in 2022, while average CO levels fluctuated between 0.18 ppm in 2020 and 0.22 ppm in 2022. These changes are attributed to multiple factors, including the pandemic, fuel price hikes, increased electric vehicle usage, and altered commuting patterns. The results can help further explore the mobility and emissions patterns impacted by human activities, which have implications with respect to improving air quality and reducing GHG emissions in urban areas.

It is now well established that climate changes is affecting smallholder farmers and threatening agricultural production and livelihoods in South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), due to their limited capacity to cope with climate change. In the DRC, data on smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change effects and related shocks remain limited. This study was carried out to assess smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and their perceptions of related disruptions in livestock production in South Kivu Province. Specifically, the study assesses smallholder farmers’ exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to climate change, as well as their perception of related shocks and the strategies they use to mitigate the shocks they experience. The study was conducted from May to October 2022 in five territories of South Kivu Province. Vulnerability was determined by considering the vulnerability index, potential impact index, and the adaptive capacity index. The findings revealed that livestock farmers in low-altitude zones are the most exposed and sensitive to the effects of climate change. However, their adaptive capacity is comparable to those of medium- and high-altitude zones. Most farmers believe that the observed effects of climate change and its impacts are due to poor agricultural and livestock practices. Their adaptive strategies include income diversification (57.6%), controlling livestock diseases (72%), adopting integrated production systems (65.2%), planting trees (56.9%), improving pasture management (45.5%), and using improved livestock breeds (41.3%). Despite their efforts, limited resources and access to technology constrain adaptation. This study highlights the critical role of farmers’ attitudes and perceptions in shaping their adaptive behaviors. It underscores the need for localized interventions that integrate Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, built on traditional knowledge systems, to enhance resilience. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in similar contexts.

This paper revealed the intensifying transboundary dust events in southeastern Turkmenistan near the border of Iran, using long-term spatial and statistical data (1980–2023). This study introduced the definition of a new source of dust storms, which is called the Sarakhs-Badkhyz region, apart from the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts. The mentioned dust source with a surface area of 100,000 km2 is located in southeastern Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran. The remotely sensed investigation of this study was supported with local and international re-analyzed datasets (e.g., IRIMO, Eumetsat, and NASA). A drastic temperature increase triggers evaporation and also dryness of the sandy deserts in southeastern Turkmenistan. Then, dried sandy grounds and high wind speeds are important factors in creating favorable conditions for dust storm formation. Additionally, the increase in the intensity of general atmospheric circulation and the more energetic activity of the frontal cyclones, associated with the cold air intrusion of the Siberian anticyclone, are important mechanisms in the dust events of the study area. The decrease in precipitation in recent years in addition to declining the water flows of the Tejen and Murghab rivers from their basins is the reason for the dryness of the sandy ground of the Sarakhs-Badkhyz region. As a result, the defined region is a susceptible zone to source sediments of dust storms in the Middle East. Future research should analyze the possible effects of the dust storms, raised from the Sarakhs-Badkhyz region, on the cultivation, construction, immigration, and healthcare situations of the inhabitants and settlements, dominantly in Mashhad, Mary, and Herat urban regions (with a total of 4.35 million inhabitants).