Environmental Assessment Framework Research Articles

Does county urban shrinkage in China affect the concentration of lung-accessible particulate matter? An analysis from spatial effects and EKC perspectives.

The environmental effects of urban shrinkage have gradually attracted academic attention. Based on spatial effects and EKC perspectives, this study constructs an environmental impact assessment framework and examines the impact of urban shrinkage on the concentration of lung-accessible particulate matter at the county level in China from 2013 to 2020. The results show that, from a two-dimensional perspective in space and time, lung-accessible particulate matter concentrations show a decreasing trend in the time series and an obvious autocorrelation feature in space. Urban shrinkage can affect lung-accessible particulate matter concentrations through spatial effects. Through direct effects, urban shrinkage promotes the increase of lung-accessible particulate matter concentrations. Through spillover effects, urban shrinkage suppresses the growth of lung-accessible particulate matter concentrations. The effect of urban shrinkage on lung-accessible particulate matter concentration is nonlinear (EKC). This may be the result of the "siphon effect." Furthermore, in the extended STIRPAT model, it was found that population and economic and technological factors differentially affect lung-accessible particulate matter concentrations in shrinking cities. This study gives a new idea and insight into the changes in environmental pollution in shrinking cities.

Policies, Places and Practices: Why Environmental Law Scholars Should Care About the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023

Abstract The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 has marked major reforms in how planning law legally conceptualises policies, places and practices. These reforms have an impact not only on the scope of planning law but also on the shape of environmental law in England and Wales. In particular, the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 changes how different forms of national and local policy legally interact, creates new administrative regulation for protected landscapes and establishes a new framework for environmental impact assessment called the Environmental Outcome Reports. This introduction to the legislation illustrates the importance of understanding the planning law reform for environmental law scholarship more generally.

A Systems Firm-Centered Perspective on the Environmental Assessment of Recyclable PET and Glass Soft Drink Containers

This paper adopts a systems firm-centered perspective on the environmental assessment of recyclable glass and PET soft drink containers. We employ LCA and discrete-event simulation modeling for the environmental assessment of the two soft drinks packaging alternatives in operational terms over the entire supply chain over a period of three years. The assessment is based on real data collected from a large soft drink producer and its suppliers. The research and practice contribution of the paper is twofold: first, it introduces a methodological framework for environmental assessment of companies’ packaging environmental impact under different product and operations strategies; and secondly, it provides a holistic environmental assessment of the two packaging materials (PET and glass) taking into account specific operational issues, such as product mix and recycling and reuse options, as well as activity interdependences and stochasticity. The results of the simulation experiments confirm at the operations system level, for glass, the importance for sustainability, to increase the number of reuse cycles (for the particular case, for significant improvement, seven reuses) and the percentage of used bottles collected for refilling (80% recovery rate), whereas for PET, to increase the percentage of recycled PET in new bottles (towards 30%).

A conceptual framework for landscape-based environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pesticides

While pesticide use is subject to strict regulatory oversight worldwide, it remains a main concern for environmental protection, including biodiversity conservation. This is partly due to the current regulatory approach that relies on separate assessments for each single pesticide, crop use, and non-target organism group at local scales. Such assessments tend to overlook the combined effects of overall pesticide usage at larger spatial scales. Integrative landscape-based approaches are emerging, enabling the consideration of agricultural management, the environmental characteristics, and the combined effects of pesticides applied in a same or in different crops within an area. These developments offer the opportunity to deliver informative risk predictions relevant for different decision contexts including their connection to larger spatial scales and to combine environmental risks of pesticides, with those from other environmental stressors. We discuss the needs, challenges, opportunities and available tools for implementing landscape-based approaches for prospective and retrospective pesticide Environmental Risk Assessments (ERA). A set of “building blocks” that emerged from the discussions have been integrated into a conceptual framework. The framework includes elements to facilitate its implementation, in particular: flexibility to address the needs of relevant users and stakeholders; means to address the inherent complexity of environmental systems; connections to make use of and integrate data derived from monitoring programs; and options for validation and approaches to facilitate future use in a regulatory context. The conceptual model can be applied to existing ERA methodologies, facilitating its comparability, and highlighting interoperability drivers at landscape level. The benefits of landscape-based pesticide ERA extend beyond regulation. Linking and validating risk predictions with relevant environmental impacts under a solid science-based approach will support the setting of protection goals and the formulation of sustainable agricultural strategies. Moreover, landscape ERA offers a communication tool on realistic pesticide impacts in a multistressors environment for stakeholders and citizens.

The Effect of the Hybrid Learning Environment on the Learning Experience and Engagement of Mature Students in Thailand

Background and Aim: Mature students have unique strengths and weaknesses compared to traditional students, including higher levels of self-directed learning and motivation, paired with more time and resource limitations, making online and hybrid learning very popular. However, the quality of the hybrid learning environment could impact learning outcomes. The research investigates the role of hybrid learning environments in the learning experience and cognitive engagement of Thai mature students using the Web-Based Learning Environment Instrument (WEBLEI) assessment framework for online environments. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted among mature students at a Thai university (n = 290). Data was collected using a questionnaire based on the WEBLEI framework. The data analysis used descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modelling for hypothesis testing. Results: Hybrid learning environment characteristics of access, interaction, response, and results significantly influenced perceived learning. Perceived learning and academic self-efficacy influenced cognitive engagement. Academic self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between perceived learning and cognitive engagement. Conclusion: The hybrid learning environment and its characteristics have a direct influence on the learning experience of mature students, with interaction having a particularly strong effect. Students respond to interaction, feedback, and critical reflection about their contributions, with course design and structure, convenience, efficiency, and autonomy on participation also playing a role. To influence cognitive engagement, improving the online learning environment to support perceived learning and particularly academic self-efficacy is critical.

Data-driven and LCA-based Framework for environmental and circular assessment of Modular Curtain Walls

Data-driven and LCA-based Framework for environmental and circular assessment of Modular Curtain Walls

Progress in the environmental risk assessment of plant protection products in Brazil: An overview of birds and mammals and soil organisms proposals.

Since 2019, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has actively developed pesticide environmental risk assessment (ERA) frameworks adapted to Brazil's specific ecological contexts. This initiative, supported by funding from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and in partnership with academic institutions, has led to a concerted effort to establish ERA protocols for various taxa, including birds and mammals, soil organisms, aquatic organisms, and reptiles and amphibians. The outcomes of this initiative were disseminated in two distinct workshops held in February and November of 2023, where the agency showcased its research to the technical-regulatory community. This article synthesizes the proposals for birds and mammals and soil organisms. First, we summarize the agency's proposals for both focal and generic species to be incorporated into the ERA and the methodologies for calculating exposure of these taxa to pesticides through agricultural practices, encompassing seed treatment and foliar applications. On this occasion, IBAMA also disclosed the risk assessment tool that the agency is developing for birds and mammals. IBAMA highlighted the knowledge gaps that must be bridged to progress from preliminary (lower-tier) to more comprehensive (higher-tier) assessments. Regarding soil organisms, during the workshop, the presenters shared findings on the most prevalent species of earthworms and enchytraeids in Brazil. They emphasized the need for additional data collection on a regional scale. The agency has also proposed methods for estimating soil organism exposure to pesticides at a screening level and identified specific data gaps that could be addressed to refine assessments at higher tiers. In summary, the workshop communicated the progress in establishing ERA guidelines, which we encapsulate here to benefit the technical-regulatory community. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1793-1799. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Machine learning-based life cycle assessment for environmental sustainability optimization of a food supply chain.

Effective resource allocation in the agri-food sector is essential in mitigating environmental impacts and moving toward circular food supply chains. The potential of integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with machine learning has been highlighted in recent studies. This hybrid framework is valuable not only for assessing food supply chains but also for improving them toward a more sustainable system. Yet, an essential step in the optimization process is defining the optimization boundaries, or minimum and maximum quantities for the variables. Usually, the boundaries for optimization variables in these studies are obtained from the minimum and maximum values found through interviews and surveys. A deviation in these ranges can impact the final optimization results. To address this issue, this study applies the Delphi method for identifying variable optimization boundaries. A hybrid environmental assessment framework linking LCA, multilayer perceptron artificial neural network, the Delphi method, and genetic algorithm was used for optimizing the pomegranate production system. The results indicated that the suggested framework holds promise for achieving substantial mitigation in environmental impacts (potential reduction of global warming by 46%) within the explored case study. Inclusion of the Delphi method for variable boundary determination brings novelty to the resource allocation optimization process in the agri-food sector. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1759-1769. © 2024 SETAC.

Progress in the environmental risk assessment of plant protection products in Brazil: An overview of aquatic organism proposals.

Since 2019, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has actively developed pesticide environmental risk assessment (ERA) frameworks adapted to Brazil's specific ecological contexts. This endeavor, supported by funding from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and in partnership with academic institutions, has led to a concerted effort to establish ERA protocols for various taxa, including birds and mammals, soil organisms, aquatic organisms, and reptiles and amphibians. The outcomes of this initiative were conveyed in two workshops held in February and November 2023, during which the agency communicated its findings to the technical-regulatory community. This article represents one of two articles that provide more detailed insights into the ERA propositions for all taxa. In this article, we summarize the proposals for aquatic organisms presented and discussed during the workshops, which can be used as an informational source by the technical-regulatory community. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1787-1792. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Evaluation of conditions to minimize mercury losses from leaching test eluates

A series of experiments are described that provide recommendations of modifications to leaching test specifications to minimize losses of mercury from eluates during leaching tests and management of analytical samples. EPA methods of the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) were used as a reference point for what steps are most likely to see losses, including filtration, storage of unpreserved mercury contaminated material, and materials of construction for vessels. The potential sorption of mercury to borosilicate glass and PTFE lab materials was tested to determine what materials are suitable to replace HDPE and polypropylene. The experimental findings indicate that bottles constructed of PTFE and Type I (borosilicate) glass are recommended as extraction and containment vessels for mercury-containing liquids. Type I syringe filtration of aqueous mercury samples at pH 2 through 9 through 0.45 µm PTFE filters housed in polypropylene is acceptable; however, sorption losses were observed to occur at pH > 9. Storage of unpreserved liquids containing mercury over extended leaching test intervals did not lead to significant losses of mercury when coupled with minimized headspace. All mercury-containing eluates should include preservation with Optima HNO3 to a 1 % concentration and gold (III) standard to a concentration of 200 µg/L, followed by refrigeration at <6 °C prior to analysis.

Developing an environmental assessment framework for an insect farm operating in circular economy: The case study of a Montréal (Canada) mealworm farm

The concept of a circular food economy, particularly through insect farming using food waste, has gained increasing attention in recent years. This approach holds the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of food production by repurposing food waste as insect feed, while simultaneously offering an alternative source of protein. Although the environmental advantages of insect farming are well established, limited research exists on insect farming in colder regions with cleaner grid electricity, such as Quebec, Canada. In this paper, a framework is developed to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions of a mealworm farm within a circular economy context. The benefits of circular economy practices are assessed through multiple different feed acquisition scenarios (virgin feed and feed diverted from composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfilling). Furthermore, the benefits of mealworm farming are assessed through a comparative analysis with other sources of protein. The framework consists of five stages: feed acquisition, transformation, heating, transportation, and fertilizer production. The results show that farming mealworms using virgin feed emits +14.94 Kg CO2eq/Kg protein. However, using diverted food waste as feed eliminates the need for conventional waste management and leads to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of −1.54, −2.48, and −16.39 Kg CO2eq/Kg protein for food waste diverted from composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfilling, respectively. This study highlights that mealworm farming with virgin feed generates lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to beef and pork and is on par with chicken production. Overall, this study demonstrates the environmental superiority of mealworm farming, whether or not food waste is utilized, in a Canadian context.

Integrated survey methodologies provide process-driven framework for marine renewable energy environmental impact assessment

Environmental interactions of marine renewable energy developments vary from fine-scale direct (e.g. potential collision) to indirect wide-scale hydrodynamic changes altering oceanographic features. Current UK Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and associated Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) guidelines have limited focus on underlying processes affecting distribution and movements (hence vulnerability) of top predators. This study integrates multi-trophic ship survey (active acoustics and observer data) with an upward-facing seabed platform and 3-dimensional hydrodynamic model as a process-driven framework to investigate predator-prey linkages between seabirds and fish schools. Observer-only data highlighted the need to measure physical drivers of variance in species abundances and distributions. Active acoustics indicated that in situ (preferable to modelled) data were needed to identify temporal changes in hydrodynamics to predict prey and consequently top predator presence. Revising methods to identify key habitats and environmental covariates within current regulatory frameworks will enable more robust and transferable EIA and HRA processes and outputs, and at larger scales for cumulative and strategic-level assessments, enabling future modelling of ecosystem impacts from both climate change and renewable energy extraction.

A new approach for environmental damage assessment pursuant to the European Union Environmental Liability Directive.

The European Union and Member States national laws require competent authorities to promptly and effectively address environmental incidents, noncompliances, and criminal offenses, necessitating thorough planning of investigation and assessment activities. To enhance environmental damage assessments in line with the European Environmental Liability Directive (ELD, 2004/35/EC), the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL Network) has introduced the Criteria for the Assessment of the Environmental Damage (CAED) framework. This framework, outlined in a Practical Guide, offers a methodological approach to environmental damage assessment (EDA) focusing on three key objectives: case screening, identification of "clues" of damage, and determination of "evidence" of damage. Given the critical importance of structured data collection and evaluation, the CAED project has adopted a Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response (DPSIR) model adapted to environmental damage and developed the Practical Tables. These tables serve as a comprehensive tool for systematically identifying investigative priorities and collecting standardized data and information using a predefined list of qualitative or quantitative indicators. This article provides an overview of the Practical Guide and Practical Tables, collectively referred to as the CAED Toolkit, aiming to establish a common framework for environmental damage assessments among various competent authorities and stakeholders across Europe. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2050-2059. © 2024 SETAC.

Strategic environmental assessment and SDG integration: enhancing sustainable development in Egypt

AbstractThis research delves into the integration and alignment between strategic environmental assessment (SEA) practices and Egypt's united nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a focus on incorporating environmental, social, and economic considerations into policies, plans, and programs. The study assesses Egypt's strategic environmental assessment framework, identifying its strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and gaps in sustainable development. It critically analyzes institutional coordination, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MRE) frameworks, and policy coherence. The key findings underscore the commendable emphasis on environmental integrity in SEA practices, while also highlighting significant deficiencies in integrating broader sustainability criteria and aligning with the SDGs. The research concludes with policy implications, practice recommendations, and future research directions that aim to bolster the effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment in contributing to sustainable development in Egypt.

Ecological risk of metals in Andean water resources: A framework for early environmental assessment of mining projects in Peru

Metallic contaminants in Andean water resources influenced by mining activities poses risks to aquatic ecosystems and a challenge to regulatory agencies responsible for environmental compliance. In this study, the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) framework was adapted to assess dissolved heavy metal concentrations at 283 surface water monitoring stations near to six mining projects during the dry and wet seasons. Reports from OEFA-Peru on Early Environmental Assessment (EEA) were used to apply various criteria and non-parametric statistical tests. They included ecological, ecotoxicological, chemical, and regulatory factors. The main goal of this research was to identify, analyze, characterize, and compare the risks present at different trophic levels. These levels were categorized as T1 (Microalgae), T2 (Zooplankton and Benthic invertebrates), and T3 (Fish). Individual risk (IR) was estimated using the quotient model, while total risk (TR) was assessed using the additive probability rule. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), representing trophic level T3, showed the highest sensitivity to Fe and Cu. Statistical tests ranked the IR as Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Pb (p < 0.01). The TR was more prevalent during the wet season compared to the dry season (p < 0.01). Notably, around 50 % of the monitoring stations (n = 142) were classified as high risk, and 9 % (n = 13) showed extremely high-risk values for Cu and Fe. The adapted ERA framework demonstrated great effectiveness in identifying critical points of metal contamination in high Andean aquatic ecosystems under mining influence. However, specialized studies are suggested that allow the sources of pollution to be associated with specific regulatory actions.

An enhanced framework for data-based environmental impact assessment in reflection of public input

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a globally recognized tool for proactively managing dynamic development projects by identifying, predicting, and analyzing their environmental impact and proposing preventative measures. However, public participation in EIA often remains one-directional and limited to procedural hearings. To address this, a technology-driven framework enhances public involvement in EIA procedures. EIA-related newspaper articles from 1990 to 2022 were systematically collected and reviewed via web crawling. This resulted in a comprehensive list of novel data demands for future project assessments, confirmed through a meticulous examination of regulatory amendments since inception. This innovative framework transcends traditional public engagement, connecting past, present, and future EIA stakeholders. Advocacy is made for integrating these complaint-derived data demands into the national EIA database, elevating both qualitative and quantitative project assessments, and curtailing environmental impacts and social disputes. While focusing on South Korea, the framework’s principles hold global potential to enhance EIA practices.

Towards Sustainable Material: Optimizing Geopolymer Mortar Formulations for 3D Printing: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Geopolymer-based concretes have been elaborated among others for their potential to lower the environmental impact of the construction sector. The rheology and workability of fresh geopolymers make them suitable for new applications such as 3D printing. In this paper, we aim to develop a potassium silicate- and metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar with sand and local earth additions suited for 3D printing and an environmental assessment framework for this material. The methodology aims at the optimization of both the granular skeleton and the geopolymer matrix for the development of a low-environmental-impact material suited for 3D printing. Using this approach, various metakaolin/earth geopolymer mortars are explored from a mechanical and environmental point of view. The environmental assessment of the lab-scale process shows an improvement for the climate change category but a degradation of other indicators, compared to Portland-cement-based concrete. Several promising options exist to further optimize the process and decrease its environmental impacts. This constitutes the main research perspective of this work.

Assessing the suitability of leachability-based screening levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) risk assessment

In recent years, soil screening levels have been adopted by regulatory agencies for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to assess the risk of groundwater contamination through leaching. These soil screening levels, determined using an established equilibrium-based partitioning equation, have high variability among regulatory groups largely attributed to the diverse reported partitioning coefficients in the literature. This variability between reported partitioning coefficients, and subsequently soil screening levels, is due to the complex leaching behavior of PFAS not being predicted well by the standard equilibrium-based model. This has led one regulatory group to require batch leaching to assess risk rather than setting default soil screening levels based on partitioning equations. In this work, we conducted leaching experiments on five field-sampled soils impacted by aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), following Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) Method 1316 and compared the results to expected leaching utilizing an equilibrium-based partitioning equation commonly employed by regulatory agencies to establish soil screening levels. Our analysis found among the six PFAS detected in the soils, which have regulatory leaching thresholds established, the partitioning values assumed by the U.S. EPA exhibited the highest accuracy in predicting leachate concentrations. These partitioning values predicted actual leaching within a ± 20 % margin of error for approximately 50 % of sample points, highlighting limitations in relying solely on equilibrium-based partitioning values as predictors of leaching behavior. This discrepancy between predicted and actual leaching has implications for site managers and regulatory entities overseeing PFAS-contaminated sites, suggesting that soil screening level determinations for PFAS might need to be revised to account for the unique transport characteristics of PFAS.

Introduction of ERAC (Environmental Risk Assessment and Control) Frame Work in Manufacturing to Enhance Sustainability

This paper introduces the Environmental Risk Assessment and Control (ERAC) framework as a comprehensive approach to managing environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of product manufacturing processes. Drawing from a detailed case study conducted at a fiber cement manufacturing plant in Odisha, India, the study identifies environmental risks across various phases including raw material extraction, manufacturing processes, and product disposal. ERAC involves five key components: identification of environmental risks, rigorous risk assessment using tools such as environmental modeling and life cycle assessment, formulation of tailored control measures, implementation with robust monitoring, and continuous improvement. The case study demonstrates significant improvements in environmental performance indicators post-implementation, highlighting reductions in specific PM emissions, carbon footprint, waste generation, and energy consumption, as well as enhancements in productivity and workplace safety. The findings underscore ERAC's effectiveness in promoting sustainable manufacturing practices and environmental stewardship.

Distribution, occurrence, and leachability of typical heavy metals in coal gasification slag

Coal gasification slag (CGS) contains variable amounts of heavy metals, which can negatively impact the environment. The mineral composition, element distribution, occurrence, and leaching characteristics of heavy metals in coal gasification coarse slag (CGCS) and coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) are studied to explain the leaching behavior of heavy metals in CGS. The movable components of heavy metals in CGFS (0.06 %–63.03 %) are significantly higher than those in CGCS (0 %–18.72 %). Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework 1313 data shows that heavy metals Zn, Cr, Cd, As, Pb, Ni, and Cu exhibit high leaching rates at low pH conditions, with Zn leaching concentrations as high as 2.11 mg/L at pH 2. Zn, Cr, and As exhibit obvious amphoteric leaching characteristics, and the leaching concentration of As at high pH (1.34 mg/L) even exceeds that at low pH (1.31 mg/L). Except for Cu, all heavy metals in CGS exceed the class III groundwater standard in some cases. Therefore, evaluation is needed before resource utilization of CGS due to potential leaching of some heavy metals.