Environmental Burden Research Articles

Valorization of agro-industrial waste for pectinase production and its influence on circular economy

Pectinases are a diverse group of enzymes that play a crucial role in modifying or breaking down complex pectic substances. Pectinases are widely distributed among bacteria, fungi, and plants. The global demand for microbial pectinase has significantly increased due to its broad applicability and efficient catalytic capabilities across multiple industries including food processing, textiles, and biofuel production. Their commercial production often relies on expensive substrates, contributing to economic inefficiency and environmental burdens. Utilizing agro-industrial waste and microorganisms for pectinase production offers a rational solution to two interconnected challenges: the cost-effectiveness of enzyme production and the environmental impact of waste generation. Moreover, the valorization of waste materials not only contributes to efficient enzyme production but also exemplifies a circular approach by minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable resource efficiency to bioprocessing. This review offers a thorough examination of microbial pectinases, including their production from agro-industrial waste, their various industrial applications, and the current market landscape. It also delves into recent advancements in enzyme development and optimization techniques that have significantly boosted the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of pectinase production. By highlighting these developments, the review emphasizes the potential for this approach to enhance industrial practices and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Optimization of Leaching Recovery of Zinc, Iron and Manganese from Selected Solid Waste Ashes in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

The increasing environmental burden of toxic heavy metal-concentrated ash from solid waste incineration, particularly from burnt tires and contraband drugs, poses significant challenges for waste management and resource recovery. This study aims to optimize the leaching recovery of zinc, iron, and manganese from these solid waste ashes in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The ashes were analyzed for their metal content using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), with additional characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Among the leaching agents tested, hydrochloric acid (HCl) exhibited the highest efficiency, particularly under optimized conditions determined through central composite design (CCD). The optimal conditions for leaching from burnt tire ash were found to be 2.97 mol/l acid concentration, 97.7 minutes leaching time, and 68.85°C temperature, yielding recoveries of 32,009 mg/kg zinc, 4,553 mg/kg iron, and 137 mg/kg manganese. For contraband drug ash, the optimal conditions were 2.83 mol/l acid concentration, 97.7 minutes leaching time, and 68.85°C temperature, resulting in recoveries of 70.55 mg/kg zinc, 5,771 mg/kg iron, and 676 mg/kg manganese. This study successfully developed a multiple linear regression model to express the relationship between the leaching parameters and metal recovery, providing a reliable and sustainable method for metal recovery from solid waste ashes. The findings offer valuable insights into waste management practices, contributing to the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal.

Life cycle assessment of decommissioned silicon photovoltaic module recycling using different technological configurations in China

The intricate encapsulation structure and material composition of photovoltaic modules necessitate full materials recycling involving multiple stages and different technological configurations, thereby increasing environmental burden of recycling process. Consequently, environmental impact assessments are imperative. However, previous studies primarily focused on a single technology or compared different technologies within a specific recycling stage, overlooking various technological configurations and thus engendering incomprehensive assessment. Hence, we employ a comparative life-cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental performance of six recycling alternatives with different technological configurations for silicon photovoltaic waste in China, which encompasses five recycling stages and glass/silicon remanufacturing processes. Results shows thermal delamination reduces the normalized environmental impact by 8.73% and 4.62% compared with mechanical and chemical delamination, respectively; electrolysis for metals extraction carries 35.72%–36.35% higher environmental benefits than precipitation. Additionally, introducing silicon/glass remanufacturing provides an additional 6.27%–11.55% environmental benefits. Therefore, integrating disassembly, thermal delamination, leaching & etching, electrolysis, and remanufacturing exhibits the best environmental performance, with −4796 kg CO2-eq/tonne carbon emission and −46400 MJ/tonne energy demand. Environmental hotspots analysis identifies key contributors to environmental impact and benefits. Further sensitivity analysis highlights the importance of enhancing silver and copper recovery efficiency. Finally, targeted strategies are proposed for green recycling routes of photovoltaic waste.

Techno-economic-environmental analysis based on life cycle carbon accounting and pollutants audit for cleaner production of electrolytic manganese

The electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) industry faces significant environmental challenges, including substantial resource and energy consumption, severe pollution, and high CO2 emissions. This study introduced a novel approach for developing collaborative strategies aimed at mitigating pollutants and CO2 emissions. Through the implementation of life cycle carbon accounting and critical pollutant audits, a process enhancement program incorporating 17 advanced technologies was developed. Aligned with the principles of cleaner production, this project effectively mitigates the environmental burden at the source and offers viable solutions for addressing prominent emissions, such as manganese residue and acid fog. Furthermore, the marginal abatement cost curves demonstrate the economic practicality and applicability of these measures. This study provides a strategic blueprint for achieving sustainable green development in China’s EMM industry and offers valuable guidelines for formulating relevant environmental policies.

Following the yellowcake road: exploring the colonial roots and routes of Australian radioactive minerals, 1900s–1950s

ABSTRACT Over the past 40 years, environmental justice activists and scholars have drawn greater attention to the disproportionate environmental burdens borne by marginalised communities. This includes the consequences of ‘nuclear colonialism’, a phenomenon defined as constituting ‘a system of domination through which governments and corporations target indigenous peoples and their lands to maintain the nuclear production process’. In this article, I seek to complicate this definition of nuclear colonialism by exploring the role of uranium mining in consolidating both British and Australian settler colonial power during the first half of the twentieth century. I will do so through an examination of Australian uranium’s roots and routes as both a manifestation and facilitator of settler colonialism in Australia between 1900 and 1955. Combining sources from both British and Australian archives, this article seeks to contribute to emergent scholarship on the colonial dimensions of mineral extraction in two ways. Firstly, by explicating the role uranium played in fuelling the extractive mentalities of settler colonial Australia. And secondly, by exploring uranium extraction’s contribution to the consolidation of the British Empire’s waning power in the mid-twentieth century.

Batteries Within Diabetes Devices: A Narrative Review on Recycling, Environmental, and Sustainability Perspective.

The adoption of diabetes technology for the management of type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes has greatly increased. The annual volume of discarded continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, considering only Dexcom and Freestyle Libre brands, totals more than 153 million units and Omnipod® contributes an additional estimated 43.8 million units.Although these technologies are clinically effective, their environmental impact is unknown. Batteries are a pivotal, yet often overlooked, component in diabetes technologies and can exert a detrimental impact on the environment.In this commentary article, we explore the environmental impact of batteries used in diabetes devices. Furthermore, we highlight various strategies, including recycling of used batteries and alternative design approaches, that may reduce the environmental burden, as they become the ubiquitous standard of care for people with diabetes.

Pemanfaatan Sampah Plastik sebagai Material Paving Block

As people's consumption levels increase, the plastic waste produced will also increase. It's normal if in the future it becomes a serious environmental problem. We need a technology that is able to replace plastic waste into products that have a long life so that they do not return to waste in a short time. Making paving block products from plastic waste is another way of utilizing plastic waste over a long period of time, in order to increase utilization efficiency and reduce the environmental burden on plastic waste and form innovative products into building materials. The most important problem with plastic is plastic waste which cannot be decomposed naturally. Cleaning up plastic waste takes a very long time, and also the use of plastic can hardly be regulated. Based on the results of surveys, interviews and observations conducted on the community around Kuala Village, the community's awareness of waste processing is very minimal and there are lots of piles of plastic waste which can have a negative impact on health and disrupt the preservation of environmental functions, including residential environments, forests, rice fields, and rivers. To reduce the volume of plastic waste that is not managed properly, efforts are being made to utilize plastic waste to make paving blocks in Kuala Lemang Village. to explore the potential for using plastic waste as an alternative material in making environmentally friendly and sustainable paving blocks. Plastic waste collected from the surrounding environment is processed into mixed materials in making paving blocks. This process involves chopping, mixing with conventional materials such as sand, and testing the strength of the final product. Public acceptance of plastic-based paving blocks has proven positive, especially after trials in the local environment. This research contributes to better plastic waste management and offers new economic opportunities in the construction sector, while supporting sustainable development.

EP525 - A Survey of Medical Students’ Attitudes Towards Sustainable Healthcare

Abstract Aims As the climate crisis becomes increasingly prevalent, so does emphasis on environmental sustainability. The healthcare sector (a significant contributor to environmental impact) is particularly of interest: sustainable healthcare and awareness within the NHS is crucial. However, few medical schools include environmental teaching in their curricula. We undertook this survey to assess environmental awareness and perspectives amongst medical students. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed to London medical students. Participants were asked demographic data, questions concerning the environmental impact of products and practices in the NHS, and methods to reduce healthcare’s environmental impact. Results 87% of students stated that healthcare’s environmental impact is of concern to them, 97% agreed that the environmental impact of products should be considered during development. 65% agreed that the environmental impact of a product should influence its use, but 95% agreed that a device being recyclable/reusable would influence their practice. Students felt the factor most negatively impacting the environmental burden of healthcare was ‘disposable plastic items’, in 57% of responses, and ‘general waste’ in 44%. Conclusions Most medical students found healthcare's environmental impact concerning, expressing a desire to choose the most sustainable options. Whilst the distribution of academic year and the London demographic limited this study, we believe it is the first of its kind assessing medical student's attitudes towards the environmental impact of healthcare. With this initial benchmark, we hope future surveys will assess and improve the environmental awareness of doctors in training, as well as the inclusion of environmental teaching in medical school.

RETENTION OF FIRE WATER USED DURING FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS BY THE FIRE BRIGADE

The article presents the issue of wastewater circulation after firefighting activities executedby fire brigades and the lack of research on the composition of water entering the city sewagesystem as well as the potential impact on the environment to which it is disposed of. It wasnoted that fire brigades use biodegradable foam agents during typical fire-fighting operations,both in sewage treatment plants and in the natural environment, but the main problem is theselection of fire-fighting techniques and extinguishing agents and the subsequent consequencesin the environment. Consideration was given to deciding whether to use water, which dissolvesflammable substances, foam containing surfactants, or completely refraining from extinguishingdue to the possibility of sewage entering the surrounding waters. To this end, it outlines the courseof fires where firefighting operations have resulted in the contamination of watercourses andbodies of water, contamination of the ground or long-term emission of toxic substances into theatmosphere. Due to the lack of guidelines for dealing with fire-water in urban conditions, attentionwas paid to absolute protection of watercourses and water bodies against the infiltration of postfiresewage in its original form and the use of mechanical dams and embankments to stop them atthe scene of the incident. Attention was also drawn to the proper operation of dosing equipmentand the environmental burden caused by using foam concentrates in higher concentrations thanrecommended by the manufacturer was presented.

Are Magnesium Alloys Applied in Cars Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly? A Critical Review

In the scientific literature, the terms sustainable, green, ecofriendly and environment(ally) friendly are used regarding magnesium alloys applied in cars. When sustainability is defined as remaining within safe planetary boundaries for mankind or as conserving natural capital for transfer to future generations, current alloys based on primary magnesium applied in cars are not sustainable. Current alloys based on primary magnesium are not green, ecofriendly or environmentally friendly when these terms mean that there is no burden to the environment or a minimal burden to the environment. Available environmental data do not support claims that current alloys based on magnesium originating from the Pidgeon process, which replace primary mild conventional steel in automotive applications, can be characterized as green, ecofriendly or environmentally friendly. There are options for substantially reducing contributions to the life cycle environmental burden of magnesium alloys. Minimizing the life cycle environmental burden of magnesium alloys may enable them to be characterized as environmentally friendly, ecofriendly or green in the sense of a minimal burden to the environment.

Comparative assessment of microbiome and resistome of influent and effluent of sewage treatment plant and common effluent treatment plant located in Delhi, India using shotgun approach

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat that demands surveillance to identify and analyze trends of the emerging antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and potential microbial carriers. The influent of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) reflects the microbes derived from the population and effluent being the source of dissemination of potential pathogenic microbes and AMR. The present study aimed to monitor microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes in WWTPs employing a whole metagenome shotgun sequencing approach. The samples were collected from a sewage treatment plant (STP) and a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) in Delhi, India. The results showed the influent of STP to be rich in Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Escherichia, Arcobacter, and Pseudomonas residents of gut microbiota and known to cause diseases in humans and animals; whereas the CETP sample was abundant in Aeromonas, Escherichia, and Shewanella known to be involved in the degradation of different compounds. Interestingly, the effluent samples from both STPs and CETP were rich in microbial diversity, comprising organic and xenobiotic compound degrading and disease-causing bacteria, indicating the effluent being the source of dissemination of concerning bacteria to the environment. The functional profile at both sites displayed similarity with an abundance of housekeeping function genes as analyzed by Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COG), KEGG Orthology (KO), and subsystem databases. Resistome profiling by MEGARes showed the dominance of ARGs corresponding to beta-lactams having relative abundance ranging from 16% to 34% in all the metagenome datasets, followed by tetracycline (8%–16%), aminoglycosides (7%–9%), multi-drug (5%–9%), and rifampin (3%–9%). Also, AMR genes oxa, ant3-DPRIME, and rpoB, which are of clinical importance were predominantly and most prevalently present in all the samples. The presence of AMR in effluents from both types of treatment plants indicates that wastewater from both sources contributes to the spread of pathogenic bacteria and resistance genes, increasing the environmental AMR burden and therefore requires tertiary treatment before discharge. This work will facilitate further research towards the identification of suitable biomarkers for monitoring antibiotic resistance.

Development of green manufacturing implementation framework based on life-cycle assessment

Climate change stabilization at 1.5 to 2 °C requires a shift in paradigm of industries to transition to low carbon industries. The way forward to decarbonize industries is green manufacturing, as the environmental facet of manufacturing has often been compromised for the sake of economic gains. In order to implicate green manufacturing, it is incumbent upon manufacturing facilities to introduce such measures which ensure that carbon footprint and environmentally detrimental emissions are minimized. In this context, Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) is an excellent tool to record, analyze and critically review the environmental impact of a process. In order to investigate the environmental hotspots, the authors have performed LCA of an auto-parts manufacturing industry in Pakistan by using a unique gate-to-gate approach. ReCiPe Midpoint impact assessment method was utilized to investigate the effects of manufacturing and transportation related emissions of the monthly produce on climate change, fossil depletion, ionizing radiation and human toxicity. Furthermore, the authors discuss three scenarios, which include current state, optimized future state and an energy mix involving hydropower and photovoltaic generation. The results helped in developing a comprehensive framework for green manufacturing which suggests that the prerequisite of a green manufacturing process is an optimized process flow, which significantly reduces the environmental emissions up to 24%. Moreover, the use of photovoltaic cells results in 54% reduction, thus indicating that conventional hydropower systems in developing countries should be mixed with solar power to reduce the environmental burden. A detailed green manufacturing framework based on LCA is proposed by the authors to enhance the functionality and to improvise the carbon burden of the manufacturing sector of Pakistan.

Innovate and renovate: Environmental intensive care unit design.

This article describes the reallocation of space and construction of a new adult shock trauma intensive care unit implementing methods to mitigate the environmental impact. The environmental burden was reduced through innovative reallocation of space and diversity of lighting sources. Circular economy principles were implemented which enabled much of the infrastructure materials to be reused. Collaboration among interdisciplinary health care teams, such as described in this article, helped to ensure expertise was shared so that the environmental impact was lessened. This article provides insight into innovative methods to mitigate the carbon footprint of a critical care renovation project.

Epoxy-based multifunctional re-bondable polymer with self-healing, shape memory and superb bonding properties

Thermoset epoxy resin-based materials are widely used, but their permanent cross-linked network limits their processability and reusability, which can lead to environmental burdens. In this work, by exploiting the weak reactivity of aniline to design appropriate reaction ratios, we achieved a linear link between the epoxy resin and the curing agent. This linear link, along with the crosslinking points provided by the flexibly branched polyurethanes, avoids the inherent brittleness associated with the highly crosslinked network of conventional epoxy resins. As a result, the adhesive exhibits extraordinary improvements in extensibility and toughness. The lap shear strength, tensile strength and elongation at break reach 11.9 MPa, 14.4 MPa and 607 %, respectively. The fracture toughness is as high as 109.6 kJ/m2, far beyond the existing epoxy adhesives. The synergistic effect of disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds confers the adhesive with self-healing and repeatable bonding characteristics. The multi-level hydrogen bonding and appropriate phase separation structure are key to optimizing toughness, resulting in excellent comprehensive performance. The introduction of polyurethane not only improves toughness but also enhances the interfacial bonding force between the adhesive and the substrate, broadening the scope of applications. The prepared high-performance polymers provide new insights into reusable epoxy adhesives.

Seaweed boards as value-added natural waste product for insulation and building materials

Large amounts of seaweed are deposited on shores worldwide daily. The presence of this natural pollutant on the coast is not only considered an environmental burden but also often hinders the development of tourism in the affected areas. Depending on the beach surface area, local governments worldwide spend considerable portions of their budgets to remove seaweed from beaches. Moreover, the removed seaweed occupies increasing space in landfills where it is disposed. Seaweed is noncombustible and decomposes slowly over long periods. In this study, we consider the use of seaweed (a natural waste) as a value-added product for insulation and building materials. Seaweed (Posidonia Oceanica) boards with dimensions of 250 mm × 60 mm × 10 mm were obtained by pressing a mixture of processed seaweed and an organic binder. The as-prepared boards were analyzed for their physical–mechanical properties according to the British standards. The boards with a mean humidity level of 9.15% and density 0.4045 g·cm−3 demonstrated a maximum bending resistance of 2.720 × 103 N·m−2 and mean expansion upon water adsorption of ∼10% with regards to length and width and ∼30% with regards to height. The tested samples showed significant humidity resistance according to the boiling test and an average thermal conductivity of 0.047 W·mK−1, which is comparable to that of polystyrene. Computational analysis of the “‘seaweed material’” model” revealed significant thermal and mechanical properties. The mechanical strength of the computed material, including its high Young's and shear moduli, renders it a promising candidate in construction.

GARMENT DURABILITY ANALYSIS – INFLUENCE OF TEXTILE MAINTENANCE

Textiles used in clothing pose a large environmental burden from their initial manufacturing, maintenance and end of life. Garment production is a major problem whose environmental impacts can be easily quantified since it is a defined production process. To implement sustainable processes, it is necessary to evaluate the entire life cycle of a garment, including its maintenance and end-of-life. In this study, the maintenance phase of the garment is investigated. The garment maintenance is divided into real applied steps, and these individual steps are analysed in terms of raw material especially regarding potential/real damage to the treated garment fabric. The different maintenance steps are contextualised by the survey and results of the questionnaire used for the study. This investigated which gentle maintenance practices the respondents use in practice. The source of the analysed data is a questionnaire survey made in the Czech Republic. The result is a thorough analysis of the maintenance practices associated with garments and an analysis of ways to extend the lifetime of garments and thus reduce their environmental burden caused by excessive waste generation.

Plug-in charging or electric roads? Powering U.S. long-haul heavy-duty trucks in 2050

Abstract Pervasive plug-in fast chargers and/or electrified roadways (eRoads) might address the limited range, long recharging times, and reliance on greenhouse gas (GHG)-intensive, costly, and heavy batteries associated with electrifying long-haul heavy-duty trucks (HDTs). While these large-scale interventions shift environmental and cost burdens onto infrastructure, there is a lack of studies investigating how eRoads affect system-level GHG emissions, costs, material use, and peak electric grid power demands. We compare these aspects for the case of electrifying U.S long-haul HDTs (Class 8) in 2050 powered by combinations of plug-in fast chargers and eRoads. Our model accounts for battery downsizing, energy consumption, and truck operation patterns in quantifying life cycle impacts of batteries, plug-in chargers, eRoads, and hourly truck electricity demand. We find that plug-in fast chargers and eRoads reduce annualized 2050 HDT life cycle GHG emissions by 8% to 14% compared to using long-range batteries, which in turn have at least 50% lower emissions than diesel trucks. Conductive rails, overhead lines, and wireless eRoads (amortized across light- and heavy-duty vehicles) have lower system-wide costs than long-range batteries, plug-in fast chargers, or diesel trucks. Cost savings from smaller batteries, lower energy use and avoided recharging time offset high eRoads capital costs. While eRoads can reduce both system-level GHG and costs compared to diesel trucks, these reductions are sensitive to eRoads capital costs and losses from wireless power transfer and air resistance. eRoads require less lithium (87%) and copper (67%) than long-range batteries but increase regional peak power demands by up to 32%. Efficient wireless power transfer and aerodynamic pantographs enhance eRoads’ GHG and cost advantages, which may diminish if future batteries are more energy-dense, cheaper, or less GHG intensive. If successfully deployed, eRoads present opportunities for tighter integration between the transportation and electricity infrastructure systems, enabling optimized charging strategies to lower GHG emissions and costs.

Effect of Electromagnetic Wi-Fi Radiation On The Development Of Chicken Embryo

Abstract Significant technological progress in the field of wireless devices that were primarily intended for military purposes, has resulted in their common manipulation by the general population. Wi-Fi, mobile phones, and other modern devices offer many advantages to their users. On the other hand, their excessive usage creates an environmental burden, also known as electrosmog. The objective of our current study was the observation of the Wi-Fi radiation effect on the histo-logical structure of the organs in the 9-day-old chicken embryo. On day 9 of incubation, the embryological material was routinely processed for preparation of hematoxylin-eosin, picrosirius red and periodic acid Schiff stained histological sections. Radiation with a frequency of 2.4 GHz and average power density of 300 µW.m−2 applied during the entire development up to the 9th embryonic day did not fundamentally affect general organogenesis. However, in the parenchyma of organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and gonads, as well as in the developing mesenchyme, obvious vascular congestion of the blood vessels of different caliber was observed. Also, an increase in collagen and glycosaminoglycans production in the cartilaginous matrix and perichondrium of the future bone skeleton as well as developing connective tissue was noted. Although these morphological changes were just subtle, they point to the Wi-Fi radiation’s ability to influence the histogenesis of the individual.

Identifying disproportionate impacts in Arkansas: New considerations for environmental justice mapping and implications for leaders

In 2021, Charles Lee defined disproportionate environmental and public health impacts and offered an approach for environmental justice (EJ) leaders to identify disproportionate impacts. However, Lee's model has not yet been compared to current mapping models, nor has it been applied to the highly disadvantaged landscape of Arkansas. In this study, we extend Lee's model and offer a complementary theory of disadvantage to identify, characterize, and describe disproportionate impacts in Arkansas. We ask: What communities are most disproportionately impacted? What is the spatial distribution of risk to environmental burdens and population vulnerabilities? How do these burdens and vulnerabilities cluster together? How might the theory of disadvantage assist in disproportionate impacts research? We deploy a descriptive, mixed-methods design using data from national mapping tools. Findings reveal regions of Arkansas that are disproportionately impacted. However, no region is devoid of high risk. Minority populations are the most impacted groups, and populations living in disproportionately impacted communities tend to suffer from specific burdens and vulnerabilities that erode well-being. The theory of disadvantage is found to be useful for disproportionate impacts research. These results offer EJ leaders a new lens to view and design mapping tools and they clarify intervention points.

Optimal resource reallocation can achieve water conservation, emissions reduction, and improve irrigated agricultural systems

CONTEXTCrop production consumes large volumes of fresh water and is a key contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Increasing crop output to ensure adequate food supplies under water and land scarcity relies excessively on intensive agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural films), leading to irreparable environmental consequences (water scarcity and degradation and GHG emissions). Therefore, research on a nexus approach and resource optimization model were carried out. OBJECTIVETo fill the gap of objectives priority and optimal allocation of water resources at irrigation area scale, this study constructed a model to achieve optimal water conservation, GHG emissions reduction, and economic benefit improvement, covering the cumulative environmental burden of agricultural inputs, production processes, trade and consumption related to agricultural activities. METHODSBased on a resource-environmental-economic framework, we took the blue water footprint (WFblue) as a decision variable and developed an integrated water resource optimization model, which was solved by the non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II in Matlab. Minimizing crop water footprint (WFcrop), minimizing crop carbon emissions (CEcrop) and maximizing crop economic benefits (EBcrop) were the objectives of the model, and blue water resource, food security, electric energy consumption and land security were the constraint conditions. In addition, three scenarios were tested based on the priority of the objective functions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSAnnually, WFcrop was 1234.29 × 106 m3 and CEcrop was 522.45 Gg CO2 eq for food production in Lianshui Irrigation District from 2005 to 2019. Grain crops exhibited a greater WFcrop and contributed significantly more to CEcrop than oilseed crops. Virtual water and carbon flows increased with food transfer. By adjusting the WFblue of crops compared to the baseline scenario (BS), the average WFcrop decreased by 10.0 %, CEcrop decreased by 4.0 %, and EBcrop increased by 6.4 % under Scenario 2 (minimizing WFcrop and maximizing EBcrop), respectively. Similarly, there were average reductions of 9.2 % in WFcrop, 6.2 % in CEcrop, and EBcrop increased by 5.6 % under Scenario 3 (minimizing CEcrop and maximizing EBcrop) compared to the BS. Therefore, the integrated model achieved the optimization objectives. SIGNIFICANCEThis research not only broadens the scope of traditional environmental impact assessments in agricultural production, but also underscores the positive impact of scientifically and rationally redistributing resources for water conservation, GHG emissions reduction, and economic benefit improvement.