Environmental Concerns Research Articles (Page 1)

Study on the bioremediation of methylene blue by Haematococcus pluvialis through synchrotron-FTIR imaging and spectroscopy.

Thailand has ratified the Basel Convention and is adhering to its restrictions on the importation of plastic scrap. The Thai government has enforced limitations to decrease the influx of plastic scrap imports, thereby protecting the ecosystem. However, Thailand has emerged as a prominent global hub for the export of plastic waste due to its tax-free zone plastic recycling programs and China’s ban on such imports in 2018. Thailand’s importation of plastic waste for recycling has caused worries due to the accumulation of plastic garbage in the environment. Plastic can be found in seafood, drinking water, rivers, sediments, and wastewater treatment facilities. Thailand is becoming more cautious about importing plastic scraps for recycling due to concerns over the health hazards associated with contaminated plastic. The importation of plastic can significantly impact those engaged in the collection and trade of plastic scrap. Consequently, there are discrepancies in both company operations and plastic management. The ban on plastic scrap imports in Thailand set for 2025 is expected to reduce environmental and human health issues; however, it may also impact the plastic recycling industries and economies both regionally and globally. To address the issue of plastic waste infiltrating the global environment, all nations need to work together at both the regional and global levels to establish effective plastic waste management practices, avoiding the practice of transferring plastic waste to other countries.

Carbon dots as dual-action nanotools for metal toxicity recognition and mitigation.

Exploring Youth's intentions to purchase electric and hybrid vehicles in Qatar: The role of moral norms and environmental concern

Influence of virus analytical methods on the estimation of virus reductions by ultrafiltration.

Recent Trends in Electrochemical Methods for Real-Time Detection of Heavy Metals in Water and Soil: A Review.

Organic pollutants leaching from tire waste: Ecotoxicity implications for aquatic species.

How does public environmental concern affect ESG performance: Evidence from Chinese A-shares listed firms

Recycling of active pharmaceutical ingredients Metformin hydrochloride and Losartan potassium fromexpired medications and crystal structure of a new Losartan polymorphic form.

Microplastic pollution in playas-endorheic basins with closed drainage systems. A study in surface sediments of Bakhtegan-Tashk Lakes (South Iran).

Optimized preparation of dredged sediment-based functional ceramsite: thermodynamic profiling and formation mechanism.

From attention to action: How public environmental concern shapes corporate green investment in China.

Radionuclides baseline assessment of water resources, sediments, source rocks, and NORM flux simulation prior to shale gas development in Brazil.

Genetically engineered Escherichia coli: The new recyclers of PET plastic waste.

Hidden Hazard: The detrimental effect of personal care products on amphibian species.

Purpose This study aims to understand collaborative consumption behavior in the context of car-sharing. In this endeavor, it uses a combined theoretical lens of value-belief-norm (VBN) theory and the issue-contingent model of ethical decision-making. The study considers environmental concern as an ethical issue and examines collaborative consumption behavior through an ethical lens. Specifically, it investigates the phenomenon during pre- and post-COVID-19 to understand differences in collaborative consumption behavior. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a survey-based approach and conducts two cross-sectional studies, one pre-COVID-19 and the other post-COVID-19. The analysis was conducted using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The results support all hypothesized relationships based on the VBN theory and the issue-contingent model of ethical decision-making during both pre- and post-COVID-19 periods, except for the moderating effect of ethical idealism on the relationship between belief and norm during the pre-COVID-19 period. However, a significant moderating effect of ethical idealism on the relationship between belief and norm post-COVID-19 suggests that consumers now recognize the importance of considering others’ welfare in addition to their environmental concerns. The multi-group analysis highlights the increased importance consumers assign to an ethical perspective post-COVID-19 when engaging in collaborative consumption, such as car sharing. Originality/value This study contributes to the collaborative consumption literature by demonstrating how such consumption is impacted by consumers’ VBN chain and judgment of collaborative consumption as an ethical issue. It also offers new insights into collaborative consumption behavior through the combined lens of the issue-contingent model of ethical decision-making and VBN theory. In addition, it shows that consumers have mainstreamed car-sharing as a form of collaborative consumption post-COVID-19, and consumers’ ethical idealism has a significant role in reinforcing the linkage between their beliefs and norms.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are globally recognised as persistent organic pollutants of substantial environmental and public health concern as a result of their toxicity, bioaccumulation, and chemical stability. The detection of PFAS at trace and ultra-trace levels in complex matrices remains an analytical challenge due to the presence of numerous unknown analogues and the diverse physicochemical properties of PFAS. This systematic review critically evaluates 55 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 that focus on analytical techniques for quantifying and identifying PFAS in environmental and biological samples. The assessment follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and compares the performance of major analytical platforms, including liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), extractable/adsorbable organofluorine (EOF/AOF), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and electrochemical or hybrid sensor-based approaches. LC–MS/MS and UHPLC–HRMS remain the gold standards for quantitative and non-target PFAS analysis, respectively, while emerging spectroscopic and electrochemical methods offer rapid, portable, and cost-effective alternatives. Molecularly imprinted polymers, deep eutectic solvents, and bubble-assisted extraction are among the sample preparation advancements that have further enhanced environmental sustainability and sensitivity. The review highlights the need for standardized QA/QC protocols, certified reference materials, and inter-laboratory harmonization. Integration of artificial intelligence, green chemistry, and multi-platform detection systems represents the future direction for comprehensive PFAS monitoring and exposure assessment. Keywords: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Mass Spectroscopy, Non-target analysis, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Environmental monitoring.

Promoting the transformation of green consumption has emerged as a critical pathway to address ecological constraints. However, existing research exhibits significant discrepancies in understanding the relationship between green attributes and purchase intention and lacks a deep unpacking of the underlying individual psychological mechanisms. Employing three situational experiments, this study integrates the chain effects of green attribute centrality (GAC), environmental concern (EC), and green trust (GT) to systematically explore the formation mechanism of consumers’ green purchase decisions. Results show three key findings: (1) When consumers exhibit high EC, GAC enhances their green purchase intention (GPI) more effectively; however, when EC is low, GAC demonstrates no significant differential impact on GPI. (2) The interaction between GAC and EC influences GPI via green perceived value (GPV) (i.e., this interaction effect is mediated by GPV). (3) GT further moderates these relationships: under high GT conditions, consumers with high EC show a stronger preference for high-centrality green products; conversely, under low GT conditions, such consumers exhibit a greater preference for low-centrality green products. This study provides a novel theoretical explanation and practical pathway for bridging the “attitude-behavior gap” in green consumption. It not only deepens the understanding of the mechanisms underlying green consumption decision-making but also offers precise references for enterprises to implement differentiated green marketing strategies and for policymakers to guide public green consumption.

Stabilizing high-voltage cathodes in lithium metal batteries (LMBs) remains a key challenge due to severe interfacial degradation. Although anion-derived, inorganic-rich cathode-electrolyte interphases (CEIs) offer a promising solution, most conventional anions are chemically inert and lack the multifunctionality required to undergo both chemical and electrochemical decomposition across a wide potential window. Existing strategies to enhance anion reactivity often involve trade-offs in salt concentration, anodic stability, or environmental concern, highlighting the need for novel anion design with intrinsic and synergistic interfacial activity. In this study, we designed a multifunctional anion, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,5,8-trioxa-1-borate (FTOB), by integrating a chelating polyethylene glycol backbone with a terminal -BF3 group as a CEI precursor. The reactive B-O bond facilitates a stepwise interphase formation mechanism: chemical decomposition of FTOB and PF6- at lower potentials (<4.5 V vs Li+/Li) via their mutual interactions, followed by direct electrochemical oxidation of FTOB at higher potentials. These dual pathways enable the construction of LiF- and borate-rich CEIs, supporting stable cycling of LMBs with both 4.3-V high-nickel layered cathode and 5-V cobalt-free spinel cathode. This work highlights the potential of rational anion design to integrate multiple interfacial formation mechanisms, advancing interphase engineering for high-voltage LMBs.

In the context of global climate change and rapid urbanization, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has become a pressing environmental and public health concern, particularly in semiarid regions. This study evaluates the microclimatic performance of various urban design strategies aimed at enhancing thermal comfort along a densely built-up street in Van, a medium-sized city located in Turkey’s semiarid climate zone. Using ENVI-met 5.7.2, nine alternative scenarios were simulated, incorporating different configurations of vegetation cover (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%), ground surface materials, and green roof applications (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%). Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and other thermal comfort indicators were assessed at multiple time intervals on the hottest summer day. Results indicate that increasing vegetation cover substantially reduces PET values, with a maximum reduction of 3.0 °C observed in the 75% vegetation scenario. While the scenario with no vegetation but light-colored pavements achieved a 1.8 °C reduction in air temperature at 2:00 p.m., the maximum PET value remained unchanged. Conversely, using dark-colored asphalt decreased the average air temperature by 1 °C and improved the thermal comfort level by reducing the PET by 0.4 °C compared to a non-vegetated scenario. The scenario with the highest overall greenery led to a 2.9 °C drop in air temperature and a 12.8 °C reduction in average PET at 2:00 p.m. compared to other scenarios. The study provides evidence-based recommendations for human-centered urban planning and advocates for the integration of microclimate simulation tools in the early stages of urban development.