Environmental Quality Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Environmental Accounting Message Disclosure Quality on Financing Costs in High-Pollution Industries

This article explores the relationship between environmental accounting message disclosure quality and financing costs in environmentally impactful industries. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, it combines quantitative analysis of financial indicators with qualitative insights from industry experts. The findings indicate a significant correlation between high-quality environmental message disclosure and lower equity financing costs, suggesting that investors prioritize sustainability in their decisions. Companies that demonstrate greater environmental accountability enjoy improved access to capital. The article concludes that integrating robust environmental accounting practices and effective message disclosure is essential for fostering sustainable business practices, enhancing long-term financial viability, and promoting a culture of sustainability and resilience in the face of environmental challenges

The LTAR Common Experiment: Facilitating improved agricultural sustainability through coordinated cross-site research.

Long-term research is essential for guiding the development of agroecosystems to meet escalating production demands in a manner that is environmentally sound and socially acceptable. Research must integrate biophysical and socioeconomic factors to provide geographically scalable knowledge that involves stakeholders across the research-education-extension-policy spectrum. In response to this need, the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network developed a "Common Experiment," which seeks to develop and disseminate multi-region, science-based information to enable implementation of visionary agricultural innovations while simultaneously promoting food security, well-being, environmental quality, and climate adaptation and mitigation. The core design of the Common Experiment contrasts prevailing and alternative/aspirational production systems, with the latter including novel innovations hypothesized to advance sustainable intensification in locally appropriate ways. Treatments in the Common Experiment represent a diversity of production systems under cropland, grazing land, and integrated crop/grazing land management. Where possible, treatments are evaluated at multiple spatial scales (e.g., from plot to enterprise) and are designed to evolve over the course of the experiment with stakeholder input. A common assessment framework guides data collection for the experiment and is complemented by metric-specific protocols and an emerging data management infrastructure. Currently, there are large differences among sites in the application of the experimental framework and degree of stakeholder engagement; differences largely grounded in pragmatic issues related to land access, site expertise, and resource availability. The full potential of the LTAR Common Experiment may be realized with strategic investments in network capacity.

Comparing the Service Quality of China Super League and English Premier League for Offline Game Experience

Football, the most popular sport worldwide, has approximately 3.5 billion fans. In addition, the service quality of different football leagues varies, and it significantly impacts fan attendance to football games offline. This paper focuses on comparing the service quality of the English Premier League (EPL) and the China Super League (CSL) to identify areas for improvement in CSL's offline game’s attendance. The paper evaluated the service quality of the two leagues through four dimensions: program quality, interaction quality, outcome quality, and environment quality. The results show that the EPL is better at offering more games, greater interaction quality due to effective safety polices, higher player market value that led to more competitive matches, and more professional and modern football stadiums. In comparison, less games, excessively stringent security regulations that detract from the spectator experience, lesser player market value, and subpar stadium infrastructure plague the CSL. The research concludes that for CSL to enhance its service quality, it should allow more teams to play in CSL, relax some security policies, adjust its salary caps and foreign player policies, and build more professional football stadiums. These improvements are crucial for boosting fan attendance and engagement, ultimately enhancing the league's marketability and revenue. Future research should explore service quality in other global football leagues to provide a more comprehensive understanding of service quality’s impact on attendance.

Caracterización y Análisis de la Calidad del Agua en Entornos Urbanos mediante la implementación de un Sistema Embebido con Tecnología IoT

This study aims to characterize and analyze water quality in urban environments using an IoT embedded system, focusing on San Camilo’s community of Quevedo, Ecuador, where population growth has increased the demand for drinking water. An embedded system was designed to make use of a microcontroller and sensors to monitor critical water quality parameters in real time. The collected data is transmitted to a cloud platform for storage, analysis, and visualization. Spearman's correlation coefficient was preferred for statistical analysis of the data. This allowed for the identification of patterns and relationships between the variables examined. The data revealed significant associations in non-linear data, facilitating a decision regarding the development of predictive models for water management and treatment. The results demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of using IoT technologies in the continuous monitoring of water quality, offering a scientific basis for the collection and processing of relevant data on the quality of drinking water in residential areas, providing a robust tool to monitor public health and the comfort of the inhabitants.

Study on the complex relationship of tourism-economy-ecological environment in arid zones: the case of Xinjiang, China

The synergistic integration of tourism, the economy, and the ecological environment within a region is crucial for promoting its sustainable development. Tourism acts as a catalyst for green economic growth, yet varying levels of tourism development can intensify the strain on the ecological environment. Thus, achieving a Pareto optimal balance among the benefits of these three entities holds significant theoretical and practical relevance. This research utilizes statistical data spanning from 2000 to 2021 to devise a tourism-economy-ecological environment (TEE) indicator system for Xinjiang. The study employs a coupled coordination model to analyze the spatial and temporal coupling dynamics between subsystems and to classify the types of coupled coordination. The analysis also identifies obstacles that impede the degree of coordination. The findings indicate that during the period under investigation, the TEE system in Xinjiang experienced consistent growth. However, the tourism subsystem exhibited disparate development and pronounced resource monopolization, which stimulated the economic subsystem’s growth, albeit with noticeable developmental lags in the latter stages. Spatially, economic performance demonstrated a declining trend from core urban centers like Urumqi City and Karamay City towards peripheral areas. From an ecological perspective, the distribution of resources exhibited a heterogeneous “M-V-W” pattern, characterized by significant disparities in the availability of natural resources and the occurrence of localized ecological deterioration. There is a notable and increasing degree of coupled coordination in regional synergistic development, which is primarily manifested in the delayed development of tourism. The combined development of the three subsystems is influenced by some factors, including environmental pollution, resources, economic quality, and industrial structure. Soot emissions, green space per capita in parks, and sulfur dioxide emissions are identified as key constraints. This study provides theoretical backing and empirical evidence for economic growth, the optimization of industrial structure, and the preservation of the ecological environment in arid and semi-arid regions globally.

Indoor environmental quality and subjective perceptions in multi-chair dental offices

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in multi-chair dental offices is strongly related to treatment effectiveness, patient comfort, and dental professionals’ occupational exposure. This study conducts comprehensive field measurements and questionnaire surveys to assess the IEQ in two multi-chair dental offices of the Periodontal Department (PD) and the Endodontics Department (ED) in a stomatological hospital in Changsha during the transitional season, summer, and winter. It first reveals the IEQ status and then examines its impact on the perceptions of both dental professionals and patients. The results indicate no considerable difference in IEQ between the PD and the ED. For the measurement, the worst IEQ is observed in winter, with air temperature, relative humidity, PM2.5 concentration, and sound pressure level not meeting the prescribed limits. The worst case is for the PM2.5 concentration, where the highest daily average level is 1.6–4.0 times higher than the limit. However, according to the questionnaire surveys, the highest participant satisfaction score of the overall environment is also observed in winter (i.e., 1.0). The inconsistent results reflected from the measurements and surveys demonstrate the complex influence of a multi-parameter environment on subjective perceptions. Additionally, dental professionals as long-term occupants of the dental offices, report a lower level of overall environmental satisfaction (i.e., 0.38) compared to patients (i.e., 0.86), especially regarding air quality and acoustic environment. These findings are important information for improving environmental standards and formulating accurate environmental control methods, which then contribute to enhanced health, well-being, and performance of both dental professionals and patients.

Do policies make a difference? Assessing the impact of China's air pollution prevention and control action plan on carbon emissions

This study aims to balance the dual objectives of improving environmental quality and achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Utilizing panel data from 274 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2020, this paper employs the difference-in-differences method to examine the impact of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) on urban carbon emissions. Empirical results indicate that the impact of the APPCAP on regional carbon emissions follows an inverted U-shaped curve, exhibiting a dual impact path. Although the implementation of the APPCAP increased the annual carbon emissions of the city by an average of 1.637 million tons, it showed a trend of inhibiting the growth of carbon emissions, although it was not significant. Specifically, the APPCAP is most effective in reducing carbon emissions during the "source prevention" stage, primarily by increasing industrial electricity consumption and reducing coal production and consumption. However, a rebound effect occurs at the policy period's end, with compensatory increases in crude oil and electricity consumption, thereby elevating regional carbon emission levels. The APPCAP's effect on carbon emissions is more pronounced in areas with lower population density and higher environmental regulation intensity. It notably raises carbon emission levels in non-industrial base and non-resource-based cities compared to other cities. Furthermore, the APPCAP positively impacts regional carbon emission intensity and economic growth, significantly driving the secondary industry while minimally affecting the primary industry.

Integrating social, climate and environmental changes to confront accelerating global aging

IntroductionThe global increase in the aging population presents critical challenges for healthcare systems, social security, and economic stability worldwide. Although the studies of the global rate of aging have increased more than four times in the past two decades, few studies have integrated the potential combined effects of socio-economic, climatic, and environmental factors.MethodsWe calculated the geographic heterogeneity of aging population growth rates from 218 countries between 1960 and 2022. Public databases were then integrated to assess the impacts of seven global stressors: socio-economic vulnerability, temperature, drought, seasonality, climate extremes, air pollution, and greening vulnerability on growth rates of aging population (a totally 156 countries). Linear regression models were primarily used to test the statistically significant effects of these stressors on the rate of aging, and multiple model inference was then used to test whether the number of stressors exceeding specific thresholds (e.g., > 25, 50, and 75%) was consistently significant in the best models. The importance of stressors and the number of stressors exceeding thresholds was verified using random forest models for countries experiencing different population aging rates.ResultsOur analysis identified significant heterogeneity in growth rates of aging population globally, with many African countries exhibiting significantly lower aging rates compared with Europe. High socio-economic vulnerability, increased climate risks (such as high temperature and intensive extreme climate), and decreased environmental quality were found to significantly increase growth rates of the aging population (P < 0.05). The positive combined impacts of these stressors were diminished at medium–high levels of stressors (i.e., relative to their maximum levels observed in nature). The number of global stressors exceeding the 25% threshold emerged as an important predictor of global aging rates. Demographic changes in regions with relatively rapid aging (e.g., Africa and Asia) are more sensitive to climate change (e.g., extreme climate and drought) and the number of global stressors, and regions with low to medium rates of aging (e.g., Europe and the Americas) are more sensitive to socio-economic vulnerability and environmental stability (e.g., drought, green fragility and air pollution).ConclusionsOur findings underscore that policy tools or methods must be developed that consider the holistic dimension of the global factor. Further investigations are essential to understand the complex interactions between multiple stressors and their combined effects on global aging.

Environmental Diagnosis through a Flow Cytometric Approach.

In an era when ecological and environmental needs and responsibilities apply pressure on the world's countries and sustainability takes centre stage, ecologic/environmental (E/E) laboratories stand as beacons of scientific inquiry, innovating, optimising, and applying various tests for a better knowledge of our natural resources and the quality status of ecosystems. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the use of flow cytometry (FC) as a tool for assessing environmental quality, mainly using living organisms and their biological changes as bioindicators. Cytometric approaches applied to both marine and terrestrial ecosystems ensure the detection of biochemical and functional status of the cells composing either an organ thereof or the organism itself. In addition to cytometric evaluations of the biotic matrix, a brief overview of the techniques for the environmental assessment of biotic and abiotic matrices using mass spectrometry is given. The technique involving the continuous monitoring of the chemical and physical parameters of water, sediment, and soil is basically incapable of detecting any additive and synergetic effects of toxicants on living organisms. Therefore, techniques employing bioindicators provide valuable information for environmental diagnosis, and several studies have demonstrated the strong relationship between specific environmental data and cell/organ behaviour.

Evaluating Energy Retrofit and Indoor Environmental Quality in a Serbian Sports Facility: A Comprehensive Case Study

Evaluating Energy Retrofit and Indoor Environmental Quality in a Serbian Sports Facility: A Comprehensive Case Study

Exploring the nexus of green entrepreneurship and environment quality in selected Asian economies

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between green entrepreneurship and environmental quality in selected Asian economies. The impact of green entrepreneurship dimensions, i.e. renewable energy utilization, innovation orientation, green funding and resource efficiency is empirically assessed on environmental quality. The research assists in opening the “black box” mechanism of how green entrepreneurship affects the environmental pillar of sustainability.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of 11 Asian countries is conducted over the period from 2000 to 2019, using panel regression techniques to examine the link between green entrepreneurship dimensions and environmental quality indicators.FindingsThe findings reveal that all four dimensions of green entrepreneurship have an inverse relationship with carbon emissions and ecological footprint while showing a positive relationship with the load capacity factor. This implies that green entrepreneurship contributes positively to environmental sustainability by enhancing the ecosystem’s resilience and capacity to support life.Practical implicationsWe advocate for policymakers to prioritize green entrepreneurship to stimulate innovation for energy transition and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, creating a conducive atmosphere for green entrepreneurs can spur job creation, economic growth and societal well-being, thus fostering a more resilient and sustainable future for all.Originality/valueIn this study, we adopted a multidimensional approach for measuring green entrepreneurship, which represents an advancement over existing literature that predominantly relied on renewable energy consumption to gauge the green entrepreneurship phenomenon at the macro level.

Pemantauan Kualitas Udara Ambien pada Pekerjaan Preservasi Jalan

Heavy traffic, especially from large vehicles passing through the road, can potentially cause congestion and increase air pollution. Ambient air quality can significantly decrease due to vehicle emissions, impacting public health and environmental quality. This study focuses on monitoring ambient air quality during road preservation work conducted along the route of Jalan Bts. Prov. Sumsel – Tempino – Pal. Sepuluh – Lingkar Timur – Sp. Sijenjang – Pel. Talang Duku in Muaro Jambi Regency.objective of this research is to analyze the ambient air quality at th road preservation work sites. The research method applied is a survey method with the selection of three locations along the road segment: 1. AMP Tempino, located at coordinates LS 01°47’01.23’’ BT 103°28’27.56’’; 2. STA 11+050 located at coordinates LS 01°45’51’’ BT 103°33’23’’; and 3. Ruas Simpang Paal. X, located at coordinates LS 01°40’12’’ BT 103°36’1’’. This research is descriptive in nature, focusing on the observation and analysis of ambient air quality according to the SNI 7119-3:2017 standard for each test parameter. The results show that at the AMP Tempino site, Particulate dust is 46,50 µg/Nm³,Sulfur Dioxide is 99,88 µg/Nm³, and Carbon Monoxide is 6563,05 µg/Nm³. The highest Nitrgen Dioxide level of 47,88 µg/Nm³ was recorded at STA 11+050, and the highest level of Photochemical Oxidants as Ozone at 41,76 µg/Nm³ was found at Ruas Simpang Paal. X. All test parameters are below the standard quality limits. Overall, Carbon Monoxide has the highest concentration across all locations, while Nitrogen Dioxide often shows the lowest values

Is Public Participation Weak Environmental Regulation? Experience from China’s Environmental Public Interest Litigation Pilots

Previous studies have generally concluded that public participation lacks substantive constraints and has weak environmental regulation effects. Using China’s environmental public interest litigation (EPIL), implemented in 2015, as a quasi-natural experiment to verify the environmental effects of public participation under judicial norms, the difference-in-differences (DID) estimates in this paper show that industrial wastewater and industrial sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in the treated cities declined by an average of 2.76 million tons and 2.51 kilotons per year, respectively, which ultimately improved the city’s environmental quality. The results of the mechanism also show that the EPIL was able to mobilize all three parties: the public, government and enterprises. In the context of the environment as an externality product, where the interests of all the parties are difficult to coordinate, the EPIL has the advantage of overcoming conflicts of interest. Our study provides a quantitative justification for the environmental impact assessment of public litigation and contributes empirical references to overcome the weak binding defect of public participatory environmental regulation.

Community attitudes toward tourism and quality of life: a case study of Palangan village, Iran

Community perception is essential for influencing the physical, social, and environmental growth of a region and is key to achieving a high Quality of Life (QOL). Tourism serves as a common means of introducing outsiders to the area where the community lives. Embracing tourism in remote locations like small towns or rural areas can be difficult, and the success of tourism hinges on community attitudes towards it. The community's engagement and approval of tourism are dependent on the benefits such as how tourism improves their QOL in both the short. Therefore, this study aims to explore the local community's perceptions on how tourism influences various aspects of QOL. A survey of 160 households in Palangan Village was conducted to collect primary data, using a conceptual model with 16 indices to evaluate QOL. The findings indicate that the local community generally has a positive perception of the effects of tourism, especially on key QOL components. Civic and generative well-being are considered more significant than other aspects of QOL. Analysis of the data reveals differences in perception across the 16 QOL indices. The highest average ratings were for institutional participation (3.476), quality of employment (3.456), and individual capability (3.203), while the lowest ratings were for standard of living (1.883), social solidarity (2.289), and environmental resource quality (2.725). For instance, the institutional participation index received an average response rating of 3.476. Additionally, the dispersion coefficient index highlighted notable variations in perception, particularly for satisfaction with living conditions (0.488) and standard of living (0.488). Conversely, employment quality (0.360), institutional cooperation (0.385), and freedom of choice had the lowest dispersion coefficients (0.386). Other indices showed moderate levels of dispersion and distribution of perception. In conclusion, these results underscore the significance of community perception in tourism development and its affect on QOL. They also underscore the importance of strategic planning and balanced development to ensure that all aspects of QOL benefit from the expanding tourism sector, leading to a more sustainable and harmonious community.

Advancing Multi-Ion Sensing with Poly-Octylthiophene: 3D-Printed Milker-Implantable Microfluidic Device.

On-site rapid multi-ion sensing accelerates early identification of environmental pollution, water quality, and disease biomarkers in both livestock and humans. This study introduces a pocket-sized 3D-printed sensor, manufactured using additive manufacturing, specifically designed for detecting iron (Fe2+), nitrate (NO3 -), calcium (Ca2+), and phosphate (HPO4 2-). A unique feature of this device is its utilization of a universal ion-to-electron transducing layer made from highly redox-active poly-octylthiophene (POT), enabling an all-solid-state electrode tailored to each ion of interest. Manufactured with an extrusion-based 3D printer, the device features a periodic pattern of lateral layers (width = 80µm), including surface wrinkles. The superhydrophobic nature of the POT prevents the accumulation of nonspecific ions at the interface between the gold and POT layers, ensuring exceptional sensor selectivity. Lithography-free, 3D-printed sensors achieve sensitivity down to 1ppm of target ions in under a minute due to their 3D-wrinkled surface geometry. Integrated seamlessly with a microfluidic system for sample temperature stabilization, the printed sensor resides within a robust, pocket-sized 3D-printed device. This innovation integrates with milking parlors for real-time calcium detection, addressing diagnostic challenges in on-site livestock health monitoring, and has the capability to monitor water quality, soil nutrients, and human diseases.

Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation-Based Development System for Eco-Agricultural Tourism Resources

This manuscript outlines a systematic evaluation of agricultural eco-tourism resources, focusing on the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon scenic area. Employing fuzzy mathematics principles, we construct a comprehensive evaluation model to assess various dimensions of agro-ecotourism potential. The framework includes hierarchical levels (A, B1-B3, C1-C8) covering ecological resource value, environment condition, and tourism development. Using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, we determine indicator weights via expert assessments and statistical analyses. Notably, ecological resource value and environment quality emerge as pivotal criteria. The resulting comprehensive score of 82.875 suggests Grade IV suitability for eco-tourism development. Our findings support strategic planning and sustainable management, emphasizing the importance of ecological preservation amidst China's urbanization. Graphical representations and detailed steps provided enhance practicality for sustainable tourism researchers and practitioners.

Retraction: Sanitation, water, energy use, and traffic volume affect environmental quality: Go-for-green developmental policies.

Retraction: Sanitation, water, energy use, and traffic volume affect environmental quality: Go-for-green developmental policies.

Fruit and vegetables loss and waste in preschools belonging to the National Board of Kindergartens of Chile.

Food waste is a global issue affecting society from environmental, nutritional, and social perspectives. In collaboration with the National Board of Preschools, fruit and vegetable waste generated during the preparation of lunch was quantified in four preschools in the Metropolitan area of Santiago in Chile. This study was conducted in four preschools, two in the Western area of Santiago and two in the Eastern area, of which two hold environmental quality certifications. Over a five-day period, the weight of raw materials and waste from vegetables (peels) and fruit (pomace) were measured. Percentages of vegetable and fruit post-cleaning losses and waste were evaluated. Vegetable loss exceeded 20% in 31% of the preschools, primarily from carrots and potatoes. Fruit losses were higher, with pears accounting for the most significant waste, recorded in 75% of the study centers. No differences in vegetable loss was found between centers, while variations were observed for fruit. Preschools with environmental quality certifications wasted less onions (p = 0.016) but more pears (p = 0.036). There is higher fruit loss than vegetable loss, with onions and tomatoes being the least wasted. Possessing an environmental quality certification does not guarantee a significant reduction in overall losses. Handling and storage conditions may play a key role in minimizing losses. Further studies are needed to provide evidence that can guide improvements in Chile's National Board of Preschools services, aiming for a more sustainable lunch preparation processes.

Development of a Building Evaluation Framework for Biophilic Design in Architecture

Biophilic design has gained prominence in architecture as a strategy to integrate natural elements into built environments, aiming to improve human comfort, well-being, and environmental sustainability. This paper critically reviews existing biophilic design frameworks, identifying gaps in their integration of health outcomes and the relationship between indoor and outdoor environments, with a primary focus on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors such as air quality, natural light, thermal comfort, and acoustics. The review was conducted systematically, comparing frameworks using criteria such as health benefits, human–nature connections, and user satisfaction. Key findings highlight a lack of comprehensive frameworks that explicitly link biophilic design to measurable improvements in human health, comfort, and satisfaction. To address this gap, the study proposes an enhanced biophilic design framework that bridges IEQ-focused indoor environments with urban outdoor elements, prioritizing human comfort alongside environmental sustainability. The framework also emphasizes the role of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) in assessing the real-world performance of biophilic interventions, particularly in achieving user satisfaction and ensuring long-term effectiveness. This research contributes to the advancement of biophilic design by offering actionable strategies for architects, urban planners, and policymakers to adopt biophilic principles that create resilient, healthy, and sustainable spaces. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for empirical testing and validation of the proposed framework, including POE and user surveys, to assess its real-world impact on human well-being and satisfaction, thus setting the stage for future research.

The Sustainable Management of Ecohotels for the Support of Ecotourism—A Case Study

Ecotourism represents a modern form of tourism that accepts the principles of sustainable development and the adequacy of the conditions of tourist destinations. The environmental awareness of all parties participating in tourism, objects, and subjects of tourism determines the development of ecotourism. Ecohotels, or “green hotels”, as an integral part of ecotourism, represent tourist accommodation facilities that have the “The Flower” certificate, their business activities minimize the impact on environmental quality. The management of ecohotels therefore implements programs and measures determining sustainable competitiveness at the local, regional, and supra-regional levels in the business in interaction with reducing the carbon footprint, water consumption, energy consumption, and waste production. They also support the use of recyclable materials and bio-products and the introduction of environmental management respecting the principles of green management in all areas of the tourism business. The competitiveness of ecohotels is in interaction with the willingness of tourists to use their pro-environmental services. The presented study is focused on the willingness of tourists to use the services of ecohotels, with an emphasis on identifying an effective strategy for supporting the development of ecotourism in the Slovak Republic. The study concentrates on the willingness of tourists to use ecohotels as part of their tourist activities based on a questionnaire survey. The study identifies the factors of strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats of the use of ecohotels by tourists in supporting the development of ecotourism. Through the exact quantification of the weights of individual factors in terms of Saaty’s matrix and a SWOT analysis, an effective strategy for the use of ecohotels in supporting the development of ecotourism is defined. In recent years, the stimulation and use of tourists’ interest in environmental quality, with an emphasis on reducing negative impacts on the environment, has resonated; thus, a model of effective marketing strategy is presented.