Environments: 10 Years of Science Together—Sharing Results Towards Better Environmental Understanding, Management and Policy-Making

1. Introduction

With 2024 marking the 10th anniversary of Environments (ISSN: 2076-3298), we have taken this opportunity to celebrate the journal’s achievements over the last 10 years. Since 2014, when the inaugural issue of Environments was launched, we have published more than 1000 papers from more than 4600 authors. Environments is now indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and other databases—a clear demonstration of the huge interest and effort of readers, authors, reviewers, editors, and the Editorial Office Members. What made these 10 years successful has been the willingness to share innovative results with the scientific community of scholars, in order to build better understanding and management of environmental systems, thanks to the contribution of individual scholars and research teams worldwide.

The contributors to this Special Issue (Environments: 10 Years of Science Together) have identified a number of sectors and challenges within sectors, requiring joint research, understanding and management, for problems to be jointly addressed and solved by scientists and policy makers. Contributions consist of 32 published papers dealing with case studies and concepts that exemplify the huge complexity of environmental and human dominated systems.

2. Shared Results

2.1. An Overview of Published Articles

The sectors and challenges that have been identified by the Special Issue contributors can be grouped as

(A)

Environmental consequences of human activities and potential solutions: (i) water and wastewater; (ii) solid waste; (iii) soil contamination; (iv) air contamination;

(B)

Appropriate resources use: (a) Energy and energy efficiency; (b) agriculture and food;

(C)

Diversity of environmental systems: (I) Animal wellbeing; (II) human health and sustainability; (III) nature as a shared wealth, not a market.

2.2. Impacts and Solutions (Point A)

2.2.1. Water and Wastewater

Contributions 1 to 4 deal with different kinds of water and wastewater, under different treatment approaches and countries. Mexico: use of microalgae for pollutant removal and biomass-to-bioenergy production in complex agro-industrial circular wastewater systems (Najar-Almanzor et al., 2025, Contribution 1); Australia and New Zealand: wastewater pathogen monitoring, particularly through municipal wastewater treatment plant sampling and electromagnetic membrane filtration (Levy et al., 2025, Contribution 2); Northern Italy, lake of Como: monitoring underwater aquatic debris (metal and plastic) using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), highlighting the double result of effective ability of ROVs in identifying submerged debris and, at the same time, the challenges associated with periods of algal blooms, which decrease visibility and detection (Lawrence et al., 2025, Contribution 3); and finally, Central Italy: production of biochar from sewage sludge, within different pyrolysis systems, in order to identify the most efficient pyrolysis conditions, depending from a number of factors (area, ash content, heating rate, temperature, time) not to be disregarded (Cedrone et al., 2024, Contribution 4).

2.2.2. Solid Waste Treatment

Contributions 5 to 9 show a significant diversity of solid waste treatment, from elevated temperature development of landfills in Bristol, Virginia (USA) unexpectedly triggered by coal ash (Witt and Guzman, 2024, Contribution 5), to reduction in manure malodor and pH thanks to the addition of glucose, lactose and sucrose (Loughrin et al., 2024, Contribution 6); from waste management in higher education institutions by developing good practices, stakeholders engagement and collaborative research (Rodriguez-Guerreiro et al., 2024, Contribution 7) or from AI-driven circular practices in healthcare facilities (Cappelli et al., 2025, Contribution 8), to alternative diesel production from low-cost feedstock (grease trap waste, GTW) in the food waste management cycle (Mata et al., 2024, Contribution 9).

2.2.3. Soil Contamination

Soil contamination is addressed by Contributions 10 to 14. Soil samples collected in different urban locations (Rome) have been investigated for 19 elements by means of X-ray fluorescence analysis, to identify geographical distribution and elemental characteristics, for sustainable use of land resources (Chandramohan et al., 2025, Contribution 10). The wide dispersion of tungstate residues in soil due to increasing industrial use was investigated to assess its impacts on different areas (natural, agricultural and urban systems) and identify interventions to reduce tungstate sorption in liquid and solid phases of soil (Petruzzelli and Pedron, 2025, Contribution 11). Heavy metal accumulation in soil and vegetables (Cortaderia nitida) was assessed in three areas of High Andes-Ecuador by means of soil sediments and plant samples, resulting in zinc and iron accumulation patterns and calling for further studies on metal phytoremediation potential (Paredes-Paliz et al., 2024, Contribution 12). Biological restoration was reviewed by Huslina et al., 2024 (Contribution 13), with a special focus on phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated mine sites, combined with other techniques (physical, chemical and biological) to enhance its potential for restoring contaminated soils. Finally, published studies on chemically contaminated soils and their impacts and potential risks on human health, due to direct and indirect exposure, are reviewed in Contribution 14 (Petruzzelli et al., 2025). The results highlight that soils rich in organic matter can actually limit the bioavailability of soil contaminants.

2.2.4. Air Contamination

Very different patterns of air pollution are addressed by Contributions 15 to 18, highlighting the diverse ways humans and environmental systems are affected by these impacts. The UV-photocatalysis degradation of halogenated anesthetic gases from surgical use before their emission has been found to be a promising technique to decrease their high global warming potential, suggesting the need for further work to optimize photoreactor efficiency and identify potential by-products (Srinivasan et al., 2024, Contribution 15). On a completely different evaluation side is Contribution 16 (Iram et al., 2025), which addresses the impact of air pollution and smog on human health, by means of a systematic PRISMA review of several studies focused on people of all ages and sexes in urban and rural areas of Pakistan. Contribution 17 (Mckittrick et al., 2025) reviewed 13 studies about the impacts of industrial odors on local communities in order to understand to what extent these emissions are associated with psychosocial wellbeing, including stress, quality of life, depression and anxiety. The review confirmed the association between industrial odors and poor wellbeing, calling for future research on exposure and prevention. A study integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Circular Economy practices (Phal et al., 2025, Contribution 18) analyses carbon emissions, stocks and removals under three NbS strategies, comprising improved forest management, additional afforestation, and biochar use for sequestration of soil carbon.

2.3. Appropriate Resource Use (Point B)

2.3.1. Energy and Energy Efficiency

Cumulative environmental impacts and impact restoration in avian fauna before, during and after wind power plant construction in mountain forests are assessed by Contribution 19 (Park C.E and Park H.C., 2025), through alpha, beta and gamma diversity, assessing diversity within homogeneous single habitats, between different habitats and in global ecosystems characterized by many different habitats, respectively. The approach shows the complexity of biodiversity impacts assessments, and provides a new evaluation tool also applicable to other constructions different than wind plants. Contribution 20 (Khosla et al., 2025) compares capital costs, energy costs and other local factors of three industrial energy efficiency measures most often recommended in both Guatemala and the United States, namely solar panels for electricity production, higher-efficiency lighting and premium efficiency motors, all of which are contributing to more sustainable energy consumption. Finally, Contribution 21 (de la Hera et al., 2025) investigates the main steps of ammonia production in order to identify the improvement potential of the most energy-consuming steps. In particular, small and flexible ammonia plants powered by 1 MW, 5 MW and 10 MW alkaline electrolyzers are simulated, focusing on maximum ammonia production and minimum energy consumption, identifying alkaline electrolysis as the step responsible for the highest energy consumption.

2.3.2. Agriculture and Food Management

Two aspects are investigated concerning agricultural production, respectively related to operational effectiveness of Italian wineries (Lopez-Santiago et al., 2024, Contribution 22) and the consequences of seeding density for the restoration of a plant community in a dam removal site in Wisconsin (Wells et al., 2024, Contribution 23). The two studies deal with very different systems, the first one assessing the management over various scales of winery production, while the second one focuses on the recovery of a degraded area; yet, both provide very interesting suggestions to enhance production and sustainability (the winery case study) and to implement patterns for increased diversity and productivity of seeded native species (planting in a disturbed soil).

2.4. Diversity and Sustainability (Point C)

Animal, human health and nature sustainability are investigated in Contributions 24 to 32, enhancing diversity, recovery and health risks requiring special focus on nature as a commons, not a market.

2.4.1. Animal Wellbeing

An interesting review (Espada et al., 2024, Contribution 24) from the years 1624 to 2023 about fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) provides a very complete survey of the coexistence of two different populations in the Mediterranean sea, one resident and one migratory. Monitoring sightings, mortality events, feedings and primary production areas (photosynthesis) allowed the authors to identify their difficult life affected by increasing marine traffic, heavy metals and pollutants. Contribution 25 (Prata and da Costa, 2024) focuses on honeybees within a One Health framework, acknowledging the connection and interaction of humans, animals and environment. The study highlights the huge contribution of bees to food security, nutrition, medicine and more, while also pointing out the extent bees are affected by land management, agricultural practices, pollution, climate change and other impacts, underlining the need for bees to be protected by appropriate policy making and beekeeping practices. A review article about salmon recovery in the Columbia River Basin (Canada and USA boundary region) is provided by Contribution 26 (Hill and Kolmes, 2024). The authors look at endangered salmonid populations through a resilience approach and compare the different positions of local governments, tribal agencies and civil organizations representing multiple stakeholders scenarios for salmon recovery. The approach applied to this case study is considered by the authors as a method also applicable to the recovery of other endangered species.

2.4.2. Human Health and Sustainability

A number of potential and actual impacts on human health are described by Contributions 27 to 31. The authors of Contribution 27 (Odediran and Obeng-Gyasi, 2024) investigate the chronic diseases generated by the increasing exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals and try to associate their impacts to a Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), to connect the joint inflammatory potential of chemicals and diets.

Contribution 28 (Awoyemi et al., 2024) reviews information about the physical and chemical properties of PFAS, the environmental concerns about their industrial use and the recent advancements in technologies for their ultrasonic degradation, trying to deepen their understanding and provide a basis for future research. Contribution 29 (Yadav et al., 2024) focuses on increased human health hazards associated with the activities of firefighters, which are worsening due to the large number of fires caused by climate change. Increased exposure to heat may impact their immune system. In this study, 22 firefighters affected by different levels of fire exposure were examined, confirming that their innate and adaptive immunity was negatively affected. In cases where the exposure to more than one physical or chemical hazard occurs, it can generate a compound threat, able to amplify the effect of a single event, with potentially more serious consequences, which is not easy to predict and manage (Klasa et al., 2025, Contribution 30). The authors point out the lack of proposed governance models for compound threats, limiting the ability to face them. A North Carolina case study is discussed by Klasa et al., who provide a resilience-governance framework for disaster prediction and develop strategies for risk limitation. Finally, Contribution 31 (Ribeiro et al., 2025) proposes a geographical distribution of Sustainability Transitions worldwide. The authors underline six transition patterns, namely urban, energy, industrial, transport, circular economy and agri-food pathways, and discuss the role of regions to speed these transitions beyond the differences among local territories, to guide societal transformations towards increased sustainability.

2.4.3. Nature as a Shared Wealth

Contribution 32 (Ulgiati, 2025) highlights that humans, at the top of the evolutionary hierarchy, should not consider nature and its diversity as a market from which resources can be withdrawn at low cost and without limit. Instead, habitats and resources should be shared as a common wealth, within a One Health perspective, towards the implementation of an environmental and circular economy. The author highlights the need for shared responsibility of resource use, in order to allow all species, not just humans or a fraction of them, to benefit of natural capital and environmental services.

3. Discussion and Concluding Remarks

As mentioned by Contributions 25 and 32, environmental systems are most often affected by a variety of environmental problems (global warming, biodiversity loss, increasing population, impacts of industrial and transport activities, deforestation and intensive agriculture, among others), which cannot be dealt with separately, but require a “One Health” perspective [1,2,3,4]. This concept refers to an integrated monitoring and multicriteria assessment of the interaction among humans, other species and the environment, to ensure that discussions of environmental problems as well as the use of resources do not refer only to the human species, but take into account the need to prevent biodiversity loss and consider all the other species as recipients of available resources, and to take advantage of all the habitats and the environmental services provided by the Biosphere. Within such a perspective, all environmental problems mentioned above require Nature-based solutions [5,6], as also suggested in Contribution 18. Nature-based solutions in the case of increasing CO₂ emissions may mean less combustion of fossil fuels or planting more trees, as an alternative to technological processes to store CO₂ underground. In the case of water scarcity, it may mean purifying wastewater by algae instead of using membrane bioreactors and other devices. In the case of traffic, it may mean walking or biking to a destination, when possible, or organizing urban neighborhoods where locations of living, working and service places are not too far apart (the so-called 15 min city [7]), instead of increasing the number of cars and other technological mobility devices.

The authors contributing to this Special Issue point out that water, soil and air contamination from urban and industrial human activities require a deep understanding of impacts, need innovative technologies for treatment and allow recovery of still usable resources. Further, they also underline that increasing energy use to support production and consumption patterns calls for the improvement of energy efficiency and renewable energies as suitable alternatives to fossils resources. Finally, careful use of resources and decreased contamination would contribute to a more sustainable global environment, as well as to animal wellbeing and human health.

All the required evaluations, innovations and recovery must be based on the ability to quantify and monitor input and output flows of resources and emissions, by means of appropriate assessment methods, including (but not only) Life Cycle Assessment [8], Risk Assessment [9,10], Water footprint [11], Emergy Accounting [12] and Ecological Network Analysis [13], in order to be able to correctly understand and measure processes and impacts.

Papers contributed to this Special Issue highlight to what extent the diversity of investigated systems is most often linked to an unexpected and hard to manage diversity of impacts and calls for a diversity of innovative scientific tools, within a circular economy framework and One Health perspective. Not easy tasks, which need to be addressed by means of systems thinking and, when possible, Nature-based solutions.