Search Results (37)

In recent years, tires have become a prominent concern for researchers and environmentalists in regard to their potential threat of tire-derived pollutants (TDPs) to human health. Among these pollutants, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidized form, 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q), have been of primary interest due their ubiquity in urban environments, and their potential negative effects on human health. This review provides a summary of human health implications of TDPs, including 6PPD and 6PPD-Q. For the methodology, datasets were collected from the literature sources, including sources, formations and ecological effects of these pollutants, and pathways of human exposure and public health significance. Urban soils are key for services including carbon storage, water filtration, and nutrient cycling, underpinning urban ecosystem resilience. Soil degradation through compaction, sealing, and pollution, particularly by pollutants from tire wear, destroys these functions, however. These pollutants disturb the soil microbial communities, leading to a loss of diversity, an increase in pathogenic species, and changes in metabolism, which in turn can impact human health by increasing disease transmission and diseases of the respiratory systems. Incorporating green-infrastructure practices can enhance the ecosystem service potentials of urban soils and contribute to sustainable, climate-resilient urban city development. These findings underscore the pressing need for a coordinated international campaign to study chronic health effects and science informed policy frameworks to address this ubiquitous environmental health concern—an issue that crosses urban water quality, environmental justice, and global management of tire pollution. Full article

This paper shows a case study on a novel community-based sustainability planning framework that balances environmental, social, cultural dimensions for a high-density urban setting. The case study presents a community-driven “Four-Zero” sustainability model—zero energy, zero water, zero food, and zero waste—as a foundation for environmental sustainability practices implemented in a high-density estate in Hong Kong, alongside community-led ecological and heritage initiatives that reinforce place-based resilience. Through integrated activities, such as community farming, aquaponics, organic waste composting, biodiversity monitoring, and heritage mapping, the residents co-produced knowledge and activated novel bottom–up planning schemes and fostered social cohesion while advancing environmental objectives. Notably, the discovery of rare species and historic Dairy Farm remnants catalyzed a community-led planning proposal for an eco-heritage park that stimulated policy dialogues on conservation. These collective efforts illustrate how circular resource systems and cultural and ecological conservation can be balanced with urban development needs in compact, high-density communities. This case offers policy insights for rethinking urban sustainability planning in dense city contexts, contributing to global discourses on urban political ecology by examining socio–nature entanglements in contested urban spaces, to environmental justice by foregrounding community agency in shaping ecological futures, and to commoning practices through shared stewardship of urban resources. Full article

Two new European species in Medetera (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) are described here. Medetera demirae sp. nov.—named after the Flemish minister for Justice and Enforcement, Environment, Energy and Tourism (2019–2024)—has been discovered at three localities in the eastern province of Limburg (Flanders, Belgium) and is thus far only known from this area. It can be easily recognized by a dentate hypandrium and phallus, a unique character not found in any other known Medetera species. M. nigrohalteralis sp. nov. had long been regarded as Medetera takagii Negrobov, 1970 by European dolichopodid workers but ultimately proved to represent a separate species. This species seems widespread in northwestern and central Europe. Morphologically, it is very similar to M. takagii and M. tristis (Zetterstedt, 1838) and shares an infuscate halter with both species. It differs from both by the shape of its hypandrium and surstylus. M. demirae sp. nov., large numbers of M. nigrohalteralis sp. nov., and other rarely seen Medetera species were collected in Belgium using a new type of tree trunk eclector. A widespread application of this trap might considerably change our view on the occurrence and rarity of tree trunk-dwelling invertebrates. Full article

It has been known since the early days of the discovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that there were large species differences in susceptibility to AFB1. It was also evident early on that AFB1 itself was not toxic but required bioactivation to a reactive form. Over the past 60 years there have been thousands of studies to delineate the role of ~10 specific biotransformation pathways of AFB1, both phase I (oxidation, reduction) and phase II (hydrolysis, conjugation, secondary oxidations, and reductions of phase I metabolites). This review provides a historical context and substantive analysis of each of these pathways as contributors to species differences in AFB1 hepatoxicity and carcinogenicity. Since the discovery of AFB1 as the toxic contaminant in groundnut meal that led to Turkey X diseases in 1960, there have been over 15,000 publications related to aflatoxins, of which nearly 8000 have addressed the significance of biotransformation (metabolism, in the older literature) of AFB1. While it is impossible to give justice to all of these studies, this review provides a historical perspective on the major discoveries related to species differences in the biotransformation of AFB1 and sets the stage for discussion of other papers in this Special Issue of the important role that AFB1 metabolites have played as biomarkers of exposure and effect in thousands of human studies on the toxic effects of aflatoxins. Dr. John Groopman has played a leading role in every step of the way—from initial laboratory studies on specific AFB1 metabolites to the application of molecular biomarkers in epidemiological studies associating dietary AFB1 exposure with liver cancer, and the design and conduct of chemoprevention clinical trials to reduce cancer risk from unavoidable aflatoxin exposures by alteration of specific AFB1 biotransformation pathways. This article is written in honor of Dr. Groopman’s many contributions in this area. Full article

The environmental justice (EJ) movement has evolved over five decades, encapsulating diverse theories, principles, frameworks, and practices. Despite considerable advancements in this field, the nuances of EJ in the Anthropocene era, along with its monitoring and evaluation, remain ambiguous. This paper endeavors to bridge this gap by amalgamating more than 200 review and empirical articles and theoretical literature to delve into a comprehensive exploration of the EJ discourse to date, utilizing the Planetary Justice Research Framework (PJRF). First, we build on the existing knowledge by using three dimensions of EJ from the PJRF, acknowledging historical legacies, and explaining them with practical examples. Second, we create a comprehensive framework to evaluate (in)justice in real-world applications, highlighting the contextual relationships (intra-, inter-, and transdisciplinary) and the role of spatial, temporal, and contextual factors. Finally, we explore the complex connections between living beings and non-living components, showing how (un)just actions impact the balance within and between planetary systems. Consequently, the newly devised monitoring framework highlights potential instances where questions of (in)justice may arise in practical settings, thereby guiding the formulation of measuring indicators and procedural methodologies. Full article

Planetary health definitions are clear about advancing human well-being, aiming for the highest standard of health worldwide. Planetary health recognizes human health is dependent on natural systems; however, framing human health as the central consideration of planetary health may risk rendering invisible the non-human species that are central to the viability of ecosystem services and human survival. This review seeks to discover and describe opportunities for advancing discourses on planetary health justice through exploration of the interspecies justice literature. This rapid review of forty-three articles asks the following: how does health arise in interspecies justice literature and how can interspecies justice advance broader conceptualizations of justice in planetary health? Results suggest opportunities for epistemological expansion within planetary health to include consideration of other species, ecosystems, and relationships between them. Examining what health is for more-than-humans, reflecting on how we understand these interdependencies, and advocating for decolonizing planetary health study and practice are critical to growing planetary health justice. Full article

Primary themes in intergenerational justice are a healthy environment, the perpetuation of Earth’s biodiversity, and the sustainable management of the biosphere. However, the current rate of species declines globally, ecosystem collapses driven by accelerating and catastrophic global heating, and a plethora of other threats preclude the ability of habitat protection alone to prevent a cascade of amphibian and other species mass extinctions. Reproduction and advanced biotechnologies, biobanking of germplasm and somatic cells, and conservation breeding programs (RBCs) offer a transformative change in biodiversity management. This change can economically and reliably perpetuate species irrespective of environmental targets and extend to satisfy humanity’s future needs as the biosphere expands into space. Currently applied RBCs include the hormonal stimulation of reproduction, the collection and refrigerated storage of sperm and oocytes, sperm cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, and biobanking of germplasm and somatic cells. The benefits of advanced biotechnologies in development, such as assisted evolution and cloning for species adaptation or restoration, have yet to be fully realized. We broaden our discussion to include genetic management, political and cultural engagement, and future applications, including the extension of the biosphere through humanity’s interplanetary and interstellar colonization. The development and application of RBCs raise intriguing ethical, theological, and philosophical issues. We address these themes with amphibian models to introduce the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Special Issue, The Sixth Mass Extinction and Species Sustainability through Reproduction Biotechnologies, Biobanking, and Conservation Breeding Programs. Full article

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to combat poverty, inequality, and climate change. Recently, integrating these goals into higher education curricula has emerged as essential for fostering positive environmental and civic engagement. Challenges persist, particularly the prioritization of social and economic concerns over eco-centered principles and ecopedagogy. Education must emphasize the politics of environmental issues, advocating sustainable practices that benefit both humans and nonhuman species. This article proposes ten simple rules for incorporating the SDGs into undergraduate courses in ecology, evolution, and environmental science. We conducted a literature review, analyzing 940 publications from 2014 to 2024 using ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar. We focused on fields like Green Sustainable Science and Technology and Environmental Education to identify the best practices for integrating SDGs. Our findings link pedagogical successes to the SDGs, facilitating effective educational strategies. For practical sustainability education, students must grasp the interplay between the environment and societal elements such as diversity, justice, and resilience. Connecting course topics to the SDGs offers a powerful framework for teaching undergraduates about complex environmental challenges. Our research highlights a novel approach to embedding SDGs in environmental education, promoting critical thinking and literacy across various settings. Full article

The crisis of civilization we are experiencing unbalances the inter-relational, interdependency and intergenerational relationships of the planetary ecosystem, putting all species at risk. The current relationship between the unlimited economic development model and its social impacts in all regions, territories and communities is analyzed. These are more severe in the global South and the most impoverished populations, which often leads to conflicts, the deterioration of subsystems of life, and, as a result, movements of people. These challenges highlight the close interrelationship between social justice and issues of ecological injustice acting as a new source of inequality. The responsibility of social work, which is called on to incorporate the ecosocial perspective in all its areas and dimensions of practice, is becoming consolidated. To achieve this, five measures are proposed: expanding and strengthening the ethical and political basis of the profession; promoting the skilling-emancipatory models; cutting across all levels, methodologies and action areas; new fields of practice for ecosocial work; and introduction into social work curriculums. Social justice cannot be fully achieved without taking ecological justice into account. Full article

This paper presents a critical review of key issues related to the emergence of new networks for the spread of zoonotic diseases amid the mass extinction of species. Zoonotic and infectious diseases account for approximately 70% of new and existing diseases affecting humans and animals. The initial section argues that the term “zoonoses” should not be confined to single-cause events within veterinary medicine. Instead, zoonoses should be viewed as complex, systemic phenomena shaped by interrelated factors, including environmental, sociocultural, and economic elements, influenced by anthropogenic climate change. The second section presents bioethical principles and potential strategies for those engaged in zoonotic disease prevention. The third section uses the slaughter of animals in disaster settings as a case study to illustrate the need for further clarification of normative and interspecies justice conflicts in One Health ethics. This section concludes with an outlook on “zoonoethics”. Section four develops the analysis of the interlinked elements that trigger zoonoses and examines antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from an ethical and political standpoint, concluding with policy recommendations for addressing AMR. Section five offers a critical reflection, integrating contributions from zoonoethics, human ecology, and the ecotheological turn. Finally, section six concludes with a call to action and policy recommendations for an inclusive, intercultural, and gender-sensitive One Health approach. Full article

Moving from an era of dam building to dam removal brings additional perspectives to indigenous water governance and hydrosocial relations in the Klamath River Basin (US). This collaborative research initiative with the Karuk Tribe builds greater understanding of the sociocultural impacts of Klamath dam removal and river restoration through Karuk knowledge. Addressing a knowledge gap around the social dimensions of dam removal, we held focus groups and interviews with Karuk cultural practitioners, tribal leaders, and tribal youth in the six-month period leading up to demolition. Extending beyond a focus on infrastructure removal or single-species restoration, we consider how Indigenous environmental relations and cosmologies are embedded in dam removal and river restoration. Specifically, Karuk knowledge shifts the significance of dam removal by elucidating deeply interconnected ecological, cultural, and ceremonial relations that are co-constituted with the Klamath watershed, thereby recasting dam removal as a holistic eco-cultural revitalization initiative. This reconfigures dam removal goals to include improving community health and well-being, enhancing spiritual elements of river restoration, responding to colonial legacies, and engaging tribal youth. In the Klamath case, restorative justice becomes possible through Karuk participation in river restoration to facilitate the revitalization of reciprocal relations held between Karuk people and the Klamath River—including Karuk eco-cultural and ceremonial practices for restoring balance in the world. Full article

Urban trees enhance biodiversity, provide ecosystem services, and improve quality of life in cities. Despite their benefits, trees are not distributed equitably, and many cities exhibit a “luxury effect”. Given the importance of public green space for providing access to urban tree benefits, we investigated the relationship between socioeconomic level and tree diversity and structure in 60 green areas in Santiago de Chile. Species richness and total tree abundance did not significantly vary among socioeconomic levels; however, a differential effect was found according to species origin. Introduced tree species exhibited similar abundance and species richness across socioeconomic levels, but native tree species were more abundant and richer in higher socioeconomic level areas compared to lower ones. Tree cover was higher in the high and medium socioeconomic level areas than in the low socioeconomic level area. A higher average DBH was found in the medium socioeconomic level area, which may be explained by older neighborhoods and a legacy of the luxury effect. Our findings reveal that socioeconomic groups are associated with differences in tree cover, width, and the number of native species in public green areas. Consequently, urban residents have different provisions of ecosystem services and opportunities to interact with natural heritage. Increasing the amount of tree cover and native species available to vulnerable groups will reduce disparities. Full article

Intergenerational justice entitles the maximum retention of Earth’s biodiversity. The 2022 United Nations COP 15, “Ecological Civilisation: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”, is committed to protecting 30% of Earth’s terrestrial environments and, through COP 28, to mitigate the effects of the climate catastrophe on the biosphere. We focused this review on three core themes: the need and potential of reproduction biotechnologies, biobanks, and conservation breeding programs (RBCs) to satisfy sustainability goals; the technical state and current application of RBCs; and how to achieve the future potentials of RBCs in a rapidly evolving environmental and cultural landscape. RBCs include the hormonal stimulation of reproduction, the collection and storage of sperm and oocytes, and artificial fertilisation. Emerging technologies promise the perpetuation of species solely from biobanked biomaterials stored for perpetuity. Despite significant global declines and extinctions of amphibians, and predictions of a disastrous future for most biodiversity, practical support for amphibian RBCs remains limited mainly to a few limited projects in wealthy Western countries. We discuss the potential of amphibian RBCs to perpetuate amphibian diversity and prevent extinctions within multipolar geopolitical, cultural, and economic frameworks. We argue that a democratic, globally inclusive organisation is needed to focus RBCs on regions with the highest amphibian diversity. Prioritisation should include regional and international collaborations, community engagement, and support for RBC facilities ranging from zoos and other institutions to those of private carers. We tabulate a standard terminology for field programs associated with RBCs for publication and media consistency. Full article

This article argues that biodiversity conservation is primarily a social and cultural issue and only secondarily a scientific one. It explains the proxy logic of narratives about endangered species, which typically serve as proxies for community identities and the changes communities have undergone through processes of modernization and colonization. Polar bears, whose endangerment is interpreted differently by North American and European audiences, on the one hand, and by Inuit communities, on the other, serve as an example of how endangered species narratives not only involve culture but also, more specifically, issues of multispecies justice. Conservation humanities needs to engage with the two central problems that multispecies justice has identified and grappled with: conflicts between the interests of disadvantaged human communities and nonhuman species and conflicts and trade-offs between the interests of different nonhuman species. The essay argues that adopting the framework of “multispecies justice” rather than “conservation” will help to overcome some of the impasses of interdisciplinary collaboration in environmental studies in the past. Full article