This study explores the association between natural resources rent, industrial value addition, banking development, renewable energy consumption, total reserves and environmental quality in the dynamic context of BRICS nations from 1995 to 2019. BRICS economies are responsible for global greenhouse gas emissions and confront pressing environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss and pollution. For the dependent variable, the environmental quality, the study constructed a composite index using PCA for all environmental indicators where interdependencies among variables are prevalent. Besides this, the study incorporates two interaction terms to determine the indirect influence of natural resource rent and banking development on environmental quality through the mediating role of industrial value addition. By applying the CS-ARDL technique, the outcomes of the study reveal that natural resources rent, industrial value addition, and total reserves positively influence ENQ, indicating the adverse consequences of industrial sectors on environmental quality and continued environmental degradation due to resource-intensive industrial production, underscoring the urgency of sustainable resource management. In contrast, banking development and renewable energy consumption negatively influence ENQ, signifying the positive role of developed banking sectors in supporting eco-friendly projects and enhancing environmental quality. This study offers valuable insights for policy interventions to foster a more sustainable future.

The term microplastics (MPs) describes a heterogeneous mixture of particles that can vary in size, color, and shape. Once released into the environment, MPs have various toxicological and physical effects on wildlife. The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a migratory species, staying in Italy in late autumn and winter. The aim of this study is to assess, quantify, and characterize the presence of microplastics in Song Thrushes hunted in the Apulia region of Italy. The birds (n = 360) were hunted in the Bari countryside and donated for research purposes by hunters. MPs were classified in relation to their shape in fibers, films, fragments, and pellets; then, they were divided according to their color and the length of the particles was measured. Nikon image analysis software was applied to the litter size measurements. Of the total of 360 birds, MPs were detected in the stomachs of 129 birds shot in December and 128 birds shot in January. The majority of ingested MPs were fibers that were observed in all contaminated birds. Film fragments were observed in every contaminated specimen. Among all the MPs found, 31.75% were red, 30.13% were black, and 25.91% were blue, while the other colors were less represented. This study provides the first analysis of MPs bioaccumulation in Song Thrushes wintering in the Apulia region, and the high contamination of thrushes confirmed the ubiquity of MPs in terrestrial ecosystems.

The Tocantins-Araguaia basin is one of South America\'s largest river systems, across three Brazilian states (Maranhão, Tocantins, and Pará), within the Legal Amazon region. Despite draining extensive Cerrado savanna and rainforest ecosystems, it has suffered significant degradation, notably in the past 40 years. Human activities, including agricultural expansion, deforestation, and the introduction of non-native species, have worsened the environmental damage, which is alarming since many residents and villages along the middle Tocantins River rely on it for water supply, recreation, and fishing. This study assessed the concentration of potentially toxic and essential elements in water samples from four sampling sites distributed along the middle Tocantins River. The monitoring occurred throughout 2023, involving the measurement of parameters both on-site and in the laboratory. Water quality and its health implications were evaluated using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI), the Water Quality Index (WQI), and the health risk assessment index. The levels of aluminum, copper, iron, magnesium, and selenium exceeded legal standards. Seasonal fluctuations indicate a complex dynamic influenced by climatic or seasonal factors, with February showing the highest values. Site P1, located in urban areas, exhibited elevated mean concentrations for conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and chlorophyll, indicating the need for continuous monitoring. The nitrogen concentrations at P1 raise concerns regarding drinking water quality, which is a concern for the region\'s residents who use untreated river water. Despite seasonal variations in element concentrations, the overall WAWQI categorized all sections as \"Excellent,\" and the WQI rated as \"Good.\" Human health risk assessments detected no risks, but continuous monitoring and interventions are crucial for sustained water quality improvement.

i) This study examines the determinants of environmental quality. It is not possible to fully analyze the complex network that emerges from the set of interactions of these determinants, both with each other and with environmental security. Indeed, a number of variables and relationships hidden in the background of the puzzle such as \'game theoretical interactions between economies on energy security\', characterize this network. However, this study, which includes energy security and environmental quality simultaneously, may open the door to revealing the key patterns of the current network. ii) This study, which investigates the network between environmental problems and energy security, provides empirical evidence that these two variables may well evolve by positively affecting each other under some conditions. iii) Using the current and sophisticated econometric methods such as CDw + based on Juodis and Reese (2022) test and CS-ARDL Model, over a panel of top 20 energy-using countries in the period 1980-2018, the empirical analysis of the article shows that an increase in energy security risk positively affects environmental quality in aggregate by motivating increased energy efficiency, triggering environmental awareness and regulations, and stimulating research and development activities for clean energy etc. Technologies. Therefore, this study concludes that potential policies and reforms, including reducing fossil fuel consumption, increasing energy efficiency in distribution and consumption, encouraging investments in clean energy are of key importance in making energy security sustainable in the long term by increasing environmental quality.

Within the literature on energy and environmental economics, it is generally acknowledged that renewable energy can improve environmental quality; however, certain papers suggest that an optimal level of the usage of renewable energy sources may exist. Consequently, the utilization of renewable energy sources can result in environmental degradation up to a certain threshold. Then, environmental quality can be enhanced through the continued application of renewables. This indicates that the link between renewable energy and environmental devastation is inverted U-shaped. This paper presents empirical evidence concerning this possible association between renewable energy and environmental destruction in Türkiye, a country where fossil energy predominates in the energy mix. Additionally, the paper investigates the environmental influences of natural resource rents and schooling. This study utilizes annual data from 1971 to 2020 and implements time series methodologies that rely on the Fourier approximation. The paper thus accounts for an undetermined quantity of structural breaks. The results suggest that an inverted U-shaped link occurs between renewable energy and environmental destruction, signifying renewable energy initially contributes to a diminution in environmental quality before subsequently improving it. Additionally, environmental quality is positively associated with natural resource rents and negatively associated with schooling, according to the findings. Furthermore, the findings reveal that schooling worsens the combined effect of renewable energy on environmental degradation. These conclusions are discussed in the paper.

Urban street dust (UStD) is a vital issue for human health and is crucial for urban sustainability. This study aims to enhance the creation of safe, affordable, and resilient cities by examining environmental contamination and health risks in urban residential areas. Specifically, it investigates the concentrations and spatial distribution of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in UStD in Yenimahalle, Ankara. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu in UStD were 97.98, 66.88, 55.22, 52.45, 38.37, and 3.81 mg/kg, respectively. The geoaccumulation pollution index (Igeo) values for these elements were: Cd (5.12), Ni (1.61), Cr (1.21), Pb (1.13), Cu (0.78), and Zn (0.24). These indices indicate that the area is moderately polluted with Cr, Pb, and Ni, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Cu and Zn, and extremely polluted with Cd. The hazard index (HI) values for Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn were below the non-carcinogenic risk threshold for adults, indicating no significant risk. However, for children, the HI values for Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn were 3.37, 1.80, 1.25, and 1.25, respectively, suggesting a higher risk. Carcinogenic risk (RI) of Cd, Ni, and Pb was significant for both children and adults, indicating that exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact is hazardous. The findings highlight the need for strategic mitigation measures for both natural and anthropogenic activities, providing essential insights for residents, policymakers, stakeholders, and urban planners.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have reported that individuals living in greener neighborhoods have better cardiovascular health. It is unclear whether the effects reported at large geographic scales persist when examined at an intra-neighborhood level. The effects of greenness have not been thoroughly examined using high-resolution metrics of greenness exposure, and how they vary with spatial scales of assessment or participant characteristics.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of associations between blood pressure and multiple high-resolution measures of residential area greenness in spatially concentrated HEAL Study cohort of the Green Heart Project. We employed generalized linear models, accounting for individual-level covariates, to examine associations between different high-resolution measures of greenness and blood pressure among 667 participants in a 4 sq. mile contiguous neighborhood area in Louisville, KY.
RESULTS: In adjusted models, we observed significant inverse associations between residential greenness, measured by leaf area index (LAI), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) within 150-250 m and 500 m of homes, but not for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) or grass cover. Weaker associations were also found with diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Significant positive associations were observed between LAI and SBP among participants who reported being female, White, without obesity, non-exercisers, non-smokers, younger age, of lower income, and who had high nearby roadway traffic. We found few significant associations between grass cover and SBP, but an inverse association in those with obesity, but positive associations for those without obesity.
CONCLUSIONS: We found that leaf surface area of trees around participants home is strongly associated with lower blood pressure, with little association with grass cover. These effects varied with participant characteristics and spatial scales. More research is needed to test causative links between greenspace types and cardiovascular health and to develop population-, typology-, and place-based evidence to inform greening interventions.

This study examines the dynamic relationship between global value chain integration, and carbon emissions, in 57 developing economies from 2000 to 2018. Our results show a multipart link between GVC involvement and carbon emissions. Specifically, forward participation, which involves domestic content in foreign exports, offers the potential to reduce emissions, whereas backward participation, defined by foreign content in domestic exports, typically increases emissions. This imbalance draws attention to the dual nature of using mineral resources, which can contribute to and mitigate environmental damage depending on the extent of GVC engagement. The NARDL model employed in the study also reveals the dynamic and nonlinear responses of carbon emissions to variations in the utilization of mineral resources within GVCs. Our findings show that positive shocks to mineral resources use within GVCs negatively influence carbon emissions, while adverse shocks have less impact. The results have significant policy implications, indicating that developing nations should prioritize environmental sustainability while planning their GVC participation. This entails promoting value-added mining resource use initiatives and pushing for strict environmental regulations in GVCs. Our results also highlight the significance of implementing customized measures to mitigate economic activity\'s asymmetric and nonlinear impacts on environmental quality. It enlightens policymakers in developing nations on balancing environmental conservation and economic growth in a global economy that is becoming more interconnected.

Despite the inherent risks associated with waste scavenging, it is surprising to note the age group involved in this activity. This study aimed to assess the motivating factors driving teenagers and youths to participate in waste scavenging, using a sample of 247 scavengers. The data underwent analysis using frequency counts, percentages, and factor analysis techniques. The findings revealed that all respondents were male and aged between 12 and 45 years. The primary sources of waste were dumpsites (61%), roadsides, and gutters (26%). Participants predominantly cited lack of formal education requirements and financial gain (93%) as key motivators for their involvement in waste scavenging. Additionally, 96% of scavengers were from northern Nigeria, with the remaining 4% from southern Nigeria. The factor analysis yielded significant results with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett\'s test value of 67.770%, significant at p < 0.05. Four distinct factors emerged as significant motivators: (i) Lack of formal education (31.784%), (ii) Financial incentives (22.912%), (iii) Availability of wastes (14.297%), and (iv) Industrial demand for wastes (13.495%), in descending order of influence. Together, these factors accounted for 82.487% of the motivating factors behind youth engagement in waste scavenging in the study area. This outcome highlights potential challenges for the prospects of young individuals involved in scavenging unless substantial interventions are implemented. It is recommended that policies be developed to discourage scavenging activities while simultaneously promoting access to education and social welfare for this demographic. Such initiatives are crucial for redirecting young people away from scavenging and toward more sustainable livelihood options, ensuring a brighter future for them and contributing to overall societal development.

As an innovative financial instrument, green credit is a new driving force for environmental governance. To study the impact of green credit on environmental quality, this paper uses the provincial panel data from 2007 to 2020 to construct a panel model for analysis based on the comprehensive environmental quality index. At the same time, it discusses the mechanism and regional heterogeneity of green credit affecting environmental quality. The results show that green credit significantly improves the overall quality of the environment, which has a significant effect on air quality and green quality but has no significant impact on water quality and soil quality. Green credit improves environmental quality by improving green technology innovation and promoting industrial structure upgrading. At the same time, there is obvious heterogeneity in the environmental effect of green credit. Among them, the environmental quality improvement effect of the eastern region and the carbon emission pilot area is more evident than that of the central and western regions and the non-carbon emission pilot area. This paper has important implications for promoting the development of green credit and giving full play to the environmental effects of green credit to achieve sustainable goals.