Glyphosate (C₃H₈NO₅P) is a broad-spectrum herbicide commonly used in agriculture to effectively control weeds in cereal, vineyard, and horticultural crops. However, excessive glyphosate application can negatively impact soil health by altering microbial diversity, disrupting nutrient cycling, and reducing fertility and biodiversity. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to glyphosate has been linked to potential health risks for humans, including cancer and endocrine disruption. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2015) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A), underscoring the need for stricter regulations and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. This study aimed to evaluate the phytotoxicity of glyphosate on the germination of Raphanus sativus and Lepidium sativum seeds. This study contributes to our understanding of the environmental risks associated with increasing concentrations of this compound in agroecosystems. A triplicate bioassay was conducted using glyphosate concentrations of 3.6, 1.8, 0.9, 0.45, and 0.225 g/L. Twenty seeds of each species were evenly distributed in Petri dishes containing cotton soaked with the respective test solutions. After seven days, germinated seeds were counted, and median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between glyphosate concentration and germination inhibition. The results demonstrated a significant increase in germination inhibition between 1.8 and 3.6 g/L for both seed species. Turnip seeds were more sensitive than watercress seeds. A positive and significant correlation was found between glyphosate concentration and inhibition rate. The LC₅₀ values obtained were 2.18 g/L for Raphanus sativus and 1.43 g/L for Lepidium sativum. These results confirm that glyphosate impairs seed germination. The study emphasizes the need for continuous environmental monitoring and the adoption of sustainable soil management practices to mitigate glyphosate's ecological impact.

The Mediterranean region is recognised as a hotspot for the climate crisis. Natural hazards such as storms, droughts, fires, and heat waves, combined with an area's vulnerability, can cause severe impacts and damage to property, ecosystems, crops, and human life.

Understanding public perceptions of climate-related risks is critical, as they shape not only the individual and collective responses to climate challenges but also the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. Despite growing pressure, comprehensive nationwide research on public attitudes and adaptive capacity regarding climate change is lacking in Greece.

The present study builds on the previous work of Perdios et al. (2025) and extends their analysis using a published dataset with over 1,000 responses from the Greek population; see Serafeim et al. (2025). Specifically, the questionnaire aims to capture four key dimensions of adaptive capacity: (a) the magnitude of information and awareness about climate-related risk, (b) personal experiences with extreme weather events, (c) readiness to adopt more sustainable practices, and (d) perceptions of local interventions to address the climate crisis.

Key results highlight regional disparities in both awareness and preparedness, and socio-demographic variables such as education and income are important determinants. By identifying patterns of readiness and risk perception across populations, this work contributes to a more informed understanding of society and resilience to climate change in the Mediterranean region.

References

Perdios, A. et al. (2025). Adapting to the Escalating Climate Crisis in the Mediterranean Region: The case of Greece, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9003, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9003, 2025.

Serafeim, A. V. et al. (2025). National survey-based investigation of climate risk perceptions and adaptation readiness in Greece [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtg1

Groundwater from the Voltaian aquifer serves as a vital resource for the rapidly growing Krachi East Municipality in Ghana. Despite its significance, detailed insights into its hydrogeochemical evolution remain limited. This study adopts an integrated approach, combining hydrochemical analysis, multivariate statistics, and spatial mapping to characterize groundwater quality, identify the processes controlling its chemistry, and evaluate its suitability for domestic and agricultural purposes, using sixteen samples. Major ions and physicochemical parameters were analyzed, and interpretation employed graphical methods, saturation index calculation, and multivariate statistical techniques, including Factor Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis on centred log-ratio transformed data. Water Quality Index was computed for drinking suitability, while irrigation suitability was assessed using Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Percentage (Na%), and Magnesium Ratio (MR). Results indicate that groundwater is generally fresh (mean TDS: 363.19 mg/L; mean EC: 488.81 µS/cm) and dominated by a Na–HCO₃ facies (81.25% of samples). Gibbs plots suggest water–rock interaction, particularly silicate and carbonate weathering and ion exchange as the primary control on hydrochemistry. Four principal factors, explaining 92.84% of total variance, highlight contributions from both geogenic processes and anthropogenic influences. WQI classification shows 87.5% of samples fall under the “Excellent” category for drinking, meeting WHO standards. However, irrigation assessment reveals potential risks: although salinity hazards are low (EC < 750 µS/cm), most samples exhibit high sodicity (mean Na% ≈ 81.6%; 50% unsuitable) and magnesium hazards (mean MR ≈ 61.2%; 75% above recommended limits). Overall, the Voltaian aquifer provides groundwater of excellent quality for domestic use, but elevated sodicity and magnesium pose long-term threats to soil health and agricultural sustainability. These findings emphasize the need for integrating water quality indices into local management strategies and adopting mitigation measure such as gypsum application and optimized irrigation scheduling to safeguard socioeconomic and environmental well-being.

The increasing use of antibiotics in aquaculture, notably sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP), has raised environmental concerns due to their persistence and potential toxicity to non-target aquatic species. These compounds are frequently used in combination as a composite (co-trimoxazole), which may demonstrate distinct biological effects relative to the individual compounds. Evaluating the risks associated with their presence in the environment requires understanding their ecotoxicological profiles and potential interactions.

This study examined the effects of SMX, TMP, and their combination on the green microalga Chlorococcum sp., selected as a representative aquatic species. Cultures were subjected to environmentally relevant concentrations of each compound and their combinations under controlled laboratory conditions to evaluate potential toxic responses.

The purpose of this research is to elucidate the individual and combined detrimental effects of SMX and TMP and to propose alternative approaches to mitigate their environmental impacts. The work advances our understanding of the environmental behaviour of antibiotic combinations and their relevance to sustainable aquaculture methods.

Acknowledgements: "The research project is implemented in the framework of H.F.R.I call "3rd Call for H.F.R.I.'s Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers" (H.F.R.I. Project Number: 26141)".

In the transition toward a low-carbon economy, the integration of renewable energy (RE) technologies into industrial systems has become an essential component of sustainable development. In developing countries such as Kenya, where energy-intensive manufacturing sectors rely heavily on costly and carbon-intensive grid electricity, renewable energy adoption presents both a strategic and environmental imperative. This study provides one of the first integrated techno-economic analyses of solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems for industrial-scale application in Kenya’s tea-processing sector. Using data from the Kepchomo Tea Factory, a 680 kW grid-tied solar PV system was modeled and optimized through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s REopt platform under three design scenarios: PV only, PV with storage, and an expanded hybrid configuration. Detailed hourly load-matching, financial simulation, and sensitivity analyses on discount rates, degradation parameters, and tariff escalation were conducted to evaluate system robustness and long-term performance over a 25-year project horizon. The results indicate that the optimal configuration—a 1,513 kW PV system combined with a 712 kWh battery—achieves a 35% renewable energy share, reduces CO₂ emissions by approximately 14,387 tonnes, and generates a net present value of USD 1.68 million. Moreover, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) analysis reveals that the hybrid system is economically competitive with grid electricity under current feed-in tariffs. Beyond site-level benefits, the study contributes a replicable methodological framework for industrial decarbonization, renewable investment appraisal, and policy formulation across sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the potential of distributed solar-battery systems to enhance energy security and resilience in emerging economies.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) applied to solar agricultural drying technologies has become a critical research area for quantifying postharvest sustainability and informing climate mitigation policies. Based on 42 documents indexed in Scopus (1999–2025), this bibliometric study integrates keyword co-occurrence (VOSviewer) and strategic thematic mapping (Bibliometrix) to identify research evolution, conceptual cores, and emerging opportunities in this field. Scientific production has intensified since 2020, with a 300% increase, driven by Asia (India 43%, followed by Bangladesh, China, and Egypt) and an emerging presence in the Americas and Europe. Results indicate increasing convergence among energy efficiency, environmental impact, and economic feasibility, with 4E approaches (Energy–Exergy–Environment–Economics) becoming the prevailing framework for comprehensive system evaluation. The co-occurrence network reveals four technological domains: (i) exergetic efficiency and thermal energy storage (heat storage, PCM, phase change materials), (ii) environmental analysis and carbon footprint (LCA, carbon dioxide, environmental impact), (iii) energy hybridization (hybrid solar–biomass dryers, photovoltaic/thermal systems), and (iv) agro-industrial applications (fruits, vegetables, high-value crops). The thematic map positions the solar dryers–environmental impact–drying cluster as the motor theme of current research, while life cycle–biogas–carbon dioxide constitutes an emerging niche associated with advanced environmental modeling. The scientific trend points toward multicriteria design and digitalization of solar drying systems, integrating LCA, thermoeconomics, and exergy analysis to optimize materials, geometry, and thermal flow behavior. Future research must strengthen dynamic and comparative LCA methodologies, AI-assisted control and adaptive optimization, and circular models of energy and material flow that transform agricultural drying into a low-carbon, measurable, and environmentally restorative process aligned with the goals of sustainable food systems and renewable energy transitions.

The Sacca di Goro lagoon, located in the Po River delta (Northern Italy), represents a significant area of interest due to its natural and economic value. Spanning an area of approximately 20 km², with an average depth of 1.5 meters and salinity levels of 29‰, the lagoon is not only crucial for its biodiversity but also plays a pivotal role in regional aquaculture, particularly for mussels and clams.

In the present study, 15 continuous core-drilling surveys were conducted, with depths ranging from 100 to 200 cm and distributed evenly across the lagoon area. A total of 70 sediment samples were collected and analyzed for grain size composition, organic matter content, and concentrations of various elements such as SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O3, MgO, MnO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, La, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, V, Y, Zn, Cu, Ga, Nd, S, and Sr. Furthermore, in selected samples, sediment toxicity was evaluated using the bacterial bioluminescence toxicity assay, which provides insight into the potential biological impact of the sediments.

The comprehensive dataset obtained from these analyses enabled us to achieve several important goals: i) defining the overall environmental quality of the sediments, ii) identifying areas with the highest contamination risks, iii) establishing a relationship between grain size distribution and chemical concentrations, and iv) emphasizing the local occurrence of natural pollution phenomena linked to metals such as chromium (> 50 ppm) and nickel (> 30 ppm), as well as human-induced contamination from lead (> 30 ppm) and copper (> 60 ppm).

An informed society can contribute to the conservation of nature. Environmental interpretation encompasses experiences and topics that involve direct interaction between visitors and nature, and such interaction promotes ecological awareness. Exhibits in public places constitute educational settings that complement traditional institutions, promoting learning that involves not only teachers and students but also society at large, including visitors and tourists. The city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa (Mexico), presents a landscape dominated by wetlands, which are a representative ecosystem of this city. However, their conservation requires the active participation of the population. Currently, Mazatlán has 501,441 inhabitants, who affect the wetlands. By 2030, it is expected to have around 756,823 inhabitants, and by 2050, 1,306,423. Additionally, Mazatlán receives 3,872,691 tourists per year. The objective was to evaluate the themes in the interpretation of Ambiental activities and determine their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Three sites were analyzed to collect information on the topics and develop a correlation matrix. The results showed that the information provided contributes to 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: 1. End of poverty, 2. Hunger and food security, 3. Health, 4. Education, 6. Water and sanitation, 8. Economic growth, 9. Resilient infrastructures, 11. Cities and settlements, 12: Sustainable production and consumption, 13. Climate change, 14. Ocean Conservation, 15: Forests, desertification, and biodiversity, and 17. Partnerships.

Soil salinization in Albania’s coastal zone has emerged as one of the most critical forms of land degradation, increasingly exacerbated by climate change. Rising air temperatures, prolonged droughts, sea-level rise, and declining precipitation alter the water–salt balance, accelerating the accumulation of soluble salts such as sodium, chloride, and sulfate in agricultural soils. These processes directly threaten soil fertility, crop productivity, and rural livelihoods in one of Albania’s most productive agricultural regions. This study examines the interplay between climatic variability and salinity dynamics in the municipalities of Vlora, Fier, Lushnje, and Divjaka, areas where the combined influence of marine intrusion and human-induced land-use changes has intensified salinity risks. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating laboratory analyses of soil samples collected in 2021 with climatic data (the last 5 years) from the Institute of Geosciences. The assessment of soil parameters, including electrical conductivity, sodium (Na), chlorides (Cl), sulfates (SO₄), pH, and dry residue at various depths, and correlated them with temperature and precipitation trends. The findings reveal that salinity levels have increased by over 40% compared to pre-1990 measurements, confirming an upward trend in the re-salinization of previously reclaimed lands. The deterioration of drainage and irrigation infrastructure, coupled with rising evapotranspiration and seawater intrusion, has contributed to the progressive degradation of coastal soils. The study highlights that soil salinization in Albania is no longer a solely hydrological or agricultural issue but a climate-driven phenomenon. Effective adaptation strategies are required to mitigate its long-term impacts. These include rehabilitating drainage and irrigation systems, applying gypsum and organic amendments, cultivating salt-tolerant crops, and adopting precision irrigation and monitoring technologies. Strengthening institutional capacity and implementing climate-smart land management policies are essential to preserve the limited agricultural resources and ensure sustainable food production under changing climatic conditions.

Buddleja cordata Kunth, commonly known as tepozán, is a dioecious shrub or tree widely distributed in temperate and sub-humid regions of Mexico. Beyond its ecological role, this species holds strong cultural significance, being recognized by Indigenous groups under multiple vernacular names and traditionally used to treat renal, digestive, inflammatory, and skin disorders. Phytochemical research has demonstrated antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective properties, underscoring their importance for human well-being. Ecologically, B. cordata demonstrates remarkable plasticity, thriving in degraded soils, xeric conditions, polluted environments, and under hydric stress. Its dense pubescence, phenological adaptations, and deep root system enable it to colonize disturbed areas, functioning as both a pioneer and a secondary species in successional processes. Moreover, it provides habitat and resources for diverse associated organisms—including insects, birds, lichens, and epiphytes—underscoring its role as a biodiversity-supporting microhabitat. From a restoration perspective, B. cordata enhances soil fertility through litter input, biomass production, and carbon sequestration, while tolerating hydrocarbons and heavy metals. These features, coupled with its attractiveness to pollinators, position it as a strategic native species for ecological restoration, urban forestry, and climate adaptation initiatives across Mexico. Recognizing B. cordata as a keystone native resource emphasizes the need to integrate traditional knowledge, ecological function, and climate resilience into restoration policies. Its multifunctionality illustrates how native species can serve as nature-based solutions to safeguard biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being amid climate and land-use change.