The impact of urban configuration types on urban heat islands, air pollution, CO2 emissions, and mortality in Europe: a data science approach.

BACKGROUND: The world is becoming increasingly urbanised. As cities around the world continue to grow, it is important for urban planners and policy makers to understand how different urban configuration patterns affect the environment and human health. However, previous studies have provided mixed findings. We aimed to identify European urban configuration types, on the basis of the local climate zones categories and street design variables from Open Street Map, and evaluate their association with motorised traffic flows, surface urban heat island (SUHI) intensities, tropospheric NO2, CO2 per person emissions, and age-standardised mortality. METHODS: We considered 946 European cities from 31 countries for the analysis defined in the 2018 Urban Audit database, of which 919 European cities were analysed. Data were collected at a 250 m × 250 m grid cell resolution. We divided all cities into five concentric rings based on the Burgess concentric urban planning model and calculated the mean values of all variables for each ring. First, to identify distinct urban configuration types, we applied the Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection for Dimension Reduction method, followed by the k-means clustering algorithm. Next, statistical differences in exposures (including SUHI) and mortality between the resulting urban configuration types were evaluated using a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a post-hoc Dunn's test. FINDINGS: We identified four distinct urban configuration types characterising European cities: compact high density (n=246), open low-rise medium density (n=245), open low-rise low density (n=261), and green low density (n=167). Compact high density cities were a small size, had high population densities, and a low availability of natural areas. In contrast, green low density cities were a large size, had low population densities, and a high availability of natural areas and cycleways. The open low-rise medium and low density cities were a small to medium size with medium to low population densities and low to moderate availability of green areas. Motorised traffic flows and NO2 exposure were significantly higher in compact high density and open low-rise medium density cities when compared with green low density and open low-rise low density cities. Additionally, green low density cities had a significantly lower SUHI effect compared with all other urban configuration types. Per person CO2 emissions were significantly lower in compact high density cities compared with green low density cities. Lastly, green low density cities had significantly lower mortality rates when compared with all other urban configuration types. INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate that, although the compact city model is more sustainable, European compact cities still face challenges related to poor environmental quality and health. Our results have notable implications for urban and transport planning policies in Europe and contribute to the ongoing discussion on which city models can bring the greatest benefits for the environment, climate, and health. FUNDING: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, State Research Agency, Generalitat de Catalunya, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red Epidemiología y Salud Pública, and Urban Burden of Disease Estimation for Policy Making as a Horizon Europe project.

Impact of visual and textural characteristics of street walls on stress recovery.

Rapid urbanization increases psychological stress among pedestrians, potentially heightening mental health disorders. This study examines the role of street walls' visual and textural characteristics in stress recovery, using Qingdao as a case study. Virtual reality is employed to simulate five distinct street walls: yellow mortar, brown stone, red brick, green plant, and white mortar. The stress recovery effectiveness of these walls was evaluated through psychological and physiological indicators from 48 young college students. Results indicated that street walls with warm tones, particularly brown stone, significantly aid stress recovery. Psychologically, Restorative Components Scale was highest for brown stone at 1.13. Physiologically, it was linked with notable reductions in diastolic and pulse pressure (decreases of 2.95 mmHg and 2.27 mmHg, respectively), and enhanced parasympathetic activity, as evidenced by the fastest decrease in low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF), and increases in pNN50 and RR (0.14-2.01% and 1.57-11.81 ms, respectively). For urban design, the incorporation of warm-toned materials and natural elements like stone is recommended for their superior restorative benefits.

Life makes cities greener: The impact of dual-policy of China in urban transformation on residents' green lifestyles.

Promoting the formation of the green lifestyle (GL) is a crucial step in achieving comprehensive green transformation of urban economic and social development. The widespread adoption of GL is influenced by various environmental regulations. Previous research mainly focused on the impact of individual policies on GL from the single policy perspective. The mechanisms of the combined effects of policies have not been thoroughly explored, particularly the contributions of each policy during periods of overlap. This paper takes the dual-policy of the New-type Urbanization Policy (NUP) and Smart City Policy (SCP) in China as an example. It employs panel data collected from 271 cities in China during 2007-2019 and establishes a multi-period difference-in-difference model to identify the combined effects of the dual-policy on residents' GL. Additionally, the Shapley value decomposition method is utilized to identify the contribution magnitude of each policy when they act simultaneously. The following conclusions are yielded. Firstly, the combined effects of dual-policy are more effective than a single policy in influencing residents' GL. Secondly, the Shapley value decomposition method reveals that when both policies are simultaneously implemented, SCP contributes a greater weight compared to NUP. Thirdly, the dual-policy can promote residents' adoption of GL through mechanisms such as green technological innovation, public participation in environmental protection, and the agglomeration of tertiary industries. Fourthly, the impact of dual-policy on residents' GL varies across different types and sizes of cities. This study attempts to unseal the "black box" of how the dual-policy influences residents' GL during the green transformation of cities in China, providing theoretical references for relevant urban policies in other countries and contributing to Chinese solutions and experience to global urban green development.

Study on factors influencing carbon dioxide emissions and carbon peak heterogenous pathways in Chinese provinces.

Implementing a Carbon Peak Action Plan at the regional level requires comprehensive consideration of the developmental heterogeneity among different provinces, which is an effective pathway for China to realize the goal of carbon peak by 2030. However, there is currently no clear provincial roadmap for carbon peak, and existing studies on carbon peak pathways inadequately address provincial heterogeneity. Therefore, this paper employs the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model to decompose assess 8 factors influencing carbon emissions of 30 provinces. According to scenario analysis, the paper explores the differentiated pathways for provincial carbon peaks based on policy expectation indicators (including population, economy, and urbanization rate) and comprises policy control indicators (including the energy structure, energy efficiency, industrial structure, transportation structure, and innovation input). The results indicate that population, per capita GDP, urbanization rate, and innovation input are the primary factors for influencing (negatively) the growth of carbon emissions. In contrast, the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure, energy intensity, energy structure, and transportation structure have mitigating effects on carbon emissions, especially for the first two factors. The forecasting results reveal that robust regulations of the energy and industry can effectively accelerate carbon peak at a reduced magnitude. If developed at BAU, China cannot achieve carbon peak by 2030, continuing an upward trend. However, by maximizing the adjustment strength of energy and industrial transformation within the scope of provincial capabilities, China could achieve carbon peak as early as 2025, with a peak of 12.069 billion tons. In this scenario, 24 provinces could achieve carbon peak before 2030. Overall, this study suggests the feasibility of differentiated pathway to achieve carbon peaks in China, exploring the carbon peak potential and paths of 30 provinces, and identifying provinces where carbon peak is more challenging. It also provides a reference for the design of carbon peak roadmaps at both provincial and national levels and offers targeted recommendations for the implementation of differentiated policy strategies for the government.

Investigating the interplay between urban dynamics and environmental factors in Thimphu, Bhutan: a satellite remote sensing approach.

The ability of the land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to examine land surface change is regarded as an important climate variable. However, no significant systematic examination of urbanization concerning environmental variables has been undertaken in the narrow valley of Thimphu, Bhutan. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics on LST, NDVI, and elevation, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data collected in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that LSTs varied substantially among different land use types, with the highest occurring in built-up areas and the lowest occurring in forests. There was a strong negative linear correlation between the LST and NDVI in built-up areas, indicating the impact of anthropogenic activities. Moreover, elevation had a noticeable effect on the LST and NDVI, which exhibited very strong opposite patterns at lower elevations. In summary, LULC dynamics significantly influence LST and NDVI, highlighting the importance of understanding spatiotemporal patterns and their effects on ecological processes for effective land management and environmental conservation. Moreover, this study also demonstrated the applicability of relatively low-cost, moderate spatial resolution satellite imagery for examining the impact of urban development on the urban environment in Thimphu city.

Spatiotemporal dynamic relationships and simulation of urban spatial form changes and land surface temperature: a case study in Chengdu, China.

Exploring the spatiotemporal dynamic evolution of local climate zones (LCZ) associated with changes in land surface temperature (LST) can help urban planners deeply understand urban climate. Firstly, we monitored the evolution of 3D urban spatial form in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China from 2010 to 2020, used the ordinary least squares model to fit the dynamic correlation (DR) between the changes in urban spatial patterns and changes in LST, and revealed the changes of urban spatial patterns closely related to the rise in LST. Secondly, the spatiotemporal patterns of LST were examined by the integration of the Space-Time Cube model and emerging hotspot analysis. Finally, a prediction model based on curve fitting and random forest was integrated to simulate the LST of study area in 2025. Results show the following: the evolution of the urban spatial form consists of three stages: initial incremental expansion, midterm incremental expansion and stock renewal, and late stock renewal and ecological transformation. The influence of the built environment on the rise of LST is greater than that of the natural environment, and the building density has a greater effect than the building height. The overall LST shows a warming trend, and the seven identified LST spatiotemporal patterns are dominated by oscillating and new hotspots patterns, accounting for 51.99 and 11.44% of the study area, respectively. The DR between urban spatial form and LST varies across different time periods and built environment types, whereas the natural environment is always positively correlated with LST. The thermal environment of the city will warm up in the future, and the area affected by the heat island will shift to the central of the city.

Contrasting morphometric responses to increasing urbanisation in congeneric sparrow species.

Increased urbanisation influences the morphometric traits of various species, often resulting in urban individuals being smaller than their non-urban counterparts. Urbanisation can affect fundamental eco-evolutionary patterns and impact species' ability to adapt to and occupy rapidly changing environments through morphological changes. We investigated the morphometric responses of two passerine species, the non-native house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and its native congener, the Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus), along gradients of spatial and temporal urbanisation in South Africa over a 52-year period. The house sparrow was significantly heavier, larger and in better condition with increasing urban infrastructure and lower urban vegetation cover, while the Cape sparrow showed opposing trends along these gradients. Temporally, the house sparrow's body mass increased consistently over the 52-year study period, suggesting changes in morphology were concomitant with increasing urbanisation over time. This study demonstrates distinct differences in the morphological responses of the non-native house sparrow and the native Cape sparrow to increasing urban development. These morphological responses may also underpin community-level changes caused by urbanisation, enhancing the capabilities of non-native species to thrive over their native counterparts in these environments.

How does urbanization impact China's carbon emissions: A regional heterogeneity perspective.

In the context of China's green development and "dual carbon" goal, urbanization, as a way to achieve Chinese modernization, has a particularly important effect on green and low-carbon economic development. Firstly, this paper empirically analyzed the influence of urbanization on per capita carbon emissions using Chinese city data and a panel fixed-effects model. Then, the impact mechanisms of urbanization on carbon emissions were examined from both the demand and supply sides. Finally, we analyzed the differences in the transmission mechanisms of urbanization affecting carbon emissions in the eastern, central, and western regions. The results show that (1) urbanization increases per capita carbon emissions. However, this effect shows inter-regional differences, with more significant promotion effects in the eastern and central regions; (2) on the demand side, the residents' consumption intensity can drive carbon emissions, while the rise of human capital agglomeration suppresses carbon emissions; on the supply side, industrial structure can drive carbon emissions, while the increase of green technological innovation suppresses carbon emissions; (3) the consumption effect and the industry effect play a major role in the eastern and central regions, while the intermediary effect is not obvious in the western region. This study can provide important insights for synergizing urbanization and achieving carbon reduction commitments.

Investigating the impact of urban growth on land use using spatial autocorrelation methods in Konya/Türkiye.

Land use land cover (LULC) change, global environmental change, and sustainable change are frequently discussed topics in research at the moment. It is important to determine the historical LULC change process for effective environmental planning and the most appropriate use of land resources. This study analysed the spatial autocorrelation of the land use structure in Konya between 1990 and 2018. For this, Global and Local Moran's I indices based on land use data from 122 neighbourhoods and hot spot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) methods were applied to measure the spatial correlation of changes and to determine statistically significant hot and cold spatial clusters. According to the research results, the growth of urban areas has largely destroyed the most productive agricultural lands in the region. This change showed high spatial clustering both on an area and a proportional basis in the northern and southern parts of the city. On the other hand, the growth in the industrial area suppressed the pasture areas the most in the north-eastern region of the city, and this region showed high spatial clustering on both spatial and proportional scales.

Healthy city evaluation based on factor analysis-Taking cities in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as an example.

As urbanization speeds up, the concept of healthy cities is receiving more focus. This article compares Chongzuo and Nanning in Guangxi with Beijing to assess the development gaps in cities in Guangxi. An indicator system for healthy cities was designed from six dimensions-healthy economy, healthy population, healthy healthcare, healthy environment, healthy facilities, and healthy transportation-and 26 secondary indicators, which were selected from 2005 to 2022, and an improved factor analysis was used to synthesize a healthy city index (HCI). The number of factors was determined by combining characteristic roots and the variance contribution rate, and the HCI was weighted using the entropy-weighted Topsis method. A comprehensive evaluation of the urban health status of these cities was conducted. The results showed that extracting six common factors had the greatest effect, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 93.83%. Chongzuo city scored higher in the field of healthcare. The healthy environment score of Nanning was relatively high, which may be related to continuous increases in green measures. In terms of the healthy economy dimension, Beijing was far ahead. However, in recent years, the healthy economy level in Chongzuo has increased, and the GDP growth rate has ranked among the highest in Guangxi. In addition, the growth rate of healthy facilities in Nanning was relatively fast and has been greater than that in Chongzuo in recent years, which indicates that the Nanning Municipal Government believes urban construction and municipal supporting facilities are highly important. In terms of healthy transportation, Chongzuo and Nanning scored higher than Beijing. This may be because the transportation in these two cities is convenient and the traffic density is more balanced than that in Beijing, thereby reducing traffic congestion. Chongzuo had the highest score for a healthy population, and a steadily growing population provides the city with stable human resources, which helps promote urban economic and social development. Finally, relevant policy recommendations were put forwards to enhance the health level of the cities.

Multiliteracies meet new methods: The case for digital writing in English education case study in G-7 countries.

Recently, globe has tried to transform populace activities to digital platform, wherefrom all stakeholders can attain their basic information. However, education sector cannot be excluded from this debate. Since, the pandemic mostly most economies have utilized digital transformation in different aspects of life, but digital education becomes more prominent. Therefore, this empirical research focuses on digital writing specifically to English education in G-7 economies between the time frame spanning from January 2000 to April 2022. This study considers urbanization, income, renewable energy, information & communication technology, renewable energy, English education, and pandemic as the key environmental determinants. To address the challenges posed by panel data, this study utilized an advanced set of estimators such as AMG stands for Augmented Mean Group. The estimate of urbanization and income per capita is positively significant, confirming that urbanization and economic development cannot protect the green economy by minimizing environmental pollution. Likewise, the estimated coefficient of English Education and internet use is negative and significant, implying that English Education and ICT can protect the green economy by reducing emissions. Conversely, renewable energy consumption (REC) is an element that can increase economic activity and therefore decline the environmental damages to secure a green economy. Likewise, the growth in cases of Covid-19 also reduces the usage of resources like land, water, and forests and subsequently decreases carbon emissions, promoting the green economy. The results also indicate that interaction term of English Education and ICT have adverse impact on Carbon emission (CO2). The outcomes suggest that internet usage (ICT) in English Education (EE) can deal efficiently with environmental issues for the green economy; therefore, EE and ICT should be part of green policies across the international level.

Natural background levels and driving factors of aluminum in shallow groundwater of an urbanized delta: Insight from eliminating anthropogenic-impacted groundwaters.

Knowledge on natural background levels (NBLs) of aluminum (Al) in groundwater can accurately assess groundwater Al contamination at a regional scale. However, it has received little attention. This study used a combination of preselection and statistic methods consisting of the oxidation capacity and the boxplot iteration methods to evaluate the NBL of shallow groundwater Al in four groundwater units of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) via eliminating anthropogenic-impacted groundwaters and to discuss driving factors controlling high NBLs of Al in groundwater in this area. A total of 280 water samples were collected, and 18 physico-chemical parameters including Redox potential, dissolved oxygen, pH, total dissolved solids, HCO3 -, NH4 +, NO3 -, SO4 2-, Cl-, NO2 -, F-, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe, Mn, and Al were analyzed. Results showed that groundwater Al NBLs in groundwater units A-D were 0.11, 0.16, 0.15, and 0.08 mg/L, respectively. The used method in this study is acceptable for the assessment of groundwater Al NBLs in the PRD, because groundwater Al concentrations in various groundwater units in residual datasets were independent of land-use types, but they were opposite in the original datasets. The dissolution of Al-rich minerals in sediments/rocks was the major source for groundwater Al NBLs in the PRD, and the interaction with Al-rich river water was secondary one. The high groundwater Al NBL in groundwater unit B was mainly attributed to the acid precipitation and the organic matter mineralization inducing the release of Al in Quaternary sediments. By contrast, the high groundwater Al NBL in groundwater unit C mainly was ascribed to the release of Al complexes such as fluoroaluminate from rocks/soils into groundwater induced by acid precipitation, but it was limited by the dissolution of Mg minerals (e.g., dolomite) in aquifers. This study provides not only useful groundwater Al NBLs for the evaluation of groundwater Al contamination but also a reference for understanding the natural geochemical factors controlling groundwater Al in urbanized deltas such as the PRD. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The natural background level (NBL) of groundwater aluminum in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) was evaluated. The dissolution of aluminum-rich minerals in sediments/rocks was the major source for groundwater aluminum NBLs in the PRD. The acid precipitation and organic matter mineralization contribute to high groundwater Al NBL in the groundwater unit B. The acid precipitation contributes to high groundwater Al NBL in the groundwater unit C, while dissolution of magnesium minerals limits it.

Evaluating the quality of sediments in streams draining contrasting land-use areas in Osogbo metropolis, southwestern Nigeria.

The attendant effects of urbanization on the environment and human health are evaluable by measuring the potentially harmful element (PHE) concentrations in environmental media such as stream sediments. To evaluate the effect of urbanization in Osogbo Metropolis, the quality of stream sediments from a densely-populated area with commercial/industrial activities was contrasted with sediments from a sparsely-populated area with minimal anthropogenic input.Forty samples were obtained: 29 from Okoko stream draining a Residential/Commercial Area (RCA, n = 14) and an Industrial Area (IA, n = 15), and 11 from Omu stream draining a sparsely-populated area (SPA). The samples were air-dried, sieved to < 75 micron fraction, and analysed for PHEs using inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), pollution index (PI), ecological risk factor (Er) and index (ERI) were used for assessment. Inter-elemental relationships and source identification were done using Pearson's correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA).PHE concentrations in the stream sediments were RCA: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Sr > Ni > Co, IA: Zn > Cr > Ni > Co > Pb > Cu > Sr and SPA: Zn > Co > Cr > Cu > Sr > Ni > Pb. Igeo calculations revealed moderate-heavy contamination of Cu, Pb and Zn in parts of RCA, moderate-heavy contamination of Zn in IA while SPA had moderate contamination of Co and Zn. PI values revealed that stream sediments of RCA are extremely polluted, while those of IA and SPA are moderately and slightly polluted, respectively.The pollution of the stream sediments in RCA and IA is adduced to anthropogenic activities like vehicular traffic, automobile repairs/painting, blacksmithing/welding and metal scraping. In SPA however, the contamination resulted from the application of herbicides/fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

Analysis of food system drivers of deforestation highlights foreign direct investments and urbanization as threats to tropical forests.

Approximately 90% of global forest cover changes between 2000 and 2018 were attributable to agricultural expansion, making food production the leading direct driver of deforestation. While previous studies have focused on the interaction between human and environmental systems, limited research has explored deforestation from a food system perspective. This study analyzes the drivers of deforestation in 40 tropical and subtropical countries (2004-2021) through the lenses of consumption/demand, production/supply and trade/distribution using Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models. Our models explained a substantial portion of deforestation variability globally (R2 = 0.74) and in Asia (R2 = 0.81) and Latin America (R2 = 0.73). The results indicate that trade- and demand-side dynamics, specifically foreign direct investments and urban population growth, play key roles in influencing deforestation trends at these scales, suggesting that food system-based interventions could be effective in mitigating deforestation. Conversely, the model for Africa showed weaker explanatory power (R2 = 0.30), suggesting that factors beyond the food system may play a larger role in this region. Our findings highlight the importance of targeting trade- and demand-side dynamics to reduce deforestation and how interventions within the food system could synergistically contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, such as climate action, life on land and zero hunger.

Land use change and Ecological Network in rapid urban growth region in Selangor region, Malaysia.

Rapid urbanization will cause various land use changes and the vast occupation of green spaces, a critical factor in the deterioration of biodiversity in urbanized areas. Some species of wildlife are endangered due to habitat shrunk and fragmentation. However, Malaysia's current biodiversity protection range is still limited. The Ecological Network (EN) refers to a framework of ecological components, which can be obtained by geographical and technical approaches to support more ecological diversity ranges. Furthermore, little research has been found on EN in Malaysia and the impact of land use change on EN. Therefore, the Selangor region is selected as the study area. This paper quantifies land use change and measures the extent of land use change to obtain the EN's change. The result has shown that forestland has decreased, explored by people for housing and agriculture from 2000 to 2020. The EN has a trend of fragmentation. Overall, this study's results imply that the land use change led to EN's worsened performance from 2000 to 2020 in the study area. This paper hopes that this research could help supply information on conserving biodiversity in future development and urban sustainable planning in Malaysia.

The impact of urbanization on health depends on the health metric, life stage and level of urbanization: a global meta-analysis on avian species.

Stressors associated with urban habitats have been linked to poor wildlife health but whether a general negative relationship between urbanization and animal health can be affirmed is unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of avian literature to test whether health biomarkers differed on average between urban and non-urban environments, and whether there are systematic differences across species, biomarkers, life stages and species traits. Our dataset included 644 effect sizes derived from 112 articles published between 1989 and 2022, on 51 bird species. First, we showed that there was no clear impact of urbanization on health when we categorized the sampling locations as urban or non-urban. However, we did find a small negative effect of urbanization on health when this dichotomous variable was replaced by a quantitative variable representing the degree of urbanization at each location. Second, we showed that the effect of urbanization on avian health was dependent on the type of health biomarker measured as well as the individual life stage, with young individuals being more negatively affected. Our comprehensive analysis calls for future studies to disentangle specific urban-related drivers of health that might be obscured in categorical urban versus non-urban comparisons.

Microplastics and Anthropogenic Particles in Recreationally Caught Freshwater Fish from an Urbanized Region of the North American Great Lakes.

BACKGROUND: Microplastics are a pervasive contaminant cycling through food webs-leading to concerns regarding exposure and risk to humans. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to quantify and characterize anthropogenic particle contamination (including microplastics) in fish caught for human consumption from the Humber Bay region of Lake Ontario. We related quantities of anthropogenic particles to other factors (e.g., fish size) that may help in understanding accumulation of microplastics in fish. METHODS: A total of 45 samples of six fish species collected from Humber Bay in Lake Ontario near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, were examined for anthropogenic particles in their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and fillets. Using microscopy and spectroscopy, suspected anthropogenic particles were identified and characterized. RESULTS: We observed anthropogenic particles in the GI tracts and fillets of all species. Individual fish had a mean±standard deviation of 138±231 anthropogenic particles, with a single fish containing up to 1,508 particles. GI tracts had 93±226 particles/fish (9.8±32.6 particles/gram), and fillets had 56±61 particles/fish (0.5±0.8 particles/gram). Based on a consumption rate of 2 servings/week, the average yearly human exposure through the consumption of these fish fillets would be 12,800±18,300 particles. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that consumption of recreationally caught freshwater fish can be a pathway for human exposure to microplastics. The elevated number of particles observed in fish from Humber Bay highlights the need for large-scale geographic monitoring, especially near sources of microplastics. Currently, it is unclear what the effects of ingesting microplastics are for humans, but given that recreationally caught freshwater fish are one pathway for human exposure, these data can be incorporated into future human health risk assessment frameworks for microplastics. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13540.

Modeling the United Oscillation and Wave of economic policy and urban planning employing spatial population dynamics.

Modern urban dynamics are increasingly shaped by the interplay between economic policy and urban planning, yet often lack an integrated approach. This study bridges this gap by examining the dynamic equilibrium between these two realms using the "Oscillation and Wave Framework." Specifically, we focus on the impact of variations in congestion parameter λ on urban sectoral spatial distribution and population dynamics. Our approach utilizes an advanced agent-based model to simulate interactions within an urban economic landscape, offering a detailed analysis of the relationship between agglomeration economies and congestion diseconomies. The results highlight the significant influence of congestion parameter adjustments on urban patterns, particularly in terms of cluster density and development. Therefore, this study not only provides a deeper understanding of the intricate balance between economic and urban planning factors but also emphasizes the necessity of incorporating these insights into urban planning and policy formulation for sustainable urban development. The findings also have important practical implications for addressing the dynamic complexities of urban environments, especially the interactions between different industries and their role in shaping urban structures.

A scoping review on the associations between early childhood caries and sustainable cities and communities using the sustainable development goal 11 framework.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease in which environmental factors could play a role. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the published literature that assessed the association between the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which tried to make cities and human settlements safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, and ECC. METHODS: This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. In July 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using tailored search terms related to housing, urbanization, waste management practices, and ECC. Studies that solely examined ECC prevalence without reference to SDG11 goals were excluded. Of those that met the inclusion criteria, a summary highlighting the countries and regions where the studies were conducted, the study designs employed, and the findings were done. In addition, the studies were also linked to relevant SDG11 targets. RESULTS: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria with none from the African Region. Six studies assessed the association between housing and ECC, with findings suggesting that children whose parents owned a house had lower ECC prevalence and severity. Other house related parameters explored were size, number of rooms, cost and building materials used. The only study on the relationship between the prevalence of ECC and waste management modalities at the household showed no statistically significant association. Five studies identified a relationship between urbanization and ECC (urbanization, size, and remoteness of the residential) with results suggesting that there was no significant link between ECC and urbanization in high-income countries contrary to observations in low and middle-income countries. No study assessed the relationship between living in slums, natural disasters and ECC. We identified links between ECC and SDG11.1 and SDG 11.3. The analysis of the findings suggests a plausible link between ECC and SDG11C (Supporting least developed countries to build resilient buildings). CONCLUSION: There are few studies identifying links between ECC and SDG11, with the findings suggesting the possible differences in the impact of urbanization on ECC by country income-level and home ownership as a protective factor from ECC. Further research is needed to explore measures of sustainable cities and their links with ECC within the context of the SDG11.

Dynamic nexus among fossil fuels utilization, economic growth, and urbanization: a tri-regional selected countries analysis.

There are worldwide growing concerns about environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. Moreover, it is expected that there will be regional differences in environmental issues. Therefore, this study focuses on a tri-regional comparison: America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Previous literature has paid less attention to exploring regional comparisons while considering regional heterogeneity. Against this backdrop, this study delves into the dynamic relationship between fossil fuel utilization, economic growth, globalization, urbanization, and CO2 emissions to understand the environmental implications of these interconnected factors. The study period spans from 1990 to 2021. Additionally, it employed rigorous tests to confirm cross-sectional dependence and data heterogeneity, following methodologies proposed by Pesaran (2004, 2015) and Pesaran (2007), utilizing the CS-ARDL panel cointegration methodology by Chudik and Pesaran (2015). The results confirm long-term significant relationships among OC, NGC, FDI, and UR variables in both combined panels, with and without regional dummies. However, GDP and COC become insignificant in the long run in the dummy variables regression. Furthermore, the regional dummies were found to be negative but remain insignificant, possibly due to heterogeneous effects or unobserved factors influencing each region independently. Analysis by region reveals predominant coal consumption in Asia, higher oil consumption in America, and greater gas consumption in Europe. Economic growth and CO2 emissions are positive in Asia and America but negative in Europe, aligning with theories prioritizing growth over environmental concerns in Asia and America, and advocating for renewable energy adoption in Europe. Urbanization increases energy demand and emissions, supporting the environmental revolution theory, while FDI holds the potential to reduce CO2 emissions, as per the endogenous growth theory.