• Energy Research

Abstract While chemicals are vital to modern society through materials, agriculture, textiles, new technology, medicines, and consumer goods, their use is not without risks. Unfortunately, our resources seem inadequate to address the breadth of chemical challenges to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is important we use our intelligence and knowledge wisely to prepare for what lies ahead. The present study used a Delphi-style approach to horizon-scan future chemical threats that need to be considered in the setting of chemicals and environmental policy, which involved a multidisciplinary, multisectoral, and multinational panel of 25 scientists and practitioners (mainly from the United Kingdom, Europe, and other industrialized nations) in a three-stage process. Fifteen issues were shortlisted (from a nominated list of 48), considered by the panel to hold global relevance. The issues span from the need for new chemical manufacturing (including transitioning to non-fossil-fuel feedstocks); challenges from novel materials, food imports, landfills, and tire wear; and opportunities from artificial intelligence, greater data transparency, and the weight-of-evidence approach. The 15 issues can be divided into three classes: new perspectives on historic but insufficiently appreciated chemicals/issues, new or relatively new products and their associated industries, and thinking through approaches we can use to meet these challenges. Chemicals are one threat among many that influence the environment and human health, and interlinkages with wider issues such as climate change and how we mitigate these were clear in this exercise. The horizon scan highlights the value of thinking broadly and consulting widely, considering systems approaches to ensure that interventions appreciate synergies and avoid harmful trade-offs in other areas. We recommend further collaboration between researchers, industry, regulators, and policymakers to perform horizon scanning to inform policymaking, to develop our ability to meet these challenges, and especially to extend the approach to consider also concerns from countries with developing economies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1212–1228. © 2023 Crown copyright and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article is published with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the King's Printer for Scotland. Abstract A Delphi approach to horizon scan of emerging chemical pollution issues of concern shortlisted 15 priority topics spanning the broad themes of “green” chemicals, unregulated chemicals and emissions, susceptible populations, fibers and materials, and intersections with climate and artificial intelligence. AI = artificial intelligence.

Pollution and climate change are two hallmarks of the Anthropocene Age; they are grave consequences of human activity on planetary health. These twin threats arise from many of the same sources: the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation and of biomass fuels for cooking and heating, modern globalised systems of production and transportation, mechanised agriculture, urbanisation, and the growing global manufacture and use of toxic chemicals. Both have their origins in the linear, take-make-use-dispose economic model, that Pope Francis has termed the “throwaway culture”, in which natural resources and human capital are viewed as inexhaustible and expendable, and consequences in the long term are seldom considered.

AbstractThe 2018 NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team (HAQAST) “Indicators” Tiger Team collaboration between NASA‐supported scientists and civil society stakeholders aimed to develop satellite‐derived global air pollution and climate indicators. This Commentary shares our experience and lessons learned. Together, the team developed methods to track wildfires, dust storms, pollen counts, urban green space, nitrogen dioxide concentrations and asthma burdens, tropospheric ozone concentrations, and urban particulate matter mortality. Participatory knowledge production can lead to more actionable information but requires time, flexibility, and continuous engagement. Ground measurements are still needed for ground truthing, and sustained collaboration over time remains a challenge.

Contexto: Se estima que se generan entre 20 y 50 millones de toneladas de residuos eléctricos y electrónicos (e-waste) al año, de los cuales el 75–80% se envía a países de Asia y África para su reciclaje y eliminación. Contexte. On estime que 20 à 50 millions de tonnes de déchets électriques et électroniques (e-déchets) sont générés par an, dont 75 à 80 % sont expédiés vers des pays d'Asie et d'Afrique pour recyclage et élimination. Background. It is estimated that 20–50 million tons of electric and electronic waste (e-waste) is generated per year of which 75–80% is shipped to countries in Asia and Africa for recycling and dis... خلفية: تشير التقديرات إلى أنه يتم توليد 20–50 مليون طن من النفايات الكهربائية والإلكترونية (النفايات الإلكترونية) سنويًا، يتم شحن 75-80 ٪ منها إلى دول في آسيا وأفريقيا لإعادة تدويرها وتفريغها...

In the paper, the authors offer perspectives on the uses of technology and assessment, that support learning. The perspectives are viewed through validity (from the field of assessment) as a framework and they discuss four aspects of an interconnected technology, learning and assessment space that represent theory informed, authentic practice. The four are: 1) integrated coherence for learning, assessment and technology; 2) responsibilities for equity, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing; 3) sustainability; and 4) balancing resources in global contexts. The authors propose steps and considerations for medical and health professions educators who need to contextualise applications for technology, learning and assessment, for positive impact for learners, faculty, institutions and patient care.