University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Investigation of Microplastic Pollution in Seawater and Copepods: A Case Study from Selangor Coastal Areas 493 503 106571 10.22059/poll.2026.402669.3121 EN Anis Hazwani Rosnizan Centre for Environmental Health & Safety Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Siti Rohana Mohd Yatim Centre for Environmental Health & Safety Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Nadiah Wan Rasdi Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Malaysia Nur Azalina Suzianti Feisal Department of Diagnostic and Allied Health Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Management and Science University, Shah Alam 40150, Selangor, Malaysia Ahmad Razali Ishak Centre for Environmental Health & Safety Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Journal Article 2025 09 19 Marine ecosystems face a growing environmental threat from microplastic contamination. This study examines the presence of microplastics in seawater and marine copepods along the coast of Selangor, Malaysia. Surface water samples from Bagan Nakhoda (n=24) and Bagan Lalang (n=81) both contained microplastics. Microscopic analysis of the copepod Oithona attenuata showed ingested microplastics in individuals from Bagan Lalang (n=25) and Bagan Nakhoda (n=10). Most particles were fibers, with seawater microplastics averaging 1400 to 1600 µm, and copepod-ingested measuring 130 to 150 µm. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis identified polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and cellulose acetate (CA) in both seawater and copepod samples. These findings provided important information on pollution levels and microplastic composition in coastal habitats. The dominance of fiber-shaped particles in both seawater and organisms indicates a consistent contamination pattern. The observed particle size raises ecological concerns, especially when ingested by marine organisms. Overall, the results underscore the urgent need for further research and targeted mitigation strategies to better understand and targeted mitigation strategies to better understand and address microplastic impacts in marine ecosystems. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106571_e17988a670fb9fde44704b1ac40c395a.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Development of an Environmentally Sound Technology for Producing Complex Organomineral Fertilizer for Agriculture 504 514 106572 10.22059/poll.2026.403490.3142 EN Dina Zhantassova Department of Ecology, Sout Kazakhstan University named after M. Auezov, Shymkent, Kazakhstan Kurmanbek Zhantassov Department of Technology of Inorganic and Petrochemical Production, Sout Kazakhstan University named after M. Auezov, Shymkent, Kazakhstan Gani Iztleuov Department of Ecology, Sout Kazakhstan University named after M. Auezov, Shymkent, Kazakhstan Aisulu Abduova Department of Ecology, Sout Kazakhstan University named after M. Auezov, Shymkent, Kazakhstan Journal Article 2025 10 02 The study aims to develop a method for producing complex organomineral fertilizer that reduces energy consumption, improves fertilizer quality, and enhances environmental safety. The study utilized lignite and weathered coal, as well as phosphorites from four deposits—Kara-Zhyra, Lenger, Maikove, and Shubarkol (Kazakhstan)—collected in 2024 (24 samples). The samples’ pH, moisture content, and water-holding capacity were measured. A statistically significant difference in humic acid content was observed between the Kara-Zhyra and Maikove deposits (p < 0.05). A correlation was identified between potassium carbonate concentration and the conversion degree of humic acids to humates (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.75, p = 0.03). An increase in phosphorus bioavailability was recorded with a higher proportion of potassium carbonate (p = 0.02, correlation coefficient: 0.78). The impact of urea (p = 0.04) and vermiculite (p = 0.03) on the conversion of humic acids was established. Additionally, urea (p = 0.05) and vermiculite (p = 0.03) influenced phosphorus bioavailability, with an increase in P₂O₅ availability by 4–5% following dosage optimization. Fertilizers containing coal and vermiculite exhibited a “high impact” on soil, while phosphorite and potassium carbonate demonstrated a “moderate” impact. A relationship was identified between heavy metal content and soil toxicity, as well as the influence of fertilizer type on soil pH. The findings facilitate the optimization of the composition and production technology of organomineral fertilizer to maximize nutrient bioavailability, improve fertilizer characteristics, and minimize environmental impact. The developed fertilizer is recommended for agricultural applications. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106572_cf2b0a4ce474cae66de814a4fe1fa4ac.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Impact of Physical-Chemical Parameters on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Ecological Distribution: A Case Study of the Oum Er Rbia River 515 532 106573 10.22059/poll.2026.405316.3185 EN Hicham Bouasria Laboratory of Biotechnology, Bio-resources and Bioinformatics, Khénifra Higher School of Technology Sultane Moulay Slimane University, Morocco El Houssaine Bahouar Laboratory of Biotechnology, Bio-resources and Bioinformatics, Khénifra Higher School of Technology Sultane Moulay Slimane University, Morocco Laboratory of "Scientific Research and Educational Innovation", Regional Center for Education and Training Professions, (CRMEF Rabat-Salé-Kénitra), Morocco Loubna Mrabet Laboratory of "Scientific Research and Educational Innovation", Regional Center for Education and Training Professions, (CRMEF Rabat-Salé-Kénitra), Morocco Laboratory of multidisciplinary research in science, technology and society, Khénifra Higher School of Technology; Sultane Moulay Slimane University, Morocco Youssef S'hih Laboratory of "Scientific Research and Educational Innovation", Regional Center for Education and Training Professions, (CRMEF Rabat-Salé-Kénitra), Morocco Laboratory Biology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco 0000-0003-4601-3125 Abdechahid Loukili Laboratory of "Scientific Research and Educational Innovation", Regional Center for Education and Training Professions, (CRMEF Rabat-Salé-Kénitra), Morocco El Hassan Abba Laboratory of Biotechnology, Bio-resources and Bioinformatics, Khénifra Higher School of Technology Sultane Moulay Slimane University, Morocco Journal Article 2025 11 03 The Oum Er Rbia River is an ecosystem that is essential for biodiversity and human activities, but it is threatened by the degradation of its aquatic habitats, particularly due to the discharge of domestic wastewater. The assessment of water quality, carried out using physicochemical and biological approaches, shows significant variations between sampling stations. Stations S1 and S2 exhibited optimal physico-chemical characteristics for biodiversity, complying with water quality standards (e.g., BOD₅ below 3 mg/L). This was reflected in the biotic communities, which showed high taxonomic diversity and a dominance of highly sensitive groups such as Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. In contrast, station S3 has very poor water quality, with BOD₅ of 48 mg O₂/L and COD of 239 mg/L, as well as Dissolved Oxygen (DO) to 5 mg/L. The IBGN is very low 5 < IBGN < 8, with a dominance of polluent-tolerant taxa, such as Chironomidae, reflecting a significant loss of biodiversity. At the downstream station S4, BOD₅ decreases to 11 mg O₂/L and COD to 38 mg/L. The IBGN reaches 13 and the OPI is 3.25, indicating moderate pollution. Statistical analysis confirmed that organic pollution is the principal driver of water quality degradation and biological impairment along the river, with principal component analysis (PCA) clearly demonstrating the strong relationship between organic load, physicochemical parameters, and macroinvertebrate community structure. This study provides crucial information to guide conservation and restoration efforts for the Oum Er Rabia ecosystem.  https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106573_5dec6ede38fe1f0fe36d4bafa4452bb7.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Enhancing Microplastic Removal Efficiency Through Fe-based Coagulation: Insights from Response Surface Methodology and Machine Learning 533 544 106574 10.22059/poll.2026.406372.3196 EN Aan Priyanto Research Group of Physics and Technology of Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung Jawa Barat 40132, Indonesia 0000-0002-7553-6446 Dian Ahmad Hapidin Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jalan Terusan Ryacudu, Lampung Selatan, Lampung 35365, Indonesia Dhewa Edikresnha Research Group of Physics and Technology of Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung Jawa Barat 40132, Indonesia Khairurrijal Khairurrijal Research Group of Physics and Technology of Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung Jawa Barat 40132, Indonesia Journal Article 2025 11 16 Microplastic pollution poses a major global environmental threat, demanding effective removal strategies. Coagulation is among the most practical methods due to its cost efficiency, simplicity, and high performance, with iron-based (Fe-based) coagulants showing particular environmental and operational advantages. However, integrated approaches combining statistical and machine learning optimization for different microplastic types and sizes remain limited. This study applied a hybrid Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and machine learning framework to optimize Fe-based coagulation for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) microplastics of various sizes. A Box–Behnken design (15 runs per polymer) was used, totaling 135 experiments. Removal efficiency was quantified gravimetrically after floc separation and drying. The optimized process achieved a maximum removal efficiency of (94.9 ± 0.2)%, comparable to many previous reports. RSM yielded the lowest mean prediction error (1.80%), surpassing Linear Regression (2.74%) and Artificial Neural Network (5.02%) models trained using k-fold cross-validation to mitigate overfitting. Coagulant dose was identified as the most influential variable, followed by polyacrylamide (PAM) dose and pH. These findings provide a robust, data-driven framework for optimizing microplastic coagulation and highlight key operational factors governing efficient removal. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106574_e7dc78f44e8a403234812dfc74f927a8.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Mortality and Economic Costs of Ambient Air Pollution in Six Major Cities of Bangladesh 545 559 106575 10.22059/poll.2026.406643.3202 EN Afsana Akter Air Quality, Climate Change and Health (ACH) Unit, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Sayed Mohammad Rasel Air Quality, Climate Change and Health (ACH) Unit, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Tarekul Islam Air Quality, Climate Change and Health (ACH) Unit, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Md Ziaul Haque Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dhaka, Bangladesh Md. Iqbal Kabir Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh Cui Guo Department of Urban Planning and Design, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China James A. Hall Health Economics Unit, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom Suzanne E. Bartington School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom Zongbo Shi School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom Md. Shakhaoat Hossain Air Quality, Climate Change and Health (ACH) Unit, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh Journal Article 2025 11 20 Ambient air pollution remains a leading environmental risk factor for premature mortality and economic loss, particularly in rapidly urbanizing low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh, where empirical city-level evidence remains limited.  This study aimed to quantify the long-term mortality burden (all-cause and cause-specific cardiovascular, respiratory, and lung cancer mortality) and associated economic costs attributable to ambient PM2.5 in six major cities of Bangladesh between 2013 and 2021. The annual concentrations of ambient PM2.5 from Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CAMS) of six selected cities (Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Khulna, and Barisal) of Bangladesh were used for exposure assessment in this study. The present study applied literature-derived Concentration- exposure- response functions to estimate the all-cause and cause-specific mortality burden linked to PM2.5 among those living in the cities during study period. A valuation of the economic loss attributed to premature mortality was made utilizing the Value of Statistical Life methods. In 2021, the average mortality burden of PM2.5 in the six cities per 100,000 population was 260 (95% CI: 142-370) premature deaths from all causes, 112 (95% CI: 61-160) from cardiovascular diseases, 25 (95% CI: 13-38) from respiratory diseases, and 3 (95% CI: 1-4) from lung cancer. The economic costs for all-cause mortality related to PM2.5 across six cities were estimated to be $23 billion USD ($19.3-$26.7) in 2021. These findings highlight the substantial public health and economic burden of ambient air pollution in urban areas and underscore the urgent need for strengthened air quality management and evidence-based policy interventions. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106575_8f58903196f80d732376c39b887760c2.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Microplastic Accumulation and Risk Assessment in Closed Biofloc Aquaculture: Integrating Biofloc Engineering with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) Modeling 560 573 106576 10.22059/poll.2026.407025.3209 EN Deswati Deswati Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Andalas University, Padang, P.O.Box 25163, Indonesia 0000-0002-8655-9838 Olly Norita Tetra Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Andalas University, Padang, P.O.Box 25163, Indonesia Rezkika Rahmadila Putri Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Andalas University, Padang, P.O.Box 25163, Indonesia Amelia Sriwahyuni Lubis Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Bung Hatta, Padang, P.O.Box 25133, Indonesia Adewirli Putra Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Syedza Saintika University, Padang, P.O.Box 25132, Indonesia Journal Article 2025 11 25 Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants in closed aquaculture systems, where limited water exchange restricts removal. This study assessed biofloc as a mitigation strategy for polyethylene (PE) MPs and characterized MPs in terms of morphology, size, color, and polymer type across four treatments. Biofloc reduced background MPs by 26.3%, but PE addition significantly increased concentrations, indicating low removal efficiency for buoyant polymers. Fragmented and fibrous MPs dominated, while FTIR spectroscopy confirmed PE, polyamide (PA), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as major polymers. Health risk assessment using Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Hazard Index (HI) indicated all indices remained below 1, though cumulative risk increased with higher MP loads. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model accurately predicted exposure indices (R² = 0.95; RMSE = 0.021), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) identified MP concentration as the primary driver of health risk. These findings highlight that while biofloc can partially sequester environmental MPs, it is ineffective against buoyant PE, emphasizing the need for integrated mitigation strategies. Combining biofloc management with ANN-based predictive modeling provides a robust framework to reduce MP exposure and support sustainable aquaculture practices in closed systems. Future research should focus on optimizing biofloc compositions, evaluating PE fragmentation, and assessing long-term ecological and food safety impacts. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106576_7f71c999dd53396740551e7b946b069d.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Tracing The Fate of Microplastics in a Wastewater Pond System: Abundance, Characteristics, and Environmental Risk Assessment 574 585 106577 10.22059/poll.2026.407330.3217 EN Mohadeseh Miri Department of Natural Ecosystems Management, Hamoun International Wetland Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Sahel Pakzad Toochaei Department of Natural Ecosystems Management, Hamoun International Wetland Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Hashem Khandan Barani Department of Aquatic Sciences, Hamoun International Wetland Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Journal Article 2025 11 30 Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a critical environmental pollutant due to their persistence, mobility, and potential toxicity. This study assessed the abundance, characteristics, polymer composition, and removal efficiency of MPs in the Zabol municipal wastewater treatment plant, which operates via a stabilization pond system. Influent and effluent samples were collected during the winter of 2024 and summer of 2025 and analyzed for size, morphology, color, and polymer type using stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The abundance of the MPs ranged from 17.53 ± 0.64 MPs/L (1 mm, winter) to 962.7 ± 12.86 MPs/L (45–425 µm, summer) in the influent and from 5.86 ± 0.25 MPs/L (1 mm, summer) to 26.24 ± 2.09 MPs/L (1 mm, winter) in the effluent. Film-shaped MPs dominated in both seasons, representing 54%–61% of the influent and 51%–65% of the effluent particles, while golden and transparent colors prevailed. FTIR analysis identified polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) as the major polymers, followed by polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS). The overall removal efficiencies were 95.57% in winter and 97.48% in summer. Although the polymer hazard index (PHI) and pollution load index (PLI) significantly decreased after treatment (P < 0.05), the effluent samples still exhibited a moderate hazard (Level II) due to the presence of persistent dense polymers such as PVC, PS, and PU. These findings indicate that while stabilization ponds achieve substantial MP removal, fine and buoyant particles—particularly PE and PP—can escape into the environment, emphasizing the need for advanced tertiary treatment and improved source control strategies in arid regions. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106577_17339e108bd337497552dea300d89acc.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Comparative Policy Pathways for Energy Transition and Carbon Emissions Reduction to 2050: Evidence from Germany, China, and Saudi Arabia 586 600 106578 10.22059/poll.2026.407356.3219 EN Mohammad Jalili School of Business Administration, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China Ziwei Zhang School of Business Administration, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China Shibo Wei School of Business Administration, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China Liu Yang School of Business Administration, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China Yuping Wu School of Business Administration, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China Journal Article 2025 12 01 The energy transition has become a pressing concern for governments, industries, and societies worldwide, driven by the need to address climate change. But nations approach this challenge in different ways. The examples of Germany, China, and Saudi Arabia are notable: one is a long-term leader in renewable energy, another is the world's largest energy consumer and emitter, and the third is a fossil-based economy undergoing diversification. This study examines how these three nations shape their future projections toward 2050. Our hybrid methodology, which combines scenario analysis and policy review, evaluates how each country manages the trade-offs between sustainability, affordability, and energy security. Given their significant contributions to global emissions, these pathways may also yield significant air quality co-benefits through the projected decline in fossil fuel use. The analysis identifies investment costs, technological uncertainty, and public acceptance as common barriers, while demonstrating how domestic political and economic structures lead to markedly different strategies. Although the study focuses on energy transition, the projected emission reductions also suggest co-benefits for improved air quality, especially in countries where coal or oil dominates the energy mix. Comparing these pathways highlights lessons for more effective policy design, the need for integrated instruments such as renewable subsidies and carbon pricing, and the importance of enhanced international cooperation. Overall, the research provides insights into how diverse national experiences can inform a just and sustainable energy future at the global level, with a focus on decarbonization pathways and their broader socio-economic implications. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106578_b0df8b10cca85cbed905093e7ce2290b.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Machine Learning Interpretability Methods to Delineate the Aerosol Formation in the Arabian Sea Near Kerala Coast 601 613 106581 10.22059/poll.2026.409240.3256 EN Sherin Babu Department of Computer Science, Assumption College Autonomous, Changanassery, Kottayam, Kerala, India Marina Aloysius Department of Physics, Assumption College Autonomous, Changanassery, Kottayam, Kerala, India Sana S Navas Department of Computer Science, Assumption College Autonomous, Changanassery, Kottayam, Kerala, India Binu Thomas Department of Computer Applications, Marian College, Kuttikanam, Idukki, Kerala, India Journal Article 2026 01 01 Atmospheric aerosols have a significant function in atmospheric systems and hence play a crucial role in climatic changes. Machine learning (ML) models are highly preferred for aerosol estimation because of their exceptional predictive capability. However, it is challenging to justify and understand the predictions made by these ML models. The purpose of this research is to show how model-agnostic interpretation methods - permutation feature importance (PFI) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) can be used to enhance and clarify machine learning model prediction of aerosols in the Arabian Sea region near the Kerala coast. Initially, the performance of 3 ML models, Polynomial regression, Bayesian ridge regression and Support Vector Regression (SVR) models are analyzed for estimating the aerosol optical depth (AOD). The study employed Pearson correlation to investigate the relationships between AOD and the various input features and to find the best features for building the ML models. Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Coefficient of Determination (R2) are the performance metrics used to assess these models' performance. Results indicated that SVR model (with R2 = 0.7933 and MSE = 0.0063) provided better predictive performance. Then the predictions of the most accurate model are explained by PFI and SHAP. The ML interpretability analysis showed that the main factors strongly associated with aerosol formation are aerosol radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere (ARF_TOA), radiative forcing at the surface of the atmosphere (ARF_SURF), sea salt and temperature profile at 250hPa.  https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106581_a7508268231194247dbe1e091ff52823.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Transformative Environmental Governance for Addressing Wicked Problems in the Iranian Context: Institutional and Policy Dynamics in Tehran 614 625 106580 10.22059/poll.2026.409102.3260 EN Amirali Boroumand Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 14178-53111, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Javad Amiri Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 14178-53111, Tehran, Iran Esmail Salehi Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 14178-53111, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2026 01 02 Air pollution in the Tehran megacity constitutes a persistent and politically contested environmental wicked problem in the Middle East, marked by uncertainty, multi-scalar causality, and entrenched institutional and political–economic lock-ins. Despite decades of regulatory reforms and technological upgrading, air quality outcomes remain unstable, revealing structural limitations of centralized, command-and-control governance. Fragmented sectoral mandates, weak inter-organizational coordination, selective enforcement, and limited collective learning capacity have constrained responses to the nonlinear and conflictual dynamics of urban pollution. This qualitative case study examines how a transformative environmental governance framework clarifies the institutional, cognitive, and relational conditions required to confront such intractable challenges under constrained political openness and asymmetric power relations. Drawing on systematic analysis of policy and legal documents, semi-structured interviews with governmental, municipal, scientific, and civil-society actors, and policy process tracing, the study reconstructs the evolution of Tehran’s air pollution regime. It identifies structural barriers, path dependencies, regime-stabilizing incentives, and power asymmetries that sustain policy inertia. Findings reveal four interdependent yet politically contingent leverage points: adaptive institutional redesign to strengthen cross-sectoral integration; multi-actor co-production across state, municipal, market, and civil domains; reflexive social learning to harmonize problem framings across scales; and anticipatory policy innovation grounded in foresight and precaution. However, these mechanisms remain fragile due to centralized authority, energy subsidy regimes, and protection of regime-affiliated economic interests. The article proposes a conditionally transferable model of transformative environmental governance, specifying enabling conditions and structurally reinforced failure dynamics, and outlining politically feasible strategies for metropolitan air quality reform in restrictive political contexts. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106580_fa66340115be955fc94da9c19129d173.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Spatio-temporal Variation and Driving Factors of PM2.5-O3 Compound Pollution in Anhui Province from 2015 to 2023 626 639 106582 10.22059/poll.2026.410244.3273 EN Jun Yan School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Shihan He School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Shi Yan School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China 0009-0000-6141-2496 Xuemei Yang School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Xiaoyong Liu School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China 0000-0001-9241-0282 Journal Article 2026 01 29 In order to explore the characteristics and driving factors of PM2.5 and O3 compound pollution in 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province, multidimensional statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and HYSPLIT model were used to analyze the cities in Anhui Province from 2015 to 2023. The results show that: From the spatial and temporal distribution, the cumulative occurrence of PM2.5-O3 compound pollution in cities of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2023 was 8-361 days, mainly concentrated in April-October, and the number of days of compound pollution in winter was the least. In Huaibei, Huainan, Suzhou, Bengbu, Chuzhou, Bozhou appear more frequently, Huangshan, Tongling, Xuancheng, Chizhou, Wuhu appear less frequently; The days of compound pollution were significantly positively correlated with PM2.5 and NO2, which are two key control parameters affecting the days of compound pollution; HYSPLIT model shows that the regional transmission in cities near Hefei also has an important impact on PM2.5-O3 compound pollution, mainly from the northeast. From 2015 to 2023 the fluctuation of PM2.5 concentration in Anhui province decreased and O3 concentration increased, and the synergistic relationship between the two became increasingly obvious, the meteorological data had a certain impact on the days of compound pollution. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106582_ad969bc8f781a2a9fa77b0db4d5f3fb3.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Mapping Pollution Vulnerability and Hotspots Associated with Tannery Risks in Mojo, Ethiopia 640 654 106579 10.22059/poll.2026.409043.3288 EN Kassaye Amosha Hulluka Department of Disaster Risk Management and Development, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Messay Mulugeta Tefera Center for Food Security Studies, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sitotaw Haile Erena Center for Food Security Studies, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tariku Dejene Demissie Center for Population and Gender Studies, School of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Journal Article 2026 02 08 Industrial tanning processes generate substantial hazardous waste, posing ongoing socio-economic and health risks to nearby communities. However, systematic methods for evaluating vulnerability to tannery-related pollution are lacking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study introduced the Tannery Pollution Vulnerability Index (TPVI) tailored to the tannery industry in Mojo, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 368 households purposively sampled from five villages found in Mojo Industry Town. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were employed to triangulate the study findings. Classifying village vulnerability using pollution indicators across social, economic, and health domains is a new approach. The TPVI was developed to compare, classify, and rank villages in terms of their vulnerability levels. The TPVI for each village was computed using an unequal weighting method for indicators. The Inverse Distance Weighting interpolation, numerical, and hotspot analysis further identify that the Mojo city villages. Accordingly, two villages, Kersa and Tafi Abo, were persistent hotspots for social and health risks, while Shara Dibandiba and Kuruma Fatole were economic-vulnerability hotspot villages. Meanwhile, Momo Shuki village consistently emerges as a resilient neutral spot. The study’s results confirm that tannery pollution significantly contributes to household vulnerabilities in Mojo Town. Hence, a Federal Environmental Protection Authority should consistently monitor the quality of the soil, water, and air. Strict enforcement of the plantation of fourth-level waste treatment facilities can significantly reduce economic and health risks. Policymakers should enforce industrial zoning regulations, improve environmental monitoring, and implement targeted health and livelihood interventions in identified vulnerability hotspots.  https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106579_297c86161a5694e076fe699e51a0367c.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Analyzing the Relationships Between Aerosol Optical Depth and Environmental Variables Using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model 655 667 106583 10.22059/poll.2026.411243.3295 EN Mahin Saedpanah Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, P.O. Box 416 Sanandaj, Iran Bubak Souri Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, P.O. Box 416 Sanandaj, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 15 This study aimed to investigate the effect of environmental variables on the distribution of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in Sanandaj County over a six-year period from 2019 to 2024 using a Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) Model. In order to analyze the relationships between AOD and the factors affecting it, five environmental variables including soil moisture, wind speed, NDVI, LST and rainfall were selected. The GTWR model was implemented using GTWR-Addins, a software package in ArcGIS software. To improve its performance, GTWR was compared with OLS, GWR and TWR in terms of goodness of fit and other statistical measures. The GTWR model was able to identify spatial and temporal heterogeneities simultaneously and had higher explanatory power (R²=0.80) than other models. The spatial and temporal coefficients obtained from this model showed that wind speed and LST have a positive and stable effect on AOD and are considered the most important increasing factors. Soil moisture and NDVI have variable spatio-temporal behavior and in most cases have a reducing effect on AOD. Rainfall has a small-scale and nonlinear effect that varies depending on the spatial pattern and intensity of precipitation. These findings demonstrate the high importance of environmental variables in controlling AOD dynamics and the necessity of simultaneously considering spatial and temporal dimensions in environmental modeling. For future studies, the GTWR model can be used to analyze the AOD impact coefficients at multiple spatial scales and add significant factors such as population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and road density. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106583_f8ba8e068475182b86d07256d5ee879b.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Post-Industrial Site-museum Design: A Discourse Between Industry and the Environment 668 684 106584 10.22059/poll.2026.411605.3303 EN Behrang Bahrami Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Firoozeh Agha Ebrahimi Samani Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Kimia Akhbari Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, P.O.Box 15847-43311, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 21 Post-industrial landscape is a valuable repository of past industrial ideas and activities of human societies. As cities have expanded spatially, these brownfields have become part of the ecosystemic structure of urban landscapes, appearing as silent, abandoned wounds. Based on modern approaches derived from international conventions, redevelopment of post-industrial landscapes is highly effective in ecosystemic sustainability of urban landscapes and planning for comprehensive urban conservation. Bani Hashem wood factory (abandoned since 1976) is located within a dilapidated urban fabric amidst vast gardens in Tehran District 4. Its spatial structure comprises workshop units, warehouses, residential fabric, and old gardens. Several sections of the factory contain diverse pollutants including chlorinated phenols, dibenzofurans, dioxins, furans, petroleum hydrocarbons and organic materials from fuel tank leakage and construction debris. Tangible and intangible heritage values and ecological structure of the vast grounds in the factory, highlight the necessity for comprehensive conservation and environmental remediation followed in the present study. The objectives of this study were: 1) transforming the site’s historical and natural values, damaged by contaminants, into environmental assets, 2) integrating the site with the urban landscape through the recovery of abandoned spaces, and 3) perpetuating the past industrial identity through industrial heritage preservation, environmental remediation, and conservation-oriented development in the form of a post-industrial site museum design. The innovation of this study lies in elucidating a methodology, presenting a conceptual model for analyzing post-industrial landscape layers, and formulating strategies for the site's environmental restoration in the form of a conservation plan for post-industrial site museum. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106584_1b0c08b165922c857563dabe9532b8b1.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Biogas Emissions and Renewable Energy Potential of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Case Study in Kashan, Iran 685 697 106594 10.22059/poll.2026.405717.3188 EN Fatemeh Mohammadzadehchali Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Amirhossein Ostovari Deylamani Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Ali Shirazi Karameh Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Amirhosein Ramezanpour Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Ayda Ghobbeh Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Pouya Paymard Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran Fatemeh Shirazi Karameh Faculty of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O.Box 14565114, Tehran, Iran 0009-0002-9056-1727 Journal Article 2025 11 06 Landfill gas from municipal solid waste is a climate liability and a renewable energy opportunity. In this study, methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and non-methane organic compound (NMOC) emissions from Kashan landfill, located in a semi-arid region of Iran, were estimated and simulated, and its electricity potential was determined. LandGEM, a U.S. EPA first-order model, was applied with data from Kashan landfill, taking into account waste characteristics and decay rate constant (k = 0.0268 yr⁻¹), decay L (L₀ = 191 m³ CH₄ Mg⁻¹ waste). Peak methane emission occurred one year after closing (2036), with a rate of 9.85 Gg.yr⁻¹ (~14.8×10⁶ m³ yr⁻¹). Total landfill gas generated is 3.50×10⁴ Mg.yr⁻¹ at the end of filling (2035). Assuming a gas collection efficiency of 60% and electricity efficiency of 33%, total electricity produced peaks at ~27.1 GWh.yr⁻¹ (~27,091 MWh.yr⁻¹). These results show that LFG collection and use should be a priority for semi-arid region MSW landfills with large percentages of organic waste. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106594_7f2abceb4b8adf8d7a96f8fe56fc04e8.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Lead-Zinc Mining in Iran and Its Soil Legacy: Potentially Toxic Elements and Implemented Remediation Strategies 698 714 106597 10.22059/poll.2026.411433.3298 EN Abdulmannan Rouhani Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, CZ-400 96 Czech Republic 0000-0002-1964-1970 Amir Hossein Dashtian Graduate of department of Environment, School of Natural Resources and Desert Studies, Yazd University, Daneshgah Boulevard, Safayieh, PO Box 89158-18411, Yazd, Iran, Iran Nader Sayedi Graduate of department of Environment, School of Natural Resources and Desert Studies, Yazd University, Daneshgah Boulevard, Safayieh, PO Box 89158-18411, Yazd, Iran, Iran Mohammad Reza Elmi Department of Environment, School of Natural Resources and Desert Studies, Yazd University, Daneshgah Boulevard, Safayieh, PO Box 89158-18411, Yazd, Iran Ghazwa Basma Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, CZ-400 96 Czech Republic Batoul Hamade Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, CZ-400 96 Czech Republic Karim Suhail Al Souki Department of Environmental Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, CZ-400 96 Czech Republic Journal Article 2026 02 17 Lead-zinc mining supports national economies but generates soil contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). This review synthesizes published evidence from Iranian lead-zinc regions, examines contamination trends, and discusses the remediation techniques employed. Across the reviewed Iranian studies, soils adjacent to mining operations commonly showed elevated Pb, Zn, and Cd, whereas As and Cu were reported less consistently and generally formed more localized hotspots that decreased with distance from source areas. Two principal transport mechanisms were prevalent: the wind-driven movement of fine tailings dust and the drainage from tailings and waste rock. These were influenced by the surrounding geology, with carbonate settings mitigating acidity but not reducing metal concentrations, while sulfide or shale environments promoted acid mine drainage and increased mobility. Four classes of remediation have been investigated. Among the remediation approaches reported in the reviewed literature, phytoremediation is predominantly utilized, with results frequently supporting phytostabilization using resilient native plants; however, genuine phytoextraction occurred rarely and is adapted to specific locations. Incorporating biochar (at approximately 1-3% w/w) reduced the mobility and bioavailability of of Pb, Zn, and Cd. Electrokinetic remediation was effective for fine-grained, saturated hotspots when electrolyte chemistry and pH fronts were controlled (e.g., citric-acid) and was best integrated into a treatment train. Biomineralization showed potential in calcareous settings, with laboratory evidence for carbonate co-precipitation/incorporation of Pb-Zn-Cd but still requires field validation and ammonium management. By matching treatments to site geochemistry and using standardized performance metrics, lead-zinc mine soils can be managed from hotspot control to durable, monitored risk reduction. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106597_ba3c9b2fdb1e533f7cb35157ac3bb28a.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Total mercury in Anuran livers by Direct Solids Analysis from a Historically Industrialized Region of Northern New York (2017) 715 721 106596 10.22059/poll.2026.409489.3266 EN Arianna Roeder-Fabos Environmental Studies. St. Lawrence University, Canton. NY. 13617 Dashiell Andrews Environmental Studies. St. Lawrence University, Canton. NY. 13617 Chemistry. St. Lawrence University, Canton. NY. 13617 Satchel Tool Environmental Studies. St. Lawrence University. Canton. NY 13617 Matthew Skeels Chemistry. St. Lawrence University, Canton. NY. 13617 Sara L Ashpole Environmental Studies. St. Lawrence University, Canton. NY. 13617 Journal Article 2026 01 06 Mercury is a highly toxic, naturally occurring element that can be readily absorbed and retained in humans and other organisms. Chemical disturbance, including heavy metal pollution, contributes to the global decline of amphibian species, which are uniquely sensitive to aquatic chemical contaminants due to their highly permeable skin and life history traits. This experiment utilized a Leco AMA254 direct mercury analyzer to quantitatively determine the mercury concentration in the livers of 22 frogs [N = 6 Green frog (Lithobates clamitans), N = 5 Northern Leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens), and N =7 American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)] collected in St. Lawrence County, NY, by direct solids analysis. All the livers were found to have elevated mercury levels, some as high as 554.7 μg/kg dry mercury concentration, and none lower than 53.1μg/kg. This experiment reveals the implications of coal-burning and atmospheric mercury deposition as potential contributors to global amphibian decline.  Continued industrial and agricultural activity in the region underscores the need for further research to quantify the extent of methylmercury contamination in amphibians and its ecological impacts in Northern New York and beyond.  https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106596_fa23112729ee9aebd563b0c82cb337d2.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 The World Environmental Data Organization (WEDO): A Treaty-Based Governance Framework for Global Environmental Information 722 731 106923 10.22059/poll.2026.106923 EN Salah Al-Mahdouri Senior Wildlife Management Specialist, Environment Authority, Sultanate of Oman Journal Article 2026 05 16 Environmental data, which span climate, biodiversity, pollution, and natural resources, are currently fragmented across thousands of incompatible repositories, governed by inconsistent standards, and denied legal recognition as tradable or financially actionable assets. No existing international institution possesses the mandate — legal, technical, or financial — to unify, certify, and govern these data at a global scale. This institutional void impedes effective climate action, undermines the credibility of corporate sustainability claims, and systematically fails to protect indigenous data sovereignty. This paper proposes the establishment of the World Environmental Data Organization (WEDO), a new intergovernmental body created by a standalone treaty. WEDO would harmonize environmental data definitions across domains, operate an open federated digital infrastructure, benchmark the governance maturity of data stewards, and enforce binding ethical data sovereignty protocols. Uniquely, it would also certify environmental data as a tradable asset integrated with ISO standards. Headquartered in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman, and capitalized through a public–private funding alliance, WEDO addresses the constitutional gap that perpetuates fragmentation in global environmental data governance. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_106923_804682c64e7cabe83e6b5ffd780fa0b3.pdf

University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 12 2 2026 05 01 Comparison of GO/CdNPs and GO/CuNPs Nanocomposites for CO Gas Sensing at 200 °C 732 750 107132 10.22059/poll.2026.413790.3326 EN Ibrahim Hammadi Frhan Ministry of Education, Directorate of Anbar Education, Karma Education Department, Karma Preparatory School for Boys, Anbar, Iraq. Journal Article 2026 05 05   The thickness of the nanocomposite films used is 22 and their area is 50 micrometers. The concentration of CO gas used is 20 ppm, proportional to the weight of the nanosensor (0.02%). The plasma technique was used to prepare the (CdNPs) and (CuNPs) nano-metals. The response time for CdNPs was 13.5s at 25°C, 22.5s at 100°C, and 19.8s at 200°C. For CuNPs, the response time was 24.7s at 25°C, 24.7s at 100°C, and 23.4s at 200°C. The FAAS method was used to identify these nanometals and determine their concentrations. Additionally, FTIR, UV-Vs, FESEM, EDX, and XRD methods were used to diagnose it. Additionally, a nanocomposite of oxide and nanometals with a mixing ratio of 10:1:1 is created by preparing graphene oxide using the Hummer process. The (GO/CdNPs) nanocomposite was tested for gaseous sensitivity to CO gas in comparison to the (GO/CuNPs) nanocomposite, and the results showed good sensitivity to the gas. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_107132_cd39aa3869b6536cc807ff00efa262c8.pdf