Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, poses an increasing threat to aquaculture systems because of its detrimental effects on fish health-related physiological traits. The current study investigated the prospective use of Phoenix dactylifera seed biochar (PDB) to reduce the various hazardous effects triggered by BaP toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). For 30 days, fish were randomly assigned to five groups: control, acetone, PDB, BaP, and PDB+BaP. The outcomes clarified that BaP exposure caused a marked reduction in fish survival and induced hematological impairments. In addition, a suppression of immuno-antioxidant responses and acetylcholinesterase activity, along with an elevation of malondialdehyde, cortisol, and glucose concentrations, were observed following BaP exposure. Moreover, the BaP group revealed hepato-renal dysfunctions and histopathological changes in gill, liver, brain, and muscular tissues as well as downregulation of immune-related genes (interferon-alpha and interleukin-10). Furthermore, upregulation of the apoptotic gene (caspase−3), higher residual levels, and a lower survival rate following an Aeromonas hydrophila challenge were found in the BaP-exposed fish. Co-treatment with PDB ameliorated most of the alterations induced by BaP, which was accompanied by enhanced survival, improved tissue architecture, and decreased BaP residues. Following the A. hydrophila challenge, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a noticeable numerical improvement in the cumulative survival probability of the PDB+BaP group compared to the BaP-exposed group, although the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the outputs of this investigation highlight the practical value of PDB as a promising, low-cost, adsorbent-based strategy for protecting Nile tilapia from BaP contamination, thereby supporting healthier and more resilient aquaculture production systems.
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to ensure a status with sufficient good-quality water to sustain ecosystems and drinking water production. Water quality is, however, affected by complex mixtures of polluting substances, whose combined effects are poorly captured by traditional single-compound monitoring. This limits our ability to characterize ecological and human health risks and hampers effective water quality management. We developed and applied the Key Factor Toxicity (KFTox) tool, integrating two complementary approaches for chemical water quality assessment: a Chemistry Track and a Bioassay Track. The Chemistry Track calculates mixture toxic pressures using Species Sensitivity Distributions and mixture modelling, resulting in multi-substance potentially affected fractions of species. The Bioassay Track measures biological activities in water samples using a comprehensive panel of bioassays, benchmarked against effect-based trigger values relevant to ecological and human health. Both tracks use colour-coded impact-related pollution classes to support interpretation by water quality authorities. A nine-month case study applied the KFTox tool to samples from surface water abstraction points, process water, and produced drinking water. The Chemistry Track indicated low toxic pressure from over 500 monitored substances, with metals and nutrients contributing most. The Bioassay Track applied bioassays measuring general toxicity, endocrine disruption, reactive modes of action (induction of oxidative stress response and genotoxicity), and xenobiotic metabolism. The latter revealed multiple activities exceeding trigger values, highlighting potential risks. The selected bioassays proved relevant for water quality assessment and provided information complementary to the Chemistry Track. Differences between both tracks illustrated the importance of combining approaches to detect unmonitored compounds and mixture effects. The KFTox tool provides an integrated and practice-oriented approach for assessing chemical water quality and prioritizing mitigation measures. This aligns with the objectives of the WFD and its latest amendment, encouraging the development of quantitative methods for chemical pollution assessment.
The frequency and intensity of storms are influenced by climate change. That will lead to more dangerous disasters that will reach additional parts of the world, claim human lives, destroy environmental niches, reduce biodiversity, and cause enormous economic costs. Assessing, preparing for, and understanding what lies ahead is essential for all stakeholders, but it is also challenging, as many uncertainties remain. To enable better planning, financing, and research, this study aims to provide relevant scientific background information on previous scientific efforts and on what should be done and by whom. Most publications deal with tropical cyclones. In addition to the principal scientific players, the USA and China, several European countries are particularly involved in research into storms related to climate change (SCC). Australia and New Zealand are at the top of the socioeconomic indicator rankings. Measured by the number of SCC articles per storm-related death, Israel leads. These countries have their own regional interests in SCC, but tropical cyclone disasters in the USA have the greatest impact on the global scientific landscape. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 significantly increased the number of publications on SCC, and Hurricanes Sandy and Harvey further increased it. Various research approaches are already being brought together internationally in scientific networks, particularly for modeling and simulating storm behavior under changing climatic conditions. However, there is an urgent need for globally supported regional programs and strategies to address and anticipate future storm-related disasters. These efforts should continue to be underpinned by scientific evidence, particularly considering the interconnectedness and vulnerability of severely affected low-income countries.
Abstract This study develops a high-renewable hybrid microgrid integrating solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), and grid interaction for a university campus, with a distinctive focus on lifecycle emission performance. Using HOMER Pro-based optimization, the system achieves a low cost of energy (COE), that is, the average cost of producing one kilowatt-hour of electricity over the project lifetime, of $0.0218/kWh, together with a net present cost (NPC) of $523,143, an operating cost of $3,624/year, and a renewable fraction of 81.7%. The configuration reduces direct annual CO₂ emissions to 185,854 kg, corresponding to a 74.13% reduction compared to conventional grid-dominated supply. Beyond conventional techno-economic analysis, this work advances a cradle-to-grave lifecycle emission assessment. On a gross basis, counting embodied and operational emissions, the lifecycle emission intensity falls from 620 to 264.9 g CO₂-eq/kWh, a 57.3% reduction relative to the grid-only base case. When the renewable electricity exported to the grid under net metering is credited as avoided emissions, the net lifecycle intensity reaches 4.53 g CO₂-eq/kWh, corresponding to a 99.3% reduction, with embodied emissions recovered within 3.5 years. Both perspectives are reported to bound the environmental performance, and the sensitivity of the net benefit to progressive grid decarbonization is examined explicitly. Sensitivity analysis incorporating both meteorological and economic parameters confirms the robustness of the proposed design under uncertain conditions. The findings demonstrate that integrating lifecycle assessment with microgrid optimization provides a more comprehensive framework for sustainable energy planning, offering a scalable pathway toward ultra-low-emission campus electrification.
Lead is one of the most lethal heavy metals that induce oxidative stress, organ damage, and developmental abnormalities in all living systems. The objective of this study is to assess the phyto-therapeutic potential of Cissus quadrangularis aqueous extract in mitigating lead-induced toxicity in Danio rerio. GC–MS analysis revealed 22 bioactive compounds, belong to fatty acids/lipid derivatives. The pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds are analysed and molecular docking was performed with oxidative stress-related proteins. The DPPH free radical scavenging assay demonstrated significant concentration-dependent antioxidant properties of the Cissus quadrangularisaqueous extract. Pharmacokinetic profiling of CQ extract exhibited an extended half-life of 568 min. In zebrafish embryos, lead caused dose-dependent deformities, including spinal deformity, yolk sac edema and increased mortality. Co-treatment with Cissus quadrangularis extract significantly inhibited the deformities caused by lead exposure. Cissus quadrangularis-treated adults showed a reduced necrosis and complete recovery from tissue damage in the brain and liver, as evidenced by histopathological analysis. Lead bioaccumulation decreased with increasing concentrations of Cissus quadrangularis treatment, as demonstrated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Overall, the results suggest that Cissus quadrangularis aqueous extract act as prospective natural agent for mitigating lead-induced oxidative and tissue damage, warranting additional biomedical investigations.
The Tajogaite volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands,Spain) first erupted on 19 September 2021, and remained active for 85 days, leading to the emergency evacuation of approximately 7,000 people (out of a total island population of approximately 84,000). To determine the impact of the Tajogaite volcanic eruption on the use of health care services during and after the eruption in an exposed and unexposed adult population, as well as its impact on quality of life and anxiolytic medication use. Ambispective cohort study. Healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 70 with no previous respiratory diseases were included and classified into three groups according to their level of exposure: highly exposed, moderately exposed and unexposed. The frequency of visits to health services during and after the eruption, the reasons for medical consultation and the consumption of anxiolytics were analyzed. In addition, perceived quality of life was assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire. A total of 472 participants were included. During the eruption, 37.5
In a context of increasing economic volatility and recurrent policy adjustments, economic policy uncertainty (EPU) has intensified, raising questions about its impact on environmental sustainability. This study investigates how EPU reshapes the relationship between economic growth and environmental quality in 16 OECD economies during 1995–2021, incorporating the mediating role of environmental policy stringency (EPS) and green energy (GE) within a theoretical framework based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve. Complementary panel techniques, such as Pooled OLS, FGLS, and System GMM, are used to control for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and time dynamics. The results show that EPU significantly reduces the ecological footprint, indicating that, in contexts of high institutional quality, uncertainty can be associated with environmental improvements. This effect is not direct but operates through institutional and technological channels, by strengthening environmental regulation and reallocating investment toward clean technologies. Furthermore, the existence of an inverted U-shaped ecological footprint (EKC) and an inertial component is confirmed, while economic globalization contributes to its reduction, whereas environmental taxes are not individually significant. Robustness analyses, including Lewbel-type instruments and alternative measures of variables such as the load capacity factor, as well as the findings themselves, confirm the stability of the results. Overall, the findings indicate that the environmental impact of uncertainty is associated with institutional quality and technological development, suggesting that policies aimed at strengthening environmental regulation and promoting the energy transition can channel their effects toward improved environmental sustainability.
Previous studies remain controversial regarding the relationship between Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and blood lipids, and the toxicological mechanisms are poorly studied. This research focused on exploring the relationships and underlying mechanisms through which PFAS exposure leads to dyslipidemia in the adults. We analyzed data from 9,781 adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003 to 2020. Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models were employed to assess the correlations between PFAS mixtures and lipid parameters, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Sex-stratified multivariable regression models were constructed to assess potential sex-specific variations. Toxicogenomic data mining and Molecular docking were used to identify the molecular pathways linking PFAS exposure to lipid metabolism alterations. Epidemiological investigations have shown that an increase in PFAS mixture concentration in the general population is significantly correlated with an increase in LDL, TC, and TG levels, as well as a decrease in HDL levels. In the sex-stratified analysis, PFAS exposure was negatively correlated with HDL in males and positively correlated with HDL in females; however, no significant sex differences were detected in LDL, TC, or TG levels. Toxicogenomic data mining shows that genes such as apolipoprotein E (APOE) may be closely related to PFAS exposure and dyslipidemia, and pathways such as the peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway play important roles in this process. This study indicate that PFAS exposure is associated with sex-specific modifications in lipid profiles, potentially implicating lipid metabolism pathways. These results underscore the necessity for further investigation into the mechanisms underlying PFAS-induced dyslipidemia and the development of appropriate interventions.
Biopesticides often face limitations in agriculture due to poor solubility, photodegradation, and environmental loss. This study developed calcium-crosslinked sodium alginate–lignosulfonate beads for sustained curcumin delivery and evaluated the effect of crosslinking duration. SEM showed that increasing crosslinking time produced denser bead structures, reducing diffusion and release. FTIR confirmed hydrogen bonding, XRD indicated loss of curcumin crystallinity, and DSC–TGA demonstrated modified thermal stability. Entrapment efficiency reached 100
This study demonstrates that long-range transport (LRT) is a major driver of episodic PM2.5 pollution in Korea. A distinct transboundary event, Firework–LRT (February 10–15, 2024), during the Lunar New Year in China, markedly elevated PM2.5 mass and oxidative potential (OP). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis indicated that firework-related aerosols contributed 16.6 ± 7.0 μg m−3 (38
Abstract Agricultural droughts in many humid regions such as Southern Germany are projected to become more frequent and severe, leading to a substantial rise in irrigation demand to secure crop production. As a result, irrigation is becoming an increasingly important factor in agricultural production, and operational and regulatory decision-makers are relying more on data on site-specific yield responses to severe drought, especially as spatial soil heterogeneity leads to pronounced yield variability. Statistical crop yield models are commonly used to predict yield responses to drought; however, their calibration is often based on aggregated yield data, which can bias predictions of site-specific yield responses. Reported aggregated yield data for drought years are difficult to interpret because it is unclear whether crops were irrigated and to what extent. The aim of this study is to introduce a methodological approach to forecast agro-economic impacts of increasing drought frequency, using site-specific soil properties, meteorological data and yield observations from past drought years to assess potential impacts of future consecutive drought events. High drought frequencies are represented by repeatedly applying the severe drought conditions of 2003 over time. The process-based hydrological model RoGeR was coupled with a linear mixed-effects model, combining simulated soil moisture data with spatially corresponding observed yield data from post-registration variety trials (Landessortenversuche) in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Yield data from the variety trials are characterized by standardized management practices, particularly with respect to irrigation. We demonstrate the proposed approach in a case study in Southern Germany by forecasting yields under rainfed and irrigation scenarios as well as irrigation volumes for major arable crops and representative soils for the period 2000–2024. The results showed that both yield losses and irrigation-induced yield gains during drought vary significantly between crops and across sites and are associated with substantial differences in irrigation volumes and the number of irrigation events, which in turn affect the profitability of irrigation investments. The findings confirm that site-specific modelling of yield effects is essential for evaluating the profitability of irrigation investments. Our approach provides the necessary data basis and can be applied across spatial scales.
Abstract Carbon farming has become an increasingly prominent concept in European climate and agricultural policy, particularly in the context of efforts to strengthen carbon removals from the land sector. In parallel, the European Union adopted the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) in 2024, adding a new certification-based governance layer to an already dense landscape of public agricultural support instruments and diverse private initiatives. This article examines how this evolving policy field is perceived by national experts across eight EU Member States. Drawing on expert survey data collected in 2023, we analyse expert perceptions of carbon farming relevance, the potential and barriers of different practices, the status of monitoring, reporting and verification, and expectations regarding private initiatives. The results indicate that carbon-farming-related practices are currently supported mainly through existing CAP instruments rather than through coherent stand-alone carbon-farming strategies, and that inventory visibility of these measures remains limited and highly heterogeneous across countries. We interpret these patterns as indications of policy layering, in which new governance instruments are being added to established agricultural and climate policy architectures, without changing the existing policy structure. The type of layering varies by dimension: while some complementarities between CAP and CRCF incentives for farmers exist, the absence of reliable demand structures for CRCF credits and structural incompatibilities between CRCF certification and national climate accounting systems point towards an inefficient outcome and counter-productive layering, respectively. Unless these challenges are addressed, the CRCF risks remaining a layered instrument without real integration into national policy frameworks and with low climate impact.
Data accessibility and exchange are current key topics in the exploitation of the enormous potential of non-target screening (NTS) for surface water monitoring, especially when monitoring water bodies crossing jurisdictional boundaries. So far, major challenges stem from (1) the size of NTS raw measurement files, (2) the diverse array of instrumental and computational methods, and (3) a need for continuous reprocessing of measurement files as spectral libraries grow. Pre-processing workflows connected to databases and online dashboards are one crucial way to address these challenges and provide direct access to monitoring data. The NTSPortal is a data assessment dashboard and repository for pre-processed and annotated NTS data for online access by users in the fields of analytical chemistry and environmental management. It provides both a graphical interface for search and visualization and a programming interface for integration into tailored data science workflows. We present the functionality using data from over 12,000 measurements from over 300 sampling sites within Germany analyzed with a uniform method over the course of 7 years. Using a collaborative spectral library, over 1000 compounds were identified via library screening, including pharmaceuticals, synthesis intermediates, and transformation products. We report performance figures and several use-cases demonstrating (a) searching for multiple substances and retrieving an overview of their detections in different matrices, (b) selecting a substance based on long-term intensity trends and visualizing time series, and (c) searching for substances with an isolated spatial occurrence pattern. The programming interface is demonstrated by implementing a time-series analysis script to search for discontinuous emission patterns. The highly automated pre-processing workflow for library screening allows much of the “heavy lifting” in NTS data processing to be off-loaded, enabling the environmental manager to focus on data analysis. The proposed system is open source and institutional access to the database can be made available upon request. The database has a flexible schema geared towards surface water monitoring but can be adapted to different needs. Further development of the system is underway, including the integration of unknown non-target features (without a library match), different instrumental analytical methods and concentration estimates.
On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published proposal COM(2025) 1030 within the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus, aiming to amend Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 on plant protection products and Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 on biocidal products. The proposal converts the current time-limited approvals of pesticide and biocide active substances (typically 10 to 15 years, followed by mandatory renewal) into time-unlimited approvals by default, replacing periodic reassessment with a reactive, case-triggered review mechanism initiated at the Commission's discretion. This paper sets out the proposed amendments, surveys the positions taken by the principal stakeholder groups (EU institutions, industry associations, farming organisations, civil society, and the scientific community), and finally presents our own analysis. The Commission justifies the suggested changes largely with the removal of administrative inefficiency. Industry and farming organisations broadly endorse this perspective, whereas civil society organisations oppose the proposal as a weakening of public safety and a disregard of environmental concerns. We find the Commission's justifications insufficient. The proposal was adopted without a full impact assessment and without a public consultation, and the Commission's claim that "no viable alternatives" exist disregards the obvious options of extending renewal periods, leveraging the One Substance, One Assessment framework, or reforming the Biocide Review Programme. Substantively, unlimited approval freezes the evidence base at the date of each substance's most recent evaluation, which for many active substances predates the 2018 endocrine disruption criteria, the 2023 EFSA bee guidance, and ongoing revisions of aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology guidance. It also removes the self-selection mechanism through which industry currently withdraws substances expected to fail renewal, which might hamper marked access for innovative solutions. Finally, the proposal introduces legal uncertainty through the deemed mutual recognition between Member States. The replacement of periodic review by Commission-triggered reassessment makes regulatory action dependent on political will and on the monitoring capacity of under-resourced agencies, neither of which past practice gives reason to consider sufficient. A further structural consequence, not assessed by the Commission, is the displacement of scientific disputes from administrative procedure to judicial review.
Wastewater occupies a critical nexus at the confluence of human activity, environmental change, and microbial evolution. This review synthesizes the emerging role of wastewater as a mirror of community health and a driver of microbial and resistome restructuring across environmental compartments. Wastewater systems harbor diverse biological and chemical markers, including pathogens, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), pharmaceuticals, and nutrients, reflecting dynamic population health, agricultural practices, and socioeconomic activities. Advanced metagenomic approaches reveal that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are global hotspots for the selection and spread of resistant bacteria, mobile genetic elements, and opportunistic pathogens, even after secondary or tertiary treatment. The reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation and other applications enhances water security and can support soil fertility and crop production, but it also distributes dense microbial communities and antimicrobial resistance determinants into soils, crops, and food animal microbiomes. These resistome shifts create interconnected One Health consequences by influencing food safety, livestock health, and human infection risk, with knock‑on effects on agricultural productivity and trade. Metagenomic wastewater surveillance offers a pooled, early‑warning view of antimicrobial resistance trends that complement conventional clinical monitoring and reveal environmental transmission pathways that are otherwise difficult to capture. However, current policies and reuse guidelines only partially integrate resistome information, leaving critical gaps in risk management for reclaimed water, agricultural systems, and downstream populations. This review advocates multi-faceted actions: optimizing WWTP operations and effluent quality; guiding agricultural and livestock practices using reclaimed-water profiles; implementing robust microbiome and resistome surveillance; and harmonizing policy frameworks at local and global scales. Collaborative efforts are needed to transform wastewater from a source of risk into a strategic resource for resilient agriculture, sustainable water management, and global public health in the face of escalating water scarcity and antimicrobial resistance. By bringing together mechanistic microbiome insights, evidence from risk‑assessment studies, and policy‑oriented analyses, this synthesis highlights wastewater’s pivotal role in shaping environmental microbiomes and resilience within rapidly changing socioecological systems.
Pesticides and microplastics (MPs) are contaminants that coexist in agricultural soils; however, little is known about pesticide dynamics in the presence of MPs. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the environmental behavior of 14C-diflubenzuron, 14C-fluazinam, and 14C-metribuzin under the influence of MPs in a tropical soil. The results showed that, at MPs concentrations of 1 and 4
This study investigates the determinants of plastic waste recycling rates in OECD countries from 2001 to 2023, focusing on the roles of education, waste management investment, environmental policy stringency, tourism intensity, and trade openness. Using a Pooled Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) model and panel cointegration techniques, the research analyses data from 20 OECD member countries to assess both short-term and long-term impacts. The results reveal that higher education levels and increased investment in waste management significantly boost recycling rates, underscoring the importance of public awareness and infrastructure. Stricter environmental policies also have a positive influence on recycling, highlighting the role of regulatory frameworks. Conversely, tourism intensity negatively affects recycling due to seasonal waste surges. In contrast, trade openness has a positive impact, likely due to the transfer of technology and the adoption of global best practices. Causality tests confirm unidirectional relationships, validating the model’s robustness. These findings provide policymakers with actionable insights for designing multi-dimensional strategies to enhance recycling rates, such as integrating education campaigns, increasing infrastructure funding, and implementing targeted waste management policies for high-tourism areas. The study contributes to the transition toward a circular economy while identifying gaps for future research, including sub-national analyses and the role of digital technologies in waste management.
Abstract Environmental permitting is a critical regulatory mechanism for ensuring that industrial and infrastructure projects comply with environmental protection requirements and broader sustainability goals. In Sweden, however, the permitting process remains slow, fragmented, and heavily dependent on document-based workflows, despite the fact that many permitting decisions rely on inherently spatial information such as protected areas, hydrology, biodiversity, land-use constraints, and environmental monitoring data. At the same time, recent national reform proposals (SOU 2024:98) emphasise the need for improved digitalisation, interoperability, and more structured use of environmental information in permitting procedures. This paper presents a conceptual GIS-integrated framework for environmental permitting, using the Swedish system as a case study. The study combines a structured literature review, document analysis, workflow analysis, and geodata inventory to identify spatial data requirements across different stages of the permitting process and to analyse fragmentation within the current geodata ecosystem. Based on this analysis, the paper proposes a GIS-enabled permitting architecture linking spatial datasets, geospatial analysis functions, and regulatory decision points throughout the permitting workflow. The framework is further supported through expert-based plausibility validation involving GIS and spatial-data specialists representing applicant-side, municipal, and international geospatial perspectives. The analysis and expert interviews suggest that GIS already plays an important role in environmental assessment and planning processes but remains insufficiently integrated into formal permitting workflows, where spatial information is often reduced to static map attachments and PDF documents. The analysis also highlights key implementation challenges related to fragmented data governance, interoperability, metadata quality, and access to authoritative spatial services. Rather than proposing a fully implemented system, the paper contributes a conceptual and methodological foundation for future digital permitting architectures. The study proposes that GIS could function as a foundational integration layer with the potential to support more transparent, efficient, and interoperable permitting workflows, while also supporting future extensions involving AI-based decision support, knowledge graphs, and spatially enabled environmental compliance monitoring.
The authorisation of current-use pesticides (CUPs) is based on standardised datasets that only partly reflect field conditions. Drift and dissipation are key processes determining the environmental presence of CUPs, yet field-based evidence of their fate is limited. This study aimed to provide best-case real-world drift and dissipation values after simultaneous application of one insecticide (pirimicarb) and three fungicides (bixafen, fluopyram and prothioconazole) in winter cereal fields. Application was performed under agricultural best practices, including the use of 90
Regrettable substitution, which involves the replacement of a hazardous chemical with an alternative that later proves equally harmful or introduces new risks, remains an ongoing significant challenge for chemical regulation. As regulatory frameworks such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and the Stockholm Convention increasingly drive transitions away from the use of hazardous substances, the need to prevent regrettable substitution has become central to effective chemicals management. This study examines how regrettable substitution can be prevented through deliberate regulatory design and implementation. Using REACH and the Stockholm Convention as case studies, we performed a qualitative study involving interviews and document analysis. Reflexive thematic analysis generated interconnected themes that collectively identify how regulatory frameworks can potentially prevent regrettable substitution. These include improving the reliability, completeness, and transparency of regulatory data to support informed substitution; using incentives and structured regulatory support to promote innovation in safe(r) alternatives; establishing coherent and coordinated regulatory approaches that reduce fragmentation; strengthening partnerships among regulators, industry, and scientific actors to enhance information flow; adopting proactive and precautionary regulatory strategies, including early screening; and reinforcing compliance through enhanced monitoring and enforcement. The findings demonstrate that regrettable substitution is not merely a scientific or technical failure but a systemic and operational regulatory issue arising from late hazard identification, incomplete exposure and performance information, siloed regulatory structures, and uneven innovation incentives. The study concludes that preventing regrettable substitution requires regulatory frameworks that are anticipatory, integrated, transparent, and adaptive that can actively steer the substitution process toward genuinely safe(r) and sustainable chemical solutions.
