Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts
Formerly the Journal of Environmental Monitoring. We aim to make ES:P&I a catalyst for the discussion and exchange of ideas and information on complex environmental issues by significantly advancing our understanding of environmental hazards, processes, and impacts, and offer solutions to today's and future problems.
- Print ISSN:
- ISSN 2050-7887
- On-Line ISSN:
- ISSN 2050-7895
- Launch:
- Jan. 2013
Scope and Standards
The scope of ES:P&I covers an extensive set of subject areas; theoretical, fundamental and applied papers are welcome on the areas detailed below:
Source, Transport and Fate
This section considers the identification of and mechanisms for source, movement and distribution of environmentally important compounds and contaminants in environmental matrices. Biological and non-biological particles, gases, vapours, elemental and compound chemicals are present in the environment to differing extents. Their extent and relevance to human and natural environments should be the focus of papers dealing with these issues. Emerging contaminants, their sources and the processes distributing these compounds into the environment should also be scrutinised.
A few of the relevant questions that should be answered in papers are: do any of these compounds occur together? What are the rates of decomposition or transformation of compounds? How stable are these compounds? Can the contribution of each contaminant be apportioned to particular sources? Has the contaminant caused damage at the affected site (cause-effect relationship)? As contaminants degrade at different rates, the chemical signature will change over time, what is the effect of this `aging` and how does this allow better understanding? What is the ultimate fate of environmental contaminants? Where are they most stable and why? What is the potential for further transportation? How do compounds partition into environmental media and can this process be modified? Ultimately, answering these questions will have implications for exposure and consequently measures that need to be taken to minimise exposure through source identification and apportionment.
Topics in this section include: emerging contaminants; source characterisation; biotransformation; chemical/physical transformation; presence and activity of metabolites; soil and aquatic science; metal speciation; atmospheric science; and climate change.
Exposure and Impacts
Given that the environment has natural, rural and urban components including homes and workplaces, what is the toxicological significance of emerging contaminants and other compounds in the environment? How is that going to be determined? What is the correlation between the presence of compounds in environmental matrices or habitats and their presence in organisms? What is the cumulative potential of contaminants? Do contaminants affect reproductive capacity? It is also important to characterise the modes of action of contaminants. What is the toxicological effect of persistent low level/high level exposure? Of special interest low level medium and long term exposure to such compounds.
Topics in this section include: human and ecotoxicology; biological impact of nanoparticles in the environment; microbial resistance to antibiotics; environmental biology; endocrine disruption; environmental epigenetics; environmental and occupational health; food safety, environmental biotechnology, remediation.
Policy and Legislation
Policy and legislation can and should be driven by good science. It is therefore desirable to consider what the policy or legislative implications of your research might be. These should be included and linked to existing legislation, if possible.
(a) This will allow a true gauge of the impact of the research and what consideration the authors have given the work. In essence it can act as a critique of the authors` own work. Authors should consider the consequences of policy directives and legislation in tandem with the significance of the study.
(b) Evaluation of current legislation, closing loopholes, reassessing data with hindsight.
Topics in this section include: quality assurance and control; legislative issues and guidelines; remediation; environmental data interpretation; environmental regulation.
Novel Analytical Tools and Measurement Technologies
A broad range of analytical tools and measurement technologies are needed to facilitate understanding of the above areas. Novel analytical technologies as applied to environmental issues are of particular interest. Papers with significant components of analytical data or measurements should provide the environmental relevance of such data, their implications and what they can predict.
These topics include recent developments in sampling technologies, neural networks, smart sensor technologies and signal capture and enhancement technologies. Others are multiplexed sensing, miniaturization technologies, intelligent packaging for continuous monitoring, novel materials with environmental applications and remediation processes.
Sustainable Solutions and Technologies (Resource management)
ES:P&I offers a unique opportunity for authors to cross the boundary into issues associated with green and sustainable science. Most papers address issues concerned with the role of contaminants in pollution, health and exposure; we encourage authors to go that step further and suggest how the effects of these contaminants can be negated or reduced by addressing alternative more sustainable or greener strategies at the sources of these contaminants by developing an alternative technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment.
Therefore submissions on all aspects of research and policy relating to this endeavour are welcome. We hope to provide a unique integrated forum for the publication of original environmental research that addresses `green` issues as well as those normally within the remit of environmental journals.
For example:
- The application of innovative technology to establish industrial procedures
- The use of sustainable resources (e.g. water)
- Methodologies and tools for measuring environmental impact
- Chemical aspects of renewable energy
Such strategies should aim to solve the following problems:
- Destroying ecosystems for energy production (e.g. gulf of Mexico)
- Land use technologies (sustainable food production/energy/grazing)
- Energy crops, desalination technologies
- Pharma/cosmetics removal from water (nano)
- Pollution prevention, (e.g. non-burning plastics)
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