Novel entities may pose risks to humans and the environment. The small particle size and relatively large surface area of micro- and nanoparticles (MNPs) make them capable of adsorbing other novel... Show moreNovel entities may pose risks to humans and the environment. The small particle size and relatively large surface area of micro- and nanoparticles (MNPs) make them capable of adsorbing other novel entities, leading to the formation of aggregated contamination. In this dissertation, we utilized advanced computational methods, such as molecular simulation, data mining, machine learning, and quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling. These methods were used to investigate the mechanisms of interaction between MNPs and other novel entities, the joint toxic action of MNPs and other novel entities, the factors affecting their joint toxicity to ecological species, as well as to quantitatively predict the interaction forces between MNPs and other novel entities, and the toxicity of their mixtures. The results indicate that understanding the mechanisms of interactions between novel entities and their modes of joint toxic action can provide an important theoretical basis for establishing effective risk assessment procedures to mitigate the effects of novel entities on ecosystems and human health. Furthermore, this dissertation provides important technical support and a practical basis for the quantitative prediction of the environmental behavior and toxicological effects of novel entities and their mixtures by applying various advanced in silico methods individually or in combination. Show less
This thesis pioneers diatom molecular identification and quantification through genome-scale methods, with four key aims: (i) reviewing DNA/RNA sequencing methods in aquatic biomonitoring to... Show moreThis thesis pioneers diatom molecular identification and quantification through genome-scale methods, with four key aims: (i) reviewing DNA/RNA sequencing methods in aquatic biomonitoring to highlight their strengths and limitations; (ii) unraveling the evolutionary history of Nitzschia palea and investigating species delimitation within the species complex; (iii) identifying silica genes in N. palea for insights into ecology and evolution; and (iv) assessing a genome-scale quantification method for diatom biomonitoring to improve accuracy and scalability in estimating abundances. The review (Chapter 2) emphasizes disparities between molecular and morphology-based approaches and introduces the challenges in accurately estimating species abundances. Chapter 3 explores N. palea's evolutionary history using transcriptome data and reveals reticulate evolutionary patterns resulting in a putative hybrid between populations with different morphological characteristics. Chapter 4 pinpoints silica genes in N. palea and reveals variations among different populations that may lead to differences in silica metabolism. Chapter 5 introduces a genome-scale quantification approach that provides a promising alternative for molecular diatom biomonitoring due to its improved taxonomic resolution and quantification accuracy. In summary, this thesis underscores that genome-scale methods' have a critical role in diatom identification and quantification, and in advancing our understanding of microalgal taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. Show less
To contribute to the body of knowledge aiming at a better coverage of ecosystem service assessment in LCA studies, this thesis dives into the challenges of incorporating existing ecosystem service... Show moreTo contribute to the body of knowledge aiming at a better coverage of ecosystem service assessment in LCA studies, this thesis dives into the challenges of incorporating existing ecosystem service methods within the impact assessment phase of the conventional LCA framework. Through this thesis, we present an overview of ecosystem service categories that could represent an optimal coverage for their inclusion in LCA, and provide a clear example on how to overcome the challenges of characterizing key environmental impacts that are otherwise missing or misrepresented in LCA results and that influence the quality and supply of ecosystem services. We demonstrate the approach proposed with the development of readily applicable CFs that will allow future LCA studies to account for land use impacts on pollinator abundance, and provide further evidence on the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration as a way to strengthen our capacity to estimate anthropogenic impacts, with the use of expert elicitation methods as a valuable tool to fill in key data gaps. Lastly, we recommend to continue efforts towards an overarching archetype classification that can facilitate the inclusion of multiple biogeographical and socio-economic factors for the identification of representative patterns, and provide input across multiple impact categories at relevant spatial scales. Show less
Sheltering is an immediate human need and determines well-being andhealth. However, we face many challenges in providing homes and offices for allon this rapidly changing planet. In the 21st... Show moreSheltering is an immediate human need and determines well-being andhealth. However, we face many challenges in providing homes and offices for allon this rapidly changing planet. In the 21st century, climate change, resourcecrises, and population expansion will combine to exacerbate existingchallenges. We need to better understand and tackle these issues. Therefore,the overarching research question of this thesis is: What are the mainchallenges and opportunities in delivering decent shelters for nearly 10billion people in a warming and resource-scarce world? To this end, this thesismakes the first steps in exploring several key intersecting challenges relatedto resources scarcity, global warming, and natural hazards. Show less
Plant diversity is essential for us and our planet as it sustains the stability of our ecosystems, provides vital materials and food to us and supports many ecosystem services. However, plant... Show morePlant diversity is essential for us and our planet as it sustains the stability of our ecosystems, provides vital materials and food to us and supports many ecosystem services. However, plant diversity has shown a strong decline throughout human history, particularly in the past decades. Multiple factors have been and are threatening plant species persistence, particularly climate change and land use change that result from intensive human activities. However, it is well known that different species may respond differently to threats, with some species being vulnerable to environmental change while others are less likely to be threatened. To understand how anthropogenic pressures will affect plant communities and find proper plant conservation strategies, it is important to identify how species change over time and to what extent species differ in their response to environmental pressures. In this study, I identified the importance of natural land cover, habitat structure and pollination mode to different plant species and provided practical suggestions for the conservation of different species in the Netherlands. Show less
This thesis investigates how the assessment of circular economy (CE) at the macro-economic level can be facilitated and promoted. First, a study on the socio-economic environmental impacts of... Show moreThis thesis investigates how the assessment of circular economy (CE) at the macro-economic level can be facilitated and promoted. First, a study on the socio-economic environmental impacts of international agricultural supply chain is presented to better exemplify how Multi-Regional Environmental Extended Input-Output (MR EEIO) data can be used to support policy making. Then, a Python software package (pycirk) and methods for standardized and replicable CE scenarios are presented with a case study on the global environmental and socio-economic impacts CE strategies. The thesis also presents an easy to use and open-source web-based tool for CE scenario construction and analysis (RaMa-Scene). Through these studies, MR EEIO appears to be an adequate tool to assess CE scenarios. However, the implementation of CE interventions will require a variety of micro-level changes across the current international production and consumption system and in many cases more detailed data is required than what is currently available in existing MR EEIO databases. Data availability for CE assessment could be increased through the use of Computer-Aided Technologies and Artificial Intelligence methods in combination with Life Cycle Inventory modelling and MR EEIO databases, but this is only one potential way forward. In fact, the industrial ecology and circular economy communities have many opportunities ahead to improve data collection practices by leveraging digital technologies and artificial intelligence methods. However, coordination in these scientific communities is needed to ensure that the full potential of these technological developments is harvested for the benefit of a sustainable circular economy and society. Show less
Soil biodiversity is of great importance for the maintenance of multifunctionality in terrestrial ecosystems. Due to the complexity of belowground biodiversity, novel insights about the combined... Show moreSoil biodiversity is of great importance for the maintenance of multifunctionality in terrestrial ecosystems. Due to the complexity of belowground biodiversity, novel insights about the combined influences of plant-soil interactions have been rarely empirically examined under realistic field conditions. To cope with this challenge, a soil inoculation approach in a field experiment was conducted to manipulate soil community composition. This thesis aims to shed light on the impacts of plant-soil interactions on the aboveground and belowground processes in primary dune ecosystems examined with the aid of such manipulation. Show less
This dissertation investigates the energy and material related impacts of the transition towards a low-carbon heating system in the Netherlands, in the context of its 2050 climate and circular... Show moreThis dissertation investigates the energy and material related impacts of the transition towards a low-carbon heating system in the Netherlands, in the context of its 2050 climate and circular economy policy goals. Multiple heating system pathways for the Netherlands from 2020-2050 based on the local availability of sources of heat are used. Four main research questions are answered in this dissertation: 1. What is the size of the material stock of the current Dutch natural-gas based heating system, and can this material be used in a circular economy? 2. What are the possible development pathways and operational GHG emissions of the Dutch heating system towards 2050? 3. What are the consequences of the heating transition for the use of materials and how can this transition contribute to the circular economy transition? 4. What is the impact on GHG emissions of the transition towards a low-carbon heating system from 2021-2050? This dissertation shows that taking into account emissions related to materials has major consequences for the achievability of the Dutch climate goals Show less
The findings in this thesis improve the understanding of 1) the relationship between exposure characteristics and toxicity of ENPs, 2) the joint toxic action of ENP mixtures and the comparison to... Show moreThe findings in this thesis improve the understanding of 1) the relationship between exposure characteristics and toxicity of ENPs, 2) the joint toxic action of ENP mixtures and the comparison to metal salt mixtures, 3) how NOM affects the individual and joint toxicity of ENPs, 4) the extent of trophic transfer of ENPs along aquatic food chains, 5) the influence factors on trophic transfer, and 6) bioaccumulation, distribution and toxic effect on predators. This knowledge would provide a basis for data on individual and joint toxicity, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer of ENPs for more realistic environmental risk assessment. Show less
As a non-invasive genetic method, eDNA based approaches have become an important component of ecologists' and environmental managers' toolkits for biomonitoring in conservation and an increasingly... Show moreAs a non-invasive genetic method, eDNA based approaches have become an important component of ecologists' and environmental managers' toolkits for biomonitoring in conservation and an increasingly important source of ecological knowledge. This thesis focuses on aquatic eDNA based approaches beyond detections of species presence by 1) enhancing the knowledge of the characteristics of aquatic eDNA particle size distribution (PSD), 2) exploring the possibility of eDNA analysis in physiological investigation and 3) performing functional gene analysis across species. Aquatic eDNA PSD changes with degradation interacting with environmental factors and species. This knowledge supports the capability of eDNA PSD analysis in assessing false- and real-positive of species presence, as well as contributing to abundance assessment and guiding sampling strategy development when using eDNA based approaches. eDNA methylation varies between life stages, and supports life stage evaluations, and brings up the possibility of using eDNA methylation analysis in assessing physiological information. eDNA based approaches support functional gene analysis across species. Functional gene analysis promotes investigating ARGs pollution and the interaction of pollution between different types of agricultural regions. Thanks to the continuously increasing insights on environment-related gene function and expression level, it becomes potentially possible to use eDNA functional gene (and methylation) analysis to evaluate environmental changes. Overall, this thesis contributes to expanding the application of aquatic eDNA based approaches beyond detections of species presence, and provides efficient and non-invasive approaches for biomonitoring and ecological assessments. Show less
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) reduces vehicle emissions to combat climate change. EVs raise concerns regarding the production of lithium-ion batteries and related emissions; while... Show moreThe transition to electric vehicles (EVs) reduces vehicle emissions to combat climate change. EVs raise concerns regarding the production of lithium-ion batteries and related emissions; while batteries can also provide energy storage services for the electricity system. Here we use the material flow analysis method to quantify the future material demand for lithium-ion batteries and the prospective life cycle assessment method to quantify future emissions of battery production. Further combined with battery technology modelling, future energy storage potential of EV batteries is evaluated. Results show the demand for battery raw materials will increase by a factor of over 15 in the next three decades, which requires a drastic expansion of battery supply chains. The increasing utilization of renewable energy and improved mining technology of raw materials for battery production will result in a 50% decrease in emissions per lithium-ion battery production between 2020-2050. Renewable energy transition contributes largely to this emission reduction, but EV battery storage can provide short-term grid services for complementing variable renewable generation. EV batteries alone could satisfy short-term grid storage demand by as early as 2030. This research reveals environmental challenges and opportunities for EV batteries as well as options to improve EV battery sustainability. Show less
The external tissues of plants and animals are colonized by microbial communities termed microbiota. When organisms are exposed to environmental pollutants, these substances will therefore... Show moreThe external tissues of plants and animals are colonized by microbial communities termed microbiota. When organisms are exposed to environmental pollutants, these substances will therefore encounter microbiota at the exposure interface. Many antimicrobial substances have been found to disturb beneficial interactions between microbiota and the host, thereby impairing host health. Nanomaterials exhibit nanoscale properties that could affect host health in two additional, understudied, microbiota-dependent ways. Firstly, owing to their large surface area, adsorption interactions between nanomaterials, microbial metabolites and microbes could alter the identity and colloidal stability of nanomaterials, and may influence the dispersal of microbes. Secondly, the immuno-modulatory effects of microbiota could affect the sensitivity of hosts to immunotoxic nanomaterials. In this dissertation, we use a combination of computational techniques and zebrafish larvae experiments to unravel and quantify these interactions. We predict the affinity of microbial metabolites to carbon and metal nanomaterials, and show that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can affect the dispersal of microbes through aquatic ecosystems, and across different life stages of oviparous animals. Additionally, we provide insight into microbiota-dependent signaling pathways that affect the sensitivity of zebrafish larvae to particle-specific, immunotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles. Altogether, these results contribute to mechanistic pathways for microbiota-inclusive nanomaterial safety assessment. Show less
Mycorrhizas are symbiotic associations between soil fungi and most plant species. Despite its recognized ecological relevance, quantitative information about the abundance patterns of distinct... Show moreMycorrhizas are symbiotic associations between soil fungi and most plant species. Despite its recognized ecological relevance, quantitative information about the abundance patterns of distinct mycorrhizal plants and fungal types and their environmental drivers and ecological implications across different biomes is incomplete. This thesis quantitatively explores the aboveground and belowground abundance patterns of arbuscular mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza and ericoid mycorrhiza and the ecosystem properties derived from these patterns. Taken all together, the chapters of this thesis highlight the need of considering the specific environmental context when assessing mycorrhizal impacts on ecosystem functioning. Evaluating mycorrhizal-mediated ecosystem processes based solely on the abundance of AM, EcM and ErM plants may be misrepresentative. Specific climatic conditions, the abundances of the fungal partners, the microbial community composition or species-specific plant and fungal traits should also be taken into account. New theoretical frameworks need to be developed that allow more accurate predictions on mycorrhizal influence on biogeochemical cycles. Show less
A framework for prospective/ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) and ecological risk assessment (ERA) of emerging technologies is developed and applied to a case study of III-V/silicon photovoltaic... Show moreA framework for prospective/ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) and ecological risk assessment (ERA) of emerging technologies is developed and applied to a case study of III-V/silicon photovoltaic panels. Show less
Decarbonizing the building stock is critical for realizing the climate-neutral target for the Netherlands. This thesis uses multi-source data, mainly including GIS data of building footprints and... Show moreDecarbonizing the building stock is critical for realizing the climate-neutral target for the Netherlands. This thesis uses multi-source data, mainly including GIS data of building footprints and the archetypes representative of Dutch residential buildings, to develop a series of bottom-up building stock models to track future material stock and flows, energy demand, electricity generation, and GHG emissions. Results demonstrate the great potential for decarbonizing the Dutch residential building sector, while decarbonization strategies should be effectively and extensively implemented. Saving space heating energy consumption is the most direct way to reduce annual GHG emissions. Considering that most existing residential buildings will still be in use in 2050, renovating them with high energy performance standards is required. Despite the great potential of renovation, it alone is not enough to realize the climate-neutral target in the residential building stock because the upstream fossil fuel-based energy systems still emit large amounts of GHG. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is a critical path, mainly involving onsite natural gas combustion for space heating and offsite natural gas and coal combustion for electricity and heat (in heat networks) generation. Urban mining cannot contribute to as much GHG emission reduction as energy transition strategies, though, should still be implemented as it can reduce the primary material consumption and CDW landfill. In addition to the technical aspects considered in this thesis, it is also necessary to develop feasible policies in terms of socioeconomic aspects to guarantee the effective and quick deployment of these technical strategies. Show less
Biodiversity enables ecosystems to thrive through the synergy of functional differences among organisms. While human well-being strongly depends on biodiversity-driven ecosystem services, human... Show moreBiodiversity enables ecosystems to thrive through the synergy of functional differences among organisms. While human well-being strongly depends on biodiversity-driven ecosystem services, human actions are also at the root of current unprecedented biodiversity declines. Comprehensive methods to assess the dynamics and state of biodiversity are therefore increasingly urgent. This thesis studies the overlooked capabilities of current satellite observations to conduct large-scale monitoring of plant functional diversity, with a focus on the European Space Agency’s flagship Sentinel-2 satellite. Specifically, it addresses the use of spectral diversity metrics, radiative transfer model inversion, the need for adequate in-situ validation, and the role of spatial scale in our perception and estimation of satellite-derived plant functional diversity patterns. Show less
This thesis examines the impacts and challenges of water use of electric power system. This thesis found that there are large differences in water use of electricity technologies, with hydropower... Show moreThis thesis examines the impacts and challenges of water use of electric power system. This thesis found that there are large differences in water use of electricity technologies, with hydropower and thermal power being two large water users. Water is used for power production and then virtually transmitted via power transmission networks. From this angle, regional water stress can be influenced by power transmission across regions. The power system has further impacts on freshwater biodiversity because of its freshwater consumption and thermal emissions. Power system faces challenges when its water demand cannot be met. Carbon capture and storage is an important approach to reducing carbon emissions of power plants, while it requires additional water resources and could exacerbate the vulnerability of power system to water stress. It is necessary to deepen the analyses of the links between energy and water systems and incorporate the results into future energy and water management. Show less
Indonesia is experiencing various environmental challenges related to its fast economic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to have measurable and applicable indicators to obtain accurate data and... Show moreIndonesia is experiencing various environmental challenges related to its fast economic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to have measurable and applicable indicators to obtain accurate data and information regarding the costs of adverse environmental impacts arising from economic activities to support more effective and targeted decision-making. Therefore, this thesis aims to answer how we can set up environmental-economic accounts in developing countries such as Indonesia and how such accounts can support both development as environmental policies. So, the overall objective of this PhD thesis can be formulated as follows: how can we set up environmental-economic accounts in developing countries such as Indonesia, and how can such accounts support both development as environmental policies? Show less
At the moment, over 350.000 chemicals are registered worldwide for production and use. Their application, however, may harm human health and the environment. To manage the safety of chemicals,... Show moreAt the moment, over 350.000 chemicals are registered worldwide for production and use. Their application, however, may harm human health and the environment. To manage the safety of chemicals, particular chemical legislations are in place, which make use of risk and hazard assessments. However, there are several challenges for current risk and hazard assessments, including i) a lack of (reliable) data, and ii) a relative slow and inefficient evaluation and regulation process. In this thesis, I investigate specifically whether more extensive and targeted use of chemical similarity within risk and hazard assessment has the potential to improve these aspects. Chemical similarity could be a valuable factor as similarities between two chemicals could be a sign of similar physicochemical and/or toxic properties. The separate sections within this thesis specifically focus on chemical similarity in relation to screening, data generation and evaluation of substances. The results of this thesis indicate that chemical similarity could be used to identify and evaluate hazardous properties of single and groups of chemicals. Accordingly, I promote more extensive use of chemical similarity within risk and hazard assessment as it has the ability to circumvent several issues related to a lack of data and evaluation efficiency. Show less
