Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (699 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The external elements and conditions which surround, influence, and affect the life and development of an organism or population.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Environments; Impacts, Environmental; Environmental Impact; Environmental Impacts; Impact, Environmental.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Ecological and Environmental Phenomena; Environment and Public Health
- Narrower topics
- Altitude; Atmosphere; Carbon Footprint; Caves; Cities; Climate; Confined Spaces; Ecosystem; Extraterrestrial Environment; Extreme Environments; Fresh Water; Ice; Islands; Natural Resources
- See also
- Social Environment; Ecosystem
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 1,771,622 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Environment” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 488,065 of them (27.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 559,134 records.
Reviews account for 133,421 records (7.5%) and meta-analyses for 5,804. Randomized controlled trials number 15,194 (0.9%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 404,113 |
| 2000-2009 | 320,310 |
| 2010-2019 | 559,134 |
| 2020 onward | 488,065 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 133,421 | 7.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 5,804 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 15,194 | 0.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Environment"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screening and Activity Evaluation of Peptides With Anti-Ice-Nucleation Activity Using the Phage Display Library Method | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42910641 · DOI · PMC13688706 |
| Beyond treatment: reframing child wasting prevention and recovery in humanitarian settings | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42924635 · DOI · PMC13693289 |
| Context-dependent sublethal hazard of glyphosate to non-target predators revealed by functional response analysis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42909559 · DOI · PMC13694482 |
| Effects of xylooligosaccharide supplementation on methane emissions, rumen microbiome, and serum metabolome in lactating Jersey cows | 2027 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42908331 · DOI · PMC13715329 |
Screening and Activity Evaluation of Peptides With Anti-Ice-Nucleation Activity Using the Phage Display Library Method [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- We screened for anti-ice-nucleation peptides using the phage display library method, with silver iodide as the target for artificial ice nucleation The phage interacted with the silver iodide in a dispersed state, rather than in an immobilized state.
- Closing excerpt
- It is our conclusion that the design of antifreeze peptides with activities comparable with those of natural ones is highly feasible.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (169 words)
We screened for anti-ice-nucleation peptides using the phage display library method, with silver iodide as the target for artificial ice nucleation The phage interacted with the silver iodide in a dispersed state, rather than in an immobilized state. Based on DNA analysis, we identified five peptides with high expression levels. Five peptide sequences were synthesized by hand using the Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis and evaluated their anti-ice-nucleation activity. Three peptide sequences exhibited anti-ice-nucleation activity, and two of them were insoluble in water. Among the three peptides, SHIARSV exhibited the highest anti-ice-nucleation activity. To determine the importance of each amino acid in SHIARSV, we designed five peptides in which Ala was substituted and examined their anti-ice-nucleation activity. As a result, we identified AHIARSV, a peptide sequence with higher anti-ice-nucleation activity than the original SHIARSV sequence. This peptide exhibited high levels of both anti-nucleation activity and ice recrystallization inhibition activity. It is our conclusion that the design of antifreeze peptides with activities comparable with those of natural ones is highly feasible.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42910641 · DOI · PMC13688706
Beyond treatment: reframing child wasting prevention and recovery in humanitarian settings [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Despite substantial advances in the treatment of child wasting over the past two decades, progress in reducing wasting incidence has remained limited, particularly in humanitarian settings.
- Closing excerpt
- As humanitarian needs increase while development financing declines, future progress against wasting will depend not only on improving treatment, but also on rethinking how prevention, diagnosis, recovery, and system integration are addressed across the continuum of care.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (151 words)
Despite substantial advances in the treatment of child wasting over the past two decades, progress in reducing wasting incidence has remained limited, particularly in humanitarian settings. This commentary argues that global policy must evolve from a predominantly treatment-oriented paradigm toward a more integrated continuum encompassing prevention, early identification, treatment, recovery, and post-discharge support. Drawing on a programme of recent research conducted in Somalia, we highlight four emerging priorities for global policy: strengthening prevention through integrated cash-plus and multisectoral approaches; improving identification of high-risk children by addressing limitations of current anthropometric indicators; recognising relapse as a major programmatic outcome requiring continued support after discharge; and integrating nutrition with broader health, social protection, and humanitarian systems. As humanitarian needs increase while development financing declines, future progress against wasting will depend not only on improving treatment, but also on rethinking how prevention, diagnosis, recovery, and system integration are addressed across the continuum of care.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42924635 · DOI · PMC13693289
Context-dependent sublethal hazard of glyphosate to non-target predators revealed by functional response analysis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides globally, is a significant environmental contaminant that may affect non-target organisms crucial to ecosystem services, including biological pest control.
- Closing excerpt
- This study highlights the complexity of pesticide effects on ecosystem services and suggests that the functional response of non-target predators depends strongly on their physiological background.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (195 words)
Glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides globally, is a significant environmental contaminant that may affect non-target organisms crucial to ecosystem services, including biological pest control. While glyphosate targets the shikimate pathway in plants, which is absent in animals, there is increasing evidence that glyphosate induces sublethal effects on arthropod predators. However, the factors modulating these effects remain unclear. Here, we investigated how physiological context, specifically pre-treatment with the broad-spectrum antibiotic tetracycline, commonly used to experimentally alter host associated microbial communities, modulates the sublethal hazard of glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) on the predatory behavior of adult female Pardosa wolf spiders. Predation efficiency was measured using functional response assays across varying prey densities. Our results showed that GBH significantly reduced the spiders' predation rates, confirming its sublethal toxicity. However, spiders pre-treated with antibiotics exhibited higher capture rates following GBH exposure compared to the GBH only group. These findings demonstrate that the sublethal hazard of GBH on predators is context-dependent and can be altered by antibiotic-sensitive processes (such as host-symbiont interactions). This study highlights the complexity of pesticide effects on ecosystem services and suggests that the functional response of non-target predators depends strongly on their physiological background.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42909559 · DOI · PMC13694482
Effects of xylooligosaccharide supplementation on methane emissions, rumen microbiome, and serum metabolome in lactating Jersey cows [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are recognized as effective prebiotics that can mitigate methane (CH4) emissions.
- Closing excerpt
- The study suggests that XOS may regulate ruminant CH4 emissions by influencing the microbiota, thereby providing a rationale for CH4 control.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (184 words)
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are recognized as effective prebiotics that can mitigate methane (CH4) emissions. However, the specific relationship between the effects of XOS on CH4 emissions and alterations in the ruminal microbiota and their metabolites remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between XOS and CH4 emissions, 48 Jersey cows were randomly divided into two groups: the XOS group (group T) and the control group (group C). Group T received 25 g/d of XOS, while group C received 0 g/d of XOS added to the basal diet. Three randomly selected cows from each group, exhibiting consistent milk production and lactation stage, were analyzed for CH4 emissions detection, 16S rRNA sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics analysis. The addition of XOS significantly reduced CH4 emissions and increased both the number of observed species and the abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) index of ruminal microbiota compared to group C. Sixteen differential metabolites were identified between the two groups; these differential metabolites were correlated with microbiota, including Chloroflexi, Acidobacteriota, and Succiniclasticum. The study suggests that XOS may regulate ruminant CH4 emissions by influencing the microbiota, thereby providing a rationale for CH4 control.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42908331 · DOI · PMC13715329
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Interventions on Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory or Oxidative Stress Markers in Adults Who Are Overweight or Obese: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [5]
- Research article Meta-analysis of 22,710 human microbiome metagenomes defines an oral-to-gut microbial enrichment score and associations with host health and disease [6]
- Research article Unraveling gut microbiome interferences in cancer immunotherapy: a meta-analysis of diverse drug effects [7]
- Research article A human gut metagenome-assembled genome catalogue spanning 41 countries supports genome-scale metabolic models [8]
- Research article Unravelling the magnitude and drivers of PFAS trophic magnification: a meta-analysis [9]
- Research article Evaluation of bacteriophages as a signature of microbiome health: a systematic review and meta-analysis [10]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Evolutionary Adaptation to Lifestyle and the Environment
Jim Parker, Claire O’Brien, Jason Hawrelak et al. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022 · CC BY 4.0
Microplastics in the Environment: Intake through the Food Web, Human Exposure and Toxicological Effects
Concetta Pironti, Maria Ricciardi, Oriana Motta et al. · Toxics 2021 · CC BY 4.0
Poultry gut health – microbiome functions, environmental impacts, microbiome engineering and advancements in characterization technologies
Christiana Eleojo Aruwa, Charlene Pillay, Martin M Nyaga et al. · Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 2021 · CC BY 4.0
Research Progress, Challenges, and Breakthroughs of Organoids as Disease Models
Yisheng Huang, Zhijie Huang, Zhengming Tang et al. · Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 2021 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Okamoto S, Matsuki S, Hirano Y. Screening and Activity Evaluation of Peptides With Anti-Ice-Nucleation Activity Using the Phage Display Library Method. . 2026. PMID 42910641 · DOI · PMC13688706
- Mohamoud SA, Walton S, Grounds S, Garretson S, Khattak Q, Tripaldi M, et al.. Beyond treatment: reframing child wasting prevention and recovery in humanitarian settings. . 2026. PMID 42924635 · DOI · PMC13693289
- Niedobová J, Michalko R. Context-dependent sublethal hazard of glyphosate to non-target predators revealed by functional response analysis. . 2026. PMID 42909559 · DOI · PMC13694482
- Zhou X, Zhao Z, Zhao L, Diao Q, Dong L, Kang X. Effects of xylooligosaccharide supplementation on methane emissions, rumen microbiome, and serum metabolome in lactating Jersey cows. . 2027. PMID 42908331 · DOI · PMC13715329
- González-Gómez Á, Cantone M, García-Muñoz AM, Victoria-Montesinos D, Lucas-Abellán C, Serrano-Martínez A, et al.. Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Interventions on Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory or Oxidative Stress Markers in Adults Who Are Overweight or Obese: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2025. PMID 40806053 · DOI · PMC12348198
- Manghi P, Antonello G, Schiffer L, Golzato D, Wokaty A, Beghini F, et al.. Meta-analysis of 22,710 human microbiome metagenomes defines an oral-to-gut microbial enrichment score and associations with host health and disease. Nat Commun. 2025. PMID 41436448 · DOI · PMC12780261
- Xu J, Song J, Fu Z, Zhou H, Zhang Y, Shi C. Unraveling gut microbiome interferences in cancer immunotherapy: a meta-analysis of diverse drug effects. BMC Cancer. 2025. PMID 41250081 · DOI · PMC12625028
- Ma J, Kim N, Cha JH, Kim W, Kim CY, Lee YH, et al.. A human gut metagenome-assembled genome catalogue spanning 41 countries supports genome-scale metabolic models. Nat Microbiol. 2026. PMID 41345261 · DOI
- Ricolfi L, Yang Y, Pottier P, Morrison K, Williams C, Pollo P, et al.. Unravelling the magnitude and drivers of PFAS trophic magnification: a meta-analysis. Nat Commun. 2025. PMID 41315316 · DOI · PMC12663151
- Wheatley RM, Holtappels D, Koskella B. Evaluation of bacteriophages as a signature of microbiome health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Microbe. 2025. PMID 41077053 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.