Interrelated issues within the Water-Energy-Food nexus with a focus on environmental pollution for sustainable development: A review

Pollution within the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus has a profound impact on environmental health, human well-being, and the sustainability of essential resource systems. This study seeks to highlight the crucial link between pollution and the WEF nexus, aiming to inform authorities and policymakers to foster the development of sustainable policies. The research employed a comprehensive systematic review methodology, utilizing the Scopus database to identify 2524 relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2023. After scrutiny, 63 studies on pollution within the WEF nexus were selected. The analysis focuses on three dimensions: pollution sources, their interconnectedness, and feedback loops within the Water-Energy (WE), Energy-Food (EF), and Water-Food (WF) sub-nexuses. This study explores the intricate dynamics of air and water pollution, food waste, wastewater, and industrial emissions, uncovering their interconnected impacts and the risks they pose to sustainability and human health. The findings emphasize the need for integrated cross-sector policies and highlight the critical role of future research in enhancing resource efficiency, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and guiding sustainable policy development to address these interconnected challenges.