Environmental Risk Research Articles

Analysis of the environmental state of the Sarata River in Odesa Region

The relevance of the study is dictated by the need to preserve the water resources of southern Ukraine and ensure their good environmental condition. In the context of military operations, Odesa Region plays a key role in providing the country with agricultural products because of significant damage incurred to agricultural lands of Mykolaiv and Kherson Regions in the course of military actions. Hence the role of irrigation and the need to restore and modernize irrigation systems are growing. One of fresh water reservoirs of Odesa Region is Sasyk reservoir (artificially created as part of the estuary) which accumulates fresh water supplied from the Danube. The Kogylnyk and the Sarata rivers flow into the northern part of the reservoir and can worsen its hydroecological condition. The subject of the study: pollution of the rivers across North-Western Black Sea Coast by chemicals. The object of the study: the environmental state of the Sarata River. The study is aimed at assessing the environmental state and environmental risks of chemical pollution of the Sarata River. The water quality assessment was performed based on a modified version of water pollution index (WPI). Biogenic substances (ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen) were identified as the main pollutants. The content of chlorides and sulfates is also significant. The assessment of the pollution risks by biogenic substances is based on calculations of the statistical probit function. The source materials of the research include hydrochemical observations made by the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine for the period from 2007 to 2023 in the upper reaches of the Sarata River - village of Miniailivka (94 km from the mouth, near the border with Moldova) and in the lower reaches of the Sarata River - village of Bilolissya (14.3 km from the mouth). The analysis of probability of exceeding the MPC for fishery use indicated that, in terms of nitrite ions and nitrate ions, such probability is higher in the upper basin than in the lower one. According to other indicators, the probability of exceeding the MPC by pollutants is either almost the same or slightly increased in the lower reaches. The assessment of water quality according to the modified WPI (dissolved oxygen, BOD5, ammonium, nitrite and nitrate ions, phosphates) showed that the water quality in the Sarata River mainly belongs to the "moderately polluted" and "polluted" classes. According to the environmental risk indicators, it was established that the possibility of a "high" risk of contamination by biogenic substances does prevail. Its probability is 52.9% for the upper reaches and 60% for the lower reaches. The "high" level of class IV pollution (ER=0.60-0.79) corresponds to an "unsatisfactory" environmental condition. The probability of achieving the class of a "good" environmental condition (class II, ER=0.20-0.39) is quite small: 17.6% in the upper reaches and only 6.67% in the lower reaches. Thus, the Sarata River belongs to such rivers, the natural properties of which underwent significant changes as a result of sewage delivery from "Sarata Komunservis" utility enterprise, settlement of Sarata. Contaminated waters are unsuitable for drinking, household and sports purposes, as well as for fish farming. The quality of the Sarata River's water has a negative impact on the environmental state of Sasyk reservoir.

Сharacteristics of demolition waste management in the regions of Ukraine

The volume of waste left from war-related destruction amounts to 10-12 million tons per year. Such volume is comparable to the annual volume of municipal solid waste generated in Ukraine. This situation led to formation of unauthorized landfills and complicated the existing problem of industrial, consumer, construction and demolition waste management. Consequently, the issue of destruction waste management became a pressing environmental and socio-economic problem. The objective of this research is to assess the characteristics of destruction waste management in the regions of Ukraine. Destruction waste is generated during construction of new buildings and public structures, as well as during renovation or demolition of existing buildings and structures; including general-use facilities. It is estimated that, before the war, nearly 7 million tons of construction and demolition waste was generated annually, with more than 50% being transported to municipal solid waste landfills. Specialized landfills for its disposal were virtually non-existent in the regions of Ukraine, so this waste, despite its resource value, was taken to municipal solid waste landfills or unauthorized dumps. Some components of construction and demolition waste are toxic. Destruction waste includes parts (fragments) of damaged (destroyed) objects, as well as materials and items that were inside or next to such objects at the time of damage (destruction) and/or during disassembly activities, including those that fully or partially lost their consumer properties and cannot be reused at the place of their origin or discovery. Destruction waste pollutes the environment, so one of the ways to reduce environmental risks is to develop an effective waste management system to stop chaotic processes during disassembly activities. Destruction waste differs from construction and demolition waste by the presence of accompanying hazardous components, complicating the development of a waste management system. The main components of destruction waste should be used as secondary raw materials for construction, production of building materials and other purposes. Provided that appropriate physical-geographic, engineering-geological, hydrogeological, technical, and socio-economic conditions are available, it is advisable to create temporary waste storage sites, with their subsequent use as secondary raw materials in the post-war period for restoration of civil, industrial, and transport infrastructure in the regions of Ukraine.

Wood- and Manure-Derived Biochars Reduce Antibiotic Residues and Shift Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbial Communities in Manure Applied Forage–Soil Systems

The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock poses environmental risks, leading to contamination of agricultural soils and propagation of microbial antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study examined the impacts of wood- and manure-derived biochar (BC) on antibiotic residues, ARGs, and microbial communities in sandy loam and clay loam soils amended with manure in Cynodon dactylon pastures. We hypothesized that BC amendments would influence the degradation of antibiotics and the structure of microbial communities based on their physicochemical properties and soil types. Our results demonstrated that wood BC reduced the concentrations of tetracycline and sulfonamides, particularly in sandy loam soil, due to its larger surface area and hydrophobic properties. In contrast, manure BC provided additional nutrients and supported atmospheric nitrogen-fixing microbial groups, especially in clay loam soil, while exhibiting variable efficiency in reducing antibiotic residues due to its lower surface area and higher ash content. These findings underscore the differential impacts of each BC type, emphasizing the need for tailored BC applications based on soil type to effectively mitigate antibiotic contamination and promote sustainable agricultural practices. In conclusion, wood BC was more effective in enhancing soil health by reducing antibiotic residues and improving microbial diversity, particularly in sandy loam soils, while manure BC was beneficial for nutrient cycling in clay loam soils.

Fostering Information Sharing Willingness: An Organizational Privacy Calculus for Industry 4.0 Supply Chains

ABSTRACT Supply chain partners exchange information to achieve shared performance goals. However, information sharing is fraught with risks and concerns around organizational data privacy and security. Extant studies provide connectivity and supply chain partners’ willingness to share information as factors driving information-sharing. In an Industry 4.0 supply chain, technology provides the capability to share information across organizations. Literature highlights the role of technological capabilities and privacy by design in addressing the risks and concerns in information sharing that may influence the willingness of supply chain partners to share information. We introduce the framework of organizational privacy calculus comprising privacy by design to balance the needs and willingness to share information against environmental dynamism, regulations, and data sensitivity risks that can impact information sharing in the supply chain and procurement. We use OIPT and privacy calculus as theoretical lenses to derive empirically the balancing framework. The contribution of our study is twofold: proposing an organizational privacy calculus that focuses on organizational information sharing and highlighting the importance of privacy by design to alleviate risks of sharing sensitive information. The study empirically establishes that technology capabilities and privacy protection measures are essential for enhancing inter-organizational willingness to share information to balance against concerns.

From Transformation to Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar: A Case Study of Wheat Straw Biochar.

Biochar, as a carbon-rich material, exhibits significant potential for industrial applications. While numerous research endeavors have focused on its interactions within soil ecosystems, scant attention has been given to its behavior and potential impact on aquatic environments. In this study, we conducted an investigation to compare the environmental implications of pristine biochar with those of aged biochar. Initially, we assessed the interaction between biochar and key water quality indicators, revealing the release of endogenous ions (e.g., NH4+, NO3-, PO43-, Cu2+, and Cd2+) as well as organic substances (e.g., DOC) from both pristine and aged biochar samples. Aged biochar released higher amounts of ions and organic substances than pristine biochar due to the change in the structure and properties of aged biochar. Environmental risk and toxicity of pristine and aged biochar were subsequently evaluated using the potential ecological risk index (RI) and the impact on growth of Chlorella vulgaris, respectively. The values of RI for Cu indicated a very low degree of environmental risk, while those for Cd were dependent on water quality for surface water. Our study provided thorough analysis on the environmental assessment of biochar by combining experimental environmental transformation and life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis, suggesting biochar could have excellent environmental applications.

Vanadium redox speciation in the acid-extractable phase of Krka River estuary surface sediment

This study investigated the redox speciation and mobility of V in the acid-extractable fraction of surface sediments from the Krka River estuary using an optimized IC-UV/Vis analytical method. The separation of V(IV) and V(V) redox species was done using anion-exchange based chromatographic method, while pseudo-total V concentrations were measured using HR ICP-MS analytical instrumentation. Extracted V concentrations from the sediment fraction (pH = 5, HCl) and determined pseudo-total V concentrations were used to calculate the Enrichment Factor (EF) and Risk Assessment Code (RAC), indicating potential anthropogenic influence and environmental risk. A simple PHREEQC model was developed to asses V speciation in the oxic bottom seawater layer simulating possible remobilization of the leached sediment phase. The results of the study show that minor fraction of V is present in the acid-extractable phase across the surface sediment of Krka River estuary. Higher V mobility is mostly observed at locations rich with clay minerals, terrigenous input, and carbonates. Anthropogenic influence was linked to higher enrichment but lower mobility, suggesting binding to less mobile sediment phases (reducible, organic and residual fractions). The predominance of reduced V(IV) species in the acid-extractable sediment fraction indicates a potentially low V toxicity risk in the sediments of Krka River estuary, even in cases of high potential remobilization of V. However, the model predicted complete oxidation of V(IV) to V(V) upon remobilization into the oxic bottom water layer. This highlights the complexity of V behavior in natural estuarine systems, where the toxicity risks of possible V remobilization still remain unclear. Results of this study demonstrate the need for the strengthening efforts in speciation of V in the mobile sediment phase to obtain a cohesive outlook on its potential toxicity and biogeochemical cycling.

Climate changes at mine closure: a systematic review

This systematic review addresses the implications of climate change on mine closure processes, aiming to identify, analyze, and synthesize recent literature on how climate change influences the rehabilitation of mined areas, environmental risks, the safety of remaining structures, and the long-term sustainability of closure projects. Through a methodology of selecting scientific articles, articles published between 2020 and 2024 found in the Capes/CAfe database were analyzed. The analysis covered the climatic impacts on increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns in relation to soil erosion, water management, and revegetation in mine closure processes. The results highlight challenges and opportunities arising from extreme weather events, which compromise the stability of mine structures, and the noted absence of Emergency Action Plans for dealing with extreme events, which hinders decision-making and the implementation of control measures. Recommendations include the development of adaptive practices and the incorporation of advanced environmental monitoring to mitigate risks and promote sustainability in mine closure, as well as being essential to increase environmental resilience.

Transport and retention of COVID-19-related antiviral drugs in saturated porous media under various hydrochemical conditions

Antiviral drugs have garnered considerable attention, particularly in the global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, amid heightened concerns regarding environmentally acquired antiviral resistance. A comprehensive understanding of their transport in subsurface environments is imperative for accurately predicting their environmental fate and risks. This study investigated the mobility and retention characteristics of six COVID-19 antiviral drugs in saturated quartz sand columns. Results showed that the mobility of the drugs was primarily contingent on their hydrophobicity, with ribavirin and favipiravir exhibiting the highest transportability, while arbidol displaying the greatest retention. The transport characteristics of ribavirin and favipiravir remained largely unaffected by pH, whereas the retention of the other four antivirals remained consistently minimal under alkaline conditions. Elevating ionic strength marginally facilitated the transport of these antivirals, while the presence of Ca2+ notably enhanced their retention in quartz sand compared to Na+. Ribavirin and remdesivir warrant particular attention due to their relatively high transportability and propensity for environmentally acquired antiviral resistance. These findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of the leachate potential and transport of COVID-19-related antivirals in sandy porous media, furnishing fundamental data for predicting their environmental fate and associated risks.

Schizophrenia is associated with altered DNA methylation variance.

Varying combinations of genetic and environmental risk factors are thought to underpin phenotypic heterogeneity between individuals in psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia. While epigenome-wide association studies in schizophrenia have identified extensive alteration of mean DNA methylation levels, less is known about the location and impact of DNA methylation variance, which could contribute to phenotypic and treatment response heterogeneity. To explore this question, we conducted the largest meta-analysis of blood DNA methylation variance in schizophrenia to date, leveraging three cohorts comprising 1036 individuals with schizophrenia and 954 non-psychiatric controls. Surprisingly, only a small proportion (0.1%) of the 213 variably methylated positions (VMPs) associated with schizophrenia (Benjamini-Hochberg FDR < 0.05) were shared with differentially methylated positions (DMPs; sites with mean changes between cases and controls). These blood-derived VMPs were found to be overrepresented in genes previously associated with schizophrenia and amongst brain-enriched genes, with evidence of concordant changes at VMPs in the cerebellum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, or striatum. Epigenetic covariance was also observed with respect to clinically significant metrics including age of onset, cognitive deficits, and symptom severity. We also uncovered a significant VMP in individuals with first-episode psychosis (n = 644) from additional cohorts and a non-psychiatric comparison group (n = 633). Collectively, these findings suggest schizophrenia is associated with significant changes in DNA methylation variance, which may contribute to individual-to-individual heterogeneity.

Using waste to treat waste: Utilizing pickling liquor for detoxification and extraction of valuable elements from electroplating sludge

Addressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions in waste management, this study focuses on the pivotal task of recycling heavy metals from electroplating sludge (ES), a critical issue both environmentally and economically. The research introduces a novel leaching process utilizing pickling liquor as a reagent to extract valuable metals from the sludge. Key parameters such as agitation speed, solid to liquid ratio (S/L), temperature, and duration were examined to optimize the leaching rate. Results revealed impressive extraction rates, with 92.33 % Cr, 89.49 % Cu, and 89.59 % Ni extracted within 120 min from S/L 10 g/L, at 300 rpm, and 25 °C. However, it was noted that increasing temperature negatively impacted the leaching rate and led to the formation of undesirable compounds. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis identified gypsum and potassium jarosite as predominant compounds formed on the leaching residues at different temperatures of 25 °C and 45 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) illustrated significant morphological changes in the residues, indicating the influence of temperature on compound formation. Additionally, environmental risk assessment of the residues was conducted using synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) and toxicology characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) methods. In conclusion, this research underscores the promising potential of the developed leaching process using pickling liquor to reclaim valuable metals from ES. By optimizing parameters and assessing environmental risks, this study contributes to advancing environmentally sound practices in industrial waste management.

Exploring mercury detoxification in fish: The role of selenium from tuna byproduct diets for sustainable aquaculture

Exposure to mercury (Hg) through fish consumption poses significant environmental and public health risks, given its status as one of the top ten hazardous chemicals. Aquaculture is expanding, driving a surge in demand for sustainable aquafeeds. Tuna byproducts, which are rich in protein, offer potential for aquafeed production, yet their use is challenged by the high content of heavy metals, particularly Hg. However, these byproducts also contain elevated levels of selenium (Se), which may counteract Hg adverse effects. This study examines the fate of dietary Hg and Se in an aquaculture model fish. Biomolecular speciation analyses through hyphenated analytical approaches were conducted on the water-soluble protein fraction of key organs of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to various combinations of Hg and Se species, including diets containing tuna byproducts, over a six-month period. The findings shed light on the dynamics of Hg and Se compounds in fish revealing potential Hg detoxification mechanisms through complexation with Hg-biomolecules, such as cysteine, glutathione, and metallothionein. Furthermore, the trophic transfer of selenoneine is demonstrated, revealing novel opportunities for sustainable aquafeed production. Understanding the interactions between Hg and Se in aquaculture systems is crucial for optimizing feed formulations and mitigating environmental risks. This research contributes to the broader goal of advancing sustainable practices in aquaculture while addressing food security challenges.

Comparative analysis of enhanced adsorption and thermal decomposition of oil-borne PFAS using CeO2 nanoparticles and activated carbon

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used as surfactants in the oil and gas industry, presenting significant environmental and health risks due to their persistence and mobility. While prevailing research primarily targets PFAS removal from aqueous environments, this study explores the efficacy of nanosized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) and traditional activated carbon (AC) in removing PFAS from organic media via adsorption and thermal degradation. Both adsorbents exhibited robust adsorption capabilities; however, their interaction mechanism with PFAS differ significantly. CeO2 NPs primarily engage in chemical adsorption with PFAS, whereas AC relies on hydrophobic interactions. Additionally, CeO2 NPs outperformed AC in thermal degradation experiments, achieving approximately 95 % decomposition of PFOS at 400 °C, compared to only 52 % with AC. Furthermore, the formation of stable Ce−F bonds at high temperatures significantly reduced fluoride ion release from CeO2 NPs, underscoring their potential to minimize environmental impact. This study is the first to apply both AC and CeO2 NPs for PFAS removal from organic media and to elucidate their distinct adsorption and thermal decomposition mechanisms, highlighting the superior performance of CeO2 NPs in environmental remediation of PFAS.

Glutathione engineered gold nanoparticles-based electrochemical aptasensor for determination of arsenic ions in water, food, and soil samples

Arsenic, As(III) is one of the highly toxic metalloid ions present in the earth's crust. Its availability especially in groundwater, soil, and plant products can impose significant environmental and health risks. In order to examine aforementioned matrices for the presence of As(III), we have fabricated a sensitive electrochemical bionanoprobe using As(III) specific aptamer modified glutathione (GSH)-capped gold nanoparticles. The developed probe demonstrated remarkable sensing performance for a wide concentration range of As(III) (e.g., 0.1–1000 mg/L) with extremely high sensitivity of 0.0875 µA/(mg/L.mm2). Moreover, we have achieved an exceptionally low limit of detection (0.13 µg/L) for As(III) using the developed bionanoprobe. Furthermore, it displayed excellent performance in monitoring As(III) in groundwater, soil, and rice samples.

Occurrence, risk assessment and source apportionment of perfluoroalkyl acids in the river of a hill-plain intersection region: The impacts of land use and river network structure

Studying the impacts of land use and river network structure on perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) footprint in rivers is crucial for predicting the fate of PFAAs in aquatic environments. This study investigated the distribution, ecological risks, sources and influence factors of 17 PFAAs in water and sediments of rivers from hills to plain areas. The results showed that the detection frequencies were higher for short-chain PFAAs than long-chain PFAAs in water, whereas an opposite pattern was found in sediments. The concentration of ∑PFAAs ranged from 59.2 to 414 ng/L in water and from 1.4 to 60.1 ng/g in sediments. Perfluorohexanoic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid were identified as the main pollutants in the river. The average concentrations of PFAAs were higher in the aquaculture areas (water: 309.8 ng/L; sediments: 43.27 ng/g) than in residential areas (water: 206.03 ng/L; sediments: 11.7 ng/g) and farmland areas (water: 123.12 ng/L; sediments: 9.4 ng/g). Environmental risk assessment showed that PFAAs were mainly low risk or no risk in water, but were moderate risk and even high risk in sediments, especially for perfluorooctane sulfonate. Source apportionment found that PFAA sources were mostly from industry, wastewater discharge, and surface runoff. Dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, water system circularity, network connectivity and organic matter were significantly correlated to PFAA concentration, indicating that the physicochemical properties and river network might directly influence the environmental behavior of PFAAs. The built-up area was positively correlated with PFAAs. These findings indicated that a comprehensive understanding of the influences of land use and river network structure on PFAAs in rivers is essential for managers to formulate effective PFAA control strategies.

Evaluating the behavior and environmental risks of carbamazepine and its metabolites in soil aquifer treatment: Insights from deconjugation dynamics and toxicity assessment

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has been a growing concern. Recent studies highlight the ecological risks of pharmaceuticals, but most risk assessments focus on the parent drug, neglecting metabolites. This study examines the behavior and environmental risks of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its metabolites in soil aquifer treatment (SAT) for wastewater reclamation. Findings indicate that CBZ metabolites' total concentration exceeds that of CBZ. Notably, carbamazepine-N-glucuronide (CBZ-N-Glu) concentration decreased from 48.12 ng/L to undetectable levels during SAT, while CBZ concentration increased from 64.87 to 95 ng/L, suggesting possible deconjugation of CBZ-N-Glu. Batch and column experiments confirmed the hypothesis, showing a gradual disappearance of CBZ-Glu and a corresponding rise in CBZ concentration when CBZ-N-Glu was spiked into a recirculated SAT system. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) analysis revealed that CBZ exhibits higher acute and chronic toxicity, with metabolites showing varying levels of developmental toxicity. The study also evaluates the persistence, mobility, and toxicity (PMT) characteristics of CBZ and its metabolites, highlighting CBZ-N-Glu's particularly adverse PMT characteristics compared to CBZ. In summary, the residual pharmaceuticals in the reclaimed water process should be evaluated systematically, considering both the parent compounds and their metabolites.

Multitemporal analysis of cliffs evolution along an Atlantic African coast (Safi Region, Morocco)

Unstable coastal cliffs represent a major threat to coastal infrastructure, housing, and economic activities, which depend on coastal stability. Understanding recession rates and the factors influencing them is therefore essential for enhancing risk prediction and management. Here, we investigated the evolution of coastal cliffs in a crucial sector of the Atlantic African coast in Morocco, stretching from Cap Beddouza in the north to Jorf Lihoudi in the south, covering an area of around 48 km and including the large city of Safi. The instability of these cliffs constitutes the main coastal geological hazard of the area, which has its geomorphological expression in different types of landslides punctuating the coastal cliff. We employed multidecadal aerial imagery along with GIS technique to calculate the rate of change of the cliff over 66 years. Our results indicate that most of the Safi Region coastal zone has undergone recession with rates of change generally variable from 0.04 to 0.08 m/yr ± 0.01 m. The central part of the study area, conversely, experienced the highest retreat rate, exceeding 0.10 m/yr. The spatial variability of recession rates is explained through geological and morphological factors such as the nature of low-strength clay rock formations, favoring large-scale gravity movements. These data are crucial to better define the current level of coastal hazard in this densely populated portion of the Moroccan coast, given that cliff recession have considerable effects on the economic, social and environmental risk of the area. Moreover, this study represents one of the first applications of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) method to an African coastline segment, specifically from Cape Beddouza to the Lihoudi cliffs. More generally, it is among the few studies focused on cliff recession rates in Africa. While a similar application has been conducted for the cliff base in the northern part of the same study area (Raja et al., 2023), that study primarily addresses coastal cliff failure hazards along the Safi coastline in Morocco. In contrast, the present study is focused on determining long-term cliff recession rates and understanding the distribution of these rates and modes of retreat in relation to the physical processes affecting the study area.

Captured green aims: The case of Hungary

The article aims to shed light on the environmental risks of the Hungarian autocratic economic policy coupled with increased state interventionism and the revival of industrial policies. Green economic strategies proliferate in democratic countries, but we know less about contemporary hybrid regimes. In the case of Hungary, we show that the pillars of green industrial policy do not exist in practice. There is however a façade and rhetoric of green aims which serve only as one tool among others to rent-seeking and keep the ruling power. By several illustrative cases, we describe the mechanisms of hollowing out, capturing environmental institutions, instrumentalising green aims and repressing civil initiatives as systemic characteristics for illiberal hybrid regimes.

Navigating the Digital Revolution in the Food Industry: Consumers' Perceived Environmental Risks and Purchasing Decisions

Navigating the Digital Revolution in the Food Industry: Consumers' Perceived Environmental Risks and Purchasing Decisions

High level of immunoglobulin G targeting mycoplasma or cytomegalovirus in the newborn increases risk of ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically detected in childhood. Although ADHD has been demonstrated to have a strong genetic component, environmental risk factors, such as maternal infections during pregnancy, may also play a role. We therefore measured the immunological response to 5 abundant microorganisms (Toxoplasmosis Gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes Simplex Virus 1, Epstein Barr Virus and mycoplasma pneumoniae) in newborn heel prick samples of 1679 ADHD cases and 2948 matching controls as part of the iPSYCH Danish case-cohort study. We found an association between high anti-CMV (OR 1.30, 95 % CI [1.09,1.55], p = 0.015) and anti-mycoplasma (OR 1.30, 95 % CI [1.07,1.59], p = 0.037) signal and those newborns later being diagnosed with ADHD. The risk estimate remained increased when controlling for ADHD polygenic risk score as well as penicillin prescriptions. We saw a dose–response association with the amount of positive anti-microorganism titers increasing the risk of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life (p = 0.01 for the trend), suggesting that the more activated the immune system is prior to or at birth, the higher the risk is for a later diagnosis with ADHD. If the associations are causal, they emphasize the importance of a healthy life style during pregnancy to reduce the risk of infections when pregnant and the associated risks for the child.

Insect Pest Management and Environmental Risk.

Insect pests and insect pest management tactics impose risks to the environment. Environmental risk assessment is a formalized paradigm for the objective evaluation of risk in which assumptions and uncertainties are clearly presented. Therefore, a better understanding of the environmental risks and especially the comparative risks posed by insect pests and management tactics will improve integrated pest management. Risk assessments for insect pest management tactics are much more common for pesticides and genetically engineered crops than for biological control, cultural control, and semiochemicals. The reasons for this discrepancy include evidence of deleterious effects and data availability for pesticides and genetically engineered crops, public perceptions of tactics, and politics. Regardless of the regulatory oversight and frequency of risk assessments, all tactics should be subject to the risk assessment paradigm to assist in societal decisions.