Environmental Risk Research Articles

Using image segmentation models to analyse high-resolution earth observation data: new tools to monitor disease risks in changing environments.

In the near future, the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases may expand to new sites due to changes in temperature and rainfall patterns caused by climate change. Therefore, there is a need to use recent technological advances to improve vector surveillance methodologies. Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), often called drones, have been used to collect high-resolution imagery to map detailed information on mosquito habitats and direct control measures to specific areas. Supervised classification approaches have been largely used to automatically detect vector habitats. However, manual data labelling for model training limits their use for rapid responses. Open-source foundation models such as the Meta AI Segment Anything Model (SAM) can facilitate the manual digitalization of high-resolution images. This pre-trained model can assist in extracting features of interest in a diverse range of images. Here, we evaluated the performance of SAM through the Samgeo package, a Python-based wrapper for geospatial data, as it has not been applied to analyse remote sensing images for epidemiological studies. We tested the identification of two land cover classes of interest: water bodies and human settlements, using different UAV acquired imagery across five malaria-endemic areas in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. We employed manually placed point prompts and text prompts associated with specific classes of interest to guide the image segmentation and assessed the performance in the different geographic contexts. An average Dice coefficient value of 0.67 was obtained for buildings segmentation and 0.73 for water bodies using point prompts. Regarding the use of text prompts, the highest Dice coefficient value reached 0.72 for buildings and 0.70 for water bodies. Nevertheless, the performance was closely dependent on each object, landscape characteristics and selected words, resulting in varying performance. Recent models such as SAM can potentially assist manual digitalization of imagery by vector control programs, quickly identifying key features when surveying an area of interest. However, accurate segmentation still requires user-provided manual prompts and corrections to obtain precise segmentation. Further evaluations are necessary, especially for applications in rural areas.

IgG and IgM responses to the Plasmodium falciparum asexual stage antigens reflect respectively protection against malaria during pregnancy and infanthood.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a public health issue mostly seen in tropical countries. Until now, there is no effective malaria vaccine against antigens specific to the blood-stage of P. falciparum infection. Because the pathogenesis of malarial disease results from blood-stage infection, it is essential to identify the most promising blood-stage vaccine candidate antigens under natural exposure to malaria infection. A cohort of 400 pregnant women and their infants was implemented in South Benin. An active and passive protocol of malaria surveillance was established during pregnancy and infancy to precisely ascertain malaria infections during the follow-up. Twenty-eight antibody (Ab) responses specific to seven malaria candidate vaccine antigens were repeatedly quantified during pregnancy (3 time points) and infancy (6 time points) in order to study the Ab kinetics and their protective role. Abs were quantified by ELISA and logistic, linear and cox-proportional hazard model were performed to analyse the associations between Ab responses and protection against malaria in mothers and infants, taking into account socio-economic factors and for infants an environmental risk of exposure. The levels of IgM against MSP1, MSP2 and MSP3 showed an early protective response against the onset of symptomatic malaria infections starting from the 18th month of life, whereas no association was found for IgG responses during infancy. In women, some IgG responses tend to be associated with a protection against malaria risk along pregnancy and at delivery, among them IgG3 against GLURP-R0 and IgG2 against MSP1. The main finding suggests that IgM should be considered in vaccine designs during infanthood. Investigation of the functional role played by IgM in malaria protection needs further attention.

Encapsulation of Cadmium-Free InP-based Quantum Dots in Cross-Linked Core-Shell Microparticles via Coaxial Electrospraying.

Quantum dots (QDs) are inorganic semiconductornanocrystalscapable of emitting light. The current major challenge lies in theuseofheavy metals, which are known to be highly toxic to humans and pose significant environmental risks. Researchers have turned to indium (In) as a promising option for more environmentally benign QDs, specifically indium phosphide (InP). A significant obstacle remains in sustaining the long-term photostability of InP-based QDs when exposed to the environment. To tackle this, electrospraying is used in this work to protect indium phosphide/zinc selenide/zinc sulfide (InP/ZnSe/ZnS) QDs by embedding them within polymer core-shell microparticles of poly[(lauryl methacrylate)-co-(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)]/poly(methyl methacrylate)(poly(LMA-co-EGDMA)/PMMA). During the flight of droplets, the liquid monomer core of LMA and EGDMA with QDs is encapsulated by the solid shell of PMMA formed due to solvent evaporation, resulting in a liquid-core/solid-shell particle structure. After that, the captured core of monomers is polymerized into a cross-linked polymer with the embedded QDs via a thermal initiation. They demonstrate how a successful core-shell particle formation is achieved to produce structures for initially liquid monomer systems via coaxial electrospraying that are used for cross-linked polymers, which are of major interest for the encapsulation of InP-based QDs for generally improved photostability over pristineQDs.

Risk assessment of land subsidence based on GIS in the Yongqiao area, Suzhou City, China.

This study focuses on the Yongqiao District in Suzhou City, Anhui Province, China, aiming to analyze the current situation of ground settlement and its influencing factors in the area. The selected risk indices include settlement rate, cumulative settlement amount, groundwater level drop funnel, thickness of loose sediment layer, thickness of soft soil layer, and the number of groundwater extraction layers. Additionally, vulnerability indices such as population density, building density, road traffic, and functional zoning are considered. An evaluation index system for assessing land Subsidence risk was established. The risk evaluation of land Subsidence was conducted using the Hierarchical analysis-composite index method and ArcGIS spatial analysis, The evaluation results show that the area of higher risk area is about 2.82 km2, accounting for 0.96% of the total area, mainly distributed in the area of Jiuli village, Sanba Street. The middle risk area is distributed around the higher area, with an area of about 9.18 km2, accounting for 3.13% of the total area. The lower risk areas were distributed in most of the study area, covering an area of 222.24 km2, accounting for 75.82% of the total area. The low risk assessment area is mainly distributed in Bianhe Street and part of Zhuxianzhuang Town, with an area of about 58.88 km2, accounting for 20.09% of the total area. The findings of this study are not only crucial for informing local policies and practices related to land use planning, infrastructure development, and emergency response but also enhance our understanding of the complexities of land Subsidence processes and their interactions with human activities, informing future research and practice in environmental risk assessment and management.

The landscape of etiological patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand.

Thailand is among countries with the highest global incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). While viral hepatitis and liver fluke infections have been associated with HCC and iCCA, respectively, other environmental risk factors, overall risk factor commonality and combinatorial roles, and effects on survival have not been systematically examined. We conducted a TIGER-LC consortium-based population study covering all high-incidence areas of both malignancies across Thailand: 837 HCC, 1474 iCCA, and 1112 controls (2011-2019) were comprehensively queried on lifelong environmental exposures, lifestyle, and medical history. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate risk factors and associated survival patterns. Our models identified shared risk factors between HCC and iCCA, such as viral hepatitis infection, liver fluke infection, and diabetes, including novel and shared associations of agricultural pesticide exposure (OR range of 1.50; 95% CI: 1.06-2.11 to 2.91; 95% CI: 1.82-4.63) along with vulnerable sources of drinking water. Most patients had multiple risk factors, magnifying their risk considerably. Patients with lower risk levels had better survival in both HCC (HR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.64-0.96) and iCCA (HR 0.84; 95% CI: 0.70-0.99). Risk factor co-exposures and their common associations with HCC and iCCA in Thailand emphasize the importance for future prevention and control measures, especially in its large agricultural sector. The observed mortality patterns suggest ways to stratify patients for anticipated survivorship and develop plans to support medical care of longer-term survivors, including behavioral changes to reduce exposures.

Directional Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species via a Non-Redox Catalysis Strategy that Bypasses Electron Transfer Process.

A broad range of chemical transformations driven by catalytic processes necessitate the electron transfer between catalyst and substrate. The redox cycle limitation arising from the inequivalent electron donation and acceptance of the involved catalysts, however, generally leads to their deactivation, causing substantial economic losses and environmental risks. Here we provide a "non-redox catalysis" strategy wherein the catalytic units were constructed by atomic Fe and B as dual active sites to create tensile force and electric field, which allowed directional self-decomposition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) molecules through internal electron transfer to form singlet oxygen, bypassing the need of electron transfer between catalyst and PMS. The proposed catalytic approach with non-redox cycling of catalyst contributed to excellent stability of the active centers, while the generated reactive oxygen species found high efficiency in long-term catalytic pollutant degradation and selective organic oxidation synthesis in aqueous phase. This work offers new avenue for directional substrate conversion, which holds promise to advance the design of alternative catalytic pathways for sustainable energy conversion and valuable chemical production. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Phosphorus Environmental Risk Assessment in Wetland Soil

Phosphorus Environmental Risk Assessment in Wetland Soil

Regulatory framework for the assessment of the impacts of plant protection products on biodiversity: review of strengths and limits.

The placing of plant protection products (PPPs) on the market in the European Union is governed by numerous regulations. These regulations are among the most stringent in the world, however they have been the subject of criticisms especially because of the decline in biodiversity. The objectives of this work were to review (1) the functioning and actors involved in the PPP framework processes, (2) the construction of the environmental risk assessment focused on biodiversity, and (3) the suggested ways to respond to the identified limits. Both literature from social sciences and ecotoxicology were examined. Despite the protective nature of the European regulation on PPPs, the very imperfect consideration of biodiversity in the evaluation process was underlined. The main limits are the multiplicity of applicable rules, the routinization of the evaluation procedures, the lack of consideration of social data, and the lack of independence of the evaluation. Strengths of the regulation are the decision to integrate a systemic approach in the evaluation of PPPs, the development of modeling tools, and the phytopharmacovigilance systems. The avenues for improvement concern the realism of the risk assessment (species used, cocktail effects…), a greater transparency and independence in the conduct of evaluations, and the opening of the evaluation and decision-making processes to actors such as beekeepers or NGOs. Truly interdisciplinary reflections crossing the functioning of the living world, its alteration by PPPs, and how these elements question the users of PPPs would allow to specify social actions, public policies, and their regulation to better protect biodiversity.

Integrated framework to assess soil potentially toxic element contamination through 3D pollution analysis in a typical mining city.

Soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution of contaminated sites has become a global environmental issue. However, given that previous studies mostly focused on pollution assessment in surface soils, the current status and environmental risks of potentially toxic elements in deeper soils remain unclear. The present study aims to cognize distribution characteristics and spatial autocorrelation, pollution levels, and risk assessment in a stereoscopic environment for soil PTEs through 3D visualization techniques. Pollution levels were assessed in an integrated manner by combining the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the integrated influence index of soil quality (IICQs), and potential ecological hazard index. Results showed that soil environment at the site was seriously threatened by PTEs, and Cu and Cd were ubiquitous and the predominant pollutants in the study area. The stratigraphic models and pollution plume simulation revealed that pollutants show a decreasing trend with the deepening of the soil layer. The ranking of contamination soil volume is as follows: Cu > Cd > Zn > As > Pb > Cr > Ni. According to the IICQs evaluation, this region was subject to multiple PTE contamination, with more than 60% of the area becoming seriously and highly polluted. In addition, the ecological hazard model revealed the existence of substantial ecological hazards in the soils of the site. The integrated potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated that 45.7%, 10.13%, and 4.15% of the stereoscopic areas were in considerable, high, and very high risks, respectively. The findings could be used as a theoretical reference for applying multiple methods to integrate evaluation through 3D visualization analysis in the assessment and remediation of PTE-contaminated soils.

Autonomous navigation and collision prediction of port channel based on computer vision and lidar.

This study aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of port navigation by reducing ship collision accidents, minimizing environmental risks, and optimizing waterways to increase port throughput. Initially, a three-dimensional map of the port's waterway, including data on water depth, rocks, and obstacles, is generated through laser radar scanning. Visual perception technology is adopted to process and identify the data for environmental awareness. Single Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD) is utilized to position ships and obstacles, while point cloud data create a comprehensive three-dimensional map. In order to improve the optimal navigation approach of the Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree (RRT), an artificial potential field method is employed. Additionally, the collision prediction model utilizes K-Means clustering to enhance the Faster R-CNN algorithm for predicting the paths of other ships and obstacles. The results indicate that the RRT enhanced by the artificial potential field method reduces the average path length (from 500 to 430m), average time consumption (from 30 to 22s), and maximum collision risk (from 15 to 8%). Moreover, the accuracy, recall rate, and F1 score of the K-Means + Faster R-CNN collision prediction model reach 92%, 88%, and 90%, respectively, outperforming other models. Overall, these findings underscore the substantial advantages of the proposed enhanced algorithm in autonomous navigation and collision prediction in port waterways.

Colonization characteristics and surface effects of microplastic biofilms: Implications for environmental behavior of typical pollutants.

This paper summarizes the colonization dynamics of biofilms on microplastics (MPs) surfaces in aquatic environments, encompassing bacterial characteristics, environmental factors affecting biofilm formation, and matrix types and characteristics. The interaction between biofilm and MPs was also discussed. Through summarizing recent literatures, it was found that MPs surfaces offer numerous benefits to microorganisms, including nutrient enrichment and enhanced resistance to environmental stress. Biofilm colonization changes the surface physical and chemical properties as well as the transport behavior of MPs. At the same time, biofilms also play an important role in the fragmentation and degradation of MPs. In addition, we also investigated the coexistence level, adsorption mechanism, enrichment, and transformation of MPs by environmental pollutants mediated by biofilms. Moreover, an interesting aspect about the colonization of biofilms was discussed. Biofilm colonization not only had a great effect on the accumulation of heavy metals by MPs, but also affects the interaction between particles and environmental pollutants, thereby changing their toxic effects and increasing the difficulty of MPs treatment. Consequently, further attention and research are warranted to delve into the internal mechanisms, environmental risks, and the control of the coexistence of MPs and biofilms.

MicroRNAs in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cancer: Function and clinical application.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and it is associated with a combination of genetic, environmental, and microbial risk factors. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is classified as a type I carcinogen, however, the exact regulatory mechanisms underlying H. pylori-induced GC are incompletely defined. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), one of small non-coding RNAs, negatively regulate gene expression through binding to their target genes. Dysregulation of miRNAs is crucial in human cancer. A noteworthy quantity of aberrant miRNAs induced by H. pylori through complex regulatory networks have been identified. These miRNAs substantially affect genetic instability, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, autophagy, chemoresistance, and the tumor microenvironment, leading to GC development and progression. Importantly, some H. pylori-associated miRNAs hold promise as therapeutic tools and biomarkers for GC prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis. Nonetheless, clinical application of miRNAs remains in its infancy with multiple issues, including sensitivity and specificity, stability, reliable delivery systems, and off-target effects. Additional research on the specific molecular mechanisms and more clinical data are still required. This review investigated the biogenesis, regulatory mechanisms, and functions of miRNAs in H. pylori-induced GC, offering novel insights into the potential clinical applications of miRNA-based therapeutics and biomarkers.

PollinERA: Understanding pesticide-Pollinator interactions to support EU Environmental Risk Assessment and policy

PollinERA: Understanding pesticide-Pollinator interactions to support EU Environmental Risk Assessment and policy

Prediction of esophageal cancer risk based on genetic variants and environmental risk factors in Chinese population.

Results regarding whether it is essential to incorporate genetic variants into risk prediction models for esophageal cancer (EC) are inconsistent due to the different genetic backgrounds of the populations studied. We aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with EC among the Chinese population and to evaluate the performance of genetic and non-genetic factors in a risk model for developing EC. A meta-analysis was performed to systematically identify potential SNPs, which were further verified by a case-control study. Three risk models were developed: a genetic model with weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) based on promising SNPs, a non-genetic model with environmental risk factors, and a combined model including both genetic and non-genetic factors. The discrimination ability of the models was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the net reclassification index (NRI). The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the models. Five promising SNPs were ultimately utilized to calculate the wGRS. Individuals in the highest quartile of the wGRS had a 4.93-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.59 to 9.38) increased risk of EC compared with those in the lowest quartile. The genetic or non-genetic model identified EC patients with AUCs ranging from 0.618 to 0.650. The combined model had an AUC of 0.707 (95% CI: 0.669 to 0.743) and was the best-fitting model (AIC = 750.55, BIC = 759.34). The NRI improved when the wGRS was added to the risk model with non-genetic factors only (NRI = 0.082, P = 0.037). Among the three risk models for EC, the combined model showed optimal predictive performance and can help to identify individuals at risk of EC for tailored preventive measures.

Protocol for CARES–HAPIN: an ambidirectional cohort study on exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and risk of early childhood caries

IntroductionPrenatal and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been linked with early childhood caries (ECC), but the specific molecular mechanisms and pathways remain largely unknown. The Caries Risk...

Environmental Factors Associated with Risk of Crohn's Disease Development in the CCC-GEM Project.

To date, it is unclear how environmental factors influence Crohn's Disease (CD) risk and how they interact with biological processes. This study investigates the association between environmental exposures and CD risk and evaluates their association with pre-disease biomarkers. We studied 4,289 healthy first-degree relatives (FDRs) of CD patients from the Crohn's and Colitis Canada - Genetic, Environmental, Microbial (CCC-GEM) project. Regression models identified environmental factors associated with future CD onset and their association with pre-disease biological factors, including altered intestinal permeability measured by urinary fractional excretion of lactulose to mannitol ratio(LMR); gut inflammation via fecal calprotectin(FCP) levels; and fecal microbiome composition through 16S rRNA sequencing. Over a 5.62-year median follow-up, 86 FDRs developed CD. Living with a dog between ages 5-15 (HR=0.62; 95% CI=0.40-0.96; P = .034), and living with a large family size in the first year of life (HR=0.43; 95% CI=0.21-0.85; P = .016) were associated with decreased CD risk; whereas having a bird at the time of recruitment (HR=2.78; CI=1.36-5.68; P = .005) was associated with an increased CD risk. Furthermore, living with a dog was associated with reduced LMR, altered relative abundance of multiple bacterial genera, and increased Chao1 diversity; while bird owners had higher FCP levels. Large family during participants' first year of life was associated with altered microbiota composition without affecting FCP or LMR. This study identifies environmental variables associated with CD risk. These variables were also associated with altered barrier function, subclinical inflammation, and gut microbiome composition shifts, suggesting potential roles in CD pathogenesis.

Spatial distribution and environmental correlations of Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae)in Haidian district, Beijing.

Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett, 1898(Diptera: Culicidae)was the dominant health threat to mosquito species in Beijing, and it is important to unravel the spatial distribution and environmental correlations of Cx. pipiens pallens in Beijing. 3S technology methods and spatial statistics were used to clarify the distribution pattern. Subsequently, linear and spatial regression were performed to detect the environmental factors linked with the density of Cx. pipiens pallens. The same "middle peak" spatial distribution pattern was observed for Cx. pipiens pallens density at the community, subdistrict, and loop area levels in our study area. In addition, there were various correlated environmental factors at the community and subdistrict scales. At the community scale, the summary values of the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) in 2 km buffer zone (MNDWI_2K) were negatively correlated, and the summary values of Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) in 800 m buffer zone (NDBI_800) was positively correlated to the Cx. pipiens pallens density. However, the summary values of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Nighttime Light Index significantly affected Cx. pipiens pallens density at the subdistrict scale. Our findings provide insight into the spatial distribution pattern of Cx. pipiens pallens density and its associated environmental risk factors at different spatial scales in the Haidian district of Beijing for the first time. The results could be used to predict the Cx. pipiens pallens density as well as the risk of lymphatic filariasis (LF) infection, which would help implement prevention and control measures to prevent future risks of biting and LF transmission in Beijing.

Third International Conference “Genetically modified organism: the history, achievements, social and environmental risks”

Third International Conference “Genetically modified organism: the history, achievements, social and environmental risks”

Environmental health risks faced by operating room nurses: A descriptive study

BackgroundThere is limited research on the environmental risks faced by operating room nurses (ORNs). This prospective descriptive study aimed to identify the risk factors encountered by ORNs in their work environment. MethodsThe study included 139 ORNs working in six hospitals in southeastern Turkey. Data were collected between September 2019 and February 2020 through a questionnaire using the Occupational Risk Factors Scale and analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. ResultsORNs reported varying types and rates of risks, including radiation, biological, ergonomic, chemical, psychological, and physical risks. Common risk factors included infection, radiation and chemical exposure, musculoskeletal issues from prolonged standing, exposure to extreme cold, and heavy workloads. Risk levels vary based on age, education, experience, certification, and work assignment. ConclusionsThese identified risk factors must be addressed by implementing national education programs focusing on factors influencing safety in ORs.

A regressive analysis of the main environmental risk factors of human echinococcosis in 370 counties in China.

Echinococcosis is a natural focal, highly prevalent disease in China. Factors influencing the spread of echinococcosis are not only related to personal exposure but also closely related to the environment itself. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of environmental factors on the prevalence of human echinococcosis and to provide a reference for prevention and control of echinococcosis in the future. Data were collected from 370 endemic counties in China in 2018. By downloading Modis, DEM and other remote-sensing images in 2018. Data on environmental factors, i.e., elevation, land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were collected. Rank correlation analysis was conducted between each environmental factor and the prevalence of echinococcosis at the county level. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the impact of environmental factors on the prevalence of human echinococcosis at the county level. According to rank correlation analysis, the prevalence of human echinococcosis in each county was positively correlated with elevation, negatively correlated with LST, and negatively correlated with NDVI in May, June and July. Negative binomial regression showed that the prevalence of human echinococcosis was negatively correlated with annual LST and summer NDVI, and positively correlated with average elevation and dog infection rate. The prevalence of human cystic echinococcosis was inversely correlated with the annual average LST, and positively correlated with both the average elevation and the prevalence rate of domestic animals. The prevalence of human alveolar echinococcosis was positively correlated with both NDVI in autumn and average elevation, and negatively correlated with NDVI in winter. The prevalence of echinococcosis in the population is affected by environmental factors. Environmental risk assessment and prediction can be conducted in order to rationally allocate health resources and improve both prevention and control efficiency of echinococcosis.