Environmental Risk Research Articles

Which distribution to choose for deriving a species sensitivity distribution? Implications from analysis of acute and chronic ecotoxicity data

Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) estimated by fitting a statistical distribution to ecotoxicity data are indispensable tools used to derive the hazardous concentration for 5 % of species (HC5) and thereby a predicted no-effect concentration in environmental risk assessment. Whereas various statistical distributions are available for SSD estimation, the fundamental question of which statistical distribution should be used has received limited systematic analysis. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by applying four frequently used statistical distributions (log-normal, log-logistic, Burr type III, and Weibull distributions) to acute and chronic SSD estimation using aquatic toxicity data for 191 and 31 chemicals, respectively. Based on the differences in the corrected Akaike’s information criterion (AICc) as well as visual inspection of the fitting of the lower tails of SSD curves, the log-normal SSD was generally better or equally good for the majority of chemicals examined. Together with the fact that the ratios of HC5 values of other alternative SSDs to those of log-normal SSDs generally fell within the range 0.1–10, our findings indicate that the log-normal distribution can be a reasonable first candidate for SSD derivation, which does not contest the existing widespread use of log-normal SSDs.

Considering the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s for risk assessment of soils affected by different non-ferrous metal activities in Southwest China

Toxic metal(loid)s released into the soil by non-ferrous metal mining and smelting activities pose a serious threat to residents and the surrounding ecosystem. Considering only total metal(loid) concentrations likely overestimates routine (eco)toxicological risk assessment of soil. We hypothesize that considering metal(loid) bioavailability/accessibility will improve the accuracy of risk assessment. To test this hypothesis, four mining areas in Southwest China, including mining and surrounding sites, were studied. Bioavailability was determined considering metal(loid)s leached by a simulated strong acid rain (SSAR) treatment. In the four areas, the mining site showed higher cumulative releases of metal(loid)s under SSAR treatment than the agricultural field located in the surrounding sites. Thus, the bioavailable metal(loid)s contents were continuously being released during SSAR treatment and likely increased the environmental risk. Ecological and health risk assessment of soil, calculated using total metal(loid)s content, was corrected considering bioavailable/accessible metal(loid)s, which was determined by the heavy metal(loid)s forms and in vitro simulated intestinal stages. Although the corrected indices indicated that the risk of metal(loid)s-contaminated soil was reduced, unfavorable ecological and health risks remained in the four areas. Our study provides new perspectives to better predict the risk of bioavailable/accessible metal(loid)s in non-ferrous metal contaminated and surrounding soils.

Estimating potentially preventable ambient PM2.5-attributable adult deaths by improving air quality in Nepal

Air pollution is an important global environmental health risk factor, with many Asian countries experiencing alarming levels in recent decades. Nepal, a South Asian country, has been facing severe degradation in air quality in recent years, where data are scarce on the health impact of air pollution, especially at sub-national levels. In this study, we investigated ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-attributable adult (≥25 years) premature mortality in Nepal, analyzed its long-term trend, and estimated potentially preventable adult mortality under different improved air quality scenarios defined using the World Health Organization's (WHO) interim targets (IT) and the air quality goal (AQG). Leveraging an open-source high-resolution PM2.5 dataset and an age-specific population dataset, we employed the Global Exposure Mortality Model to estimate mean and 95% confidence intervals of PM2.5-attributable adult mortality using Monte Carlo simulations. We estimated the country-level NCD + LRI (non-communicable diseases and lower respiratory infections) adult deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure as 48881 (95% CI: 37175−61470), and the PM2.5-attributable NCD + LRI adult mortality rate as 267 (95% CI: 203−335) per 100000 in 2019. The adult mortality burden consistently increased during 2000–2019. Moreover, improving air quality to the WHO ITs and AQG could prevent an estimated 9690 (95% CI: 7698−11812) to 39419 (95% CI: 30311−49277) premature adult deaths across the country in 2019. Our findings suggest that the adult mortality burden due to air pollution in Nepal is substantial, which offers an opportunity to prevent a considerable number of premature adult deaths by mitigating air pollution in the country.

Management of pharmaceutical waste in the Babylon Governorate

Management of pharmaceutical waste in the Babylon Governorate

Environmental Exposures and Risks During Pregnancy.

The Women in Wilderness Medicine Research Committee of the Wilderness Medical Society conducted a narrative review to address considerations for pregnant individuals in wilderness environments. There is limited evidence behind many opinion-based recommendations on the safety of various environmental exposures in pregnancy. The authors reviewed the literature for the best available evidence, including observational studies, case series, limited controlled trials, and extrapolation from physiological data, as well as evaluating expert consensus statements. The benefits of exposure to natural environments include better pregnancy outcomes and improved maternal mental and physical health. Risks are similar to nonpregnant individuals with the added risks associated with maternal-fetal physiology in wilderness environments and difficulties of evacuation. This narrative review discusses pregnancy-specific concerns in extreme environments, including high altitude, hypothermia, hyperthermia, lightning strikes, envenomations, and common outdoor exposures.

Role of nonspecific risk factors in atopic dermatitis

The increasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) over recent decades suggests that environmental factors play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. Nonspecific factors refer to external (or exposomal) factors and include human and natural factors that influence the health of a population: for example, the socioeconomic status of the patient; climate, including air temperature, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, air pollution; and living in a city or rural area. Although studies have shown the influence of these factors on the course of AD, in general, none of them significantly increases or decreases the risk of developing the disease. This review briefly discusses studies on the role of nonspecific environmental risk factors and their impact on the course of AD in children and adults.

Green investment policy and maturity mismatch of investment and financing in China's heavily polluting enterprises

In the context of China's heavily polluting enterprises facing a challenge of maturity mismatch due to long payback cycles and environmental risks, this study investigates the potential impact of China's ‘Green Investment Guidelines (Trial)’ released in 2018. The guidelines serve as a policy focal point, aiming to address the challenges posed by long payback cycles and environmental risks in the investment projects of these enterprises. Analyzing data from 2015 to 2021, our findings reveal a negative correlation between the guidelines and the maturity mismatch problem. Long-term investment emerges as a crucial intermediary variable in this relationship. Notably, the inhibitory effect is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, firms with weak governance capabilities, and those with high ownership concentration.

Poor air quality at school and educational inequality by family socioeconomic status in Italy

This paper investigates social stratification in the context of poor air quality's impact on educational achievement in Italy, a country characterized by high levels of air pollution and significant geographical diversity. We address two primary questions: firstly, whether students from different socio-economic backgrounds vary in their exposure to high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) at school, and secondly, if the effect of exposure to poor air quality on academic performance differs between children from high and low socio-economic status families. Utilizing a novel dataset comprising test scores in math and reading for 456,508 8th-grade students, collected nationally in Italy in 2019, we geocode the locations of 6882 schools based on their addresses and link the level of air pollution in the surrounding areas using PM2.5 data from the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group. To address potential confounding factors, we estimate municipality and province fixed effects and control for indicators of school neighborhood characteristics and school quality. Our analysis yields three key findings. Firstly, students from higher socio-economic backgrounds tend to attend schools with higher PM2.5 levels. However, the positive association between SES and exposure to PM2.5 disappears when adding province and municipality fixed effects, suggesting that the positive association can be explained by selection into provinces and municipalities by SES. Secondly, we identify a small yet consistent negative effect of PM2.5 on math and reading test scores. Thirdly, this adverse impact is primarily observed among students from low socio-economic backgrounds. We conclude that the relationship between environmental risks and disparities in educational achievement based on social background in Italy is nuanced and critically influenced by the country's specific context.

Investigation of the effects and mechanisms of manganese-based NMs on rice growth.

Manganese-based (Mn-based) nanomaterials (NMs) have great potential as alternatives to conventional Mn fertilizers. Yet, its environmental risks and effects on plant growth are not completely well understood. This study investigated the physiological effects of manganese dioxide (MnO2) and manganese tetroxide (Mn3O4) NMs on inter-root exposure (0-500 mg/L) of hydroponically grown rice. The results showed that on inter-root exposure, 50 mg/L Mn-based NMs promoted the uptake of mineral elements and enhanced the enzymatic activities of antioxidant systems (CAT and SOD) in rice, whereas 500 mg/L Mn3O4 NMs disrupted the mineral element homeostasis and led to phytotoxicity. The promotion effect of MnO2 NMs was better, firstly because MnO2 NMs treatment had lower Mn content in the plant than Mn3O4 NMs. In addition, MnO2 NMs are more transported and absorbed in the plant in ionic form, while Mn3O4 NMs exist in granular form. MnO2 NMs and Mn3O4 NMs both can be used as nano-fertilizers to improve the growth of rice by inter-root application, but the doses should be carefully selected.

Ground Tire Rubber as a Sustainable Additive: Transforming Desert Sand Behavior

AbstractManaging waste tires presents a significant challenge globally, particularly in regions experiencing high temperatures and shortage of landfill sites. This issue is affecting countries like Kuwait, where the abundance of waste tires is a major source of environmental and safety risks, particularly during the intensely hot summer months. This extreme heat has sparked numerous fires, leading to substantial air pollution due to thick black smoke. Given the limited disposal options, recycling waste tires and finding practical applications for ground tire rubber (GTR) is essential. To address the challenge, a comprehensive laboratory testing program was conducted, using locally produced rubber aggregates as an additive to Kuwait's local surface sands. Two new variables were examined namely the size and gradation of the GTR, and the density of the compacted mixes. For this purpose, two different sizes of rubber aggregates, fine and coarse produced locally, were utilized, and the impact of relative compaction on the strength and compressibility of the mixtures was investigated by testing samples compacted to the maximum density and to 95% of the maximum density. The results suggest that combining local surface sands with rubber tire additives results in a lighter, more permeable, and compressible material, contributing significantly to sustainable waste management. With 20% rubber additive the maximum dry density decreased by nearly 20%, and the permeability increased by 1.74–3.11 times and the compression index increased by 6.15 and 3.8 times with fine and coarse rubber respectively. The angle of friction remained unchanged at 36° with the addition of coarse rubber and decreased by 3°–4° with fine rubber. The change in behavior although not an increase in the strength and stiffness, offers a range of suitable practical applications in civil engineering and environmental management, including use as a drainage layer, embankment construction on soft ground, earth fill around retaining walls, an additive in asphalt mixes, and in manufacturing compressible tiles for sports facilities.

An aquaculture risk model to understand the causes and consequences of Atlantic Salmon mass mortality events: A review

AbstractMass mortality events (MMEs) are defined as the death of large numbers of fish over a short period of time. These events can result in catastrophic losses to the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry and the local economy. However, they are challenging to understand because of their relative infrequency and the high number of potential factors involved. As a result, the causes and consequences of MMEs in Atlantic salmon aquaculture are not well understood. In this study, we developed a structural network of causal risk factors for MMEs for aquaculture and the communities that depend on Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) technique, we analysed the causes of Atlantic salmon mass mortalities due to environmental (abiotic), biological (biotic) and nutritional risk factors. The consequences of MMEs were also assessed for the occupational health and safety of aquaculture workers and their implications for the livelihoods of local communities. This structural network deepens our understanding of MMEs and points to management actions and interventions that can help mitigate mass mortalities. MMEs are typically not the result of a single risk factor but are caused by the systematic interaction of risk factors related to the environment, fish diseases, feeding/nutrition and cage‐site management. Results also indicate that considerations of health and safety risk, through pre‐ and post‐event risk assessments, may help to minimize workplace injuries and eliminate potential risks of human fatalities. Company and government‐assisted socio‐economic measures could help mitigate post‐mass mortality impacts. Appropriate and timely management actions may help reduce MMEs at Atlantic salmon cage sites and minimize the physical and social vulnerabilities of workers and local communities.

Environmental legal institutions and management earnings forecasts: Evidence from the establishment of environmental courts in China

This paper investigates whether and how managers of highly polluting firms adjust their earnings forecast behaviors in response to the introduction of environmental legal institutions. Using the establishment of environmental courts in China as a quasi-natural experiment, our triple difference-in-differences (DID) estimation shows that environmental courts significantly increase the likelihood of management earnings forecasts for highly polluting firms, compared to non-highly polluting firms. This association becomes more pronounced for firms with stronger monitoring power, higher environmental litigation risk, and greater earnings uncertainty. Additionally, we show that highly polluting firms improve the precision and accuracy of their management earnings forecasts following the establishment of environmental courts. Furthermore, we provide evidence that our results do not support the opportunistic perspective that suggests managers strategically issue more positive earnings forecasts to inflate stakeholders' expectations subsequent to the implementation of environmental courts. Overall, our research indicates that environmental legal institutions make firms with greater environmental concerns to provide more forward-looking information, thereby alleviating stakeholders’ apprehensions regarding future profitability prospects.

Meteorological, demographic, and environmental risk factors for Leishmania infantum in wildlife

Leishmania infantum is an important and neglected vector-borne zoonotic protozoa endemic in the Mediterranean basin. Several wild and domestic mammals can contribute to maintaining its circulation but their importance as effective reservoirs is still under discussion and varies depending on local ecological communities. By combining environmental, climatic, and individual information, this study assessed the presence of L. infantum DNA in a set of wild species from Northwestern Italy and the potential ecological factors related to the risk of infection. From 2020 to 2022, 304 free-ranging wild animals were analyzed for the detection of L. infantum DNA in the spleen and popliteal lymph node (when available).The prevalence obtained in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was higher than those previously reported (% ± confidence interval 95%; 42.9 ± 18.4% and 27 ± 6.6% in wild boar and roe deer, respectively), and this is the first report of this parasite infecting the coypu Myocastor coypus (60 ± 34.7%). L. infantum DNA was detected in all the seasons including those free of adult sandflies and seasonal differences were minimal, suggesting a long course of infection. The models revealed that animals from rainy areas with higher greenness during the summer, highly populated by humans and predominantly covered by water surfaces had a higher risk of L. infantum.This study contributes to confirming previous findings on the existence of a sylvatic cycle for L. infantum in certain regions of Italy, as well as on the potential epidemiological role of roe deer for this parasite given the elevated prevalence found.

Construction of fungicide nano delivery platform through crystal engineering for sustainable fungal control

The adverse effects resulting from off-target pesticide application pose significant risks to both ecosystems and public health. Therefore, developing a pesticide delivery system that is straightforward, effective, and devoid of secondary pollution is crucial for environmental safety. Herein, self-assembled crystalline materials involved pyrimethanil (PYR) and organic acids were constructed by crystal engineering. These materials allowed for direct manipulation of the physicochemical properties and environmental fate of PYR by the building modules. The melting point of PYR was increased from 96.19 °C to 206.69 °C. The photostability and volatile stability were improved by 3.85-fold and 297-fold, respectively. Afterwards, these crystalline materials were prepared as nano cocrystal suspensions (NCSs) in water by the one-pot method. The PYR NCSs exhibited potent bioactivity against Botrytis cinerea and demonstrated slow-release behavior. Upon foliar spraying, the PYR NCSs exhibited desirable foliar wettability with a contact angle lower than 36°. By limiting leaching into the soil and reducing environmental pesticide exposure, PYR NCS ensured the safety of both earthworms and plants. The structure–property relationships of PYR NCSs were elucidated through intermolecular interaction analysis and theoretical calculations. Overall, the NCSs constructed by the supramolecular chemistry strategy are characterized by the simple preparation, high bioactivity, stability, no carrier, slow-release, and minimal environmental risk, which offers insight for improving the utilization and sustainable management of pesticides.

223 Survey of veterinarians who use pentobarbital for euthanasia suggests knowledge gaps regarding animal disposal

Abstract To assess 1) knowledge and practices of veterinarians regarding disposal of euthanized animals, 2) the extent to which veterinarians communicate with their clients about potential risks of rendering pentobarbital-euthanized animals, and 3) the extent to which veterinarians communicate potential relay toxicosis and environmental risks of pentobarbital-euthanized animals to clients. Over a 3-wk period in early 2021, 16,831 of the 99,500 members of the AVMA were surveyed, with 2,093 responses (a 12% response rate). Respondents were assigned to 1 of 3 categories on the basis of their answers: veterinarians euthanizing only food-producing species, veterinarians euthanizing only non–food-producing species, and veterinarians euthanizing both food-producing and non–food-producing species (i.e., veterinarians euthanizing mixed species). Veterinarians responding to this survey appeared to be aware of the major methods of animal disposal, and about 89% reported communicating the method of euthanasia with clients to help ensure appropriate animal disposal. However, the need for additional education on local, state, and federal laws and rendering, as well as on risks of relay toxicosis including wildlife predation and environmental impacts, was reported. Survey results identified gaps in knowledge of veterinarian regarding animal disposal following pentobarbital euthanasia. Further education on this topic may be beneficial, particularly for early- and mid-career veterinarians who euthanize non–food-producing species and for veterinarians who euthanize mixed species in urban and suburban communities.

Predicted concentrations of antineoplastic drugs in the aquatic environment: The case of Ría de Vigo (NW, Spain)

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) mandates Environmental Risk Assessments (ERAs) since 2006 to determine potential risks of new marketed medicines. Drugs with a Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC) in inland surface waters exceeding 0.01 μg L−1 require further environmental risk assessment. PEC may be refined based on prevalence data and/or based on the treatment regimen. In this study, based on EMA regulations, refined PEC of 108 antineoplastic drugs in coastal waters were determined based on the consumption in a coastal health area during 2021, identifying six drugs with potential environmental risk in surface waters (hydroxyurea, capecitabine, abiraterone, ibrutinib, imatinib and 5-fluorouracil) and two in marine ecosystem (hydroxyurea and capecitabine). Comparison of these refined PECs with data from marketing laboratories revealed significant disparities, suggesting the need for regular updates, especially with changes in drug indications or financing. Notably, the identified drugs are not yet on the main reference lists of emerging contaminants.

The effect of proximity on risk perception: A systematic literature review

The use of geospatial analytical tools has recently advanced risk perception research, with growing interest in spatial dimension. Available reviews of risk perception studies usually focus on specific types of risk or look at various socio-psychological, cognitive and cultural factors, and there are no systematic reviews of empirical research analysing the effect of proximity on risk perception. This article synthesizes the evidence from 81 empirical studies that investigate the significance of proximity on subjective risk perception. The systematic review focused on summaries of research methods, samples, geographic coverage, measurements and direction of influence of proximity variables on risk perception and types and sources of risk. The majority of the studies analysed implemented quantitative research. The most popular data collection methods were face-to-face interviews and postal surveys, but only half had representative samples. Studies looking into the effect of proximity on risk perception most often analysed environmental and technological risks. Two-thirds of the empirical studies found a significant impact of proximity on risk perception; the majority of these showed a positive correlation, with respondents living closer to hazards having higher risk perceptions. Negative correlations of risk perception with proximity are more characteristic of nuclear risks. Co-occurrence analysis of sources-of-risk and objects-at-risk has identified three most frequent clusters: impact of floods on economic properties; impact of other natural hazards on economic properties and impact of industrial facilities on health and lives.

Ensemble multiclassification model for predicting developmental toxicity in zebrafish

In recent years, with the rapid development of society, organic compounds have been released into aquatic environments in various forms, posing a significant threat to the survival of aquatic organisms. The assessment of developmental toxicity is an important part of environmental safety risk systems, helping to identify the potential impacts of organic compounds on the embryonic development of aquatic organisms and enabling early detection and warning of potential ecological risks. Additionally, binary classification models cannot accurately classify organic compounds. Therefore, it is crucial to construct a multiclassification model for predicting the developmental toxicity of organic compounds. In this study, binary and multiclassification models were developed based on the ToxCast™ Phase I chemical library and literature data. The random forest, support vector machine, extreme gradient boosting, adaptive gradient boosting, and C5.0 decision tree algorithms, as well as 8 types of molecular fingerprint were used to establish a multiclassification base model for predicting developmental toxicity through 5-fold cross-validation and external validation. Ultimately, a multiclassification ensemble model was derived through a voting method. The performance of the binary ensemble model, as measured by the balanced accuracy, was 0.918, while that of the multiclassification model was 0.819. The developmental toxicity voting ensemble model (DT-VEM) achieved accuracies of 0.804, 0.834, and 0.855. Furthermore, by utilizing the XGBoost machine learning algorithm to construct separate models for molecular descriptors and substructure molecular fingerprints, we identified several substructures and physical properties related to developmental toxicity. Our research contributes to a more detailed classification of developmental toxicity, providing a new and valuable tool for predicting the developmental toxicity effects of unknown compounds. This supplement addresses the limitations of previous tools, as it offers an enhanced ability to predict potential developmental toxicity in novel compounds.

Disaster waste and debris clean-up decisions of government actors in the United States: social process and socio-material systems

ABSTRACT In the United States, debris removal is one of the costliest and most time-consuming elements of disaster response and recovery. It is essential to reducing secondary environmental and health risks, and to community recovery and rebuilding. Analysis of debris removal and waste management, though, primarily treats it as a series of operational steps and technical decisions. In contrast, this article analyses disaster debris removal decision-making as a social process. We present the findings of an ethnographic study that engaged over 70 government actors from federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies in focus groups and interviews. By examining the experiences of these actors, who are central to debris removal decisions, this article identifies decision points that send waste down particular pathways from collection to final disposal. Three operational areas of concern that emerge from the analysis are: local control and capacity, cost and reimbursement, and balance between urgency and sustainability. This article shows how social processes in particular socio-material systems shape these decisions, such as the interplay of waste and disaster institutional arrangements. Finally, it shares practical implications for social process workarounds to operational challenges, such as interagency and interlevel relationships, that can support on-the-ground decision-making.

Enhanced hepatotoxicity in zebrafish due to co-exposure of microplastics and sulfamethoxazole: Insights into ROS-mediated MAPK signaling pathway regulation

The combined pollution of microplastics (MPs) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) often occurs in aquatic ecosystems, posing a serious threat to animal and human health. However, little is known about the liver damage caused by the single or co-exposure of MPs and SMZ, and its specific mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of co-exposure to 20 μm or 80 nm MPs and SMZ in both larval and adult zebrafish models. Firstly, we observed a significant decrease in the number of hepatocytes and the liver damage in larval zebrafish worsened following co-exposure to SMZ and MPs. Additionally, the number of macrophages and neutrophils decreased, while the expression of inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant enzyme activities increased after co-exposure in larval zebrafish. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant changes in gene expression in the co-exposed groups, particularly in processes related to oxidation-reduction, inflammatory response, and the MAPK signaling pathway in the liver of adult zebrafish. Co-exposure of SMZ and MPs also promoted hepatocyte apoptosis and inhibited proliferation levels, which was associated with the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and an increase in protein levels of Nrf2 and NF-kB p65 in the adult zebrafish. Furthermore, our pharmacological experiments demonstrated that inhibiting ROS and blocking the MAPK signaling pathway partially rescued the liver injury induced by co-exposure both in larval and adult zebrafish. In conclusion, our findings suggest that co-exposure to SMZ and MPs induces hepatic dysfunction through the ROS-mediated MAPK signaling pathway in zebrafish. This information provides novel insights into the potential environmental risk of MPs and hazardous pollutants co-existence in aquatic ecosystems.