European Level Research Articles

The overall fractions of coronary heart diseases and depression attributable to multiple dependent psychosocial work factors in Europe.

The literature is nonexistent on the assessment of overall fractions of diseases attributable to multiple dependent psychosocial work factors. The objectives of the study were to calculate the overall fractions of coronary heart diseases (CHD) and depression attributable to multiple dependent psychosocial work factors in 35 European countries. We used already published fractions of CHD and depression attributable to each of the following psychosocial work factors: job strain, effort-reward imbalance, job insecurity, long working hours, and workplace bullying. We took all exposures and their correlations into account to calculate overall attributable fractions. Wald tests were performed to test differences in these overall attributable fractions between genders and between countries. The overall fractions of CHD and depression attributable to all studied psychosocial work factors together were found to be 8.1% [95% CI: 2.0-13.9] and 26.3% [95% CI: 16.2-35.5] respectively in the 35 European countries. There was no difference between genders and between countries. Our study showed that the overall fractions attributable to all studied psychosocial work factors were substantial especially for depression. These overall attributable fractions may be particularly useful to evaluate the burden and costs attributable to psychosocial work factors, and also to inform policies makers at European level.

Implementing the EU HTA regulation: Insights from semi-structured interviews on patient expectations, Belgian and European institutional perspectives, and industry outlooks

Introduction: The goal of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Regulation 2021/2282 is to establish a more harmonized HTA framework, fostering member states cooperation and enabling equal patient access to innovative health technologies in Europe. This research aimed to assess the impact of the regulation on national HTAs, the strategic implications for health technology developers, and its influence on price and reimbursement negotiations.Methods: A scoping literature review encompassing peer-reviewed literature as well as grey literature was conducted. Between February and March 2023, semi-structured interviews (n = 20) were performed with stakeholders from Belgian governmental institutions, European institutions, advanced therapy medicinal product developers, academics, and sickness funds. The interviews were analyzed using the framework analysis method.Results: Numerous steps, such as the development of implementing acts and procedural guidelines remain to be taken. At member state level, national/regional HTA bodies and payers must act to adopt the new concepts of Joint Scientific Consultations (JSC) and Joint Clinical Assessments (JCA) within their national legislation, as well as revise their timelines and prepare for interactions at a European level. Compiling a harmonized PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome), adapting local procedures, and increasing capacity to actively take part in the JSC and JCA are seen as primary barriers by several stakeholders. Training and education will help HTA bodies, payers, and health technology developers to participate in the European processes.Conclusion: While practical and legal challenges were identified, recommendations (such as actively preparing for the upcoming changes and increasing capacity while providing training) were provided to adapt national and European procedures to the needs of the HTA Regulation 2021/2282. The importance of fostering collaborations and aligning local HTA procedures with the new way of working set out by the Regulation was demonstrated with this study.

Exploring Morphological Population Variability: Host Plant and Habitat Dependency in the Protected Moth Gortyna borelii (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

In this paper, we discuss the evolutionary implications of the correlation between different species of Peucedanum plants and the distribution of Gortyna borelii moth populations in Romania. We highlight geographic separation and isolation among these populations due to anthropogenic landscape fragmentation, which hinders genetic exchange. A geometric morphometric analysis was utilized to visualize and compare the morphometric variations in relation to the environmental variables, particularly the host plant. Additionally, the distribution of G. borelii populations across Europe and in Romania that are correlated with the host plant was analyzed. The significant morphological and morphometric differences between the analyzed populations support our working hypothesis, according to which the use of different Peucedanum species by the larvae of G. borelii leads to an intraspecific diversification correlated with the host plant species. The newly discovered population of G. borelii in Romania holds substantial conservation importance, necessitating protection measures, including demarcating habitat areas and raising awareness among stakeholders. G. borelii is a protected species at the European level (Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, Appendices II and IV), considered endangered due to the isolation of its populations and anthropogenic pressures exerted through agricultural practices. Understanding the impact of agricultural practices on their habitat is crucial for effective management strategies. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex interplay between ecological adaptation, host plant specialization, and speciation dynamics in phytophagous insects, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to preserve G. borelii populations and their habitats.

Biodiversity dataset and atlas of the special area of conservation Montesinho/Nogueira, Portugal

The special area of conservation Montesinho/Nogueira (SAC-MN) is a key area for biodiversity conservation in the Iberian Peninsula. Covering an area of approximately 1081 km² in the northeast of Portugal mainland, the SAC-MN is home to a wide range of species, including several endemic and endangered species and priority habitats. Despite its ecological significance and importance for conservation, there is a lack of publicly available biodiversity data, which urges the need to create a comprehensive and up-to-date biodiversity dataset for the SAC-MN. To bridge the knowledge gap on biodiversity in SAC-MN, we undertook a thorough data collection process, including species occurrence records and conservation status information at regional (Portugal) and European levels, from multiple sources. We collected and compiled this information for five major taxonomic groups (amphibians, birds, flora - vascular plants, mammals and reptiles) in SAC-MN, resulting in a total of 31,871 records with 1,312 documented species. In addition, we developed an easy-to-navigate web-based geographic information system (Web GIS). In this article, we present an in-depth report on the process of compiling and preparing data, as well as the development and design of our Web GIS to increase awareness and enhance understanding of the importance of preserving biodiversity in SAC-MN.

Good practices and educational innovation for improving well-being of migrant and refugee children. Insights from the IMMERSE H2020 research project

The term “good practice” refers to an innovative and creative solution crafted to enhance the living conditions and, consequently, the well-being of individuals and communities. However, this concept is profoundly contextual. A project, process, or outcome can be deemed “good” or “innovative” only concerning a particular context and its capacity to meet a specific need. Hence, adopting and adapting a good practice originating from elsewhere to a new context must be approached on a case-by-case basis. This article outlines the methodology utilized to analyse the good practices gathered at the European level within the Horizon 2020 IMMERSE research project. In this study, we have combined the primary indicators of migrant and refugee children integration with the conventional criteria for identifying a good practice (such as efficacy, efficiency, and transferability) to identify exemplary practices. Ultimately, the article offers an empirical evaluation to underscore and scrutinize some of the most pertinent initiatives identified, intending to propose a series of policy recommendations geared towards enhancing well-being and fostering successful pathways for the integration of migrant and refugee children.

Prevention of alcohol exposed pregnancies in Europe: the FAR SEAS guidelines

IntroductionDrinking during pregnancy is the leading cause of birth defects and child developmental disorders in Europe. The adverse effects of drinking during pregnancy may include physical, behavioural and cognitive problems, known collectively as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Evidence-based comprehensive recommendations at the European level on how to implement preventive and treatment policies to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancies are needed. FAR SEAS, a tendered service contract (number 20,187,106) awarded by the European Commission, aimed at developing guidelines to respond to this knowledge gap.MethodsFAR SEAS recommendations were built on (1) a two-phase review of interventions, (2) an international expert consultation, and (3) a pilot study on prevention of FASD conducted in the Mazovia region of Poland. The review of interventions included nineteen electronic open access databases, several repositories of grey literature and a key informant consultation covering most European Union (EU) countries and an additional guidelines search. After triangulating sources, 94 records were collected. Experts contributed in the design of the research questions, addressing the gaps in the literature and reviewing the recommendations formulated. The Polish pilot added nuances from real world practice to the formulated recommendations, resulting in the final set of guidelines for dissemination.ResultsThe FAR SEAS Guidelines comprise 23 recommendations grouped into different topics areas of policies, communication strategies, screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment, treatment and social services. The recommendations highlight the need to respect women’s autonomy and avoid discrimination and stigmatization; using universal screening for women of childbearing age, including detection of other psychosocial risks (such as domestic violence); and individualized, comprehensive and multidisciplinary supportive interventions for those who require it, such as those with alcohol use disorders, including women’s partners. Policies to prevent FASD should be multicomponent, and public health communication should combine information about the risks together with self-efficacy messages to promote changes.ConclusionsThe FAR SEAS guidelines are a tool to support policy-makers and service managers in implementing effective programmes to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure among general and at-risk population groups. FASD prevention has to involve comprehensive and multi-level evidence-based policies and practice, with services and activities tailored to the needs of women at differing levels of risk, and with due attention to reducing stigma.

Perception of photovoltaic energy consumption in the Spanish primary sector. An environmentally profitable alternative

Agriculture and livestock farming are activities that depend on energy consumption. Photovoltaic self-consumption systems can reduce the production costs of these actors, especially in periods of high-energy price volatility. This work aimed to determine the degree of implementation of photovoltaic self-consumption systems, their relationship with the economic impact of the energy crisis, and the perception of producers to use renewable energy sources in the Spanish agricultural system as it is one of the most important at European level. For this purpose, a survey of the Spanish agricultural and livestock system, involving 396 primary producers, was carried out between December 2022 and March 2023. The results suggest that self-consumption systems are in place in 49.1% of all farms and that these have had a positive effect in alleviating the rising energy costs suffered by the Spanish primary sector. In summary, Spanish primary producers generally have a favorable perception of the use of renewable energies on their farms, especially photovoltaic. However, the cluster analysis shows the fact that there are two types of producers, active and passive, from an environmental point of view. The characterization of this type of producers can help the Spanish Administration to improve the efficiency of its energy strategy, and can be a source of inspiration for the governments of other countries.

Household energy behaviour in the times of crisis: Lessons for policy initiatives from peripheral, fossil-dependent regions of the European Union

Drawing on the survey research conducted on a representative sample of 1200 Polish households living in peripheral, fossil-dependent regions, this paper explores the hitherto unrecognised changes in energy behaviour in the residential sector, which resulted from the increase in energy prices that initiated in 2022 after the Russia's invasion on Ukraine. We consider only no-tech and low-tech sustainable energy practices that meet the needs of households and deliver lasting reductions in domestic energy use and the increase of their energy efficiency. We concentrate on final energy consumption, i.e. energy behaviour related to heating houses, washing oneself and washing dishes, washing and drying clothes, as well as using TV, computers, household appliances and home lighting. We analyse the frequency of use of low-tech and no-tech practices and indicate the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households and home features that differentiate them. In addition, applying the method of association rules, we outline key traits of household exhibiting different types of energy behaviour, namely ‘avoid’, ‘shift’ and ‘improve’. We use this knowledge to formulate implications for policy initiatives at European, national and local levels aiming at increasing the inclusiveness of the energy transition process.

FoodEx2 Harmonization of the Food Consumption Database from the Italian IV SCAI Children's Survey.

Estimating the habitual food and nutrient intakes of a population is based on dietary assessment methods that collect detailed information on food consumption. Establishing the list of foods to be used for collecting data in dietary surveys is central to standardizing data collection. Comparing foods across different data sources is always challenging. Nomenclatures, detail, and classification into broad food groups and sub-groups can vary considerably. The use of a common system for classifying and describing foods is an important prerequisite for analyzing data from different sources. At the European level, EFSA has addressed this need through the development and maintenance of the FoodEx2 classification system. The aim of this work is to present the FoodEx2 harmonization of foods, beverages, and food supplements consumed in the IV SCAI children's survey carried out in Italy. Classifying foods into representative food categories predefined at European level for intake and exposure assessment may lead to a loss of information. On the other hand, a major advantage is the comparability of data from different national databases. The FoodEx2 classification of the national food consumption database represented a step forward in the standardization of the data collection and registration. The large use of FoodEx2 categories at a high level of detail (core and extended terms) combined with the use of descriptors (facets) has minimized information loss and made the reference food categories at country level comparable with different food databases at national and international level.

No Country for Sick Men: The Political Determinants of Health Policy in Poland.

The objective of this paper is to explain the political factors determining the relatively weak performance of the Polish health care (HC) sector. This can be treated as a critical case due to several reasons: first, the Poles as patients belong to the most unsatisfied ones in the European Union (EU), second, Poland spends on its HC-related expenditures one of the lowest shares of the GDP among the OECD countries, third, the number of doctors per 1000 inhabitants remains at the lowest European level, and the life expectancy in Poland is one of the lowest in the EU and is decreasing. The Authors argue that the policy inertia in the HC sector in Poland is determined by the group of inter-related political factors that effectively block the development of any positive trajectory in the Polish HC reforms. Of the various determinants analyzed the most significant appeared to be the post-communist legacy of the organization of the HC system, which combined with a short-term approach by politicians and weak decision-making processes in HC policy, makes any changes difficult to implement.

Integrated Portable and Stationary Health Impact-Monitoring System for Firefighters.

The multi-layered negative effects caused by pollutants released into the atmosphere as a result of fires served as the stimulus for the development of a system that protects the health of firefighters operating in the affected area. A collaborative network comprising mobile and stationary Internet of Things (IoT) devices that are furnished with gas sensors, along with a remote server, constructs a resilient framework that monitors the concentrations of harmful emissions, characterizes the ambient air quality of the vicinity where the fire transpires, adopting European Air Quality levels, and communicates the outcomes via suitable applications (RESTful APIs and visualizations) to the stakeholders responsible for fire management decision making. Different experimental evaluations adopting separate contexts illustrate the operation of the infrastructure.

The Effects of the Pandemic on Romanian Incoming Tourism

In this paper we study the impact of Covid-19 pandemics on the incoming tourism in Romania. Following the typology of crises in general and the specific nature of the Covid crisis, we will see what effects this most recent pandemic had globally and what economic policies were taken to counteract the adverse effects of the pandemic. We will see that the lockdown and mobility restrictions at European level have led to a free fall of the incoming tourism, increasing the share of domestic tourism on the one side, while on the other hand we observe the tendency of people to move to the countryside. There have been observed some trends that favoured nature tourism, but we also witnessed, that OECD recommends continuing with a more sustainable tourism. We witnessed in 2022 a recovery of tourism in the European Union, which seems to invalidate the trends reiterated by OECD. Through a statistical regression we try to forecast the trend of incoming tourism in Romania, which gives us two possible directions of its evolution. Analysing the pessimistic case, we also identify systemic risks at the level of Romanian incoming tourism, that is focusing on a few countries only, so we see diversification as a very urgent matter for Romanian tourism.

Untangling the cephalopod market: authentication of seafood products in Greece with DNA-barcoding

Cephalopod products are very popular in Greece and are considered a delicacy. However, heavy processing and marketing practices interfere with visual inspection and impede morphological identification, allowing species substitution. Mislabeling of seafood products remains a worldwide issue despite existing labeling regulations at local and European level. For the detection of fraudulent products, a variety of identification methods have been developed, however DNA barcoding remains the most favored. This study aims to investigate the cephalopod species sold in the country's seafood market and assess their mislabeling rates. Two mitochondrial genes, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the 16S ribosomal RNA (16S), were selected for the analyses. A total of 156 samples were collected from fishmongers, markets, and restaurants across four cities. Identification was successful in 93.58% of the samples and 59 discrepancies (40.41%) between the label and the identified species were recorded. However, in some cases, substitution might have been unintentional, caused by negligence, lack of detailed information on the label, and the overall low awareness of the legislation by retailers. High mislabeling rates were estimated, especially when compared against the average global substitution rate in seafood products but align with those reported by studies on cephalopod products. This study is the first to investigate mislabeling rates in cephalopod commodities in Greece. With the aim of a transparent seafood trade, our results highlight the need for monitoring of all seafood products available in the country's market.

Smile-and-go. Regional performance through global value chains in Europe

By applying the smile curve concept to regional value added growth rather than to levels, the paper claims that local value-added growth increases when a region is specialised in scarce natural resources or scarce human skills within a GVC. Under these circumstances, in fact, the region can establish favourable terms-of-trade. The results obtained at European regional level clearly show that regions rich of high and scarce skills and natural resources are those gaining the most out of GVCs’ participation, witnessing the existence of a “dynamic smile curve” and opening the issue of increasing regional inequalities in a period of global integration.

The Epidemiology of Chronic Hepatitis C: Where We Are Now

One of the main objectives of the World Health Organization is the eradication of viral hepatitis by 2030 by identifying subjects before disease progression. In 2019, only 21% of the 58 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) had been diagnosed, while overall 13% had been treated. The key recommendation of international screening programs is to reach the people at major risk of viral hepatitis and the general population. National plans, including that in Italy, have dedicated budget lines to support efforts to achieve the objective of elimination. The Italian program involves free screening for HCV in the general population born between 1969 and 1989 and also for all persons in the care of addiction services (Ser.D) and prisoners. The screening programs differed slightly among regions in Italy. In particular, referring to the screening for people born in the period of 1969–1989, in Tuscany, these people received an invitation by SMS to undergo a HCV antibody test. If the test results were positive, the subject was registered on a regional platform and required to undergo HCV RNA testing, prescribed by their GP. In the case of testing positive for HCV RNA, the linkage to care (i.e., patient entry into specialist care after diagnosis) is guaranteed. A strong effort is currently required to eliminate HCV effectively. This review highlights the most recent changes to the epidemiological scenario at the global, European, Italian, and regional (Tuscany) levels.

On Interferences between the Pannonian-Finnish Corridor and the Silk Road

Connections between the Balkan-Serbian-Pannonian corridor and the Pannonian-Finnish corridor extending to the Silk Road are multiple and complex. Thus Stefan Vladislav, son of Stefan Dragutin (King of Serbia) is depicted holding an axe by Hieromonk Stefan, symbol of his Árpádian ancestry, his Árpádian position, related to his victorious ancestor at Kerlés. In Wallachia, the saint popularly known as Philothea is depicted with the axe of St. Ladislaus. St. Catherine, depicted next to a breaking wheel, symbol of gnosis, but also the instrument of her death, or the martyrs, depicted by the Cross, symbol of Christ's divinity, but analogously, way of our death and redemption, give us a glimpse of St. Philothea's axe double meaning. Catherine, in her lives in Greek and in her hymnography, is called Philothea, the one who loves God. St. Philothea of Argeş is depicted in her lay attire, and she is not a nun, and by tradition she lived in the 13th century. St. Philothea, the historical one, lived in the 4th century, and was a nun. It is clear that it is another character. Although Euthymius of Tarnovo wrote about the life of this holy nun, there is no evidence that her relics existed at Tarnovo. In correlation with Ladislaus cycle, archetype for that, the earliest representation of the concept of liberating the state from a false emperor or illegitimate conqueror, is in Constantine's cup (dated after 300 AD), where Constantine liberates Sofia as a state from the pagan Licinius. The model monarch of Moscow, the monarchical ancestor of the era when Moscow became a state, is the main character of Skazanie o Drakule voievode. He is Vlad the Impaler. The ultimate expression, on European level, of the imperial nature of the Nemanjić branch who inherited the Árpádians in Ungrovlachia. The branch that preserved the name of the Árpádian imperial succession through the Nemanjić. Hungarian Vlach. And national consciousness. Dynasty symbolized by the axe of St. Ladislaus, which for this reason appears on Hungarian-Vlachian coins, including those of Mircea the Elder, next to the holy ancestor, as well as on the first coinage of Moscow, from the time of Ivan III. The presence of Ladislaus in that context on the Moscow coinage with Matthias Corvinus’ weapons but the name of Ivan III and the name of Moscow in the legend, shows us a possible archaic alternative genealogy of the rulers of Moscow, visible in the systematic election of the Hungarian kings, including Matthias’ in the Chronicle of Faces, whose death is depicted in detail there with Orthodox priests present and Serbian nobility next to him with the title of tsar. Roman and Vlahata is not only a text about Moldova, but also about the founding of Moscow, Caraș (the land of Criș), Maramureș and Moldova being landmarks of entrance to a north Pontic and north Caucasian corridor leading to Moscow. It is the mechanism of the Third Rome foundation, and the Romanovich family name, which later got linked to the Romanov dynasty, and archaically also added the history of the ancient Rurik family, also using that name, and the history of the Moldavian lords bearing these names and the city founded, confirms that yes, Moscow had become somewhat of a Hungarian-Wallachia. This ideology led to the adoption of the tree of Jesse in Moscow, but also to the somehow ethnic name of medieval Serbs, as rumâni, old Romans. The name game of Roma, Roman and Vlahata, and the ethnic name of the Serbs at St. Sava, rumâni, linked to the existence of a parallel medieval Hungarian legend about the eponymous heroes Hunor and Magor, which include, as in the case of the Romanovich, the names given at the time to the Hungarians (Hungarians and Magyars, respectively Romanians and Vlachs) shows us that the Hungarian-Wallachian ideology that inherited through Dragutin the Árpádians and the Nemanjić was also the state ideology of Moscow at the time. Basically these two chronicles, Hunor and Magor and Roman and Vlahata show us the history of the Jewish-Khazar world on the Moscow-Pannonia route. They came as Hunor and Magor, as Hungarian-Magyars, and returned as Serbs, as Roman and Vlahata, as Romanian-Wallachians. From Moscow to Pannonia-Ilyria and back again.

Learning of clinical pharmacology by future prescribers in Bologna: Teachers' and students' reflections on the way forward.

In this reflection paper, the authors, based on their experience as teachers and students of the courses of Pharmacology at the University of Bologna, reflect on their specific roles towards innovation in the teaching of Clinical Pharmacology. Strengths, weaknesses and challenges are presented as identified during the teaching and learning experience in the currently evolving medical degree programmes of the University in light of current trends in medical education. Keeping in mind the identified challenges together with the features proposed for the model prescriber (knowledgeable, contemporary, communicative and safe), we indicate some ways to improve the students' experience and make sure they develop up-to-date skills in Clinical Pharmacology taking advantage of recent ongoing collaborations at European level. International collaboration is indeed necessary to adequately address the current challenges of teaching clinical pharmacology. Our shared conclusion is that empowering students with a scientifically sound method to retrieve relevant information and developing their skills to communicate in an interprofessional and, wherever possible, international environment is the key to prepare future prescribers and, ultimately, to improve patient safety.

PANDEM-Source, a tool to collect or generate surveillance indicators for pandemic management: a use case with COVID-19 data.

PANDEM-Source (PS) is a tool to collect and integrate openly available public health-related data from heterogeneous data sources to support the surveillance of infectious diseases for pandemic management. The tool may also be used for pandemic preparedness by generating surveillance data for training purposes. It was developed as part of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 PANDEM-2 project during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of close collaboration in a consortium of 19 partners, including six European public health agencies, one hospital, and three first responder organizations. This manuscript describes PS's features and design to disseminate its characteristics and capabilities to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response. A requirement-gathering process with EU pandemic managers in the consortium was performed to identify and prioritize a list of variables and indicators useful for surveillance and pandemic management. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a use case, we developed PS with the purpose of feeding all necessary data to be displayed in the PANDEM-2 dashboard. PS routinely monitors, collects, and standardizes data from open or restricted heterogeneous data sources (users can upload their own data). It supports indicators and health resources related data from traditional data sources reported by national and international agencies, and indicators from non-traditional data sources such as those captured in social and mass media, participatory surveillance, and seroprevalence studies. The tool can also calculate indicators and be used to produce data for training purposes by generating synthetic data from a minimal set of indicators to simulate pandemic scenarios. PS is currently set up for COVID-19 surveillance at the European level but can be adapted to other diseases or threats and regions. With the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to keep building capacity to monitor potential threats and develop tools that can facilitate training in all the necessary aspects to manage future pandemics. PS is open source and its design provides flexibility to collect heterogeneous data from open data sources or to upload end users's own data and customize surveillance indicators. PS is easily adaptable to future threats or different training scenarios. All these features make PS a unique and valuable tool for pandemic management.

Microplastic pollution calls for urgent investigations in stygobiont habitats: A case study from Classical karst

Microplastic pollution in karst systems is still poorly studied, despite the presence of protected species and habitats, and important water reserves. Vulnerable key species hosted in these habitats could consume or assimilate microplastics, which can irreversibly damage management efforts, and thus ecosystems functionality. This can be particularly true for subterranean water habitats where microplastic pollution effects on wildlife management programs are not considered. The aim of this study is to provide a case study from the Classical Karst Region, which hosts peculiar habitats and key species protected at European level, such as the olm Proteus anguinus. As this area has been deeply exploited and modified over time, and is adjacent to highways, roads and railways, which could contribute to pollution within the karst system, threatening the ecosystems, it provides a perfect model system.In this study we collected and investigated water and sediment samples from aquatic environments of surface and subterranean habitats hosting several subterranean environment-adapted organisms. Examined particles were counted and characterized by size, color and shape via visual identification under a microscope, with and without UV light. Furthermore, spectroscopic analyses were carried out in order to identify microplastics typology. Microplastics were found in all examined habitats. In water, microplastics concentration ranged from 37 to 86 items/L, in sediments from 776 to 2064 items/kg. Fibre-shape was the main present, followed by fragments and beads, suggesting multiple sources of pollution, especially textile products. Most of the particles were fluorescent under UV light and were mainly transparent, while not-fluorescent ones were especially black, blue or brown. Samples contained especially polyesters and copolymers. These results highlight intense MP pollution in karst areas, with significant impacts on water quality, and potential effects on subterranean environment-dwelling species. We stress the importance of monitoring pollution in these critical environments for biodiversity and habitat conservation: monitoring in karst areas must become a priority for habitat and species protection, and water resources management, improving analyses on a larger number of aquatic surface and subterranean habitats.

A past and present perspective on the European summer vapor pressure deficit

Abstract. The response of evapotranspiration to anthropogenic warming is of critical importance for the water and carbon cycle. Contradictory conclusions about evapotranspiration changes are caused primarily by their brevity in time and sparsity in space, as well as the strong influence of internal variability. Here, we present the first gridded reconstruction of the summer (June, July, and August) vapor pressure deficit (VPD) for the past 4 centuries at the European level. This gridded reconstruction is based on 26 European tree ring oxygen isotope records and is obtained using a random forest approach. According to validation scores obtained with the Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency, our reconstruction is robust over large parts of Europe since 1600, in particular for the westernmost and northernmost regions, where most tree ring records are located. Based on our reconstruction, we show that from the mid-1700s a trend towards higher summer VPD occurred in central Europe and the Mediterranean region that is related to a simultaneous increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation. This increasing summer VPD trend continues throughout the observational period and in recent times. Moreover, our summer VPD reconstruction helps to visualize the local and regional impacts of the current climate change, as well as to minimize statistical uncertainties of historical VPD variability. This paper provides also new insights into the relationship between summer VPD and large-scale atmospheric circulation, and we show that summer VPD has two preferred modes of variability, namely a NW–SE dipole-like mode and a N–S dipole-like mode. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary use of the data should be emphasized, as summer VPD is a crucial parameter for many climatological feedback processes in the Earth's surface system. The reconstructed summer VPD gridded data over the last 400 years are available at the following link: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5958836 (Balting et al., 2022).