Human Risk Research Articles

HR Risk Analysis and Employee Performance: Implications for HR Management

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in various sectors of life. One of them occurs in the system and work patterns. PT XYZ is one of the companies in Indonesia which has its role in improving the welfare of the lower-class community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PT XYZ continued to carry out work from the office because transactions between employees and customers had to be carried out directly. This increases the occurrence of human resource risks for employees. This study aims to identify the perception of resource risk and analyze human resource management and employee performance, as well as the effect of risk and human resource management on employee performance. The data used in this study are primary and secondary, then analyzed quantitatively using descriptive analysis methods and SEM-PLS. PT XYZ is dominated by 55% are male, 46.4% are 31-35 years old, 83.6% have a bachelor's degree, 37.9% have a corporate title as cashier, 44.3% have worked 6-10 years, 60.7% have work experience, and 71.4% have experienced job rotation. Employees' perceptions of human resource risk, employee performance, and human resource management are mostly positive. The results of the SEM-PLS analysis show that the risk of human resources and human resource management has a positive and significant effect on employee performance. Meanwhile, human resource management as a moderating variable is not able to moderate or strengthen the influence of employee competence on employee performance.

Airborne concentrations of bacteria and mold in Korean public-use facilities: measurement, systematic review, meta-analysis, and probabilistic human inhalation risk assessment.

Bioaerosols adversely affect human health posing risk to users of public facilities in Korea. Between October 2021 and May 2022, airborne bacteria and mold were measured in 1,243 public-use facilities across 23 categories. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed on these and other studies from June 2004 to May 2021, and the non-carcinogenic risks to humans were assessed using Monte Carlo simulations. For bacteria, the maximum 95th percentile concentration was 584.4cfu/m3 and 1384.8cfu/m3 for mold. The heterogeneity statistic I2 was over 50% in all facilities, and for subway station bacteria, there was a significant difference according to the measurement method. The 95th percentile of hazard by population group was 8.83 × 10-2 to 3.42 × 10-1 for bacteria, and 1.31 × 10-1 to 3.55 × 10-1 for mold. The probability of a hazard quotient exceeding 1 for some population groups was derived from exposure to bacteria and mold in the air resulting from the use of all public facilities. The most powerful explanatory factor for risk was exposure time to the facility, both within (up to 0.922 for bacteria and up to 0.960 for mold) and between populations (up to 0.543 for bacteria and 0.483 for mold). This study identified populations at risk of bioaerosol exposure in Korean public-use facilities and estimated the influencing factors, highlighting the need for comprehensive improvement in bioaerosol control in public-use facilities.

Bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals and microplastics in shellfish (Meretrix lyrata): A preliminary study in the Bay of Bengal

Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs) pollution pose significant environmental threats by accumulating in marine species, leading to potential health risks for marine life and humans consuming contaminated seafood. However, limited research has been conducted on the bioavailability and toxicity of MPs and HMs in the marine biota of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. In this study, the bioavailability of some HMs (i.e., Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr) and MPs in a common marine shellfish (Meretrix lyrata) of the Bay of Bengal having nutritional and economic importance, and their human health risks due to the consumption of M. lyrata mussels has been evaluated. The mean concentrations of Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr in the samples were determined spectrophotometrically and found as 5.54, 45.65, 0.51, and 33.51 mg/kg, respectively, which are higher than the maximum permissible limit set by different national and international entities. This study revealed that the hazard index values for all samples were greater than unity, which indicated that the cumulative effect of all selected heavy metals may pose substantial health hazards. The target cancer risk for Pb and Ni was also significant (i.e., TR > 1.0E-04). On the other hand, MPs (mainly polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene) of different colors (7−8) and shapes (6.53–330 μm) were detected in 50 % of the total studied samples, which is alarming and will result in a potential health risk due to the consumption of the mussels. Therefore, the consumer should be careful to eat this selected mussel (M. lyrata) in their regular meal and the concerned authority should take proper steps to protect this natural species from heavy metal and MPs contamination.

Evaluating risk of IoT adoption in the food supply chain using an integrated interval-valued spherical fuzzy generalised TODIM method

The existing literature has shown that the Internet of Things (IoT) has proven to be beneficial for managing operations in the food supply chain. However, the potential failures resulting from these new technologies have not been thoroughly examined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to create a new framework for analyzing the risks associated with implementing IoT in the food supply chain. To achieve this, we introduce an extended failure mode and effect analysis framework using an integrated generalised Toma de Decisão Iterativa Multicritério (TODIM) method within the interval-valued spherical fuzzy setting. Initially, we developed a risk structure consisting of four dimensions and sixteen sub-factors to facilitate the implementation of IoT technology in the food supply chain. We then introduced an interval-valued spherical fuzzy-weighted Bonferroni mean operator to gather expert opinions and create a group risk matrix considering the interaction between the input risk data. Subsequently, we proposed a newly developed interval-valued spherical fuzzy TODIM method based on the Logarithmic percentage change-driven objective weighting (LOPCOW) method to evaluate and rank the risks associated with IoT application in the food supply chain. This method can capture the bounded rational decision behavior of experts and the uncertain preference of risk parameters. Based on the identified risk factors, we implemented a proposed risk analysis framework in line with the preferences of the experts. The results indicate that "human resource risk" and "uncertainty in technology adoption" are the most and least significant risks, respectively. We also conducted sensitivity and comparison studies to test the reliability and rationality of the proposed framework. The main findings can assist policymakers and managers in mitigating and minimizing the risks connected with IoT applications in the food supply chain. Additionally, these outcomes can aid stakeholders in making well-informed decisions about resource allocation for risk management.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in homegrown crops: Accumulation and human risk assessment

Homegrown crops can present a significant exposure source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to humans. Field studies studying PFAS accumulation in multiple vegetable food categories and examining the potential influence of soil characteristics on vegetable bioavailability under realistic exposure conditions are very scarce. Crop PFAS accumulation depends on a complex combination of factors. The physicochemical differences among the numerous PFAS makes risk assessment very challenging. Thus, simplification of this complexity into key factors that govern crop PFAS accumulation is critical. This study analyzed 29 targeted legacy, precursor and emerging PFAS in the vertical soil profile (0–45 cm depth), rainwater and edible crop parts of 88 private gardens, at different distances from a major fluorochemical plant. Gardens closer to the plant site showed higher soil concentrations which could be linked with historical and recent industrial emissions. Most compounds showed little variation along the soil depth profile, regardless of the distance from the plant site, which could be due to gardening practices. Annual crops consistently accumulated higher sum PFAS concentrations than perennials. Highest concentrations were observed in vegetables, followed by fruits and walnuts. Single soil-crop relationships were weak, which indicated that other factors (e.g., porewater) may be better measures of bioavailability in homegrown crop accumulation. Regression models, which additionally considered soil characteristics showed limited predictive power (all R2 ≤ 35%), possibly due to low variability in crop concentrations. Human intake estimations revealed that the PFAS exposure risk via crop consumption was similar nearby and remotely from the plant site, although the contribution to the overall dietary exposure can be relatively large. The tolerable weekly intake was frequently exceeded with respect to fruit and vegetable consumption, thus potential health risks cannot be ruled out.

Efficiency of Group Movement within Human Risk Perception

A braking index that incorporates the risk perception of human drivers has been developed to estimate how many drivers would brake in a given situation. We used agent simulations to verify whether incorporating the braking index can improve the efficiency of the agents’ movement in the whole space. The completion time and the number of collisions were measured to compare the simple avoidance algorithm without the braking index and the proposed algorithm with it. While a simple avoidance algorithm showed a strong trade-off between the completion time and the number of collisions, the proposed algorithm resulted in an efficient movement with a shorter time and fewer collisions. More efficient movement could be achieved by incorporating human risk perception because the risk of collision with others was individually evaluated according to others’ position and direction, and only as much avoidance as necessary was performed.

Assessment of the concentrations and human risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in stem bark samples of Psorospermum febrifugum and soil from Nsukka area in eastern Nigeria

Assessment of the concentrations and human risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in stem bark samples of Psorospermum febrifugum and soil from Nsukka area in eastern Nigeria

Perceptions of sustainable human resource management (SHRM) and personal risk: Findings from the Pilot Study.

The aim of this article is to explore how SHRM (Sustainable Human Resource Management) practices and personal risk management are interpreted by managers across different organisational contexts, and to identify challenges and barriers to implementing these practices. The study focuses on a variety of SHRM approaches in diverse organisational contexts, highlighting the impact of company size, managerial experience, and organisational culture. It also explores the challenges associated with both long-term and short-term SHRM goals and underscores the need for a better understanding and communication of these practices within organisations. The study is based on a qualitative individual in-depth interview (IDI) methodology. The results of the study highlight the importance of adapting and understanding the unique aspects of each organisation to effectively implement SHRM. The article contributes to the literature by highlighting the need for further research into holistic SHRM models, the management personal risk, the use of new technologies, and the development of advanced measurement methods.

Levels, sources, and health risk assessment of phthalate acid esters in indoor dust of various microenvironments in university

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs), as a common group of plasticizers, are widely present in indoor environments and pose a risk to human health. Indoor dust samples collected from dormitory, classroom, laboratory, and office in several universities in China, were analyzed for seven types of PAEs. The total concentrations of seven PAEs (Σ7PAEs) ranged from 4.87 to 360 μg/g, with a median concentration of 51 μg/g, which is lower than that reported by other studies. Using the median concentration of Σ7PAEs as a metric, we assessed the levels of contamination in different microenvironments, resulting in the following ranking: dormitory > classroom > laboratory > office. There are significant differences in the levels of individual PAEs in different microenvironments. Radiation from sunlight, ventilation rates, cleaning frequency, and sprays were influential factors for the concentrations of individual PAEs in indoor dust. The indoor environmental conditions and consumption patterns profoundly affect PAEs levels. The sources of PAEs in classroom and office were more complex than in dormitory and laboratory. Daily intakes of PAEs were used to calculate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human risk for males and females, indicating a low health risk to humans. This is the first study to assess the risk of PAEs in university microenvironments and provides a valuable reference for further research.

Trace elements in PM2.5 from 2016 to 2021 in Shenzhen, China: Concentrations, temporal and spatial distribution, and related human inhalation exposure risk

The prevalence of trace elements from industrial and traffic activities poses potential health risks through inhalation exposure. Prior studies have focused on trace elements in water, food, and dust, and less attention has been paid to their occurrence in fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In this study, 1424 air samples were collected from three districts (Nanshan, Longgang, and Yantian) in Shenzhen from 2016 to 2021, and we analyzed the concentrations, temporal trends, and spatial distributions of PM2.5 and associated trace elements. Both PM2.5 and trace elements exhibited decreasing trends and similar seasonal variations, with high levels in cold seasons and low levels in warm seasons. In terms of spatial distributions, the concentrations of PM2.5 and trace elements in Nanshan and Longgang were significantly higher than those in Yantian, likely due to the industrial structure and traffic activities. It is worth noting that PM2.5 was identified as a potential mediator of the effect of meteorological parameters on trace element levels. Besides, the values of estimated daily intake (EDI) and uptake (EDU) suggested that infants and young children experienced an elevated risk of exposure to trace elements. While the annual average excess hazard indexes (R) were below the safety threshold (10−6), carcinogenic trace elements like arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) posed a greater potential threat to human health compared to non-carcinogenic trace elements.

Impact of Ascending HPV Infection on Colorectal Cancer Risk: Evidence from a Nationwide Study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent and escalating health issue in Taiwan. This nationwide study delves into the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and CRC risk, employing population datasets from 2007 to 2017. Cox regression analyses revealed a statistically significant hazard ratio (HR) of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.63-1.83) for CRC in HPV-positive patients, indicating a considerably elevated risk compared to non-infected individuals. Further, stratification by sex showed males with HPV have a higher CRC risk (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.40-1.58) compared to females. Age-related analysis uncovered a progressive increase in CRC risk with advancing age (HR = 34.69 for over 80 years). The study of specific CRC subtypes showed varying risks: HR = 1.74 for the colon, HR = 1.64 for the rectum, and a notably higher HR = 4.72 for the anus. Comorbid conditions such as hypertension (HR = 1.26), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.32), and abnormal liver function (HR = 1.18) also correlate with significantly increased CRC risks. These findings suggest that HPV is a significant risk factor for CRC, with disparities in risk based on anatomical location, demographic characteristics, and comorbidities, highlighting the need for intervention strategies and targeted prevention.

Children’s risk preferences vary across sexes, social contexts, and cultures

People exhibit more risk-prone behaviors when together with peers than when in private. The interplay of social context effects and other variables that alter human risk preferences (i.e., age, sex, or culture) remains poorly understood. Here, we explored risk preferences among Namibian Hai||om and Ovambo children (N = 144; AgeRange = 6–10 years). Participants chose between risky and safe options in private or during peer presence. In a third condition, children collaborated with peers before their risk preferences were assessed in those peers’ presence. Children from both societies were risk-averse, but Hai||om children showed greater risk aversion than their Ovambo counterparts. Across cultures and ages, boys were less averse to risks than girls. This effect was most pronounced during peer presence, whereas collaboration did not additionally affect risk preferences. These results suggest a dynamic interplay of individual, social, and cultural factors shaping children’s risk preferences.

Longitudinal detection of prion infection in preclinical sheep blood samples compared using 3 assays

AbstractVariant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is a devastating disease caused by transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans. Although vCJD cases are now rare, evidence from appendix surveys suggests that a small proportion of the United Kingdom population may be infected without showing signs of disease. These “silent” carriers could present a risk of iatrogenic vCJD transmission through medical procedures or blood/organ donation, and currently there are no validated tests to identify infected asymptomatic individuals using easily accessible samples. To address this issue, we evaluated the performance of 3 blood-based assays in a blinded study, using longitudinal sample series from a well-established large animal model of vCJD. The assays rely on amplification of misfolded prion protein (PrPSc; a marker of prion infection) and include real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC), and 2 versions of protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). Although diagnostic sensitivity was higher for both PMCA assays (100%) than RT-QuIC (61%), all 3 assays detected prion infection in blood samples collected 26 months before the onset of clinical signs and gave no false-positive results. Parallel estimation of blood prion infectivity titers in a sensitive transgenic mouse line showed positive correlation of infectivity with PrPSc detection by the assays, suggesting that they are suitable for detection of asymptomatic vCJD infection in the human population. This study represents, to our knowledge, the largest comparison to date of preclinical prion detection in blood samples from a relevant animal model. The outcomes will guide efforts to improve early detection of prion disease and reduce infection risks in humans.

Risk assessment of As, Cd, Cr, and Pb via the consumption of seafood in Haikou

In order to mitigate the risk of excessive heavy metal intake, a study was conducted to assess the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) contamination in 23 edible seafood species obtained from markets in Haikou. The findings were analyzed to evaluate the potential health hazards posed to the local population through consumption. The metals were detected via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for quantification. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks in humans were assessed via target hazard quotient (THQ), combined target hazard quotient (CTHQ), and target cancer risk (TR). The results indicated that the rank order based on the median metal concentration was As > Cd > Cr > Pb. THQ and CTHQ showed that nine seafood species posed a non-carcinogenic risk regarding from As and Cd consumption separately, or the four targeted metals ingestion together. TR assessment indicated that the InAs in all the species presented a carcinogenic risk to coastal residents. The Cd content in bivalves, algae, and several crustacean (Mantis Shrimp, Orchid Crab, Red spot Swimming Crab) and fish species (Japanese Scad, Pacific Saury), and Cr levels in most bivalve species (Razor Clams, White Clams, Fan Shells, Oysters, Blood Clams) presented a carcinogenic risk. The As, Cd, Pb, and Cr levels of seafood in Haikou were assessed species presented a potential health risk. Necessitating stricter risk should be management and detection capability and monitoring will be improved.

Cancer and the Microbiome of the Human Body.

Cancer remains a public health concern worldwide, with its incidence increasing worldwide and expected to continue growing during the next decades. The microbiome has emerged as a central factor in human health and disease, demonstrating an intricate relationship between the microbiome and cancer. Although some microbiomes present within local tissues have been shown to restrict cancer development, mainly by interacting with cancer cells or the host immune system, some microorganisms are harmful to human health and risk factors for cancer development. This review summarizes the recent evidence concerning the microbiome and some of the most common cancer types (i.e., lung, head and neck, breast, gastric, colorectal, prostate, and cervix cancers), providing a general overview of future clinical approaches and perspectives.

Cyclic methylsiloxanes in wastewater treatment plants: Occurrence, emissions, environmental distributions, and occupational exposure

Cyclic methylsiloxanes (CMSs), widely found in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), are potentially hazardous to the environment and human health. In this study, the environmental behavior and human exposure risks of three CMSs (D4-D6) were evaluated in WWTPs located in Beijing and Kunming, Yunnan province. D5 had the highest concentrations in air, water, and sludge, with seasonal variation that consisted of a high concentration in summer and low concentration in winter. The CMS concentrations in air were 3–4-fold higher in the A2/O (Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic) treatment units than in the other units. CMS emissions to air, soil, and water from the Beijing WWTP were in the ranges of 3.4 × 104–5.0 × 104 kg·a−1, 4.5 × 102–7.5 × 102 kg·a−1, and 2.5 × 102–2.9 × 102 kg·a−1, constituting 98 %, 1.3 %, and 0.7 % of the total emissions, respectively. Total daily inhalation exposure doses of CMSs (ADDinh,CMSs) associated with four different jobs in WWTPs showed that wastewater treatment technicians had the highest ADDinh,CMSs (51 μg/kg/day), indicating that these people had the highest occupational exposure risk in WWTPs. Therefore, this study identified that atmospheric emission was the main environmental fate of CMSs in WWTPs, and provide a basis for the improvement of WWTP process and risk management decisions. Environmental implicationAssessing the environmental fate and occupational exposure risk of cyclic methylsiloxanes (CMSs) found in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is crucial. This is the first study to identify that atmospheric emission was the main environmental fate of CMSs in WWTPs, especially D5; the inhalation exposure doses of CMSs were all significantly higher in the occupational population working in WWTPs. The results described in our study will help enhance the understanding of current knowledge base of environmental fate and exposure risk of CMSs in WWTPs, and provide a basis for the improvement of WWTP process and risk management decisions.

Potential Role of Glyphosate, Glyphosate-Based Herbicides, and AMPA in Breast Cancer Development: A Review of Human and Human Cell-Based Studies.

The potential connection between exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) and breast cancer risk is a topic of research that is rapidly gaining the public's attention due to the conflicting reports surrounding glyphosate's potential carcinogenicity. In this review, we synthesize the current published biomedical literature works that have explored associations of glyphosate, its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and GBHs with breast cancer risk in humans and human cell-based models. Using PubMed as our search engine, we identified a total of 14 articles that were included in this review. In the four human studies, urinary glyphosate and/or AMPA were associated with breast cancer risk, endocrine disruption, oxidative stress biomarkers, and changes in DNA methylation patterns. Among most of the 10 human cell-based studies, glyphosate exhibited endocrine disruption, induced altered gene expression, increased DNA damage, and altered cell viability, while GBHs were more cytotoxic than glyphosate alone. In summary, numerous studies have shown glyphosate, AMPA, and GBHs to have potential carcinogenic, cytotoxic, or endocrine-disruptive properties. However, more human studies need to be conducted in order for more definitive and supported conclusions to be made on their potential effects on breast cancer risk.

Factors influencing fumonisin B1 contamination in maize: insights from two production regions in Costa Rica.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop worldwide. Contaminated maize kernels pose a significant mycotoxin exposure risk for humans in Latin America. Fumonisins, the most prevalent mycotoxin in maize, typically occur during pre-harvest conditions leading to significant economic losses. Various factors, including weather conditions, may influence this contamination. This study aimed to determine the association between fumonisin B1 (FB1) contamination, prevalence of Fusarium verticillioides, weather conditions and kernel quality in the two primary maize production areas in Costa Rica (Brunca and Chorotega). All maize samples (100%) showed FB1 contamination, with higher concentrations in samples from Brunca region, consistent with the presence of F. verticilliodes. Weather conditions appeared to play an important role in this contamination, since Brunca region had the highest mean temperature and relative humidity after maize silking (R1) and the total monthly rainfall in this region was significantly higher during the last two months of maize cultivation (grain-filling and physiological maturity stages R3 to R6). Interestingly, this study found a negative correlation between grain damage and kernel contamination with FB1 and F. verticillioides. The concentration of mineral nutrients in kernels from both regions was largely similar. Most nutrients in kernels exhibited a negative correlation with FB1, particularly nitrogen. Zinc and phosphorus were the only nutrients in kernels showing a positive correlation with FB1 in samples from the Brunca region. The results highlight elevated levels of FB1 contamination in maize and contribute to a better understanding of pre-harvest factors influencing FB1 contamination in tropical conditions.

Oxidative response to cadmium and lead accumulations in the tissues of blue swimming crabs Portunus pelagicus from the Trang Province coastline, Southern Thailand.

Metals have been reported to alter the oxidative status of both redox-active and redox-inactive metals accompanying oxidative stress induction. In aquatic ecosystems, metal contamination is regarded as serious pollutants and bioaccumulation, especially when aquatic seafood products are involved, which results in human risk. The blue swimming crab Portunus pelagicus is a highly popular crab species for consumption as seafood in Thailand. The meat parts and the hepatopancreas (HP) together with gonad are consumed and in high demand. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) along with tissue oxidative responses in P. pelagicus. Sixty-seven samples of P. pelagicus were obtained from small-scale fishers along the coastline of Trang Province. Bioaccumulation of Cd and Pb and oxidative response in gill, muscle, and HP + gonad were evaluated. Cadmium and Pb accumulation levels were highest in the HP and gonad, followed by the gill and then muscle, indicating that Cd and Pb have a high affinity to be concentrated in the HP and gonad. An organ-specific oxidative response to Cd and Pb accumulation was demonstrated in which Cd significantly activated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the gills and muscle tissue, while Pb significantly activated the SOD activity only in the HP and gonad. Only Cd accumulation in gill tissue represented a significant activation of lipid peroxidation, as indicated by the malondialdehyde level. This study implied that P. pelagicus exhibits an "adaptive stage" in the oxidative response of tissue due to metal accumulation. Additionally, the data presented here further indicate that the consumption of only the meat parts and removal of the HP and gonad would reduce human exposure to metal toxicity.

Searching the exposome to identify environmental chemical exposures for cancer risk in humans: the Southern Environmental Health Study

Searching the exposome to identify environmental chemical exposures for cancer risk in humans: the Southern Environmental Health Study