Low Hazard Research Articles

Advance Screening of Bis- Azetidinone Derivatives: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Analysis with Molecular Docking Assessment

Introduction: This study includes synthesis, characterizations, antimicrobial, antiox-idant, and docking molecular study of novel Bis-Azetidinone compounds that combined two units of β-lactam rings .In the present investigation, the aromatic aldehydes with primary amine were condensed to create Schiff's base, which was then reacted with chloroacetylchloride to pro-duce bis-Azetidinone compounds. Methods: Melting points, FTIR, and NMR spectrum analyses were used to examine the mor-phological and topological characteristics of the Bis-Azetidinone compounds. The results indi-cate that the prepared Compounds synthesis has excellent antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli,), Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal (Candida albicans) and also indicated that the Compounds synthesis (A2) gave a higher antimi-crobial effect than the B2, C2. The synergistic activity was examined against the pathogenic microbial strains. It was observed that employing compound synthesis combined with antibiot-ics enhanced the synergistic efficacy compared to using compound synthesis alone or antibiotic alone on Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Results: The antioxidant efficiency was assessed by DPPH, the results show that the compound synthesis has antioxidant activity, and also indicated that the synthesized compound (A2) gave a higher antioxidant effect than the B2, C2. Docking study confirmed via redocking of crystal-ized substrate or inhibitor within target binding pocket. The docking results reveal that the syn-thesized compounds, with a total binding affinity of less than -48 kcal/mol, could be clinically used for future therapeutic purposes. Conclusion: The present research demonstrates the advantageous effectiveness of a simpler pro-duction procedure, novel Bis-Azetidinone compounds, for producing high-purity with low haz-ard that may be utilized as future possible medical therapies.

Assessing suitability of surface water from Oued El Gourzi for irrigation east of Alger

The study was conducted to determine the suitability of surface water from Oued El Gourzi for irrigation in the Fesdis area, Algeria, during irrigation season of July 2022. The suitability was assessed by analysing eight water samples collected from various sites along the Oued. A range of physicochemical parameters were examined, including EC, pH, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, K+, HCO3– and Cl–, alongside other indices such as sodium absorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI) and magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) using standard procedures. The Richards classification shows that these waters are characterised by high salinity and low alkalinity hazard (C3–S1). According to the Wilcox classification, the majority of these waters are of doubtful quality, with only 25% exhibiting good quality for irrigation. Based on the RSC and MAR, all water samples are deemed safe and suitable for irrigation. However, PI values suggest that all sampling sites are of marginal quality for irrigation (class II). In terms of sodium and chloride concentration, all water samples were deemed unsuitable for irrigation. Based on these results, the waters pose risks for irrigation, particularly due to salinity, necessitating the implementation of special management practices and the selection of salt-tolerant crops.

Effect of manufacturing new U-shaped electrode on die sinking EDM process performance

Traditional electrical discharge machining (EDM) electrodes have several limitations such as long machining time, low material removal rate MRR, hazard emissions and high energy consumption. To overcome these limitations, new electrodes (plane and frame U-shaped) were manufactured considering the electrode manufacturing classifications, such as electrode flushing mechanism, electrode cross-sectional area and electrode bottom machining area. Experiments were performed on a die-sinking EDM machine using copper electrodes and aluminum alloy workpieces. The results were compared with those obtained using the conventional electrode. The newly manufactured electrodes significantly improved the EDM process performance, reducing the machining time by more than 50%, which implies a higher MRR. The reduced machining time also led to lower costs, emissions and energy consumption for efficient EDM processes. Additionally, surface roughness measurements were performed to compare the surface quality of the machined areas using different pulse-code generator systems and electrodes. The results showed an improvement in the machined surface quality when using the new electrodes in comparison with the conventional electrode when using a roughing pulse code generator system.

Residential relocation and changes in patterns of environmental exposures by health determinants among children and adolescents in Catalonia, Spain

Residential relocation leads to environmental changes, besides being likely to be influenced by sociodemographic characteristics. The relationship between them is, however, still not well described. We aimed to investigate changes in patterns of urban, natural and physical environmental exposures due to relocation and related sociodemographic determinants in a population-based cohort study of children and adolescents. We included individuals between 0 and 17 years of age, registered in primary healthcare records in Catalonia, Spain from 2006 to 2018 and categorized them as non-movers and movers (first residential change). Hierarchical clustering identified groups of individuals based on their exposure to air pollution, green spaces and built environment. Low, medium and high environmental hazard exposure clusters were identified, which were used to identify changes in environmental exposure patterns due to relocation, namely same, worse, and better environment. Multinomial logistic regression determined whether sex, age, nationality and area-level deprivation influenced these changes. From 1,316,138 individuals, 221,058 were movers. Compared to non-movers, movers were more frequently with foreign nationality (12.1% vs. 21.3%, respectively) and more likely to live in the most deprived areas at baseline (19.2% vs. 24.4%). Younger children had higher risk of moving to better or worse environments. Individuals living in areas with the highest levels of deprivation were least likely to move within the same environments (i.e., either moving to better (Odds Ratio [95% Confidence Interval] 1.39[1.34–1.44]) or worse environment (1.56[1.49–1.63])). Compared to people from Spain, those from Africa moved to similar environments (OR of moving to a better environment 0.90 (0.87–0.94) with respect to move to the same environment, and OR of moving to a worse environment 0.82 (0.78–0.85)), those from America tended to move to other environments (1.17 (1.12–1.23) better and 1.09 (1.03–1.15) worse), while those from Asia and Europe moved to better environments (1.22 (1.12–1.33) and 1.20 (1.14–1.27) respectively). No associations were found for sex. Changes in patterns of environmental exposures due to residential mobility are complex and may be determined by age, deprivation and nationality.

Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation purpose in aquifers of the Upper Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam, India.

Groundwater is an essential natural resource for mankind. Due to various geogenic and anthropogenic causes, groundwater quality has raised serious concern over the years. In this study, groundwater quality was evaluated for its suitability for irrigation in the Jorhat and Golaghat Districts of Assam, India. A total of 100 groundwater samples were collected from shallow aquifers (< 35m) from different locations during the pre-monsoon season (March-April 2022). Groundwater in the study area is slightly alkaline in nature (mean pH value of 7.44). The average cations and anions chemistry are in the order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > CO32-, respectively. Ca-Mg-HCO3 followed by Na-Ca-HCO3-Cl are the primary water types in the study area. Pearson's correlation matrix showed a positive correlation between TDS and EC (r = 0.78) and sodium showed a positive correlation with TDS and bicarbonate (r = 0.62 and r = 0.65), respectively. Gibbs plot indicated that rock-water interaction is the dominant factor that controls the chemistry of the groundwater of the area. Irrigation parameters like Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Permeability Index (PI), Magnesium Absorption Ratio (MAR), Kelly's Ratio (KR), and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) indicated that groundwater is overall suitable for irrigation. USSL diagram illustrated that most of the samples fell into the C2 (medium salinity) and S1 (low sodium hazard) categories. Wilcox plot showed the samples fell in excellent to good categories indicating fitness of groundwater for irrigation in the area.

Flood Hazard Mapping in Cimandiri Watershed using Fuzzy Logic Method Based on Multi-Source Geospatial Datasets

Abstract Flood is a frequent disaster in the Cimandiri watershed. This is evidenced by the fact that during 2017-2022, 37 floods occurred in this area. This condition causes losses to the community and damage to the environmental ecosystem. Therefore, disaster management is needed to overcome and reduce the impact of this flood. One management that can be done is by mapping flood hazard areas. However, until now there is no map available that presents the flood hazard study area in the Cimandiri watershed. If available, the maps generally cover Regency, sub-Regency, or large-scale maps covering the entire territory of Indonesia. This condition causes deficiencies or misinformation on the map because the scale of the study is irrelevant. Based on this, this study attempts to conduct flood hazard mapping in the Cimandiri watershed with a scale of analysis of 100,000. This study uses fuzzy logic method to generate hazard maps based on spatial parameters, rainfall, distance from the river, elevation, slope, vegetation density, land cover, soil type, and topographic wetness. The results of this method produce a hazard map with a class range of 0 to 1, a class that is close to 1 means that it has a high level of hazard. To see the correctness of this map, a validation test was carried out using flood data from 2017-2022 which contained 37 flood event data. Based on the validation results, 86% of flood points are in the non-0 hazard class (low hazard), only 13% are incorrect because they are in the 0-hazard class.

Assessment of landslide Possibility Index and Rockfall Hazard Rating System for Slopes in Qaywan Mountain, Sulaimani Governorate, Northeastern Iraq

The current study includes assessing road risks using a system Landslide Possibility Index (LPI) and Rockfall Hazard Rating System (RHRS) analysis along the Qaywan Mountain (anticline) main road 20 km north of SulaimaniGovernorate. Slope stability assessments consisted of seventeen stations along the main road in the study area. Along the outcropped rock units represented by formations, Balambo, Sarmord, Kometan, and Shiranish, a thorough discontinuity assessment and a regional survey of slopes were carried out. Along the cut slopes, rockfall is the primary type of failure, in addition to possibility types of landslide failures in the studied area is plane sliding, wedge sliding, and toppling because cutting rocks to build roads, slope direction and slope angle, dip and dip direction of discontinuities. The (LPI) indicates all the slopes studied in 17 sites in the surveyed area along the road were classified as high hazard. According to the analysis results of the RHRS, the score ranges between 177 and 375. Site no. 5 (375) has the highest rating value indicating a moderate hazard that requires remedial measures to be taken with a moderate level of urgency and site no.8 has the lowest value noted (177). It is the only site that falls under this rating, which is classified as a low hazard and slopes do not require detailed studies.

Multi-functional flame-retardant epoxy resin featuring diverse crosslinking networks

High-performance epoxy resins (EPs) with ultimate flame retardancy, particularly in terms of smoke suppression (as asphyxiation is the primary cause of death in fires), remain a significant challenge. To address this issue, we propose a feasible multiple crosslinking strategy by incorporating an additive flame retardant (abbreviated as BPPDN) containing self-crosslinking groups to construct multi-crosslinking networks during the curing of EPs. Using this strategy, the BPPDN/EP flame-retardant samples achieved a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test in the absence of conventional flame-retardant elements such as halogens or phosphorus. Among the rest, 15BPPDN/EP had remarkable low fire hazards, with total smoke production and peak heat release rate reduced by 38.7 % and 22.2 %, respectively. Surprisingly, the 15BPPDN/EP material maintained its high transparency, excellent ultraviolet shielding, and dielectric properties (specifically, the dielectric constant decreased from 5.19 to 3.46; the dielectric loss decreased from 0.0066 to 0.0045), as well as its ultrahigh tensile strength (increased by 63 %), flexural strength (by 48 %) and impact strength (by 75 %). This paper investigates in detail the effects of BPPDN on the curing process, thermal properties, mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and flame retardancy of EPs, providing a new direction for the design of highly transparent, multifunctional high-performance flame-retardant thermosetting resins without the need for conventional flame-retardant elements.

A Study on Flood Hazard Zonation Mapping Based on GIS-driven Approach using Remote Sensing Data and Weighted Overlay Analysis (Woa) Model

Flood hazard mapping is crucial for identifying flood-prone areas and developing effective mitigation strategies. This study utilized a Weighted Overlay Analysis, which is one of the subjective model derived from Multi-Criteria Decision Support System (MCDA), to assess flood hazards in the Auranga watershed, India. Six key flood-inducing factors were selected, including topographic data such as elevation, slope, river distance, and flow length derived from remote sensing data of Digital Elevation Model and classified Land use/Land cover data, along with hydro-meteorological data of precipitation. Each dataset was standardized to a common scale to facilitate comparison and integration. Weights were assigned to the layers like elevation, slope, river distance, flow length, Land use/Land cover, and precipitation according to their significance in contributing to flood risk. These weighted layers were then combined using GIS tools like ArcGIS, resulting in a composite map that delineates areas with varying flood hazard zones. The final flood hazard map identified that approximately 914 sq. km (60.0%) of the study area was at high to very high flood risk, particularly in regions close to rivers, while around 97 sq. km (6.4%) exhibited very low flood hazard. The GIS-Weighted Overlay Analysis method proved effective in flood hazard zone mapping, especially when incorporating a greater number of parameters. This approach is widely recognized in environmental planning and risk assessment, especially in areas vulnerable to natural disasters like floods.

Flood hazard assessment using machine learning and hydrodynamic modeling: case study in the Vu Ga–Thu Bon basin in Vietnam

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was the construction of a theoretical framework to evaluate flood hazards by integrating machine learning and hydrodynamic modeling in Vietnam's Vu Gia–Thu Bon basin. MIKE FLOOD was used to simulate historical floods in 2017 in order to obtain flood depth and velocity. Support vector machine-stochastic gradient descent (SVM-SGD), decision trees (DT), and dagging (DA) were used to determine flood susceptibility. Flood hazard was constructed by combining the flood depth, velocity, and susceptibility using the analytic hierarchy process technique. The statistical indices AUC, RMSE, MAE, and NASH were used to evaluate the precision of the hydrodynamic and machine learning models. The results showed that hydrodynamic modeling was highly accurate, with a NASH value of 0.86. The proposed models achieved AUC values of 0.98 for SVM-SGD, 0.93 for DT, and 0.92 for DA. The results showed that 7.59% of the flood zones is located in the very low flood hazard zone, 108.2 km2 in the low flood hazard zone, 24.59% in the moderate flood hazard zone, 22.53% in the high flood hazard zone, and 10.01% in the very high flood hazard zone.

Anaphylaxis after treatment with an endodontic material containing polyethylene glycol

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is sometimes included in temporary endodontic filling materials to modify viscosity. PEG is considered a low hazard chemical, but parenteral PEG exposure is associated with a risk of anaphylaxis. We report two cases of anaphylaxis after treatment with an endodontic temporary filling material containing PEG. One patient survived after hospital treatment, but the second case was fatal. Extensive investigations were needed to find the culprit. Allergic reactions to PEG are increasingly reported and have significant implications for the patient. Precautionary measures are discussed.

Cultivating sustainability: a multi-assessment of groundwater quality and irrigation suitability in the arid agricultural district of Dzira (Ksour Mountains, Algeria).

Groundwater serves a range of essential functions such as supplying drinking water, facilitating agricultural practices, and supporting industrial processes. This study examines with multiple methods the quality of groundwater in the agricultural region of Dzira, Algeria. By collecting 38 groundwater samples of different wells and boreholes, valuable awareness of the aptness of groundwater for irrigation in this arid landscape was gained. Most wells met Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) criteria for the total dissolved solids (TDS) and the potential of hydrogen pH, but some areas had higher mineral content and electrical conductivity. Results show significant TDS variations, with 10.81% of wells exceeding limits and acceptable pH levels. Elevated EC values in 67.57% of wells show high salinity, affecting soil and plant growth. Major ions such as Mg2+ and SO4- exceeded FAO standards in 43.24% and 64.86% of wells, respectively, highlighting substantial mineral content in the groundwater. Suitability indices reveal that most wells pose low sodium hazards and are generally suitable for irrigation, though some areas face moderate to high restrictions. The irrigation water quality index (IWQI) ranged from 45.36 to 96.30, averaging 80.77, with 54.04% classified as "low restriction," suitable for sandy soils with good permeability but requiring caution on salt-sensitive soils. Hydrogeochemical analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) identifies rapid evaporite dissolution from Triassic saline formations, with a correlation matrix showing associations between TDS and Ca2⁺, Mg2⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻, and SO₄2⁻. This mineralization is likely from gypsum and halite. Zoning maps based on IWQI and other parameters depicted spatial variations in groundwater quality, guiding effective irrigation management strategies. Overall, the study underscores the importance of comprehensive water quality assessment for sustainable agriculture and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to mitigate potential challenges associated with soil salinity and sodicity. Therefore, these findings can be useful to decision-makers and stakeholders in order to optimize water use and protect this vital resource.

ANFIS-AMAL: Android Malware Threat Assessment Using Ensemble of ANFIS and GWO

Abstract The Android malware has various features and capabilities. Various malware has distinctive characteristics. Ransomware threatens financial loss and system lockdown. This paper proposes a threat-assessing approach using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) to train and tune the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) to categorize Android malware accurately. GWO improves efficiency and efficacy in ANFIS training and learning for Android malware feature selection and classification. Our approach categorizes Android malware as a high, moderate, or low hazard. The proposed approach qualitatively assesses risk based on critical features and threats. Our threat-assessing mechanism’s scale categorizes Android malware. The proposed approach resolves the issue of overlapping features in different types of malware. Comparative results with other classifiers show that the ensemble of GWO is effective in the training and learning process of ANFIS and thus achieves 95% F-score, 94% specificity, and 94% accuracy. The ensemble makes fast learning possible and improves classification accuracy.

Landslide Hazard Analysis Based on Geographic Information Systems in Sumedang Regency

Sumedang Regency has a hilly landscape, making it one of the 13 cities/regencies in West Java Province that are prone to landslides. A total of 80 landslide incidents were recorded from 2019 to 2023. These landslides resulted in 45 fatalities, 53 injuries, and damage to 317 infrastructure units. This situation indicates the importance of conducting an analysis of landslide hazard distribution. The landslide hazard distribution analysis is carried out using a weighting and scoring method on the parameters used, which include: slope gradient, rainfall, actual land cover, landform, lithology, and soil type. Based on these parameters, four landslide hazard classes were identified in Sumedang Regency: low, medium, high, and very high hazard classes. Proportions of these hazard are as follows: high hazard class (42.24%), medium hazard class (40.38%), low hazard class (13.90%), and very high hazard class (3.49%). The low hazard class is mainly found in the northern part of Sumedang Regency, the medium hazard class is widespread in sloping areas, and the high to very high hazard classes are primarily found in the Tampomas mountains and areas with hilly landforms. Slope gradient and rainfall are the factors that most influence landslide hazards, making it necessary to design appropriate mitigation.

Analisis Bahaya Bencana Gempa Bumi di Wilayah Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan

This study aims to determine the earthquake hazard levels in Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra Province, by identifying the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values and the distribution of earthquake hazard levels. The type of research used is quantitative descriptive analysis and spatial analysis. The method employed in this study is Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA). To determine the Peak Ground Acceleration values, parameters such as earthquake location, occurrence time, and earthquake magnitude are used. For determining the earthquake hazard distribution, data on Ground Amplification Factor (GAF) is utilized. The results of this study show that the distribution of Peak Ground Acceleration in the study area ranges from 0.17 g to 0.93 g. The value of 0.17 g is found in Koto XI Tarusan District, while the highest value is observed in Silaut District. Additionally, the distribution of earthquake hazard levels shows that areas with low hazard level cover 697.04 km², moderate hazard level covers 4150.49 km², and high hazard level covers 1201.81 km². This study provides earthquake hazard maps that can be used for mitigation and planning in the region.

Beyond coastal hazards: A comprehensive methodology for the assessment of climate-related hazards in European coastal cities

As climate change intensifies, European coastal cities face escalating risks from multiple climate-related hazards. Addressing these challenges requires capturing the multifaceted nature of climate risks adequately. This paper presents a novel multi-hazard risk assessment methodology for European coastal cities, which integrates indicators of hazard, exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. It advances beyond existing models by incorporating a wide array of climate-related hazards and significant indicators. Applied to six diverse coastal cities across different climatic zones and urbanization levels, the methodology proves robust and versatile, offering a comprehensive approach to understanding climate risks. Findings reveal that Varna has the lowest hazard score compared to other cities. Cork and Viana do Castelo are significantly affected by coastal hazards, while La Spezia exhibits very low coastal hazard scores but high land hazard scores. The exposure component ranges between medium and low values, with a maximum in Klaipeda and a minimum in Viana do Castelo. In terms of vulnerability, Viana do Castelo and Bergen stand out, while Cork exhibits the lowest score. Finally, risk presents a balanced landscape, where cities with the highest scores in hazard and exposure also exhibit the lowest levels of vulnerability and vice versa. The discussion on policy implications advocates for participatory resilience-building, leveraging new technologies and non-traditional indicators to enhance urban adaptive capacity. The granularity and specificity inherent to the proposed methodology offer a tool to compare and identify high-risk cities systematically, allowing for a more informed and targeted approach to resilience building and strategic allocation of often limited resources.

Analysis the Effect of Landslide Hazard on Land Value Zone in Boyolali Regency

Landslides are disasters that often occur in mountainous areas. According to Regional Disaster Management Agency Boyolali Regency from 2019-2021 there were recorded 25 landslides in Selo District. As a result, it has an impact on the loss of both lives and the economy. Indirectly impact on land prices in the area. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the land values changes??in Selo District in landslide hazard areas. In this study, the land value is obtained based on a land price survey. The results are the land value of Selo District in 2022 can be divided into 113 zones with the highest price of IDR 1,150,240 in zone 1787 and the lowest price of IDR 37,013 in zone 1777. The land value at low landslide hazard has an average of IDR 709,970, the land value at medium landslide hazard has an average of IDR 317,089 and the land value at high landslide hazard has an average of IDR 111,160. By using linear regression obtained the correlation r=-0.880. Shows that if the landslide hazard increases, land prices will decrease. Keywords: Land Value Zone, Landslide Hazard, Land Value changes, Linear Regression, Selo District

Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge‐Based Flood Risk Assessment Under Combined Scenarios of High Tides and Sea‐Level Rise: A Case Study of Hainan Island, China

AbstractIn the context of climate change, coastal flood risk is intensifying globally, particularly in China, where intricate coastlines and frequent tropical cyclones make storm surges a major concern. Despite local government's efforts to initiate coastal monitoring networks and qualitative risk guidelines, there remains a gap in detailed and efficient quantitative assessments for combinations of multiple sea‐level components. To address this, we develop the Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge‐based Flood Risk Assessment under Combined Scenarios (TCSoS‐FRACS). This framework integrates impacts of storm surges, high tides, and sea‐level rise using a hybrid of statistical and dynamic models to balance reliability and efficiency. By combining hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, it incorporates economic and demographic factors for a deeper understanding of risk composition. Applying TCSoS‐FRACS to Hainan Island reveals that the combined effects of storm surges, high tides, and sea‐level rise significantly amplify local coastal flood risk, increasing economic losses to 4.27–5.90 times and affected populations to 4.96–6.23 times. Additionally, transitioning from Fossil‐fueled Development (SSP5‐8.5) to Sustainability (SSP1‐1.9) can reduce the risk increase by approximately half. The equivalence in flood hazard between current high tides and future sea level under a sustainable scenario boosts confidence in climate change adaptation efforts. However, coastal cities with low hazard but high exposure need heightened vigilance in flood defense, as future risk could escalate sharply. Our study provides new insights into coastal flood risk on Hainan Island and other regions with similar profiles, offering a transferable and efficient tool for disaster risk management and aiding in regional sustainable development.

Analyzing the dependency of earthquake insurance premium on the intensity measure used in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and fragility curves

Considering the uncertainties associated with earthquake, seismic response of structures, damage caused by the response and the repair costs, determining Earthquake Insurance Premium (EIP) is a challenging task that requires a framework for modeling all inherent risks. Most of the models proposed for EIP determination have two basic components. The first component indicates the probability of seismic hazard (generally obtained from the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis), and the second component indicates the probability of occurrence of a given damage to the structure with respect to different seismic hazard levels (generally obtained from the fragility curves). These two components are interconnected through an intermediate parameter, known as the Intensity Measure (IM), which is of great importance in calculations and has hardly been considered so far. In this study, the dependency of EIP on the IM used in the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and the fragility curves is analyzed. To this end, the EIP was determined for five types of buildings at low, medium and high seismic hazard levels using two IMs (peak ground acceleration and first mode spectral acceleration). The results of this study warn that the EIP can be highly dependent on the IM, so that for all studied structures, the EIP determined based on peak ground acceleration at a high seismic hazard level is nearly three times as many as the one determined by the first mode spectral acceleration. A significant finding is that when the first mode spectral acceleration is used as the IM, the ratio of EIP at different seismic hazard levels closely matches the ratio of IM at the same levels. This result can be valuable in developing insurance codes and regulations. However, this is not the case for the currently used IM, i.e., peak ground acceleration.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination risk in dry fish from India: A comprehensive study

The widespread presence of heavy metal contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, and consequently in fish, has emerged as a paramount concern owing to the staple role of fish in the Indian diet. The present study addresses heavy metal contamination in dried fish consumed across India and its associated health risks. The objectives of this study were to determine the heavy metal concentrations in dried fish from different regions of India, assess daily heavy metal intake through dried fish consumption, and evaluate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with heavy metal exposure. Subsequently, 111 dried fish samples from Guwahati-Assam, Mumbai, Karad-Maharashtra, and Goa were analyzed for eight selected heavy metals using a validated inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method results indicated varying contamination levels across locations, with As being the most abundant heavy metal. In Maharashtra and Assam, the heavy metal load in dried fish was as follows: As > Cr > Ni > V > Cd > Pb > Co > Hg. For Goa, the order was As > Cr > Ni > V > Cd > Co > Pb > Hg. Dietary exposure assessments revealed varying levels of exposure between adults and children, with As and Cd posing higher risks to children. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values for all metals were within acceptable limit of one. Health risk assessments revealed generally low hazard levels for adults, but higher risks for children, particularly at higher percentiles. Furthermore, As was identified as posing a medium risk of cancer. In essence, this research emphasizes the necessity for strict monitoring and regulations with the aim of controlling health hazards related to heavy metal pollution in food sources.