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Purpose Riverbed sediment geochemistry provides useful information regarding metal contamination. To integrate sediment quality in river monitoring, within the WFD, the report of sediment quality to water quality managers must be expeditious. This study revisits the metal enrichment concept, applied to sediments from two mountain catchments, as a useful technique in river monitoring. Methods Riverbed sediment samples, collected at the end of the Dry and Wet Periods (DP, WP) were analysed for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Fe in fractions < 2 mm and < 63 µm. The metal enrichment factors (EFs) were referenced to distinct background values: average shale (AS), world rivers suspended sediments (WRSS) and Geochemical Atlas of Portugal (GAP). Results Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn contents are higher in the fraction < 63 µm, and at DP. The ranges of variation in fraction < 63 µm are (mg kg −1 ): a) River Vilariça, Cd (5–18 DP; 0.3 WP); Cu (103–341 DP; 22–218 WP); Pb —(24–55 DP; 11–42 WP); Zn (107–241 DP; 54–103 WP); b) River Vizela, —Cd (13–44 DP; 8–41 WP); Cu (267–444 DP; 18–168 WP); Pb —(44–132 DP; 20–42 WP); Zn (141–801 DP; 36–181 WP). Variations in metal contents are influenced by lithological, geomorphological, and microclimatic features, and anthropogenic pressures. EFs are higher when referenced to AS. In the River Vizela, the EFs reveal an enrichment of Cu, Pb and Zn relative to WRSS; Cd registers an enrichment relative to GAP. Conclusion Local/regional background, and EFs, are relevant when assessing environmental risks in freshwater systems: low EFs, when associated to natural enrichments, originate values of concern in terms of quality guidelines; high EFs may not imply risk to the fluvial environment. Using the fraction < 63 µm in river monitoring is considered adequate. In dynamic mountain streams, recent sediments and associated contaminants are retained, providing information on possible pollution sources. Identifying metals contamination (or natural enrichment) can help decision-makers to provide solutions for pollution sources.

Chemical food safety is a fundamental pillar of public health, regulatory governance, and economic stability, with far-reaching implications for human, animal, and environmental well-being. In the matter of chemicals in the food chain, the European Union (EU) has established one of the most sophisticated and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure food safety and balance consumer protection with scientific advancements and industry needs. This review provides a holistic analysis of the EU chemical food safety scenario, examining its regulatory framework, key risk assessment methodologies, and the roles of critical institutions involved in monitoring, enforcement, and policymaking. The new and evolving challenges of chemical food safety, including transparency, cumulative risk assessment, and emerging contaminants, were discussed. Special attention is given to major classes of chemical substances in food, their regulatory oversight, and the scientific principles guiding their assessment, as well as to the role of key actors, including regulatory agencies, official laboratories, and competent authorities. This work offers an updated and integrated analysis of chemical food safety in the EU, uniquely combining regulatory, scientific, and enforcement perspectives and providing a structured roadmap for future directions.

Background Monitoring is a crucial part of trial conduct and ensures that participants’ data is fairly represented, and future healthcare information is enhanced. This project aims to improve trial monitoring by creating a trial monitoring plan (TMP) template with input from individuals experienced in monitoring clinical trials. Methods A review of monitoring plans received from UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) registered clinical trials units (CTU)s created the basis for a preliminary TMP template and a Delphi survey. The TMP template was finalised after 2 rounds of a Delphi survey and a two-part consensus meeting including trialists with experience and expertise in monitoring clinical trials. Results We received 31 monitoring plans from UKCRC-registered CTUs and reviewed over 800 monitoring items for inclusion in a TMP template, selecting items based on guidelines such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and our monitoring experiences. For certain items, further expert input was required. A total of 66 items were chosen for a Delphi survey involving 47 participants from 25 UK CTUs and industry. After the first round, all 66 items were retained, and six additional items were suggested by Delphi participants. In the second round, 37 items reached consensus for inclusion in the TMP template. The Delphi process was followed by a consensus meeting with 9 participants from 9 UK CTUs and industry. Participants in the consensus meeting voted on the 32 further items that had not reached the definition of consensus within the Delphi, regarding each item’s inclusion in or exclusion from the TMP template. The voting resulted in 18 items being excluded, leaving 14 items to be included in the TMP template. The process overall resulted in a standardised TMP template with input from many individuals with interest, experience, or expertise in monitoring clinical trials. Conclusion A TMP template was developed building on the currently used monitoring plans and with input from those experienced in clinical trial monitoring. Using a centrally developed good quality TMP template should contribute towards maintaining consistency in monitoring standards across all CTUs, resulting in higher research quality and improved quality assurance. Its use should provide reassurance to participants that their participation is carefully monitored to ensure that their data or any samples provided are treated with confidentiality, integrity, and respect and that their rights and well-being are protected.

Quantitative assessment of groundwater and surface water is an important tool for sustainable management and protection of these important resources. This paper deals with the design of a multi-disciplinary monitoring plan related to the catchment project of the Pertuso spring, in the Upper Valley of Aniene River, which is going to be exploited to supply an important water network in the South part of Roma district. According to the Legislative Decree 152/2006, as modified by DM 260/2010, any infrastructure design should take in consideration an Environmental Monitoring Plan for the hydrogeological settings of the study area. Thus, the hydrogeological characterization combined with an Environmental Monitoring Plan provides to evaluate the potential adverse environmental impacts due catchment works. For water resources assessment and management, the quantification of groundwater recharge is a preliminary step. As a matter of fact, it has been included the quantitative characterization of the Pertuso spring, in the aim of to protect catchment area, which is directly affect by the natural hydrogeological balance of this aquifer. Thus, a multi-disciplinary monitoring plan has been set up, including quantitative and hydrogeochemical measurements, both for groundwater and surface water of the Upper Valley of Aniene River. The target of this Environmental Monitoring Plan is to set up the background framework on the hydromorphological, physico-chemical and biological properties of water resources in the water basin influenced aim by any potential environmental impact due to the construction activities. The Environmental Monitoring Plan and main features of the monitoring network will be presented in this study.

Although commercial deep seabed mining could provide the international community with new sources of metals and minerals, it can potentially cause adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity of the Area. To date, insufficient scientific knowledge has been obtained about the complex deep seabed ecosystems and the detailed impacts of deep seabed mining. The International Seabed Authority has begun to make provisions for exploiting mineral resources and related environmental protection requirements. The draft exploitation regulations take precautionary approaches such as stipulating rules, including environmental standards and guidelines, environment impact assessment, environmental management and monitoring plan, and regional environmental management plan. However, there are still apparent differences and controversies about these rules between States. This article elaborates on the evolution and content of drafted rules and explores the manifested specific divergences and interest conflicts in formulating these rules. Implementing precautionary approaches requires balancing potential serious environmental risks, available scientific evidence, and cost-effectiveness. This article also explores the essential requirements of taking precautionary approaches for governing commercial deep seabed mining. The ISA, sponsoring States, Contractors, scientists, experts, and public all play roles in the governance of imminent commercial deep seabed mining. Strengthening multi-subject participation in the ISA’s law-making process for deep seabed environmental protection can be conducive to promoting consensus on taking precautionary approaches to govern commercial deep seabed mining.

Global warming is a pressing issue that is primarily caused by the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere. Achieving carbon neutrality, or climate neutrality, has become a global consensus, leading governments to implement policies and regulations. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has great potential for reducing the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere. However, the sealed CO 2 in geological formations is susceptible to leakage. In this study, we employed the heavy gas diffusion model to show the leakage characteristics of CO 2 in the atmosphere under different conditions. According to the influence of CO 2 concentration in the air on humans, combined with the distribution of global carbon dioxide geological storage area and population density, the degree of damage under different leakage conditions is discussed. The results show that when the wind speed is 0.5 m/s, the leakage speed is in the range of 0–120 kg/s, and the maximum dangerous distance from the downwind is 165 m. In areas with wind grade is above 3 and the population density is less than 100 people/km 2 , CO 2 leakage does not pose a threat to human health. Our results show the three-dimensional distribution characteristics of the geological storage of CO 2 after a leakage in the atmosphere and establish a risk matrix based on the hazard area and population. Furthermore, we quantitatively evaluate the potential damage caused by leakage. Based on these findings, we propose a layout scheme for monitoring sites at different storage locations, providing a foundation for CO 2 geological storage monitoring efforts.

The research  was aimed to develop a proposed vision to develop the effectiveness of the use of information and communications technology in agricultural extension work/Iraq, To achieve the research goal, the questionnaire was prepared as a tool for collecting information and included 109 items distributed over 8 axes, which are (formulating a strategic plan, providing infrastructure, disseminating culture, Security and safety of information extension, developing workers’ capabilities, improving cooperation and coordination between the extension organization and relevant authorities, Improving the target population’s access to information and extension knowledge, monitoring and evaluation. The research included the governorates of Iraq, except for the Kurdistan region, which number 15 governorates. A 50% random sample was drawn, with 8 governorates: Baghdad, Kirkuk, Babylon, Basra, Anbar, Dhi Qar, Najaf, and Karbala), and the research community included those working in agricultural extension, numbering 773 respondents. A proportional, stratified random sample was drawn with a proportion of 33.1% of the research community and 256 respondents. The data was collected, tabulated, and analyzed using statistical methods and the SPSS program to extract The results: It was concluded that all the paragraphs and axes of the proposed vision, in terms of importance and the opinions of the respondents, obtained weighted means higher than the hypothesized mean of 3 degrees, The researcher recommends the need for officials and specialists in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Extension and Training Department, and the Agriculture Directorates to adopt the proposed vision to develop the effectiveness of agricultural extension and its use of information and communications technology. أستهدف البحث وضع  تصور مقترح لتطوير فعالية استخدام تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات في عمل الإرشاد الزراعي/ العراق، ولتحقيق هدف البحث تم أعداد الاستبانة كأداة لجمع المعلومات تضمنت من 109 فقرة موزعة على 8 محاور وهي (صياغة خطة استراتيجية، توفير البنية التحتية، نشر الثقافة، امن وسلامة المعلومات  الإرشادية، تنمية قدرات العاملين، تحسين التعاون والتنسيق بين المنظمة الإرشادية والجهات ذات العلاقة، تحسين وصول المستهدفين الى المعلومات والمعرفة الإرشادية، الرصد والتقييم)، وقد شمل البحث محافظات العراق عدا إقليم كردستان والبالغ عددها 15 محافظة، سحبت عينة عشوائية بنسبة 50%، وبواقع 8 محافظات وهي: ( بغداد، كركوك، بابل، البصرة، الأنبار، ذي قار، النجف، كربلاء)، وأشتمل مجتمع البحث العاملين في الإرشاد الزراعي البالغ عددهم 773 مبحوثاً، سحبت عينة عشوائية طبقية تناسبية بنسبة 33.1% من مجتمع البحث وبواقع 256 مبحوث، وقد جمعت البيانات وتم تبويبها وتحليلها باستخدام الوسائل الإحصائية وبرنامج SPSS لاستخلاص النتائج، وقد تم التوصل الى أن جميع فقرات ومحاور التصور المقترح من حيث الأهمية وأراء المبحوثين قد حصلت على أوساط مرجحة أعلى من الوسط الفرضي البالغ 3 درجات، ويوصي الباحث بضرورة تبني المسؤولين والمختصين في وزارة الزراعة ودائرة الإرشاد والتدريب الزراعي ومديريات الزراعة بالتصور المقترح لتطوير فاعلية الإرشاد الزراعي واستخدامه لتكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات.

Social housing represents a part of the whole building stock with a high risk of energy poverty, and it should be treated as a priority in renovation strategies, due to its potential for improvement and the need to fight that risk. Renovation actions are currently designed based on patterns that have been shown to be disparate from the reality of social housing. Thereby, a monitoring study is essential for the evaluation of the actual conditions. An in-depth characterization of a social housing neighborhood, located in the North of Portugal, was carried out. Indoor hygrothermal conditions were analyzed through a monitoring campaign. It was possible to identify the differences in indoor conditions of the dwellings and understand the influence of occupancy density and occupants’ behavior. In order to identify the actual occupancy and the type of use, a social survey was performed. A renovation action will soon take place, and a monitoring and survey plan is proposed for the post-renovation period, based on a previous evaluation of the renovation impact, using DesignBuilder software and the real occupancy profiles. In social housing context, since energy consumption for heating and cooling is punctual or non-existent, the focus of low energy renovation should be based on passive strategies that reduce the energy demand. The remaining energy needs should be supplied by renewable energy sources, reducing energy poverty, and enhancing quality of life.

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) can persist in food processing environments (FPEs), surviving environmental stresses and disinfectants. We described an intensive environmental monitoring plan performed in Central Italy and involving food producing plants (FPPs) and retail grocery stores (RSs). The aim of the study was to provide a snapshot of the Lm circulation in different FPEs during a severe listeriosis outbreak, using whole genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate the genetic diversity of the Lm isolated, evaluating their virulence and stress resistance profiles. A total of 1217 samples were collected in 86 FPEs with 12.0% of positive surfaces at FPPs level and 7.5% at RSs level; 133 Lm isolates were typed by multilocus sequencing typing (MLST) and core genome MLST (cgMLST). Clonal complex (CC) 121 (25.6%), CC9 (22.6%), CC1 (11.3%), CC3 (10.5%), CC191 (4.5%), CC7 (4.5%) and CC31 (3.8%) were the most frequent MLST clones. Among the 26 cgMLST clusters obtained, 5 of them persisted after sanitization and were re-isolated during the follow-up sampling. All the CC121 harboured the Tn6188_qac gene for tolerance to benzalkonium chloride and the stress survival islet SSI-2. The CC3, CC7, CC9, CC31 and CC191 carried the SSI-1. All the CC9 and CC121 strains presented a premature stop codon in the inlA gene. In addition to the Lm Pathogenicity Island 1 (LIPI-1), CC1, CC3 and CC191 harboured the LIPI-3. The application of intensive environmental sampling plans for the detection and WGS analysis of Lm isolates could improve surveillance and early detection of outbreaks.

Electrochemical analysis provides a non-destructive estimation of rebar corrosion in older concrete structures as well as a real-time performance evaluation of various anti-corrosive treatments. However, the main concerns that limit inferring the rate of development and the amount of corrosion are the narrow range of responses and the lack of interdependency among the observed parameters. The selection of an adequate anti-corrosive treatment, therefore, typically depends on economic factors rather than scientific advances. In the present study, measurements of the rebar potential, polarization resistance, and impedance for RCC beam specimens exposed to 0% and 20% chloride are used to compare the anti-corrosive capabilities of embedded Zn anodes and Zn-rich coatings. The embedded Zn-anode system showed enhanced protection, showing increased corrosion resistance independent of the chloride exposure circumstances, based on a 70% drop in rebar potential, a high corrosion potential (340 mV), and a decreased net current density (by two orders of magnitude). Electrochemical potential can be successfully utilized to infer corrosion progress, according to the statistical analysis of the obtained data, which is based on the degree of correlation and fitness with the selected dependent parameters. A methodical strategic approach is presented to overcome the inherent limitations of potential-based electrochemical analysis and develop a reliable structural health monitoring system.