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Recent advancement of environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for surveying species in aquatic ecosystems has been used for various organisms and contributed to monitoring and conservation of species and environments. Amphibians are one of the promising taxa which could be monitored efficiently by applying quantitative PCR (qPCR) or next generation sequencing to eDNA. However, the cost of eDNA detection using these approaches can be quite high and requires instruments that are not usually installed in ecology laboratories. For aiding researchers in starting eDNA studies of amphibians, especially those not specialized in molecular biology, we developed a cost efficient protocol using PCR-RFLP method. We attempted to detect eDNA of three Japanese Rana species ( Rana japonica, Rana ornativentris , and Rana tagoi tagoi ) in various spatial scales including an area close to the Fukushima nuclear power plant where the environment is recovering after the disaster in 2011. Our PCR-RFLP protocol was successful in detecting Rana species in static water in both laboratory and field; however, it could not detect Rana species in non-static water samples from the field. Even a more sensitive detection method (standard qPCR) was unable to detect frogs in all non-static water samples. We speculate that our new protocol is effective for frogs living in lentic habitats, but not for lotic habitats which may still require the gold standard of field observation for detection approach.

In the last 20 years, there has been a change in drinking habits in Russia, characterized by a decrease in the amount and potency of alcohol being consumed. This article aims to identify regional distinctive features in alcohol consumption patterns in Russia. The study uses panel data from RLMS-HSE annual surveys based on a representative sample of the population for 2014, 2018, and 2022, and Russian official statistics on alcohol purchases and consumption. The research results confirm that the northern style of alcohol consumption persists in the Ural, Siberia, and the Far East regions of Russia. A shift towards a mixed drinking pattern is apparent in most of the country, particularly noticeable in Moscow, Central Russia, and the Northwestern federal district. Southern wine-producing regions do not demonstrate a transition to the \"southern\" wine-oriented model of alcohol consumption, exhibiting relatively low levels of alcohol consumption per capita. Overall, beer remains the dominant and most popular alcoholic beverage in all regions of Russia. This study contributes to understanding regional differences, as well as economic and institutional factors that influence alcohol consumption. The territorial characteristics of alcohol intake highlighted in the article help outline potential strategies for regulating alcohol policy in Russia.

The environmental pollution and health effects caused by pesticide production have consistently garnered considerable research interest. In the present study, the concentrations of five triazole fungicides (TFs) in air, indoor dust, and diet were monitored around a pesticide factory in eastern China from November 2020 to May 2021. The levels of five TFs in each sample were determined via UPLC‒MS/MS. For a health risk assessment, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s deterministic method was applied. The findings revealed that the total concentrations of the five TFs around the monitoring area ranged from 0.29 to 5.85 ng/m 3 in outdoor air, 287.4 to 9878.5 μg/kg in indoor dust, 0.0578 to 4.948 μg/kg in vegetables, and 0.447 to 3.00 μg/kg in rice. Notably, tebuconazole and hexaconazole had consistently high contributions over the years. For adults and children, the average daily doses (ADDs) were 1.32 × 10 −5 and 2.69 × 10 −5  mg/kg/day, respectively, in the monitoring area and 4.25 × 10 −6 and 6.42 × 10 −6  mg/kg/day, respectively, in the control area. In the control area, rice and vegetables were the primary media for exposure to TFs in children and adults, collectively accounting for more than 94% of the total TF exposure. Conversely, indoor dust is identified as the main medium of TF exposure in children residing near the pesticide factory, representing approximately 40% of the total exposure. The risks of noncarcinogenic effects on children and adults in the monitoring area were significantly greater than those in the control area, being approximately ten times greater for children, warranting increased attention. The carcinogenic risk to human health is relatively safe.

This study examines the relationship between health insurance literacy, as indicated by confidence in comprehending health insurance terms, and health status using cross-sectional data from 8 waves of the Health Reform Monitoring Survey (HRMS), covering 61,895 individuals from 2013 to 2017. An ordered logistic regression model was employed with self-rated health status on a five-point Likert scale as the dependent variable and the score of confidence in understanding health insurance terms as the primary independent variable. The model adjusts for variables such as access to care, insurance status, concerns about affordability leading to missed care, household size, family income, employment, education, race, marital status, and gender. Results suggest a positive association between higher confidence in understanding health insurance and superior health statuses. These findings underscore the significance of improving health insurance literacy and advocating for potential policy interventions to enhance public understanding of health insurance benefits and coverage options.

For the bioassessment of tropical marine ecosystem, a survey of protozoa colonizing artificial substrate was conducted in the coastal waters of northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Protozoan samples were collected using glass slides from 1 and 2 m water depths at time intervals of 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days during winter and monsoon seasons. Thus, the colonization processes of protozoa were assigned into three stages namely the initial (3 days), transitional (7 days), and equilibrium stages (10–28 days) at two depths in two seasons. Regression analyses demonstrated that the colonization dynamics of protozoa were well fitted to the MacArthur-Wilson model and logistic equation. Species richness reached equilibrium after 10–14 days and species abundance was maximum at a depth of 1 m. These results suggest that samples of protozoa can be collected at 1 m depth in winter season for monitoring the ecological health of tropical marine ecosystems.

The tremendous impact of natural and anthropogenic organic and inorganic substances continuously released into the environment requires a better understanding of the chemical status of aquatic ecosystems. Water contamination monitoring studies were performed for different classes of substances in different regions of the world. Reliable analytical methods and exposure assessment are the basis of a better management of water resources. Our research comprised publications from 2010 regarding the Lower Danube and North West Black Sea region, considering regulated and unregulated persistent and emerging pollutants. The frequently reported ones were: pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim), pesticides (atrazine, carbendazim, and metolachlor), endocrine disruptors—bisphenol A and estrone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorinated pesticides, and heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Hg, Cu, Cr). Seasonal variations were reported for both organic and inorganic contaminants. Microbial pollution was also a subject of the present review.

A four-year survey was conducted to monitor the presence of multiple pesticide residues contaminating tomatoes, with the aim of evaluating the potential health and environmental risks. A multiresidue liquid chromatography–triple mass spectrometry with a multiple reaction monitoring (LC-MS/MS-MRM) method was fully validated and used to test 252 pesticides in 360 samples analysed. According to SANTE guidelines, the proposed method was considered suitable for the purpose. Dietary risk assessment was conducted using the Hazard Quotient (HQ) approach and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Pesticide Residue Intake Model; meanwhile, the cumulative environmental risk assessment was conducted using the Concentration Addition (CA) and Independent Action (IA) methods. Data obtained revealed multiple contaminations in most fields examined over the years. Twenty-two pesticide residues were identified, comprising 68.2% fungicides, 27.3% insecticides, and the remaining 4.5% acaricides. Higher levels were detected for Boscalid in 2022 in three fields, with an average value of 0.42 mg/kg. Multi-residue contamination occurred each year; the lowest abundance was detected in 2023 (3.9%), and the highest in 2022 (12.3%), with 5 pesticide residues as the maximum number of compounds detected in one sample in 2022. The consumer risk assessment identified no potential health concerns for adults or toddlers, and the combined risk was considered acceptable. The environmental assessment showed maximum cumulative ratio (MCR) values that were always ≥1, indicating a contribution to the toxicity of the mixture, only slightly higher than that of the single compound with the highest toxicity. The results of this study highlight the critical need to include cumulative dietary exposure assessments in pesticide risk evaluations, especially for food products that are susceptible to contamination by multiple residues.

Background: Hospitals are recognized as point sources of antimicrobials in urban wastewater systems; however, comprehensive evaluations of their discharge profiles have not yet been conducted. Methods: This study presents a multi-site investigation of residual antimicrobial concentrations in effluents from five general hospitals and a commercial facility in the metropolitan area of Japan. Over a 12-week period (December 2023–March 2024), extensive sampling was conducted. Fifteen antimicrobials from multiple classes were quantified using high-throughput analysis. Results: The results revealed consistently higher concentrations in hospital effluents, particularly for levofloxacin, vancomycin, and ampicillin, than in non-clinical sites. Distinct facility-specific and temporal patterns suggest strong links between local prescribing practices and the effluent composition. Some compounds, such as clarithromycin and minocycline, showed dual contributions from both hospital and commercial sources. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for source-targeted monitoring and antimicrobial pollution control strategies and provide a foundation for expanding surveillance efforts and informing environmental policies related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Water resources, especially riverine ecosystems, are globally under qualitative and quantitative degradation due to human-imposed pressures. High-temporal-resolution data obtained from automatic stations can provide insights into the processes that link catchment hydrology and streamwater chemistry. The scope of this paper was to investigate the statistical behavior of high-frequency measurements at sites with known hydromorphological and pollution pressures. For this purpose, hourly time series of water levels and key water quality indicators (temperature, electric conductivity, and dissolved oxygen concentrations) collected from four automatic monitoring stations under different hydromorphological conditions and pollution pressures were statistically elaborated. Based on the results, the hydromorphological conditions and pollution pressures of each station were confirmed to be reflected in the results of the statistical analysis performed. It was proven that the comparative use of the statistics and patterns of the water level and quality high-frequency time series could be used in the interpretation of the current site status as well as allowing the detection of possible changes. This approach can be used as a tool for the definition of thresholds, and will contribute to the design of management and restoration measures for the most impacted areas.

Indoor radon survey in Sološnica, Vydrník and Zázrivá villages has been performed within the framework of the project “Multidisciplinary research of geophysical and structural parameters, and environmental impacts of faults of the Western Carpathians”. Integration measurement of 222Rn activity concentration has been carried out using RamaRn detectors in houses, offices, schools and kindergartens. Indoor radon activity in the summer monitoring period (June–August 2018) varied from values under the detection limit of 55 Bq/m3 to 480 Bq/m3. In 94% of rooms the radon activity below 200 Bq/m3 was found. The results have been examined in respect of the most used building material and presence or absence of a cellar underneath the room. Indoor radon higher than 300 Bq/m3 was measured only in rooms in direct contact with the subsoil.