A bespoke health risk assessment methodology for the radiation protection of astronauts

An alternative approach that is particularly suitable for the radiation health risk assessment (HRA) of astronauts is presented. The quantity, Radiation Attributed Decrease of Survival (RADS), representing the cumulative decrease in the unknown survival curve at a certain attained age, due to the radiation exposure at an earlier age, forms the basis for this alternative approach. Results are provided for all solid cancer plus leukemia incidence RADS from estimated doses from theoretical radiation exposures accumulated during long-term missions to the Moon or Mars. For example, it is shown that a 1000-day Mars exploration mission with a hypothetical mission effective dose of 1.07 Sv at typical astronaut ages around 40 years old, will result in the probability of surviving free of all types of solid cancer and leukemia until retirement age (65 years) being reduced by 4.2% (95% CI 3.2; 5.3) for males and 5.8% (95% CI 4.8; 7.0) for females. RADS dose–responses are given, for the outcomes for incidence of all solid cancer, leukemia, lung and female breast cancer. Results showing how RADS varies with age at exposure, attained age and other factors are also presented. The advantages of this alternative approach, over currently applied methodologies for the long-term radiation protection of astronauts after mission exposures, are presented with example calculations applicable to European astronaut occupational HRA. Some tentative suggestions for new types of occupational risk limits for space missions are given while acknowledging that the setting of astronaut radiation-related risk limits will ultimately be decided by the Space Agencies. Suggestions are provided for further work which builds on and extends this new HRA approach, e.g., by eventually including non-cancer effects and detailed space dosimetry.

Biosecurity practices in commercial poultry farms located in ElFashir Locality- Sudan

This study was conducted to assess the biosecurity practices in commercial poultry farms in the locality of ElFashir, North Darfur State Sudan. Thirty two farms biosecurity tests were used, biosecurity practices were evaluated in poultry farms using the checklist and organized questionnaires administered to commercial poultry farmers. Simple descriptive statistics were used (frequencies and percentages) to summarize and display the results. The results showed that 62.5% of the farms used the floor brooding system of the birds; 59.4% open barns; The domestic stock in access to the farm site 68.8%; Pets or wildlife birds have access to inside of barns or feed storage 71.9%; yearly water quality is not checked by a reputable laboratory 96.9%; employees have routine contact with other poultry species 84.4%; regular cleaning and disinfection of feeders and drinkers washing is done mainly by soap in addition to water. 43.8%; employees and their families with other people on poultry housing site 100%; poultry production, feed consumption, and mortality records are kept, but not reviewed daily 18.8%; there is untrimmed vegetation and debris within barn(s) 81.2%; vehicle flow designated way traffic onto premises and off premises 100% and perimeter fencing and gate present but not always locked or guarded or fence not completed 56.25%. The study concluded that there is a severe weakness in the application of biosecurity practices in its three branches isolation, cleaning disinfecting and traffic control. The adopted hygiene and traffic control measurement were all within the high and medium biosecurity risk limits whereas mismanagement resembled 60.4% the highest risk of biosecurity practices among the studies in commercial poultry farms of ElFashir Locality. Therefore, it is strongly recommended for local authorities to intervene with qualified teams of poultry professional and experts to train poultry farmers, managers and attendees on importance of implementing sound biosecurity practices.

Current bioethical problems and their legal dimension

Considering the contemporary bioethical problems that have become aggravated in conditions of the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the author comes to the conclusion that their criminal-legal “dimension” is derived from positive regulation. Criminal liability for acts related to the use of new biotechnologies can be established only if they are “primary” prohibited in medical legislation. The assessment of the justification of the risks of medical intervention from the position of art. 41 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is directly linked with the observance of the rules of medical care, which already contain acceptable risk limits. If at the level of primary positive regulation there is no required legal distinctness (as in the situation with the “collision of lives” of patients with the same medical indicators), then the corresponding bioethical problem cannot be resolved by criminal legal means.

Developing and Validating Lower Risk Online Gambling Thresholds with Actual Bettor Data from a Major Internet Gambling Operator

Objective: To help individuals avoid potential negative consequences associated withtheir gambling, researchers have developed lower risk limits for time and financial involvementamong populations of land-based gamblers. The present study extended these efforts to onlinegambler populations with prospective longitudinal data. Method: We used receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and logistic regression models predicting a Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS; Gebauer, LaBrie & Shaffer, 2010) to develop lower risk limits for six measures of gambling involvement among subscribers to an online gambling operator. We also tested the utility of these six newly-developed limits and three existing land-based limits for the BBGS outcome and proxies for gambling problems including: (1) voluntary self-limiting, (2) voluntary self-exclusion, (3) closing one's account, and (4) being assigned a flag for potential problem gambling by customer service. Results: We identified five optimal limits for lower risk online gambling with adequate sensitivity and specificity for predicting BBGS-positive status, and four of those that also predicted at least one proxy outcome in logistic regression models. These four empirically supported gambling limits were: (1) wagering 167.97 Euros or less each month; (2) spending 6.71% or less of annual income on online gambling wagers; (3) losing 26.11 Euros or less on online gambling per month; and (4) demonstrating variability (i.e., standard deviation) in daily amount wagered of 35.14 Euros or less during one's duration active. Conclusions: Our findings have implications for lower risk gambling limits research and suggest that unique limits might apply to online and land-based gambler populations.

Booster Biocides Levels in the Major Blood Cockle (Tegillarca granosa L., 1758) Cultivation Areas along the Coastal Area of Peninsular Malaysia

Booster biocides have been rapidly growing in use, mainly in the shipping industry and in agricultural activities. The use of booster biocides is known to cause adverse effects on marine ecosystems, such as by inhibiting the photosynthesis process in marine plants, and they have the potential to accumulate in marine organisms. In the present study, booster biocides of Irgarol 1051, diuron, 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) and chlorothalonil were measured in the major blood cockle (Tegillarca granosa) cultivation areas along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The highest Irgarol 1051 mean was found in the blood cockle with a value of 98.92 ± 13.65 µg/kg in Kapar, Selangor, while the means of diuron and its metabolites and 3,4-DCA showed the highest values of 40.31 ± 7.61 and 41.42 ± 21.58 µg/kg in Kapar, Selangor and Sungai Ayam, Johor, respectively. Sungai Ayam, Johor also exhibited the highest amount of chlorothalonil of 29.76 ± 8.80 µg/kg. By referring to sediment quality guidelines, about 72% and more than 90% of sediment samples exceeded the environmental risk limits (ERLs) and maximum permissible concentration (MPC) for Irgarol 1051 and diuron, respectively. However, referring to the risk characterization ratio (RCR), none of the blood cockle samples exceeded 1, which means that there is no potential for adverse effects to occur. Thus, the contaminants in the marine ecosystem caused by booster biocides are highlighted as a serious issue, mainly in sediment.

As-Hg Compound Pollution: Rice Growth, Yield, and Environmental Safety Limits

With rapid economic and industrial development, the potentially toxic element (PTE) pollution of farmlands in China has become increasingly serious. Based on the Hakanson potential ecological risk index (RI) and national food pollutant limit standards (GB 2762-2017), the effects of exogenous potentially toxic elements (PTEs), i.e., arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg), on rice growth were studied. Common varieties of hybrid (YY 538, CY 84) and conventional (XS 134, JH 218) rice were grown in pots having representative paddy soil from Zhejiang Province, China. The results showed that As and Hg in soil significantly inhibited growth; however, the plant height of hybrid rice was less affected. Further, there were significant correlations between concentrations of PTEs in soil and rice grains; however, hybrid rice had a stronger ability to absorb and accumulate PTEs. The comprehensive potential ecological RI of soil PTEs was 39.4–89.9, which is below the level of ‘minor ecological hazard’, and the contribution rate of Hg was 79.9%–84.2%; as such, Hg posed the greatest potential ecological risk in the study area. The ecological risk limits of As and Hg in the safe production of different rice varieties decreased in the order XS 134 > JH 218 > YY 538 > CY 84. The ecological risk limits of As and Hg for conventional rice were higher, and the risk limits of As and Hg for hybrid rice were lower, than the limit of the soil environmental quality assessment index in the national “Soil quality control criteria for soil pollution in agricultural land (for trial implementation) (Trial)” (GB15618-2018). The health risk limit of soil As in the typical paddy soil of China decreased in the order XS 134 > JH 218 > CY 84 > YY 538. The health risk limit of Hg decreased in the order XS 134 > JH 218 > YY 538 > CY 84. The health risk limit of As was lower, whereas the risk limit of Hg was higher, than the limit of the soil environmental quality evaluation index in the national “Soil quality control criteria for soil pollution in agricultural land (for trial implementation) (Trial)”(GB15618-2018).

Measuring and Allocating Systemic Risk

In this paper, we develop a framework for measuring, allocating and managing systemic risk. SystRisk, our measure of total systemic risk, captures the a priori cost to society for providing tail-risk insurance to the financial system. Our allocation principle distributes the total systemic risk among individual institutions according to their size-shifted marginal contributions. To describe economic shocks and systemic feedback effects, we propose a reduced form stochastic model that can be calibrated to historical data. We also discuss systemic risk limits, systemic risk charges and a cap and trade system for systemic risk.

THE PARADIGM OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGULATORY AND METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK AIMED TO MAINTAIN SANITARY AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WELFARE OF THE POPULATION

The development of Russian legislation aimed at providing safety based on the risk assessment and management methods and technologies is a key paradigm in regulating relations in the field for the next few years and in the longer term. The importance of applying these technologies and methods to the field of maintaining sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population is due to the hazards related to residential environment (exposure to chemical, biological, physical, psychophysiological factors), occupation, consumption of goods and services, lifestyle (imbalanced diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, low physical activity), social and other environmental factors that account for adverse health effects. Therefore it is necessary to revise the regulatory and methodological framework for the health legislation including the definitions for the fundamental health risk concepts based on identifying the acceptable risk limits as well as the concepts of safe and non-hazardous conditions and favorable conditions of human vital activity closely related to them. The suggested approach will make it possible to apply risk management technologies and methods more effectively in legislative regulation in the field of sanitary and epidemiological welfare, which in the short term will provide the capacities required to reach the strategic objective of Russia’s policy to provide safety, i.e. higher life expectancy and quality of life of Russian citizens.