Ecological assessment of the Zaporizhzya (Dniprovsky) reservoir

Environmental assessment of water is an integral part of monitoring water bodies. It provides information about water as a component of the aquatic ecosystem, the habitat of hydrobionts and an essential part of the natural environment, which is necessary for establishing environmental standards for water quality and adoption of measures to improve the ecological state of water bodies. Assessment of the quality of the ecological environment is an important parameter of sustainable development, necessary for the rational use of nature. Currently, the Zaporizhzhia (Dnipro) reservoir is exposed to increased anthropogenic impact, which affects water quality. The ecological state of the reservoir is deteriorating, and mass algal bloom is observed. The work aims to provide an integrated environmental assessment of water quality in different sites of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir. The study was conducted in 2019 at 5 sites along the course of the Zaporizke reservoir, which differ in hydrological and hydrochemical conditions: Samara Bay, Festivalnyi pier, Monastyrsky island, creek of the Mokra Sura river and the lower section of the reservoir (near Viyskove village), following generally accepted hydrobiological methods. The article calculates block indices and provides an environmental assessment of the water quality of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir according to the "Methodology for environmental assessment of surface water quality in the corresponding categories. The assessment of water quality by the criteria of contamination with salt composition components indicates that the water body condition is good at most of the studied points. The worst indicators were recorded in Samara Bay, where increased mineralization is observed for a long time. The trophic-saprobological block revealed to have the worst indicators and a high amplitude of index fluctuations. No significant deviations were observed in terms of the content of toxic and radiation exposure indicators throughout the entire studied water area, which makes it possible to assign water to the same class. It has been determined that the water quality of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir according to the average annual data is characterized as "good" in terms of the state and "clean, fairly clean" in terms of purity degree. However, during the study period, significant deviations from the average were observed, especially in the summer. There is a need for systematic monitoring of the reservoir, the establishment of annual dynamics, which will make it possible to determine the causes of deteriorating water quality and develop ways to address them.

Effects of Accumulated And Transient Heat Exposure On Schizophrenia Hospitalizations: A Time-Series Analysis On Hourly Temperature Basis

Background: Growing studies have shown that high temperature is a potential risk factor of schizophrenia occurrence. Therefore, elaborate analysis of different temperature exposure patterns such as cumulative heat exposure within a time period and transient exposure at a particular time point, is of important public health significance. This study aims to utilize hourly temperature data to better capture the effects of cumulative and transient heat exposures on schizophrenia during the warm season in Hefei, China. Methods: We included the daily mean temperature and daily schizophrenia hospitalizations into the distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) to simulate the exposure-response curve and determine the heat threshold (19.4℃). We calculated and applied a novel indictor–daily excess heat hourly (DEHH) to examine the effects of cumulative heat exposure over a day on schizophrenia hospitalizations. Temperature measurements at each time point were also incorporated in the DLNM as independent exposure indicators to analyze the impact of transient heat exposure on schizophrenia. Results: Each increment of interquartile range (IQR) in DEHH was associated with elevated risk of schizophrenia hospitalizations from lag 1 (RR=1.036, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.016, 1.057) to lag 4 (RR=1.025, 95% CI: 1.005, 1.046). Men and people over 40 years old were more susceptible to DEHH. Besides, we found a greater risk of heat-related schizophrenia hospitalizations between 0 am and 6 am.Conclusions: This study revealed the negative effects of accumulated and transient heat exposures on schizophrenia hospitalizations. Our findings need to be further tested in other regions with distinct regional features.

Assessment of Croplands’ Exposure to Climate Variability in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria

The knowledge of exposure of croplands to climate variability is of paramount importance in adaptive capacity planning to boost food production for the world’s growing population. The study assessed the exposure of croplands to climate variability in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria using Geo-informatics. This was achieved by examining the distribution pattern of climate indices in FCT from 1981-2017, determining the exposure index of croplands in FCT Area Councils and production of exposure map of FCT Area Councils, The spatial scope of this study is the entire arable land in FCT which is made up of six Area Councils. The research is contextually restricted to exposure of croplands to climate variables while other variables remain constant. The selected climatic variables are rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and potential evapotranspiration (exposure indicators). The arable crops in focus are yam, beans and maize while the soil variables selected for the study are: soil erosion, organic carbon content of the soil, clay content of the soil and percentage of arable land available for crop production. The temporal scope of the examined exposure indicators (climate variables) was limited to a period of thirty (37) years from 1981- 2017. The result indicates that Bwari has the highest exposure (0.1671) to climate variables while Abaji has the least (0.0868) exposure. AMAC is high (0.1371), Kuje (0.1304) is moderate while Gwagwalada (0.1132) and Kwali (0.1154) have low exposures to climate variability. The implication of this on the referenced crops is that crop yield will be highly reduced in Bwari and optimum in Abaji Area Councils due to their climatic requirement. The power of Geo-Spatial Technology in combining different indices of exposure to produce exposure map was demonstrated in the study.

Workplace Biological Risk Assessment: Review of Existing and Description of a Comprehensive Approach

Biological risks potentially affect workers in multiple occupational sectors through their exposure to pathogenic agents. These risks must be carefully assessed to prevent adverse health effects. This article identifies and critically analyzes approaches that manage the qualitative evaluation of biological risk (EvBR) as part of occupational health and safety prevention, for which no standard method yet exists. Bibliographic and computing references were searched to identify qualitative EvBR approaches, which were then analyzed based on defined criteria, such as the risks studied and the type of assessment. Approaches proposing the most representative types of assessment were analyzed. EvBR approaches in an occupational setting were identified in 32 sources. “Workstation analysis” combined with “assessment by risk level” were the most common approaches. The predominant risk descriptors (RDs) were defined in a characterized and quantifiable way, and a variety of hazard levels and exposure indices were created. Overall, the risk was determined by summing or multiplying the hazard level and exposure indicators. The results confirmed that no methodological consensus currently exists regarding the EvBR and no approach has yet been described that integrates all the parameters to allow for a full assessment of biological risk. Based on the detailed analysis of the existing data, the present paper proposes a general approach.

A Study on the Health Vulnerability Assessment of Particle Matter in Incheon

This study presents health vulnerability assessment indicators of particle matter, such as exposure indicators, sensitivity indicators, and adaptive indicators, based on the health vulnerability assessment indicators presented by IPCC (2007). To derive the suggested evaluation indices, basic data from 2018 were analyzed. The response variables for each indicator through re-scaling were combined to calculate and present vulnerability indices for administrative regions. The response variable of the exposure indicator was weighted to reflect the local environment and regional characteristics. The present study proposes a plan to manage particle matter in the administrative district of Incheon by utilizing the calculated health vulnerability index of such matter.