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Water scarcity is a severe problem for regional environmental protection and socioeconomic development, and water footprints are effective tools for evaluating the magnitude of the water scarcity. However, water is closely intertwined with energy. Carbon taxes are an essential policy tool for managing energy use, and could therefore indirectly change the water footprint. Previous research on water footprints has revealed the historical characteristics of water footprints, but has not predicted how these characteristics would change under a carbon tax. Identifying the indirect impacts of carbon taxes on water footprints could therefore offer important information to support more effective energy and water policies. In the present study, we explored the impacts of carbon taxes on water footprints. We established a computable general equilibrium model to predict the effects of carbon taxes on the socioeconomic system, and adopted an input-output model to account for changes in the water footprint. We then used China as a case study. We found that a carbon tax could reduce the total water footprint, even though the water footprint for primary industries increased. In addition, the tax could decrease the virtual water content, and the reduction of virtual water content is the greatest for the secondary industries. • The impacts of carbon taxes on water footprints are predicted. • CGE model is used for the economic system analysis under energy tax. • A carbon tax could reduce the total water footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies have reported that the development of pancreatic cancer (PC) may be associated with environment pollution. But the relationship between ambient air pollution and PC remains unclear. Objectives This study aimed to examine the association between PC mortality and exposure of fine particular matter. Methods We used PC mortality data from 103 continuous points in national Disease Surveillance Point system from 1991 to 2009 in China. The annual concentrations of PM 2.5 at 0.1°  ×  0.1° spatial resolution for each points were estimated based on the context of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. A spatial age-period-cohort model was used to examine the relative risks of PC mortality associated with PM exposure, after adjusting gender, urban/rural status, spatial variation as well as age, period and cohort effect. Results The relative risks of PC mortality related to 10 μg/m 3 increase of PM 2.5 were 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 1.20) for all the population, 1.08 (1.05,1.13) for those aged 40–64 years, 1.21 (1.17,1.25) for those aged 65–84 years, 1.14 (1.10,1.18) for the male, 1.19 (1.14,1.24) for the female, 1.23 (1.16,1.30) for the urban population and 1.29 (1.22, 1.37) for the rural population. Conclusions Ambient PM 2.5 may raise the risk of mortality from PC, especially in older population. Pollution control policy should be further strengthened to reduce the health damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilizers are important for agricultural production because they can effectively promote crop productivity. However, long-term fertilization can cause heavy metal accumulation in soils and crops. This study utilized sequential extraction, the diffusive gradient in the thin films (DGT) technique and risk assessment models to estimate the effects of the longest long-term fertilization (38 years) in China on cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) accumulation in soils. The treatments included no fertilization (CK); inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization (NPK); manure fertilization (M); and NPK plus M cofertilization (NPKM). The results indicated that the soils treated with NPKM, M and NPK had significantly increased total and available concentrations of Cd and As after 38 years of long-term fertilization. Cd mainly originates from cattle manure, while As originates from phosphate fertilizer. Sequential extraction results indicated that the application of manure increased the acid/exchangeable fraction (F1) and organic matter-bound fraction (F3) of Cd and As. The risk assessment results showed that the environmental risks of both Cd and As increased during long-term fertilization, and Cd contamination in the soil was at a moderate-high level, while As remained at a relatively low level. According to the calculations of the maximum numbers of years of soil productivity and rice production, Cd was labile and accumulated in the soils, and As was more labile than Cd in terms of accumulating in rice, indicating that the true risk from As in rice is higher than that from Cd. Controlling the heavy metals in fertilizers, mitigating effective amendments, and identifying plant types that accumulate low amounts of contaminants may be good choices for cleaner crop production. [Display omitted] • 38 years long-term fertilization leaded to a significant increment of cadmium and arsenic in soils. • Manure and phosphate fertilizer were the sources for cadmium arsenic input. • Cadmium and arsenic posed a medium-strong and low environmental risk to the farmland respectively. • Cadmium tended to accumulate in soil and arsenic was labile to accumulate in rice seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza is a major public health problem worldwide. Mutations and resistance development make the use of antiviral therapy challenging. Chinese patent medicines are often used to treat influenza in China and well tolerable. However, the misuse of Chinese patent medicines is common. We therefore aimed to develop an evidence-based guideline on treating influenza with Chinese patent medicines in adults to guide clinical practice. We formed a steering committee, a consensus panel, a consultants' group and an evidence synthesis team to guide the development of the guideline. We formulated the clinical questions through two rounds of survey, and finally selected five questions. We then systematically searched the related evidence and conducted meta-analyses, evidence summaries and GRADE decision tables to draft the recommendations, which the consensus panel then voted on using the Delphi method. Finally, we formulated six recommendations based on the evidence synthesis and experts' consensus. For treating mild influenza, we suggest either Lianhua Qingwen capsule, Jinhua Qinggan granule, Banlangen granule, Shufeng Jiedu capsule, or Jinfang Baidu pill, depending on the manifestations. For severe influenza, or mild influenza in patients at high risk of developing severe influenza, we suggest Lianhua Qingwen capsule in combination with antiviral medications and supportive therapy. The strength of all recommendations was weak. Traditional Chinese medicine has great potential to help in the fight against influenza worldwide, but more high-quality studies are still needed to strengthen the evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]