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Atrazine-contaminated soils can pose a carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk through different routes for exposed people. This study aimed to assess the health risk of exposure to atrazine-contaminated soils through direct ingestion and dermal contact in farmlands nearby Shiraz. Atrazine concentration was measured in 22 selected sites using grid sampling. The carcinogenic and non-cancer risks associated with dermal and ingestion exposure in children and adults were estimated. The lowest and highest atrazine concentrations were in S1 (0.015 mg/kg soil) and S22 (0.55 mg/kg soil). Hazard Index (HI) 1 values ranged from 0.007 to 0.25 for children, and the values ranged from 0.0008 to 0.03 for adults. The mean cancer risk for children and adults was 6.01 × 10 -4 and 7.40 × 10 -5 , respectively. The HI value was less than 1 for all sampling sites, indicating that exposure to atrazine does not threaten children and adults. However, the cancer risk exceeds the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US.EPA) 2 threshold risk limit (10 -6 to 10 -4 ) in all sampling sites. Therefore, it is recommended that children should avoid playing on atrazine-contaminated farms or soils near anywhere atrazine may have been used., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Soil pollution from heavy metals poses a serious risk for environment and public health. Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and cheaper alternative compared to chemical-physical techniques. We carried out in vitro tests where three microorganisms Trichoderma harzianum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus were exposed to eight different heavy metals (one metal at a time) in order to evaluate resistance, growth and bioaccumulation capability for each metal (Ni, Cd, Cu, V, Zn, As, Pb, Hg). Taking into account the natural characteristics of T. harzianum, (resistance to environmental stress, resistance to pathogenic fungi, ability to establish symbiotic relationships with superior green plants) and the good bioaccumulation capacity for V, As, Cd, Hg, Pb shown after in vitro tests, it was chosen as a microorganism to be used in greenhouse tests. Controlled exposure tests were performed in greenhouse, where Arundo donax and mycorrhized Arundo donax with T. harzianum were exposed for 7 months at two different doses (L1 and L2) of a heavy metal mix, so as to assess whether the symbiotic association could improve the bioaccumulation capability of the superior green plant A. donax. Heavy metals were determined with ICP-MS. The average bioaccumulation percentage values of A. donax for L1 and L2 were, respectively: Ni (31%, 26%); Cd (35%, 50%); Cu (30%, 35%); As (19%, 27%); Pb (18%, 14%); Hg (42%, 45%); V (39%, 26%); Zn (23%, 9%). The average bioaccumulation percentage values of mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum for L1 and L2 were, respectively: Ni (27%, 38%); Cd (44%, 42%); Cu (36%, 29%); As (17%, 23%); Pb (37%, 54%); Hg (44%, 60%); V (16%, 20%); Zn (14%, 7%). A. donax showed the highest BAF (bioaccumulation factor) for Cd (0.50), Cu (0.35), As (0.27) and Hg (0.45) after exposure to L2; mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum showed the highest BAF for Ni (0.38), Cd (0.42), Pb (0.54) and Hg (0.60) after exposure to L2. A. donax showed the highest TF (translocation factor) values for Cd (0.28) and Hg (0.26) after exposition at L1 and L2 respectively; A. donax mycorrhized with T. harzianum showed the highest TF values for Cd (0.70), As (0.56), V (0.24), Pb (0.18) after exposition at L2, and Zn (0.30) after exposition at L1. Our study showed a good growth capability in contaminated soils and a good bioaccumulation capability of heavy metals, both for A. donax and mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum. Furthermore, for three metals (Ni, Pb and Hg) the bioaccumulation capability was improved by the symbiosis of T. harzianum with A. donax. So, these results proved the suitability both for A. donax and mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum for phytoremediation processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although literature provides evidence for the relationship between values and acculturation, the relationship between host community acculturation orientations has not yet been investigated. In this study we tested the effects of four high-order values (openness to change, self-transcendence, conservation, and self-enhancement, devised according to Schwartz's model) on host community acculturation orientations towards immigrants (devised according the interactive acculturation model) in the public domain of employment and the private domain of endogamy/exogamy. Participants were 264 Italian University students, who completed a questionnaire containing the Portrait Values Questionnaire, a measure of personal values, and the Host Community Acculturation Scale, aimed at measuring Italian acculturation strategies towards three groups of immigrants: Immigrants (the general category), Chinese (the valued immigrant group), and Albanians (the devalued immigrant group). Results showed that personal values are related to the adoption of acculturation orientations: In particular, the values that mostly impacted on acculturation orientations were self-transcendence and conservation. Values concerning self-transcendence encourage the adoption of integrationism, integrationism-transformation, and individualism and reduce the adoption of assimilationism, segregationism, and exclusionism. Values concerning conservation encourage the adoption of assimilation, segregation and exclusion orientations and reduce the adoption of both types of integrationism and individualism. Minor effects were found regarding self-enhancement and openness to change.