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Acrylamide is widely found in a variety of fried foods and cigarettes and is not only neurotoxic and carcinogenic, but also has many potential toxic effects. The current assessment of acrylamide intake through dietary questionnaires is confounded by a variety of factors, which poses limitations to safety assessment. In this review, we focus on the levels of AAMA, the urinary metabolite of acrylamide in humans, and its association with other diseases, and discuss the current research gaps in AAMA and the future needs. We reviewed a total of 25 studies from eight countries. In the general population, urinary AAMA levels were higher in smokers than in non-smokers, and higher in children than in adults; the highest levels of AAMA were found in the population from Spain, compared with the general population from other countries. In addition, AAMA is associated with several diseases, especially cardiovascular system diseases. Therefore, AAMA, as a biomarker of internal human exposure, can reflect acrylamide intake in the short term, which is of great significance for tracing acrylamide-containing foods and setting the allowable intake of acrylamide in foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of in virtuo exposure-based treatment of performance-only social anxiety disorder (SAD) has been demonstrated in several studies. However, few studies have validated virtual environments with participants suffering from generalized SAD. The goal of this study is to confirm the potential of a virtual environment in inducing anxiety in adults suffering from generalized SAD, compared to adults without SAD, when engaged in awkward social interactions. Differences between participants from two different countries were also explored. The sample consisted of 15 participants with SAD from Canada, 17 participants without SAD from Canada, 16 participants with SAD from Spain, and 21 participants without SAD from Spain. All participants were immersed in a control virtual environment and in an experimental virtual environment considered potentially anxiety-inducing for individuals with generalized SAD. As hypothesized, results showed that the experimental virtual environment induced a higher level of anxiety than the control environment among participants with SAD compared to those without SAD. The impact on anxiety of each socially threatening task performed during the experimental immersion was statistically significant. In terms of anxiety responses, no significant differences were found between participants from Canada and Spain. However, spatial presence and ecological validity were higher in Canadians than in Spaniards. Unwanted negative side effects induced by immersions in virtual reality were higher in the SAD group. This study highlights the importance for therapists to engage people with SAD in clinically relevant tasks while immersed in VR psychotherapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, floods have become one of the natural hazards that generate the greatest economic and human losses on the planet. As is well known, torrential rainfall events are the triggering factor for flooding processes; nevertheless, it is worth examining the responsibility of the human factor, such as urban development, in the occurrence of these potential natural disasters. To this end, rainfall observations obtained during different precipitation events have been analysed. The evolution and urban development from the growth of the number of buildings was also examined. The information obtained has been crossed with the digital cartography of flooded areas (National System of Flood Zones Cartography, SNCZI in Spanish acronym). The results obtained show that the last two extraordinary rainfall events (December 2016 and September 2019) that occurred in the municipalities of Los Alcázares and San Javier (Region of Murcia, SE Spain) exceeded 200 mm, and quantified very high hourly intensities (> 50 mm/h). On the other hand, the number of buildings constructed and the built-up area in both municipalities has increased notably, with an evolution between 1950 and 2019 from 1057 to 15,969 buildings constructed, increasing from 16.09 ha. to 450.06 ha. occupied. This real estate development has caused the number of buildings exposed to flooding to reach 3840 in 2019 for a 10-year RP (return period) and 5941 for a 500-year RP. It can be concluded by indicating the clear influence of territorial transformation on the increase of exposure and economic losses generated by flood events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides the benefits of plant protection products (PPPs) for agricultural production, there is an increasing acknowledgement of the associated potential environmental risks. Here, we examine the feasibility of summarizing the extent of PPP usage at the country level, using Ireland as a case study, as well as at the European level. We used the area over which PPPs are applied (basic area) as an example variable that is relevant to initially assess the geographic extent of environmental risk. In Irish agricultural systems, which are primarily grass-based, herbicides fluroxypyr and glyphosate are the most widely applied active substances (ASs) in terms of basic area, followed by the fungicides chlorothalonil and prothioconazole that are closely associated with arable crops. Although all EU countries are subject to Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009, which sets the obligation of PPP usage data reporting at the national level, we only found usable data that met our criteria for Estonia, Germany, Finland, and Spain (4 of 30 countries reviewed). Overall, the most widely applied fungicide and herbicide in terms of basic area were prothioconazole (20%, 7% and 5% of national cultivated areas of Germany, Estonia and Ireland) and glyphosate (11%, 8% and 5% of national cultivated areas of Spain, Estonia and Ireland) respectively, although evaluations using application frequency may result in the observation of different trends. Several recommendations are proposed to tackle current data gaps and deficiencies in accessibility and usability of pesticide usage data across the EU in order to better inform environmental risk assessment and promote evidence-based policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils by the food industry but there is limited information on actual intake. A detailed intake assessment of palm oil for Spain and Germany was conducted. For Spain, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 2.06 g/day in the elderly to 4.54 g/day in children and adolescents, while high-level intakes ranged from 10.34 g/day in the elderly to 20.88 g/day in toddlers. For Germany, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 3.06 g/day in toddlers to 6.22 g/day in the very elderly, while high-level intakes ranged from 13.61 g/day in toddlers to 30.10 g/day in the elderly. For both countries, the main contributing food categories to mean palm oil intake were biscuits, cakes, bread, breakfast cereal and margarine. In summary, the present paper provides a realistic assessment of the intake of palm oil in two EU countries for different population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exposure to gases and particulate matter released during volcanic eruptions can prove harmful to population health. This paper reports the preliminary results of the ASHES study, aimed at ascertaining the respiratory health effects of the 2021 volcanic eruption in La Palma Island (Spain) on the adult population without previous respiratory disease., Methods: Ambispective cohort study on the healthy adult population. Three exposure groups were considered: Group 1, high exposure; Group 2, moderate exposure; and Group 3, minor or no exposure. We carried out a descriptive analysis of symptoms during and after the eruption, as well as measure lung function after the eruption (through forced spirometry and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide)., Results: The analysis included 474 subjects: 54 in Group 1, 335 in Group 2, and 85 in Group 3. A significant increase in most symptoms was observed for subjects in the groups exposed during the eruption. After the eruption, this increase remained for some symptoms. There seems to be a dose-response relationship, such that the higher the exposure, the higher the odds ratio. A prebronchodilator FEV 1 /FVC ratio<70% was observed in 13.0% of subjects in Group 1, 8.6% of subjects in Group 2, and 7.1% of subjects in Group 3., Conclusions: This study is the first to report a dose-response relationship between exposure to volcanic eruptions and the presence of symptoms in adults. Furthermore, there is a tendency toward obstructive impairment in individuals with higher exposure., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of high intensity precipitation events in increasing the vulnerability to floods in Mediterranean Spain. Precipitation intensity in this area appears to have augmented in the last two decades in association with warming trends of the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, intense urbanization processes, occupying and transforming flood prone land, have produced an important increase in exposure. The main objective is to assess whether higher intensity precipitation and changing patterns in exposure aggravate vulnerability to floods. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, vulnerability is understood as the result of the interrelationships between exposure, sensitivity, impacts and adaptive capacity. Consequently, methods used involved the compilation and analysis of published and unpublished precipitation data, population and land use data, data on insurance claims, and media sources related to those variables. Findings: Changes toward episodes of more intense precipitation in the expanding urban areas of Mediterranean Spain increase exposure but not necessarily vulnerability, at least in terms of human deaths. However, adaptative capacity needs to be formulated. Actions that attempt to absorb and eventually reuse flood flows (as the flood park in Alicante) appear to be more effective than traditional hydraulic solutions (as in Majorca). Originality/value: The paper provides a systematic and coherent approach to vulnerability analysis taking into account the changing dynamics of its components. Especially, it signals the limits of current adaptive approaches to flooding and advocates for changes toward a more circular and less linear approach to urban drainage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some researchers have suggested that zinc (Zn) could reduce the risk of prostate cancer (PC). However, research from observational studies on the relationship between PC risk and biomarkers of Zn exposure shows conflicting results., Objectives: To evaluate the association between toenail Zn and PC, considering tumour extension and aggressiveness, along with a gene-environment approach, exploring the interaction of individual genetic susceptibility to PC in the relationship between toenail Zn and PC., Methods: In MCC-Spain study we invited all incident PC cases diagnosed in the study period (2008-2013) and recruited randomly selected general population controls. In this report we included 913 cases and 1198 controls with toenail Zn determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. To measure individual genetic susceptibility, we constructed a polygenic risk score based on known PC-related single nucleotide polymorphisms. The association between toenail Zn and PC was explored with mixed logistic and multinomial regression models., Results: Men with higher toenail Zn had higher risk of PC (OR quartile 4 vs.1: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.07-1.85). This association was slightly higher in high-grade PC [(ISUP≤2 Relative risk ratio (RRR) quartile 4 vs.1: 1.36; 1.01-1.83) vs. (ISUP3-5 RRR quartile 4 vs.1: 1.64; 1.06-2.54)] and in advanced tumours [(cT1-cT2a RRR quartile 4 vs.1: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.05-1.89) vs. (cT2b-cT4 RRR quartile 4 vs.1: 1.59; 1.00-2.53)]. Men with lower genetic susceptibility to PC were those at higher risk of PC associated with high toenail Zn (OR quartile 4 vs.1: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.08-4.40)., Discussion: High toenail Zn levels were related to a higher risk for PC, especially for more aggressive or advanced tumours. This effect was stronger among men with a lower genetic susceptibility to PC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Breakfast cereals are important contributors to acrylamide daily exposure in Western countries. Acrylamide was determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS in 60 commercial breakfast cereals marketed in Spain. The influence of the predominant cereal, protein, fibre and sugar content, as well as the presence of honey and the manufacturing process on the acrylamide levels was evaluated. The mean acrylamide content was 118 μg/kg (from <20 to 639 μg/kg). The group of breakfast cereals formulated with kamut, spelt, and wheat reported the higher levels (639, 201 and 197 μg/kg, respectively). The type of processing significantly affected the occurrence of acrylamide, being higher in puffed cereals (167 μg/kg) than in flaked ones (79 μg/kg). The majority (85%) samples were below the benchmark level established by the EU Regulation 2017/2158. Acrylamide occurrence in breakfast cereals marketed in Spain has greatly decreased since 2006 (60%), leading to a reduction of the contribution of breakfast cereals to the overall exposure to the population from 1.02 μg/day to 0.54 μg/day. Despite this progress, more efforts are needed to continue the acrylamide mitigation until levels as low as reasonably possible since no tolerable intake could be established for a carcinogenic and genotoxic compound. • Breakfast cereal industry is urged to develop acrylamide mitigation strategies. • Acrylamide content in breakfast cereals from 2006 to 2018 was reassessed. • Flaked products showed significantly lower acrylamide levels than puffed ones. • 85% breakfast cereals contained acrylamide concentrations below the benchmark levels. • Acrylamide content in Spanish marketed breakfast cereals dropped 60% since 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant women constitute a promising sentinel group for continuous monitoring of malaria transmission. To identify antibody signatures of recent Plasmodium falciparum exposure during pregnancy, we dissected IgG responses against VAR2CSA, the parasite antigen that mediates placental sequestration. We used a multiplex peptide-based suspension array in 2,354 samples from pregnant women from Mozambique, Benin, Kenya, Gabon, Tanzania, and Spain. Two VAR2CSA peptides of limited polymorphism were immunogenic and targeted by IgG responses readily boosted during infection and with estimated half-lives of <2 years. Seroprevalence against these peptides reflected declines and rebounds of transmission in southern Mozambique during 2004-2012, reduced exposure associated with use of preventive measures during pregnancy, and local clusters of transmission that were missed by detection of P. falciparum infections. These data suggest that VAR2CSA serology can provide a useful adjunct for the fine-scale estimation of the malaria burden among pregnant women over time and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air quality standards are typically based on long term averages – whereas a person may encounter exposure peaks throughout the day. Exposure peaks may contribute meaningfully to health impacts beyond their contribution to long term averages, and therefore should be considered alongside longer-term exposures. We aim to define and explain peak exposure to black carbon air pollution and look at the relationship between short peak exposures and longer term personal exposure. A peak detection algorithm was applied to pooled data from two independent studies. High-resolution personal black carbon monitoring was performed in 175 healthy adult volunteers for a minimum of two 24-h periods per person. At the same time, we retrieved information on the time-activity pattern. Data covered Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In total, 2053 monitoring days were included. Exposure profiles revealed 2.8 ± 1.6 (avg ± SD) peaks per person per day. The average black carbon concentration during a peak was 4206 ng/m³. On 5.5% of the time participants were exposed to peak concentrations, but this contributed to 21.0% of their total exposure. The short time in transport (8%), was responsible for 32.7% of the peaks. 24.1% of the measurements in transport were categorized as peak exposure; while sleeping this was only 0.9%. When considering transport modes, participants were most likely to encounter peaks while cycling (34.0%). Most peaks were encountered at rush hour, from Monday through Friday, and in the cold season. Gender and age had no impact on the presence of peaks. Daily average black carbon exposure showed only a moderate correlation with peak frequency (r = 0.44). This correlation coefficient increased when considering longer term exposure to r > 0.60 from 10 days onward. The occurrence of peaks varied substantially over time, across microenvironments and transport modes. Daily average exposure was moderately correlated with peak frequency. Real-time air pollution alerting systems may use the peak detection algorithm to support citizens in self-management of air pollution health effects. • Over 2000 days of personal monitoring of black carbon with the microAeth AE51. • Exposure profiles revealed 2.8 peaks per person per day using our peak detection algorithm. • Peaks contributed to 21% of total daily exposure to black carbon. • Participants most likely to encounter peaks while being in transport, and specifically bicycling. • Peak frequency and average exposure were only moderately correlated in a 24-h period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inexact footprints from image segmentation are the main source of uncertainty. • The PUK kernel generally outperforms other kernels when used in a SVM. • SVM performance is matched by simpler classifiers, such as logistic regression. • Height and location are the most powerful attributes for MBT classification. • With correct building footprints, the classification accuracy may reach 80%. We present a procedure for assessing the urban exposure and seismic vulnerability that integrates LiDAR data with aerial images from the Spanish National Plan of Aerial Orthophotography (PNOA). It comprises three phases: first, we segment the satellite image to divide the study area into different urban patterns. Second, we extract building footprints and attributes that represent the type of building of each urban pattern. Finally, we assign the seismic vulnerability to each building using different machine-learning techniques: Decision trees, SVM, logistic regression and Bayesian networks. We apply the procedure to 826 buildings in the city of Lorca (SE Spain), where we count on a vulnerability database that we use as ground truth for the validation of results. The outcomes show that the machine learning techniques have similar performance, yielding vulnerability classification results with an accuracy of 77%–80% (F1-Score). The procedure is scalable and can be replicated in different areas. This is particularly relevant in Spain, where more than seven hundred towns have to develop seismic risk studies in the years to come, according to the General Direction of Civil Protection and Emergencies. It is especially interesting as a complement to conventional data gathering approaches for disaster risk applications in cities where field surveys need to be restricted to certain areas, dates or budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results from studies evaluating potential effects of prenatal exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields from cell phones on birth outcomes have been inconsistent. Using data on 55,507 pregnant women and their children from Denmark (1996–2002), the Netherlands (2003–2004), Spain (2003–2008), and South Korea (2006–2011), we explored whether maternal cell-phone use was associated with pregnancy duration and fetal growth. On the basis of self-reported number of cell-phone calls per day, exposure was grouped as none, low (referent), intermediate, or high. We examined pregnancy duration (gestational age at birth, preterm/postterm birth), fetal growth (birth weight ratio, small/large size for gestational age), and birth weight variables (birth weight, low/high birth weight) and meta-analyzed cohort-specific estimates. The intermediate exposure group had a higher risk of giving birth at a lower gestational age (hazard ratio = 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.01, 1.07), and exposure-response relationships were found for shorter pregnancy duration (P < 0.001) and preterm birth (P = 0.003). We observed no association with fetal growth or birth weight. Maternal cell-phone use during pregnancy may be associated with shorter pregnancy duration and increased risk of preterm birth, but these results should be interpreted with caution, since they may reflect stress during pregnancy or other residual confounding rather than a direct effect of cell-phone exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Power lines can represent an important source of bird mortality through collision. The identification of more susceptible species, in terms of expected population‐level impacts, requires detailed biological and mortality information that is often difficult to obtain. Here, we propose a species prioritization method based on relatively easily accessed information, aimed to identify both species and areas with the potentially highest extinction risk due to collision with power lines. Location: As a case study, we applied this method to the communities of resident breeding birds of Spain and Portugal. Methods: For each considered species, the method takes into account the morpho‐behavioural susceptibility to collision with power lines, the susceptibility to extinction and the spatial exposure to collision with power lines. Results: Our method highlighted that the most susceptible species were large, long‐lived and slow‐reproducing birds, often habitat specialists with hazardous behavioural traits (especially flight height and flocking flight), with high spatial exposure to collision risk with power lines and unfavourable conservation status. Based on the distribution ranges of these species, we produced a map of hotspots for extinction risk due to collision of such priority species for each country. These areas should be considered a priority for the implementation of mitigation measures including route planning and wire marking. Main conclusions: Overall, the proposed method can be applied to any bird community in any geographic area of the world where information on power‐line distribution and published information on species traits, distribution and conservation status is available, generating valuable lists of both priority species and areas in which collision risk with power lines can potentially produce local or even global extinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The use of smartphone tracking data obtained exposure to green spaces and other opens spaces traditional methods were not able to detect. • The lack of exposure to parks in Barcelona was compensated with exposure to the greenery in streets, boulevards and public squares and gardens. • Different urban morphologies within the city, historic and expansion sections, provided different greenness exposure levels. The aim of this study was to explore the exposure to green elements of residents in a compact and dense Mediterranean city, with a main focus on the exposure to traditional green elements such as parks and gardens and also less-explored elements such as public squares, boulevards, and beaches. Differences between walking and residential environments between morphologically distinct residential areas are also analysed. To achieve this, both residential and GPS-based exposure measures were obtained with GIS and smartphone tracking data for 129 adult individuals from Barcelona, Spain. Results have shown how using smartphone tracking data allows obtaining a higher density of green elements and the different types of these elements that residential buffers are not able to detect. Furthermore, research findings highlight the importance of urban form in the provision of green spaces in cities and that alternative greenness can be found in other types of open spaces beyond public parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyse the risk to consumers given the presence of heavy metals and bromine in honey from different countries. A probabilistic approach was applied to assess carcinogenic risk. Concerning exposure, Al in Spain (3.3E-04 mg/kgBw/day), B in Dominican Republic and Mexico (2E-04 mg/kgBw/day in both cases) and Fe in Mexico and Mozambique had the highest values (5E-05 and 4.8E-05 mg/kgBw/day). In risk characterisation, the values were less than 1 for hazard index (HI), meaning that the consumption of honey represents a low level of concern for non-genotoxic effects. A combination of margin of exposure and probability of exceedance results that exposure to Pb pose no threat. The probability of suffering cancer for Br, Cd, Ni and Pb was lower than 1.0E-06 and, therefore, considered safe. However, the risk at the 95th percentile of Br in Dominican Republic was 1.18E-04 in adults and 2.45E-04 in children, exceeding 1.0E-04, and therefore, considered intolerable. Finally, the sensitivity analysis indicated that the most influential factor in the HI was the consumption in adults and the concentration of Ni in children, whereas for cancer risk, were the concentrations of Ni, Cd, Br and Pb, in both cases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the metabolomic profile associated with exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrate in drinking water and with colorectal cancer risk in 296 cases and 295 controls from the Multi Case-Control Spain project. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was conducted in blood samples using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A variety of univariate and multivariate association analyses were conducted after data quality control, normalization, and imputation. Linear regression and partial least-squares analyses were conducted for chloroform, brominated THMs, total THMs, and nitrate among controls and for case-control status, together with a N-integration model discriminating colorectal cancer cases from controls through interrogation of correlations between the exposure variables and the metabolomic features. Results revealed a total of 568 metabolomic features associated with at least one water contaminant or colorectal cancer. Annotated metabolites and pathway analysis suggest a number of pathways as potentially involved in the link between exposure to these water contaminants and colorectal cancer, including nicotinamide, cytochrome P-450, and tyrosine metabolism. These findings provide insights into the underlying biological mechanisms and potential biomarkers associated with water contaminant exposure and colorectal cancer risk. Further research in this area is needed to better understand the causal relationship and the public health implications.

Group therapy may offer a promising solution to reducing patient waiting lists for publicly funded mental health services. In this study, an individual brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT) intervention was adapted for implementation in a group setting in the Spanish public mental health care system. The study was designed to test initial clinical effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of the group adaptation of BCBT for child anxiety. The study utilized an uncontrolled multiple-group design for 8 weeks (1 h per week). Inclusion criteria were (i) children and young adolescents between 8 and 15 years old, and (ii) a clinical diagnosis of general anxiety disorder, social phobia, and/or separation anxiety disorder. Five groups were completed (n = 33; mean age = 11 years; 42.4% females). A total of 31 (93.9%) participants completed at least 7 sessions, and follow-up data were collected for 84.9% (n = 28) of participants. Overall, anxiety symptoms were reduced after intervention on the Spence Children Anxiety Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-IV, Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised, and Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory. Our findings suggest that group BCBT was associated with beneficial treatment outcomes, was acceptable and feasible for children with anxiety in the Spanish public mental health system. Both participants and their caregivers reported satisfaction and feelings of safety with the intervention. Results underscore the need for a larger-scale hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of BCBT in a group setting throughout more community mental health centers in different Spanish states. Such work could improve patient access to and benefit from an evidence-based treatment that works in community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in economic losses caused by flood events on the coastal region of south‐eastern Spain. The increase of extreme rainfall events forecast by the climate change models is currently not reflected in the statistics which suggests that the principal cause is due to the exposure experienced within the past 40 years. Consequently, it is interesting to evaluate the effect of urban growth in flood‐prone areas and the role played by government institutions in mitigating the increase in exposure. For this study, the cadastral information and the hydrological modelling data for the return periods of 10, 50, 100 and 500 years were used. This allows high‐resolution spatial–temporal results to be obtained that show one of the most significant growths in exposure in Spain and Europe, as well as the low efficiency that risk mitigation measures have had. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon is a carcinogenic compound, and is particularly concerning in the education sector, where children and teachers may be exposed even longer than at home. Thus, this study intended to characterise radon in the indoor air of scholar environments in different provinces/districts of the Euroregion Galicia-Norte de Portugal. With a pioneering approach, this study evaluated the influence of specific factors/characteristics (location, type of management, construction material, season and floor within the building) and quantified their relative contribution to indoor radon levels. Radon was continuously monitored in 416 classrooms from school buildings located in urban and rural sites from different provinces/districts both in the regions of Galicia (A Coruña and Lugo provinces) and Portugal (Porto and Bragança districts), considering rooms for different age groups (from nursery schools to universities). Single and multivariate linear regression models were built considering the radon concentrations as the outcome variable and different room/building characteristics as predictor variables. Mean and median radon concentrations were 332 Bq·m -3 and 181 Bq·m -3 , respectively. The radon concentrations observed are a public health concern, as almost 1/3 of the places monitored exceeded the reference limit value of the European legislation (300 Bq·m -3 ). Moreover, around 50 % of the indoor levels measured could be attributed to room/building characteristics: the building's location and the main construction material, as well as the occupants' age group, the floor within the building and the school's type of management (public/private). This study concluded that radon testing is needed in all school buildings and classrooms without exceptions. Thus, public administrations are urged to dedicate funds for testing, mitigation and public dissemination initiatives in schools. A special protocol for radon sampling in school buildings should also be developed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Pedro T.B.S. Branco has no competing interests to declare. Lucia Martin-Gisbert: has no competing interests to declare. Juliana P. Sá: has no competing interests to declare. Alberto Ruano-Ravina: has no competing interests to declare. Juan Barros-Dios: has no competing interests to declare. Leonor Varela-Lema: has no competing interests to declare. Sofia I.V. Sousa: has no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and aims To identify the nature of visual alcohol references in alcohol advertisements during televised broadcasts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Tournament matches and to evaluate cross-national differences according to alcohol marketing policy restrictiveness. Design Content analysis using the Delphi method and identification of in-game sponsorships. Setting Television broadcasts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Mexico, Spain and the United States. Cases Eighty-seven alcohol advertisements; 20 matches. Measurements Quantitative rating scales, combined with the Delphi rating technique, were used to determine compliance of the alcohol advertisements with the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking's (IARD) Guiding Principles. Recordings of five matches from four countries were also used to identify the number of in- and out-of-game alcohol brand appearances. Findings A total of 86.2% of all unique alcohol advertisements contained at least one violation of IARD's Guiding Principles, with violation rates ranging from 72.7% (Mexico) to 100% (Brazil). Countries with the least restrictive marketing policies had a higher prevalence of violations in guidelines designed to protect minors. There were 2.76 in-game alcohol brand appearances and 0.83 out-of-game alcohol brand appearances per minute. Brand appearances did not differ across countries or according to a country's marketing policy restrictiveness. Conclusions Self-regulation and statutory policies were ineffective at limiting alcohol advertising during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Tournament television broadcasts. Most advertisements contained content that violated the self-regulation codes, and there were high levels of within-broadcast brand appearances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research updates the acrylamide content of commercial potato crisps marketed in Spain with the aim to evaluate its trend since 2004. Two different batches of 40 potato crisps brands from 18 producers were analysed. Acrylamide content ranged from 108 to 2180 µg/kg, with an average value of 630 µg/kg and a median of 556 µg/kg. Data revealed a continuous decreased trend from 2004 to 2014. In 2014, potato crisps showed an average acrylamide content 14.6% lower than the previous report in 2009 and 57.6% lower than the first report in 2004. These data confirm the overall effectiveness in the mitigation strategies implemented by the Spanish industrial sector, although variations up to 80% were observed between a number of brands. However, 17.5% of the samples registered values higher than the indicative value recommended by European Commission for potato crisps. The dietary exposure of the Spanish population to this contaminant through potato crisps intake was estimated to be 0.035 µg/kg body weight/day. Although exposure has decreased over the last ten years, it is necessary to continue efforts to reduce acrylamide content in potato crisps since there is still margin for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The exposure to pesticides amongst school-aged children (6–11 years old) was assessed in this study. One hundred twenty-five volunteer children were selected from two public schools located in an agricultural and in an urban area of Valencia Region, Spain. Twenty pesticide metabolites were analyzed in children׳s urine as biomarkers of exposure to organophosphate (OP) insecticides, synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, and herbicides. These data were combined with a survey to evaluate the main predictors of pesticide exposure in the children׳s population. A total of 15 metabolites were present in the urine samples with detection frequencies (DF) ranging from 5% to 86%. The most frequently detected metabolites with DF>53%, were 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy, metabolite of chlorpyrifos), diethyl phosphate (DEP, generic metabolite of OP insecticides), 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine (IMPY, metabolite of diazinon) and para-nitrophenol (PNP, metabolite of parathion and methyl parathion). The calculated geometric means ranged from 0.47 to 3.36µg/g creatinine, with TCPy and IMPY showing the higher mean concentrations. Statistical significant differences were found between exposure subgroups (Mann–Whitney test, p<0.05) for TCPy, DEP, and IMPY. Children living in the agricultural area had significantly higher concentrations of DEP than those living in the urban area. In contrast, children aged 6–8 years from the urban area, showed statistically higher IMPY levels than those from agricultural area. Higher levels of TCPy were also found in children with high consumption of vegetables and higher levels of DEP in children whose parents did not have university degree studies. The multivariable regression analysis showed that age, vegetable consumption, and residential use of pesticides were predictors of exposure for TCPy, and IMPY; whereas location and vegetable consumption were factors associated with DEP concentrations. Creatinine concentrations were the most important predictors of urinary TCPy and PNP metabolites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phytoestrogens are natural components of plants consumed by humans. The hormonal activity of these substances has long been known. Variousin vitrotests have demonstrated the agonistic or antagonistic estrogenic activity of some phytoestrogens. The objective of this study was to estimate the supply of isoflavones in the diet of a healthy adult female population and to assess its estrogenic effect. The diet was assessed by questionnaire and the estrogenicity of the estimated isoflavone content was tested by E-screen, finding a mean total estrogenic capacity of 0.129 × 10−10eq.E2(12.9 pmol day–1), corresponding to a daily isoflavone intake of 265.8 μg day–1. This study offers a preliminary insight into the phytoestrogen content of the diet of a healthy active population of Spanish women. The effects of this additional hormonal burden are highly controversial, and this approach to estimating dietary phytoestrogen intake of specific populations may help to elucidate its implications for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of furan in commercial fruit- and vegetable-based jarred baby food was studied. Furan values ranged from 7.7 to 32.1 μg/kg in fruit-based baby food and from 10.9 to 143.0 μg/kg in vegetable-based baby food. The higher furan content in the latter case may be related to either greater ascorbic acid degradation or furfural content in these samples. This could be due to pH and higher temperatures used in sample preparation. Furan intake by Spanish infants ranges from 0.9 to 16.8 μg/day, resulting in exposures of 0.1 to 2.1 μg/kg bw/day. The maximum furan exposure recorded in this study is much lower than the “no observable adverse effect level” of 0.08 mg/kg bw/day determined in experimental animals studies, and is close to the reported acceptable daily intake of 2 μg/kg bw/day. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to assess the exposure of Catalonian (Spain) population to AFs. Thus, two sub-objectives were considered: (1) to assess the occurrence of AFs in food marketed in Catalonia, and (2) to assess the consumption of those foods susceptible to AFs contamination by Catalonian population. AFs were analysed in a total of 603 samples considering special commodities as free-gluten, ethnic or baby foods. Analytical method consisted of an extraction and clean-up of aflatoxins step using immunoaffinity columns, and determination by HPLC with post-column photochemical derivatization and fluorescence detection. Food dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, administered to 1387 individuals by trained interviewers. Contamination and consumption raw datasets were combined by means of a direct method and a stochastic method, building the pseudo-parametric bootstrap confidence intervals of the main outputs. Margins of exposure (MoE) and cancer incidence were estimated for the different collectives. The highest percentages of positive samples were found in red pepper, pistachios and peanuts. Considering our results, the most exposed group was the celiac sufferer collective followed by the adolescents; however health concern should not be expected in the population groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To assess groundwater exposure to pesticides, in agricultural areas of 'Ribatejo' region (Portugal), and the influence of some key factors in that exposure, field, laboratory and modelling studies were carried out. Methods: The study was performed in maize, potato, sugar beet, tomato and vegetables agricultural areas, located in a shallow aquifer, with pesticides use and, in most cases, with irrigation practices. Pesticides used in the studied agricultural areas and having leaching potential were selected, being considered also other pesticides included in priority lists, defined in Europe. Evaluation of groundwater exposure to pesticides was carried out by successively: (1) groundwater sampling in seven campaigns over the period 2004-2006; (2) pesticide analysis [including isolation and concentration from the groundwater samples and further determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of 14 herbicides, four insecticides and two metabolites]; and (3) analysis and discussion of the results by applying joint correspondence analysis (JCA). Results: From the 20 pesticides and metabolites selected for the study, 11 were found in groundwater. Pesticides and metabolites most frequently detected were atrazine, alachlor, metolachlor, desethylatrazine, ethofumesate, α-endosulfan, metribuzine, lindane and β-endosulfan. The results showed that groundwater exposure to pesticides is influenced by local factors-either environmental or agricultural, as precipitation, soil, geology, crops and irrigation practices. Spring and autumn were more associated with the detection of pesticides being more likely to observe mixtures of these compounds in a groundwater sample in these transition seasons. Conclusions: This work evidences the importance of models, which evaluate pesticides environmental behaviour, namely their water contamination potential (as Mackay multicompartimental fugacity model) and, specially, groundwater contamination potential (as GUS and Bacci and Gaggi leaching indices), in pesticide selection. Moreover, it reveals the importance to adapt proper statistical methods according to level of left-censored data. Using JCA was still possible to establish relations between pesticides and their temporal trend in a case study where there were more than 80% of data censored. This study will contribute to the Tagus river basin management plan with information on the patterns of pesticide occurrence in the alluvial aquifer system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Indoor radon measurements are usually associated with housing. However, a typical person spends about one-third of the day at their workplace. A survey was made of radon levels in workplaces in Extremadura (Spain). More than 200 measurements were performed in some 130 firms and organizations of different sectors (urban wellness centres, spas, caves, mines, water management facilities, underground carparks, wine cellars, museums, etc.). Activated charcoal canisters and track detectors were used for sampling. The results indicated the importance of performing this type of measurement because the exposure of workers can reach high values in some cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although disinfection by-products (DBPs) occur in complex mixtures, studies evaluating health risks have been focused in few chemicals. In the framework of an epidemiological study on cancer in 11 Spanish provinces, we describe the concentration of four trihalomethanes (THMs), nine haloacetic acids (HAA), 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), four haloacetonitries, two haloketones, chloropicrin and chloral hydrate and estimate correlations. A total of 233 tap water samples were collected in 2010. Principal component analyses were conducted to reduce dimensionality of DBPs. Overall median (range) level of THMs and HAAs was 26.4 (0.8–98.1) and 26.4 (0.9–86.9)μg/l, respectively (N=217). MX analysed in a subset (N=36) showed a median (range) concentration of 16.7 (0.8–54.1)ng/l. Haloacetonitries, haloketones, chloropicrin and chloral hydrate were analysed in a subset (N=16), showing levels from unquantifiable (<1μg/l) to 5.5μg/l (dibromoacetonitrile). Spearman rank correlation coefficients between DBPs varied between species and across areas, being highest between dibromochloromethane and dibromochloroacetic acid (r s =0.87). Principal component analyses of 13 DBPs (4 THMs, 9 HAAs) led 3 components explaining more than 80% of variance. In conclusion, THMs and HAAs have limited value as predictors of other DBPs on a generalised basis. Principal component analysis provides a complementary tool to address the complex nature of the mixture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper proposes a methodology for mapping flood risk in ephemeral streams, based on assessing flood hazards and global exposure. The method has been applied to the peri-urban area of Valencia, extended over the floodplains of the Barranco del Carraixet and Rambla de Poyo catchments. Hazard was assessed using hydrogeomorphological methods. Global exposure was estimated as a combination between the economic value of land use and human exposure, following a previous study carried out by Camarasa, A.M., López, M.J. and Soriano, J., 2011. Mapping temporally variable exposure to flooding in small Mediterranean basins using land-use indicators, Applied Geography 31 (19), 136–145. Synthesis mapping was elaborated to spatially rank flood risks, in terms of their hazard and exposure components. The method is simple, effective and easily comparable. The results reveal diverse risk configurations for each floodplain, even though both are in the vicinity of Valencia city (metropolitan area). This flood risk mapping method is very useful for land use planning because it enables swift diagnosis of the nature of risks and can supports decision making by risk managers and urban planners. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Phthalate and phenol exposure is prevalent among the general population and of potential concern for pregnant women and children because of their suspected susceptibility to endocrine effects. Objectives: To evaluate the extent of exposure to several phthalates and phenols in a sample of Spanish pregnant women – according to their individual characteristics (age, social class, education, and body mass index) – and children who participated in the INMA — Infancia y Medio Ambiente (Environment and Childhood) project. Methods: One spot urine sample was taken during the third trimester of pregnancy from 120 pregnant women and from 30 4-year old children belonging to 5 Spanish birth cohorts, and analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites and 9 phenols. Results: Three metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate, mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate, and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate; two metabolites of dibutyl phthalates, mono-isobutyl phthalate and mono-n-butyl phthalate; monoethyl phthalate (MEP), the main metabolite of diethyl phthalate; and two phenols, methyl paraben (M-PB) and 2,5-dichlorophenol were detected in the urine samples of all women. The highest urinary concentrations were for MEP and M-PB. Urinary concentrations of all phthalate metabolites and of 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,5-dichlorophenol, and bisphenol A were lower in the pregnant women than in the children. Among women, a positive relationship with social class and education was shown for most of the phthalate metabolites and phenols. Almost all phthalate metabolites varied by region even after adjusting for social class and education. Conclusions: Phthalate and phenol exposures are prevalent in a group of pregnant women and young children, two susceptible populations, and these exposures might be positively related to social class. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A survey of the fungal contamination and occurrence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) in 50 pistachio nut samples collected from commercial stores around Catalonia (Spain) was carried out. Aspergillus flavus was found in 30% of samples, whereas Aspergillus section Nigri, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Penicillium verrucosum were found in 40%, 2% and 26% of samples, respectively. A total of 204 fungal isolates were obtained; 70.8% of A. flavus isolates were able to produce aflatoxin B1 and B2, whereas OTA production capacity was detected in 54.4% of the A. section Nigri biseriate isolates. Aflatoxins were detected in five samples (10% of total), all exceeding the maximum legal limit set for aflatoxin B1 (2 µg kg-1) or for total aflatoxins (4 µg kg-1), with one sample having a very high level of contamination (1134.5 µg kg-1). Only one sample of pistachio showed OTA contamination at 0.67 µg kg-1. Simultaneous contamination by aflatoxins and OTA was not observed in these samples. It was concluded that the frequency of aflatoxins and OTA contamination in pistachio samples available in the Spanish market is relatively low. Thus, no significant contribution to health risk should be expected from aflatoxin consumption through pistachios among healthy consumers. However, the existence of single samples with an extremely high aflatoxin concentration reinforces the need for effective prevention strategies in pistachio processing and commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The presence of cocaine, heroin, cannabinoids and amphetamines, among other drugs of abuse, was detected in airborne particulates in urban environments in Spain. The levels of these compounds were determined at air quality monitoring sites by the application of a novel and specifically targeted analytical methodology, by which mean daily concentrations of cocaine (204–480pg/m3, up to one order of magnitude higher than in Italy and Portugal), cannabinoids (THC, 27–44pg/m3), amphetamine (1.4–2.3pg/m3) and heroin (9–143pg/m3) were determined in the atmosphere. Results allowed detecting common temporal consumption patterns between cocaine and cannabis (with week-end maxima), but markedly distinct consumer groups. Personal exposure to the levels of all the drugs detected may be considered negligible, posing no harm for human health. Given the worldwide scarcity of data on drug levels in atmospheric particulates, we present this methodology as a fast, economic and reliable tool to obtain high quality data for the monitoring of drug abuse and drug dealing in cities. Applications include the detection of changes in drug consumption trends, the mapping of drug consumption and/or dealing areas in cities, and the identification of new emerging drugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Few studies characterizing trihalomethane (THM) exposure or examining potential health effects were conducted in children. The present study describes patterns of water use in children as a source of THM exposure, and estimates the daily THM uptake and the relative contribution of each pathway of exposure. A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in children 9–12 years of age in Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain (N=2037). We collected individual information on ingestion, frequency and duration of showering, bathing and swimming, source of drinking water, age, sex and parental education. Chloroform, dibromochloroform, bromodichloroform and bromoform in tap, bottled and swimming pool water were measured. The daily chloroform and brominated THM uptakes were estimated combining environmental levels with individual water activities using algorithms reported in the literature. Among the studied group, 80% of children drank bottled water and 20% regularly attended swimming pools. Mean THM concentration in bottled, tap and chlorinated pool water were, respectively, 0.3, 117 and 92μg/L. Brominated THM predominated in the tap water (84% of total THM) and chloroform predominated in the swimming pool (84% of total THM). Children attending swimming pools had four times higher THM uptake compared to non-swimmers (p-value<0.05). Showering was the main pathway of exposure for non-swimmers. Girls and children with low parental education had a higher THM uptake (p-value<0.05) as they reported taking longer showers and more frequent baths. In conclusion, total and specific THM uptake varied considerably with the personal water uses among children. As drinking water was mainly bottled and bathing was infrequent, showering and swimming in pools were the main pathways of THM exposure. Specific water uses among children slightly differed by sociodemographic characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent health studies evidence that epidemiological studies must be combined with accurate analyses of the physico-chemical properties of the particles, and vice versa, in order to determine the effects of atmospheric PM on human health. The present study focuses on the chemical characterisation of PM10 and PM2.5 aerosols, with the aim to characterise the exposure to this pollutant of the pregnant women in a cohort study in Valencia, Spain. PM sampling was carried out during five campaigns (1 month by trimester) between 2004 and 2005, when the women in the study were pregnant. Four sites were selected, representing a gradient of urban, metropolitan, suburban and rural environments. The study includes the determination of PM levels, major and trace elements, and 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results evidenced a marked gradient regarding PM levels from urban to rural sites, which was also observed for anthropogenic PM components (OM+EC, NO3 −, Fe, SO4 2−, NO3 −, NH4 +) but not for elements of mineral origin (Al2O3, Ca, K, Mg). PAH levels were similar or slightly higher that those reported for other Spanish sites but lower than in Europe. Findings show that the relationship between exposure to PM and adverse health effects cannot be determined only by the study of PM levels; other parameters such as chemical and physical properties of the aerosols must also be taken into account. Results also allow evaluating the adequacy of central monitor measurements as proxies for actual exposure to local emissions (e.g., vehicular emissions), which are known to vary considerably with distance to the source. The sampling strategy used in this study, devised jointly by PM monitoring and epidemiology specialists could be considered a guideline for the design of air quality monitoring studies aimed at epidemiological analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite the prohibition of most persistent organochlorine (OC) pesticides in Spain, their presence has been widely documented in adult human tissues. However, scarce information is available on the exposure of children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of 16 OC pesticide residues in 52 fat samples collected from boys with a mean age of 7yr (0–15yr) living in Southern Spain and to assess the association between OC pesticide levels and child characteristics. No pesticide was found in more than 50% of samples, except for p,p′-DDE (79% of samples; median, 710ng/g lipid). After this compound, the most frequent pesticides were o,p′-DDT (17%; median, 330ng/g lipid) and o,p′-DDD (15%; median, 1510ng/g lipid). No statistically significant association was found between p,p′-DDE or ∑DDTs and the birth year, birth weight, gestational age, infant feeding history or the age, weight, height or Quetelet Index at the time of sampling. The lack of correlation between the presence of the main metabolite p,p′-DDE and that of the parent compounds, o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDT, suggests that children were exposed mainly to the metabolite rather than to the commercial pesticide, which was banned 30yr ago. In contrast, among currently used OCs, endosulfan was positively correlated with the presence of its metabolites, suggesting exposure to the commercial products. Further research is warranted to investigate the health consequence in children resulting from exposure to chemicals suspected of endocrine-disrupting effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Outdoor levels of fine particles (PM2. 5; particles <2. 5μm) have been associated with cardiovascular health. Persons with existing cardiovascular disease have been suggested to be especially vulnerable. It is unclear, how well outdoor concentrations of PM2. 5 and its constituents measured at a central site reflect personal exposures in Southern European countries. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship between outdoor and personal concentrations of PM2. 5, absorbance and sulphur among post-myocardial infarction patients in Barcelona, Spain. Thirty-eight subjects carried personal PM2. 5 monitors for 24-h once a month (2–6 repeated measurements) between November 2003 and June 2004. PM2. 5 was measured also at a central outdoor monitoring site. Light absorbance (a proxy for elemental carbon) and sulphur content of filter samples were determined as markers of combustion originating and long-range transported PM2. 5, respectively. There were 110, 162 and 88 measurements of PM2. 5, absorbance and sulphur, respectively. Levels of outdoor PM2. 5 (median 17μgm3) were lower than personal PM2. 5 even after excluding days with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (median after exclusion 27μgm3). However, outdoor concentrations of absorbance and sulphur were similar to personal concentrations after exclusion of ETS. When repeated measurements were taken into account, there was a statistically significant association between personal and outdoor absorbance when adjusting for ETS (slope 0. 66, p<0. 001), but for PM2. 5 the association was weaker (slope 0. 51, p=0. 066). Adjustment for ETS had little effect on the respective association of S (slope 0. 69, p<0. 001). Our results suggest that outdoor measurements of absorbance and sulphur can be used to estimate both the daily variation and levels of personal exposures also in Southern European countries, especially when exposure to ETS has been taken into account. For PM2. 5, indoor sources need to be carefully considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our aims were to assess association of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) with childhood asthma measured up to age 6 and the effect of DDE on the protective effect of breastfeeding on asthma. In addition, we attempted to assess the relevant time-window of DDE exposure (i.e. at birth or at 4 years). All women presenting for antenatal care in Menorca, Spain over a 12-month period beginning in mid-1997 were invited to take part in a longitudinal study that included a yearly visit. Four hundred eighty-two children were enrolled and 462 provided complete outcome data after 6.5 years of follow-up. Organochlorine compounds were measured in cord serum of 402 (83%) infants and in blood samples of 285 children aged 4. We defined asthma as the presence of wheezing at age 6 and during any preceding year or doctor-diagnosed asthma, and used skin prick test at age 6 to determine atopic status. Results At birth and 4 years of age, all children had detectable levels of DDE (median 1 ng/mL and 0.8 ng/mL, respectively). From birth to age 4, the mean DDE level among children with artificial feeding decreased by 72%, while among breastfed children it increased by 53%. Diagnosed asthma and persistent wheezing were associated with DDE at birth [odds ratio (OR) for an increase in 1 ng/mL, OR=1.18, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.01–1.39 and OR=1.13, 95% CI=0.98–1.30, respectively], but not with DDE at 4 years. Neither breastfeeding nor atopy modified these associations ( P>0.3). Breastfeeding protected against diagnosed asthma (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.08–0.87) and wheezing (OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.34–0.82) in children with low and high DDE levels at birth. Conclusion In a community without known dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane environmental releases, this study strengthens the evidence for an effect of DDE on asthma by measuring the disease at age 6 and does not support the hypothesis that DDE modifies the protective effect of breastfeeding on asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to common indoor allergens is known to be associated with sensitization and triggers of asthma. Levels of allergens have been barely described in Mediterranean countries. This study reports domestic allergen levels among the general population of two regions of Spain. Dust samples were collected from living rooms and mattresses in homes of infants in Barcelona (n = 366) and Menorca (n = 475) and assayed for house dust mite (Der p 1 ) and cat allergen (Fel d 1 ) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Geometric mean values (95% CI) of Der p 1 were 0.77 µg/g (0.65, 0.92) in living rooms and 0.68 (0.56, 0.82) in children's mattresses in Barcelona, and 9.06 (7.93–10.34) and 3.12 (2.71–3.59) in Menorca, respectively. Fel d 1 levels were 0.37 µg/g (0.31, 0.45) and 0.14 (0.12, 0.18) in Barcelona, and 0.42 (0.35, 0.50) and 0.20 (0.18, 0.24) in Menorca. Home characteristics were not consistently related to levels of aeroallergens in either location. Differences in Der p 1 levels in the two locations indicate that levels cannot be extrapolated from one part of a country to another with any certainty. Additionally, allergen reduction measures related to indoor sources must be specific to each location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a combined multidisciplinary method to characterize coastal cliff environments is presented. It combined two complementary approaches – engineering and geomorphological. The first one is represented by the wave power values along the cliff face. For that purpose, the deep-water wave climate is statistically characterized, and high-energy sea states are numerically propagated to the cliff with a state-of-the-art model. The variations in wave power at the cliff face are controlled by the varying cliff orientation and by the irregular morphology, which influences wave propagation through refraction and shoaling processes. Based on wave power, four engineering exposure levels, from low to extreme, are defined and mapped onto the cliff. The geomorphological approach is based on an index developed ad hoc for this work, the Cliff Stability (CS) index, which takes into account the cliff geometry, lithology, structure and degradation state, as well as the hydrological conditions. Based on the CS index, four geomorphological exposure levels are defined and mapped, from low to extreme. The combined approach is shown through the application to a study site in NW Spain. The two perspectives, engineering and geomorphological, are found to yield similar results in some sections of the study area, but not all. It may be inferred that, despite the importance of wave action in shaping the cliff, the additional elements included in the CS index also play a significant role. In practical terms, the significance of these results is that the two approaches, engineering and geomorphological, should be combined to properly characterize coastal cliffs. This combined approach represents a multidisciplinary tool to define and characterize the exposure levels and, thus, prevent damages in cliff environments across the world. • Multidisciplinary approach to cliff characterization based on coastal engineering and geomorphology. • Novel Cliff Stability (CS) index accounting for geometry, lithology, structure, degradation and hydrology. • Statistical analysis and numerical modelling to assess wave power acting on cliff. • Case study highlights need for multidisciplinary approach. • Tool for coastal cliff characterization and prevention of material and human damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased risk of mortality during periods of high and low temperatures has been well established. However, most of the studies used daily counts of deaths or hospitalisations as health outcomes, although they are the ones at the top of the health impact pyramid reflecting only a limited proportion of patients with the most severe cases. This study evaluates the relationship between short-term exposure to the daily mean temperature and medication prescribed for the respiratory system in five Spanish cities. We fitted time series regression models to cause-specific medical prescriptions, including different respiratory subgroups and age groups. We included a distributed lag non-linear model with lags up to 14 days for daily mean temperature. City-specific associations were summarised as overall-cumulative exposure-response curves. We found a positive association between cause-specific medical prescriptions and daily mean temperature with a non-linear inverted J- or V-shaped relationship in most cities. Between 0.3% and 0.6% of all respiratory prescriptions were attributed to cold for Madrid, Zaragoza and Pamplona, while in cities with only cold effects the attributable fractions were estimated as 19.2% for Murcia and 13.5% for Santander. Heat effects in Madrid, Zaragoza and Pamplona showed higher fractions between 8.7% and 17.2%. The estimated costs are in general higher for heat effects, showing annual values ranging between €191,905 and €311,076 for heat per 100,000 persons. This study provides novel evidence of the effects of the thermal environment on the prescription of medication for respiratory disorders in Spain, showing that low and high temperatures lead to an increase in the number of such prescriptions. The consumption of medication can reflect exposure to the environment with a lesser degree of severity in terms of morbidity. • For the first time evaluation of the relationship between short-term effects of temperature and medications in Spain. • Positive association between respiratory medications and mean temperature with a non-linear inverted J or V-shaped relationship. • Heat and cold effects found with differences in the magnitude, shape and lag structure among cities and medication subgroups. • The consumption of medication can reflect exposure to environment with a lesser degree of severity in terms of morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the European Commission recommended monitoring the presence of acrylamide in certain foods not included in Regulation 2158/2017, to consider other sources of exposure to the contaminant. In the present study, eleven groups of processed foods commonly consumed in Spain were classified, according to their food matrix, into potato-based food, cereal-based food and food based on cereal mixed with meat, fish or vegetables. Samples were collected from three different settings: household, catering services and industrial origin, to evaluate the influence of the food preparation site on acrylamide formation. The highest concentrations of acrylamide were observed in chips (French fries), especially those prepared at home. Although at lower levels, all the other foods also contained significant concentrations of acrylamide, confirming the need to control its content in foods not included in the EU regulation. Industrially processed foods made a lower contribution to acrylamide exposure, probably due to the more stringent controls exercised on culinary processes in this context. The higher levels recorded for households and catering services highlight the need for greater awareness of culinary processes and for measures to be adopted in these settings to limit the formation of acrylamide in food preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Furosine, HMF and furfural were analysed in 80 Spanish commercial biscuits. • Chemical markers content was lower in traditional compared to reformulated biscuits. • Lower sugar in the recipe induced decline in furosine, HMF and furfural content. • Sugar replacement by polyols decreased both furosine and furanic compounds. • Nutri-Score tended to correlate with thermal processing contaminants content. Fructosyl-lysine (determined as furosine), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and furfural are heat-induced chemical markers generated during baking of cereal-based products. Furosine reflects losses of the protein quality through lysine impairments, and furanic compounds are linked to the extent of the thermal processing, but also to potential toxicological issues. Eighty biscuits commercialized in Spain were analysed for furosine, furanic and nutritional composition. Nutri-Score was used as harmonized criteria for nutritional profiling. Samples were classified as traditional and reformulated biscuits according to the incorporation of innovative ingredients in the recipe. Average furosine, HMF and furfural contents were 731 mg/100 g protein, 7.32 and 0.64 mg/kg, respectively. Furosine, HMF, and furfural content in traditional compared to reformulated biscuits were 14, 37, and 37 % lower, respectively. The predominant source of protein and the sugar content revealed as key factors. Particularly, the replacement of reducing sugars with polyols reduced furosine and furanic compounds. Levels of heat-induced chemical markers among the Nutri-Score groups point to this index as a good tool to help consumers to make healthier choices within this food category. Findings underline the importance of conducting risk/benefit analysis when introducing reformulated recipes in order to reach not only improved nutritional profiles but also controlling toxicological aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of Pb-contaminated game meat is a concern for the population, as it poses a potential risk to consumer health. Thus, this study is aimed at determining Pb content in muscle tissue of migratory birds, evaluating the influence of the use of Pb ammunition on the content of this element in migratory upland game bird meat, and estimating the health risk arising from consumption thereof. Breast muscle of common woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) (n = 27), European turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) (n = 21) and song thrush (Turdus philomelos) (n = 35) were analyzed. Pb concentrations in breast muscle were 3.4; 0.98 and 0.82 mg/kg ww in common woodpigeon, European turtle-dove and song thrush, respectively. Risk assessment was performed using a benchmark dose, and margin of exposure (MOE) and plug in estimator (PI) were calculated. The estimated mean and 95th percentile Pb-intake for an extreme consumption (90 meals per year) werepar 0.045–0.079 and 0.083–0.14 μg/kg bw per day for adult and child consumers, respectively. Risk assessment showed that consumption of meat from common woodpigeon, European turtle-dove and song thrush hunted using traditional hunting methods for these species in Spain does not pose a significant health risk to adult and child consumers. Nonetheless, a particularly high risk occurs when animals carry excessive Pb concentrations, i.e. when they show a high number of impacts, in which case they would not be suitable for consumption and would need to be discarded. Future research is required to further improve the food safety of game meat in the domestic environment of hunters and their households, who are the primary consumers of this type of meat. • Ammunition is responsible of the Pb content in meat from migratory upland birds. • Migratory birds with a high number of impacts for Pb ammunition must be discarded. • Meat from migratory birds does not pose a significant health risk to adult and children consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal cliffs cover about 75% of the world's coastlines. Many of these cliffs suffer severe erosion problems, which are mainly caused by wave action and lead to important damages. The main objective of this work is to propose and apply a methodology to characterize and map wave exposure levels for the management of cliff coasts. The methodology proposed consists of a number of steps. First, a statistical characterization of the wave climate in deep water is performed. Second, relevant sea states are propagated towards the cliff by means of a numerical model. Then, the results are used to assess the distribution of significant wave heights and wave power along the cliff toe. Finally, four exposure levels are defined based on the wave power values at the cliff, and exposure zones are mapped accordingly along the cliff. This approach is illustrated with a case study – the Catedrales Cliffs and Beach, a tourism hotspot in Galicia (NW Spain) where erosion caused loss of human life. We find that exposure levels are primarily influenced by the nearshore bed morphology, which controls wave refraction, shoaling and breaking, as well as by the geometry and orientation of the cliff, with some parts more exposed than others to the prevailing wave direction. On the islets off the cliff the windward faces have a greater level of exposure, since the leeward faces are protected by the islets themselves and lower water depths. The rocky outcrops that occur at the cliff toe in some sections act as emerged (submerged) breakwaters under low (high) tide conditions, dissipating wave power and thus reducing wave exposure. The methodology proposed in this work enables coastal managers to prevent the personal and material damages derived from cliff erosion by focusing remedial measures where they are most needed. Image 1 • Characterization and mapping of wave exposure for the management of cliff coasts. • Statistical analysis, wave propagation modelling and wave power assessment. • Methodology to help coastal managers prevent damages derived from cliff erosion. • The methodology is applied to a tourism hotspot in Galicia (NW Spain). • Exposure levels are influenced by nearshore bed morphology and cliff orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present research is to evaluate the exposure to pesticides in children (n = 568) from the Valencian Region (Spain). Six non-specific and 20 specific metabolites of organophosphate pesticides (OPs), herbicides (Herb), and pyrethroids (Pyr) were analyzed in urine samples. The biomarkers with the highest detection frequencies (>70%) were diethyl phosphate, p-nitrophenol, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid, and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, whose geometric mean concentrations (ng·ml-n1) were 1.53, 1.03, 1.51 and 1.19, respectively. Robust regression models showed that the province of residence and the recent consumption of vegetables, legumes and cereals were some of the most important predictors of pesticide exposure. Pesticide risk assessment is estimated using two different strategies: one based on the pesticides' mode of action (MoA); and the other based on cumulative assessment groups (CAGs), proposed by EFSA. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) ranged from 0.08 (chlorpyrifos) to 1.62 μg·kg bw-1 (λ-cyhalothrin). The MoA approach resulted in hazard quotients ranging from 0.01 (chlorpyrifos) to 0.65 (λ-cyhalothrin), and a hazard index for OPs lower than 1. Similarly, the risk assessment based on CAGs led to total margins of exposure (MOETs) far from 100. In conclusion, both risk assessment strategies does not reveal any evidence of a potential health risk due to pesticide exposure in Spanish children., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In 2017, the European Commission published Regulation 2017/2158 establishing mitigation measures and benchmark levels to reduce acrylamide in foods. Acrylamide was determined in seventy potato crisp samples commercialized in Spain. The aim was to update knowledge about the global situation in the snack sector and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies applied, especially since the publication of the Regulation. Results were compared with data previously published in 2004, 2008, and 2014, assessing the evolution over recent years. Average acrylamide content in 2019 (664 µg/kg, range 89–1930 μg/kg) was 55.3% lower compared to 2004, 10.3% lower compared to 2008 and practically similar to results from 2014. Results support the effectiveness of mitigation measures implemented by Spanish potato crisp manufacturers. However, 27% of samples exhibited concentrations above the benchmark level established in the Regulation (750 μg/kg), which suggests that efforts to reduce acrylamide formation in this sector must be continued. Besides the variability seen between samples, acrylamide significantly correlated with the color parameter a*, which enables discrimination of whether potato crisps contain above or below benchmark content. The calculated margin of exposure for carcinogenicity was below the safety limit, which should be considered from a public health point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Swimming in pools is a healthy activity that entails exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs), some of which are irritant and genotoxic., Objectives: We evaluated exposure to DBPs during swimming in a chlorinated pool and the association with short-term changes in genotoxicity and lung epithelium permeability biomarkers., Methods: Non-smoker adults (N = 116) swimming 40 min in an indoor pool were included. We measured a range of biomarkers before and at different times after swimming: trihalomethanes (THMs) in exhaled breath (5 min), trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) in urine (30 min), micronuclei in lymphocytes (1 h), serum club cell protein (CC16) (1 h), urine mutagenicity (2 h) and micronuclei in reticulocytes (4 days in a subset, N = 19). Several DBPs in water and trichloramine in air were measured, and physical activity was extensively assessed. We estimated interactions with polymorphisms in genes related to DBP metabolism., Results: Median level of chloroform, brominated and total THMs in water was 37.3, 9.5 and 48.5, μg/L, respectively, and trichloramine in air was 472.6 μg/m 3 . Median exhaled chloroform, brominated and total THMs increased after swimming by 10.9, 2.6 and 13.4, μg/m 3 , respectively. Creatinine-adjusted urinary TCAA increased by 3.1 μmol/mol. Micronuclei in lymphocytes and reticulocytes, urine mutagenicity and serum CC16 levels remained unchanged after swimming. Spearman correlation coefficients showed no association between DBP exposure and micronuclei in lymphocytes, urine mutagenicity and CC16. Moderate associations were observed for micronuclei in reticulocytes and DBP exposure., Conclusions: The unchanged levels of the short-term effect biomarkers after swimming and null associations with personal estimates of exposure to DBPs suggest no measurable effect on genotoxicity in lymphocytes, urine mutagenicity and lung epithelium permeability at the observed exposure levels. The moderate associations with micronuclei in reticulocytes require cautious interpretation given the reduced sample size., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Recently, there has been a flurry of publications assessing the effect of air pollution on neurodevelopment. Here we present a summary of the results obtained within the BRain dEvelopment and Air polluTion ultrafine particles in scHool childrEn (BREATHE) Project, which aimed to evaluate the effects of the exposure to traffic related air pollutants in schoolchildren in Barcelona. To this end, we comprehensively characterised air quality in 39 urban schools from Barcelona and identified the main determinants of children's increased exposure. We propose a series of measures to be implemented to improve air quality in schools within the urban context and, consequently, minimise the negative effects on children's neurodevelopment that we found to be associated with the exposure to air pollution. We also aimed to list some of the actions pushed by governments and the society (including school managers, parents, and children) that have been taking place around Europe for promoting better high quality in the school and its surroundings., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)