Kang Kjer (chinstamp51)

Regarding weather factors, precipitation and relative humidity were significantly associated with pollen and/or allergen concentration, though these associations were negative. Atmospheric pollutants, especially CO, NO2 and O3 were significantly associated with pollen and/or allergen levels. The associations with CO and O3 were positive, while the association with NO2 was negative. Our results indicate that for grasses, an air pollutant that has a significant positive relationship to the ratio of allergen/pollen is nitrogen dioxide.Food production requires a large amount of water. As a country facing a serious scarcity of per capita water resources and severe water pollution, China must explore the spatial distribution characteristics of its dietary water footprint. China is the world's largest developing country, and water consumption inevitably has increased with its economic development. It is essential to explore the factors influencing the water footprint and water conservation mechanisms. Based on China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data, individual-level data of dietary water footprint and residents' socio-economic characteristics were obtained. The decision tree was applied to classify the dietary water footprint based on socio-economic factors, and multinomial logistic regression was then performed to investigate the influence of each factor. The results showed that all six selected socio-economic factors had a statistically significant impact on the dietary water footprint. Income and education level were positively related to the dietary water footprint; urban residents, males, and residents with a higher body mass index (BMI) consumed more dietary water than rural residents, females, and those with a lower BMI, respectively. Age exhibited an inverted U-shaped influence. Understanding the drivers and disparities of the water footprint of food consumption can support the development of policy for energy conservation, which can ultimately help achieve the goal of reducing water waste.Heavy metals' amassment in the soil environment is a threat to crop and agricultural sustainability and consequentially the global food security. For achieving enhancement of crop productivity in parallel to reducing chromium (Cr) load onto food chain demands continuous investigation and efforts to develop cost-effective strategies for maximizing crop yield and quality. In this context, we investigated the amelioration of Cr(VI) toxicity through β-pinene in experimental dome simulating natural field conditions. The protective role of β-pinene was determined on physiology, morphology and ultrastructure in Zea mays under Cr(VI) stress (250 and 500 μM). Results exhibited a marked reduction in the overall growth (shoot and root length and dry matter) of Z. mays plants subjected to Cr(VI) stress. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids) were evidently reduced, and there was a loss of membrane integrity. Supplementation of β-pinene (100 μM), however, declined the toxicity induced by Cr(VI). Interestingly, Cr-tolerant abilities were improved in relation to plant growth, photosynthetic pigments and membrane integrity with the combined treatment of Cr(VI) and β-pinene. β-Pinene also reduced the root-mediated uptake of Cr(VI) and translocation to shoots. Moreover, significant ultrastructural damages recorded in roots and shoots under Cr(VI) stress were partially reverted upon addition of β-pinene. Our analyses revealed that β-pinene mitigates Cr(VI) toxicity in Z. mays, either by membrane stabilization or serving as a barrier to the uptake of Cr from soil. Thus, exogenous supply of β-pinene can be an effective alternative to mitigate Cr toxicity in soil. check details However, it is deemed essential to investigate further the responses throughout the life cycle of the plant on β-pinene supplementation under natural conditions.This study was conducted to investigate the association between trace elements including cadmium (Cd),