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In terms of evaluating the water security situation of communities, it is necessary to use appropriate indicators. To do this, composite indicators are especially useful for policy-making on water resources, aiming to enhance water security, implementation, and monitoring of policy actions. The composite indicators of water security at the national level reflect the country's status in terms of water resource sustainability, human well-being, and water environment. In this study, the composite indicators of water security for D-8 countries were investigated in various dimensions using the data envelopment analysis model. Moreover, the status of selected countries was examined with regard to indicators related to the dimension of water security sustainability. The results provided by the proposed model showed that Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey have better positions regarding the sustainability dimension compared to other countries. The water exploitation intensity in these countries was less than 40 %. Furthermore, the level of water availability in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia was higher than 7000 cubic meters per person. It is worth noting that Low exploitation intensity and high availability of water in a country increased its water security in terms of sustainability dimension. The low water availability and very high water exploitation in Iran, Pakistan, and Egypt exacerbate their insecurity in the sustainability dimension. Due to the importance of the sustainability dimension in determining the water security status of countries, it is recommended to take this dimension into account.

The overuse of pesticides has harmful impacts on both the environment and human health. Implementing efficient techniques is crucial to manage pesticides and reduce negative impacts effectively. In order to achieve this objective, we evaluated the harm of pesticide application in vegetable fields in Shiraz and identified the factors that impact farmers' behavior in using pesticides. The Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) indicator was initially utilized to evaluate the effects of pesticide residues on both human health and the environment. Afterwards, the Logit model was employed to investigate the likelihood of excessive pesticide usage among farmers. Our findings suggest that farmers may not give high importance to environmental and human health considerations when deciding on pesticide usage. Market incentives, such as the quantity and price of vegetables produced without pesticide use, play a significant role in reducing pesticide use in Shiraz vegetable farms. The results of the study can help policy makers in implementing pesticide-free agricultural practices.