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This paper explores the main factors for mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus by focusing on environmental, anthropogenic, and social risks. A literature review was conducted bringing together related information from this genre of research from peer-reviewed publications. It was observed that environmental conditions, especially precipitation, humidity, and temperature, played a role in the transmission. Furthermore, anthropogenic factors including sanitation, urbanization, and environmental pollution promote the transmission by affecting the mosquito density. In addition, socioeconomic factors such as poverty as well as social inequality and low-quality housing have also an impact since these are social factors that limit access to certain facilities or infrastructure which, in turn, promote transmission when absent (e.g., piped water and screened windows). Finally, the paper presents short-, mid-, and long-term preventative solutions together with future perspectives. This is the first review exploring the effects of anthropogenic aspects on Zika transmission with a special emphasis in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for ecological sustainability while reducing the impacts of environmental deterioration has become a worldwide endeavour. Furthermore, it is unclear how developing economies such as Brazil can considerably improve environmental quality (EQ). This paper contributes to the ongoing literature by evaluating the effect of green finance, economic growth, political risk, social globalization and green innovation on environmental quality in Brazil. The study used data spanning between 2000Q1 and 2018Q4. Unlike other investigations, the current study used load capacity factor as a proxy for environmental quality, which considers both demand and supply sides of environmental issues. The current study applied the novel dynamic ARDL to capture the short and long‐run nexus. The bootstrap causality test was also applied to capture causal connection instabilities over time. The results of this study are as follows: (1) a significant and positive association was found between political risk, green finance, green innovation and social globalization environmental quality; (2) a significant and negative interplay was detected between economic growth and environmental quality; (3) The time‐varying causality shows a feedback causality at various periods between political risk, green finance, green innovation, economic growth, social globalization and environmental quality. This study also serves as a reference point for governments and policymakers in terms of investing in eco‐friendly technologies in order to improve environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista em Agronegócio e Meio Ambiente is the property of Revista em Agronegocio e Meio Ambiente and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The environment is a complex system where humans, materials (e.g. pollutants), and ecological (e.g. plants, animals, microbes) and meteorological conditions interact with each other. The impact of humans potentially causes significant damage to either the environment (e.g. oil spills may pollute coastal ecosystems) or turns against humans themselves by favoring the growth of unwanted species (e.g. poor sanitation increases microbial populations that cause the risk of large numbers of humans falling ill). Thus, this paper presents a flexible method for quantifying either ecological risks (i.e. the percentage likelihood of adverse effects on the ecosystem due to its exposure to stressors such as chemicals, fishing, etc.) or microbial risks (i.e. the likelihood of negative effects in humans due to their exposure to microbial pathogens). The method uses population modeling to simulate future changes in the numbers of key-species (e.g. fish, corals, sharks, parasites), in various scenarios including the impacts of humans, adverse weather and risk management. Finally, risk is calculated as the probability of the quasi-extinction or quasi-explosion of key-species over time, and then is categorized so that the risks involved may be better communicated to decision-makers. Using the method is illustrated in three different real cases in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geosaberes: Revista de Estudos Geoeducacionais is the property of GEOSABERES - Revista de Estudos Geoducacionais and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents data and maps about pesticides use in the 27 municipalities that compose the Eighth Regional Health of Paraná state, Brazil, which is located in the Southwest of Paraná. For that, data from the Pesticide Trade and Use Monitoring System in Paraná (SIAGRO) was used, which is managed by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Paraná (ADAPAR). SIAGRO was established in 2011, so that the article discusses the information obtained between the years 2011 and 2016. Data on the volume of pesticides marketed in each municipality were mapped and analyzed, as well as the presentation of graphs on the main active ingredients commercialized, classification of use and volume destined for culture. From this, it was observed that the production of commodities such as soybean, corn and wheat has been responsible for the exorbitant consumption of pesticides in the 27 municipalities in question, so that the main active ingredients used trigger high risk of environmental contamination and also for the human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the scarcity of oil reserves, renewable sources of energy have become important. The Brazilian government has established standards and policies to foment the use of bio-energy. Bio-fuels have widespread use and have been inserted into the national energy matrix to help sustainable development. It is necessary to establish the effectiveness of these government initiatives in preserving ecology; otherwise environmental harm such as the loss of biodiversity will increase. The objective of this paper is to identify and analyse, from a systems point of view, the potential benefits and risks to the environment which may arise from the use of bio-energy; whether its production is in agreement with the Brazilian constitution and whether its environmental impact is beneficial when it is exploited economically. It also examines the legal aspects of the National Energy Policy and the introduction of bio-diesel. We conclude that the place of bio-fuel in the Brazilian and the world's energy matrix is irreversible and furthermore, that its role will increase sharply in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has ravaged Brazil, and its spread showed spatial heterogeneity. Changes in the environment have been implicated as potential factors involved in COVID-19 transmission. However, considerable research efforts have not elucidated the risk of environmental factors on COVID-19 transmission from the perspective of infectious disease dynamics. The aim of this study is to model the influence of the environment on COVID-19 transmission and to analyze how the socio-ecological factors affecting the probability of virus transmission in 10 states dramatically shifted during the early stages of the epidemic in Brazil. First, this study used a Pearson correlation to analyze the interconnection between COVID-19 morbidity and socio-ecological factors and identified factors with significant correlations as the dominant factors affecting COVID-19 transmission. Then, the time-lag effect of dominant factors on the morbidity of COVID-19 was investigated by constructing a distributed lag nonlinear model and standard two-stage meta-analytic model, and the results were considered in the improved SEIR model. Lastly, a machine learning method was introduced to explore the nonlinear relationship between the environmental propagation probability and socio-ecological factors. By analyzing the impact of environmental factors on virus transmission, it can be found that population mobility directly caused by human activities had a greater impact on virus transmission than temperature and humidity. The heterogeneity of meteorological factors can be accounted for by the diverse climate patterns in Brazil. The improved SEIR model was adopted to explore the interconnection of COVID-19 transmission and the environment, which revealed a new strategy to probe the causal links between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the Northeast region of Brazil, has areas of granites and pegmatites with minerals that have varying concentrations of uranium. Consequently, high concentrations of radon gas, a carcinogenic substance for humans, can occur. The present study aimed to assess the occurrence of cancer and its association with exposure to sources of natural radioactivity using geological and geophysical information in the aforementioned state. The spatial dependence of pulmonary, breast, stomach, leukemia, and skin cancer cases with the location of radioisotope sources were analyzed using geoprocessing tools. The geoprocessing analysis showed a differential pattern of uranium emission throughout the state, with the highest emission from areas with pegmatites outcrops. A spatial dependency of cancer cases was shown (Moran index: 0.43; p < 0.01). Moreover, a higher rate of natural radioactivity-cancer cases was associated with the high-intensity natural radioactivity areas: odds ratio:1.21 (95% CI 1.20; 1.23), following the same pattern when separately compared the different related types of cancer. These results highlight the importance of natural radioactivity as a public health problem in the Brazilian environmental scenario, confirming the need for further studies as the first toward understanding and implementing health management strategies mitigating the exposures, especially in areas of environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the state of Paraná, Brazil, calcined sewage sludge (biosolid) without remediation is used as a fertilizer in different crops, such as soybeans and corn. Evaluated the chemical composition, pathogenic potential, and toxic potential to plants and E. fetida of biosolid produced in the state. The analysis of metals and pathogens, based on the Brazilian Resolution 498/2020 of the National Council for the Environment (CONAMA), classified the residue as suitable for incorporation into crop soils in Brazil. However, all concentrations of the biosolid (6.25, 25, 50, and 100%) caused phytotoxicity to Lactuca sativa, Allium cepa, Cucumis sativus, and Triticum aestivum. A. cepa meristematic cells exposed to the residue revealed division disruption, including clastogenic damage to chromosomes, and death. All concentrations promoted swelling in onion roots, drastic inhibition of ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, activation of guaiacol peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation in their meristems. Studies with Eisenia fetida showed biosolid has strong repellent effects and higher concentrations caused 100% mortality. In surviving animals, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase showed higher tissue levels of activity, suggesting a response to increased environmental free radicals, including reactive oxygen species. Therefore, in Paraná, the current and recurring incorporation of biosolids, without adequate remediation, into cropping soils has the potential to trigger extensive oxidative stress in plants and animals, representing an environmental risk. Furthermore, this study brings important elements that advance the understanding of how biosolids trigger phytotoxicity and cellular toxicity in different organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O3) represents a great threat to human health, contributing to respiratory diseases and premature mortality. This pollutant is often considered a critical pollutant in regions of southern Brazil. Exposure to this pollutant during vigorous physical activity should be the subject of thorough investigations due to the increased ventilation rate and altered breathing pattern present during vigorous physical activity that result in greater inhalation of O3. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the health risk of exposure to low, mean, and high concentrations of O3 during different durations of exercise in the city of Rio Grande (southern Brazil). Healthy young men (n = 45) performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and ventilation rate data were collected to predict total ventilation and pollutant inhalation during a 5 km running session. The O3 concentration in the city of Rio Grande was obtained from data reported by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). The environmental health risk was calculated based on the potential intake dose. The lowest, mean, and highest concentrations of O3 detected during the monitoring period were 32.5, 64.9, and 115.2 µg/m3, respectively. In all evaluated scenarios, there was a toxicological risk (RQ > 1), except when exercising when the O3 concentration was lowest for the shortest length of time (p < 0.001). As the concentration of O3 and the duration of the exposure increase, the health risk is increased. Therefore, O3 concentration and duration of exposure are factors influencing the health risk of exercising. These findings are extremely relevant in cities that have high levels of O3, such as the city of Rio Grande. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management practices reputed to be the best are being introduced widely in the agricultural sector. The identification of what these best management practices are for a given cultivation area requires thorough assessment, using indicators that reduce the risk of unintended impacts and that help manage environmental and economic trade-offs. We propose an integrated assessment that includes two indicators in water footprint sustainability assessment: water apparent productivity and ecosystem services value, thereby considering the trade-offs in the two ecosystem services of water provisioning and erosion potential. The approach was tested in Mogí-Guaçú Pardo (Brazil), a basin that has been subjected to intensive land-use changes through the expansion of sugarcane plantations. Here, regulatory changes have also promoted the introduction of the new management practice of mechanised harvesting, thereby phasing out the practice of burning the fields before manual harvest. A probabilistic approach was applied to account for uncertainty in model parameters. The results reveal that sugarcane has a comparably high economic value but is a less efficient land-use type from a water-use perspective. The total green and blue water footprint in the basin increased by 12% from 2000 to 2012, mainly due to the increase in sugarcane area (+36%). The intensification in sugarcane harvesting practices led to improved economic water-use efficiency and also lowered erosion costs. Adding the new indicators and considering trade-offs linked to new management practices and/or land-use changes allow for more robust decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Water management in mining is a significant issue for sustainability due to the strong dependence on this resource, especially for those operations with beneficiation plants. This is particularly relevant for mining operations located in the Southeast region of Brazil, which concentrates most part of the country's population as well as most part of the mining facilities, but a small portion of the water available in the territory. This paper presents a case study of selection of sustainable water management strategies for a mining complex located in this region. A stepwise process for incorporating environmental risks into the decision-making using a multi-criteria approach and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was developed and applied in this case study, with corporate image, representing part of the social dimension, environmental and economic as the main decision criteria. This stepwise process proved to be a robust tool for supporting the evaluation and selection of alternatives in the case study, with potential to be used in other corporate decision contexts where environmental risks are relevant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fake controversies have influenced policy making on health and environmental issues for decades, resulting in major implementation setbacks worldwide. As a case study, in this paper we examine fake controversies produced by a small group of active Brazilian researchers that have seriously impacted environmental conservation, particularly in issues related to deforestation and climate change. Based on the literature, we develop a typology of strategies deployed in fake controversies, which include manufacturing uncertainty, misusing scientific credentials, and disregarding scientific literature. Afterwards, we examine the influence of this group of contrarians at the National Congress. We then analyze the fake controversies promoted by these contrarians and argue that, to properly understand them, we need to consider a strategy so far overlooked in the literature: the manufacture of "pseudo-facts", namely, affirmations at odds with the established literature but that strives to appear as scientific facts. Unlike other contexts, in which contrarians have mainly sought to cast doubt on consensual issues by arguing that there are still considerable uncertainties surrounding them, in Brazil pseudo-facts on deforestation have been produced and published outside the peer-reviewed literature. We conclude the study with recommendations on how to oppose fake scientific controversies that threaten environmental conservation in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies have shown the presence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the Brazilian environment in recent decades, several biological effects on the aquatic ecosystem are unknown. Brazil is the fifth largest country in extension in the world, and its wide territory presents geographic regions with diverse demographic and economic characteristics. In order to identify targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk, available data from previous studies were examined to conduct environmental risk analysis and provide a ranking of CECs in Brazilian aquatic environment based on environmental concentration measured in the last 10 years. The results indicate that 17α-ethynylestradiol, 17ß-estradiol, acetaminophen, Bisphenol A, caffeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, methylparaben, sulfamethoxazole and triclosan are the CECs that represent the greatest threats to the Brazilian environment. Therefore, these contaminants should be considered as a priority in future monitoring studies. Besides, identification of target monitoring compounds can facilitate the selection of pollutant candidates in future legislations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of As and Pb was performed in surface water, pore water, and sediment from eight samples along the Ribeira do Iguape Valley watershed, Brazil, an old mining region, to assess the mobility and improve understanding of the environmental risk that these elements currently cause. Methods using ICP-MS were applied for the determination of these elements in all samples. The concentration ranges for As (0.11 ± 0.02 µg L−1 to 0.44 ± 0.02 µg L−1) and Pb (0.31 ± 0.01 µg L−1 to 2.02 ± 0.01 µg L−1) in water were very low, being possible fit them into highest natural water quality, according to the Brazilian regulation. Sediment samples collected at point P5 (Betari River) revealed As (113 ± 1 mg kg−1) and Pb (672 ± 9 mg kg−1) concentrations above the acceptable standards adopted by the local authorities. The application of sequential extraction procedures to this sample showed that more than 90% of Pb seem to be strongly bound to the sediment matrix, while arsenic showed higher mobility, between 60 and 90%, probably due to the action of acid agents. Arsenic speciation in pore water of this sample, using HPLC–ICP-MS, revealed the presence of As (III) as prevalent specie. At the point P5, near to the oldest mine (Furnas Mine), Pb is strongly associated with the sediment matrix, while As has a potential for migration in low pH conditions; in other collection points, the concentrations of these elements are below to the values recommended by regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kappaphycus alvarezii was introduced for mariculture purposes on the coast of São Paulo, southeast of Brazil, in 1995, and since then an experimental pilot cultivation has been maintained. Since it is an exotic species, the dispersion of thallus fragments, presence of reproductive structures and recruitment from spores were monitored bimonthly from November 2016 to January 2018. Fragment dispersion was analyzed on nine selected monitoring sites around the cultivation raft through visual observation and photographic records. To verify the presence of reproductive structures 40 individuals were collected randomly from the cultivation raft and analyzed under a light microscope and stereomicroscope. Reproductive structure recruitment was also evaluated using artificial substrata. The results showed that even 25 years after the introduction of K. alvarezii on the coast of São Paulo, the invasive behavior of this exotic species had not been recorded. There was no evidence of vegetative dispersion and/or establishment in the Ubatuba Bay. Reproductive structures were also not found during the monitoring period. However, we highlight the importance of permanent and systematic environmental monitoring to prevent any impact and to ensure a sustainable aquaculture. These results will contribute to the development of the cultivation of the non-native K. alvarezii in Brazil and to improving public policies of coastal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco is the most widespread non-food crop in the world. In Brazil, tobacco cultivation is one of the main commodities of the southern region. However, its production is associated with environmental impacts and risks to human health, which have yet to be quantified. This paper uses midpoint and endpoint life cycle assessment (LCA) to analyze the potential environmental damage and human health risk associated with agricultural production of conventional Virginia (CV), organic Virginia (OV), and Burley (BU) tobacco varieties. Organic tobacco production substitutes synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with organic compounds in the cropping stage. The results show that for one ton of dried tobacco, BU, CV, and OV emit 1,610, 1,426, and 1,091 kg CO 2 eq, respectively. For organic production, greater impacts are linked to the land use (LU) impact category. The endpoint results showed that OV production resulted in a higher potential for human and environmental damage than BU and CV. The drying of green OV and CV tobacco requires the burning of firewood, which emits high levels of particulate matter and is associated with human health (HH) damage. Overall, the HH damage category accounts for 68%, 82%, and 78% of the total score points associated with the production of BU, CV, and OV. Image 1 • Life Cycle Assessment of 3 tobacco varieties in Southern Brazil was performed. • Burley variety was the foremost environmentally sustainable production. • The organic tobacco has highest environmental damage. • Conventional Virginia has the minor land use because its higher productivity. • PM2.5 emitted during leaf drying affects the most human health. Along with tobacco consumption, conventional and organic agricultural tobacco production is also associated with significant environmental impacts and risks to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present paper, the distribution of toxic metals and sediment quality were evaluated in five sampling points of the Itapicuru-Mirim River located in the city of Jacobina, Bahia, Brazil. The concentration of the elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were determined from sediment samples collected from the superficial layer (0–10 cm) in November 2013. After the samples' total decomposition, the total concentration of metals was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), except for Hg, which was measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP AES). A geochemical evaluation of sediment quality was performed using enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I geo), and pollution load index (PLIThe results of the total concentrations in the analyzed sediment samples were compared with the threshold effect levels (TELs) and probable (PELs) effect levels (PELs) in sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). For the fraction <75 μm, the decreasing order for the metal concentrations was (ppm): Fe (10.86%) > Mn (120.8) > Cr (122) > Zn (76.5) > Pb (49.6) > Cu (32.6) > Ni (28.6) > Hg (0.31) > Cd (0.13). I geo suggested a moderate to seriously polluted category for Hg and moderately polluted for Cu. Generally, the results indicated probable risks to the biota caused by Cr, Ni, Pb, and Hg metals. However, only Hg, Cd, and Cu were of anthropogenic origin. Although the sediments are relatively preserved from pollution by these metals, there is a progressive deterioration of this compartment downstream of the Itapicuru-Mirim River in the city of Jacobina. • Distribution of toxic metals and sediment quality in samples of superficial sediment from the Itapicuru-Mirim River. • Indicated probable risks to the biota caused by Cr, Ni, Pb, and Hg metals. • Heavy metals in surface sediments were mainly related to the contribution of anthropogenic activities. • Progressive deterioration of the sediment downstream of the Itapicuru-Mirim River in the Jacobina city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sustainability in Debate / Sustentabilidade em Debate is the property of University of Brasilia, Center for Sustainable Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of REUNIR: Revista de Administração, Contabilidade e Sustentabilidade is the property of REUNIR - Revista de Administracao, Contabilidade e Sustentabilidade and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Iron mining is one of the main activities of the State of Minas Gerais (Brazil). However, this activity offers significant environmental risks and may harm the local population. In 2019, the Brazil experienced large environmental disaster related to iron mining in the municipality of Brumadinho. The collapse of mining waste water Dam caused the mud spill composed of the mixture of water and tailings minerals that traveled from the dam through the network of local drainage. In this work, it is analyzed the environmental impact of the dam's collapse with the help of remote sensing image using two spectral bands (red and near infrared). The comparative study carried out by analysing Landsat OLI of several months enables evaluating the effect of the event on the water resources and also monitor the evolution of the situation by comparing multiple images. In the first step, direct digital values are measured along the rivers to compare the sediment load in each date, which allows monitoring the situation of the rivers. In a second step, the image series is combined using binary encoding to visualize changes in the catchment. The study shows that the Paraopeba and Córrego do Feijão rivers suffered a great impact from the dam break and that they are slowly recovering from the tragic event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow fever (YF) is endemic in much of Brazil, where cases of the disease are reported every year. Since 2008, outbreaks of the disease have occurred in regions of the country where no reports had been registered for decades, which has obligated public health authorities to redefine risk areas for the disease. The aim of the present study was to propose a methodology of environmental risk analysis for defining priority municipalities for YF vaccination, using as example, the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The municipalities were divided into two groups (affected and unaffected by YF) and compared based on environmental parameters related to the disease's eco-epidemiology. Bivariate analysis was used to identify statistically significant associations between the variables and virus circulation. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used to evaluate the relationship among the variables and their contribution to the dynamics of YF in Sao Paulo. The MCA generated a factor that was able to differentiate between affected and unaffected municipalities and was used to determine risk levels. This methodology can be replicated in other regions, standardized, and adapted to each context. Author Summary: Yellow fever (YF) is an infectious disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, and very common in North and Middle East region of Brazil, where cases of the disease are reported every year. Since 2008, outbreaks of the disease have occurred in regions of the country where no reports had been registered for decades, which has obligated public health authorities to redefine risk areas for the disease. The aim of the present study was to propose a methodology of environmental risk analysis for defining priority municipalities for YF vaccination. The municipalities were divided into two groups (affected and unaffected by YF) and compared based on environmental parameters related to the disease's epidemiology. Statistical analysis was used to identify associations between the variables and virus circulation, as well as, to evaluate the relationship among the variables and their contribution to the dynamics of YF. The MCA generated a factor that was able to differentiate between affected and unaffected municipalities and was used to determine risk levels. This methodology can be replicated in other regions, standardized, and adapted to each context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzes the BOVESPA stock market response to the worst drought occurred in the last 100 years in Brazil. For this purpose, we conducted a standard event study analysis in order to assess the financial response to such hydrological risk on a sample of seven Brazilian agri-food firms. We found statistically significant negative cumulative average abnormal returns (CAARs) around the drought official announcement for different event windows used. Particularly, the highest impact was obtained for the narrowest temporary window, five days around the event disclosure. Moreover, we also found the drought announcement affects even more negatively those companies that sell perishable products, five out of seven in our sample, versus those selling nonperishable ones by running a two-sample t-test on CAARs. This study brings awareness to the climate change impact into the emerging financial markets and the risk faced by shareholders when investing in the agri-food sector, not only in Brazil but also in other Latin American countries, due to the increasing probability to suffer from droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parabens are chemical compounds widely used that act as preservatives. Liquid-liquid extraction could be considered an efficient technique, as does not need special devices and is economically viable. Thus, the present research had the objective of developing and validating an analytical method for liquid-liquid extraction using fewer solvents and liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector for the analysis of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butylparaben in sanitary sewage samples from the São Carlos wastewater treatment plant before and after treatment; it was also accomplished in surface water samples from Santa Maria Madalena, Tijuco Preto, Gregório, and Monjolinho streams. To optimize the process conditions the factorial design was used to determine the most significant variables, through a central composite design. In addition, environmental risk analysis was performed to assess the risk of the paraben's presence in surface waters for aquatic biota. The validation tests showed a good fit of the developed method. The methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butylparaben were detected in the range of μg L−1, and ethyl and butylparaben were detected in every collected sample in a range of 0.38 to 11 μg L−1. The species sensitivity distributions were calculated to assess the ecological risk of parabens, and the results showed a low risk for aquatic biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]