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Risk communication and policymaking: examining participation context, digital media, and scientific evidence

2026-08-05T06:58:54Z

Title: Risk communication and policymaking: examining participation context, digital media, and scientific evidence Abstract: Risk communication may shape how risks are defined and addressed by policy. This study examines stakeholders' risk communication practices within participatory approaches to policymaking through a multiple-case study design, covering both top-down and bottom-up pathways. The study pursues three interrelated objectives: to examine the forms of knowledge through which stakeholders communicate risk, including lived experience, situated accounts of perceived risk, and judgments of policy feasibility; to analyze how digital media supports and shapes risk communication; to assess how scientific evidence underpins stakeholders' risk communication. Findings show that stakeholder risk communication varies across contexts, broadening the policy debates by introducing new topics and policy proposals. The study evidences that, beyond facilitating physical and temporal barriers, digital media enabled coordinated actions, such as the replication of submissions intended to amplify specific narratives and simulate consensus. Nonetheless, stakeholders also faced difficulties in sustaining participation. Marginalized groups struggled to maintain visibility and influence, raising questions about inclusivity, legitimacy, and representation in participatory policymaking. Building on Bennett and Segerberg's connective action framework, the article introduces the concept of institutionalized connective action to describe hybrid forms of participation in which decentralized actors engage formal decision-making arenas through legally recognized instruments. Stakeholders consistently mobilized scientific evidence as a persuasive resource to legitimize or discredit policy claims.

Comportamento alimentar e exercício físico em estudantes universitários

2026-08-04T06:49:42Z

Title: Comportamento alimentar e exercício físico em estudantes universitários

Pesticide Residues in Plant-Origin Foods: Method Validation and Mitigation Strategies in Production and Processing

2026-08-04T06:47:55Z

Title: Pesticide Residues in Plant-Origin Foods: Method Validation and Mitigation Strategies in Production and Processing

Fortificação de bolachas com farinha de chícharo (Lathyrus sativus L.) como estratégia para melhorar a ingestão de minerais

2026-08-03T06:59:05Z

Title: Fortificação de bolachas com farinha de chícharo (Lathyrus sativus L.) como estratégia para melhorar a ingestão de minerais Abstract: Enquadramento: As deficiências de micronutrientes continuam a constituir um importante problema de saúde pública global, particularmente no que respeita a minerais essenciais como ferro, zinco, magnésio e cálcio. Estratégias alimentares destinadas a aumentar a densidade de micronutrientes em produtos de consumo corrente representam uma abordagem sustentável e acessível para melhorar a qualidade da dieta. As leguminosas de grão, devido ao seu perfil nutricional favorável e reduzida pegada ambiental, são candidatas promissoras para o desenvolvimento de alimentos fortificados com enfoque na saúde. Objetivo: Este estudo avaliou a fortificação de bolachas com farinha de chícharo (Lathyrus sativus L.), com o objetivo de aumentar o teor total de minerais e reforçar o seu potencial contributo para a ingestão alimentar destes nutrientes. Métodos: As bolachas foram formuladas com dois níveis de substituição (30% e 60% p/p), e as concentrações de macro e oligoelementos foram quantificadas e comparadas com uma formulação controlo à base de trigo. Resultados: A incorporação de chícharo resultou num aumento significativo (p < 0,05) do teor total de minerais. Entre os macrominerais observaram-se aumentos de magnésio (Mg), fósforo (P), potássio (K) e cálcio (Ca). Com 60% de substituição, as concentrações de Mg, P, K e Ca foram mais do dobro das registadas nas bolachas controlo. Os oligoelementos seguiram padrão semelhante de enriquecimento, com aumentos substanciais (até 4,6 vezes) de manganês (Mn), ferro (Fe), cobre (Cu) e zinco (Zn). Conclusões: Estes resultados indicam que a fortificação com farinha de chícharo aumenta a densidade mineral das bolachas, evidenciando o seu potencial como estratégia alimentar para melhorar a ingestão de minerais. A valorização do chícharo promove, ainda, a diversificação agrícola, sistemas fixadores de azoto e menor dependência de insumos sintéticos, contribuindo para a sustentabilidade alimentar. Estudos futuros deverão avaliar a bioacessibilidade mineral e o impacto de fatores antinutricionais.

Microplastics and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Surface Waters Under European Union Regulatory Progress

2026-08-03T06:59:02Z

Title: Microplastics and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Surface Waters Under European Union Regulatory Progress Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), emerging pollutants in surface waters, are viewed as a serious risk to freshwater ecosystems and public health. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge, regulatory approaches, and monitoring methodologies on the presence and impact of these contaminants following a drivers-pressures-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework. Major anthropogenic factors, such as pharmaceutical consumption and agricultural intensification, are putting pressure on water bodies through industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and untreated or inadequately treated wastewaters. In order to gauge the current environmental state and discuss the impact on human and ecosystem health within a One Health framework, it is necessary to generate monitoring data and identify methodological gaps in the interaction between MPs and ARGs. Despite recent European Union (EU) regulatory progress, such as the Drinking Water Directive and the Water Framework Directive, substantial gaps remain in methodology standardization as well as practical implementation. This review underscores the need to establish enforceable thresholds and standardize monitoring protocols to effectively mitigate the growing prevalence and consequences of these contaminants.

Influence of apple pomace and asparaginase on acrylamide levels in cookies and behavior during simulated gastric digestion: risk assessment perspectives

2026-08-03T06:58:23Z

Title: Influence of apple pomace and asparaginase on acrylamide levels in cookies and behavior during simulated gastric digestion: risk assessment perspectives Abstract: Cookies are widely consumed baked products; however, their contribution to dietary acrylamide (ACR) intake raises increasing health concerns. This study investigated the effects of apple pomace addition and asparaginase treatment on ACR levels in cookies, the fate of ACR during simulated gastric digestion using the INFOGEST semi-dynamic model, and the associated health risks of ACR exposure from cookie consumption. Risk assessment was conducted for adults (18-65 years) and children (3-10 years) using Monte Carlo simulation. Three formulations were evaluated: a control cookie, a cookie in which wheat flour was partially replaced with apple pomace, and a cookie containing asparaginase. Cookies formulated with apple pomace contained significantly lower ACR levels than the control (132 +/- 8 mu g/kg vs. 215 +/- 11 mu g/kg; p < 0.05), although the reduction was less pronounced than in cookies containing asparaginase (65 +/- 14 mu g/kg). During gastric digestion, ACR exhibited formulation-dependent release kinetics. Nevertheless, the total ACR released at the end of digestion was similar for control and pomace cookies, likely due to additional ACR formation in the stomach, despite differences in release patterns throughout digestion. Margin of Exposure (MOE) values for children remained well below 10,000, indicating a potential carcinogenic risk, although reductions of up to 59% were observed for control and pomace cookies after digestion. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values showed a slight increase after digestion in both age groups but remained below 1, suggesting no concern for chronic toxicity. Control cookies indicated a potential carcinogenic risk for children (ILCR = 1.56 & times; 10(-4)), whereas pomace and asparaginase formulations reduced this risk (ILCR = 9.59 & times; 10(-5) and 4.72 & times; 10(-5), respectively). However, simulated gastric digestion increased ILCR values for both control and pomace cookies (2.24 & times; 10(-4) and 2.33 & times; 10(-4), respectively). These findings indicate that dietary exposure to ACR cannot be assessed solely based on its concentration in food, and that digestive kinetics should be incorporated into health risk assessment.

Investigation of EU-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wheat flour and baked products: Implications for food safety

2026-08-03T07:02:36Z

Title: Investigation of EU-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wheat flour and baked products: Implications for food safety Abstract: Wheat flour and baked products are widely consumed foods that may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can promote carcinogenic effects. This study analyzed four priority PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, benz [a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and chrysene) in 74 wheat flour, bread, and biscuit samples using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Benz[a]anthracene and chrysene were the most frequently identified contaminants in all the samples. Whole-wheat flour samples showed higher levels of PAHs than white flour, with many samples exceeding the limits set for PAHs by the European Commission (1 mu g/kg for benzo[a]pyrene and the sum of 4 PAHs). For Sigma 4 PAHs, 41% of bread and 81% of biscuit samples exceeded the safety limits, and the highest concentration was found in a one cornstarch biscuit sample (6.65 mu g/kg). Despite biscuits showed the highest concentrations of PAHs, white bread was the main contributor to dietary exposure assessments (0.52 to 15.28 ng/day) due to its high daily intake in Brazil (49.4 g/day). Consequently, the highest incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and the lowest margin of exposure (MOE) values were observed for white breads, with prevalence among adults, especially in male individuals.

Early childhood asthma and adiposity until adolescence: A prospective birth cohort study using body fat percentage

2026-08-03T07:02:36Z

Title: Early childhood asthma and adiposity until adolescence: A prospective birth cohort study using body fat percentage Abstract: Background Asthma and obesity frequently coexist in childhood, yet whether asthma predisposes to later adiposity remains underexplored, particularly using measures beyond body mass index (BMI). Considering this, we aimed to examine the association between asthma in early childhood and subsequent adiposity through adolescence, assessed using BMI and body fat percentage, and to evaluate sex-specific effects.Methods This prospective study included 4717 participants from the Portuguese population-based Generation XXI birth cohort. Physician-diagnosed asthma at age 4 years was the exposure. Incident obesity and overweight/obesity were assessed at ages 7-, 10-, and 13-years using BMI and body fat percentage estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis and classified according to age- and sex-specific percentiles. Children who were already overweight or obese at age 4 were excluded from the respective analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for confounders. Effect modification by sex was tested, and sex-stratified analyses were performed.Results Asthma was associated with a higher risk of incident obesity defined by body fat percentage in adjusted analyses (aHR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.16-3.16), whereas associations with BMI-defined obesity were not statistically significant. Sex-stratified analyses showed that these associations were confined to girls, who had increased risk of obesity (aHR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.19-3.26) and overweight/obesity (aHR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.02-3.01) defined by body fat percentage. No significant associations were observed among boys.Conclusions Asthma in early childhood was associated with increased adiposity in adolescence assessed by body fat percentage, particularly among girls. These findings suggest that children with asthma may develop excess fat accumulation not fully captured by BMI and support the integration of body composition and metabolic risk assessment into pediatric asthma care.

Association Between Lower-Limb Lean Soft Tissue Assessed by DXA and A-Mode Ultrasound and the Functional Performance of Older Adults

2026-08-03T07:02:35Z

Title: Association Between Lower-Limb Lean Soft Tissue Assessed by DXA and A-Mode Ultrasound and the Functional Performance of Older Adults Abstract: Abstract

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is a public health concern linked to frailty. Accurate assessment is essential, yet standardization remains a challenge. This study assessed the agreement between Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and A-mode Ultrasound (US), evaluating their independent capacity to explain functional performance in community-dwelling older adults. Subjects/Methods : This cross-sectional study included 136 adults (60 years). Body composition was measured via DXA (Appendicular Lean Soft Tissue Index, ALST/h²) and A-mode US (Anterior Thigh Muscle Thickness, MT). Functional performance was assessed using the Sit-to-Stand (STS) test (low performance: 15 seconds). Multiple linear regression models, adjusted for age, BMI, and sex, identified predictors of STS time. Results : ALST/h² and anterior thigh MT were correlated with STS time (rho=0.317, =<0.001;rho=0.293, =0.002) but weakly correlated with each other (r=0.088, =0.310). The adjusted model explained 25.5% of STS variance (R² Adjusted=0.255, p<0.001). Age was the strongest independent predictor (ß=0.405,p<0.001). The independent contribution of morphological measures was attenuated when age was included in the model. No significant interaction was found between age and ALST/h² (p=0.465) or age and MT (p=0.859). Conclusion : Chronological age associates more strongly with functional performance than muscle quantity. Weak agreement between DXA and A-mode US suggests these methods are not interchangeable. While muscle mass and thickness explain little functionality (25%), morphology alone is insufficient to predict performance, likely due to age-related declines in muscle quality (e.g., myosteatosis) that A-mode US cannot distinguish.

Discrepancies between caliper and portable A-mode ultrasound estimates of subcutaneous fat in older adults

2026-08-03T06:59:14Z

Title: Discrepancies between caliper and portable A-mode ultrasound estimates of subcutaneous fat in older adults Abstract: It has been proposed that subcutaneous fat thickness measured by ultrasound corresponds to half of the skinfold thickness measured with calipers at the same anatomical site. This study compared portable A-mode ultrasound and caliper skinfold assessments in older adults. In a cross-sectional sample of 146 participants, fat thickness was measured at the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, subscapular, and suprailiac sites using a BodyMetrix (R) BX-2000 ultrasound device and a LipoWise PRO digital caliper. Agreement between methods varied markedly by site: Lin's concordance correlation coefficients were 0.21 (triceps), 0.02 (subscapular), and 0.33 (biceps, suprailiac), indicating poor to moderate concordance. The Bradley-Blackwood test showed differences between methods (p < 0.001). Skinfold/ultrasound mean ratios were 1.50 (triceps), 1.20 (biceps), 1.50 (suprailiac), and 2.90 (subscapular). Caliper skinfold measurements consistently overestimate subcutaneous fat thickness versus ultrasound, especially at the subscapular site, limiting interchangeability and potentially compromising clinical assessment accuracy in older adult populations.

Excessive gestational weight gain and risk of asthma, rhinitis and allergic sensitization: Results from a Portuguese birth cohort

2026-08-03T06:58:42Z

Title: Excessive gestational weight gain and risk of asthma, rhinitis and allergic sensitization: Results from a Portuguese birth cohort Abstract: Background Maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and gestational weight gain (GWG) have been implicated in offspring health, yet their specific impact on the development of allergic diseases remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate associations between pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG with asthma, rhinitis, eczema, food allergy, anaphylaxis, and allergic sensitization during childhood and adolescence.Methods We analyzed 7280 mother-child pairs from Generation XXI, a Portuguese population-based birth cohort. Maternal BMI was categorized per World Health Organization criteria and grouped into underweight/normal weight vs. overweight/obesity. GWG was considered using Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines and GWG z-scores. Allergic outcomes were assessed via parent-reported physician diagnosis at 4, 7, 10, and 13 years, and allergic sensitization was determined at 10 years using ImmunoCAP. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression models adjusted for confounders.Results Children of mothers with excessive GWG had increased odds of asthma at ages 7 and 13 (aOR = 1.30; 95% CI 1.01-1.66 and aOR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.01-1.65, respectively), and rhinitis at 4 (OR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.10-1.98). Higher GWG z-score group was associated with increased odds of asthma (aOR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.03-1.72), rhinitis (aOR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.13-2.09), and sensitization (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.05-1.97). Lower GWG z-score group was associated to higher eczema odds at 13, while higher reduced eczema odds at age 4. Maternal overweight/obesity was associated with lower odds of eczema at age 13 (aOR = 0.73; 95% CI 0.60-0.88). Apart from eczema, maternal BMI showed no significant associations with others allergic diseases.Conclusion Higher GWG is associated with increased odds of childhood asthma, rhinitis, and sensitization. In contrast, maternal overweight/obesity is linked to lower odds of eczema, suggesting condition-specific effects of maternal weight on childhood allergy risk.

An analysis of diet sustainability among different dietary patterns in the Portuguese adult and elderly population

2026-08-03T06:58:35Z

Title: An analysis of diet sustainability among different dietary patterns in the Portuguese adult and elderly population Abstract: Purpose Dietary patterns influence human and environmental health. Shifts toward convenience and ready-to-eat ultra-processed foods have contributed to the rising prevalence of malnutrition, chronic disease, and ecological harm. This study examined the associations between dietary patterns and diet sustainability among Portuguese adults. Methods Data from 2287 individuals aged 18-84 years were obtained from the last National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (2015-2016). Three dietary patterns were identified based on food composition and processing: Traditional, Diet Concerns, and Unhealthy; while four dietary patterns were categorized according to food preparation location: At home by themselves, At home by relatives or friends, By food retail, and By restaurants/canteens. Diet sustainability was assessed using the Diet Sustainability Score (DSS), encompassing health-related nutritional, environmental, economic, and sociocultural dimensions. Linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, education and energy intake were used to estimate associations between dietary patterns and DSS.ResultsTraditional (beta = 1.27, p < 0.001) and Diet Concerns (beta = 1.60, p < 0.001) patterns were significantly associated with higher DSS compared to the Unhealthy pattern. In terms of food preparation location, only the By restaurants/canteens pattern was significantly associated with lower DSS (beta = - 0.76; p < 0.001) compared to the At home by themselves pattern. Younger, urban, and more educated individuals were more likely to follow the Unhealthy or the By restaurants/canteens patterns. Conclusion These findings underscore the need to consider what people eat, how and where food is prepared. Promoting traditional, minimally processed, and home-prepared meals may be essential to advancing sustainable diets, particularly among younger and urban populations.

Produção de Materiais de Educação Alimentar para Promoção da Dieta Mediterrânica: estágio no âmbito do Projeto NUTRIMI

2026-07-25T06:56:35Z

Title: Produção de Materiais de Educação Alimentar para Promoção da Dieta Mediterrânica: estágio no âmbito do Projeto NUTRIMI

Desenvolvimento e Padronização de Procedimentos de Qualidade e Segurança Alimentar na Indústria Alimentar a nível Global: Casos Práticos em Margarinas e Massa‑Mãe

2026-07-25T06:56:28Z

Title: Desenvolvimento e Padronização de Procedimentos de Qualidade e Segurança Alimentar na Indústria Alimentar a nível Global: Casos Práticos em Margarinas e Massa‑Mãe

Análise comparativa da composição nutricional de iogurtes tradicionais e alternativas: Relação com as tendências de consumo

2026-07-25T06:56:27Z

Title: Análise comparativa da composição nutricional de iogurtes tradicionais e alternativas: Relação com as tendências de consumo

Impacto do grau de torra no perfil nutricional, químico e sensorial de pastas de amendoim, amêndoa e avelã

2026-07-25T06:56:03Z

Title: Impacto do grau de torra no perfil nutricional, químico e sensorial de pastas de amendoim, amêndoa e avelã

Terá a Suplementação de Probióticos um papel na Doença Periodontal?

2026-07-25T06:55:39Z

Title: Terá a Suplementação de Probióticos um papel na Doença Periodontal?

Modulação da barreira intestinal e recuperação pós-operatória na cirurgia do cancro colorretal com prebióticos, probióticos e simbióticos

2026-07-25T06:55:11Z

Title: Modulação da barreira intestinal e recuperação pós-operatória na cirurgia do cancro colorretal com prebióticos, probióticos e simbióticos

Estudo de Caso de um Manual de Dietas Hospitalares: análise crítica e proposta de atualização de dietas de textura modificada

2026-07-23T06:46:15Z

Title: Estudo de Caso de um Manual de Dietas Hospitalares: análise crítica e proposta de atualização de dietas de textura modificada

What has been done about nutritional interventions for older adults receiving home care? A systematic review

2026-07-23T06:47:13Z

Title: What has been done about nutritional interventions for older adults receiving home care? A systematic review