Currently, the spread of micro- and nanoplastics in the food chain and the environment has become a relevant and social issue. They enter the human body mainly through food, water and drinks packaged in various plastic materials, bottles or containers. It has been established that most urban water sources are contaminated with microplastics due to wastewater. The main objective of the article was to study the awareness of microplastic sources, exposure levels and potential health risks associated with microplastic contamination of food and water by surveying a heterogeneous audience of Internet users. The preventive focus of the survey included: 1) holding an action at the medical faculty of KRSU “Day without plastic”; 2) development, publication and distribution of an information leaflet in the Internet community on the key sources of microplastics in the daily human diet. The test group consisted of 502 Internet users. The author's questionnaire included 26 questions: personal data (5 questions), the size of microplastics, sources of information, an assessment of the risk factors for microplastics entering the body, its content in food and water and the impact on human health (a list of 16 diseases associated with microplastics is provided). Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out using SPSS version 28.0.1 software. Questionnaires of 502 respondents aged 14–50 years were obtained through an online survey from October 2023 to January 2024 using Google forms. The demographic structure reflected the predominance of female representatives - 52.4%, men accounted for 47.6%. In terms of education level, students dominated among the subjects, incomplete higher education (67.3%), then secondary (14.8%), higher (9.9%) and primary education (8.8%). Most of the respondents lived in the city (80.3%), compared to rural areas (19.7%). Since the survey involved young people, 49.8% of respondents correctly answered the question that microplastics are small particles measuring 5 microns. 50.2% of respondents answered incorrectly, indicating sizes of 10 and 15 microns. Respondents noted that microplastics are most often found in bottled water (29.5%), tea bags (17.3%), natural water (10.3%), fish (8.1%), salt (6.3%), seafood (5.5%) and honey (4.5%). All of the above were noted by 29.5% of respondents. Most respondents to the question: which vegetables are most often contaminated with microplastics, answered that none (38.5%), followed by root vegetables (30.4%), onions (13.1%), cabbage (9.7%) and legumes (8.3%). Among the presented sample - the correct answer is - root crops are most susceptible to contamination. The results of the survey show that in everyday life 45.8% of respondents most often used plastic bags (55.7%), food packaging (18.7%), then cosmetics and hygiene products (17.4%), toys (5.9%) and cutlery (2.3%). Living in a “plastic world”, Internet users somehow do not notice it, to the question of how often the respondents use plastic products, 64.7% of them answered that every day, 26.7% - sometimes, 8.6% — rarely. As the results of the survey showed, most often Internet users received information about the harm of microplastics from social networks 26.5%, Google search engine — 20.7%, scientific articles — 18.9%, news — 17.1%, while communicating with friends, family — 5.5%. At the same time, 11.3% of respondents were not interested in the problem. When comparing the assessment of awareness of the direct and indirect impact of plastic on human health during plastic production and consumer use of plastics, they were aware (46.0% and 37.1%, respectively), slightly aware (31.9% and 37.8%) and did not know (22.1% and 25.1%). The risk that plastic pollution poses to wildlife, as well as to human health, well-being and prosperity, was assessed by respondents as average. 34.6% of respondents were in favor of actively reducing the use of plastic products. 33.7% of survey participants are still at the level of awareness of the problem and attempts to reduce plastic consumption. 31.7% find it difficult to answer, since they do not see an alternative. When asked about awareness of the impact of microplastics (the silent killer) on the development of 16 specific diseases, respondents were most aware of: digestive diseases, allergies, chronic inflammation, respiratory problems, cancer and reproductive problems.

This Special Issue addresses topics on the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus along with other water-related topics, such as water resources, irrigation and drinking water supply systems, hydraulics and pollution. Several threats jeopardize freshwater availability and quality, energy and food availability. Integrated management approaches are absolutely necessary for pursuing sustainability. This Special Issue addresses various subjects and includes 29 peer-reviewed papers that have been grouped into the following categories: the WEF nexus, water resources and irrigation systems, drinking water supply systems, hydraulics and pollution. Some of them were selected from the Third Efficient Water Systems (EWaS) International Conference, entitled “Insights on the Water–Energy–Food Nexus,” after a thorough content update. Summaries of the papers are briefly presented in this Editorial.

This Special Issue addresses topics on the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus along with other water-related topics, such as water resources, irrigation and drinking water supply systems, hydraulics and pollution. Several threats jeopardize freshwater availability and quality, energy and food availability. Integrated management approaches are absolutely necessary for pursuing sustainability. This Special Issue addresses various subjects and includes 29 peer-reviewed papers that have been grouped into the following categories: the WEF nexus, water resources and irrigation systems, drinking water supply systems, hydraulics and pollution. Some of them were selected from the Third Efficient Water Systems (EWaS) International Conference, entitled “Insights on the Water–Energy–Food Nexus,” after a thorough content update. Summaries of the papers are briefly presented in this Editorial.

The right to water emerged in the nineties primarily as the right to domestic water for drinking, washing and cooking, and was closely related to the right to sanitation, both of which are seen as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living. This study examines the question of the right to water for food and agriculture and asks whether such a right can be found in the right to water, or whether it is more appropriate to examine the right to adequate food for that purpose. Seeking inspiration from the right to adequate food and from other fields of international law, the study explores the content of the right to water for food and agriculture and then considers its implications for water law. Recognizing a human right to water – for drinking and household needs as well as for growing food – has implications for water allocation and sets limits to the extent that water can be allocated for other uses. In addition, it entails the respect for procedural rights and attention to important principles, such as the principle of non-discrimination and the rights of indigenous peoples.

The main challenge faced by agriculture is to produce enough food for a continued increase in population, however in the context of ever-growing competition for water and land, climate change, droughts and anthropic water scarcity, and less-participatory water governance. Such a context implies innovative issues in agricultural water management and practices, at both the field and the system or the basin scales, mainly in irrigation to cope with water scarcity, environmental friendliness, and rural society welfare. Therefore, this special issue was set to present and discuss recent achievements in water, agriculture, and food nexus at different scales, thus to promote sustainable development of irrigated agriculture and to develop integrated approaches to water and food. Papers cover various domains including: (a) evapotranspiration and crop water use; (b) improving water management in irrigated agriculture, particularly irrigation scheduling; (c) adaptation of agricultural systems to enhance water use and water productivity to face water scarcity and climate change; (d) improving irrigation systems design and management adopting multi-criteria and risk approaches; (e) ensuring sustainable management for anthropic ecosystems favoring safe and high-quality food production, as well as the conservation of natural ecosystems; (f) assessing the impact of water scarcity and, mainly, droughts; (g) conservation of water quality resources, namely by preventing contamination with nitrates; (h) use of modern mapping technologies and remote sensing information; and (i) fostering a participative and inclusive governance of water for food security and population welfare.

Water, food and energy are strongly interconnected. In this study we address this issue taking the lens of financial concerns to investigate the WFE relationship. Specifically, the aim of our paper is to analyze the volatility spillovres between indexes representing the financial component of WFE nexus. We use a multivariate GARCH model with daily data from November 2001 to May 2013. Water is proxy by equity index that represents the performance of the industry involved in water business both at global and local level. For the food and energy sectors we use two sub-indexes of S&P GF-Commodity Index. Our results highlight the existences of a financial nexus between WFE that is particular exacerbated during 2008 crisis. Evidence therefore suggests the need to better investigate the policy options that can be used to reduce price volatility in a framework of a rising relevance of water issues within the nexus.

PR | IFPRI3; CRP5; ISI | EPTD | CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)