Vaccine hesitancy has become a major global concern, leading to a significant decrease in the vaccination rate, with the World Health Organization recognizing it as one of the top ten threats to public health. Moreover, the health cost generated is evaluated to be 27 billion dollars per year in the US alone. To investigate the association between demographic variables and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to vaccination, a survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1163 individuals. Three models were used to perform a multiple linear regression analysis. In Model I, knowledge about vaccinations was found to be associated with smoking habits, education, and marital status. In Model II, attitudes towards vaccinations were significantly associated with sex, smoking habits, education, marital status, and knowledge. In Model III, behaviours related to vaccination were associated with sex, smoking habits, having children, knowledge, and attitudes. One potential solution to improve behaviours related to vaccinations in the general population is to implement specific public health programs, which can be a cost-effective intervention. This study provides valuable insights into the determinants of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to vaccinations in the general population.
Strawberries are among the most consumed fruits in Europe, but intensive cultivation requires frequent pesticide use, raising food safety concerns. This study evaluated pesticide residues and dietary risk in strawberries from the Agro Aversano area (Southern Italy). A total of 83 samples collected in 2023–2024 were analyzed using a validated QuEChERS-LC–MS/MS method targeting 850 active substances. Thirty-one pesticides were detected, predominantly fungicides, followed by acaricides and insecticides. Cyflumetofen and pyrimethanil were the most frequent residues, while compounds with low toxicological thresholds, including emamectin benzoate, lambda-cyhalothrin, acetamiprid, and tetraconazole, were also identified. Dietary risk assessment was conducted with the EFSA PRIMo model (v.3.1), focusing on the NL toddler subgroup. Despite occasional exceedances of European Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), both acute and chronic exposures remained well below toxicological reference values (ADI and ARfD). Overall, the results indicate negligible health risks but highlight the relevance of cumulative exposure, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring and sustainable pest management practices to ensure strawberry safety.