Large metalliferous spoil and smelting tip sites, generated during the Nabatean, Roman and Byzantine periods, continue to exist in southern Jordan and still exert important effects on both plants and animals (including humans) inhabiting the area. Humans are exposed to both copper and lead pollution as a consequence of the inhalation and ingestion of heavy metals, which often involves significant bio‐accumulation through trophic levels. This paper explores aspects of an important source of severe dietary contamination which has potential public health implications in terms of effects on the health of exposed individuals.
The problem of environmental management in a protected area has been examined in the paper. A methodological approach based on geographical information system (GIS) technology has been proposed in order to aid in all planning phases. The software tool has been illustrated and a case study has been presented with reference to a national park. Results show capabilities of the developed decision‐support system in identifying and comparing technical‐economical solutions compatible with protected area constraints.
Urban tropospheric ozone (O3) concentrations can reach 40 folds its background level due to traffic‐induced emissions and extensive industrial activities. As such, O3 has become a pervasive air pollution problem in urban areas despite major efforts to control its precursors. In this paper, O3 formation mechanisms are briefly described, countrywide emissions with emphasis on O3 precursors are summarized, and field measurements of O3 background levels and its precursors in an urban area are presented. Simulation results using a photochemical air quality model including a sensitivity analysis with respect to design ratios and mixing heights are then presented. Mitigation alternatives and policies to control O3 formation are examined in the context of country‐specific characteristics.
Solid wastes are today one of the worst problems in the word, mainly because of the increase in volume and the high capacity of environmental contamination. The aim of this work is to analyze the possibility of use sawing granite wastes as alternative ceramic raw materials for the production of bricks and roof tiles. Samples were collected from wastes of several granites companies from the northeast region of Brazil. They were submitted to particle size and mineralogical characterization. Some ceramic compositions were prepared with granite waste and submitted to technological tests. The results indicated that the wastes have particle size distribution and mineralogical composition similar to conventional non‐plastic ceramic raw materials. These wastes can be used in substitution of conventional raw materials in ceramic formulations in proportions up to 50 per cent. This can be important to save traditional raw materials from the region and decreasing the aggression to the environment.
Large metalliferous spoil and smelting tip sites, generated during the Nabatean, Roman and Byzantine periods, continue to exist in southern Jordan and still exert important effects on both plants and animals (including humans) inhabiting the area. Humans are exposed to both copper and lead pollution as a consequence of the inhalation and ingestion of heavy metals, which often involves significant bio‐accumulation through trophic levels. This paper explores aspects of an important source of severe dietary contamination which has potential public health implications in terms of effects on the health of exposed individuals.
The project IDEA – Interactive Database for Energy‐efficient Architecture – is a multinational collaborative project to build a European knowledge base on advanced energy conscious building design. At the core of this project are two earlier multimedia developments, the Swiss program DIAS and the German adaptation NESA which present the principles and applications of solar architecture in the respective national contexts. IDEA aims to improve know‐how of European professionals and exchange of information between them. The database includes information on exemplary buildings, their technical concepts and on other specific conditions. IDEA presents the existing state of the art in the field of energy‐efficient architecture by means of a multimedia database of built examples, an encyclopedia of design concepts and a set of interactive design support tools. The built examples have been selected from around Europe. IDEA assembles technical information on materials and energy‐related standards and regulations and provides climatic data from all relevant European regions.
A quantitative approach for managing construction pollution control that is based on construction resource leveling is presented. The parameters of construction pollution index, hazard magnitude are treated as a pseudo resource and integrated with a project’s construction schedule. When the level of pollution for site operations exceeds the permissible limit identified by a regulatory body, a genetic algorithm (GA) enhanced leveling technique is used to re‐schedule project activities so that the level of pollution can be re‐distributed and thus reduced. The GA enhanced resource leveling technique is demonstrated using 20 on‐site construction activities in a project. Experimental results indicate that proposed GA enhanced resource leveling method performs better than the traditional resource leveling method used in MS Project© The proposed method is an effective tool that can be used by project managers to reduce the level of pollution at a particular period of time; when other control methods fail.
This paper offers an overview of factors that are decisive for productivity increase in the agricultural sector (both farming and agro‐food). An attempt is made to explain differences in total factor productivity in agriculture in different countries by means of meta‐analysis, in particular, by using rough set theory as a framework for comparative study. The main aim is to derive the drivers of changes in agricultural food production with a view to conditional future predictions of an “if … then” nature. The empirical application to OECD countries is used to illustrate the potential of this new approach for identifying critical success factors in agriculture with a view to future food security objectives.
Movable shading devices are often used to control solar radiation falling on large glazed surfaces in contemporary non‐residential buildings. The paper presents some studies on optimal orientation of building in relation to the type of adopted shading devices and their control logic, in case of adjustable ones. Optimal orientation is the one minimising total annual primary energy demand, including artificial lighting and climatisation, giving the same thermal and luminous comfort. A case study, a room of an office building, has been analysed by means of computer simulations. The external wall of the room is entirely glazed. The effects of three different shading elements configuration are compared. The simulations have been performed in three Italian climates (Venice, Rome, Trapani).
In this paper risk identification is investigated as a basic stage in risk management. The risk identification phase as the first stage in the risk management process is presented and its leading role for effective risk management is proved. The basic terms that are necessary for building of the frame approach for risk identification are defined: sources of risk‐hazard, factor‐peril‐resources exposed to risk. A classification of risk sources – physical, social, political, operational, economic, legal and cognitive environment – is proposed. It allows covering all types of risk facing the organisation. A grouping of the resources exposed to risk such as physical, human, and financial resources is introduced. It is based on a practical consideration of the risk situations in the organisations.
Green roofs are still often seen as a pure aesthetical element in architecture, as a spleen of some “greenies”. In fact green roofs already contribute, to some extent, to a better microclimate through evaporation, filtering of dust from the air and a decrease in temperatures at the rooftop. In cities like Berlin and Munich many green roofs have already been realised. Coupled with this microclimate improvement, is the thermal comfort improvement under such roofs by more mass, dry or wet substrate, and shading through the plants. Besides improving the microclimate and the indoor climate, the retention of rainwater is another important advantage. That means an important reduction of the rainwater input in the sewage system during rainfalls, cutting the peak load, avoiding an overload of the system, which might cause flooding and serious health problems. The risk of flooding in cities, which is increasing in many cities due to a ground sealed by buildings, asphalt and concrete, can be diminished. One recent example of the use of green roofs with this purpose is the Potsdamer Platz in the centre of Berlin, where 100 percent of the rainwater has to be evaporated or used for toilet flushing on the building site. Scientific knowledge on green roofs is still limited to temperate climates, due to a development which took place in central Europe. Since 2000 a scientific project in Rio de Janeiro is checking local parameters, like possible vegetation, which can be used and substrate composition. Parallel to this, four prototype roofs, three greened and one blank, are used to measure the retention rate of the rain water and the temperature on the underside of the roofs in order to analyse the possible improvement of the thermal comfort in buildings. This paper will describe the scientific results of Germany and discuss the practicability on a larger scale under tropical conditions.
Research was undertaken within the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental RTDI Programme during the six‐month period from March to August 2001 by a partnership formed by the Centre for Environmental Research (CER), University of Limerick, and the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE), University of Manchester. This project aimed to inform the development of spatial policies emerging from the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) aimed at finding optimal ways in which to accommodate Ireland’s growing population in a manner consistent with balanced regional development and environmental sustainability. To obtain data and information on settlements, three modes of analysis were adopted. First, for a single city and two villages, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to provide a comprehensive analysis of the local social, economic and physical environments, track record in enhancing sustainability, current policies in place, and the likelihood of these policies proving successful. Second, for 11 Irish settlements selected to include a range of functions and locations, 29 quantified sustainability indicators were developed and used to compare the level of sustainability achieved by settlements of differing sizes. Third, a review of international literature was undertaken to search for comparable data, models and case studies, so as to provide a context for analysis of Irish data. The framework of significant environmental themes adopted here is taken from recent Irish EPA publications. Results based on all three research methods suggest that on balance larger settlements in the recent past, at present and in the foreseeable future are more likely to create conditions in which sustainability is enhanced. This work provides the basis for a large‐scale three‐year study which commenced in March 2002, which examines the sustainability and future development patterns of settlements in Ireland.
This study focuses on the widely accepted principle that the equatorial sides of a building offer the optimum solar potential for solar space heating. A comparison between the solar irradiation on the south walls and horizontal roofs of buildings in London and Athens highlights the energy benefits of facing the sky rather than the equator. Four building examples exemplify practical ways to utilize the rather neglected potential of roofs as solar collectors for space heating.
Ecological impact of joint forest management (JFM) in India was assessed using the studies undertaken at national, state and forest division levels. It was found that there are very few studies that have specifically addressed the ecological aspects under JFM. The study noted that there are significant strides made in promoting JFM, but the program still needs to address a lot of inadequacies. Though it is estimated that little over 14 million ha of forests are brought under JFM, covering nearly 50 per cent of the open forests in India, how much of it has developed into good forests is not really known. It also needs to be noted that there are many lacunae in implementation of the program and there are also gaps in policies to promote JFM. The study noted that in four states, i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal, the recruitment was significant, amounting to 17 per cent of the regenerating individuals. In Karnataka, over 10 per cent of open forest has been brought under JFM, while a lot of wasteland could still be brought under JFM. The JFM plantations are dominated with exotic firewood species and low in timber and non‐timber species, resulting in lower biodiversity. Biomass growth rate was comparatively higher in JFM forests as compared to the national average. Other support activities to JFM indicated that various biomass conservation programs were initiated, installing a substantial number of energy saving and alternate energy devices. However, the study also notes that effectiveness of such support programs is not clearly known in terms of its functioning and biomass saved.
There is general consensus about the lack of open green spaces in Buenos Aires. Due to this, different actions are been proposed to improve the quality of existing ones. This paper analyses potential modifications of built forms to allow better winter solar access and ameliorate microclimatic conditions of those spaces, increasing their usability throughout the year. A typical urban configuration, within the dense residential grid, is simulated to evaluate the effects, advantages and limitations of this proposal. In one case, volumes are shaped following existing planning codes. In the other, modifications to avoid shadows on the open space during the cold period of the year are included. Resulting environments are evaluated and compared taking into account urban and economic implications of the decisions involved.
A wide variety of methods for human reliability analysis have been developed. A major thrust has been to quantify the chance of human error within probabilistic risk analysis. However, when compared with human unsafe acts in real events (especially human actions that lead to serious accidents), current analyses appear deficient. The character of the real events is decidedly different than the results of analysis. New, second generation methods have been developed in recent years (CREAM, ATHEANA, MERMOS and others). These methods view the context in which the human must operate as a critical element. Search schemes have been developed to identify potentially challenging contexts (often beyond those normally considered in risk analysis). New methods for quantification are evolving.
Water is a basic human need, a finite life support system and a key to prosperity. Unplanned industrialisation, urbanisation and impact of liberalised import of wastes intended for recycling have negatively affected the water environments in India. This is further exaggerated by lack of discipline and a weak obligation towards conservation and pollution prevention. Measures have to be especially taken to resolve the groundwater problems. While groundwater resources are quite well assessed, overexploitation still occurs frequently. There has been a considerable lack in implementing existing policies as well as developing new laws and policies. To mitigate the problems, co‐operation needs to be mobilised at all levels of the federal set up with the stakeholders and the people at the lowest appropriate level concerning planning and decision making. Water must be considered as a national asset and a basic human right to be provided to citizens in proper quantity and safe quality with equity and fairness amongst the users.
Chemical treatability of dairy wastewater originating from a dairy and dairy products plant at Istanbul was investigated on the basis of chemical oxygen demand (COD) parameter as a pre‐treatment alternative. FeCl3, FeSO4 and alum were used as coagulants in the jar‐test experiments of four sets of daily composite wastewater samples taken once every month. The effect of acid cracking has also been searched through acid addition and pH adjustment. Characterisation studies demonstrated that wastewater characteristics varied within a wide range in spite of no significant production changes at the plant during the experimentation period. Optimum coagulant dosage has been determined as 200mg l–1 for all the coagulants with the optimum pH values between 4 and 4.5 for FeCl3 and FeSO4, and 5‐6 for alum. Maximum overall COD removal efficiencies were obtained as 72 per cent, 59 per cent and 54 per cent for FeCl3, FeSO4 and alum, respectively. Nevertheless, COD removal efficiencies were found to be inadequate to meet the current discharge standards of Greater Metropolitan Istanbul to sewer systems indicating that chemical treatment is insufficient for discharging chemically pre‐treated dairy wastewater to a sewage system, which was actually the main objective of the study. The results showed that the wastewater composition greatly influences the maximum removal efficiencies and also the conditions for optimum coagulation. However, attention to such chemical treatment studies on dairy wastewater has started to accelerate within the last decade in various countries of the world, such as United Arabic Emirates and Scandinavian countries where the targets of applying chemical treatment varied. In Scandinavian countries, biodegradable coagulants have been applied to use the sludge arising from the system for livestock feeding, leading to reuse of sludge. In Arabic Emirates, chemically treated dairy effluents are utilised for irrigation purposes. These recent studies point out that application of chemical treatment to dairy wastewater with various coagulants lead to a variety of utilities apart from being a pre‐treatment alternative.
The present study aims at shedding some light on the serious effect of insecure pesticides to the surface ozone as a secondary pollutant resulting from some photochemical reactions during the sunny days. The temporal variation in O 3 concentrations due to pesticide spray, the corresponding temperature and relative humidity have been monitored and discussed. The air quality index (AQI) for the maximum concentrations of O 3 within each day of study has also been deduced. The obtained results illustrated that O 3 concentrations had been increased after pesticide spray with different values from hour to hour and then began to decay after one day or more according to its concentrations. The second day had the highest concentrations of the O 3 including the maximum concentration, which was recorded at hour 14 local time. Furthermore, most of AQI values were restricted between harmful and very harmful index during the second days and only the third day of the first experiment. Moreover, temperature and relative humidity have significantly influenced ozone concentrations with positive and negative correlation coefficients, respectively.
The research assessed the development of petroleum drilling activities and its associated waste discharges in the Niger Delta environment of Nigeria. Field visits were made to 18 wells in which petroleum drilling operation was in progress. Of this number, wastes samples were randomly collected from ten wells for data collation and laboratory analysis. Results show that petroleum drilling waste types in Nigeria include cuttings, mud/chemical, oil spills, cement slurry/dust, condemned pipes, filters, and machinery parts and even noise. Pretreatment of waste in hardly undertaken by the oil prospective companies before discharge into the surrounding environment. Total dissolved solid and oil/grease values as high as 3700mg l–1 and 1100 parts per million, respectively, were tested as effluent discharges around some of the wells studied. It was recommended that the Nigerian Government constitute a powerful environment monitoring body whose responsibility will be to ensure that the various multi‐national oil companies comply with petroleum laws and statutes of the country.
