Environmental Inventory Research Articles

Developing a qualitative environmental health risk matrix and assessment tool for Malaysia

ABSTRACT This is a project under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) to develop a qualitative environmental health risk assessment (EHRA) tool to be adopted at the sub-district,district, and state levels, in establishing an Environmental Health Risk Inventory (EHRI) for Malaysia. We developed the EHRA framework and tool based on the global best practices. In the framework, we included an exposure rating based on population density and vulnerability in addition to hazard rating, to generate the risk rating of an area. For validation, we applied the tool using the hazard source inventory collected by the MOH team in the pilot study states of Perak, Melaka, and Sabah in Malaysia. The hazard sources included legal and illegal solid waste disposal sites, industries generating toxic wastes, sewage treatment plants, and sources (agricultural activities, mining, etc.). Based on the risk ratings collected from the pilot states using the tool, we assigned the risk rating categories and colours. The risk rating categories could be used to map the distribution of hazardous sources in Malaysia, and inform policy and decision-making at the state and national level in protecting environmental health. This qualitative EHRA tool has been successfully applied in developing EHRI in Malaysia and miscellaneous sources (agricultural activities, mining, etc.).

A Data-Driven Approach to Assess the Risk of Encountering Hazardous Materials in the Building Stock Based on Environmental Inventories

The presence of hazardous materials hinders the circular economy in construction and demolition waste management. However, traditional environmental investigations are costly and time-consuming, and thus lead to limited adoption. To deal with these challenges, the study investigated the possibility of employing registered records as input data to achieve in situ hazardous building materials management at a large scale. Through characterizing the eligible building groups in question, the risk of unexpected cost and delay due to acute abatement could be mitigated. Merging the national building registers and the environmental inventory from renovated and demolished buildings in the City of Gothenburg, a training dataset was created for data validation and statistical operations. Four types of inventories were evaluated to identify the building groups with adequate data size and data quality. The observations’ representativeness was described by plotting the distribution of building features between the Gothenburg dataset and the training dataset. Evaluating the missing data and the positive detection rates affirmed that reports and protocols could locate hazardous materials in the building stock. The asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing materials with high positive detection rates were highlighted and discussed. Moreover, the potential inventory types and building groups for future machine learning prediction were delineated through the cross-validation matrix. The novel study contributes to the method development for assessing the risk of residual hazardous materials in buildings.

The carbon footprint of Brazilian households through the Consumer Expenditure Survey (POF)

The main objective of this article is to assess the carbon footprint of Brazilian families based on the Household Expenditure Survey (POF), 2008-2009, from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The methodology used to quantify the Brazilian households’ carbon footprint has comprised three data sources: i) Household expenditure Survey, 2008-2009; ii) Leontief matrix of Brazilian accounts, year 2010; and iii) 2009 World Input-Output Database (WIOD) environmental inventory. Initially, an input-output (IO) model was created. Next, the results from the IO model were combined with the information of the POF. The poorest families, with a monthly income of up to $ 415.00, emit less than 1.5 metric tons per year, in contrast, the wealthiest families, with a monthly income above $ 5,187.50, release around 18.5 tons, almost 12 times more. It was found that an increase in income, results in an increase in CO2eq emissions. Thus, while the poorest families, which represent more than 20% of the total Brazilian families, cause 7% of the total emissions, the wealthiest families cause 16% of the total emissions although they represent only 4% of the total families. It was observed that the food category loses importance as income increases, while the opposite occurs in the services category. For the poorest families, there is great importance in the housing category, mostly caused by the consumption of electricity and LPG. Therefore, important measures for economic growth supported by actions become particularly relevant.

STRATEGY OF ECOREGION PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT, CASE STUDY OF TASIKMALAYA CITY

The Tasikmalaya City Ecoregion Protection and Management Strategy is a planning study aimed to support other developments, in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management. The purpose of this document is to provide an indication of the policy direction for environmental protection and management plans in the Tasikmalaya City based on the results of an analysis of the main challenges and strategic issues that refer to an environmental inventory at the ecoregion level in the Tasikmalaya City. The preparation of this document is intended to provide direction, reference and basis for development in the Tasikmalaya City based on the potential, availability, limitations of ecosystem services and natural resources in the Tasikmalaya City which are manifested in the threshold and status of the carrying capacity and the carrying capacity of the environment. Based on this status, policy interventions and program directions for environmental management and protection can be further formulated as a controller of development in Tasikmalaya City. The study is structured through the following stages: (1) data collection, thematic maps, and related literature, (2) Situational Analysis for the formulation of the main challenges and strategic environmental issues in Tasikmalaya City, using a spatial analysis framework, followed by DPSIR analysis (Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impacts-Response) to identify the root causes of strategic issues of environmental protection and management, formulate their impact on community welfare and formulate policies and program directions as interventions in environmental protection and management.

Comparative Study of Conventional and Zero-joint Edgebanding

Edgebanding affects both the visual appearance and edge protection of wood-based panels. In order for edgebanding to provide the desired protection, it must adhere strongly to the entire surface of the panel edges and maintain this adhesion throughout the life of the product. The present research compares conventional and so-called zero-joint edgebandings in terms of water and steam resistance, and examines the environmental impacts of edgebanding technologies using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In-line with our hypothesis, our test results showed that corners are the critical points of edgebanded furniture fronts, especially when exposed to moisture. Due to high variations in measurements, there is no significant difference between the two edgebanding methods at the beginning. However, differences become more significant after longer treatment times. These differences amount to two quality categories after 6 hours and three quality categories after 12 and 24 hours. The edgebanded fronts exposed to water for less than 30 minutes experience no significant deteriorations with any of the edgebanding methods. In the case of steam resistance, zero-joint edgebanding provides better protection, especially after the second and third treatment cycle. We can state that the surplus costs of zero-joint technology are 1.45 times greater than costs associated with conventional technology. Both show the considerable costs of edging materials, chipboard, and electrical energy. The applied environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) method corresponds to the requirements of ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards. We built up the environmental inventory and the life cycle model of the manufacturing technology using the GaBi Professional LCA software. In the impact assessment, we analysed the specific environmental impact categories of the differing production processes by technology according to the operation order of the manufacturing technology. In relation to traditional and the zero-joint edging technologies, according to all impact assessment methods, the life-cycle contribution rate was uniformly 47% traditional – 53% zero-joint by impact category. The higher indicator values of the zero-joint method are due to larger edge material consumption and higher energy demand. Zero-joint technology appears to avoid the application of conventional hot melt adhesives, but replacing these adhesives does not necessarily result in better environmental indicators. Nevertheless, zero-joint egdebanding does not just improve aesthetic appearance but also exceeds the durability provided by conventional edgebanding technology.

Inventário da realidade: fazeres, saberes e sujeitos campesinos em prosas e rimas

O presente artigo pretende socializar a pesquisa realizada na escola inserida no território camponês do Assentamento Contagem - Distrito Federal - Brasil, que desenvolveu o trabalho investigativo coletivo, dialético, dialógico e práxico intitulado Escola Classe Sonhém de Cima: os saberes e os fazeres do campo com prosas e rimas com o intuito principal de ressignificar a identidade da escola do campo, a partir da materialização da construção do inventário social, histórico cultural e ambiental. Os objetivos específicos norteadores foram conhecer a história da constituição do Assentamento Contagem, desde da chegada dos primeiros posseiros e das famílias dos Sem Terra no processo de ocupação da fazenda devoluta até a conquista da terra pela família camponesa e reconhecer a cultura camponesa, em especial, os modos de produção de vida na terra para produzir alimentos com dignidade e com orgulho de serem camponeses. Os referenciais teóricos balizadores Bogo (2012), Caldart (2018), Fernandes (2012), Leite (2012), Freitas (2010), Krupskaya (2017), Leite (2012), MEC (2002), Pistrak (2013; 2018), SEEDF (2014; 2016; 2018; 2019), Sapelli (2019), Shulgin (2013) e Tardin (2012). Foram desenvolvidas as seguintes ações pedagógicas: visita aos espaços comunitários e familiares (galpão, padaria, casa de farinha, lavouras e residências) com a mediação dos camponeses e camponesas; roda de conversa com os primeiros assentados e com agentes comunitários; análise e releitura de fotos do livro Terra de Sebastião Salgado; leitura e interpretação de poemas de Cora Coralina e Pedro Munhoz; construção de estandartes; apresentação da encenação teatral A contagem do Contagem. O registro das ações foi realizado através de fotos, vídeos, textos e desenhos produzidos pelo coletivo Girassol. O trabalho investigativo contribuiu no processo de aprendizagem dos educandos, pois conheceram a luta, a persistência e a resistência dos sujeitos históricos e de direitos, que conquistaram a terra para morar, trabalhar, produzir alimentos e apreenderam a importância da terra para a constituição da identidade dos povos camponeses.

The Contribution of Local Management to Biodiversity Conservation: An Analysis of Specific Cases in the Region of Madrid (Spain)

In line with the Urban Agenda for the EU, this article highlights the importance of local actions in the conservation of biodiversity, both through specific activities and by increasing the availability of information. As such, the policies and projects related to the conservation of biodiversity have been analyzed here at different levels and, in particular, the initiatives undertaken in the Madrid Region, Spain. Consequently, two cases are presented that demonstrate the role that local administrations can play in improving the biodiversity database, and hence, in the effective protection of areas of significant environmental value. First, we will examine the effects that creating an environmental inventory of vegetation, flora and landscape has had in Torrelodones. Second, among the more recent environmental policies implemented in the municipality of Madrid are those that resulted in the environmental recovery of the urban section of the Manzanares River. Both these actions demonstrate how local authorities can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity at relatively low expense and in line with EU guidelines. Notably, this occurred despite the fact that competences in environmental matters in Spain are not municipal. In this context, the paper reflects on the untapped potential of the General Urban Planning Plans (PGOU) in deep knowledge and sustainable and responsible management of municipal environmental values.

Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Arable Crop Production Technologies Compared to Different Harvesting Work Systems in Short Rotation Energy Plantations

Abstract Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed as a tool for sustainable, decision-supporting environmental management. Applying agricultural sector-LCA in order to achieve both internal (comparative) and external (efficiency enhancing) benefits is a priority. Since the life-cycle assessment of products and processes attracts great interest, applying the method in agriculture is relevant. Our study undertakes a comparative environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) of local arable crop production technologies used for the main cultivated plants: maize, sunflower, lucerne, cereals, and canola (environmental data in the territorial approach calculated on a 1 ha unit and in the quantitative approach calculated on 1 t of produce). We prepared an environmental inventory of the arable crop production technologies, constructed the life-cycle models, and executed the impact assessment. We also compiled an environmental ranking of technologies. In the impact interpretation, we compared the results with the values of short rotation energy plantations in each impact category. We analysed carbon footprints closely. The obtained results help better assess environmental impacts, climate risks, and climate change as they pertain to arable crop production technologies, which advances the selection of appropriate technologies adjusted to environmental sensitivities.

Arsénico en aguas, suelos y sedimentos de la Reserva Biológica de Limoncocha - Ecuador con fines de conservación

La Reserva Biológica de Limoncocha (RBL) en Ecuador, es de gran importancia ecológica, alberga especies de flora y fauna de importante interés científico. Por su ubicación geográfica, presenta riesgo de contaminación de sus componentes ambientales: agua, suelo y sedimentos, debido a la explotación petrolera, la agricultura y otras actividades antropogénicas características de la zona. La presencia de varios campos petroleros productivos así como plantaciones agrícolas en la zona, son de vital importancia para la economía ecuatoriana, sin embargo, producen vertidos sólidos, líquidos y gaseosos, con concentración de sustancias tóxicas, mismas que deben ser evaluadas y contrarrestadas, tal es el caso del Arsénico. El presente estudio evalúo la concentración de este elemento en los factores ambientales mencionados en la RBL, a través de su detección y cuantificación por análisis químico utilizando Absorción Atómica con generación de hidruros a partir de muestras recogidas entre abril de 2015 y abril de 2016. Los datos sobre las concentraciones de esta sustancia se compararon con la ley ecuatoriana y con valores referenciales internacionales para determinar si los habitantes de la RBL, en su mayoría de etnia kichwa, presentan exposición por las actividades que desarrollan en los factores ambientales estudiados. Permitiendo, establecer el inventario ambiental del área y disponer de valores referenciales para determinar el manejo más adecuado de esta reserva natural.

Comparison of life cycle environmental performance of public road transport modes in metropolitan regions

A comparative life cycle energy and environmental inventory has been developed for public road transport modes in metropolitan regions in India. The environmental performance of public bus transport (PBT) and intermediate public transport (IPT) modes, viz. taxi and auto-rickshaw, in Mumbai Metropolitan Region has been assessed and compared at off-peak, average and peak levels of vehicle occupancy. Moreover, the environmental performance of vehicles adhering to Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms has been assessed. The inventory captures both vehicle operation (tail-pipe emissions) and non-operation components (e.g. vehicle manufacturing, vehicle maintenance and fuel production). GaBi 6.5 has been used to assess the environmental impact in terms of global warming, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical ozone creation, abiotic depletion potential and primary energy demand. The functional unit of the study was defined as passenger kilometre travelled in 15 years, the service lifetime of the vehicle. The results show that tail-pipe emissions dominate the life cycle environmental impact of PBT (75% of 17.2 g CO2-eq/PKT), taxi (78% of 85 g CO2-eq/PKT) and auto-rickshaw (78% of 78 g CO2-eq/PKT). However, in case of vehicles adhering to BS-VI stringent emission norms, vehicle non-operation components dominate the life cycle environmental impact of public road transport modes. Therefore, vehicle non-operation components should be considered while addressing the environmental performance of public road transport modes. For all three occupancy levels, PBT is environment-friendly compared to IPT modes. However, the break-even point assessment highlights that the bus services should be operated with at least 11 passengers to make its global warming potential equivalent to IPT modes. In case of shared services of the taxi and auto-rickshaw, this equivalency increases to 23 and 29 passengers, respectively. Eventually, this study provides the benchmark that can lead regional transport planners to more informed and prioritized mitigation measures for improving the environmental footprint of public transportation in metropolitan regions in India.

Towards a Decision Support System for Improved Accessibility in Multi-Family Housing: Co-Design of an Application for Environmental Barrier Inventory.

The demand for accessible housing is increasing. More people are expected to live longer and live more years with reduced functional capacity in ordinary multi-family housing. To address this, detailed knowledge of accessibility problems in the existing housing stock and systems that could contribute to efficient collaboration between housing industry and authorities concerned is needed. This paper introduces a project with the overarching aim to develop and evaluate a new decision support system (DSS) to inventory and support decision-making for improved accessibility in multi-family housing in Sweden. The specific aim is to describe the initial app development phase and to investigate the design-team interactions and their impact on the outcome. The app will constitute the core part of the new DSS. This phase involved co-design to fit the practice context at target and meet users' needs and expectations. The co-design process served to identify user requirements to guide the development. Housing Enabler (an internationally acknowledged instrument for assessment and analysis of accessibility problems) was the methodological starting point. The prototype app enables professional inventory of environmental barriers and registration of subsequent work for accessibility improvements. A fully functional prototype of an app including an example apartment database is ready for usability studies and further iterative refinements.

Visual scale and Naturalness of Roadside Vegetation Landscape. An exploratory study at Pargua Highway, Puerto Montt – Chile

Over the last few decades, the Chilean Government has constantly promoted the construction of private highways in order to increase the effectiveness in terms of transportation of goods and people all along the country. In this way, heavy road infrastructures, landscape fragmentation, loss of endangered animals’ habitat, loss of visual quality, and a decrease of biodiversity patches have emerged. Despite this, some greenery – native and introduced flora/fauna, natural elements, colors, lines, patterns, among others- can be partly seen in certain areas of Chilean highways. In particular, this paper focuses on the main route connecting Puerto Montt and Pargua cities in Los Lagos region.The objectives of this qualitative research are threefold. Firstly, to measure main Landscape attributes and Visual scale characteristics through a fieldwork by the roadside of Pargua highway (Alto Bonito Area) using a scale of attributes adapted from Tveit et al. (2007). Secondly, to measure the type of vegetation through an environmental inventory (phytosociological analysis). Thirdly, to measure the degree of management of the highway considering its maintenance and human intervention.Wilderness and Naturalness are scarcely observed on the roadside due to a concentrated presence of human interventions such as landfills and overpasses. The visual scale is checked in fieldwork from several scopes. On the southeast side of the road, Las Canchas Area is covered by high trees, houses, and industries which hinder the view of the natural surrounding landscape. On the right side of the road, it presents a clear skyline of Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes. Finally, any management of high quality of the visual scenery of this type of landscape from the route concessionaire is is randomly done. However, the vegetation surface itself has been working out a way to protect the land from erosion and desertification.

Deriving Environmental Life Cycle Inventory Factors for Land Application of Garden Waste Products Under Northern European Conditions

The amount of waste which is being recycled is increasing in Europe. Garden waste is increasingly composted and land applied. However, composting to full maturity requires resources in terms of space, equipment and labour. Alternatives could include a simple shredding, or composting for a shorter time. Finally, an option could be to remove trunks and large branches which are not easy to compost and incinerate them to recover energy. In order to assess these options and the associated environmental impacts, it is necessary to have good estimates of emissions and other inventory factors during the different steps of the life cycle of the compost products. Especially, the impacts occurring after land application are difficult to estimate. The objective of the current paper is to estimate environmental inventory factors for land application of four garden waste products: shredded garden waste, shredded garden waste after removal of the woody fraction, immature garden waste compost and mature garden waste compost. Soil incubations of the materials were conducted in order to assess the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics occurring after incorporation in soil. Subsequently, the results were used to calibrate the mineralisation kinetics of the materials in the agroecosystem model Daisy. Subsequently, the model was used to simulate C and N dynamics under different environmental conditions and emissions to the environment and used to derive inventory factors. Nine soil and climate combinations were included in the simulation study to cover local conditions commonly found in Northern Europe. The degradability of the garden waste products increased when the woody fraction of garden waste was removed and generally the degradability of the product was decreased by composting. All four products showed initial immobilisation of N in soil, but it was clear that removal of the woody fraction and composting reduced the length and severity of the immobilisation phase. The approach taken in the current paper using soil incubations to estimate decomposition parameters for the materials and subsequently an agroecosystem model to extrapolate the observations proved efficient at estimating inventory factors under various environmental conditions and fertilisation levels. Under low N availability conditions, the harvest factor, which estimates the fraction of N harvested in response to application of an amount of compost ranged between 0.10 and 0.18 for a sandy loam soil and medium precipitation conditions for Northern European while it ranged from negative values to 0.12 under conditions of ample N supply. These results were also clearly reflected in the emission factors for N leaching to the groundwater and losses to surface water, which were higher under high N availability than under low. The harvest factor, emission factors for ammonia, N leaching to ground water and loss to surface water proved to be very dependent on the local conditions like the soil type, precipitation regime and general fertilisation level, whereas the biochemical composition of the materials was of less importance for these factors. In contrast, the C sequestration factor was almost unaffected by the environmental conditions but depended to a large extent on the degradability of the added material.

The Relationship Between Neighborhood Disorder and Barriers to Cessation in a Sample of Impoverished Inner-City Smokers in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

Economic disparities in rates of smoking have been well documented in many countries. These disparities exist on an individual and geographic or neighborhood level. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between neighborhood physical and social disorder and barriers to smoking cessation among an impoverished urban sample. A sample of current smokers were recruited through street outreach, posted advertisements, and word of mouth from impoverished neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, USA for a study of psychosocial factors and smoking behaviors. Neighborhood disorder was assessed with a 10-item scale from the Block Environmental Inventory and barriers to cessation with a 9-item scale. In the multiple logistic regression model, perceived stress (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.32 to 1.95), neighborhood disorder (aOR= 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.63), and level of nicotine dependence (aOR = 1.97), 95% CI = 1.62 to 2.40) were all strongly associated with barriers to cessation. The results of this study suggest that neighborhood disorder may lead to barriers to cessation among low-income populations. The findings also indicate that tobacco control interventions should examine and address social and physical aspects of impoverished neighborhoods. In many countries, tobacco control programs and policies have been less effective among low-income populations as compared to more affluent populations. Little is known about how neighborhood factors influence smoking cessation. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood disorder and barriers to cessation among a low-income population. We recruited a convenience sample of hard-to-reach cigarette smokers from low-income neighborhoods. Even after controlling for level of nicotine dependence and stress, neighborhood disorder was found to be associated with barriers to cessation. The findings suggest the important role of neighborhood disorder as a barrier to smoking cessation.

Seedbed preparation for arable crops: Environmental impact of alternative mechanical solutions

This study quantifies, using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, the environmental impact of sequences of operations for seedbed preparation for arable crops under different soil textures and soil refinement intensities. Comparing the environmental loads of alternative sequences of operations permitted to detect the most environmentally sustainable sequence in each working condition.To this purpose, 13 alternative sequences of field operations for seedbed preparation were analysed, considering primary and secondary soil tillage and minimum tillage. The study was carried out considering a cradle to farm gate perspective and selecting as functional unit “1ha tilled with an appropriate soil refinement for sowing and seed germination”. Three 60-ha farms in Northern Italy were considered. Inventory data (e.g., farm and field information, machinery fleets, fuel, lubricant and materials consumptions and exhaust gases emissions) were calculated with the model ENVIAM (ENVironmental Inventory of Agricultural Machinery operations).The impact assessment was completed with the ReCiPe characterisation method. Results showed that seedbed preparation completed with two implements (one for primary and one for secondary soil tillage) instead of three (e.g., one for primary and two for secondary soil tillage) results in a better environmental performance on impact categories (e.g., eutrophication, ecotoxicity and metals depletion) affected by the manufacturing phases and by the consumption of materials along machinery life span. The impact categories affected by fuel consumption and exhaust gases emissions showed the best results with low energy-consumptive operations (e.g., slatted plough, no-Power Take Off harrow and minimum tillage). Coarse textured soils and soils lowly refined (i.e. unrefined soil particles adapt for crops characterized by seeds with a size close to that of winter crops or by high seed density) showed low burdens on all impact categories, whereas fine textured and highly refined soils (i.e. small soil particles adapt for crops with small seeds or by low seed density) were responsible for the highest impacts. This is primarily due to the larger number of harrowing repetitions and of energy and fossil fuel consumption.The results can be up-scaled to arable crop production systems with similar pedo-climatic and operative features, such as other Mediterranean countries. Farmers associations, stakeholders and politicians could promote policies and define incentives that encourage producers to adapt to more environmentally sustainable crop productions.

Low aerial imagery – an assessment of georeferencing errors and the potential for use in environmental inventory

Abstract Unmanned aerial vehicles are increasingly being used in close range photogrammetry. Real-time observation of the Earth’s surface and the photogrammetric images obtained are used as material for surveying and environmental inventory. The following study was conducted on a small area (approximately 1 ha). In such cases, the classical method of topographic mapping is not accurate enough. The geodetic method of topographic surveying, on the other hand, is an overly precise measurement technique for the purpose of inventorying the natural environment components. The author of the following study has proposed using the unmanned aerial vehicle technology and tying in the obtained images to the control point network established with the aid of GNSS technology. Georeferencing the acquired images and using them to create a photogrammetric model of the studied area enabled the researcher to perform calculations, which yielded a total root mean square error below 9 cm. The performed comparison of the real lengths of the vectors connecting the control points and their lengths calculated on the basis of the photogrammetric model made it possible to fully confirm the RMSE calculated and prove the usefulness of the UAV technology in observing terrain components for the purpose of environmental inventory. Such environmental components include, among others, elements of road infrastructure, green areas, but also changes in the location of moving pedestrians and vehicles, as well as other changes in the natural environment that are not registered on classical base maps or topographic maps.

Climatization, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection

It is known that approximately 15% of the energy consumed in Ecuador is used for the operation of climate conditioning equipment and, on the other hand, most of the existing technology operates on the basis of the use of refrigerant gases Are invasive to the ozone layer. In the work, a case study is shown that allows the identification of a relevant result linked to an action of technological innovation based on the conversion of the R-22 gas by the R-290 gas, thus reducing the consumption of electric energy and reducing the Environmental inventory of the institution, achieving a better performance of the technology.

Can Rapid Assessments Predict the Biotic Condition of Restored Streams?

Five rapid visual stream assessment methods were applied to 65 restored streams in North Carolina, and the results were correlated with measured macroinvertebrate community metrics to evaluate predictive ability. The USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP), USDA Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP), Peterson’s Riparian Channel and Environmental Inventory (RCE), NCSU Eco-Geomorphological Assessment (EGA), and NCSU Stream Performance Assessment (SPA) were applied by teams with expertise in hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and aquatic ecology. Predictions of most macroinvertebrate metrics were improved by re-weighting assessment variables using principal component analysis (PCA) and including watershed factors (e.g., size, slope, land use). The correlations of EGA, RCE, SPA and SVAP assessment results to macroinvertebrate metrics were most improved by variable re-weighting using PCA, while the correlations of RBP were most improved by adding watershed parameters. Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) indicates that PCA re-weighting including watershed parameters improves the predictor model for the total number of dominant EPT taxa more than using the sum total raw points for all five assessment methods. To demonstrate the application of the study results, a single-value index was generated for the RBP method using principal component regression (PCR) based on the EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) taxa metric.

Use of pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) to assess potential risk associated with chemicals in a drinking water supply facility

Drinking water safety is a serious public health issue. Although the drinking water supply is monitored according to drinking water guidelines, the chemicals released from factories or spills can raise concerns about the quality of drinking water produced at purification facilities. To increase the public trust in drinking water, the reliable control of the source water quality is called for in the framework of catchment management. This paper addresses the problem of the potential risk to a drinking water supply facility from chemical accidents in a basin. The potential risk is defined and assessed as a function of the amount of chemicals transferred, along with their toxicity and distance. Data on the amount of chemical substances transferred to waste treatment facilities are taken from the pollutant release and transfer register, which is an environmental inventory of potentially harmful chemicals. The NFPA-704 health index, which is a standard system from the US National Fire Protection Association, is used for the toxicity. The relative distance between the drinking water supply facility and the location of the transferred chemical is considered. The top-10 chemicals most frequently released in the Nakdong River Basin in South Korea are analyzed using deterministic and stochastic approaches, and cities with high potential risks are identified and prioritized for the efficient monitoring and management of chemicals. Yangsan City, a city located in the southern part of South Korea, is found to have the highest potential risk using these two approaches. This framework can provide decision-makers with useful information for the efficient management of source water in densely populated and highly industrialized catchment areas.

Effect of local conditions and machinery characteristics on the environmental impacts of primary soil tillage

The interest in environmental assessments about agricultural processes is high and asks for tools for accurate impact evaluations. The methodology commonly used in these studies is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), of which the inventory phase (Life Cycle Inventory – LCI) is the essential and most complex step to fulfil, for agricultural productions in particular. The reason is that taking into account local variables such as soil texture and mechanical operative solutions for the agro-mechanical operations is difficult.The aim of this study was to perform a case study to quantify the environmental impacts through LCA of alternative ploughing solutions and to quantify the differences that occur when an analysis is fulfilled with inventories completed with two different tools. First, when a database furnishes average data (Ecoinvent) and, secondly, when the inventory is completed with a tool that considers local variables. In particular, the used new tool is ENVIAM (ENVironmental Inventory of Agricultural Machinery operations), which was developed to take into account local variables. Finally, a subsequent goal was to quantify the environmental impacts through LCA of alternative ploughing solutions. Using ENVIAM, mouldboard ploughs were compared with slatted ploughs and variables such as the number of ploughshares, the field shape ratio (i.e. the ratio of field length and width considering regular quadrangles) and soil texture differed. Fuel consumption and exhaust gases emissions were calculated as function of working time, engine load and European Standard Emissive Stage. The functional unit was “1 ha tilled in a primary soil tillage operation appropriately and completely carried out” and the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) characterization method was used for the impact assessment. The most common implement present in Northern Italy, the 3 ploughshares mouldboard plough, was considered as baseline scenario. When working on medium texture soils, discrepancies with Ecoinvent were not negligible (less than 9% for Climate Change and Ozone Depletion). However, they resulted even 2–3 times higher for Particulate Matter and Mineral and Fossil Resources Depletion. Instead, when soil texture differed, dissimilarities were considerably higher. For example, Climate Change impact category ranged between −46.2% and +108.1% of the identified baseline case (with sandy and clay soils, respectively).