Identification Of Environmental Problems Research Articles

Knowledge in Regard to Environmental Problems among University Students in Cali, Colombia

The purpose of this research was to understand the level of environmental knowledge among students at Santiago de Cali University (USC) and to evaluate the differences found based on school, gender, and age groups. To gather data, a survey that included sociodemographic information, aspects of environmental knowledge, actions aimed at mitigating environmental problems, and environmental awareness was administered to 268 students at USC in the year 2017. We conducted an online survey of 268 students in the year 2017 by means of a questionnaire that included 18 questions with sociodemographic information, aspects of environmental knowledge, actions aimed at mitigating environmental problems, and environmental awareness campaigns conducted at USC. Additionally, we conducted an analysis to assess how gender, age groups, and academic training influence the scores of the constructed indicators: General Index of Environmental Knowledge (GI), Identification of Environmental Problems (EP), Solutions to Environmental Problems (SP), and Knowledge of Environmental Campaigns (EC). Statistical tests (i.e., Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-square test of independence, Pearson’s coefficients correlation) were used to analyze the data. Through this study, we concluded that although no significant differences were found in environmental knowledge and actions to mitigate environmental problems between genders, age groups, and schools, there were important implications observed in these categories concerning the variables analyzed. In addition, positive correlations were found between the indicators GI and SP, both globally and at the level of each gender, age group, and in some schools, which shows that with greater knowledge of environmental problems, there is greater recognition of solutions.

LAS GRANJAS PORCINAS EN ZONAS DE KARST: ¿CÓMO PASAMOS DE LA CONTAMINACIÓN A LA SUSTENTABILIDAD?

<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: The state of Yucatán is the third national producer of pork meat due to a large number of pig farms, there are them of all sizes from very small to mega-farms with more than 30 000 pigs, many of which generate environmental and social problems. <strong>Objectives</strong>: The analysis of the operation of pig farms in Yucatán; identification of environmental problems; and proposals for mitigating damage to the environment and human health. <strong>Results</strong>: The environmental problem is generated by the large amount of water with which they operate to clean the farms and cool the pigs during high-temperature days. In addition to the large volumes of water extraction, large volumes of wastewater are generated that are not properly treated and that contaminate air, soil, and groundwater. In this work, the traditional way of operating farms is documented, emphasizing environmental damage. The particularities of karst landscapes and their environmental vulnerability are explained. <strong>Implications</strong>: Ways of reducing environmental problems are proposed with the idea that they are taken into account to move towards sustainable management of pig farms in the state of Yucatán, for example, selection of the best sites for pig farming (relief, soils, climate, and depth of groundwater), reduction of extracted water, treatment through artificial wetlands and agricultural use of wastewater through sprinklers in soils of the Luvisol, Nitisol and Vertisol groups. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: For the transit of contamination to Sustainability in the management of pig farms in the state of Yucatán requires knowledge, innovations to solve problems, social commitment with local communities, and environmental regulations. It will not be easy but it is possible.</p>

Identificação de problemas ambientais na ótica dos estudantes do ensino Fundamental e Médio de Rio Paranaíba-MG

O conhecimento dos problemas ambientais é importante para a discussão e tomada de atitudes sobre a conservação do meio ambiente. Rio Paranaíba é marcado pela intensa produção agrícola e poucos programas de incentivo a conservação ambiental. Objetivou-se verificar a identificação dos problemas ambientais na ótica dos estudantes do Ensino Fundamental e Médio, conscientizá-los sobre esta problemática, bem como, destacar a importância dos diferentes biomas e sua conservação. Foram aplicadas metodologias específicas às faixas etárias envolvendo questionários, vídeos, palestras e atividades lúdicas em três escolas do município. Os estudantes do Ensino Fundamental I apresentaram uma visão do meio ambiente globalizado. Já os estudantes do Ensino Fundamental II e Médio apresentaram uma visão "naturalista" do meio ambiente, não associando natureza e sociedade. Estudantes e professores demostraram que muitos dos temas tratados durante as atividades foram novidades para eles.

Diagnóstico do estado geoambiental da área urbana do município de Cubatão (SP)

A degradação das paisagens que envolvem a área urbana do município de Cubatão (SP) é proveniente de organizações espaciais delineadas por transformações socioeconômicas seculares, especialmente pelo modelo de urbanização instaurado a partir da segunda metade do século XX. Neste contexto, a obtenção de dados sobre a capacidade de regulação das funções geoecológicas das paisagens segundo o grau de intervenção antrópica em seus componentes naturais se constitui em instrumento de auxílio ao planejamento ambiental. Assim, o presente artigo teve como objetivo discutir o diagnóstico do estado geoambiental das paisagens da área urbana do município de Cubatão (SP), executado a partir do uso da proposta metodológica da Geoecologia da Paisagem, na escala 1:10.000. A pesquisa teve como respaldo metodológico os princípios que concernem à Teoria Geral dos Sistemas. A análise do diagnóstico, desenvolvida a partir da avaliação de dados representados em documento cartográfico específico, possibilitou a identificação de problemas ambientais vinculados à violação da legislação ambiental e rompimento da capacidade de uso potencial das paisagens da área de estudo.

Da Revolução Verde à agrobiotecnologia: ruptura ou continuidade de paradigmas?

A Revolução Verde pode ser caracterizada como um paradigmatecnológico derivado da evolução dos conhecimentos da química e da biologia,que definiram uma trajetória tecnológica baseada no uso intensivo deinsumos químicos (fertilizantes e pesticidas). A partir da década de 1970,esse modelo passou a apresentar sinais de esgotamento cristalizados na identificaçãodos problemas ambientais ocasionados pelo uso intensivo deagrotóxicos e nos próprios limites de crescimento da indústria de insumosquímicos. O desenvolvimento da biotecnologia possibilitou o surgimento detécnicas capazes de superar as barreiras genéticas existentes nas técnicas demelhoramento tradicional. Se por um lado essa mudança significou a possibilidadede superação dos limites alcançados pelo modelo tecnológico da RevoluçãoVerde, ela representou, por outro lado, a oportunidade de diversificaçãode atividades das empresas do ramo químico. A questão que se coloca é se essaoportunidade tecnológica está sendo explorada para a construção de um novomodelo tecnológico baseado na redução do uso de insumos químicos, ou se estárepresentando uma continuidade da trajetória do paradigma anterior, a partirde uma estratégia de valorização de ativos das empresas do ramo químico.

The chemical industry in the Croatian Adriatic region: identification of environmental problems, assessment of pollution risks, and the new policies of sustainability

The paper discusses the scientific components of policy making in a specific case. Next to tourism, the results of several decades of economic development policies in the Croatian Adriatic coast are several major chemical industry plants: petroleum refineries, a coke oven plant, polymer synthesis and fabrication (VCM and PVC), alumina and aluminum electrowinning, chlorine-alkali electrolysis, and calcium carbide, ferromanganese and ferrosilicon electric kilns. These industries are located in the vicinity of three major towns: Rijeka, Šibenik and Split, although problems exist also at Pula, Zadar and Dubrovnik. Their locations are in sensitive karstic environments of the coastal region, and the extent of their impact is still a matter of study. Competition for land-use with the tourist industry, already present or planned in the vicinity, has created difficult management problems, specifically expressed in the maintenance of environmental quality criteria. Environmental impact assessment and monitoring programs have shown several ‘hot spots’, albeit of limited extension. The chemical industry pollution load is in addition to other loads, such as urban sewage and various non-point land-based outfall. Evidence already exists to warrant concern and calls for remedial action and/or a change in development policies. The chemical industries are highly energy intensive and require additional, unavailable regional and local electric power sources. Their siting is increasingly difficult environmentally, technologically and socially, and calls for complex environmental management strategies. In turn, the economic edge depends on the pricing of electric power supplied, the cost of pollution abatement technology, its maintenance, and the implementation of precautionary measures. The concept of ‘sustainability’ will require a careful choice between available development options, respecting the limits of the carrying capacity. Evidence is emerging that tourism and the chemical industry are increasingly incompatible, based on the new evidence of the extent of ecotoxicological impacts. The question is whether (i) to phase out polluting industries, incurring hereby heavy economic costs, or (ii) to conceive their development by separate zoning, based on ecotoxicological considerations.