Poor Environmental Quality Research Articles

Lake Kisezers: analysis of factors influencing morphometry and hydrological regime

Abstract This study describes dynamics in hydrology, morphometry, and water mass movement in Lake Kisezers. The analysis of Lake Kisezers’ morphometry dynamics according to the rapidly changing environment has been carried out. The determination of dynamics in morphometry comes before understanding potential exploitation and environmental sustainability of water body. Lake Kisezers is situated in a densely populated area. Without understanding and deciphering all possible environmental factors influencing Lake Kisezers, the water body can degrade and become of poor environmental quality. Such changes can lead to irreversible changes in the lake ecosystem and degradation of the surrounding landscape. This study aims to identify and explain the elements that influence Lake Kisezers’ hydrological regime, catchment area, and bathymetry. Lake Kisezers is hardly influenced body of water with rapid hydrological and morphometric dynamics. The research is possible due to extensive data availability and the importance of the water body location. Lake Kisezers affects the city of Riga and its surrounding area with a danger of flooding and decreasing land exploration potential. This study results in better understanding in the factors influencing hydrology and morphometry in Lake Kisezers and possible environmental sustainability endangerment in the future. The main impact factor is the connectivity to the River Daugava and its unique hydrological regime. For Lake Kisezers, environmental balance is necessary to continue research and develop a hydrological change model. This study was conducted with fieldwork data and open-source cartographic, geospatial, water level, and mass movement data. The research seeks to understand what is necessary to maintain environmental sustainability in Lake Kisezers.

Species Composition and Diversity of Middle-Aged Trees among Different Urban Green Space Types and Tree Age Classes in Changchun, Northeast China

Middle-aged trees refer to trees aged between 50 and 99 years, which are the reserve resources of old trees (trees ≥ 100 years of age). They are vital parts of the urban ecosystem, with important ecological, landscape, cultural, and historical value. Conservation of middle-aged trees in urban areas is important for the development of large old trees in the future. In this study, we investigated the middle-aged trees in Changchun city and analyzed the species composition and diversity characteristics of different urban green space types and tree age classes. The results showed that there were 72 species and 22,376 plants of middle-aged trees in Changchun city, and the coniferous species prevailed. The top five species with a high importance value (IV) were Pinus tabuliformis var. mukdensis, Lavix olgensis, Salix matsudana, Ulmus pumila, and Abies holophylla. Green space type and tree age were important factors influencing the richness and diversity of middle-aged trees. Tree growth spaces were relatively sufficient, and land use was stable for park green spaces (PGS) and attached green spaces (AGS), which resulted in the abundant, richer, and diverse species richness (SR) of middle-aged trees. Road green spaces (RGS) and square green spaces (SGS) had fewer trees and lower species richness, Margalef richness index (dMa), Shannon–Wiener index (He) and evenness index (Je) which could be attributed to the high intensity of human interference and poor environmental quality. The SR of middle-aged trees decreased with an increase in age class, and the values of SR in Age Class 80–89 years and Age Class 90–99 years were lower than in Age Class 50–59 years. Age Class 70–79 years had the lowest values of dMa, He, and Je, which need to be protected urgently. The results of this study can provide a basis for the conservation and management of middle-aged trees in urban areas and the choice of species for urban greening.

Indoor environmental factors affecting the productivity of workers in office buildings

Poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has been found to contribute significantly to productivity losses, with the extent of the contribution differing according to the type of office work in which workers are engaged. However, few studies focus specifically on the occupants of university office buildings where the work being undertaken involves a significant amount of academic research that is expected to require high levels of concentration, insight, creativity, and consistency than is needed in many other types of work. To develop a preliminary understanding of the IEQ factors affecting the productivity of people working in university office buildings, a pilot questionnaire was administered to postgraduate students to validate the IEQ factors that have been found to impact on productivity. To date, twelve postgraduate students from three different office buildings in The University of Auckland completed the questionnaire. The results showed that noise, temperature, air quality, and lighting were the factors most reported on with respect to effects on work productivity. The adopted IEQ factors in this questionnaire instrument is reliable. The findings from this study will help advance understanding of the IEQ factors affecting the productivity of workers in university office buildings, and provide insights for architects, building owners, office managers, and office users to help prevent or mitigate negative impacts on productivity by managing the IEQ conditions in workplaces. Future research will involve the analysis of data from staff as well as students to identify any possible differences that might exist between the two groups of workers engaged in academic research.

External governance pressure and corporate environmental responsibility: Evidence from a quasi‐natural experiment in China

AbstractIn recent years, the Audit Pilot of Natural Resources Assets (APNRA) pilot program has been implemented by the Chinese government to strengthen the protection of natural resources and the ecological environment. Based on the APNRA pilot program, we use the multi‐period differences–in–differences model to investigate the response of corporate environmental responsibility to external governance pressure. We find that firms significantly improve their environmental investment and performance after the implementation of the APNRA pilot program. Sewage charges (including green fees) and ecological protection incentives constitute the two main channels that explain the positive relationship. We further find that the impact of the program on corporate environmental investment and performance is more pronounced for firms in regions with poor environmental quality, and for firms in heavy‐polluting industries. This paper introduces the role of government governance in generating positive externality for firms and provides a valuable understanding of environmental governance in an emerging market.

Assessing Indoor Environmental Quality in a Crowded Low-Quality Built Environment: A Case Study

Home heating, cooling and ventilation are a major concern for those living in low-quality built environments, particularly those with high occupancy rates (crowded houses). In New Zealand, both owner-occupiers and tenants can experience problems associated with poor Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), such as poor thermal comfort and dampness, when Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems are not installed, improperly installed or too expensive to run. Occupants of poorer households are the most affected by high installation or running costs of HVAC systems, and are also more likely to live in households with a higher level of crowding. Poor IEQ in housing is associated with adverse health outcomes, particularly respiratory illness. This paper outlines the IEQ problems experienced by households living in an area of New Zealand with higher levels deprivation and shows how an HVAC system could be employed to remedy poor IEQ. This report presents a case study of a house with poor IEQ that was selected from a survey conducted across 24 homes in the Manukau, Auckland region of New Zealand. The IEQ results are presented for this house, which performs poorly in terms of relative humidity, temperature and thermal comfort. This house is then analysed using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach in ANSYS CFX 2021R1 based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard 55-2017 and a model of temperature and air flow is created in the software, which can identify ways to improve these parameters in the house. These results are compared with the New Zealand Healthy Homes Standards 2019. The simulation showed the system was capable of lifting the indoor temperature to above 21 ℃, eliminating cold spots and improving thermal comfort, and reduced relative humidity to below 50%.

Short Communication: Invasive mollusks Melanoides tuberculata, and Achatina fulica in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Purnama MF, Salwiyah. 2022. Short Communication: Invasive mollusks Melanoides tuberculata, and Achatina fulica in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 4770-4774. Southeast Sulawesi Province has natural/artificial inland waters for various usages. For example, freshwater has supported various activities such as agriculture, plantations, inland fisheries, and ecotourism. This study reports the presence of invasive mollusk in freshwater (Melanoides tuberculata) and terrestrial (Achatina fulica) habitats. This study is the first report regarding the spatial distribution of the three invasive mollusk species in the inland waters of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. All administrative areas (17 districts/cities) in Southeast Sulawesi province were invaded by A. fulica and 16 districts/cities by M. tuberculata. These invasive mollusks species are a severe threat to the preservation of native species and human health because they are an intermediate host for several types of parasites, such as the trematode group. The spreading and rapid development of these invasive mollusks is caused by their reproductive ability and resistance to poor environmental quality and airborne dispersal factors by birds, water flow, and commercial activities. This invasive species can directly cause huge economic losses as they become a pest in agricultural activities, plantations, and freshwater fisheries (aquaculture). They also can transmit pathogens and displacement of native species. Therefore, it is recommended to have a preventive effort to tackle the expansion of IAS in Southeast Sulawesi.

Integrated assessment of the extreme climatic conditions, thermal performance, vulnerability, and well-being in low-income housing in the subtropical climate of Australia

Social housing stock worldwide can be characterised by poor indoor environmental quality and building thermal performance, which along with the increasing urban overheating put the low-income population at higher health risk. The dwellings’ thermal performance and the indoor environmental quality are often overlooked in the context of social housing compared to the general building stock in Australia. In the present study, the synergies between urban microclimate, indoor air temperature, housing characteristics and quality of life of residents have been investigated by employing subjective and objective assessment of indoor environmental quality in 106 low-income dwellings during the winter and summer of 2018–2019 in New South Wales. It further examines the impact of urban overheating and levels of income on indoor thermal conditions. The subjective method involved assessing the links between the type of housing in which low-income people live, energy bills, self-reported thermal sensation, health and well-being, and occupants’ behaviours. The results show that many dwellings operated outside the health and safety temperature limits for substantial periods. Indoor air temperatures reached 39.8 °C and the minimum temperature was about 5 °C. While the upper acceptability limit for indoor air temperature was 25.6 °C for 80 % satisfaction, periods of up to about 997 and 114 continuous hours above 26 °C and 32 °C were found in overheated buildings, respectively. Indoor overheating hours above 32 °C were recorded up to 238 % higher in Sydney’s western areas compared to eastern and inner suburbs. Similarly, residents in westerns suburbs and regions experience more outdoor overheating hours than those living near the eastern suburbs. This study highlights the interrelationships between ambient temperature, housing design, income, thermal comfort, energy use, and health and well-being in the context of social housing. The evidence of winter underheating and summer overheating suggests that improvements in building quality and urban heat mitigation are required to minimise the impacts of poor-performing housing and local climate.

Comparing Environmental Policies to Reduce Pharmaceutical Pollution and Address Disparities.

Pharmaceutical products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients and inactive ingredients such as packaging materials, have raised significant concerns due to their persistent input and potential threats to human and environmental health. Discourse on reducing pharmaceutical waste and subsequent pollution is often limited, as information about the toxicity of pharmaceuticals in humans is yet to be fully established. Nevertheless, there is growing awareness about ecotoxicity, and efforts to curb pharmaceutical pollution in the European Union (EU), United States (US), and Canada have emerged along with waste disposal and treatment procedures, as well as growing concerns about impacts on human and animal health, such as through antimicrobial resistance. Yet, the outcomes of such endeavors are often disparate and involve multiple agencies, organizations, and departments with little evidence of cooperation, collaboration, or oversight. Environmental health disparities occur when communities exposed to a combination of poor environmental quality and social inequities experience more sickness and disease than wealthier, less polluted communities. In this paper, we discuss pharmaceutical environmental pollution in the context of health disparities and examine policies across the US, EU, and Canada in minimizing environmental pollution.

Effect of pollution load reduction on water quality in rural lakes in the shallow hill water network area

Abstract There is poor water environment quality in rural lakes in the shallow hill water network area north of the Han River on the Chinese Jianghan Plain due to their poor hydrodynamic conditions. We herein selected ten typical rural lakes to simulate water environment improvement. The hydrodynamic and water quality models were built based on MIKE21, while the simulation compared the year-round trends in lake water quality in the current and planning year, and demonstrated the possibility of recharging rural lakes from the backbone of the Han River–Three Inland Rivers networks. The results show that the water quality of the ten lakes has improved significantly after pollution control, with an improvement rate of more than 70%. Pollution interception and management are particularly successful for improving lake water quality in rural lakes. The replenishment of water from the backbone river to the lakes could enhance the fluidity of the rural lakes but cannot eliminate the total phosphorus (TP) risk. Therefore, in the relatively closed water bodies of rural lakes in the shallow hilly water network area, pollution intercept and control is key to controlling TP, and taking measures such as increasing lake hydrodynamic conditions in summer will be a more efficient approach to improve rural lake water quality.

Human Health, Environmental Quality and Governance Quality: Novel Findings and Implications From Human Health Perspective.

Human health and wellbeing are intimately linked to the state of the environment. The current study emphasizes the role of environmental quality, government policies, and human health. This paper provides a detailed literature review of existing findings regarding our key variables of interest. The results argue that the implications of poor government policies and environmental pollution for rising economic development have led to poor environmental quality and health issues for humans. Based on earlier investigations, the present study reviewed the state-of-the-art review and determined innovative insights for outdoor and indoor environment difficulties. This study provides a detailed review of human health, environmental quality, and governance quality. In addition, the study conducts an empirical analysis using the annual data of low-income countries from 1996 to 2020. Government actions and health systems must be modified immediately to address these rising concerns successfully. The report offers policy recommendations for addressing health, governance, and environmental change mitigation issues, all of which are directly or indirectly related to the study. This article presents an overview of environmental change's health impacts and explores how health hazards may be reduced or eliminated through effective adaptation strategies.

Analysis of the Relationship between Employee Health Level and Building Office Space and Environment.

The arrival of the era of big data provides new research methods and perspectives. In view of the problem that the current building office space environment design does not consider the level of human health, which leads to the low comfort and the poor environmental quality of building office space, this paper puts forward the comfort analysis and environment design of building office space considering the health level of employees. By analyzing the theoretical basis of architectural office space by big data, the paper studies the elements and the esthetic characteristics of architectural office space, understands the development and classification of architectural office space, and obtains the esthetic characteristics of architectural office space. Considering the health level of employees, the factors affecting the comfort of building office space are analyzed. The research object is selected as a building office space; the method of questionnaire survey is used for the establishment of building office space comfort evaluation factor set; and from the two aspects of enterprise employees' psychological behavior and physical environment, the comfort of building office space of the research object is analyzed. The results of case study show that the proposed method has good environmental quality of building office space and can effectively improve the comfort of building office space.

Association between metastatic pancreatic cancer and environmental quality index.

e16232 Background: Pancreatic cancer ranks as the 3rd leading cause of cancer mortality. Overall more than 50% of patients have metastatic disease at diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the association between the national level Environmental Quality Index (EQI) and metastatic pancreatic cancer in the US. Methods: Adult patients with pancreatic cancer in the SEER database from 2010-2016 were included in this study. The unknown stage was excluded. Patients were categorized into two groups: metastatic vs. non-metastatic disease. EQI provides county-level environmental quality data from 2005-2010 and presents five domains (built, sociodemographic, air, water, land). EQI was categorized into quintiles, with the 5th quantile representing a poorer environmental quality. We used the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the association between EQI quintiles and metastatic pancreatic cancer adjusting by age, gender, and race (White, Black, and Others). In addition, the SEER*Stat was used to evaluate the age-adjusted incidence rate, and the correlation coefficient between EQI domains and incidence rate was calculated. Results: A total of 75,461 pancreatic cancer patients were included; 55% had metastatic disease. In the adjusted multivariable analysis, metastatic pancreatic cancer was associated with poor built EQI (OR 1.06 [1.01-1.11]). Among metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, poor overall EQI was strongly associated with age > 50 years (OR 1.06 [1.01-1.11]) and Black race (OR 1.29 [1.10-1.51]). Lower built EQI domain was associated with > 50 (OR 1.07 [1.02-1.12]) and White race (OR 1.07 [1.02-1.12]). The incidence rate of metastatic pancreatic cancer was positively correlated with total EQI (rho = 0.02, p < 0.001), sociodemographic EQI (rho = 0.23, p < 0.001), land EQI (rho = 0.14, p < 0.001), and air EQI (rho = 0.34, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Using population-based environmental data, we found built EQI to be associated with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Among metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, total environmental quality was associated with older age at diagnosis and the Black race, while built EQI domain was associated with older age at diagnosis and the White race. Environmental quality was positively correlated with the incidence rate of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

The Nest: post evaluation study on intentional learning space in public housing Malaysia

PurposeAligned with the United Nations 2030 agenda of leaving no one behind, a project called The Nest was initiated to create an in-house intentional learning space at two public housings in Klang Valley. In a small unit of public housing, most children in these houses sit on the floor in the living room to do their schoolwork or study with the TV switched on. Poor indoor environmental quality and lack of personal space are among the main reasons that lead to children not being able to study at home comfortably.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed a quasi-experimental approach as the research field setting was not randomly assigned. Observation on the change in the quality of space and post-evaluation interviews with beneficiaries were conducted.FindingsThe findings show that besides the tangible space that the Nest project has created, it also has created in-tangible space. It has shown that even small spatial changes to existing spaces could improve children's active learning and the participation of parents in their children's learning.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses on the home learning experience and parental involvement in their children's learning, so perhaps future research can be done to measure the impact of home learning space on academic achievement.Practical implicationsThe research outcomes show that a good quality of learning space influences the children's learning experience at home and the parents' involvement. It will also contribute to the development of the building regulation for high-rise affordable housing in Malaysia. Particularly in improving the optimum requirement to achieve better comfort quality for the learning space at the residential unit.Social implicationsThe Nest project will contribute to raising the awareness among all residents of public housing on the importance of in-house learning space and encourage them to build their own learning spaces through the Do-It-Yourself Guidelines.Originality/valueThe research outcomes show that both parental involvement and the quality of learning space influence the children's learning experience at home. It will contribute to the development of the building regulation for high-rise affordable housing in Malaysia. Particularly in improving the optimum requirement to achieve better comfort quality for the learning space at the residential unit.

Evaluation of a Polyester Filter and UV Light (PFUV) Dehumidifier to Improve Indoor Environmental Quality: Preliminary Results

Older residential dwellings in New Zealand frequently suffer from poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) due to an ageing housing stock. Recent New Zealand surveys indicated around 50% of children live in houses that do not meet acceptable standards for thermal comfort. Children in these houses frequently experience respiratory conditions caused by dampness and mould during winter. New regulatory standards requiring a fixed heating source in the main living room of rental houses can increase rents and may result in the heating source not being utilized. This study evaluates an alternative low-cost portable air filter/sterilizer (PFUV) dehumidifier device for improving IEQ within the building envelope using Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) and a polyester filter (dual-10 30/30). This paper compares the effectiveness of the PFUV dehumidifier device and a conventional heat pump in terms of measured particulate matters as well as fungal profiles using Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates. The PFUV dehumidifier successfully reduced the relative humidity to within a healthy range of (44–49%) compared to not running the device (54–60%), thereby reducing the suitability of the environment for mould growth. Additionally, the PFUV device achieved a reduction in average particulate matter (PM2.5) to within the range of 0.16 to 0.53 µg/m³ compared to the range of 1.06 to 2.42 µg/m³ before using the device.

Mitigating poor environmental quality with technology, renewable and entrepreneur policies: A symmetric and asymmetric approaches

This is dual analysis of Turkish sustainable development amidst some high industrial and economic activities. Turkey is currently prioritizing the economic growth to the environmental sustainability and trying to achieve its 2023 goals and place in top 10 economies by date. This action might spark increase in emission level and decrease the environmental quality for both term. For effective and clear analysis, we apply the empirical analyses with both symmetric (dynamic ordinary least square-DOLS) and asymmetric (nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag-NARDL) approaches in short run and the long run periods for policy inferences through forecast. We apply the economic features (entrepreneurs, FDI, technological innovation proxy by R&D, renewable energy and economic growth) of Turkey that are important in determining both economic and environment development of the country to investigate its ability to achieve its climate goals. Turkey's data of 1985–2018 were adopted. Findings from both approaches (symmetric and asymmetric) show that carbon emission can be reduced and good environmental quality obtained through the instruments of renewable energy, technological innovation, FDI and entrepreneurial activities. A nexus is established among the instruments (renewable energy, technological innovation, entrepreneur activities and FDI) pointing towards carbon mitigation for Turkey, and this gives support to the findings from both symmetric and asymmetric approaches. Also, from symmetric analysis with dynamic ordinary least square, EKC is found for the case of Turkey which shows the ability of Turkey achieving its climate goal if right policies are implemented.

A quantile regression analysis of mediating impacts of institutions in environmental quality‐health outcomes nexus in sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractThis study examines the role of institutions in reducing a presumably negative impact of poor environmental quality on health outcomes, using a panel of 45 sub‐Saharan African countries over the period, 1996–2016. The empirical estimation is based on the panel quantile regression estimator. The study established inter alia: first, the declining health status occasioned by environmental degradation resulted in low life expectancy, high child mortality and increasing health expenditure. Second, strong institutional settings are needed to reverse the adverse effects of poor environmental quality on health outcomes. Thus, the minimum thresholds of control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality and overall institutions that restore human age expectancy are −0.37, −0.59, −0.40 and −0.40, respectively. In the same order, 0.08, −0.18, −0.41 and −0.15 are needed for health spending, whereas 0.24 of control of corruption and −0.21 of regulatory quality are needed to minimise child mortality. Third, the net effects of interactions do not align with the hypothesised relationships. Finally, we acknowledged the importance of some auxiliary indicators specific to each measure of health outcomes. On the policy front, setting‐up an innovative and sustainable agenda of green environment and clean growth seems critical to realising improved health conditions.

Evaluating the Trace Element Concentration in Sediments and Assessing Their Genotoxicity in Ichthyofauna of a Coastal Lagoon in Southeastern Brazil

Lacustrine ecosystems are constantly affected by industrial and domestic effluents, which are considered to be the main sources of trace elements in the environment. The physicochemical characteristics of trace elements undergo modifications that can cause reversible genotoxic damage to ichthyofauna. This study aimed to assess the environmental quality of a lagoon (Mãe-Bá) that receives industrial effluents from one of the largest iron ore companies in the world, located in southeastern Brazil. The physicochemical parameters of the lagoon water were analyzed monthly, the trace element levels in the sediment were quantified, and the risk of genotoxic damage to fish was quantified using a micronucleus test and comet assay. We verified the poor environmental quality of the lagoon, and strong anthropic action was evident, with particularly high levels of Cr and Ni and genotoxic damage being observed in fish. It is not possible to state a relationship between the increase in Cr and Ni with the mining company since we found high concentrations of these elements in a reference lagoon (Nova Guarapari) with no connection to the mining company. Even if the bioavailability of the trace elements in the water resource is low or if their concentration is below the permitted limit, their presence can cause genotoxic damage. These findings can enable us to assist in planning suitable remediation strategies to decrease the genotoxic effects observed in these sensitive eco-systems. A multidisciplinary approach is needed in studies involving ecotoxicology to develop conservation strategies for both the biotic and abiotic environments.

Association between Environmental Quality Index and metastatic pancreatic cancer.

521 Background: Pancreatic cancer ranks as the 3rd leading cause of cancer mortality. Overall more than 50% of patients have metastatic disease at diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the association between the national level Environmental Quality Index (EQI) and metastatic pancreatic cancer in the US. Methods: Adult patients with pancreatic cancer in the SEER database from 2010-2016 were included in this study. The unknown stage was excluded. Patients were categorized into two groups: metastatic vs. non-metastatic disease. EQI provides county-level environmental quality data from 2005-2010 and presents five domains (built, sociodemographic, air, water, land). EQI was categorized into quintiles, with the 5th quantile representing a poorer environmental quality. We used the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the association between EQI quintiles and metastatic pancreatic cancer adjusting by age, gender, and race (White, Black, and Others). In addition, the SEER*Stat was used to evaluate the age-adjusted incidence rate, and the correlation coefficient between EQI domains and incidence rate was calculated. Results: A total of 75,461 pancreatic cancer patients were included; 55% had metastatic disease. In the adjusted multivariable analysis, metastatic pancreatic cancer was associated with poor built EQI (OR 1.06 [1.01-1.11]). Among metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, poor overall EQI was strongly associated with age > 50 years (OR 1.06 [1.01-1.11]) and Black race (OR 1.29 [1.10-1.51]). Lower built EQI domain was associated with > 50 (OR 1.07 [1.02-1.12]) and White race (OR 1.07 [1.02-1.12]). The incidence rate of metastatic pancreatic cancer was positively correlated with total EQI (rho=0.02, p<0.001), sociodemographic EQI (rho=0.23, p<0.001), land EQI (rho=0.14, p<0.001), and air EQI (rho=0.34, p<0.001). Conclusions: Using population-based environmental data, we found built EQI to be associated with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Among metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, total environmental quality was associated with older age at diagnosis and the Black race, while built EQI domain was associated with older age at diagnosis and the White race. Environmental quality was positively correlated with the incidence rate of metastatic pancreatic cancer.[Table: see text]

Strengthening Taiwan’s Green Building Certification System from Aspects of Productivity and Energy Costs to Provide a Healthier Workplace

This study estimates the relationship between poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and the increasing labor costs in green buildings in Taiwan. Specifically, poor performance of IEQ including HVAC, lighting, and indoor air quality, influences the health and well-being of occupants and leads to worse productivity, ultimately causing increased personnel cost. In Taiwan’s green building certification (GBC) system, the energy-savings category is mandatory while the IEQ category is only optional. It means that certified building cases may not reach the expected level in IEQ. Thus, this study reviews the thermal environment, indoor air quality (IAQ), and illumination performances of IEQ-certified and non-IEQ-certified buildings in 20 green buildings. Building energy and IEQ simulations were conducted to analyze the relationships between indoor comfort, energy cost, and personnel cost in green buildings. The results show that IEQ-certified green buildings averagely perform better than non-IEQ-certified ones in the aspects of IEQ and building costs. Besides, 3 of 13 non-IEQ-certified green buildings undertake extremely high additional expenditure for the poor IEQ. The results correspond to some previous findings that green-certified buildings do not necessarily guarantee good building performance. This study further inspects the pros and cons of Taiwan’s GBC system and proposes recommendations against its insufficient IEQ evaluation category. As the trade-off of energy-saving benefits with health and well-being in green buildings has always been a concern, this study aims to stimulate more quantitative research and promote a more comprehensive green building certification system in Taiwan.

Research on space governance of scenic area village based on the concept of green sustainable development

As a type of rural settlement left in the scenic area, scenic area village is faced with many practical problems, such as poor environmental quality, poor construction quality, lack of supporting service facilities, idle and wasteful houses of original residents, and the incompatibility between village appearance and scenic area. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen space governance.Based on the new development concept and the framework of the linkage development of industry, village, landscape and people, taking Wuhan East Lake Scenic Spot as an example and combines the problem investigation, this article proposes a targeted approach through green construction, scenic area village style management and control, dynamic renewal and industrial upgrading to build a sustainable space governance framework of scenic area village that promotes production by landscape, optimizes village-industry cooperation, rejuvenates the village with production and strengthens integrated management of landscape and villages, and uses villages to rich landscapes and promotes the interaction of people and landscapes, with a view to provide technical reference for the construction of related “scenic area village” in China.