Related Environmental Risks Research Articles

Qualitative assessment of 27 current-use pesticides in air at 20 sampling sites across Africa

Increasing use of current-use pesticides (CUPs) in Africa raises environmental and public health concerns. But there is a large uncertainty about their occurrence and the composition of pesticide mixtures on this continent. This paper investigates the presence of 27 CUPs in air across 20 sampling sites in Africa. 166 passive air samples, consisting of polyurethane foam (PUF), were collected in 12 African countries between 2010 and 2018. Samples were extracted with methanol and analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The detection frequencies of CUPs per site were compared to land use patterns and sampling years, while their similarities were assessed using hierarchical cluster analysis. Overall, 24 CUPs were detected at least once. In 93% of all samples, at least one CUP was detected, while 78% of the samples had mixtures of two or more CUPs (median 3, interquartile range 5). Atrazine and chlorpyrifos were detected in 19 out of 20 sampling sites. Carbaryl, metazachlor, simazine, tebuconazole and terbuthylazine had the highest detection frequencies at sampling sites dominated by croplands. Across all the sampling years, 16 CUPs were present. Seven CUPs were newly detected from 2016 onwards (azinfos-methyl, dimetachlor, chlorsulfuron, chlortoluron, isoproturon, prochloraz and pyrazon), while metamitron was only present before 2012. Sites within a radius of about 200 km showed similarities in detected CUP mixtures across all samples. Our results show the presence of CUP mixtures across multiple agricultural and urban locations in Africa which requires further investigation of related environmental and human health risks.

Pollution, Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Land Use Types under the Background of Industrial Cities

Residents in industrial cities may be exposed to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil that increase chronic disease risks. In this study, six types of PTEs (Zn, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb) in 112 surface soil samples from three land use types—industrial land, residential land, and farmland—in Tonghua City, Jilin Province were measured. The geological accumulation index and pollution load index were calculated to assess the pollution level of metal. Meanwhile, the potential ecological risk index, hazard index, and carcinogenic risk were calculated to assess the environmental risks. The spatial distribution map was determined by the ordinary kriging method, and the sources of PTEs were identified by factor analysis and cluster analysis. The average concentrations of Zn, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb were 266.57, 15.72, 72.41, 15.04, 20.52, and 16.30 mg/kg, respectively. The results of the geological accumulation index demonstrated the following: Zn pollution was present in all three land use types, As pollution in industrial land cannot be neglected, Cr pollution in farmland was higher than that in the other two land use types. The pollution load index decreased in the order of industrial land > farmland > residential land. Multivariate statistical analysis divided the six PTEs into three groups by source: Zn and As both originated from industrial activities; vehicle emissions were the main source of Pb; and Ni and Cu were derived from natural parent materials. Meanwhile, Cr was found to come from a mixture of artificial and natural sources. The soil environment in the study area faced ecological risk from moderate pollution levels mainly contributed by As. PTEs did not pose a non-carcinogenic risk to humans; however, residents of the three land use types all faced estimated carcinogenic risks caused by Cr, and As in industrial land also posed high estimated carcinogenic risk to human health. The conclusion of this article provides corresponding data support to the government’s policy formulation of remediating different types of land and preventing exposure and related environmental risks.

Flexible and Reusable Ag Coated TiO2 Nanotube Arrays for Highly Sensitive SERS Detection of Formaldehyde.

Quantitative analysis of formaldehyde (HCHO, FA), especially at low levels, in various environmental media is of great importance for assessing related environmental and human health risks. A highly efficient and convenient FA detection method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology has been developed. This SERS-based method employs a reusable and soft silver-coated TiO2 nanotube array (TNA) material, such as an SERS substrate, which can be used as both a sensing platform and a degradation platform. The Ag-coated TNA exhibits superior detection sensitivity with high reproducibility and stability compared with other SERS substrates. The detection of FA is achieved using the well-known redox reaction of FA with 4-amino-3-hydrazino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AHMT) at room temperature. The limit of detection (LOD) for FA is 1.21 × 10−7 M. In addition, the stable catalytic performance of the array allows the degradation and cleaning of the AHMT-FA products adsorbed on the array surface under ultraviolet irradiation, making this material recyclable. This SERS platform displays a real-time monitoring platform that combines the detection and degradation of FA.

European Green Deal: a major opportunity for health improvement

The European Green Deal1 aims to respond to the escalating climate crisis by achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the EU by 2050. Current policies will achieve only 60% reductions by 2050 from 1990 levels, indicating the need for increased ambition. Additionally, the deal aspires to “protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts” and establish a toxic-free environment, deliver healthy and sustainable diets, and protect biodiversity.1 This ambitious agenda would support planetary health.

Flood mitigation function of rain gardens for management of urban storm runoff in Japan

Urban waterlogging stems from coverage with impervious surfaces and increasing rainfall intensity from climate change and variability, meaning that storm water cannot readily infiltrate the ground and excessive surface runoff leads to urban flooding. To reduce related environmental and safety risks, rainfall and groundwater level research was carried out in Kyoto Prefecture with two rain gardens (RG1 and RG2) to investigate flood mitigation functions using a tank model. During the 134 days of monitoring from July 14, 2017, to November 25, 2017, RG1 had seven overflow events with an average runoff control ratio of 63.94%, and RG2 had one event with a ratio of 95.97%. The RG1 tank model (two stages) showed that initial storage for the first and second depths was 6.912 × 10−11 and 0 mm, respectively. The heights of the discharge holes were 20.857 and 0.784 mm for the first stage and 0.659 mm for the second stage, and the discharge hole coefficients were 0.529 and 0.002 for the first stage and 0.004 for the second stage. The results showed that RG1 had penetration hole coefficients of 0.138 (first stage) and 0.254 (second stage), with a water balance error of 0.017 (< 0.02) and a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of 0.922, indicating better reliability and quality than RG2 with the one-stage tank model. Peak flow simulation for mitigation showed that RG1 had a high overflow control ratio (mitigation time 2 h for instant rainfall of 100 mm/h), and can therefore be considered appropriate for other urban areas of Japan.

A tool for measuring environmental resilience to floods in Tanzania water supply systems

Abstract Water supply systems (WSSs) are particularly the central recipient of the impacts of environmental-related risks. Most heat energy trapped by greenhouse gases (GHGs) goes into water bodies and often affects the water cycle leading to severe floods. Floodwater flowing through a polluted and degraded environment contaminates the water sources contributing into elevated treatment costs. Resilient WSSs would survive those impacts. Yet, existing resilience tools have paid less attention to environmental aspects during the assessment, focusing on the physical elements making up the system. In this paper, a qualitative environmental tool to assess WSSs resilience is proposed. The tool’s principles and indicators are made appropriate to Tanzania through a Delphi survey. Thematic and standard descriptive analyses are carried out during data analysis. Environmental resources sensitivity, environmental capacity, natural flood attenuation, and natural assets are the main factors that affect the WSSs environmental resilience. When evaluated in a real case “WSS”, the tool showed the WSS has moderate environmental resilience with less than desirable performance where specific improvements are required for 78% of the aspects. Results are useful contributions for planning and implementing measures to improve the WSS environmental resilience.

Analysing the vulnerability of green clothing supply chains in South and Southeast Asia using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Various risks related to green clothing supply chains of South and Southeast Asian countries have been quantified based on their impact and probability of occurrence. Risks were classified into five categories, namely supply risks, demand risks, process or operation risks, business environment risks and financial risks. These risks were further divided into 18 specific risks. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) was used to incorporate the vagueness of perception of experts regarding the impact of various supply chain risks. The probability of various risks was quantified by capturing the experts’ opinion using fuzzy numbers. Financial and business environment-related risks were found to have high impact whereas supply, demand and process-related risks have a high probability of occurrence in green clothing supply chain. Finally, a vulnerability matrix was developed where each specific risk was mapped based on their respective impact and probability. The outcome of this research would be very helpful for developing strategies for resilient green clothing supply chains in South and Southeast Asia. This would further drive the implementation of green clothing supply chain management practices in this geographic region.

A Risk-Based Analysis of Design Practices in Regard to Passenger Hazard Exposure in Open Mass Transit Stations

Design practices in regard to passenger hazard exposure in mass transit stations that are directly open to the atmosphere, so-called open stations, are the focus of this study. The benchmarking exercise intends to provide a comprehensive review regarding the application of existing international and national design codes, standards, and guidelines in terms of their ability to mitigate hazards at key points of contact (POC) between passengers and station, such as walking surfaces, stairs, lifts, escalators, and wayfinding, during normal and emergency conditions. By adopting the safety-related risk assessment model, the benchmarking exercise uses national Thai station design practices as a baseline in order to identify applicable national codes, standards, and guidelines, and to conduct a parallel comparative analysis with respect to their international counterparts in order to identify, rank, and evaluate the potential impacts of missing regulations and practices. The analysis shows that a number of station environment-related risks appear along the different paths of egress and at different POC that must be addressed. With the application of Thai national codes, standards, and guidelines alone, the designer is still susceptible to design decisions that do not reduce risk levels. It was also found that more than half of the risks in paths of egress remain undesirable or intolerable after the design, and thus pose a threat of injury to passengers and create growing concerns for operators. Based on the findings of the study, a recommendation can be made for the use of a design handbook for stations by ranking different existing standards in accordance with their importance to the design endeavor, with legal support from involved parties.

Assessing the spatial and temporal variability and related environmental risks of toxic metals in Lake Asejire, south-western Nigeria

Lake Asejire in Nigeria is polluted with untreated effluent from nearby aquacultural, urban, agricultural and industrial zones. The metal laden effluent pose a hazard to the health of fish and fish consumers in the lake. This study aimed to (1) assess the spatial and seasonal variations in the levels of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, nickel, mercury and zinc in water, sediments and gills and stomach tissues of mud catfish, Clarias gariepinus and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus; and (2) evaluate environmental risks posed by heavy metals in Lake Asejire. Potential ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed using the pollution loading, geoaccumulation and potential ecological risk indices. Levels of Fe, Co, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn were high in water and sediments and in some cases exceeded the Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water Quality and World Health Organisation threshold values. There were significant (p < 0.05) seasonal variations in the levels of all metals in water and sediments. Significantly high Fe, Co, Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn levels recorded in gills and stomach tissues of mud catfish and Nile tilapia relate well with metal levels in water and sediments. The geoaccumulation index reflected heavy Cu and Zn contamination in sediments whereas Cd pose serious ecological risks to aquatic organisms in the lake. Accurate assessment of the spatial and temporal variability of heavy metal levels in Lake Asejire is crucial for pollution control and environmental management.

Landfill reactions to society actions: The case of local and global air pollutants of Cerro Patacón in Panama

This paper studies landfill emissions and the related environmental and health risks in Panama City, with the aim to sensitize the population about the harmful effects of irresponsible resource consumption and non-deliberate solid waste generation that it is disposed of in an uncontrolled manner in landfills. Empirical data on Cerro Patacón, Panama City's landfill was obtained to describe the status of municipal waste disposal. Ten known methane generation models were used to estimate the yearly emission rate of methane from the landfill for a 100-year period starting from its inception in 1986. From the models used, the GasSIM model was chosen to estimate emission rates of six long-term hazardous air pollutants. The AERMOD source dispersion model was used to simulate their atmospheric downwind dispersion by levels of concentration over nearby affected communities; results were mapped in Google Earth. The relative contributions by population of the 32 towns making up Panama City to the forecasted waste generation in 2022 and related hazardous air pollutants emission rates from the landfill were assessed. It was found that Cerro Patacón will generate 45% of the countrywide methane generation by 2022; an average of 47 Gg. The solid waste generated by the 1.5 million inhabitants of Panama City impacts the health of ~73,600 inhabitants in nearby communities through the dispersion of hazardous atmospheric pollutants derived from the landfill. The highest emission rates were from hydrogen sulfide and dichloromethane, which can be largely attributed to the waste generated by the communities of Juan Diaz and Tocúmen. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide and benzene was over the reference concentration (uncertainty factor spanning three orders of magnitude) for all communities and years simulated. The concentration of vinyl chloride was over the RfC for all communities and years simulated, except in 2018 for 12 communities.

Status of renewable energy potential and utilization in Algeria

Abstract The Algerian economy is strongly dependent on fossil fuels’ market where 93.6% of its exportations are mainly oil and natural gas. During the last decade, the market price of crude oil has fallen down drastically and up to this date its price is still fluctuating which have severely affected the national economy. Consequently, the transition to renewable energy exploitation and technology development became an indispensable objective for the Algerian government. Algeria is planning to shift to the era of green economy which is the unique solution to meet future energy needs and reduce environment-related risks simultaneously. The Algerian territory is characterized by abundant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy. In this paper, a brief energy profile and renewable energy potential have been reviewed. The present study shows that the installed capacity concerning both photovoltaic and wind power plant; which have reached 354.3 MW (at June 2018), compared to the declared government targets presents slow integration progress of renewable energy compared to the large available renewable energy potential especially solar energy. Despite the considerable efforts made by the Algerian State to face of the challenges of reducing the economic dependency upon hydrocarbon revenues and greenhouse gas emissions (135.5 MT of carbon dioxide emission in 2018). This work provides useful information about the status of renewable energies in Algeria, which is considered as a scientific platform for researchers and industrial companies to seek suitable solutions for promoting the renewable energy field.

Sensitization profiles at age 8-9 years in the PARIS birth cohort and related environmental risk factors

TPS 752: Respiratory effects and allergies, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased over the past decades, especially in developed countries, and environment may contribute to this increase. From a preventive perspective, it is essential to identify the environmental risk factors of allergic diseases in childhood. The aims were to determine the prevalence of allergic sensitization at 8-9 years in the PARIS (Pollution and asthma risk: an infant study) birth cohort, to identify different profiles of allergic sensitization, and to highlight their environmental risk factors. Methods: Allergic sensitization was assessed at 8-9 years by two techniques (specific IgE levels and skin prick tests (SPT)) for 10 allergens. The children’s environment and way of life were evaluated using self-administered questionnaires regularly completed by the parents. Different sensitization profiles were identified by cluster analysis and the environmental risk factors were studied by multivariable multinomial logistic regression models. Results: 943 children were included in this study and 34.7% were sensitized mainly to airborne allergens. Three sensitization profiles were identified: a “no or pauci-sensitized” group, a “house dust mite” group and a “grass and birch pollen” group. Girls were less likely to be sensitized: aOR=0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.8) for the “house dust mite” group and aOR=0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.9) for the “grass and birch pollen” group. The risk of belonging to the “house dust mite” group was increased by age (aOR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.4), parental history of allergy (aOR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.7), floor carpeting in the child’s room at birth (aOR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.7) and the use of gas for cooking (aOR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.0-2.5). A running mechanical ventilation in the dwelling increased the risk of belonging to the “grass and birch pollen” group (aOR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.0-3.2). Conclusions: This study showed two sensitization profiles at age 8-9 years which differ in terms of environmental risk factors.

What’s the lender liability risk for soil pollution in the People’s Republic of China? An evaluation of China’s new Soil Pollution and Control Law in the light of the USA and UK regimes

On 1 January 2019, following a presidential order confirming its adoption by the Fifth Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Soil Pollution and Control 2019 (SPC) was introduced into law. Succinctly, the SPC was enacted to deal with the vast amount of soil pollution that currently exists in China. This article’s central thesis is that, following a comparative analysis of the regulatory regimes in the USA and UK, the law creates environment-related risks for lenders. In particular, the article is concerned with the risk of lender liability, that is, where the lender itself is made directly liable for the costs of soil pollution remediation. In light of the USA and UK regimes, risk management advice is provided for obviating any prospective lender liability that may be forthcoming from the SPC. As with the regulations in other countries, it appears that the degree of ‘control’ that lenders exercise over their clients must be limited to mitigate the possible transference of any direct liability under the PRC’s principles of property rights law.

P128 Diet Quality, Food Access, Obesity and Hypertension Risk in Rural Nicaragua

Background Obesity rates are rising in Nicaragua, however, there is limited research on food related behavioral and environmental risk factors as well as associated health risks. Objective Examine dietary patterns and quality, food access, obesity and related chronic disease risk (e.g. blood pressure) in rural Nicaragua. Study Design, Settings, and Participants Cross-sectional survey (translated into Spanish), anthropometric (height, weight) and blood pressure measures were obtained with adult participants >18 years. Trained interpreters assisted with consent and data collection. Data were collected during free health clinics in two rural mountainous regions in March 2018. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Patterns of food consumption (qualitative FFQ), food access (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale [HFIAS]), Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and sociodemographic variables. Analysis were performed with SPSS 25.0 and included descriptive and bivariate analysis. Results Participants (n = 123, 85% female) had a mean age of 32.2 ± 15.7 years and included residents from La Rocha, La Tierra Blanca (48.8%) or La Hermidad (51.2%) with a mean household size of 4.9 ± 1.8. Foods most commonly consumed daily included: beans (88%), corn tortillas (84%), rice (80%). Produce mostly commonly consumed daily included: onions (67%), tomatoes (54%) and bananas (35%). 45% percent were identified as overweight and 17.4% as obese with a mean BMI of 26.2 kg/m2 ± 3.9. 63% of the participants blood pressure were above normal and 36.7% within normal ranges. Mean HFIAS food access scores were 9.2 ± 6.3 (range 0-27). Food access was marginally associated with blood pressure ( P = .077) and location ( P = .060) but not weight status ( P = .97). Conclusion Participants from rural Nicaragua reported limited daily dietary variety, high consumption of starchy foods, low consumption of fruits and vegetables and were found to be at risk for overweight, obesity and elevated blood pressure. Funding None.

Drinking Water Disinfection By-products and Their Carcinogenicity; A Review of an Unseen Crisis

Context: Cancer continues to be the first cause of mortality and morbidity all over the world, while the incidence of cancer is expected to increase by 50% over the next 20 years. Since the incidence of most of the cancers is increasing daily, it has been more important to find related environmental risk factors. The epidemiological evidence indicates the effect of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) through drinking water, as an environmental exposure, on most of the cancers. The goal of the current study was to combine the results of most recent publications regarding the relationship between DBPs and their carcinogenic effects. Evidence Acquisition: Using the main keywords of “cancer”, “drinking water”, and “disinfection byproducts”, a comprehensive search was done among several research databases. Results: Based on the previous studies, DBPs could cause most types of cancers, mainly including gastrointestinal, renal, bladder, breast, liver, and thyroid cancers. Liver and renal cancers are the most common target organs for toxicity by DBPs. Among the various DBPs, trihalomethanes are the most studied due to their relatively high prevalence and concentration in drinking water. Also, haloacetic acids, such as trichloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid, have been known as one of the most affecting risk factors. Unregulated DBPs, such as Mutagen X and Formaldehyde, are also of importance as they mostly have irreversible systemic effects. Providing safe drinking water resources, restriction of unreasonable usage of disinfectants, and alternating disinfectants with less harmful products could be the possible ways to overcome this crisis. Conclusions: Disinfection byproducts can result in cancer development, especially in liver and kidneys. Providing safe drinking water resources, using the membrane filters and changing the chlorination point are effective ways to encounter the risk of DBP poisoning.

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK DISCLOSURE PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA: AN EMPHASIS ON PLANTATION INDUSTRY

The aim of this study is to investigate the environmental-related risk management practices of publicly listed companies in Malaysia. A content analysis on the 2012 to 2014 annual and sustainability reports of all companies in the plantation industry has been carried out. Using a disclosure rating index, the quantity and quality of the environmental-related risks disclosures have been examined. The results reveal that the quantity and quality of disclosures are rather low and minimal. “Pollution and abatement-commitment” is found to be the most disclosed category and information, followed by “environmental conservation-energy”, whilst, “pollution and abatement–noise outdoor” is the least disclosed one. Generally, majority of the disclosures showed a decreasing trend. These findings generally put forward an initial idea that the plantation companies in Malaysia gave minimal attention to environmental risk reporting henceforth signify that disclosure practice is not critical to their sustainability agenda and value creation.

The role of dry land forests for climate change adaptation: the case of Liben Woreda, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

BackgroundDespite the increasing role of dry forests in climate change adaptation and mitigation, these versatile resources has got less attention in the national and regional planning, their potential to enhance the local and national economy has been overlooked, and their contribution to sustainable environmental management has not been recognized. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the socioeconomic contribution of dry forests and forest products to climate change adaptation in the Liben Woreda, Southern Oromia region of Ethiopia.MethodsFor this study, an integrated qualitative and quantitative approach was used. A total of 74 households from villages in the Bulbul, Boba, and Melka-Guba kebeles were randomly selected for the household survey.ResultsResults showed that 75% of the respondents in the area indicated that climate change has become their major sources of vulnerability, where drought has been manifested in the form of crops failure and massive death of livestock particularly cattle species. The main income strategies of the study households include livestock, crop, forests such as gum and resins, firewood and charcoal and non-farm activities such as in the form of petty trade, wage and aid. The average total household income was ETB 11,209.7. Out of this, dry forest income constituted 15% of the total income. In addition to using dry forests as rangeland for livestock, the communities collect wood for construction, fodder, traditional medicine, and forest food both for subsistence and for sale. On the other hand, dry forest products could be considered as less vulnerable, rather resilient livelihood strategies to climate- and environment-related risks compared to livestock and crop production such as in the face of drought periods. More than 48.6% of the households argued that the income generated from dry forests increased substantially due to increment in the level of engagement of family members in forest based income activities. On the other hand, 35.8% of the households responded that livestock production, particularly camels and goats, have been making the livelihood strategies of the respondents more resilient indicating the shift made from grazers browsers to livestock. In general trends show that, the trends of livelihood dependency on dry forest were highly increasing indicating the importance of dry forest income in responsse to frequent droughts. ConclusionsDry forest income has been becoming crucial livelihood staretgy in response to frequent droughts in the study area and hence, it is important to improve the management of dry forests for livelihood enhancement, while also securing their long-term ecological functions.

Stranded Coal Power Assets in China: A Case Study of Jilin Province

ABSTRACTThis article conducts the first provincial case study on the effect of environment-related risks on coal-fired power plants in Jilin, China, which creates “stranded assets”. Using power capacity expansion model and project evaluation model, the article first quantifies the rational coal power capacity during 2016–2020. Then, we calculate the value of stranded assets. The estimated scale of excess coal power capacity by 2020 ranges from 8,190 MW to 18,480 MW. The total value of stranded assets will decline over time under the different scenarios. Finally, policy implications for policymakers on power market reforms are proposed.

Antimony in soils of SW Poland\u2014an overview of potentially enriched sites

Great concern has been recently focused on antimony in the environment due to the potential risks posed by this metalloid to humans. In Poland, the concentrations of Sb in soils have not been well recognized. The aim of this study was to identify the sites in south-western Poland where soils are considerably enriched in Sb and to make a rough assessment of a related environmental risk. One hundred forty-four samples were collected from 20 Lower Silesian locations chosen as potentially enriched in Sb that included historical mining sites, tailings impoundments, close vicinities of operating copper smelters, and landfills as well as currently operating and historical shooting ranges. Total concentrations of Sb in soils were determined, and related pollution indices were calculated. Several locations were found where soils contain high concentrations of Sb, with a maximum that exceeded 5600 mg kg−1 Sb in the alluvial soil affected by historical mining. Sequential extraction showed a considerably high percentage of Sb extracted in potentially soluble fractions 1 (non-specifically sorbed) and 2 (specifically sorbed), particularly in the samples collected from shooting ranges and in some samples from historical mine areas. This result provides a strong premise for further risk- and remediation-oriented examination of soils in those sites. More detailed research is needed to determine a spatial extent of soil contamination in the sites identified as highly enriched in Sb. Contrary to these findings, soil material collected from copper tailings impoundments, surroundings of smelters, and landfills did not show any particular enrichment in Sb.

Mapping narratives of urban resilience in the global south

Abstract In the context of global environmental change much hope is placed in the ability of resilience thinking to help address environment-related risks. Numerous initiatives aim at incorporating resilience into urban planning practices. The purpose of this paper is to open up a conversation on urban resilience by unpacking how diverse science methods contribute to the production of different narratives of urban resilience mobilizing different experts and forms of evidence. A number of scholars have cautioned against uncritical approaches to resilience and asked what resilience means and for whom, also pointing out the normative dimension of the concept. Building on this emerging scholarship we use insights from science and technology studies (STS) and critical social sciences to look at the knowledge infrastructures and networks of actors involved in the development of resilience strategies. Drawing on fieldwork in Manila, Nairobi, and Cape Town, we map different narratives of urban resilience identifying the ways in which science serves to legitimate or alienate particular perspectives on what should be done. We discuss the multiple roles that science methods have for resilience planning. Whereas urban resilience is often portrayed as consensual, we show that a range of narratives, with diverse socio-material implications, exist at the city level. In this way we unearth the conflict that lies beneath an apparent consensus for resilience policy and outline future research directions for urban sustainability.