To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Environmental pollution.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental pollution'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Environmental pollution.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Thatcher, Cindy. "Novel environmental pollution control catalysts." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2005. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/844282/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis comprises of the analysis of a commercial three way catalyst (TWC), as well as the discovery, development and analysis of a novel environmental pollution control catalyst for the abatement of automobile exhaust gases (namely CO by oxidation, HC (propane) by oxidation and NOX by reduction. All work was undertaken in collaboration with Blackthorn Autocatalysts, Chichester, West Sussex. The commercial TWC work comprised of two parts: (i) catalytic poisoning effects on the commercial TWC by metal compounds used in lead replacement petrol on activity of CO oxidation and HC oxidation. (ii) platinum group metal losses from the commercial TWC during laboratory simulation of an automobile exhaust gas during normal driving conditions. Here the author finds that (i) is more significant than (ii). The work on the novel catalyst also comprises of two parts: (i) The activity of a Keggin-type catalyst of the form [AlO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)12]7+ was compared to that of the TWC with respect to CO oxidation, HC oxidation and NOX reduction with varying Fe3+/Al3+ and Au3+/Fe3+/Al3+ substitutions. Comparisons of various preparative methods are made. Selected catalysts are characterised and probed in depth. (ii) A spinel-type catalyst of the form %Au/CoXFe3-XO4 was selected and activity with respect to CO oxidation, HC oxidation and NOX reduction with varying values of x and Au3+ loadings were compared to the TWC. It was characterised in full. Fe substituted Keggins-type catalysts proved to compare favourably with a commercial TWC in HC oxidation, but no CO oxidation and proved to be thermally unstable at the high temperatures experienced by TWCs. 1% Au containing cobalt-ferrite spinel-type catalysts of the form COXFe3-XO4 were x = 1.5 proved to compare very favourable when compared to the commercial TWC. Achieving lower LOTs for CO and HC oxidation under stoichiometric conditions. It was also found to be very active in NOX reduction under net reducing conditions. These Au/CoXFe3-XO4 catalysts were readily supported on pre-calcined Fecralloy at a level of 0.2 wt%, but more work is required to achieve higher loadings and higher activities. The application of such materials to the catalysis of environmental pollution control could be significant.
2
Shears, John Richard. "The environmental assessment of oil pollution." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.294005.
Full text
3
Rogerson, Vicky F. "Multielement chromatographic profiling of environmental pollution." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 1999. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/20293/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis describes the evaluation of the first commercially available Hewlett Packard gas chromatograph - microwave induced plasma - atomic emission detector (GC-MIP-AED) for application to qualitative and quantitative analysis. The technique was applied to a range of environmentally significant samples. A general introduction to the development of the technique and its suitability for environmental applications is discussed and a number of typical applications are reviewed. A fundamental study of the capabilities of the GC-MIP-AED was undertaken. It became apparent that the manufacturers pre-programmed recipes for the different elemental channels required optimising to eliminate ghost emission signals from other sources such as carbon molecular emission. After the optimisation of these elemental recipes for C, S, N, O, Pb and Cl had been achieved the ability of the instrument to perform multielement heteroatom profiling of a range of pollutants with a high degree of selectivity was established. Samples included oils, leaded and unleaded petrols, and coal pyrolyzates. A critical assessment of the instruments capabilities with respect to these applications and other operational issues is also described. The instruments ability to perform quantitative analysis was then studied highlighting a number of problem areas, such as, variable repeatability and limits of detection, relating to the automatic injection facilities. When the appropriate injection liner and injection technique were used, the limit of detection on all the elemental channels monitored was greatly improved. The study was then extended to utilise the GC-MIP-AED for the multielemental analysis of organomercury, organolead and organotin compounds. The instrumental conditions were optimised for each element individually with respect to instrumental operating parameters, repeatability, limit of detection, linearity of response, and also the chosen extraction and derivatisation technique. All parameters were then optimised for the analysis of organomercury, organolead and organotin compounds within a single chromatographic injection for environmental applications including sediment, fish tissue and water samples. The overall objective of this thesis was to identify and evaluate the multielement capabilities of the analytical technique for qualitative and quantitative application to samples of environmental relevance, in particular simultaneous multielement organometallic speciation.
4
Dickerson, David Stanley. "Particulate monitoring in environmental pollution assessment." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1983/a66c8b21-c61f-4da7-bca8-5bd7547198b3.
Full text
5
Kanduru, Hussein Ali. "Poverty, population, technology and environmental pollution." Thesis, Вид-во СумДУ, 2010. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8139.
Full text
6
Wong, May-tak Glady. "Environmental regulation and crime : the case of pollution in Hong Kong /." [Hong Kong] : University of Hong Kong, 1994. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13781194.
Full text
7
Ben, Kheder Sonia. "Environmental regulation, foreign direct investment and pollution." Phd thesis, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris I, 2010. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00608641.
Full textAbstract:
À partir des années quatre-vingt-dix, une relation étroite est établie entre les politiques nationales environnementales et les politiques commerciales, et débouche rapidement sur un débat international portant sur le commerce et l'environnement. Un des aspects fondamentaux de ce débat est lié à l'impact des différences de rigueur environnementale entre les pays sur la compétitivité et la localisation des firmes. Cet aspect a déjà été amplement étudié et porte le nom d'Hypothèse de Pollution Haven, mais n'a pas encore été explicitement démontré. Un second aspect, moins examiné dans la littérature, est celui de l'effet de ces différences réglementaires sur les niveaux de pollution. Dans cette thèse, qui s'articule autour de quatre chapitres, ces deux aspects sont étudiés. Le premier chapitre dresse une image précise des politiques environnementales à travers le monde, leur hétérogénéité constituant le fondement de l'hypothèse de pollution haven. Le deuxième chapitre propose une modélisation théorique mettant en évidence l'impact de la régulation environnementale sur le choix de localisation des firmes. Le troisième chapitre se concentre sur l'estimation empirique du modèle théorique développé, et fait ressortir un effet significatif des politiques environnementales sur les décisions de localisation des firmes françaises. Le dernier chapitre présente une évaluation empirique de l'impact des différents mécanismes en jeu sur les émissions de pollution. Il apparaît alors qu'une augmentation des investissements directs à l'étranger s'accompagne dans les pays hôtes d'une augmentation des émissions polluantes et d'une diminution de l'intensité polluante.
8
Rowland-Jones, Rhys. "Beyond environmental management to quantifiable pollution management." Thesis, University of South Wales, 2003. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentthesis/beyond-environmental-management-to-quantifiable-pollution-management(30e70785-ae73-4b3a-8b1c-22105607e61a).html.
Full textAbstract:
Stakeholders increasingly have a heightened expectation of organisational commitment to good environmental and societal practice. Proponents of the link between environmental and financial performance have argued that pollution reduction provides future cost savings by increasing efficiency, reducing compliance costs, and minimising future liabilities. Environmental management systems such as BS EN ISO 14001:1996 or the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) do not require organisations to comment on overall environmental performance. BS EN ISO 14001: 1996 simply advocates that the organisation should have viewed each particular function of the business process and applied a self- formulated quantitative/qualitative analysis to the function in question, providing no incentive to add a level of independently verifiable transparency to the analysis process. This thesis investigates whether it is possible to develop an environmental management system that is capable of delivering a quantitative social/economic statement based on the pollutant aspects/effects of the organisation. A model for quantitative pollution management (QPM) is developed, and a scoring mechanism is defined which enables an indicator of pollution performance to be derived. This indicator reviews the organisation as a whole system, as well as commenting on its constituent parts. The indicator is based upon evaluation of five areas, those of management /leadership, inputs, controls, activities, and outputs. The model is tested in industry by an audit of a manufacturing organisation in South Wales, and a numeric QPM indicator is derived. The numeric QPM indicator is subsequently considered by means of a qualitative interpretation of the quantitative indicator score. The qualitative interpretation is then considered against the impression of the organisation gained by the author during the conduct of the audit. Potential future work in relation to QPM is considered, and the possible application of the concepts of fuzzy logic to QPM is given.
9
Baverstock, Suzie Jane. "A national method for predicting environmental pollution." Thesis, Open University, 1988. http://oro.open.ac.uk/57036/.
Full text
10
Cox, Paula R. "Environmental effects of rodenticide use." Thesis, University of Reading, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.316195.
Full text
11
Smith, Adrian Paul. "Change and continuity in UK industrial pollution regulation : integrated pollution control." Thesis, University of Sussex, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.318496.
Full textAbstract:
This dissertation studies the policy process which produced and implemented the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) system in 1990, administered by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP). It assesses how IPC was implemented in terms of setting pollution control standards, hQWIPC compares with the air pollution regime it replaced, and in terms of IPC's policy output. Policy network concepts are used to analyse the networks of interaction between policy actors as they seek to influence the policy process. The research involved interviews with these policy actors, plus analysis of relevant documentation - including a content analysis of the new IPC public register. The analysis is presented historically, beginning with the policy network of regulator and industry which negotiated air pollution controls. Public interest groups criticised this regime in the early 1970s for the informal, consensual, and confidential way it set and enforced air pollution standards. During the 1980s, European legislation put pressure upon domestic pollution control practice. Industry began lobbying for improvements to the flexible British regime as a bulwark against European formalism. Several factors led to HMJP's creation and IPC introduction, including European and industrial pressures, but also a belief by government that change had deregulatory potential. Regulatory procedures under IPC are more transparent and formal. However, standard setting was at HMIP's discretion, to be exercised during IPC implementation. HMIP initially intended to break from the past and do this at arms'length from industry. Analysis of this implementation stage uses the organic chemicals sector for case study. It explains why IPC has suffered an 'implementation deficit' compared to HMIP's initial intentions. Moreover, improvements to industrial pollution control are negotiated in a policy network similar to its air pollution predecessor. It is argued that within the formal legal framework, persists an infonnal, consensual, and somewhat opaque pollution regime.
12
Hamilton, K., and Phillip R. Scheuerman. "Coliphages as Indicators of Fecal Pollution." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 1996. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/2909.
Full text
13
Saady, M. Abaas, J. Mohammed Althabhawi Thareef, and A. V. Makarov. "Actual economic problems of the environmental air pollution." Thesis, Видавництво СумДУ, 2011. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/9919.
Full text
14
Лямцев, Олександр Вікторович, Александр Викторович Лямцев, Oleksandr Viktorovych Liamtsev, Микола Костянтинович Шапочка, Николай Константинович Шапочка, and Mykola Kostiantynovych Shapochka. "Some aspects of motor transport environmental pollution reducing." Thesis, Видавництво СумДУ, 2007. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/7991.
Full text
15
Andreini, Rebecca <1985>. "Non conventional species as monitor of environmental pollution." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2022. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/10468/3/Andreini_Rebecca_tesi.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis collects several ecotoxicological studies focused on the quali- quantitative analysis of several classes of chemical compounds. Our studies have been conducted on different aquatic species occupying different food chain trophic levels and characterized by differences in biology, ethology, and nutrition, but all considered excellent bioindicators. This choice allowed us to have a broad overview of the contamination of aquatic environments. Detrimental effects of several chemical compounds on the species investigated have been discussed, considering the economic and public health implications linked to the pollution of the environment and the exposure to old and emerging xenobiotics. Our studies underline the importance of a multidisciplinary and integrated approach that includes the application of the one health concept to ensure the protection of public health and respect for natural environments. Studies collected in this thesis also aim to overcome some critical limitations of the branch of ecotoxicology, such as the lack of standardization in laboratory methods. Our data also underline the importance of expanding research to a greater number of various biological matrices than those indicated by the literature as target tissues for specific pollutants. This condition enables more detailed information on the kinetics of xenobiotics in animal organisms. Our studies also allow us to expand the knowledge related to the mechanisms of synergy and antagonism of mixtures of pollutants that can simultaneously accumulate in wildlife.Questa tesi raccoglie diversi studi ecotossicologici, che implicano una analisi quali-quantitativa relativa alla detezione di diverse classi di inquinanti su diverse specie acquatiche, che occupano differenti livelli trofici della catena alimentare, e che sono caratterizzati da differenze biologiche, etologiche e dietetiche, ma tutti considerati eccellenti bioindicatori. Questa scelta ci ha permesso di avere un'ampia panoramica della contaminazione degli ambienti acquatici. Sono stati discussi gli effetti dannosi di diversi composti chimici sulle singole specie in esame, considerando anche le implicazioni economiche e relative alla tutela della salute pubblica legate all'inquinamento dell'ambiente e all'esposizione a xenobiotici conosciuti ed emergenti. I nostri studi sottolineano l'importanza di un approccio multidisciplinare e integrato che includa l'applicazione del concetto di One Health per garantire la protezione della salute pubblica e il rispetto degli ambienti naturali. Gli studi raccolti in questa tesi mirano anche a superare alcuni importanti limiti della branca dell'ecotossicologia, come la mancanza di standardizzazione nelle metodiche laboratoristiche. I nostri dati sottolineano anche l'importanza di espandere la ricerca a un numero maggiore di matrici biologiche diverse rispetto a quelle indicate dalla letteratura come tessuti bersaglio per specifici inquinanti. Questa condizione consente di ottenere informazioni più dettagliate sulla cinetica degli xenobiotici negli organismi animali. I nostri studi permettono anche di ampliare le conoscenze relative ai meccanismi di sinergia e antagonismo delle miscele di inquinanti che possono accumularsi contemporaneamente nella fauna selvatica.
16
Saberian, Soodeh. "Essays on Environmental Economics." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/37575.
Full textAbstract:
Chapter 1.This chapter investigates the direct behavioral impact of information-based regulations by examining the effect of ozone alerts on cycling trips in Sydney. Moreover, the dynamics of individuals' response is studied by examining the behavioral impact of two successive day ozone alerts on cycling demand. A common problem in estimating direct avoidance behavior is that an increase in the pollution level could be an endogenous response to alerts. While controlling for the endogenous effect of alerts and air quality, results show that cycling trips decrease
by 35 percent in response to a smog alert. When alerts are issued for two successive days, however, individuals appear to neglect the second day alerts. Our findings also indicate that ozone alerts induce one and half times larger impacts on weekends compared to weekdays. These patterns suggest that the cost of cycling substitution for commuter goals is higher than leisure goals. Furthermore, the cost of intertemporally avoiding cycling is increasing over time.
Chapter 2. If decisions with lasting consequences are influenced by extraneous or transient factors then welfare can be damaged. This chapter investigates the impact of outdoor temperature on high-stakes decisions (immigration adjudications) made by professional decision-makers (US immigration judges). In our preferred specification, which includes spatial, temporal and judge fixed effects, and controls for various potential confounders, a 10 F degree increase in case-day temperature reduces positive decisions by 6.55%. This is despite judgements being made indoors, `protected' by climate-control. Results are consistent with established links from temperature to mood and risk appetite and have important implications for evaluating the welfare-burden of climate change.
Chapter 3. The carbon tax in the Canadian province of British Columbia is widely-regarded as a `poster child' application of market-based methods to
address greenhouse gas emissions. However the implications for local air quality have been ignored. Using synthetic control and difference-in-difference methods, in this chapter we evidence a causal link from carbon tax implementation and level to increased nitrogen oxides NOx and ultra-fine particulates PM_2.5 pollution problems in Vancouver, the province's largest city. We provide evidence consistent with the mechanism working through induced switching from gasoline to diesel vehicles. The results prove highly robust to inclusion of a wide set of controls in various combinations, alternative specifications, and satisfy a set of falsification checks. The analysis points to the possibility of negative secondary effects of climate policies, contrary to the usual presumption that secondary benefits are inevitably positive.
17
Leake, Christopher R. "The environmental fate of fungicide SN 539865." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.278444.
Full text
18
Richards, Jonathan Peter. "Implementing marine pollution policy : proposals for change." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/389.
Full textAbstract:
This study aims to determine the factors that affect the implementation of marine pollution policy, especially with regard to regulation of the hazardous substances which contaminate the marine environment- The purpose is to identify weaknesses in the current regulatory regime and to propose improvements. The study also aims to develop a new strategic framework for the implementation of the recent international policy commitments, which call for the complete cessation of discharges of hazardous substances into the marine environment by the year 2020. Furthermore, the study seeks to provide evidence to support or challenge current theories relating to regulation and policy implementation. Examination was made of the attitudes of environmental managers from the UK chemical industry and inspectors from the environmental agencies towards the regulatory system. These are the key personnel who operate at the regulatory interface where the policy outcome is determined. The methodology combined both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Structured interviews helped define the issues for subsequent investigation using a questionnaire survey which was sent to over 700 key personnel. Focus groups were then used to explain the survey findings and develop solutions to key regulatory problems. Statistical analysis of the survey response data revealed similarities and significant differences between the views of industry and the regulator on the effectiveness of the current Integrated Pollution Control regime. The strength of the system was perceived as its practical and pragmatic approach, coupled with a convenient and familiar bureaucracy. The weaknesses identified related to the derivation and enforcement of standards. The Environmental Quality Standards system, which underpins the regime, was acknowledged to be flawed by both operators and regulators who agreed it should be improved by the expansion in the number of priority listed chemicals, the introduction of sediment Environmental Quality Standards and Direct Toxicity Assessment of effluents. Focus groups supported the expansion of the system, but recognised that it would create a regime that was both complex and impractical. The findings were used to construct a revised model of the existing regime. Multivariate analysis of the industry response data identified 3 cluster types and significant differences were revealed between their knowledge of policy developments, their implications and the need for changes to the current system of hazardous chemical control. Operators and regulators acknowledged the existence of the mutual interdependency which has created and maintained a tight policy network (community) at the regulatory interface. Further evidence to support the existence of this community and of regulatory capture, was provided by the study data. Focus group discussions also identified the requirement for a more fundamental reappraisal of the regulatory system in order to deliver the OSPAR strategy. A new regulatory model, which incorporates process and product substitution, is proposed as a strategic framework to ensure that future policy commitments are implemented. This approach may lead to the opening up of the current tight policy network with resultant benefits for policy implementation and reduced regulatory capture. The new model could be applied by other countries within the OSPAR region and in other regions of the world, in order to improve environmental protection.
19
Wilson, Martin Robert. "Pulmonary inflammatory effects of environmental and surrogate environmental particulates and their components." Thesis, Edinburgh Napier University, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.270524.
Full text
20
Li, Ying. "Improving Public Health through Reducing Fine Particulate Matter Pollution." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/19.
Full text
21
Manley, Catherine Jane. "Environmental variables, including pollutants, affecting living benthonic Foraminiferida." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/1706.
Full textAbstract:
Studies of living benthonic foraminiferal assemblages carried out by marine biologists are comparatively rare. This study of the changes in foraminiferal assemblages from three subtidal sites near Plymouth, U.K., has been carried out with the intention of determining the importance of various abiotic and biotic variables to the foraminiferal communities studied using statistical correlation. Temperature and salinity at depth and particle size characteristics together with organic content, bacterial abundance and type, and other meiofauna present were assessed monthly with samples taken for foraminiferal content, and for seasonal diatom analysis. Deformed specimens were very rare in the examined samples of natural assemblages. Three different systems were used in an attempt to culture Elphidium crispiim (Linne) for ecotoxicological studies, which failed. Ecotoxicological studies were carried out upon Roialieila elaticam Pawlowski & Lee and adult Ammonia batavits (Hofker). The types of deformation produced by laboratory-maintained Foraminiferida were found not to be specific to the stressor used and, therefore, the use of this group of Protozoa as indicators of specific pollution is not possible. The methods which Elphidium crispiim utilises to remain epifaunal were investigated and found to be primarily controlled by phototaxis, together with geotaxis.
22
Falconer, Katherine. "Environmental policy and the use of agricultural pesticides." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1997. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/271974.
Full text
23
Miksis-Olds, Jennifer L. "Manatee response to environmental noise /." View online ; access limited to URI, 2006. http://0-wwwlib.umi.com.helin.uri.edu/dissertations/dlnow/3225323.
Full text
24
Hadfield, Linda. "Emergent techno-environmental phenomena." Thesis, Cranfield University, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/847.
Full textAbstract:
Environmental problems, and human attempts to manage them, can be conceptualised
as evolutionary complex systems, involving interlinked processes of physical,
knowledge, technological, institutional, perceptual and behavioural change. Issues
such as traffic pollution and asthma may be viewed as emergent systems, embedded
within overlapping hierarchical systems.
A distinction may be made beween changes in physical systems (“physical
emergence”), changes in human knowledge about those systems (“knowledge
emergence”) and changes in human perceptions (“perceptual emergence”). While
processes of physical and knowledge emergence are important, it is through
perceptual emergence that a phenomenon comes to be regarded as a “problem” or
“issue”, potentially leading to changes in policy, institutional arrangements or
behaviour.
Physical changes may have impacts on human beings, which may be measurable and
predictable in the mass. However, the outcome of such an impact, from the point of
view of a particular individual, is mediated by that individual’s perception, which is
dictated by his or her personal experience, understanding and interests (“appreciative
system”). These perceptions in turn will determine the individual’s behaviour, which
may feed back into the collective appreciative system, policy system, and the base
physical system.
The distinction between policy based on measurement and control of impacts and
individual perceptions and behaviour dependent on outcomes leads to incongruity
between the “institutional” and “individual” views of an issue.
The thesis investigates this incongruity in the case of the “traffic pollution and
asthma” emergent system. The perceptions of “institutional” and “individual” actors
involved in the system were elicited by means of unstructured and semi-structured
interviews, and analysed in terms of a number of key concepts (perceptions of
measurement, risk and spatiality) across a number of dimensions (different actors in
the same location, the same hierarchical position in different locations, and between a
specific institution and individuals).
The empirical investigation demonstrates differences between multiple institutions
managing different aspects of the problem and a lack of understanding and
communication between institutions and individuals, despite the fact that an
expressed aim of policy in this area is directed at communicating with individuals
with the intention of changing individual behaviour.
25
Durgin, Timothy George. "Pollution Prevention in Lake Tai." The Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1275507366.
Full text
26
Glenn, Heather. "The distribution of air pollution in Canada: exploring injustices /." Burnaby B.C. : Simon Fraser University, 2006. http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/2641.
Full text
27
Grover, David. "Knowledge in pollution-saving technological change." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2012. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/517/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis looks at the role that technical knowledge plays in the transition in industry away from pollution-intensive production methods. It uses econometric techniques and qualitative analysis to test three aspects of the relationship between knowledge and pollution-saving technological change-related outcomes, all in the context of US industry, and all with respect to conventional pollutants. The first paper observes that the level of industrial environmental R&D spending steadily declined from the late 1970s onward. Employing an estimation model with industry fixed effects, the hypothesis is tested that this decline was the result of the conditioning effect of greater flexibility in the design of the environmental policy on the environmental regulatory burden born by industry. The second paper investigates the sources of the change in SO2 intensity of electricity production undergone by electric power plants under the SO2 cap and trade program. Mixed methods including quantile regression are used to compare the effect of frontier technical knowledge on the extent of change undergone, relative to the effect of knowledge un-intensive techniques. The third paper investigates why a small number of inventions aimed at controlling pollution from automobiles turned out to be so much more technologically influential than the great majority of comparable inventions, which exerted very little technological influence at all. Negative binomial regression is used to test the effect of the composition of the stock of knowledge that the automobile companies brought to bear on the inventive process. These studies find that pollution-saving technological change is characterised more by the repurposing and adaptation of existing knowledge and by the churn among existing technologies, than by universal technological advance in dedicated environmental technologies. The implications for climate mitigation policy are discussed in the conclusions.
28
Álvarez, Simón Daniel. "Effect of environmental pollution on asthma due to soybean." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/457984.
Full textAbstract:
La soja es uno de los cultivos más valiosos del mundo y una importante fuente tanto de proteína vegetal como de aceite, pero también, es una causa de asma. En ciudades con puertos donde se carga o descarga soja, se han descrito brotes epidémicos de asma por soja. La medición de los niveles de aeroalérgenos de soja con métodos altamente sensibles es esencial en la evaluación de los riesgos para la salud que estos implican. En la actualidad, los aeroalérgenos de soja se cuantifican mediante ensayos ELISA que deben ser realizados en un laboratorio por personal especializado. Metodologías menos laboriosas, baratas y sencillas para medir los niveles de alérgenos de soja podrían ser una herramienta extremadamente útil. Por lo tanto, se ha investigado el desarrollo y rendimiento de un test rápido para la detección de aeroalérgenos de soja en muestras ambientales.
El test rápido desarrollado detectó un amplio rango de concentraciones de aeroalérgenos de soja cuya interpretación visual tenía un grado de acuerdo substancial entre evaluadores independientes, una buena concordancia con los resultados obtenidos mediante ELISA, una buena correlación con los resultados de densitometría y una sensibilidad y especificidad adecuadas. El test desarrollado es rápido, sencillo y tiene un potencial considerable en el campo de la monitorización ambiental de los niveles de aeroalérgenos de soja. Debido a su simplicidad, este test rápido puede ayudar a mejorar el manejo de pacientes alérgicos a la soja, permitiendo controlar la exposición a los alérgenos ambientales sin la necesidad de tecnología o personal especializado.
Aunque la comprensión de la patogénesis del asma alérgico ha aumentado sustancialmente, y la monitorización de los niveles de aeroalérgenos ha demostrado ser una medida eficaz, todavía existen pequeñas lagunas en nuestra comprensión del asma por soja. Todavía no se conoce cómo la contaminación puede interactuar, o modificar el efecto, de los alérgenos de soja. Las partículas diésel (DEP) son la fracción sólida de la mezcla compleja que genera un motor diésel y uno de los contaminantes antropogénicos más prevalentes en todo el mundo. La investigación en las últimas décadas ha proporcionado resultados que sugieren que las DEP puede incrementar la respuesta asmática producida por alérgenos, pero la capacidad de las DEP para hacerlo parece depender de una amplia gama de variables y el mecanismo subyacente todavía no se conoce en profundidad.
El desarrollo de un modelo murino de exposición combinada a soja y DEP puede aumentar nuestra comprensión de la contribución de las DEP al desarrollo y exacerbación del asma, así como, de los mecanismos subyacentes a estos procesos.
Este estudio con la estandarización de un nuevo modelo murino de asma y la evaluación del efecto combinado de los aeroalérgenos de soja y las DEP, muestra que la administración continua de alérgenos de soja a una cierta concentración es capaz de desencadenar una respuesta asmática. Además, también demuestra que la coexposición a los alérgenos de soja y las DEP puede producir una mayor respuesta asmática, aumentando la hiperreactividad de las vías respiratorias y la inflamación pulmonar incluso cuando la concentración de alérgeno de soja es incapaz por si sola de provocar una respuesta inflamatoria. Este modelo proporciona nuevas evidencias que apoyan que el mecanismo subyacente en el asma por soja es una respuesta mixta Th2/Th17, y también que las DEP son capaces de potenciar el efecto alergénico de la soja a través de un mecanismo mediado por Th17. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la monitorización de partículas como alternativa a la valoración de la exposición a las DEP puede ser una adición útil a la monitorización de alérgenos dentro de las estrategias de prevención de nuevos brotes de asma.Soybean is one of the most valuable crops in the world, a major source of vegetable protein and oil, but also, a cause of asthma. In cities with ports where soybean is loaded or unloaded, community outbreaks of asthma have been described and attributed to inhalation of soybean dust. Measuring soybean aeroallergens levels with highly sensitive methods is essential in the assessment of health risks due to these airborne substances. Currently, soybean aeroallergens exposure in the environment is monitored using ELISA assays which must be evaluated in a specialized laboratory by skilled personnel. Cost-efficient, less labor-intensive technological procedures for monitoring soy allergens levels can be a very useful tool. Consequently, the development, performance and suitability of a rapid test for the detection of soybean aeroallergens in environmental samples was investigated. The rapid test developed detected a wide range of soybean aeroallergen concentrations with a substantial agreement in visual assay interpretations between independent evaluators, a good concordance with ELISA results, a strong correlation with densitometry results, and adequate sensitivity and specificity. The strip assay developed is rapid, simple, and has considerable potential in the environmental monitoring field for screening soy aeroallergens levels in port cities where allergen measurements are not currently performed. Due to its simplicity, the test will improve the management of soy allergic patients by controlling environmental allergen exposure without the need for apparatus or skilled personnel. Although the understanding of allergic asthma pathogenesis has increased substantially, and the effect of aeroallergen assessment shows to be effective, our current understanding about soybean asthma has some knowledge gaps, as is to know how pollution can interact or modify the effect of soybean allergens. Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are the solid fraction of the complex mixture of diesel exhaust, and one of the most prevalent anthropogenic pollutants worldwide. Research over recent decades has provided very informative results, and has suggested that DEP can enhance allergen-driven asthmatic immunopathology, but the ability of DEP to do so appears highly dependent on a wide range of variables, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The experimental modelling of asthma, particularly the development of murine models, besides being very useful to further investigate the pathogenesis of the disease, can contribute to a deeper understanding of the effects of DEP over asthma. The development of a murine model of combined exposure to soybean and DEP can provide new insights to increase our understanding of the contribution of DEP to asthma development, exacerbation and the mechanisms underlying these processes. This study with the standardization of a novel murine model of asthma and the assessing of the combined effect of soybean aeroallergens and DEP, shows that the continuous administration of soybean allergens at a certain concentration is capable of triggering an asthmatic response. In addition, it also demonstrates that the coexposure to soybean allergens and DEP results in a stronger asthmatic response, increasing airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary inflammation even when the concentration of soybean allergen is incapable of promoting an inflammatory response by itself. This mouse model provides evidence that the mechanism underlying soybean asthma is a mixed Th2/Th17 response, and also that DEP is capable of enhancing the allergenic effect of soybean through a Th17-mediated mechanism. These findings suggest that particulate matter monitoring as a surrogate of DEP exposure may be a useful addition to the allergen monitoring in the attempt to prevent new asthma outbreaks.
29
Cloy, Joanna Marie. "Chemical records of environmental pollution in ombrotrophic peat bogs." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/9427.
Full textAbstract:
Human activity has affected metal emissions to the atmosphere on a global scale for several thousand years, resulting in widespread contamination of the environment with toxic heavy metals such as Pb and Hg, thereby threatening both human and environmental health. In recent years ombrotrophic peat bogs have been used to study the changing rates and sources of atmospheric metal deposition, as they receive all their water and nutrients from the atmosphere by dry and wet deposition alone. Cores from such bogs have proved especially useful as archives of atmospheric Pb deposition as Pb is essentially immobile in ombrotrophic peat. The work described in this thesis is primarily concerned with the use of ombrotrophic peat bogs to investigate environmental contamination in Scotland during pre-industrial, industrial and post-industrial (i.e. ca. post-1970 A.D.) times. Cores were collected from ombrotrophic peat bogs at four different geographical locations (Carsegowan Moss, SW; Flanders Moss, W Central; The Red Moss of Balerno, E Central; Turclossie Moss, NE) in Scotland. Air-dried peat samples were dry-ashed and dissolved using microwave-assisted HF IHN03 digestion. Elemental concentrations (e.g. AI, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Ti, V, Y, Zn and Zr) and Pb isotope ratios (e.g. 206PbP07Pb) were determined using ICP-OES and ICP-MS as appropriate. For Hg determination, samples were digested with HN03/H2S04 and then analysed by CV AAS. Certified reference materials (e.g. Ombrotrophic Peat (NIMT/UOE/FM001), Canadian Peat (1878 P), Bush Branches and Leaves (DC73349), Peach Leaves (GBW 08501) and Coal (BCR CRM No. 40 and NBS SRM 1635) were used for quality control purposes. The distribution and behaviour of the potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Sb, Se, V and Zn) and of major elements (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P and S) within the four ombrotrophic peat bogs was investigated and there was strong evidence that Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, S, Se and Zn were mobile in ombrotrophic peat, while As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg (at least during industrial and post-industrial periods), Ni, Sb and V, like Pb, were essentially immobile in ombrotrophic peat. Deposition records of conservative lithogenic elements (e.g. concentrations of AI, Sc, Ti, Y and Zr) that occur predominantly in soil dust were also investigated and the chosen conservative elements Sc, Ti and Zr were used in calculations to estimate anthropogenic enrichments of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and V in peat bog profiles. 210Pb- and 14C- dated peat cores were used to reconstruct historical records of atmospheric anthropogenic As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and V deposition (since the pre-Roman (i.e. to ca. 380 B.C.)/Roman period) and atmospheric Hg deposition (since the onset of the industrial period) across Scotland. For Pb, on the basis of Pb isotopic composition (e.g. 206PbP Pb), clear indications of contamination during the preRoman/Roman and Mediaeval periods were attributed to the mining and smelting of Pb ores (from Britain and elsewhere in Europe). During the industrial and post-industrial periods, variations in the relative importance of contributions of anthropogenic Pb from different sources were apparent. From ca. the early 17th century A.D. at three of the peat bog sites, the mining and smelting of indigenous Scottish Pb ores, until the early 20th century A.D., were found to be the most important sources of anthropogenic Pb deposition. In contrast, at the most southerly site (Carsegowan Moss), influences from the use of both British Ph ores and imported Australian Ph ores (in more southern parts of Britain) since the late 19th century A.D. were evident. At each of the sites, the increasing importance of Australian-Ph-influenced car-exhaust emissions from the 1930s to late 1990s A.D., along with significant contributions from coal combustion (until the late 1960s A.D.) was evident. For Sb, in general, similarities between the major trends in the concentration profiles of anthropogenic Sb and Ph suggested common sources of these two elements. Perturbations in the anthropogenic Sb/Pb ratios since ca. 1800 A.D., however, were attributed to temporal variations in the relative importance of atmospheric emissions from different sources such as Ph ore mining/smelting, coal combustion and, in recent decades, automobile-related use of compounds of Ph (in leaded petrol) and of Sb (in brake linings). For Hg, in general, during the industrial and post-industrial periods, coal combustion and waste incineration, respectively, were likely to be the most important sources of Hg. For As, clear indications of contamination during the Mediaeval period were probably attributable to the mining and smelting of Ph and Cu ores, and for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and V, during the industrial and post-industrial periods, a variety of sources (e.g. metallurgical activities, coal and oil combustion, use of phosphate fertilisers and waste incineration) were important to varying extents. Also, in recent years, atmospheric Cu emissions from automobile-related use of compounds of Cu (in motor oil, brake linings and tyres) may have been important. Inter-site and inter-elemental comparison of records of atmospheric metal deposition across Scotland indicated that, in general, atmospheric As, Cr, Hg, Ph and Sb deposition was greatest during the industrial period (between the late 1880s and late 1960s A.D.) and atmospheric Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and V deposition was greatest during the industrial and post-industrial periods (between ca. 1900 and the early 2000s A.D.), although increases in As, Co, Cr, Hg, Ph and Sb deposition were earliest (during the late 19th and early 20th century A.D.) at the most southerly site (Carsegowan Moss). During the industrial and post-industrial periods, levels of As, Ph and Cd contamination were generally highest in the south of Scotland, Cu, Co and Sb in south and central Scotland, and Cr, Ni and V in central Scotland. Overall, the existence of a south to north As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Ph, Sb and V pollution gradient in Scotland was evident.
30
Mosler, Gioia. "Micro-environmental models of human exposure to air pollution." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/25087.
Full textAbstract:
Particulate air pollution (PM) has been shown by many studies to cause adverse health effects. Traditionally PM exposure was estimated using ambient concentrations. Lately, studies have revealed that this approach poorly reflects differences between individual's exposures and as such results in exposure misclassification. This thesis aims to improve personal exposure predictions by building a model (MEPEX model), which takes into account the temporal and spatial variability of ambient PM, as well as visited microenvironments. For the composition of this model, existing approaches for model components were evaluated, compared and developed. A temporally adjusted land-use regression (LUR-adj) model for predictions of ambient PM2.5 and PM10 was built, validated, and compared to estimates from a dispersion model. Ratios were developed to adjust ambient concentrations for cycling and in-bus transport microenvironments. Additionally, modelling approaches for the home indoor microenvironment were compared, using monitoring data. A secondary aim was to evaluate the performance of different approaches for personal exposure assessment by comparing varying levels of model sophistication. Validation of the LUR-adj model showed good model fit (IA > 0.5) and low error (NMSE < 1) for short-term predictions of PM2.5 and PM10 at locations in London. In comparison to predictions of a dispersion model (ADMS-urban), LUR-adj estimates of PM10 produced better results for model performance parameters at the majority of 26 predicted locations. MEPEX model predictions of monitored daily personal exposure for an individual in London resulted in an R2 of 0.439 for PM2.5 and 0.403 for PM10. Predictions using modelled home outdoor concentrations in comparison were lower with R2 of 0.173 for PM2.5 and 0.086 for PM10. These results provide the first quantifiable evidence that personal exposure models of PM2.5 and PM10 can reduce exposure misclassification compared to estimates based only on ambient PM.
31
Chu, Thi Thu Ha. "Environmental pollution in Vietnam: Challenges in management and protection." Technische Universität Dresden, 2018. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A32573.
Full textAbstract:
Vietnam is facing big challenges in terms of environmental pollution caused by natural agents and anthropogenic activities. Environmental pollution in Vietnam is present in air, water and soil environments in many areas with contaminants including total suspended particles (TSP), organic substances, heavy metals, nutrients including ammonium, phosphate exceeding the allowable valuesof national standard. One of the most important causes of environmental pollution is the legal powers of environmental protection organizations, especially the environmental police force, not strong enough. In addition, the awareness of the people about environmental protection is very weak. Improving the system of laws on environmental protection, including sanctions that are strong enough to prevent violations, is of the most importance to enhance the effectiveness of environmental management and protection in Vietnam. On the other hand, educating people and even school children about environmental protection is a very meaningful activity to reduce the pressures and challenges of environmental management and protection in Vietnam.Việt Nam đang phải đối mặt với những thách lớn về ô nhiễm môi trường gây ra bởi các tác nhân tự nhiên và các hoạt động của con người. Ô nhiễm môi trường ở Việt Nam biểu hiện ở cả môi trường không khí, nước và đất tại nhiều khu vực với hàm lượng các chất ô nhiễm gồm bui thô TSP. các chất hữu cơ, kim loại nặng, các chất dinh dưỡng gồm amoni, phosphat vượt quá tiêu chuẩn cho phép. Một trong những nguyên nhân quan trọng gây ô nhiễm môi trường là sức mạnh pháp lý của các cơ quan tổ chức hoạt động trong lĩnh vực môi trường, đặc biệt là lực lượng cảnh sát môi trường, chưa đủ mạnh. Bên cạnh đó, ý thức của người dân về giữ gìn bảo vệ môi trường còn rất yếu. Việc hoàn thiện hệ thống luật pháp về bảo vệ môi trường bao gồm các chế tài đủ mạnh để ngăn chặn các vi phạm là quan trọng hàng đầu nhằm tăng cường hiệu quả quản lý và bảo vệ môi trường ở Việt Nam. Mặt khác, giáo dục tuyên truyền ý thức cho người dân và thậm chí các học sinh trong trường học về giữ gìn bảo vệ môi trường là hoạt động rất ý nghĩa nhằm giảm bớt các áp lực và thách thức trong quản lý và bảo vệ môi trường ở Việt Nam.
32
Брюханов, Максим Віталійович, Максим Витальевич Брюханов, Maksym Vitaliiovych Briukhanov, and Ganna Tkachenko. "Does economic freedom influence environmental pollution: theory and evidence." Thesis, Видавництво СумДУ, 2008. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8220.
Full textAbstract:
Economic freedom is considered as a factor of economic growth. From the other side atmospheric pollution is a kind of market failures. We assume negative relation between pollution and economic freedom. However economic freedom itself can not be considered as an explanatory variable for pollution trend. A set of macroeconomic determinants should be considered also. Moreover we should be aware of country specific effects (transition or developed economies, structure of energy resources) and time effects (for ex. scientific progress, economic slowdowns, crises ).
When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8220
33
Kim, Sang-Hoon. "Health effects of environmental pollution caused by electricity generation." Kyoto University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/136088.
Full text
34
Downey, Liam Christopher Francis. "Environmental inequality: Race, income, and industrial pollution in Detroit." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284144.
Full textAbstract:
Over the last ten to fifteen years, an expanding body of research has sought to ascertain whether environmental hazards are distributed equitably according to race and income. While much attention has been paid to the relative ability of each of these variables to predict increased hazard levels, little attention has been paid to the forces giving rise to environmental inequality. This dissertation fills this gap by examining the forces giving rise to the current distribution of industrial pollution in the Detroit metropolitan area. The dissertation addresses three basic questions. First, is there a positive association between manufacturing facility presence and race in the Detroit area? In other words, are blacks more likely than whites to live near potentially hazardous manufacturing facilities? Second, has the distribution of whites and blacks around regional manufacturing facilities changed over time? Third, since it turns out that there is a positive association between facility presence and race in Detroit, why is this the case? Is the racially inequitable distribution of manufacturing facilities in Detroit due to (a) differences in black/white income levels, (b) racist siting practices, or (c) the biased operation of institutional arenas such as the housing market? It turns out that the racially inequitable distribution of manufacturing facilities in the Detroit metropolitan area is not the result of black/white income inequality or racist siting practices. Instead, the distribution of blacks and whites around the region's manufacturing facilities is shaped by residential segregation. Thus, racial status and racism are important determinants of environmental stratification in the Detroit metropolitan area.
35
Malebye, Valerie Essie. "Learners' understanding of the impact of air pollution on the environment in rural communities." Diss., Pretroia : [s.n.], 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08172005-111501/.
Full text
36
Katmeh, Mohamad Fawaz. "The development of immunotechniques for environmental monitoring of pesticides." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.259543.
Full text
37
Wong, May-tak Glady, and 王美德. "Environmental regulation and crime: the case of pollution in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1994. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31977820.
Full text
38
Scotland, W. R. "Luminescence techniques in environmental analysis." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/877.
Full text
39
Sa, Ho Thi Chau. "Three essays on toxic chemical releases, house values, health and labor productivity." Auburn, Ala., 2007. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/07M%20Dissertations/HO_SA_40.pdf.
Full text
40
Zubair, Arif. "Groundwater pollution and its environmental impact in Karachi region (Pakistan)." Thesis, University of Ulster, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.284838.
Full text
41
Spann, Nicole. "Freshwater bivalves as biomonitors of metal pollution." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.610276.
Full text
42
Bienemann, Christian. "Civil liability for environmental pollution : different regimes and different perspectives." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 1996. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=114459.
Full textAbstract:
The environment is at risk not only from disastrous accidents, but also from the insidious contamination by lesser incidents and from events whose significance is unacknowledged or even unrecognised at the time. Major incidents attract instant public concern and demands for clean up and prevention. Historical and gradual contamination do not often make headlines but may have effects which equally require curative and preventive action. The costs of curative and preventive actions may reach considerable dimensions. These costs have to be provided by parties responsible for or related to the damage. Predominantly it is the role of the civil law to give redress to those who may have suffered as a result of environmental damage. The development of civil liability for environmental pollution has been traditionally marked by the recognition of different liability regimes. However, none of these approaches is in itself sufficient to address the problems of environmental protection; nor do they yet amount into toto to a composite system. Therefore, efforts have been made to increase the effectiveness of each approach. The regulatory system is in the process of reform both in the European Union and in the Member states, through tightening of the standards backed by criminal and civil laws and by improving and monitoring and enforcement of these standards. However, even the establishment of a no-fault regime cannot guarantee the accurate attribution of environmental responsibility, the exhaustive remediation of environmental damage and the compensation of every loss caused by environmental pollution. This thesis will reveal that civil liability is not effective in securing restoration of the damaged environment and compensation of the injured persons. Furthermore, it will give consideration to other conceptions (compensation schemes and compulsory insurance), which try to ensure that environmental restoration and compensation take place.
43
Khayyat, Yaseen Muhib. "Assessment of severity of environmental detriment caused by industrial accidents." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.260652.
Full text
44
Johnstone, Claire. "Using algae as environmental impact indicators in urban freshwater ponds." Thesis, Abertay University, 2003. https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/52a94b5e-01cc-492c-99aa-f034e45b77b3.
Full textAbstract:
Urban freshwater ponds are bodies of water that sustain a diversity of higher plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, amphibians and algae. The importance of ponds in the enhancement of diversity in urban habitats is little understood due to a lack of available knowledge of the processes and interactions that operate within the biotic components of these small aquatic ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to explore the use of algae as indicators of the biotic and abiotic challenges that occur in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and to investigate the relationships between algal population dynamics, and stress physiology and water chemistry and quality. An output of this study is the recommendation of management strategies which support the sustainable enrichment of diversity in SUDS. A longer-term consideration is to explore the potential for developing algae as potential phytoremediators in SUDS ponds. Three ponds were studied in Duloch Park, Dunfermline, Fife. Water quality and algal distribution studies indicated that excessive nutrient loads from surface water runoff, caused the ponds to become eutrophic during most of the course of the study. The ponds were particularly impacted by periodic inputs of suspended solids, road salts, and runoff from construction sites and soil erosion incidents. Cladophora glomerata (filamentous blanket weed) was the major algal species present in the ponds and was thus selected as the key indicator organism throughout the study. Due to the short pond retention times, planktonic microalgal populations were extremely low despite adequate nutrient supplies being available. Chlorophyll a/b ratios for C. glomerata fell below the normal chlorophyll ratio of 2.6:1 indicating excessive exposure to high irradiance. A relationship may also exist between the decline in C. glomerata abundance and heavy metal accumulation in the sediments, competition effects due to excessive plant growth of Phragmites australis and duckweed and pond turbidity. At the biochemical level the investigation of a total antioxidant assay (based on the chemical reagent ABTS) was developed for C. glomerata to assess sub-cellular stress responses as markers of environmental change. Fluctuations in total antioxidant activity were assigned to combinations of biotic and abiotic stress, life cycle changes and turbidity impacts within the ponds. More detailed studies of individual antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-stransferase) demonstrated that C. glomerata had increased SOD activities. Enzymes associated with the removal of toxic H2O2 were detected in samples from specific locations and time frames. Depletion in protective non-protein and protein bound SH groups in certain pond samples indicated a significant level of oxidative stress possibly caused by xenobiotics. High levels of glutathione reductase activity were detected in all C. glomerata samples suggesting efficient enzyme recycling. It is proposed that this helps protect algal cell membranes from further oxidative damage. As sampling of algae from ponds is restricted to seasonal growth patterns and availability of algal mats an in vitro assay was devised to detect oxidative markers of stress ( OH) in vitro. This was developed using the microalga Euglena gracilis and comprised a non-destructive gas chromatographic technique. Experiments were constructed to simulate xenobiotic stresses in vivo. Cells exposed to high iron and salt concentrations at levels similar to those detected in the ponds, demonstrated high antioxidant activities, suggesting that algae and specifically E. gracilis may be a suitable candidate for phytoremediation programmes in SUDS. The study concludes by presenting an integrated scheme demonstrating the importance of understanding SUDS biotic components at environmental, physiological and biochemical levels. Using this scheme recommendations for improving pond management strategies are made with a view to maximising the biological potential, diversity and sustainability of SUDS ponds in the Scottish urban landscape.
45
Thompson, Alexi. "Three essays on the environmental Kuznets curve for water pollution." Diss., Kansas State University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/15073.
Full textAbstract:
Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Agricultural Economics
Jeff Peterson
This dissertation is composed of three chapters each investigating the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for water pollution. The first chapter looks at downstream dependence, the second chapter looks at the effect water abundance has on an EKC for water pollution, and the third chapter looks at different ways to control for population across countries in an EKC empirical model. Of particular note a theoretical model is developed in the first chapter that links directly with the empirical EKC model and marginal effects of consumption and effort on pollution are derived. This model specification may be particularly useful in future EKC studies. In general, there is some evidence of an EKC although it appears to depend on the country.
46
Hampel, Regina. "Environmental effects and gene-environment interactions: air pollution and temperature effects on cardiovascular risk factors." Diss., lmu, 2011. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:19-138583.
Full text
47
Zhong, Jian. "Modelling air pollution within a street canyon." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2016. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/6491/.
Full textAbstract:
A street canyon is a typical urban configuration with surrounding buildings along the street, where emissions from vehicles are normally released. Buildings are the artificial obstacles to the urban atmospheric flow and give rise to limited ventilation, especially for deep street canyons. This study implements a large-eddy simulation (LES) coupled with a reduced chemical scheme (the LES-chemistry model) to investigate the processing, dispersion and transport of reactive pollutants in a deep street canyon. Spatial variation of reactive pollutants are significant due to the existence of unsteady multiple vortices and pollutant concentrations exhibit significant contrasts within each vortex. In practical applications of using one-box model, the hypothesis of a well-mixed deep street canyon is shown to be inappropriate. A simplified two-box model (vertically segregated) is developed and evaluated against the LES-chemistry model to represent key photochemical processes with timescales similar to and smaller than the turbulent mixing timescale. The two-box model provides the capability of efficiently running a series of emission scenarios under a set of meteorological conditions. In addition, a box model with grid-averaged emissions of street canyons is compared with a two-box model considering each street canyon independently (horizontally segregated) to evaluate uncertainties when grid-averaged emissions are adopted in a grid-based urban air quality model. This study could potentially support traffic management, urban planning strategies and personal exposure assessment.
48
Maestas, Melissa May. "Air pollution and gastrointestinal diseases in Utah." Thesis, The University of Utah, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10246554.
Full textAbstract:
The valleys of northern Utah, where most of Utah’s population resides, experience episodic air pollution events well in excess of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Most of the events are due to an accumulation of particulate matter during persistent cold air pools in winter from both direct emissions and secondary chemical reactions in the atmosphere. High wintertime ozone concentrations are occasionally observed in the Uintah Basin, in addition to particulate matter. At other times of the year, blowing dust, wildland fires, fireworks, and summertime ozone formation contribute to local air pollution. The objective of this dissertation is to investigate one facet of the health effects of Utah’s air pollution on its residents: the acute impacts of air pollution on gastrointestinal (GI) disease.
To study the health effects of these episodic pollution events, some measure of air pollution exposure must be matched to the health data. Time and place are used to link the health data for a person with the pollution data. This dissertation describes the method of kriging data from the sparse pollution monitoring network to estimate personal air pollution history based on the zip code of residence. This dissertation then describes the application of these exposure estimates to a health study on GI disease.
The purpose of the GI study is to retrospectively look at two groups of patients during 2000-2014: those with autoimmune disease of the GI tract (inflammatory bowel disease, IBD) and those with allergic disease of the GI tract (eosinophilic esophagitis, EoE) to determine whether disease exacerbations occur more commonly during and following periods of poor air quality compared to periods of good air quality. The primary analysis method is case crossover design. In addition to using the kriged air pollution estimates, the analysis was repeated using simpler empirical estimation methods to assess whether the odds ratios are sensitive to the air pollution estimation method.
The data suggests an association between particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns and prednisone prescriptions, gastrointestinal infections in general, clostridium difficile infections specifically, and hospitalizations among people who have at least five entries of IBD diagnosis codes in their medical records. EoE exacerbations appear to be associated with high concentrations of particulate matter as well as ozone.
49
Wong, Wang-wah, and 黃宏華. "Trace organics pollution in the aquatic environment." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1993. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31252758.
Full text
50
Layard, Antonia. "Environmental victims : an argument for compensation." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.365630.
Full text