scholarly journals Preliminary Investigation of Microplastics in Sediments from Industrial Manufacturing Waste Sources

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doan Thi Oanh ◽  
Duong Thi Thuy ◽  
Nguyen Thi Nhu Huong ◽  
Hoang Thi Quynh ◽  
Phung Duc Hieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Production ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Environmental Problem ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
High Density ◽  
Industrial Activity ◽  
Sediment Samples ◽  
Industrial Manufacturing ◽  
Agricultural Areas

Microplastics (particles with a size of less than 5 mm) are a rising environmental problem. Microplastics can disseminate in the air and accumulate in sediments as well as in microorganisms and humans, due to their small size. Sediment is considered to be the major repository of microplastics, particularly those of the PE type. Microplastics in massive amounts accumulated in sediments, perhaps as a result of point sources or diffuse contamination. Microplastic contamination can spread from industrial production facilities, urban areas, agricultural areas, or the air. The current study was carried out to explore the occurrence of MPs in sediments at discharge sources by evaluating 27 sediment samples taken from 9 distinct waste sources from industrial activity locations to determine the amount of microplastic contamination in sediments at discharge sources. Microplastics with relatively high density were found in all sediment samples in this research, ranging from 2,900 to 238,200 particles/kg dw. The most prevalent microplastics detected in sediment samples at these sites were fibers and fragments, accounting for 59-94% and 6-41%, respectively. Fiber microplastics ranged in size from 1000 to 9,000 µm, whereas fragment microplastics ranged from 200,000 to 2,100,000 µm2. Microplastics with < 1000 µm and 1000-2000 µm sizes accounted for a significant portion of the total, reaching 21.05-37.84% and 39.74-61.17%, respectively. The hue of microplastic particles in sediment samples obtained was highly varied.

Predictive Model of Rainfall-Induced Landslides in High-Density Urban Areas of the South Primorsky Region (Russia)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu. A. Stepnova ◽  
A. A. Stepnov ◽  
A. V. Konovalov ◽  
Yu. V. Gensiorovskiy ◽  
V. A. Lobkina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Model ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
High Density ◽  
The South

scholarly journals A Quantitative Method for Evaluation of Visual Privacy in Residential Environments

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
He Zheng ◽  
Bo Wu ◽  
Heyi Wei ◽  
Jinbiao Yan ◽  
Jianfeng Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
High Density ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Visual Exposure ◽  
Building Management ◽  
Visual Privacy ◽  
Building Level

With the rapid expansion of high-rise and high-density buildings in urban areas, visual privacy has become one of the major concerns affecting human environmental quality. Evaluation of residents’ visual exposure to outsiders has attracted more attention in the past decades. This paper presents a quantitative indicator; namely, the Potential Visual Exposure Index (PVEI), to assess visual privacy by introducing the damage of potential visual incursion from public spaces and neighborhoods in high-density residences. The method for computing the PVEI mainly consists of three steps: extracting targets and potential observers in a built environment, conducting intervisibility analysis and identifying visible sightlines, and integrating sightlines from building level and ground level to compute the PVEI value of each building opening. To validate the proposed PVEI, a case study with a sample building located at the center of Kowloon, Hong Kong, was evaluated. The results were in accordance with the common-sense notion that lower floors are subjected to poor visual privacy, and privacy is relatively well-preserved in upper floors in a building. However, residents of middle floors may suffer the worst circumstances with respect to visual privacy. The PVEI can be a useful indicator to assess visual privacy and can provide valuable information in architectural design, hotel room selection, and building management.

scholarly journals The Fingerprint of Climate Change and Urbanization in South Korea

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Won-Ho Nam ◽  
Guillermo Baigorria ◽  
Eun-Mi Hong ◽  
Taegon Kim ◽  
Yong-Sang Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Island Effect ◽  
Temperature Trends ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
Precipitation And Temperature

Understanding long-term changes in precipitation and temperature patterns is important in the detection and characterization of climate change, as is understanding the implications of climate change when performing impact assessments. This study uses a statistically robust methodology to quantify long-, medium- and short-term changes for evaluating the degree to which climate change and urbanization have caused temporal changes in precipitation and temperature in South Korea. We sought to identify a fingerprint of changes in precipitation and temperature based on statistically significant differences at multiple-timescales. This study evaluates historical weather data during a 40-year period (1973–2012) and from 54 weather stations. Our results demonstrate that between 1993–2012, minimum and maximum temperature trends in the vicinity of urban and agricultural areas are significantly different from the two previous decades (1973–1992). The results for precipitation amounts show significant differences in urban areas. These results indicate that the climate in urbanized areas has been affected by both the heat island effect and global warming-caused climate change. The increase in the number of rainfall events in agricultural areas is highly significant, although the temporal trends for precipitation amounts showed no significant differences. Overall, the impacts of climate change and urbanization in South Korea have not been continuous over time and have been expressed locally and regionally in terms of precipitation and temperature changes.

scholarly journals Garbage in the diet of carnivores in an agricultural area

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Jankowiak ◽  
Anna W. Malecha ◽  
Agata J. Krawczyk
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Eurasian Otter ◽  
Spatial Changes ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Agricultural Areas

AbstractHuman food waste is considered to be richer in carbohydrates, lipids and proteins than most natural food supplies; however, it is very well digested in scats. So, as an indication of this kind of food in the diet, we have used each indigestible, anthropogenic origin element found in faeces (e.g., glass, plastic, rubber, etc.). There are few studies discussing the importance of garbage in the diet of mammalian predators living in farmland; definitely, most focus on this issue in urban areas. We studied the contribution of garbage in the diet of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marten (Martessp.), polecat (Mustela putorius), stoat (Mustela erminea), American mink (Neovison vison) and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the agricultural areas of western Poland in 2006-2010. In addition, we examined the spatial changes in the diet of red fox and polecat. The largest contribution of garbage was found in scats of raccoon dog (8.8%), red fox (4.8%) and marten (4.3%). The diet of polecat, stoat and Eurasian otter contained 2.5%, 1.7% and 0.2% garbage items respectively. The most frequent item was plastic. Our analysis showed that garbage consumption by red fox and polecat was greater closer to human settlements. The results reveal a continuous gradient in the garbage consumption that corresponds with the degree of synanthropization of particular species.

scholarly journals Exposure of the Main Italian River Basin to Pharmaceuticals

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Ferrari ◽  
Agata Gallipoli ◽  
Matteo Balderacchi ◽  
Maria M. Ulaszewska ◽  
Ettore Capri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Preliminary Survey ◽  
Italian Economy ◽  
Sediment Samples ◽  
Pharmaceutical Contamination ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
River Po ◽  
Sources Of Contamination

This study give a preliminary survey of pharmaceutical contamination and accumulation in surface waters and sediments along the river Po basin (74,000 km2, the largest in Italy), a strategic region for the Italian economy: it collects sewage from a vast industrialized area of Italy (Autorità di Baciono del fiume Po, 2006, 2009). 10 pharmaceuticals (atenolol, propanolol, metoprolol, nimesulide, furosemide, carbamazepine, ranitidine, metronidazole, paracetamol, and atorvastatin) from several therapeutic classes were searched in 54 sampling points along the river Po from the source to the delta, and at the mouth of its major effluents. In water samples were found pharmaceuticals in the range of 0.38–0.001 μg/L, except for furosemide (max conc. 0.605 μg/L), paracetamol (max conc. 3.59 μg/L), metoprolol (never detected) and for atenolol (not analysed). In sediment samples, only paracetamol was not detected, while the others were generally found in the range of 0.4–0.02 μg/kgwwwith high concentrations for atenolol (max conc. 284μg/kgww) and furosemide (max conc. 98.4μg/kgww). The findings confirm also STPs as point sources of contamination. Despite of the much evidence for the adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, the observed low levels cannot be considered to pose a serious risk to human health; further studies are necessary for a comprehensive risk assessment.

scholarly journals Modelling constraints on the emission inventory and on vertical dispersion for CO and SO<sub>2</sub> in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area using Solar FTIR and zenith sky UV spectroscopy

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 781-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. de Foy ◽  
W. Lei ◽  
M. Zavala ◽  
R. Volkamer ◽  
J. Samuelsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Uv Spectroscopy ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Large Power ◽  
Vertical Dispersion ◽  
Current Emission

Abstract. Emissions of air pollutants in and around urban areas lead to negative health impacts on the population. To estimate these impacts, it is important to know the sources and transport mechanisms of the pollutants accurately. Mexico City has a large urban fleet in a topographically constrained basin leading to high levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Large point sources of sulfur dioxide (SO2) surrounding the basin lead to episodes with high concentrations. An Eulerian grid model (CAMx) and a particle trajectory model (FLEXPART) are used to evaluate the estimates of CO and SO2 in the current emission inventory using mesoscale meteorological simulations from MM5. Vertical column measurements of CO are used to constrain the total amount of emitted CO in the model and to identify the most appropriate vertical dispersion scheme. Zenith sky UV spectroscopy is used to estimate the emissions of SO2 from a large power plant and the Popocatépetl volcano. Results suggest that the models are able to identify correctly large point sources and that both the power plant and the volcano impact the MCMA. Modelled concentrations of CO based on the current emission inventory match observations suggesting that the current total emissions estimate is correct. Possible adjustments to the spatial and temporal distribution can be inferred from model results. Accurate source and dispersion modelling provides feedback for development of the emission inventory, verification of transport processes in air quality models and guidance for policy decisions.

Hybrid Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms

2015 ◽  
pp. 1072-1107
Author(s):  
Pandian Vasant
Keyword(s):  
Objective Function ◽  
Production Planning ◽  
Membership Function ◽  
Industrial Production ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Evolutionary Optimization ◽  
Industrial Manufacturing ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms ◽  
S Curve

The novel industrial manufacturing sector inevitably faces problems of uncertainty in various aspects such as raw material availability, human resource availability, processing capability and constraints and limitations imposed by the marketing department. These problems have to be solved by a methodology which takes care of such unexpected information. As the analyst faces this man made chaotic and due to natural disaster problems, the decision maker and the implementer have to work collaboratively with the analyst for taking up a decision on an innovative strategy for implementation. Such complex problems of vagueness and uncertainty can be handled by the hybrid evolutionary intelligence algorithms. In this chapter, a new hybrid evolutionary optimization based methodology using a specific non-linear membership function, named as modified S-curve membership function, is proposed. The modified S-curve membership function is first formulated and its flexibility in taking up vagueness in parameters is established by an analytical approach. This membership function is applied for its useful performance through industrial production problems by employing hybrid evolutionary optimization algorithms. The novelty and the originality of this non-linear S-curve membership function are further established using a real life industrial production planning of an industrial manufacturing sector. The unit produces 8 products using 8 raw materials, mixed in various proportions by 9 different processes under 29 constraints. This complex problem has a cubic non-linear objective function. Comprehensive solutions to a non-linear real world objective function are achieved thus establishing the usefulness of the realistic membership function for decision making in industrial production planning.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Effects of Urban Form on Land Surface Temperature in Subtropical High-Density Urban Areas Using Machine Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanwei Sun ◽  
Chao Gao ◽  
Jialin Li ◽  
Run Wang ◽  
Jian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Urban Form ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
High Density ◽  
Cooling Effects ◽  
Urban Thermal Environment ◽  
The Impact

It is widely acknowledged that urban form significantly affects urban thermal environment, which is a key element to adapt and mitigate extreme high temperature weather in high-density urban areas. However, few studies have discussed the impact of physical urban form features on the land surface temperature (LST) from a perspective of comprehensive urban spatial structures. This study used the ordinary least-squares regression (OLS) and random forest regression (RF) to distinguish the relative contributions of urban form metrics on LST at three observation scales. Results of this study indicate that more than 90% of the LST variations were explained by selected urban form metrics using RF. Effects of the magnitude and direction of urban form metrics on LST varied with the changes of seasons and observation scales. Overall, building morphology and urban ecological infrastructure had dominant effects on LST variations in high-density urban centers. Urban green space and water bodies demonstrated stronger cooling effects, especially in summer. Building density (BD) exhibited significant positive effects on LST, whereas the floor area ratio (FAR) showed a negative influence on LST. The results can be applied to investigate and implement urban thermal environment mitigation planning for city managers and planners.

scholarly journals Population Structure of Harvested Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) on Prince Edward Island, Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendela Wapenaar ◽  
Fiep De Bie ◽  
David Johnston ◽  
Ryan M. O'Handley ◽  
Herman W. Barkema
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Wild Canids ◽  
Agricultural Areas

An understanding of the population dynamics and habitat of wild Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) is a prerequisite to wildlife management. This information is also important in assessing the risk these wild canids pose to the public and domestic animals. On Prince Edward Island, information on age, sex, reproductive activity, and habitat use of 271 Red Foxes and 201 Coyotes was collected in the hunting and trapping season of 2004–2005. The estimated age of Red Foxes and Coyotes ranged from 0.5 to 13.5 years. A large proportion of harvested Red Foxes and Coyotes (58% and 48%, respectively) consisted of juveniles. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1 for either species. Average litter size was 5.0 and 5.2 for Red Foxes and Coyotes, respectively. Number of placental scars ranged from 0 to 7 in Red Foxes and from 0 to 11 in Coyotes. Agricultural areas were the main habitat type (52%) of harvested Red Foxes. For harvested Coyotes, forest was the main habitat (44%), followed closely by agricultural areas (43%). Urban areas were a significant part (13%) of the habitat of Red Foxes. These data can be used to monitor population dynamics over time, provide information for wildlife management, and provide information on potential risk areas for disease transmission by wild canids.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document