The relationship between people and nature has long been suffering from a cultural disconnect. In truth, nature is far more readily likened to travel than it is to everyday life; synonymous, as it is, with those faraway ideals beyond the everyday reach of an urban dweller. However, urban environments are teeming with a range of plants and animals, known as urban nature, thus providing the opportunity to shed these exotic associations in favour of a far more accessible experience. In order to do so, the form of contemporary urban nature photography will be examined in this thesis, where any representational trends found to be inhibiting its development will be identified, and ultimately challenged. A combination of photographic practice and reflective analysis was used to challenge these problematic trends. Five experiments were carried out. These served to yield a set of photographs which developed alternative representations of the urban nature subject. The resulting photographs of each experiment were subjected to a means of reflection; based on Gary Rolfe’s three stage method but refocused for compatibility with photographic practice, where observations were drawn from one experiment so as to guide the direction of the following experiment. These experiments culminated in a final project: a definitive body of photographs that served to fuse the findings of each experiment into an alternative aesthetic. Identity became a critical theme underlining the representations of the urban nature subject in this thesis, for the displacement of photographic information began to instil the subject with - to some extent - otherworldly sensibilities. This process challenged the active predisposition toward naturalism in urban nature photography, and began to direct such tendencies toward a much broader aesthetic landscape; engaging with unreserved artistic ideologies so as to develop exclusive representations of the urban nature subject.

No description available.

Each and every one of us is exposed to chemicals on a daily basis and contributes to the global issue of chemical pollution. Humankind has become heavily dependent on the use of man-made chemicals in order to sustain the increased quality of life that is generally seen globally. There is however a price to pay in that we generally live in a world that is polluted by anthropogenic chemicals. From the water we drink to the food we eat there will be some trace of chemical residues; you just need to look closely enough and/or know what you’re looking for. With many hundreds of thousands of man-made chemicals approved within Europe for use in various ways, it is no surprise that we come into daily contact with them. What is also important to understand is that the presence of a man-made chemical is not enough to establish whether it poses a risk to environmental or human health; it needs to be present in sufficient amounts to elicit an effect. Over the past 20 years the focus of my research been on understanding which chemicals we should be concerned with, which pose the greatest risk and why do they pose such a risk. This work is of major societal and scientific significance as it protects the world we live in whilst teaching us about the better regulation of the chemicals we have become so dependent. To understand the nature of my research it is important to understand that prior to the mid-nineteen nineties hazardous organic chemicals were typically restricted to lists comprising of a number of banned (and typically chlorinated) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans and the antifouling biocide tributyltin (TBT). One of the major enigmas that faced environmental scientists at the time was that even though it was possible to quantify and monitor the presence of the above hazardous substances in the environment, they often didn´t explain the environmental quality measured though biological effects on organisms. Chemicals are globally regulated on an individual substance level and subsequently within the context of influencing these regulations, for the improved protection of environmental and human health, it is therefore essential to know which chemical contaminants are actually causing biological effects. It is also necessary to know the levels at which any organism will be exposed and what the consequences of these levels. My research subsequently became focused on two separate approaches; identifying which substances actually cause the biological effects unexplained by hazardous substances and evaluating the occurrence, environmental fate and ecotoxicity of those chemicals not routinely monitored or present on priority lists of hazardous substances; a group of chemical contaminants later termed contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). An effect-directed non-target approach A targeted approach to environmental analysis infers that we know exactly what we should be looking for. Whilst this is a suitable approach for chemicals that we suspect may be of concern, it does not help us understand which other contaminants may be present in the environment and potentially causing harm. When embryos of oysters exposed to estuarine surface waters developed deformities and this could not be attributable to the levels of priority hazardous substances a bioassay-directed non-target approach to environmental analysis was developed to identify chlorinated and alkylphenols as responsible [5, 6]. This approach has subsequently evolved into the approach termed effect-directed analysis (EDA) and is widely used globally for the identification of CECs. My own research has successfully applied the approach to identify for the first time a number of important environmental contaminants; steroidal androgens [10, 13, 14] as environmental contaminants, the phthalate ester bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate [10], cinnarizine, cholesta-4,6.dien-3-one [19], C1-C5 and C9 alkylphenols [21], petrogenic naphthenic acids [57] as environmental estrogen receptor agonists, C1-C5 and C9 alkylphenols [21], PAHs and petrogenic naphthenic acids [57] as androgen receptor antagonists and unresolved polar aromatic compounds as important environmental genotoxins [15]. Another focus of my effects-directed research has been identifying environmental contaminants that exert the same effects as dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in that they are aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists. Dioxin-like chemicals are ubiquitous in the environment and in addition to those that are routinely monitored there are a large number of other compounds that exert dioxin-like effects [26, 28, 32, 33, 37, 52, 64, 82, 93, 98, 99]. Better understanding of AhR agonists will in the long run help protect the environment and humans from a particularly hazardous group of chemicals. A targeted approach The early- to mid-nineteen nineties saw the widespread introduction of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to the environmental analytical toolbox. Robust instruments typically using electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation were well suited to the analysis of the more polar CECs, such as alternative antifouling biocides to TBT, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, veterinary medicines, illicit drugs and rodenticides. Robust analytical methodology is key to my research [2, 4, 18, 31, 34, 35, 42, 49, 66, 69, 72, 73, 86, 94, 102] as it allows the better understanding of how contaminants behave and interact with the environment. Development of robust, specific and sensitive methods for the analysis of alternative antifouling biocides [2, 4] allowed for the first time an evaluation of their life-cycle from release at the paint surface, and the factors that influence this [3], their occurrence in the environment [7, 8, 12, 29], fate and behaviour [12, 16] and subsequent effects [36, 41]. Assessment of the environmental risks based upon these data showed that both Irgarol 1051 and diuron were a threat to freshwater and marine algae. The significance of this research is that it subsequently led to restrictions being placed on the use of Irgarol 1051 and diuron in antifouling products in a number of European countries [58] and an awareness of the hazards associated with the deliberate release of biocidal products into the environment [86]. Observations of human pharmaceutical residues in the chromatograms of wastewater effluent samples being analysed by EDA and reports of their occurrence in German wastewaters motivated the development of LC- tandem MS methods for the quantification of pharmaceutical residues in waste- and surface waters [18]. Pharmaceuticals, we showed, occur in treated wastewater effluents and marine and freshwater recipients [24, 25, 30, 42, 43, 51, 66] and that, to no great surprise, the per capita pharmaceutical loads from hospitals were greater than the general population [43, 51]. Other highlights include understanding the processes that occur within sewer systems and what influences pharmaceutical occurrence in the final treated effluent [59, 60, 81, 85, 105], all of which allow for a better assessment of the overall risk posed to the environment. Even though several hundred papers have been published on pharmaceuticals in the environment since my early work, this has almost exclusively been focused on the parent pharmaceutical ingredient in aqueous matrices from developed counties. To remedy this shortfall more recent work has focused on quantifying the proportion of pharmaceutical metabolites released as compared to the parent [66], pharmaceutical occurrence in sludges and sediments [69], as well as evaluating occurrence in less studied water cycles [101].

La qualification sanitaire de l'eau distribuée et la prévention des risques infectieux s'appuie depuis plus d'un siècle sur la microbiologie de l'eau. Le contrôle microbiologique de l'eau distribuée fournit cependant des informations limitées dans le cas d'eaux traitées par le chlore, et pour la détection des épidémies. La surveillance syndromique s'est par ailleurs développée avec l'apparition, dans les années 2000, de bases de données médico-tarifaires. Cette thèse démontre, dans le cas de la France, la pertinence de la surveillance des gastroentérites aiguës (GEA) basée sur l'exploitation des données de remboursement des médicaments prescrits pour l'étude et la prévention du risque infectieux d'origine fécale porté par l'eau du robinet. Elle détaille la méthode de construction de l'indicateur d'incidence des GEA et son application à la détection rétrospective des épidémies d'origine hydrique et à l'étude des risques attribuables aux grandes unités de distribution (études de séries temporelles). Le potentiel d'une plate-forme de surveillance constituée par les données syndromiques et diverses sources de données sur l'exposition dépasse cependant le cadre de ces deux applications. Cette plateforme devrait aider de façon extensive à répondre au besoin d'identification, de caractérisation et de suivi des facteurs de risque dans le contexte du changement global. Le risque d'érosion de l'indicateur d'incidence des GEA, dû à l'évolution possible du niveau de prise en charge des soins de santé, limite par contre son usage pour un suivi précis à long terme de l'impact des GEA d'origine hydrique.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-08, Section: B, page: 5173. Advisor: Lawrence W. Whitehead. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-11-07T14:48:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ADRIANA PAULA BRAZ DE SOUZA - DISSERTAÇÃO 2011.pdf: 3679684 bytes, checksum: 5b826ec80afece0192da32ad77530ae4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-07T14:48:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ADRIANA PAULA BRAZ DE SOUZA - DISSERTAÇÃO 2011.pdf: 3679684 bytes, checksum: 5b826ec80afece0192da32ad77530ae4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-28 / A degradação do meio ambiente urbano passa a existir na medida em que o desenvolvimento começa a chegar às cidades, ao receber mais pessoas a procura de empregos e melhores condições de vida, provocando um “desenvolvimento descontrolado” das cidades, o que acarretara problemas das mais variadas ordens, tanto estrutural, quanto sociais, de saúde e ambientais como é o caso das ruas do município de Campina Grande/PB. A cidade de Campina Grande possui oficialmente ao todo 49 bairros, dois novos bairros foram criados recentemente mais ainda não reconhecidos, conforme dados obtidos via censo demográfico realizado pelo IBGE 2009 e uma população residente total de 385.276 habitantes. Em termos de serviços de limpeza pública, os dados da SEPLAN indicam que a Prefeitura atente em termos gerais a 79.069 domicílios, através da coleta de lixo realizada por veículos e funcionários públicos municipais através da URBEMA e via terceirização, com veículos e funcionários de uma empresa particular a Líder. Objetivou-se com este trabalho promover a caracterização dos terrenos baldios públicos dos bairros da zona oeste e sul da cidade de Campina Grande/PB, através de uma análise da avaliação de entrevistas aplicadas a atores sociais enfocando a relação terrenos baldios, disposição inadequada dos resíduos e a saúde pública. Conforme os resultados obtidos neste estudo, através das entrevistas aplicadas conclui-se que a sociedade tem despertado para questões de saúde ambiental, e para a formação de uma sensibilidade ambiental. Os aspectos políticos, econômicos, sociais e culturais, são importantes para o desenvolvimento de uma gestão integrativa que vise solucionar a problemática da saúde ambiental através de soluções sustentáveis. Observa-se uma compreensão por parte dos atores sociais a cerca das atitudes individuais, o modo de vida, a maneira de pensar e as relações de integração social, política, econômicas e de educação priorizando uma melhor qualidade de vida, a partir da conscientização desses fatores associados a práticas mitigadoras. A gestão de resíduos deve obedecer a uma ordem de ações, ora efetivadas, visando os objetivos previstos na lei, de tal forma que uma ação anterior a outra esteja de acordo com a hierarquia de prioridade estabelecida na lei. / The degradation of the urban environment arises due the start of the develop on cities, when receives more peoples looking Jobs and Best life, causing a “uncontrolled develop” of the cities, entailed in different problems, as structural as social, of the health and environmental like are the street of the Campina Grande‟s municipality. The city of the Campina Grande has officially 49 neighborhoods, two are news, but no recognized yet, according data obtained through demographic census by IBGE 2009 and a resident population of the 385.276 habitants. In terms of clean public service, data of the SEPLAN indicate that the prefecture meets general terms 79.069 households, through of the trash collect via vehicles and employee‟s municipal public for URBEMA and outsourced services company, withal employees and vehicles own called Líder. The aim with this search was promote the characterization of the wasteland public in neighborhoods on west and south zone located of the Campina Grande City, for analyze of the evaluation interview with peoples focusing this wasteland, inadequate residues and the public health. According results this search, through of the interview conclude that society has awake to environment health, and for generation of the environment sensitive. The politics aspects, economic, social and cultural, are important to development of the integrative management that the aims finish the environment health problem through of the sustainable solution. Note a comprehension for social actors by individual attitude, life way, think way and the social, political, economic and education‟s integration prioritizing a best quality life, from of awareness this factors associated with mitigation practice. The management residue must follow an action order, or effect, obeying foreseen in law, such form that an action another is according with hierarchy of the law.

Orientador: Elias Basile Tambourgi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T10:00:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ferreira_VivianeAmaral_M.pdf: 1686983 bytes, checksum: 435c727ee8c915ab2836b698ad0b6406 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A maioria dos municípios brasileiros dispõe seus resíduos sólidos sem nenhum controle, uma prática de graves conseqüências como: contaminação do ar, do solo, das águas superficiais e subterrâneas, criação de focos de organismos patogênicos, vetores de transmissão de doenças, causando sérios impactos na saúde pública. O quadro vem se agravando com a presença de resíduos industriais e de serviço de saúde em muitos depósitos de resíduos domiciliares, que vem sendo depositados em pontos de descargas clandestinas. A situação evidencia a urgência em se adotar um sistema de manejo adequado dos resíduos, em definir uma política para a gestão e o gerenciamento dos mesmos, que assegure a melhoria continuada do nível de qualidade de vida, promova práticas recomendadas para a saúde pública e proteja o meio ambiente contra as fontes poluidoras. Esta dissertação buscou investigar e avaliar através de uma ampla revisão bibliográfica e do estudo da destinação dos resíduos do município de Santos, a abordagem dos aspectos e considerações sobre o significado do gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos para o desenvolvimento sustentável compartilhado tanto a nível governamental, como da sociedade civil ou na seara empresarial / Abstract: The most part of Brazilian cities disposes its solid waste without any adequate procedure. That's a very bad habit which implies air, soil, superficial and underground water contamination, developing focus of infection, with its consequents impacts on public health. This situation is becoming worse because of industrial and health waste being disposed in domiciliary waste storehouses, which is an illegal procedure. It's obvious the urge to adopt an adequate urban waste management system that assures the continuous increase of life welfare, in accordance with the recommended procedure of public health and that protects the environment from pollution. The present report aimed to investigate and evaluate, based on a vast bibliography and the studies about waste destinations on Santos, the aspects and considerations about the meanings of waste management for sustainable development considering government, civil society and industry / Mestrado / Sistemas de Processos Quimicos e Informatica / Mestre em Engenharia Química

La “Santé-Sécurité au Travail“ (SST) est au cœur des politiques d'entreprise et la judiciarisation de la société concourt à une inflation du nombre de textes réglementaires publiés chaque année. Les préventeurs sont donc confrontés au traitement croissant de données afin de rester en conformité. Ils se forment au droit et s'entourent de compétences interne (direction juridique) ou externe (bureaux de contrôle et de conseil) et se dotent de systèmes d'information. Ces derniers sont principalement des bases de données de "veille juridique" proposant des textes réglementaires accompagnés de commentaires. L'ensemble de ces données demeure complexe à interpréter et à exploiter en raison du nombre croissant de textes, de l'expertise nécessaire à fin de les comprendre et de la difficulté à s'assurer qu'ils concernent les activités de l'entreprise. Ce besoin peut être satisfait par le recours aux modèles et méthodes de l'intelligence artificielle. Parmi ceux ci, les concepts d'ontologies et de bases de connaissances ont été retenus. Une ontologie est un modèle d'un domaine particulier de connaissances réalisé dans un but précis. Un cas pratique de gestion des connaissances est décrit dans le cadre d'une expérimentation conduite avec une entreprise du domaine de la production d'énergie. / Occupational health and safety (OHS) is at the heart of corporate policies and the increasing trend towards litigation has contributed to the inflated number of regulatory texts published each year. OHS professionals are therefore faced with the need to process a growing amount of data in order to remain in compliance. They train themselves in law, draw upon internal expertise (the company's legal department) or external consultants (advisory and enforcement agencies) and equip themselves with information systems. These systems are mainly ‘judicial monitoring' databases that contain regulatory texts and associated comments. For the most part, this data is complex to interpret and difficult to exploit given the growing number of texts, the expertise needed to understand them and the difficulty in being sure that they are relevant to the activities of the company. This need for clarity may be met by models and methods from artificial intelligence. Amongst these, we have selected the concepts of the ontology and the knowledge base. An ontology is a model of a particular domain of knowledge created for a specific purpose. A case study of the knowledge management is described as part of an experiment with a company in the energy production sector.

This thesis presents a methodology for soundscape research, utilising consumer mobile and internet technologies. This has been used to gather objective environmental data, as well as subjective data from participants in-situ. A total of 323 untrained members of the public have submitted soundscape recordings from around the world. For the first time, participant choice has been factored into soundscape research, where members of the public decide which sound environments are investigated. Human relationships with their sound environments have been investigated, with a number of findings corresponding with those of other studies utilising entirely different methodologies. In addition, a number of new findings have been made to contribute to the field. The two extracted subjective principal components of ’Appreciation’ and ’Dynamics’ has shown a solid validation of the project’s methodology, due to their similarities with a number of other studies utilising different techniques of data retrieval. The distinctive groupings of the different soundscape types within this factor space defined by the extracted components reveals the perceptual differences between the soundscape categories: urban, rural, urban public space and urban park. The activity a person is involved in while making their submission has shown to be influential in soundscape appraisal, with relaxation and recreation situations resulting in increased soundscape appreciation. The reasons behind a soundscape submission have revealed significant differences in subjective response. The positive interpretation of the term soundscape has resulted in a majority of positive reasons for participation. Soundscapes that arise from a participant’s daily routine are generally less appreciated than soundscapes containing a particular sound source focus. The highest levels of appreciation were observed in soundscapes whose focus is on a specific activity that the participant is involved in. The interest that a participant has on their soundscape is seen to result in raised levels of appreciation.

Approximately 1,6 percent of Swedish employees work under a consultancy firm, which is a fast-growing market. The responsibility of consultant’s work environment is in accordance with Swedish legislation on systematic work environment (SAM) divided between consultant- and client company. This study investigated how 1) consultants experience that their consultant- and client company employers, respectively, work with work environment health; 2) both consultant- and client company employers, respectively, experience their work with implementing work environment/health practices based on SAM. Data collection consisted of 12 in-depth interviews with 8 consultants, 3 consultant managers, and 1 workplace manager. Based on thematic analysis of interviews with consultants three themes were identified: Communication and relation with managers; Justice and inclusion; Managers’ involvement in workplace health. Based on thematic analysis of interviews with managers four themes were identified: Working with SAM; Work environment goals, Relation between consultant- and workplace managers, Relation with consultants. Findings showed the importance of supportive and present leadership, workplace justice and inclusion for consultants’ wellbeing. This responsibility of consultant’s daily work environment was mainly taken by workplace managers. Conclusions are that clear communication and division of responsibility between consultant- and workplace managers regarding consultants’ work environment/health is vital for well-functioning SAM.