Thesis advisor: Brian J. Gareau / For my dissertation research, I am focused on the sociopolitical relations of electronics disposal, a less-considered but increasingly important stage in the life cycle of electronics. Although much has already been written on the global trade in hazardous wastes, the Basel Convention that regulates this trade, and the environmental injustice of the global waste trade--with wealthy countries dumping the "negative externalities" of their consumption on vulnerable communities in the global South--the reality today appears to be more complex. Regulators in the Basel Convention and the UN Environment Program, as well as civil society actors in industry and NGOs, have an increased interest in promoting the development of markets and infrastructure in high tech e-waste recycling. Historically, e-wastes have been both talked about, and treated as, a toxic and unwanted byproduct of the digital age. However, today key actors in the regulatory, industrial and civil society spheres are now discussing e-wastes as critical "resources" for economic and technological development. I hypothesize that uncovering the economic, technological and geopolitical drivers of this shift will reveal that the global trade in e-wastes can no longer be described as a clear-cut North/South, "perpetrator-victim," scenario, rather, it must be seen as a dynamic process where environmental inequalities are mitigated and reconstituted in new forms and at various sites. I identify two dominant paradigms that scholars, activists, policy makers and industry actors employ in evaluating the global trade in electronic wastes. I label these two paradigms the "environmental justice evaluation" and the "resource capture evaluation." By engaging concepts from global political economy and environmental sociology (particularly, O'Connor 1979; Harvey 2003; Pellow 2003) and applying them to my case, my dissertation attempts to bring a nuanced perspective to the e-waste debate. My initial findings suggest that both of these frameworks do not account for the key economic processes that are driving the e-waste trade. A better understanding of these processes will better illuminate the pathway to finding meaningful solutions to the persistent, presently illegal global trade in discarded electronics. My data consists of a comprehensive examination of meeting archives from the Basel Convention (where the experts and political decision makers on this issue implement policies that affect the global e-waste trade) spanning from 1992 to the present, as well as reviews of the proceedings of other relevant actors in e-waste policy (for example, annual meetings of the global organization StEP, and publications and pamphlets from trade organizations in the US and abroad and publications from the US government). In addition, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 key actors in the national regulatory, global regulatory, industry and NGO spheres in order to understand how the key decision makers in the e-waste trade understand the drivers and implications of the shift "from waste to resources." Finally, I draw on ethnographic observations conducted at a pivotal Basel Convention meeting in 2011, where a decision was made that has the potential to fundamentally reshape the Basel Convention and enable increased global trade in discarded electronics through the development of formalized recycling centers in less-developed countries. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2018 / This thesis aims to understand the role that Independent Power Producers (IPP’s) can play in the renewal of architectural firms in creating new realities and how these firms can once again become drivers of social change. Kathu (Northern Cape), a steel mining town, is facing the reality that it will have to survive without a mining house and the community funding that results from its operations soon. There are three IPP’s within a 50km radius of Kathu. Under the current funding structure all 3 IPP’s have to contribute to socio-economic development (SED) and enterprise development (ED) within Kathu. According to the Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (IPPP’s), IPP’s are required to provide 1% of gross turnover to community funds for SED and ED development programmes. Where this funding differs from funding obtained from mining houses is that renewable energy is effectively limitless. Despite IPP’s having a projected lifespan of 20 years they will continue to be redeveloped and upgraded. These upgrades will allow for longevity of revenue, which in turn allows for sustained support for the communities surrounding them. Funding structures that are being used to disseminate mining house funds to the communities are suffering from governance issues. This means that the communities do not receive the most effective or necessary forms of development. Through a new typology of architectural practice, the way these funds are managed and utilised can create better environments for those communities. This new typology of architectural firm must move away from the corporate and profit driven nature of modern architectural firms and more towards a ‘Rural Studio’ model. This is where the primary focus is on the community and how to best serve the needs of the people. In doing so SED projects would be more effective in bringing about social change, creating new realities for communities and drivers of sustainability in post-mining towns in South Africa. / XL2019

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, Johannesburg 2017 / This research sought to identify the key success factors associated with industrial brownfields site redevelopment projects in urban areas of South Africa. Nine such success factors were identified from international and local literature. Through documentary research, three brownfield case studies in Johannesburg were investigated. These included the Newtown Cultural Precinct, the Egoli Gas site and the AECI Modderfontein site. Commonalities includes location within the urban edge, original industrial land use, and the redevelopment intent of the landowners. Aspects differing among the sites include distance from the inner city, size, the certainty of contamination and redevelopment success. Based on the findings of the three case studies, the nine success factors were refined. The factors are no or low contamination, brownfields policy maturity, certainty regarding liability for remediation, risk-based land use options, favourable market conditions, quick funding access with rapid statutory approvals, readily available municipal services and transport infrastructure, and strong political and community support. The case study findings provide indications towards generalisation for success factors that may apply to future brownfields projects. Further research required includes a larger database of brownfields redevelopment case studies to be developed for South African, in order to further test associated success factors. / XL2018

A possibilidade de revitalização e reutilização de áreas contaminadas por substâncias perigosas surgiu como grande alternativa ao abandono dos chamados Brownfields nos centros urbanos. A descontaminação desses sítios e sua reabilitação para reuso, além de apresentar-se como opção à criação de espaço nos grandes centros, se destaca como solução na proteção à segurança pública, à saúde da população e ao meio ambiente diante dos riscos oferecidos pelas substâncias ali presentes. Todavia, no tempo decorrido entre a identificação de área contaminada e sua revitalização existe a probabilidade da ocorrência de acidentes provocados pelo vazamento dos resíduos perigosos ali depositados, ocasionando efeitos danosos à população e ao meio ambiente, o que pressupõe ação imediata por parte do poder público. Com base em estudo de caso envolvendo indústria desativada utilizada como área para o armazenamento clandestino de tambores contendo resíduos perigosos, o trabalho propõe a criação de protocolo de atuação visando orientar os atores intervenientes nos cenários acidentais envolvendo Brownfields. O objetivo é oferecer ferramenta que auxilie na redução nos danos ambientais provocados por esse tipo de ocorrência além de contribuir para discussão de políticas públicas que permitam programar gestão estratégica dos Brownfields, mudando a forma de identificar, tratar e gerenciar áreas contaminadas. / The possibility of revitalizing and reusing areas contaminated by hazardous substances has emerged as a great alternative in urban centers. The decontamination of these sites, among which some known as Brownfields, and its rehabilitation for reuse, besides presenting itself as an option to the creation of space in the great centers, stands out as a solution in the protection of public safety, the health of the population and the environment by the risks offered by the substances present therein. However, in the time elapsed between the identification of contaminated area and its revitalization, there is a probability of accidents caused by the leakage of hazardous waste deposited therein, causing harmful effects to the population and the environment, which implies immediate action by the public power. Based on a case study involving deactivated industry used as an area for clandestine storage of drums containing hazardous waste, the work proposes the creation of an action protocol aiming to guide the intervening actors in the accidental scenarios involving Brownfields. The objective is to offer a tool to help reduce the environmental damage caused by this type of occurrence, in addition to contributing to the discussion of public policies that allow programming the strategic management of Brownfields, changing the way of identifying, treating and managing contaminated areas.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma revisão dos principais estudos relacionados à disposição final de resíduos sólidos das mais variadas origens em aterros sanitários ou aterros sanitários industriais. Considerando-se estes estudos, foi e laborada uma planilha para avaliação e gerenciamento ambiental de um aterro sanitário industrial, abordando os principais elementos necessários à caracterização do meio físico, biológico, sacio-econômico, além da avaliação dos critérios de projeto, classificação dos resíduos e programas de monitoramento e controle ambiental. As planilhas foram aplicadas na avaliação dos estudos de impacto ambiental EIA/relatório de impacto ambiental RIMA de 3 aterros sanitários industriais. O critério de avaliação foi baseado no atendimento aos itens da planilha adotando-se um sistema de pontuação para análise final dos estudos. A avaliação final mostrou as deficiências dos estudos apresentados nos EIA/RIMA elaborados para a obtenção do licenciamento ambiental e aprovação das áreas para instalação dos empreendimentos. / This dissertation presents a revision of the current researches on solid waste disposal, that comes from a great variety of domestic waste or industrial waste landfills. Concerning to this research, it was proposed a spreadsheet for environmental assessment and management of sanitary industrial landfills, comprising the most important features for the global environment, besides the evaluation of project criteria, waste classification, monitoring programs and environmental control. This spreadsheet have been applied to evaluate the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of three sanitary industrial landfills. The assessment criteria were based on ranking the elements that attend the spreadsheet items. As final results, it can be demonstrated the deficiencies of the current ElA studies that have been proposed for obtaining environmental licenses and permissions to sites for enterprising purposes.

Os efluentes radiográficos (revelador, fixador e água de lavagem de filmes) são caracterizados como resíduos químicos perigosos pela RDC Anvisa nº 306/04 e Resolução Conama nº 358/05. Esses efluentes representam problema ambiental e de saúde pública, pois contêm compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos, como hidroquinona e prata, tóxicos ao ambiente e à saúde. Este estudo teve como objetivo geral levantar a situação do gerenciamento de efluentes radiográficos gerados, em serviços de diagnóstico por imagem, em Ribeirão Preto-SP. Os objetivos específicos foram diagnosticar o tipo de gerenciamento desse tipo de efluentes, em relação ao manuseio, acondicionamento, armazenamento, tratamento e descarte; identificar e quantificar a presença de hidroquinona e prata, gerando conhecimentos para a saúde ambiental; e, subsidiar novas diretrizes para o gerenciamento de efluentes radiográficos. O estudo foi desenvolvido em 12 serviços de diagnóstico por imagem de Ribeirão Preto-SP, selecionados por sorteio. Foram realizadas análises químicas de efluentes radiográficos para identificação e quantificação de hidroquinona e prata, empregando-se, para hidroquinona, a técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência e, para prata, espectrometria de massa com fonte de plasma indutivamente acoplado. Foram feitas entrevistas com 12 sujeitos dos estabelecimentos incluídos neste estudo. De acordo com os entrevistados, o descarte desses efluentes, diretamente na rede pública de esgoto sem tratamento prévio, ocorria, para reveladores, em 16,66% dos serviços; para fixadores, em 8,34%; e, para água de lavagem de filmes, em 75%. A validação do método para análise da hidroquinona foi realizada e o método foi considerado eficiente, podendo ser empregado em futuras análises para monitoramento de hidroquinona em efluentes radiográficos. A concentração de hidroquinona encontrada nas amostras de água de lavagem de filmes variou de 1,75 a 2,7 mg L-1 e, nas amostras de revelador, de 1,25 a 6,93 mg L-1. A concentração de prata encontrada nas amostras de água de lavagem de filmes variou de 0,1 a 1785,97 mg L-1, enquanto nas amostras de fixador foi de 435,59 a 16325,92 mg L-1. Todas as amostras de água de lavagem de filmes apresentaram concentração de prata igual ou maior que os limites estabelecidos pelo Decreto estadual (SP) no 8.468/76 e pela Resolução Conama no 357/2005, enquanto para os fixadores, estavam todas acima dos limites máximos de prata, permitidos para lançamento de efluentes, estabelecidos pelas mesmas legislações, além da NBR 9800/1987. Os resultados obtidos revelam inadequação da forma como esses efluentes eram gerenciados, principalmente em relação ao tratamento e descarte. Além disso, considerando-se que esses efluentes representam uma parcela dos resíduos perigosos gerados no ambiente urbano, podendo causar impacto na saúde e no ambiente, os dados obtidos podem servir de importante indicador da necessidade de mudança do sistema de monitoramento e controle desse tipo de resíduo, buscando-se soluções integradas e sustentáveis com diferentes setores envolvidos, bem como, constituem-se em indicador de relevância para políticas públicas ambientais e de saúde do país e do estado, na busca de um sistema de gestão integrada e sustentável de resíduos. / Radiographic effluents (developer, fixer and washing water film) are characterized as dangerous chemical waste according to RDC Anvisa No 306/04 and Conama Resolution No 358/05. These effluents represent an environmental and public health problem, as they contain organic and inorganic compounds like hydroquinone and silver, which can be toxic for the environment and health. The general aim of this research was to survey the radiographic processing effluent management situation in medical imaging services in Ribeirão Preto-SP. The specific goals were to diagnose radiographic processing effluent management in terms of handling, conditioning, storage, treatment and discard, to identify and quantify the presence of hydroquinone and silver, producing knowledge for environmental health; and to support new guidelines for radiographic waste management. The research was carried out at 12 medical imaging services in Ribeirão Preto-SP, selected through a draft. Chemical analyses were performed on radiographic effluents to identify and quantify hydroquinone and silver, using high performance liquid cromatography for hydroquinone, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for silver. Interviews were held with 12 subjects from the establishments included in this research. According to the interviewees, the discarding of these effluents directly into the public sewage network occurred in 16.66% of the services for developers, in 8.34% for fixers and in 75% for the film washing water. The hydroquinone analysis method was validated and considered efficient. Hence, it can be used in future analyses to monitor hydroquinone in radiographic effluents. The hydroquinone concentration found in the film washing water samples ranged from 1.75 to 2.7 mg L-1, and from 1.25 to 6.93 mg L-1 in the developer samples. The silver concentration in the film washing water samples under analysis ranged from 0.1 to 1785.97 mg L-1, and from 435.59 to 16325.92 mg L-1 in the fixer samples. All film washing water samples showed silver concentrations equal to or higher than the limits set by State Decree (SP) No 8.468/76 and Conama Resolution No 357/2005. All levels found in the fixer samples exceeded the maximum silver limits permitted for launching effluents, according to the same laws, besides NBR 9800/1987. These results reveal the inappropriateness of the way the services under study treated their effluents, mainly in terms of treatment and discard. Moreover, as these effluents represent part of the dangerous waste produced in the urban environment and can cause an impact on health and the environment, the collected data can serve as an important indicator for the need to change the monitoring and control system of this type of residue, seeking integrated and sustainable solutions with different sectors involved, and also constitute a relevant indicator for public environmental and health policies in Brazil and São Paulo, with a view to an integrated and sustainable waste management system.

A possibilidade de revitalização e reutilização de áreas contaminadas por substâncias perigosas surgiu como grande alternativa ao abandono dos chamados Brownfields nos centros urbanos. A descontaminação desses sítios e sua reabilitação para reuso, além de apresentar-se como opção à criação de espaço nos grandes centros, se destaca como solução na proteção à segurança pública, à saúde da população e ao meio ambiente diante dos riscos oferecidos pelas substâncias ali presentes. Todavia, no tempo decorrido entre a identificação de área contaminada e sua revitalização existe a probabilidade da ocorrência de acidentes provocados pelo vazamento dos resíduos perigosos ali depositados, ocasionando efeitos danosos à população e ao meio ambiente, o que pressupõe ação imediata por parte do poder público. Com base em estudo de caso envolvendo indústria desativada utilizada como área para o armazenamento clandestino de tambores contendo resíduos perigosos, o trabalho propõe a criação de protocolo de atuação visando orientar os atores intervenientes nos cenários acidentais envolvendo Brownfields. O objetivo é oferecer ferramenta que auxilie na redução nos danos ambientais provocados por esse tipo de ocorrência além de contribuir para discussão de políticas públicas que permitam programar gestão estratégica dos Brownfields, mudando a forma de identificar, tratar e gerenciar áreas contaminadas. / The possibility of revitalizing and reusing areas contaminated by hazardous substances has emerged as a great alternative in urban centers. The decontamination of these sites, among which some known as Brownfields, and its rehabilitation for reuse, besides presenting itself as an option to the creation of space in the great centers, stands out as a solution in the protection of public safety, the health of the population and the environment by the risks offered by the substances present therein. However, in the time elapsed between the identification of contaminated area and its revitalization, there is a probability of accidents caused by the leakage of hazardous waste deposited therein, causing harmful effects to the population and the environment, which implies immediate action by the public power. Based on a case study involving deactivated industry used as an area for clandestine storage of drums containing hazardous waste, the work proposes the creation of an action protocol aiming to guide the intervening actors in the accidental scenarios involving Brownfields. The objective is to offer a tool to help reduce the environmental damage caused by this type of occurrence, in addition to contributing to the discussion of public policies that allow programming the strategic management of Brownfields, changing the way of identifying, treating and managing contaminated areas.

acase@tulane.edu

<p>In this thesis I estimate a monetary value of the risk attached to living near a hazardous waste</p><p>site in the town of Teckomatorp. This site is the result of hundreds of rusty leaking barrels of</p><p>toxins being buried in the ground by the company BT Kemi in the 1970’s. Ever since then the</p><p>site has been remediated in several steps and is still contaminated today. For estimating the</p><p>perceived risk of living near this site I use a hedonic price model (HP) which is a form of a</p><p>revealed preference approach. In a HP model the price of a market good is a function of</p><p>different utility-bearing characteristics and the estimated parameters can be used to calculate</p><p>the implicit prices of these characteristics. In this case I use a data set from the National</p><p>Swedish Institute for Building Research (IBF) and regress property price on a number of</p><p>housing characteristics. I compare an estimated town-effect for Teckomatorp with the</p><p>estimates for two control towns: Billeberga and Anderslöv. I can confirm my hypothesis that,</p><p>after controlling for housing characteristics, there is a negative effect on prices of property in</p><p>Teckomatorp. I find that property prices are on average 46878 SEK lower in Teckomatorp</p><p>than in the two control towns.</p>

The human health effects of acute exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation are well understood; however, when these irradiations occur at low levels, there is controversy as to their potential health threat (BEIR V, 1990). For individuals living in areas where the level of naturally occurring background radiation is relatively high, the issue of additional exposure to anthropogenically derived sources of ionizing radiation may be of some concern. This study investigates the presence of radionuclides in surface soils near a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site near Pocatello, Idaho, where two phosphorus production facilities have operated for more than fifty years. It is hypothesized that airborne particulates from these facilities are migrating into a residential community, and are accumulating in the uppermost soil layers. Soil samples were collected from seven sites located between 1.3 and 6.7 km along a transect aligned with the prevailing downwind direction. The transect origin lies at the northern boundary of the Superfund site, and the sites were selected for their ease of public access. Samples were collected at four different 2.5 cm depths (10 cm total) for each site, and these samples were analyzed for their gamma emissions. Statistical evaluations of the sample data yielded results of no significant difference in nuclide concentrations between soil layers, or between sample sites (��=0.05). This investigation corroborates the EPA discovery that nuclide concentrations in surface soils decrease rapidly beyond 1 km from the site boundary. This study extends the available information regarding the presence of radionuclides in off-site surface soils by approximately 4 km in the prevailing downwind direction. Additionally, these data appear to contradict the EPA's conclusion that no residential exposure is occurring via a surface soil pathway. This investigation finds that surface soil exposures, at locations such as public parks and schools, may be occurring from radionuclide concentrations that are as high as 4 times that of published background radiation levels. / Graduation date: 2002