On August 31, 1992, Quality Printing Circuits, a circuit board manufacturing plant in Phoenix, Arizona, burned to the ground. The fire lasted approximately eight hours, creating a thick, black smoke that blew into the surrounding community. Emergency evacuation was erratic and since no air samples were taken during the fire, community exposure levels were unknown. Immediately afterwards, residents reported health problems but government studies on the community were unable to link reported health problems and the fire. Eight months after the fire, a local advocacy group performed a health study on the community. The 690 people surveyed reported symptoms such as asthma, blurred vision, vomiting, hair loss, rashes, and extremity numbness. The survey was never analyzed and the case was closed. Community members continued to report health problems and five years after the fire, the US Environmental Protection Agency reopened the case. They performed two sampling studies but results found that chemical levels were below allowable exposure levels. This thesis contains three chapters that investigate the political, health, and scientific issues related to the QPC fire. The scientific chapter uses the EPA's ISCST3 dispersion model and a mixed-box model, to approximate community exposure concentrations and compare them to allowable human exposure levels. Results of the ISCST3 model show that four (hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Acrolein, and naphthalene) of the twenty chemicals modeled were above government allowable concentrations. Inhalation exposure to these chemicals causes similar symptoms as those reported by residents. The health-focused chapter characterized health symptoms reported in the 1993 health survey. Results found that symptoms experienced by residents were similar to those documented in other studies of exposure to chemical smoke. The study also found that residents living closest to QPC reported a greater number of symptoms than residents living further away. The political chapter analyzed the debate as to whether QPC officials and government agencies took the steps needed to protect the exposed community during and after the QPC fire. What became evident was that a significant conflict existed between the interests of residents involved in the QPC fire and the government agencies responsible for protecting them. / Graduation date: 2004

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is conducting a study focusing on risk assessment associated with movement of hazardous materials, and determination of corresponding vulnerable areas in the state. A goal of this research is to make the hazardous material risk assessment an integral part of accident analysis find risk management functions in transportation agencies. To achieve these objectives, the authors developed an interactive, user friendly microcomputer package. The risk assessment model behind this package relies on the notion that data can be obtained easily and updated over time. This package, therefore, employs existing data on accident reports, traffic information, and geometric parameters that is transferred from a mainframe database to the microcomputer. The modelling framework consists of several modules: LEVEL, EDIT, INFO, ZOOM, ANALYZE, MITIGATE, PRINT, HELP, RESET, and QUIT Module. It employs a color coding of streets, municipalities, counties, and states for easy and clear interpretation. To enhance graphic display capabilities of the model, shape points are digitized for each network link. In the LEVEL module three different scales are defined ranging from a small scale county level to a large scale street level, namely, 1)County, 2)Municipality, and 3)Street Any scale may be selected for analysis at any time in the procedure. All other modules are, then, performed on the basis of chosen scale. The EDIT module can be used for data input or investigating hypothetical changes in order to determine the best strategies for problem alleviation. Creating or deleting techniques are included to avoid redigitizing the whole map provided link geometries will be changed over time. Edited data can either be saved on diskette files or be used temporarily in memory without altering original flies. The INFO module employs dialogue boxes with bar graphs or color shadow maps to facilitate depicting numeric values of input and output statistics. The ZOOM module allows user to see the area in question in more detail. The ANALYZE module comprises the main part of this package. Two primary features include : 1) vulnerability and risk assessment at the macro level which provides a ranking of the most affected counties, municipalities and streets (Macro analysis), and 2) risk analysis at the micro level (i.e. street level) which determines corridors of least risk between fixed origins and destinations (Micro analysis). The MITIGATION module is provided for evaluation of mitigating measures. The HELP module uses pop-window techniques to provide quick information with minimal program disruption. The RESET module exits ZOOM module and resets screen. Finally, QUIT module shells out to DOS or exits the package. / Ph. D.

Graduation date: 1997

O presente trabalho visa contribuir para o encaminhamento de soluções, relativas ao gerenciamento de resíduos químicos em instituições de ensino e pesquisa e hospitalares. Estas instituições atuam, ou pelo menos devem atuar, como modelos das políticas de preservação ambiental e prevenção de riscos à saúde, com práticas sustentáveis e respaldadas nas normas vigentes, contribuindo para a formação de cidadãos comprometidos com a saúde ambiental e a qualidade de vida. O objetivo principal do trabalho foi caracterizar os compostos glutaraldeído, xileno e formaldeído, após o uso, oriundos de atividades de ensino e assistência à saúde, com vistas a propor melhorias no sistema de gerenciamento dos mesmos. A primeira etapa do trabalho envolveu o levantamento dos resíduos químicos gerados no hospital escola, em especial o xilol e o glutaraldeído, e no laboratório universitário de anatomia, especificamente o formaldeído em uso, quantificando-os e identificando o local de geração. Também foram avaliados o processo e o tratamento aplicados atualmente a cada um desses resíduos. Para a análise cromatográfica foram coletadas oito amostras mensais de glutaraldeído e xilol pós-uso no hospital escola e uma amostra de cada um dos cinco tanques em uso no laboratório universitário de anatomia, totalizando 16 amostras no hospital e 40 amostras no laboratório de anatomia. As degradações do glutaraldeído, xilol e formol foram de 9,19, 1,52 e 59,38 %, respectivamente. Como alternativa ao descarte convencional dos compostos de interesse sugere-se a reciclagem de solventes orgânicos. São apresentados também possíveis substitutos ao glutaraldeído, xilenos e formaldeído e uma proposta de melhorias de gerenciamento das substâncias. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-05-11T17:15:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Kira Lusa Manfredini.pdf: 2848598 bytes, checksum: 905fd594245f899daa737e6bb80b6aa8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-11T17:15:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Kira Lusa Manfredini.pdf: 2848598 bytes, checksum: 905fd594245f899daa737e6bb80b6aa8 (MD5) / The present work aims to contribute to finding solutions concerning the management of chemical waste in universities, research institutions and hospitals. These institutions act, or at least should act as models of policies for environmental preservation and prevention of health risks, supported in the current regulations, contributing to the formation of citizens committed to environmental health and quality of life. The main objective of the present work was propose alternatives for the current chemical waste management system, particularly the compounds glutaraldehyde, xylene and formaldehyde after use, in a higher education institution and in a hospital school, in order to support decision-making as to minimize the risks to human and environmental health from the use and disposal of the same. The first step of the study involved a survey of chemical waste generated in the hospital school, especially xylene and glutaraldehyde, and in the university laboratory of anatomy, especially formaldehyde in use, quantifying them and identifying the generation site, and the process and the treatment currently applied to each one of these residues, through local direct observations and survey information from the Environmental Sanitation Institute of the Caxias do Sul University. The next step was the characterization compounds glutaraldehyde, xylene and formaldehyde as the purity (compared to standard substances) in order to analyze the degradation by use and the need ou not of disposal. For this purpose were collected 8 monthly samples of glutaraldehyde and xylene, after use in the hospital school, and formaldehyde in the university laboratory of anatomy. Were present two proposals: a review of the current method of disposal of the compounds glutaraldehyde, xylene and formaldehyde and the replacement thereof by other, smaller environmental impact and health, analyzing advantages and disadvantages of proposals, based on the literature, studies and practices carried out by other institutions. The chromatographic analyzes showed that the compounds glutaraldeyde and xylene have very purity (only 9.19 and 1.52 % of degradation, respectively) and can be reused by the institution, while formaldehyde degradation was high (59.38 %). The proposed alternatives prove to be very advantageous, according to the results obtained in the present study. The recycling of the compounds evaluated, in turn, implies directly in reducing the volume of toxic and hazardous materials that the institution sends to the final disposal.

O presente trabalho visa contribuir para o encaminhamento de soluções, relativas ao gerenciamento de resíduos químicos em instituições de ensino e pesquisa e hospitalares. Estas instituições atuam, ou pelo menos devem atuar, como modelos das políticas de preservação ambiental e prevenção de riscos à saúde, com práticas sustentáveis e respaldadas nas normas vigentes, contribuindo para a formação de cidadãos comprometidos com a saúde ambiental e a qualidade de vida. O objetivo principal do trabalho foi caracterizar os compostos glutaraldeído, xileno e formaldeído, após o uso, oriundos de atividades de ensino e assistência à saúde, com vistas a propor melhorias no sistema de gerenciamento dos mesmos. A primeira etapa do trabalho envolveu o levantamento dos resíduos químicos gerados no hospital escola, em especial o xilol e o glutaraldeído, e no laboratório universitário de anatomia, especificamente o formaldeído em uso, quantificando-os e identificando o local de geração. Também foram avaliados o processo e o tratamento aplicados atualmente a cada um desses resíduos. Para a análise cromatográfica foram coletadas oito amostras mensais de glutaraldeído e xilol pós-uso no hospital escola e uma amostra de cada um dos cinco tanques em uso no laboratório universitário de anatomia, totalizando 16 amostras no hospital e 40 amostras no laboratório de anatomia. As degradações do glutaraldeído, xilol e formol foram de 9,19, 1,52 e 59,38 %, respectivamente. Como alternativa ao descarte convencional dos compostos de interesse sugere-se a reciclagem de solventes orgânicos. São apresentados também possíveis substitutos ao glutaraldeído, xilenos e formaldeído e uma proposta de melhorias de gerenciamento das substâncias. / The present work aims to contribute to finding solutions concerning the management of chemical waste in universities, research institutions and hospitals. These institutions act, or at least should act as models of policies for environmental preservation and prevention of health risks, supported in the current regulations, contributing to the formation of citizens committed to environmental health and quality of life. The main objective of the present work was propose alternatives for the current chemical waste management system, particularly the compounds glutaraldehyde, xylene and formaldehyde after use, in a higher education institution and in a hospital school, in order to support decision-making as to minimize the risks to human and environmental health from the use and disposal of the same. The first step of the study involved a survey of chemical waste generated in the hospital school, especially xylene and glutaraldehyde, and in the university laboratory of anatomy, especially formaldehyde in use, quantifying them and identifying the generation site, and the process and the treatment currently applied to each one of these residues, through local direct observations and survey information from the Environmental Sanitation Institute of the Caxias do Sul University. The next step was the characterization compounds glutaraldehyde, xylene and formaldehyde as the purity (compared to standard substances) in order to analyze the degradation by use and the need ou not of disposal. For this purpose were collected 8 monthly samples of glutaraldehyde and xylene, after use in the hospital school, and formaldehyde in the university laboratory of anatomy. Were present two proposals: a review of the current method of disposal of the compounds glutaraldehyde, xylene and formaldehyde and the replacement thereof by other, smaller environmental impact and health, analyzing advantages and disadvantages of proposals, based on the literature, studies and practices carried out by other institutions. The chromatographic analyzes showed that the compounds glutaraldeyde and xylene have very purity (only 9.19 and 1.52 % of degradation, respectively) and can be reused by the institution, while formaldehyde degradation was high (59.38 %). The proposed alternatives prove to be very advantageous, according to the results obtained in the present study. The recycling of the compounds evaluated, in turn, implies directly in reducing the volume of toxic and hazardous materials that the institution sends to the final disposal.

Contaminated sites are a common problem across municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. These problems are complicated and multi-dimensional, and raise fundamental concerns about the risks to human and environmental health. This thesis shows however, that there are no easy answers to how much risk is "acceptable", and no one right way to decide. How the acceptable risk problem is structured is important, because fact and value issues, a source of controversy and dispute, are variously interpreted depending on how the problem is cast. The literature generically categorizes acceptable risk as either a technical, social or decision problem, and each of these have implications for the types of decision-making approaches and solutions that are considered appropriate in resolving acceptable risk. This thesis investigated how acceptable risk in contaminated site problems is handled in British Columbia by reviewing the provincial decision-making framework, and by surveying municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District for their views on contaminated site problems and acceptable risk decision-making. The underlying goal of the thesis is to question the use of the current approach, the Pacific Place site criteria, as a model for acceptable risk decision-making in the province, and to explore the implications for urban communities. The Ministry of Environment is the central authority for contaminated sites in British Columbia and has generally taken a scientific and technical approach to the problem. Although the municipal survey suggests that the Pacific Place site criteria has a broad base of support in the GVRD, the technical emphasis has implications for urban communities. The approach is expert-oriented and largely excludes local and public involvement in the acceptable risk debate. The major concern is that important social value issues have been neglected, relative to the engineering and technical aspects of the problem. The research also finds however, that the majority of individuals in the municipal survey are willing to explore other methods of determining acceptable risk, and support in principle, local government and public involvement in deciding what these methods should be. This thesis suggests that British Columbia can benefit from a more comprehensive view of acceptable risk in contaminated site problems. Resource limitations at the provincial and local level, and the high stakes in contaminated site problems for urban communities point to the growing importance of incorporating a broad range of value issues and understanding the trade-offs in acceptable risk decisions. The Ministry of Environment can improve the current decision-making approach by: incorporating structured value assessments that elicit stakeholder values and address trade-offs; involving a wider range of stakeholders in standard setting and risk assessment, including the forthcoming review of the Pacific Place site criteria; creating forums to explore other decision-making approaches; and by encouraging private sector involvement in risk assessment and risk management. The province can also encourage and support community-based institutional networks, both at the municipal and regional level.

Contaminated sites are a common problem across municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. These problems are complicated and multi-dimensional, and raise fundamental concerns about the risks to human and environmental health. This thesis shows however, that there are no easy answers to how much risk is "acceptable", and no one right way to decide. How the acceptable risk problem is structured is important, because fact and value issues, a source of controversy and dispute, are variously interpreted depending on how the problem is cast. The literature generically categorizes acceptable risk as either a technical, social or decision problem, and each of these have implications for the types of decision-making approaches and solutions that are considered appropriate in resolving acceptable risk. This thesis investigated how acceptable risk in contaminated site problems is handled in British Columbia by reviewing the provincial decision-making framework, and by surveying municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District for their views on contaminated site problems and acceptable risk decision-making. The underlying goal of the thesis is to question the use of the current approach, the Pacific Place site criteria, as a model for acceptable risk decision-making in the province, and to explore the implications for urban communities. The Ministry of Environment is the central authority for contaminated sites in British Columbia and has generally taken a scientific and technical approach to the problem. Although the municipal survey suggests that the Pacific Place site criteria has a broad base of support in the GVRD, the technical emphasis has implications for urban communities. The approach is expert-oriented and largely excludes local and public involvement in the acceptable risk debate. The major concern is that important social value issues have been neglected, relative to the engineering and technical aspects of the problem. The research also finds however, that the majority of individuals in the municipal survey are willing to explore other methods of determining acceptable risk, and support in principle, local government and public involvement in deciding what these methods should be. This thesis suggests that British Columbia can benefit from a more comprehensive view of acceptable risk in contaminated site problems. Resource limitations at the provincial and local level, and the high stakes in contaminated site problems for urban communities point to the growing importance of incorporating a broad range of value issues and understanding the trade-offs in acceptable risk decisions. The Ministry of Environment can improve the current decision-making approach by: incorporating structured value assessments that elicit stakeholder values and address trade-offs; involving a wider range of stakeholders in standard setting and risk assessment, including the forthcoming review of the Pacific Place site criteria; creating forums to explore other decision-making approaches; and by encouraging private sector involvement in risk assessment and risk management. The province can also encourage and support community-based institutional networks, both at the municipal and regional level. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

MPH / Department of Public Health / Health and safety issues pertaining to workers are global concerns and a major priority to the employers and government respectively. Employees in general across industries are faced with various health and safety risks. Epidemiological research has shown consistently that waste handlers are mostly exposed to various risks and hazards during their work as compared to other professions globally. This study focused on waste handlers employed by the Thulamela Municipality in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study employed qualitative explorative design and targeted all municipal waste handlers. Municipal waste handlers were sampled using non probability purposive sampling. In-depth interviews, using an interview guide, were conducted by the researcher and a voice recorder was used to record data from the participants after obtaining permission from them. The sample size comprised of 18 participants and was determined by data saturation. A thematically analysis technique was used to analyse data. Data from the participants were clustered into main theme, categories and sub-categories. The following themes emerged from data analysis: physical hazards, psychological hazard, biological hazards and chemical hazard. The study revealed that the municipal waste handlers are exposed to various occupational risks and are experiencing shortage of personal protective equipment, ranging from hand gloves, safety helmets, rain coats, overall uniforms, safety jackets and boots, to keep themselves safe from health problems and occupational injury when collecting waste. It is recommended that the Thulamela municipality should prioritise the working conditions for municipal waste handlers, by distributing suitable personal protective equipment such as hands gloves, safety helmet, rain coats, safety jackets and boots) and overalls / NRF