<p> The legacy of disposal practices for radioactive and other heavy metals has resulted in highly contaminated soils at the INL facility in Idaho Falls. Microbial effects on the mobility of a suite of metals (U, As, Cr, Co and Zn) within INL vadose sediments were assessed over a range of solution metal concentrations and biological activity through batch experiments. Sediment associated metals in the bulk sample as well as individual soil compartments increased as a function of total solution metal concentration. System specific trends in partitioning coefficients emerged, reflecting complex interrelations among biological activity, solution metal concentration and the specific metals involved. </p> <p> Results of this study clearly show that cyclic linkages between metal concentration and biological activity play a role in metal sediment biogeochemical behaviour. Differential impacts of biological activity on metal solid retention as a function of solution metal concentration were observed. This result may reflect feedback of metals on the microbial population such that the extent and/or nature of microbial activity is concentration dependent. Typically biological activity has a stronger effect with increased concentration, changing from a beneficial/neutral impact to an increasingly negative effect across the concentration range. The degree of this effect, and whether positive or negative on soil metal retention was however, element specific and dependent on the degree of biological activity. </p> <p> This is one of the first studies to evaluate the relative affinities of a suite of metals for the solid vs. solution phases over varying metal cocktail concentrations and levels of biological activity. My results indicate that differing affinities occur across this suite of metals, and that their relative affinities are non-linearly dependent on both the levels of metal and biological activity present. These results indicate that successful prediction of metal behaviour in complex natural systems, based on mono-metal laboratory experiments is likely limited. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

In the last two decades a drive for sustainable fashion emerged, grew and ultimately failed. In its beginnings the boom of green fashion and the saturation of labelled so-called sustainable garments, followed by the realization that most of the labelling did not hold any consistency behind it, overwhelmed consumers and made them immune to the effects of green marketing. This occurred because of the approach the fashion industry took regarding the topic. They needed to sell their products no matter what, and if a green tag with a recycling logo and a “green is the new black” motto would help them, they would embrace it. However, after several scandals and inquiries about the validity of the sustainable claims advertised, consumers grew rapidly disappointed and eventually unconcerned, falling back into their usual consumption habits without regard for ethical and environmental aspects. Nevertheless, once uncovered, the issues emerging from the production of garments could not be hidden once again, and companies were then required to take regulatory measures in order to mitigate the effects of the industry, if only to satisfy the general public’s knowledge and perceptions of the brands. As is well known this is not yet standard procedure and the ideal scenario for sustainable fashion production is still a road that continues on, but a small battle was won in the sustainability agenda and corporate social responsibility is nowadays common practice within large enterprises, again, if only for the sake of their stakeholders view. The truth, however, proves to be that this is not enough. Of the main environmental issues caused by clothing, not production, but use and consumption proved to be the most critical points in the larger picture. The amount of water, energy and waste created by laundering alone poses one of the biggest threats to the sustainable fashion notion, as well as the ever increasing textile waste in landfills. These issues are related entirely to each individual user and their actions, but the endeavor of making the large public aware of this issue is being undertaken by several, relatively small enterprises both private and public that don’t seem to be succeeding according to the studies. The public is not going to voluntarily wake up and undertake the quest for consuming and disposing sustainably unless they become aware first of their actions, and are given enough infrastructure to do so. This thesis concentrates on the problematic of consumer awareness regarding both use and disposal phases as well as the existing or possible solutions that help mitigate the devastating effects on the environment clothing is causing nowadays. / Program: Master programme in Fashion Management

Objectives. We quantified controlled substance donations via permanent drug donation boxes over 2 years in a region with high prescription abuse, assessing medication characteristics, time between dispensing and donation, and weight of medications donated per capita. Methods. In partnership with Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement, we analyzed permanent drug donation box collections in 8 Northeast Tennessee locations from June 2012 to April 2014. We recorded controlled substance dosage units along with the product dispensing date. Results. We collected 4841 pounds of pharmaceutical waste, 4.9% (238.5 pounds) of which were controlled substances, totaling 106 464 controlled substance doses. Analysis of dispensing dates for controlled substances indicated a median of 34 months lapsed from dispensing to donation (range = 1–484 months). The mean controlled substance donation rate was 1.39 pounds per 1000 residents. Communities with fewer than 10 000 residents had a statistically higher controlled substance donation rate (P = .002) compared with communities with 10 000 or more residents. Conclusions. Permanent drug donation boxes can be an effective mechanism to remove controlled substances from community settings. Rural and urban community residents should be provided convenient and timely access to drug disposal options.