M.Sc (Aquatic Health) / There has been a recent onslaught of water quality problems in South Africa, with many believing that South Africa is nearing a water crisis in the not so distant future. A Regional Scale Risk Assessment was conducted on the Koekemoer Spruit in order to validate the use of such a risk assessment in the management of small catchments. During the study the use of Artificial Mussels (AMs) in the bio-monitoring of metals were also validated. The Regional Scale Risk Assessment methodology created by Landis (2005) was used during the study. Various lines of evidence were used during the risk assessment process: water quality analysis, invertebrate assessments, diatom assessment and AM and snail assessments. It was found that the Koekemoer Spruit has an impact on the Vaal River with regards to some water quality aspects, especially with regards to an increase in nitrates. It was found that a significant (p<0.05) correlation exists between AMs and Melanoides turbiculata with regards to As, U, Se and Co accumulations. Gold mining was identified as a major stressor source within the system. Other notable sources of stressors within the system included agricultural activities and a golf course. The environment was found to be the endpoint that is at highest risk from the various sources within the system. The in-stream habitat was found to have the highest risk compared to the other identified habitats.

Cette étude s’inscrit autour du rapport travail/environnement à la lumière de l’interdépendance des risques. L’histoire des catastrophes industrielles montre qu’il n’existe pas de frontière entre les risques professionnels et environnementaux. Dans ce contexte, prend naissance la notion de risque mixte. Dans une société où les dangers se multiplient avec les progrès technologiques, a émergé une politique d’anticipation des risques. Les entreprises prennent conscience d’un rôle à jouer dans cette politique en tant qu’entités génératrices de risques industriels. Elles développent des démarches socialement responsables, connues sous le nom de Responsabilité Sociale de l’Entreprise, destinées à concilier les intérêts économiques avec les droits fondamentaux de l’environnement et les droits fondamentaux des travailleurs. Reposant sur les piliers du développement durable, le caractère transversal de la RSE résonne avec la mixité des risques et apporte une réponse de nature globale. Dans le prolongement de cette nouvelle responsabilisation, les droits du travail et de l’environnement renforcent les obligations de sécurité de l’employeur et de l’exploitant. Sous le prisme de la prévention, les deux ensembles juridiques se rejoignent dans une démarche commune d’anticipation. Le droit du travail se saisit du risque environnemental et s’emploie à le maîtriser. Le droit de l’environnement est mis au service de la protection des travailleurs qui semblerait réceptive à la précaution en milieu professionnel. La convergence de l’esprit de protection animant ces deux droits ne conduirait-elle pas à l’émergence d’un droit commun à l’environnement et au travail : un droit du risque. / Cette étude s’inscrit autour du rapport travail/environnement à la lumière de l’interdépendance des risques. L’histoire des catastrophes industrielles montre qu’il n’existe pas de frontière entre les risques professionnels et environnementaux. Dans ce contexte, prend naissance la notion de risque mixte. Dans une société où les dangers se multiplient avec les progrès technologiques, a émergé une politique d’anticipation des risques. Les entreprises prennent conscience d’un rôle à jouer dans cette politique en tant qu’entités génératrices de risques industriels. Elles développent des démarches socialement responsables, connues sous le nom de Responsabilité Sociale de l’Entreprise, destinées à concilier les intérêts économiques avec les droits fondamentaux de l’environnement et les droits fondamentaux des travailleurs. Reposant sur les piliers du développement durable, le caractère transversal de la RSE résonne avec la mixité des risques et apporte une réponse de nature globale. Dans le prolongement de cette nouvelle responsabilisation, les droits du travail et de l’environnement renforcent les obligations de sécurité de l’employeur et de l’exploitant. Sous le prisme de la prévention, les deux ensembles juridiques se rejoignent dans une démarche commune d’anticipation. Le droit du travail se saisit du risque environnemental et s’emploie à le maîtriser. Le droit de l’environnement est mis au service de la protection des travailleurs qui semblerait réceptive à la précaution en milieu professionnel. La convergence de l’esprit de protection animant ces deux droits ne conduirait-elle pas à l’émergence d’un droit commun à l’environnement et au travail : un droit du risque.

The diploma thesis titled Barriers of Development in Ethiopia: Structural Conditions and Strategies for Adaptation is focused on analysis of environmental risk factors and their impact on economic development of Ethiopia. It further evaluates the effectiveness of concrete adaptation measures on both official policy level and community level. The thesis departs from refined version of Jared Diamond's five point framework for analysis of collapse of complex societies. Contemporary scholarly discourse of rapid population growth, deforestation & land degradation and climate variability is formalized into causal schemes and supported by current statistical data. The thesis concludes that adopted measures have had only limited effect on elimination of the respective risk factors. Thus, Ethiopia remains a long-term recipient of foreign humanitarian assistance, without which it would fall into state of economic collapse. To overcome this situation Ethiopia needs to transform its subsistence agricultural production system.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:20:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_francisco_sales.pdf: 1424498 bytes, checksum: 31e4dca2f34d83cb1a300966669297f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-17 / In order to forecast and classify environmental risks, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques were applied to the air quality problem. Predetermined gaseous pollutant concentration data were acquired with the intent of predicting the risks. Such concentrations are denominated air quality indicators, and are regulated all around the world, including by brazilian law. The data concerning these indicators were used in a model that consists of two AI techniques: artificial neural networks and particle swarm optimization. The air quality indicators concentration prediction resulted in one day ahead values. The risk modeling utilizes the predictions as inputs values, correlating them in order to obtain the resulting air quality and, the risk that such quality has upon the human health. The risk model is based on a third AI technique, called fuzzy logic. The present work obtained two main results. The first was the accurate forecasts made by the prediction model. The second was the achievement of a coherent classification of the risks. / Este trabalho aplica técnicas da área de inteligência artificial (IA) com o intuito de prever e classificar riscos ambientais, com o foco no problema da qualidade do ar. Para prever os riscos, dados foram adquiridos acerca das concentrações gasosas de determinados poluentes. Tais concentrações, denominadas de indicadores da qualidade do ar, são regulamentadas por várias legislações ao redor do mundo, inclusive a do Brasil. Estes dados foram empregados em um modelo que consiste de duas técnicas de IA: redes neurais artificiais e otimização por enxame de partículas. O resultado do modelo é a previsão de um dia adiante das concentrações gasosas dos indicadores da qualidade do ar. As previsões são usadas como entradas para a modelagem de riscos. A modelagem de riscos correlaciona as previsões dos poluentes observados para obter a qualidade do ar e o risco que tal qualidade oferece à saúde humana. O modelo de risco é baseado em lógica nebulosa, uma terceira técnica de IA. Ao término do trabalho, dois resultados foram alcançados. O primeiro foi o modelo de previsões que obteve resultados com um bom nível de acuidade. Em seguida, o modelo de riscos foi capaz de alcançar uma classificação coerente dos riscos ambientais.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:20:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 flavio_henrique_souza_santos.pdf: 1812228 bytes, checksum: 6932c64bdae7190088289c5556e3498d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-06 / A fuzzy inference system (FIS) to assess the environmental impact of contamination level generated by leaks in Stations Fuel Dealers (SFD) was developed in this work. An Environmental Impact Index for Leak in Stations Fuel Dealers (EIIL-SFD) were obtained using seventeen input linguistic variables: type of contaminant, leaked volume, impacted area, the contaminant physical condition, existence of containment barriers, topography land, greenhouse gas emissions, proximity to rivers/streams, proximity of wells, thickness of the aquifer, annual precipitation, flood potential, proximity to residential areas, proximity to shopping areas, proximity to rural areas and agribusiness, proximity to schools and/or nurseries and proximity to areas of environmental preservation - grouped in partial indexes, according to the source of the contaminant, the propagation of the contaminant and the site of contamination. The fuzzy inference Mamdani method was used for mapping input and output linguistic variables, using a base composed of 112 rules, based on expert knowledge and triangular membership functions. The higher the EIIL-SFD which range between 19.9 and 100 - greater the degree of contamination of the study area, indicating a greater urgency in decision-making on intervention/remediation of the contaminated area. The SIF developed was used successfully in case study of 3000-liter diesel fuel leak, due to the pipeline disruption of the underground fuel supply system of a SFD, located in the metropolitan region of Recife, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, presenting EIIL-SFD equal 63.7 - classified as serious environmental damage with a fine of application. The results suggest that the IIAV-PRC can be used - by regulatory agencies and/or consultants and / or tenants and / or owners and / or distributors - as a support tool for the assessment of environmental impact generated by leaks in PRC and the taking decisions about remediation actions of impacted areas. / Um sistema de inferência fuzzy (SIF) para avaliação do grau de impacto da contaminação ambiental gerada por vazamentos em Postos Revendedores de Combustíveis (PRC) foi desenvolvido neste trabalho. Para obtenção do Índice de Impacto Ambiental por Vazamento em Postos Revendedores de Combustíveis (IIAVPRC) foram usadas dezessete variáveis linguísticas de entrada: tipo do contaminante, volume vazado, área impactada, estado físico do contaminante, existência de barreiras de contenção, topografia do terreno, emissão de gases, proximidade de rios/córregos, proximidade de poços artesianos, espessura do aquífero, precipitação anual, potencial de inundação, proximidade com áreas residenciais, proximidade com áreas comerciais, proximidade com áreas rurais e de agronegócio, proximidade de escolas e/ou creches e proximidade com áreas de preservação ambiental - agrupadas em índices parciais, de acordo com a fonte do contaminante, a propagação do contaminante e o local da contaminação. O método de inferência fuzzy de Mamdani foi utilizado para mapeamento das variáveis linguísticas de entrada e saída, usando uma base composta por 112 regras, baseada no conhecimento de especialistas e funções de pertinência triangulares. Quanto maior o IIAV-PRC - que varia entre 19,9 e 100 - maior o grau de contaminação da área estudada, indicando uma maior urgência no processo de decisão sobre a intervenção/remediação da área contaminada. O SIF desenvolvido foi utilizado com sucesso em estudo de caso de vazamento de 3.000 litros de óleo diesel, decorrente do rompimento da tubulação do sistema de abastecimento subterrâneo de combustível de um PRC, localizado na região metropolitana do Recife, estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, apresentando IIAV-PRC igual 63,7 - classificado como passivo ambiental grave. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o IIAV-PRC pode ser utilizado - por órgãos fiscalizadores e/ou consultores e/ou arrendatários e/ou proprietários e/ou distribuidoras - como ferramenta de apoio à avaliação de impactos ambientais gerados por vazamentos em PRC e à tomada de decisões sobre ações de remediação das áreas impactadas.

Modelling and evaluating the aquatic fate of detergents - Abstract Within this thesis an environmental assessment and evaluation method for analysing aquatic ecotoxicological impacts of household laundry is developed. The methodology allows comparative assessments of different product alternatives, washing habits, and wastewater treatment techniques in order to identify their relevance with respect to waterborne discharges. Elements from both analytical tools Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Risk Assessment of chemicals (ERA) are combined in this methodology. The core consists of the Geography-referenced Regional Exposure Assessment Tool for European Rivers (GREAT-ER), which calculates concentrations of `down-the-drain' chemicals in surface waters due to point releases. In order to simulate the aquatic fate of detergents, a new GREAT-ER emission model is developed, called GREAT-ER product mode, which calculates calculates concentration increases of detergent ingredients in surface waters based on product formulations and assumptions concerning washing habits. Two evaluation methods, the Critical Length (CL) and the Product Risk Ratio (PRRx), are defined for evaluating the results. CL is the sum of mean concentration increases, divided by substance-specific no effect concentrations (NECs), over all river stretches and all ingredients weighted by the lengths of the stretches. PRRx is the (percentual) number of river stretches in a region, in which the x-percentiles of the predicted concentration increases of at least one ingredient exceed a substance-specific NEC. The emission model requires input data that can be derived from the functional unit of an LCA, which allows an assessment of other impact categories by using any existing LCA method. The methodology is applied to a case study which is based on scenarios given in the comprehensive product assessment `Washing and washing agents' (`Produktlinienanalyse', PLA). In order to apply the GREAT-ER product mode, the Rur river basin in Western North-Rhine Westphalia is chosen as study area. The catchment integration includes the development of a simple hydrological model that combines a nonlinear regression analysis with a local refinement procedure. The quality of the integration of the Rur catchment data is analysed by a comparison of monitoring data and predicted concentrations of detergent and cleaning agent ingredients using actual consumption data of the two years 1993 and 2000. The product mode results show that use habits have a larger influence on the results than product formulations. However, the largest influence is caused by varying wastewater treatment techniques. Boron and the surfactants are the most relevant detergent ingredients. Furthermore, using different detergents for white and coloured laundry lowers the predicted emissions significantly. Based on this methodology, sustainable development indicators (SDIs) for describing the aquatic aspects of household laundry are defined. CL is proposed as pressure indicator and PRRx as state indicator for describing aquatic aspects of the sustainability of household laundry in a region. Different regions can be compared by normalising the CL by the region's population and expressing the PRRx as a percentage of stretches in a region. Annually evaluating regional CLs and PRRxs allows the assessment whether a region is moving towards a more sustainable state. Concluding, the new method analyses and evaluates the environmental fate of detergents discharged after use via the wastewater pathway. It provides information not obtainable by other existing methods, which has been made possible due to the focussing on a specific application, for which the method is developed. Its application in the context of sustainable development offers a means to evaluate environmental implications of this important human activity.

The advent of mobile payment solution has brought a mixed reaction on the mind of potential consumers on whether to adopt or not. Also, the mobile payment has elicited discussion about its future. The major question is on whether the technology will replace traditional banking processes, or if it will act as a compliment. The thesis seeks to promote the adoption of mobile payment by improving available information for stakeholders. The advent of mobile payment technology shows that it has a high number of benefits, but it does not match with the current adoption rate. The statistics show that the majority of users of mobile payment uses it to for smaller transactions such as the purchase of books and food. The slow uptake of mobile payment adoption vis a vis immense benefit of the platform. The disparity motivated the study on factors that influence solution adoptions. The thesis provides a clear linkage of factors such as environmental risk, reputation, trust, perceived usefulness, ease of use and mobility in influencing potential consumer attitude and intention to use a specific payment solution. / Potentiella konsumenter av mobila betalningslösningar har gett en blandad reaktion på huruvida de ska ta sig an innovationen eller inte. De nya betalningslösningarna har även väckt diskussioner huruvida innovationen ska ersätta traditionella bankprocesser eller om de kommer komplettera varandra. Arbetet har i syfte att främja upptagande av mobila betalningar genom att förbättra tillgänglig information för intressenter. Det visar sig att mobila betalningar har större antal förmåner än traditionella betalningslösningar, dock speglar detta inte graden av användningen av teknologin. Statistiken visar att majoriteten av användare av mobila betalningar använder sig av teknologin för mindre transaktioner som exemplvis köp av böcker och mat. Faktorer som påverkar upptagandet av nya innovationer är framförallt säkerhetsrisk, rykte, förtroende, uppfattad användbarhet, uppfattad användarvänlighet samt flexibiliteten av betalningslösningen.

During the 1990s, over a period of just a few years, the multi-colored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) invaded the entire area of northern Europe. In parallel with this invasion, a decline in native coccinellid species was recorded in Belgium, Britain, and Switzerland, affecting mainly one common species: the two-spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata L. An impressive trait of H. axyridis, that could explain both its high invasiveness and the decline of native coccinellids, is its predation behaviour. Intraguild predation is a trophic interaction between species that share the same prey – in this case, aphids. In order to determine the precise impact of this predation on the native coccinellid species, the predation behaviour of H. axyridis larvae was observed in Petri dishes and on plants. The resistance of H. axyridis to predation was also studied by exposing it without dorsal spines to native predator larvae, in order to test whether or not the dorsal spines are a physical defence against intraguild predation. In addition to these laboratory experiments, an original method was developed and used to track predation under field conditions. This method is based on the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection of exogenous alkaloids in H. axyridis, especially alkaloids from native coccinellids likely to be subject to intraguild predation. My results show that, in the absence of aphids, H. axyridis consumes both A. bipunctata eggs and all larval instars in Petri dishes. On plants, depending to aphid density, this interaction can change with regards to larvae but not eggs. In addition to intraguild predation, competitive exclusion can occur because of quite aggressive behaviour towards competitors. Dorsal spines significantly reduce the number of bites inflicted, and thereby complement the other defense mechanisms of H. axyridis that enable it to remain dominant in competition for food resources. In semi-natural conditions, predation on the native coccinellids Adalia spp. Calvia spp. Coccinella septempunctata L. and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) was detected. The number of sites where this predation was observed suggests that this interaction is frequent. It was also observed that an H. axyridis larva can ingest several native coccinellid species, confirming its status as a predator of coccinellids. We can therefore conclude that intraguild predation by H. axyridis leads, as does resource competition, to a decline in native coccinellids./Introduite pour la lutte biologique dans les années 90, la Coccinelle asiatique, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), a envahi en quelques années toute l’Europe du Nord. Parallèlement à cette invasion, un déclin de plusieurs espèces de coccinelles indigènes dont la très commune Coccinelle à deux points, Adalia bipunctata L. a été observé dans différents biotopes en Belgique, en Angleterre ainsi qu’en Suisse. Un des traits remarquables de la Coccinelle asiatique est son comportement de prédateur intraguilde qui pourrait expliquer à la fois ce déclin mais aussi en partie son caractère hautement invasif. La prédation intraguilde est une interaction trophique entre des espèces qui se nourrissent d’une même proie, dans ce cas-ci les pucerons. Afin de mieux connaître l’impact de cette prédation sur les coccinelles indigènes, le comportement de prédation des larves d’H. axyridis a été décrit en boîtes de Petri et sur plantes. Sa résistance à la prédation a également été étudiée en exposant des larves dépourvues d’épines dorsales à un prédateur indigène, dans le but de tester le rôle de ces épines en tant que défense physique à l’égard d’un prédateur intraguilde. En plus de ces expériences de laboratoire, une méthode originale a été développée et utilisée pour suivre cette prédation en conditions semi-naturelles. Elle se base sur la détection, en GC-MS, des alcaloïdes exogènes chez H. axyridis et en particulier des alcaloïdes produits par d'autres espèces de coccinelles susceptibles de subir une prédation intraguilde. Mes résultats montrent qu'en l'absence de pucerons, H. axyridis a un comportement de prédation vis-à-vis des œufs et de tous les stades larvaires d’A. bipunctata. La présence de pucerons, suivant leur densité, peut modifier cette interaction à l’égard des larves indigènes mais pas des œufs. En plus de la prédation intraguilde, une compétition par exclusion peut être aussi suspectée et expliquée par le comportement très agressif d’H. axyridis à l’égard de ses concurrents. Quant aux épines dorsales, elles permettent de réduire significativement le nombre de morsures et complètent ainsi les autres lignes de défense utilisées par H. axyridis pour s’imposer dans des ressources déjà exploitées par d’autres prédateurs. En conditions semi-naturelles, cette prédation à l’égard des coccinelles indigènes a été confirmée vis-à-vis d’Adalia spp. Calvia spp. Coccinella septempunctata L. et Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.). Vu le nombre de sites où cette prédation a été détectée, elle peut être considérée comme une interaction fréquente. De plus, une même larve de coccinelle asiatique peut ingérer plusieurs espèces de coccinelles indigènes confirmant indéniablement son statut de prédateur de coccinelles. Ainsi, nous pouvons conclure que la prédation intraguilde par H. axyridis sur les coccinelles indigènes participe très certainement au déclin de celles-ci et ceci très probablement au même titre que des phénomènes de compétition pour les ressources. / Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

More than one billion people, almost one in six of the world's population, are now using GSM mobile phones. The situation in South Africa is no different from that in the rest of the world. The rise of mobile telephone usage in South Africa has been driven by a combination of factors such as demand, sector reform, the licensing of new competition, and the emergence of major strategic investors, such as Vodacom and MTN. It was estimated that by March 2005 there should be approximately 20 million cellular customers in South Africa. The growth in the South African cellular market is proportionate to the potential risks in an environment where organisations are continuously seeking ways of improving efficiency, cutting costs, and staying abreast of technological advances. Elements of risk control such as Safety, Health, and Environmental Management can no longer be left out of the equation while organisations in the GSM industry are considering increasing their networks to meet the demands of growth. Although risk assessments are not specifically defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993); Section 8 does, however, stipulate under the general duties of the employer that the employer must establish, as far as is reasonably practicable, which hazards to the health or safety of persons are attached to any work which is performed. This situation has changed with the promulgation of the Construction Regulations, GNR.1010 on 18 July 2003; which state that every contractor performing construction work shall, before the commencement of any construction work and during construction work, cause a risk assessment to be performed by a competent person appointed in writing, and that the risk assessment shall form part of the health and safety plan to be applied on the site. This requirement under the Construction Regulations will have a major impact on organisations in the GSM industry. Integrated Health, Safety and Environmental risk assessments have now become a prerequisite before considering any further expansion of the GSM network in South Africa. The relationship between the operational risk sub-disciplines of health, safety, and environmental management, as part of the risk-management function, has been established, and an operational risk-assessment model for the Global Systems Mobile Telecommunications industry in South Africa that measures occupational health, safety, and environmental management risks on an integrated basis has been developed. The risk assessment model for the South African GSM industry is based on assessing the frequency of an activity in relation to the impact on the organisation's business processes, incident/accident potential, financial impact, legal status, and the nature of ecological impact. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

Human related activities have influenced the rivers of the southern Western Cape since as early as the 1700’s. As there is no detailed information available on ecological status of the Holsloot River, a tributary of the Breede River, this study aimed to gain insight into the effect of impacts associated with human activities on the habitat integrity of this river. The study intended to understand how seasonal changes, catchment characteristics and events are reflected in the ecological status of habitats along the river by applying bio-monitoring and river health measurements at selected sites in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Holsloot River and compare the results to that of an undisturbed reference site. Results obtained in this study are compared with data gathered in 2008/2009 to determine if the ecological status of the river had changed in the period between the two sampling times. The study included assessment of the ecological status of the river based on standard bio-monitoring protocol (SASS5, IHI, IHAS and VEGRAI) as well as in situ water quality analysis (pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids). The construction of the instream Stettynskloof Dam changed the configuration of the riparian zone and river channel in the upper catchment area. Agricultural- and other human related activities, with consequent water abstraction, non-point-source pollution, loss of riparian vegetation, as well as dense stands of alien invader plants influence flow patterns and affects river ecology, especially in the dry summer months. Providing sufficient stream flow and adequate water levels, human related activities can create a larger variety of habitat types available that can support larger biodiversity and higher productivity. The level of inundation and stream flow, influenced by water abstraction as well as irrigation return-flow from extensive drainage systems especially in the dry months, contribute to the loss of biodiversity in the middle and lower reaches of the river. Where the upper reaches of the river are largely natural with few modifications, the habitat integrity deteriorates in the middle reaches so much so that ecosystem functioning are collectively impaired in lower reaches due to human related impacts. Sensitive macro-invertebrates found at lower seriously impacted parts of the river however, were in all probability washed down from lower impacted upstream habitats and may expectedly be able to again occupy habitats downstream if water quality and habitat availability improves. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)