This dissertation augmented Kahlor’s (2010) planned risk information seeking model (PRISM). According to the PRISM, people’s intentions to seek risk information hinge on their attitudes toward seeking, seeking-related subjective norms, perceived control over seeking, affective response to the perceived risk, and information need. As well, this dissertation examined the role of self-identity as an information seeker, independent self-construal, past risk information seeking, involvement, and motivation orientation in people’s intention to seek risk information about radon and poor indoor air quality. In a pilot study of a convenience sample (N = 59), I derived an information-seeking self-identity scale and a novel instrument for measuring information need. The main study of a national probability sample (N = 602) evaluated the proposed structural model, tested several hypotheses, and explored several research questions. Both the pilot and main study gathered data via online surveys. Results supported the proposed model (R2 = .62) and several hypotheses. Notably, information-seeking self-identity and past risk information seeking positively predicted seeking intention. Also, the effects of attitudes and norms on seeking intention were stronger among more independent respondents. Finally, in a series of multiple regression analyses, I detailed the roles of involvement and various motivation orientations in each model component. An unexpected finding was that perceived control over seeking did not significantly predict seeking intention. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the strength of the control-intention relationship was—at least with the current sample—inversely related to socioeconomic status (SES), where at higher levels of SES, the importance of perceived control over seeking diminished. / text

The following thesis presents the results of a two year study that addressed lay perceptions of the risks to the water resources of the Lower Fraser Basin, British Columbia. Studies of this nature are important because by clarifying public perceptions, risk communication policies as well as land and water resource use plans that accommodate people's concerns can be developed appropriately. The study was based on a written survey that was administered to 183 lay subjects in four communities within the Lower Fraser Basin. Sixteen experts participated in a portion of the survey. Analysis involved the determination of how people perceive distinct human activities in terms of the risk each may pose to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Further analysis compared these perceptions to those of specialists in the aquatic sciences. The thesis is structured as a collection of three papers that examine different aspects of the study. The First paper provides a review of the overall data set, while the remaining two papers address related subsets of the data. One paper reviews perceptions of activities that cause eutrophication problems and the other reviews perceptions of forest industry activities. The results demonstrated that people tend to view risks to water environments in a multi-faceted fashion. Four factors were found to influence people's general perception of risk and the need for regulation of the activities that were perceived to pose the risk. These factors were termed Ecological Impact, Human Benefit, Controllability and Knowledge. Another significant result was the fact that there were often striking differences between the views of the lay sample and those of the expert sample. Some activities were perceived by the lay sample as posing substantial risk while the experts did not view this to be the case. Alternatively, for some activities, the reverse scenario occurred. Accordingly, there were differences in judgements between the two groups as to the degree of regulation that should be imposed on the respective activities.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2010. / "Graduate Program in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-237).

This retrospective study assesses invasive breast cancer counts reported at the Illinois ZIP code scale during the study period of 1996 to 2000. The research objective is to evaluate the spatial and statistical associations between breast cancer risk and sources of potential environmental contamination. A thorough literature review illustrates a profound list of cancer risk factors within the study space. Public health principles are utilized to prepare breast cancer incidence for analysis, accompanied with the development of a case/control ecological model. Exploratory analyses suggest that breast cancer intensity is predominantly a rural problem. A generalized linear mixed model is employed, illustrating statistical associations between environmental risk factors and breast cancer risk. Coal Mines, Oil/Gas Wells, and Large Quantity Hazardous Waste Generators, display high statistical significance (p<0.001) in association with increased breast cancer risk. Unique socioeconomic attributes distinguish urban risk from rural risk, as can be seen in a discriminant function analysis. The modeling techniques utilized in this research display classic spatial epidemiological approaches that account for particular types of confounding effects, while also defining zones of disease risk through cluster detection. Results from this analysis are useful for future studies intended to account for epidemiological, clinical, chemical and biological disease-related information.

O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para a compreensão da sensibilidade ambiental e risco socioambiental do setor costeiro centro-norte do Estado de Santa Catarina (de Biguaçu a Itapoá). Para atingir o objetivo proposto foi aplicada uma metodologia, adaptada do método Smartline proposto para a costa Australiana, denominada ISAC – Índice de Sensibilidade Ambiental Costeira, que se apresenta neste estudo dividida da seguinte forma: (a) análise das variáveis regionais de vulnerabilidade costeira da região centro-norte Catarinense; (b) avaliação de critérios como geologia, geomorfologia, clima, dinâmica marinha, topografia e socioeconomia da área de estudo; (c) classificação hierárquica frente a fatores de resistência e/ou função ecológica e posterior ponderação de acordo com a sensibilidade de cada critério a eventos extremos e a elevação do nível médio dos oceanos; (d) elaboração de mapas temáticos contendo informações da sensibilidade ambiental presente nas praias do litoral centro e norte de Santa Catarina para cenários de ondulação provenientes de Leste e Sudeste. O ISAC demonstrou que 39% da zona costeira, apresenta sensibilidade Alta para o cenário de ondulação proveniente de Leste, seguido pelos valores de 18% que apresenta sensibilidade Baixa, 17% com sensibilidade Muito Alta e 16% com sensibilidade Muito Baixa. Para o cenário de ondas provenientes de Sudeste, 41% da área de estudo apresenta Alta sensibilidade em seus segmentos costeiros, com valores menores na sequência, onde 20%, 15% e 13% da costa demonstraram sensibilidade Baixa, Muito Baixa e Muito Alta respectivamente. Com relação ao risco socioambiental costeiro, no cenário com ondulações de Leste, 51% da linha de costa apresenta risco Médio, 30% risco Alto e 18% risco Baixo e referente ao cenário de Sudeste 53%, 27% e 20% do segmento costeiro apresentam risco Médio, Alto e Baixo respectivamente. O ISAC e a Análise de Risco Socioambiental mostraram-se eficientes para uma avaliação regional do litoral centro-norte de Santa Catarina. Entretanto, salienta-se que para a realização de uma análise local, de maior detalhe, se faz necessário a obtenção de um volume maior de informações, a cerca dos critérios ou parâmetros ambientais, através de campanhas de campo. / The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of environmental sensitivity and Social Environmental risk for the central-north coastal sector of the Santa Catarina State (from Biguaçu to Itapoá). To achieve the proposed objective the ISAC - Coastal Environmental Sensitivity Index methodology was applied, adapted from the Smartline method proposed for the Australian coast. In this study the ISAC methodology is divided as follows: (a) regional variables analysis of coastal vulnerability for the central-north region of Santa Catarina; (b) assessment of the criteria such as geology, geomorphology, climate, marine dynamic, topography and social-economy of the study area; (c) hierarchical classification against resistance factors and/or ecological function and subsequent pondering according to the sensitivity of each criterion to extreme events and mean sea level rise; (d) development of thematic maps containing the environmental sensitivity information of the study area for two different wave scenarios, waves from the East and Southeast directions. The ISAC showed that 39% of the coastal area has High sensitivity for the East waves, followed by the values of 18% which has Low sensitivity, 17% with Very High and 16% with Very Low sensitivity. For the Southeast waves scenario, 41% of the study area has High sensitivity in the coastal sections, with lower values in the sequence, where 20%, 15% and 13% of the coast showed the sensitivity as Low, Very Low and Very High respectively. Regarding the social environmental coastal risk, for the East wave scenario, 51% of the coastline presents Medium risk, 30% High risk and 18% Low risk. For the Southeast waves scenario, 53%, 27% and 20% of the coastal segment has Medium, High and Low risk respectively. The ISAC and the Social Environmental Risk analysis were effective for a regional assessment of the central northern coast of Santa Catarina. However, it is noted that to perform a detailed local analysis is necessary to obtain a greater volume of information about the criteria or environmental parameters through field campaigns.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-03-07Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:27:38Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_jp_me_jabo.pdf: 1313453 bytes, checksum: 4c61c83068fdecf5e8c6a9ee5b5f525e (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O inseticida diflubenzuron (DFB), comercializado como Dimilin®, é empregado em pisciculturas no tratamento de ecotoparasitoses em peixes. Este composto inibe a síntese de quitina, componente do exoesqueleto dos parasitas. A utilização deste inseticida se deve à sua baixa toxicidade aos peixes e eficácia no controle dos ectoparasitas. Porém, no ambiente aquático o DFB pode ser tóxico à espécies sensíveis e não-alvos, a concentração empregada no tratamento das ectoparasitoses é de 2 mg.L-1. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a toxicidade do DFB para as espécies de Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata e Lemna minor, classificar o produto quanto à sua toxicidade e risco ambiental e avaliar o efeito do sedimento na biodisponibilidade do DFB na água. Os organismos-teste foram submetidos a concentrações crescentes do inseticida em salas climatizadas do Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia da FCAV-UNESP. Os testes com D. magna foram realizados em volume de 10 mL a 20° C e cinco organismos neonatos por concentração, durante 48 horas na presença e ausência de sedimento. Os peixes (P. reticulata) foram expostos às concentrações do DFB por 96 horas em testes na presença e ausência de sedimento. O volume final foi de 3000 mL e cinco animais por concentração à 25° C. As plantas de L. minor foram expostas ao DFB por sete dias na presença e ausência de sedimento. O volume final foi de 100 mL e 12 frondes por concentração à 24° C. Os testes foram realizados com três réplicas incluindo o controle. As CE50-48h calculadas para D. magna foram de 0,56 μg.L-1 e 1,51 μg.L-1 na ausência e presença de sedimento respectivamente; as CL50-96h para P. reticulata foram 152,00 mg.L-1 e 277,83 mg.L-1 na ausência e presença de sedimento respectivamente; e as CE50-7dias para L. minor foram 459,50 mg.L-1 e 698,25 mg.L-1 na ausência e presença de sedimento respectivamente... / The insecticide diflubenzuron (DFB), marketed as Dimilin®, is used in fish farms to treat ectoparasites in fishes. This compound inhibits the chitin synthesis, exoskeleton component of the parasites. The use of this insecticide is due to its low toxicity for fish and effectiveness in the control of ectoparasites. However, the DFB in the aquatic environmental can be toxic to sensitive species and non-targed, the concentration used in the treatment of ectoparasites is 2 mg.L-1. The aims of this study were to evaluate the toxicity of the DFB for the species of Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata and Lemna minor, classify the product as to their toxicity and environmental risk and evaluate the effect of sediment on the bioavailability of the DFB in the water. The organisms-test were submitted to increasing concentrations of insecticide in air conditioned rooms of the Laboratory of Ecotoxicology FCAV-UNESP. Tests with D. magna were performed in volume of 10 mL at 20° C and five organisms neonates (6 and 24 hours of age) in each concentration, for 48 hours in the presence and absence of sediment. Fishes (P. reticulata) were exposed to concentrations of the DFB for 96 hours in tests in the presence and absence of sediment. The final volume was 3000 mL and five animals per concentration to 25° C. The plants of L. minor were exposed to the DFB for seven days in the presence and absence of sediment. The final volume was 100 mL and 12 fronds by concentration to 24° C. The tests were performed with three repetitions incluing the control. The EC50-48h estimeds for D. magna were 0.56 and 1.51 μg.L-1 in the absence and presence of sediment respectively; the LC50-96h for P. reticulata were 152.00 mg.L-1 and 277.83 mg.L-1 in the absence and presence of sediment respectively; and the EC50-7dias to L. minor were 459.50 mg.L-1 and 698.25 mg.L-1 in the absence and presence of sediment respectively...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:07:50Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gomezmanrique_w_me_jabo.pdf: 303623 bytes, checksum: 088cc0079ff9078b4042178640b5bcb1 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Os agrotóxicos são utilizados na agricultura para evitar as perdas de produtividade causadas por insetos, ácaros, plantas daninhas, fungos, entre outros. Porém, o uso excessivo destes produtos químicos tem provocado impactos negativos no ambiente. Dentre os efeitos nocivos, destacam-se a presença de resíduos no solo, água, ar, plantas e animais. O fipronil é um inseticida utilizado na cultura de cana-de-açúcar que pode ser carreado para o ambiente aquático. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o risco de intoxicação ambiental da maior concentração de fipronil usada na agricultura com base no valor da CL50 estimados nos testes de toxicidade aguda para Poecilia reticulata como organismo bioindicador; e determinar a dissipação do inseticida no ambiente aquático. Os testes de toxicidade aguda foram realizados de acordo com as normas nacionais. A CL50(I);96h foi estimada em 0,08 mg.L-1 de fipronil sem sedimento e 0,09 mg.L-1 com sedimento. Com estes valores da CL(I)50;96h, o fipronil classifica-se como extremamente tóxico para Poecilia reticulata em ambos os casos. O fipronil classifica-se também como de alto risco de intoxicação ambiental para espelhos d’água de um ha e 0,30 m de profundidade, sem e com sedimento. Para espelhos d’água com um ha e 2,0 m de profundidade, o fipronil classifica-se medianamente tóxico. A dissipação do fipronil na água não foi afetada pela temperatura, substrato (ausência e presença de sedimento) e luminosidade (com luz e sem luz). O tempo mínimo onde o fipronil causa 50% de mortalidade aguda (0,08 mg.L-1) para o guarú após da diluição da concentração de 0,75 mg.L-1 é de 242 dias e o intervalo de segurança, onde não ocorre mortalidade (0,025 mg.L-1) é de 263 dias. / The pesticides are used in agriculture to avoid the loss of productivity caused by insects, mites, weeds, fungi, and others. However, the excessive use of these chemicals has caused negative impacts in the environment. Among the harmful effects to the environment, stands out the presence of residues in soil, water, air, plants and animals. The insecticide fipronil is widely used in cultivation of sugar cane, and it is subject to movement and the runoff to the aquatic environment. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental risk of intoxication using the highest dose applicated in agriculture of fipronil on the estimated value of the LC50 in acute toxicity tests for Poecilia reticulata used as indicator organism, and dissipation of the insecticide in aquatic environment. The acute toxicity tests were conducted according to national standards. The LC(I)50;96h was estimated at 0.08 mg.L-1 of fipronil without sediment and 0.09 mg.L-1 with sediment. With these values of LC(I)50;96h, the fipronil is classified as extremely toxic to Poecilia reticulata in both cases. The fipronil was also classified as high risk of intoxication environmental in water surface 1 ha and 0.30 m depth, with and without sediment. To water surface with 1 ha and 2.0 m depth, the fipronil is classified with medium toxicity. The dissipation of fipronil in water was not affected by the factors, temperature, substrate and lightness. The minimum time where fipronil cause 50% mortality (0.08 mg.L-1) to guaru after dilution of concentration 0.75 mg.L-1 is 242 days and range of safety, where not deaths occurred (0.025 mg.L-1) is 263 days.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-01-05T14:52:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 7348980 bytes, checksum: 76c95478364d9616aac4b4ef147a3cb7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-05T14:52:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 7348980 bytes, checksum: 76c95478364d9616aac4b4ef147a3cb7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-31 / This paper focuses on aspects related to the study of the risk of water bodies’ pollution of the Gramame river basin, ParaíbaState, around the upper and middle river Gramame’s course, upstream of Gramame-Mamuaba reserve. This study applied the Delphi method to assess the degree of pollution’s risk of superficial water in the Gramame river basin,it based on the vulnerability map of the study area prepared by Pedrosa (2008), and about the pollution sources detected from experts’ opinions. The research included georeferenced survey of sources’ pollution from previous studies in the basin, specific conversations with experts and local residents, and the making of the map’s risk contamination. The sequence of activities from application of the Delphi method occurs in three steps: step 1, based on previous studies in the Gramame river basin and through specific conversations with experts and local residents, the pollutant sources relatedwere identified at risk of contamination of water bodies the study area; step 2, the identified pollutant sources underwent assessment of these experts, the pollution potential for polluting source displayed, identified in the area; and, in step 3 we evaluated the contamination’s risk of each potential pollutant associated with the map of the vulnerability from area, where the pollution source is located. The risk contamination map’s risk was made from Delphi method results in the study area. The pollutant sources identified and mapped in the basin that supplies the Gramame-Mamuaba reserve presents pollution potential ranging from moderate to very high. This pollution potential when associated with the vulnerability of the area, indicating the risk of pollution of water bodies, which increases with the degree from this vulnerability. These results can be used in order to provide grant for departments responsible for water resources management and to control actions for problems identified through this study. / Este trabalho aborda aspectos relacionados ao estudo do risco de poluição dos corpos hídricos da bacia hidrográfica do rio Gramame, Estado da Paraíba, nas porções situadas no alto e médio curso do rio Gramame, à montante do reservatório Gramame-Mamuaba. Neste estudo aplicou-se o método Delphi para avaliar o grau de risco de poluição da água superficial na bacia hidrográfica do rio Gramame, com base no mapa de vulnerabilidade da área em estudo elaborado por Pedrosa (2008) e nas fontes de poluição detectadas na opinião de especialistas. A pesquisa incluiu levantamento georeferenciadado das fontes poluidoras, a partir de estudos já realizados na bacia hidrográfica, conversas específicas com especialistas e moradores da região e a confecção do mapa de risco de contaminação. A sequência de atividades da aplicação do método Delphi foi realizada em três etapas: na 1ª etapa foram identificadas as fontes poluidoras relacionadas com risco de contaminação dos corpos hídricos da área de estudo, com base em estudos já realizados na bacia hidrográfica e por meio de conversas específicas com especialistas e moradores da região; na 2ª etapa as fontes poluidoras identificadas foram submetidas à avaliação dos mesmos especialistas, do potencial poluidor, por fonte poluidora apresentada, identificada na área; na 3ª etapa foi avaliado o grau de risco de contaminação de cada potencial poluidor relacionado com o mapa da vulnerabilidade da área onde a fonte poluidora está localizada. A partir dos resultados da aplicação do método Delphi, foi elaborado o mapa de risco de contaminação dos corpos hídricos da área de estudo. As fontes poluidoras identificadas e mapeadas na área da bacia que abastece o reservatório Gramame-Mamuaba apresentam potencial poluidor variando de moderado a muito alto. Esse potencial poluidor quando relacionado com a vulnerabilidade da área, indica o risco de poluição dos corpos hídricos, que aumenta de acordo com o grau dessa vulnerabilidade. Essas informações podem ser usadas de forma a fornecer subsídios, aos órgãos responsáveis pela gestão de recursos hídricos, nas ações de controle de problemas detectados por este estudo.

Orientador: Roberto Wagner Lourenço / Coorientador: Lígia Ferrari Torella di Romagnano / Banca: Viviane Moschini Carlos / Banca: Kelly Cristina Tonello / Resumo: A presente dissertação de mestrado teve como objetivo geral a construção de metodologia para a identificação das áreas de risco e prioritárias para restauração e conservação de remanescentes florestais através do estudo da diversidade de riqueza das espécies da avifauna, utilizando técnicas de Geoprocessamento e Sensoriamento Remoto por meio de Sistemas de Informações Geográficas na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Una, localizado no município de Ibiúna - São Paulo. Para isso foi realizado estudos do meio físico contemplando o mapeamento do uso do solo e cobertura vegetal para identificação dos fragmentos florestais a serem utilizados como unidades amostrais, realizada a análise da Densidade de Drenagem e a geração de Índices de Circularidade e Índice de Efeito de Borda para a construção do Indicador de Exposição Antrópica de cada fragmento. Após a obtenção dessas variáveis, foi realizada a análise da riqueza e diversidade das espécies de avifauna e a análise da população através de um levantamento das espécies. Por fim, foi elaborada uma metodologia para identificação de áreas de risco e prioritárias para conservação da avifauna na área de estudo. Os resultados obtidos com o mapeamento do uso do solo e cobertura vegetal mostraram que o tipo de uso do solo dominante em toda a área de estudo é a classe de Matas com 3.945,0 hectares. No entanto, é possível observar forte presença de áreas de exposição antrópica a montante da área de estudo em direção a sua jusante. Com relação ao Índice de Circularidade das unidades amostrais, não houve nenhum fragmento classificado como forma arredondada, ou seja, com valores superior a 0,8, sendo apenas um fragmento localizado na região central da bacia e um fragmento localizado a montante classificados como alongados, sendo os demais classificados como muito alongados. Com relação ao Índice de Efeito de Borda apenas um fragmento, localizado a... / Abstract: The present dissertation aimed to build a methodology for the environmental risk areas identification and priorities for restoration and conservation of forest remnants by studying the richness and the diversity of birdsspecies, using GIS and Remote Sensing techniques through the Geographic Information Systems in the watershed of the Una River, located in the city of Ibiúna, São Paulo/Brazil. Furthermore, was realized studies of the physical environmentcompleting the mapping of land use and vegetation cover for identification of forest fragments to be used as sampling units performing the analysis of the Drainage density (Dd) and the generation of the Roundness Index (IC) and Edge Effect Index (IEB) for the construction of an Anthropic Exposure Indicator (IEA) for each fragment. After obtained these variables, was realized the richness analysis and thespecies diversity of birds and the population analysis was conducted through a survey of the species. Finally was elaborated a methodology for identification of risk areas and priorities for conservation of birds in the study area. The results obtained with the land uses and vegetation cover map showed that the type of the dominant land use throughout the study area is the class of forests with 3945.0 hectares. However, it is possible to observe strong presence of anthropic exposure areas upstream of the study area toward it's downstream. Regarding IC, the sample units weren't classified as rounded shape, i.e. with higher value to 0.8, with only a fragment located in the central part of the watershed and a fragment located upstream classified as elongated, and the others classified as very elongated. Concerning the IEB only a fragment, located downstream and two fragments located in the central part of the watershed, were classified as Low Pressure Anthropic, the others were classified as Medium Pressure Anthropic. The Anthropic Exposure Indicator (IEA) composed of the previous indexes ... / Mestre