The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a 10-point scale that communicates the cumulative health risks associated with air pollution (ECCC, 2016). The general theme of this dissertation centers on an understanding of AQHI adoption while accounting for socioeconomic status (SES) in order to facilitate AQHI uptake by the public with particular focus on “at risk” populations (i.e. young children, seniors, and those with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiovascular conditions). The study is unique since it approaches AQHI adoption consistent with the ecological model and an equity lens, and AQHI adoption is considered at the individual, organizational and community levels. The study area for this dissertation is Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The findings from this dissertation contribute to an understanding of why AQHI is or is not being adopted and suggests potential intervention strategies to increase its uptake. Consistent with health behaviour theory, demographics (gender, age, education, area of residence), knowledge/understanding and individual risk perceptions (neighbourhood air effects on health) were found to be significant predictors of AQHI adoption. Additionally, perceived benefits of AQHI adoption included protection of health for self and those cared for via familial and/or occupational duties. While perceived barriers of AQHI adoption included lack of time required to check and follow AQHI health messages and the inability to “self-identify” as belonging to the “at risk” population. This dissertation proposes that increases in AQHI adoption may be achieved by increasing AQHI knowledge and emphasizing the benefits and relevance of AQHI such that “at risk” populations can self-identify. Additionally, AQHI uptake may be increased by providing AQHI information at a neighbourhood scale via local media sources and wearable devices. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Despite its rapid growth in recent literature, risks in project management have received limited critical attention when compared to Lean principles and total quality management. The aim of this article is to examine the ongoing dialogue within health services funders and providers concerning the relationship between project management and its relationship to hard and soft environmental risk factors. The failure of high profile projects and cost to the taxpayer is on the increase. This article argues that the lack of understanding in relation to a holistic assessment of project success factors contributes to increased risk of failure. It argues that greater emphasis is needed on placing risk relative to both operational and cultural factors, as opposed to the frequent use of prescriptive mechanistic methodologies. These changes have the potential not merely to improve the success rates of healthcare management projects, but health outcomes too.

<p>The risk assessment process and the subsequent risk management measures need tobe constantly evaluated, updated and improved. This thesis contributes to that workby considering, and suggesting improvements, regarding aspects like userfriendliness,transparency, accuracy, consistency, data reporting, data selection anddata evaluation.The first paper in this thesis reports from an empirical investigation of themotivations, intentions and expectations underlying the development andimplementation of a voluntary industry owned environmental classification systemfor pharmaceuticals. The results show that the purpose of the classification systemis to provide information, no other risk reduction measures are aimed for.The second paper reports from an evaluation of the accuracy and the consistency ofthe environmental risk assessments conducted within the classification system. Theresults show that the guideline recommendations were not followed in several casesand consequently alternative risk ratios could be determined for six of the 36pharmaceutical substances selected for evaluation in this study. When additionaldata from the open scientific literature was included the risk ratio was altered formore than one-third of the risk assessments. Seven of the 36 substances wereassessed and classified by more than one risk assessor. In two of the seven cases,different producers classified the same substance into different classificationcategories.The third paper addresses the question whether non-standard ecotoxicity data couldbe used systematically in environmental risk assessments of pharmaceuticals. Fourdifferent evaluation methods were used to evaluate nine non-standard studies. Theevaluation result from the different methods varied at surprisingly high rate and theevaluation of the non-standard data concluded that the reliability of the data wasgenerally low.</p> / QC 20100929

Radionuclides are widely used in energy production and medical, military and industrial applications. Thus, understanding the behaviour of radionuclides which have been or may be released into ecosystems is important for human and environmental risk assessment. Modelling of radionuclides or their stable element analogues is the only tool that can predict the consequences of accidental release. In this thesis, two dynamic stochastic compartment models for radionuclide/element transfer in a marine coastal ecosystem and a freshwater lake were developed and implemented (Paper I and III), in order to model a hypothetical future release of multiple radionuclides from a nuclear waste disposal site. Element-specific mechanisms such as element uptake via diet and adsorption of elements to organic surfaces were connected to ecosystem carbon models. Element transport in two specific coastal and lake ecosystems were simulated for 26 and 13 elements, respectively (Papers I and III). Using the models, the concentration ratios (CR: the ratio of the element or radionuclide concentration in an organism to the concentration in water) were estimated for different groups of aquatic organisms. The coastal model was also compared with a 3D hydrodynamic spatial model (Paper II) for Cs, Ni and Th, and estimated confidence limits for their modelled CRs. In the absence of site-specific CR data, being able to estimate a range of CR values with such models is an alternative to relying on literature CR values that are not always relevant to the site of interest. Water chemistry was also found to influence uptake of contaminants by aquatic organisms. Empirical inverse relationships were derived between CRs of fish for stable Sr (CRSr) and Cs (CRCs) and water concentrations of their biochemical analogues Ca and K, respectively (Paper IV), illustrating how such relationships could be used in the prediction of more site-specific CRCs and CRSr in fish simply from water chemistry measurements. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

M.Sc. (Environmental Management) / Geothermal springs exist on all continents of the Earth and are used for a myriad of different applications and uses. The last few years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in these springs due to a proliferation of utilisation of geothermal resources. Despite numerous benefits associated with their use, studies have shown that the water of geothermal springs could contain toxic elements, pathogenic organisms, toxic gases and even elements that are radio-active in nature that may have health impacts on users. The presence of some of these chemicals in the water and air can be traced back to the geological formations through which the thermal waters flow. More than 90 geothermal springs have been identified in South Africa. However, relatively little is known about how South African geothermal springs have been used in the past and how their geochemical composition and land-use around them has changed over time. There is also a scarcity of scientific literature dealing with environmental risk assessment associated with the different uses of geothermal spring water in South Africa. Given this research contextualization, the present study examined the overall water quality and assessed the potential health risks of the geothermal spring and associated waters (hydro spa and overflow pond) of the holiday resort of “Eiland” in the Limpopo Province. The research undertaken for this research project formed part of a bigger Water Research Commission (WRC) research project on geothermal springs in South Africa. Water samples were taken and observations were made of the resort waters during a field trip undertaken during August 2012. Chemical analyses of the samples were performed by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC): Institute for Soil, Climate and Water of South Africa (ISCW). Parameters under investigation included temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and various chemical constituents. A comparison of the laboratory results to previous years data and to four domestic water use standards/guidelines was made. These included the EU (1998), SABS (2006), SABS (2011) and the WHO (2011) domestic use water quality standards/guidelines. A risk assessment, based on Aucamp’s (2009) method, was performed for potentially harmful parameters. Overall, the waters of the resort were deemed to be of low risk and therefore not of a health and environmental risk to the users. Although the waters do not satisfy the domestic use water standards, they are suitable for the current recreational purposes of the resort. It is recommended however, that the soil sensitivity be determined for irrigational purposes and toxicology tests be conducted for the fish species inhabiting the overflow pond and small dam in order to determine the possible extent of bioaccumulation. It is recommended that geothermal waters are not used for bottling or for consumption for domestic or therapeutic purposes. In the event of expansion to include such uses a stringent new risk assessment is recommended.

L’objectif de cette thèse sur articles était d’identifier des facteurs de risque environnementaux (FRE) associés à la survenue et au maintien des troubles psychotiques non-affectifs, dans un contexte français. Nous nous sommes appuyé sur les modèles socio-développemental-cognitif de Howes et Murray, et de la sensibilisation. Nos résultats ont montré l’implication d’un FRE populationnel, la fragilité économique, et de plusieurs aspects d’un FRE individuel, les traumatismes infantiles, dans l’accroissement du risque de développer ou de survenue d’un trouble psychotique. Concernant l’évolution de la maladie : nous avons identifié les expériences traumatiques infantiles et la consommation de cannabis comme étant deux facteurs modificateurs du cours évolutif de la maladie. Nous avons enfin cherché à montrer les apports de la théorie de la dissociation structurelle de la personnalité, pour intégrer les résultats issus de nos deux modèles initiaux dans un cadre bio-psycho-social. Nos travaux indiquent que des FRE populationnels et individuels sont associés à la survenue et au maintien des troubles psychotiques. Ils ouvrent la voie à de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques. / This article thesis aimed to identify environmental risk factors (ERF) that are associated with the onset and the prognosis of non-affective psychotic disorders, in a French context. We based our work on Howes and Murray’s sociodevelopmental-cognitive model, and the sensitization model. Our results showed that one area-level environmental risk factor, namely the economic deprivation, and several aspects of childhood traumas, an individual ERF, are associated with an increased risk to develop psychotic disorders. Furthermore, we identified childhood traumas and cannabis consumption as modifier factors for these disorders. Finally, we sought to link our previous results, the two original models, and conceptual inputs from the theory of structural dissociation of personality in a coherent, clinically useful, and biopsychosocial framework. Our results suggest that both arealevel and individual environmental risk factors are involved in the onset and poor prognosis of psychotic disorders. They open perspectives for new therapeutic strategies.

Neste século, o mundo está voltado para os problemas ambientais. Notadamente, são raros os modelos de avaliação de risco de crédito que agregue a variável ambiental, quer por não fazerem parte do escopo da metodologia, quer pelo método não ser transparente quanto à metodologia. Este trabalho pretende contribuir para o desenvolvimento de um modelo de avaliação de risco de crédito agregando a variável ambiental. Desta forma, este trabalho foi embasado em uma metodologia exploratória, cuja técnica foi essencialmente de levantamento bibliográfico, com o principal intuito de apresentar a forma de mensuração e identificação dos riscos mais freqüentes, sob a ótica da concessão de crédito. Foram abordados aspectos de política financeira, de direito ambiental e da legislação brasileira, assim como a análise de alguns índices de eco-eficiência e ambientais. Por fim, com base em alguns sistemas de classificação de risco, foi apresentada uma contribuição ao modelo de avaliação de risco agregando a variável ambiental. / In this century, the world is directed to the environmental problems. Notedly, models of valuation of the credit risk aggregating the environmental variable are rares, it not be part of the intention of the methodology or for methody to not be transparent as for methodology. This work intends to contribute for the development of a model of valuation of the credit risk aggregating the environmental variable. This way, this research was based on an exploratory methodology which technique was essentially made by a bibliographic survey, with the principal purpose to present the manner of the mensuration and identification of the more frequently risks, under the optical of the concession of credit. It was aborded aspects of the financial management, of the environmental law and of the Brazilian legislation, as well as the analysis of some eco-efficiency and environmentals indexes. At last, based upon some systems of risk classification, it was presented a contribution to the model of the valuation of risk, aggregating the environmental variable.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:25:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elcio.pdf: 1405365 bytes, checksum: 1cf95d3d509b75e10900dd5521f2e502 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-21 / The industrialization and utilization of technology by our society in its present form of production are associated to a production process of environmental risk, which is many times undetected by society. The challenge presented to society is to find harmony between the pressures of those who search for economic growth and those who search for environmental protection. The Precautionary Principle appears as one of the main instruments in dealing with technological risks and their relations with environmental questions. However, the rapid diffusion and aplication of this principal in this society of risk, compel its proponents a clear demonstration of the importance of precaution in making environmental decisions. The decision makers must consider the evaluation of the potential consequences of omission, of the uncertanties and of the a scientific evaluation, when taking an action based on precaution. The present has the objective of debating questions that rouse concerning the application of the related principle, its relation with science and the technology a society of risk, considering the diversity of legal system and written laws, as well as the peculiar characteristics that are attributed to it by the legal doctrine and by the legal precedents in the national and international scenery / A industrialização e a utilização da tecnologia no atual modo de produção de nossa sociedade estão associadas a um processo de produção de riscos ambientais cada vez mais complexos, e que muitas vezes são imperceptíveis pela sociedade. O desafio colocado à sociedade é encontrar uma harmonização entre as pressões daqueles que buscam o crescimento econômico e aqueles que buscam uma maior proteção do meio ambiente. O Princípio da Precaução surge como um dos principais instrumentos para tratarmos dos riscos tecnológicos e suas relações com as questões ambientais. No entanto, a célere difusão e aplicação deste princípio nesta sociedade de risco, obrigam seus proponentes a demonstração clara do papel da precaução na tomada de decisões ambientais. Os tomadores de decisão devem considerar uma avaliação das potenciais conseqüências da omissão, das incertezas e da ignorância de uma avaliação cientifica, quando determinam o disparo de uma ação baseada na precaução. Este trabalho tem como objetivo debater as questões suscitadas acerca da aplicação do referido princípio, seu relacionamento com a ciência e a tecnologia numa sociedade de risco, levando em conta as diversas redações nos diferentes ordenamentos e em diversas normas legais, bem como as características peculiares que lhe são atribuídas pela doutrina jurídica e pela jurisprudência no cenário nacional e internacional

A preocupação com a sustentabilidade nos empreendimentos florestais, em relação aos aspectos ambientais, sociais e econômicos, tem se evidenciado como uma realidade crescente. Para representar essa preocupação na elaboração nos planos de manejo florestal, buscou-se atribuir maior grau de detalhamento nas análises e compreensão da interação desses aspectos para prevenir possíveis impactos futuros e avaliar soluções a serem adotadas. Entretanto, esse detalhamento, representado pelo planejamento em níveis tático e operacional, muitas vezes é elaborado através de métodos que podem apresentar alto grau de risco relacionado à ocorrência de soluções não realistas, prejudicando o processo de tomada de decisão. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo aprimorar as técnicas de planejamento operacional de colheita, através da elaboração de um modelo de programação linear padrão, avaliar esse modelo em diferentes cenários sujeitos a restrições ambientais e de abastecimento de uma empresa usada como estudo de caso, e realizar a comparação entre os resultados obtidos nesses cenários com os resultados efetivamente verificados pela empresa durante os períodos de avaliação. O estudo de caso considerou as áreas de produção de uma empresa florestal produtora de celulose no Uruguai a partir de plantações de eucalipto, onde foram selecionadas áreas para colheita em três anos consecutivos. A partir dessas áreas e parâmetros de produção dos povoamentos florestais, e das características da operação de colheita e expectativas do setor industrial, foi elaborado um modelo de programação linear inteira mista com minimização de desvios de metas. Através desse modelo foram avaliadas a ampliação da capacidade operacional, restrições ambientais e de abastecimento. A restrição ambiental exigiu a classificação das áreas de corte quanto à probabilidade de ocorrência de danos ao meio ambiente durante a operação de colheita em determinadas épocas do ano. A restrição de abastecimento considerou a regulação da densidade média da madeira entregue na indústria em cada período de análise, de acordo com um intervalo máximo de variação de 5% em relação á média geral. Já, a ampliação da capacidade operacional envolveu a análise de contratação de equipes terceirizadas para dar suporte à operação de colheita em determinados períodos. Além disso, o modelo matemático permitiu a incorporação de limites de deslocamento espacial da frente de colheita ao longo dos períodos de avaliação. Como resultado, foi selecionado um conjunto de indicadores de desempenho para a avaliação dos itens considerados no modelo, bem como suas interações, além da comparação dos cenários com os resultados realizados para cada um desses indicadores. O estudo mostra que é possível elaborar um modelo de programação linear capaz de representar o planejamento operacional de colheita, além de incorporar aspectos produtivos, ambientais e de abastecimento. A comparação dos resultados gerados pelo modelo nos diferentes cenários com os resultados obtidos pela empresa no período de análise mostrou a possibilidade de melhora na qualidade das soluções ao fazer uso das técnicas de programação linear e a vantagem da utilização de técnicas de planejamento mais holísticas. / Sustainability concerns in forest-based industries, as related to environmental, social and economic aspects, have been highlighted with crescent realism. Therefore, forest management plans must consider a greater level of details when analyzing and understanding the interaction among these aspects to prevent possible future impacts. At the tactical and operational planning levels, methods based on generic assumptions usually provide non-realistic solutions, impairing the decision making process. This study is aimed to improve current operational harvesting planning techniques, through the development of a standard linear programming model that allows for the evaluation of different scenarios, subject to environmental and supply constraints, and that provides the basic framework for comparisons with the results observed in the study case during the period of assessment. The study case comprised eucalyptus plantations harvested by a pulp mill in Uruguay over three consecutive years. Forest plantation parameters, like area, growth, harvesting conditions etc., and industrial requirements were mathematically represented in a linear mixed integer goal programming model. The model considered the increase on operational capacity and was constrained by environmental and supply limits. The environmental constraint required the classification of harvesting areas according to impacts due to environmental damages incurred during harvest operations. The supply constraint considered the need for regulating the average wood density and imposed a maximum range of variation of 5% on overall average. The possibility of increasing operational capacity was allowed by hiring outsourced crews to support harvest operations in certain periods. Furthermore, the spatial consequences of dispatching harvest crews to certain distances over the evaluation period were also considered. As a result, a set of performance indicators was selected to evaluate all optimal solutions provided to different possible scenarios and combinations of these scenarios, and to compare these outcomes with the real results observed by the mill in the study case area. Results showed that it is possible to elaborate a linear programming model that represents adequately harvesting limitations, production aspects, and environmental and supply constraints. The comparison involving the evaluated scenarios and the real observed results showed the advantage of using more holistic approaches and that it is possible to improve the quality of the planning recommendations using linear programming techniques.

Os paradigmas ecológicos atualmente em prática apresentam dificuldades quando aplicados na avaliação, monitoração e gerenciamento dos ecossistemas altamente deteriorados. No entanto uma abordagem baseada na metáfora da saúde ambiental promete vir a ser muito útil. Pela discussão a respeito do conceito de saúde ambiental, o presente ensaio propõe algumas definições bem como um modelo e métodos preliminares de diagnóstico, baseado nos protocolos de Avaliação de Risco Ambiental da agência norte americana. A proposta de avaliação da saúde dos ecossistemas deriva de um nova ciência integradora, a ecotoxicologia, a qual estaria a desenvolver procedimentos para diagnosticar as condições de saúde dos ecossistemas de forma semelhante a como se estima a condição da saúde humana. As principais idéias a respeito de saúde dos ecossistemas estão sendo condensadas em três capítulos principais. Em primeiro lugar é apresentada uma revisão da literatura referente ao conceito de saúde dos ecossistemas e às suas diferentes formas de estimação. Uma vez definidas as bases conceituais, e a modo de exemplo, passa-se a um estudo de caso no qual procura-se estimar alguns aspectos relacionados ao estudo da saúde da Represa de Salto Grande (Americana, SP) mediante a aplicação da metodologia de Avaliação de Risco Ambiental. Finalmente, são apresentadas algumas considerações a respeito do diagnóstico da saúde de reservatórios. / The assessment, monitoring and management of highly deteriorated ecosystems are not easily served for by existing environmental paradigms. The approach to the concept of ecosystem health metaphor is seen to be very useful. This essay proposes some definitions of ecosystem health along with a preliminary diagnostic model and methods based on the USEPA\'s Environmental Risk Assessment framework. The ecosystem health assessment idea derives from the emerging integrative science of ecotoxicology, which would be to seek a procedure about diagnosis of ecosystem health condition similarly to the diagnosis of human health condition. The main ideas about ecosystem health are condensed into three main sections. First, a review of the literature regarding definitions and general approaches of biophysical landscape health is presented. This background stage is followed by a case study, as example, which details how different phases of the USEPA\'s Environmental Risk Assessment framework can be applied to accomplish some aspects of the ecosystem health status from the Salto Grande Reservoir (Americana, SP - Brazil). At the essay\'s conclusion, some remarks regarding the tropical reservoir\'s health diagnosis are presented.