Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream today and information and communications technology (ICT) equipment make up a significant portion of all the electronics put on market. Due to the valuable, rare, and toxic material content of ICT equipment, their disposal requires proper treatment to ensure materials are recovered and harm to the surrounding environment and nearby residents is avoided. As a tool used to identify the impacts resulting from a product, life cycle assessment (LCA) requires details around the processes performed during each stage of a product’s life. LCA studies on ICT waste often assume that discarded equipment is fully recycled under formal conditions. This study investigates current ICT waste treatment practices and proposes a more reasonable end-of-life treatment scenario for use in future LCA work. The volume of ICT waste generated in each country is estimated according to reported mobile phone subscription counts, and treatment flows are investigated for the countries identified as generating the most waste in each region. National results are then aggregated to estimate regional and global end-of-life treatment scenarios. The research indicates that developed countries properly recycle the majority of the ICT waste that is collected and treated domestically; the United States is an exception as a majority of ICT waste generated there is discarded to landfills. Developing countries tend to recycle a majority of electronic waste in informal sectors where a lack of technology and limited enforcement of regulations result in harmful waste processing activities. Waste is also exported from developed countries for treatment in developing countries. The proposed global end-of-life treatment scenario is 19% of ICT waste is recycled under formal conditions, 64% is recycled using informal methods, and the remaining 17% is discarded in landfills. Due to a lack of uncertainty, there is a clear need for more research regarding the treatment of ICT waste, especially in regards to B2B waste and export flows. A sensitivity analysis to determine the overall impact these results may have when applied to an LCA study is recommended.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:25:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE Doutorado CLAUDIA ZANINI.pdf: 1721705 bytes, checksum: 987d65104fccd2a473cae238b42052a5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-22 / INTRODUCTION: Arterial Hypertension (AH) is a mass disease, with consequences for the cardiocirculatory system. It may result in an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. Controlling blood pressure (BP) lessens complications and helps preserve quality of life (QL). Studies have shown the positive effects of music as a coadjuvant in the treatment of various pathologies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of music therapy on QL and in the control of BP in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the UFG Clinical Hospital. A controlled clinical trial evaluated patients of both sexes, over 50 years old, AH stage 1, under medication and enrolled in a multidisciplinary AH treatment program. They were divided into experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups. In addition to conventional treatment, the EG participated in weekly music therapy sessions over 12 weeks. The CG continued with the program&#8223;s regular treatment. Before and after the intervention, two QL-evaluation instruments, the SF-36 and Bulpitt and Fletcher questionnaires, were administered to the two groups. Change in BP was also measured. The voice, an important element in communication and a reflection of physical, psychological and emotional state, was the main therapeutic resource used. The t-student, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, Chi-Squared and Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis. The Pearson or Spearman correlations were used to analyze the correlation between the QL instruments. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The groups were initially homogeneous as regards sex, age, education level, QL. In the before-and-after comparison, the EG patients showed a significant improvement in BP control and QL. The CG registered no significant change. We find good correlation between the instruments of QL evaluation. CONCLUSION: Music therapy contributed to better BP control and QL improvement. The two QL evaluation instruments correlated well, with the possibility of a more holistic view of the patient. This therapeutic modality may represent an important contribution to multidisciplinary programs serving hypertensive patients / INTRODUÇÃO - A Hipertensão Arterial (HA) é uma doença de massa, com conseqüências para o aparelho cardiocirculatório, podendo gerar elevação das taxas de morbi-mortalidade. Controlar a pressão arterial (PA) diminui complicações e deve preservar a qualidade de vida (QV). Estudos têm evidenciado os efeitos positivos da música como coadjuvante no tratamento de diversas patologias. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o efeito da musicoterapia na QV e no controle da PA de pacientes hipertensos. MÉTODOS: Projeto aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Hospital das Clínicas da UFG. Ensaio clínico controlado avaliou pacientes de ambos os sexos, maiores que 50 anos, HA estágio 1, medicados e matriculados em serviço multiprofissional para tratamento da HA. Divididos em grupos experimental (GE) e controle (GC). O GE, além do tratamento convencional, participou de sessões musicoterápicas semanais por doze semanas. O GC permaneceu sob tratamento padrão do serviço. Antes e após a intervenção foram aplicados em ambos os grupos dois instrumentos para avaliação da QV (Questionário SF-36 e de Bulpitt e Fletcher) e avaliado o nível da PA. A voz, importante elemento da comunicação, reflexo do estado físico, psíquico e emocional, foi o principal recurso terapêutico utilizado. Para a análise estatística foram utilizados os testes T-Student, de Mann-Whitney, de Wilcoxon, Qui-Quadrado e de Fisher. Para analisar a correlação entre os instrumentos de QV foram utilizadas as correlações de Pearson ou de Spearman. Dados analisados através do Programa SPSS. Valores de p<0,05 considerados significantes. RESULTADOS: Grupos inicialmente homogêneos quanto a sexo, idade, escolaridade e QV. Na comparação inicial e final dos pacientes do GE observou-se diminuição significativa da PA e melhora na QV enquanto no GC não se verificou alterações significativas. Houve correlação positiva entre os dois instrumentos utilizados para avaliação da QV. CONCLUSÃO: A Musicoterapia contribuiu para a melhora do controle da PA e para a melhora da QV. Os dois instrumentos de avaliação da QV tiveram boa correlação, com possibilidade de uma visão mais integral do paciente. Esta modalidade terapêutica pode representar importante contribuição em programas de atendimento multidisciplinar ao paciente hipertenso

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.