The objective of this study was to investigate the exposure assessment and health risk of particulate matter emitted from steel industry for high-risk inhabitants living in metro Kaohsiung. A steel plant and an electric arc plant were selected for conducting the sampling of particulate matter (PM). The physical and chemical properties of PM sampled at the working place and at the fence of selected plants were also analyzed to establish the fingerprints of PM in the steel industry. In order to accomplish this study, both personal sampling and environmental sampling were conducted in steel plants. Personal exposure sampling was undertaken at working places, while the conduction of environmental sampling might affected by various uncertain environmental factors (such as meteorological condition and other emission sources), but it could characterize the overall environmental situation and help exposure assessment. Moreover, The exposure of employers (including manufacturing workers and supporting staffs) could be further assessed based on the concentration and duration of PM exposure. Specific metal concentration was obtained from working environment, searching for exposure parameter (such as exposure frequency, exposure duration, body weight, average time, and etc.) and toxicity database (e.g. cancer slope factor and reference dose). The data could be used for assessing both cancer risk and non-cancer risk of specific heavy metal. Sampling data obtained from working places showed that the highest PM concentration were observed during the electric arc process, especially the charging and discharging procedures. The concentration of PM1.0, PM10, and TSP at the working places were 53.3~195.6 £gg/m3 ,365.7~550.0 £gg/m3, and 1085.5~2755.0 £gg/m3, respectively. Measured at the outdoor environments of working places, the highest PM10 and TSP concentration, ranging from 365.7~550.0 £gg/m3 and 1085.5 ~2755.0 £gg/m3, were observed at the sinter plants of a steel manufacturer. Sampling data obtained at the fence of steel plants (a steel plant and electric arc plant) indicated that the concentration of PM10 and TSP exceeded the ambient air quality standards. Modification of manufacturing process and improvement of PM collection system are highly required to reduce the concentration level as well as the emission of PM. Results of fingerprint of PM (PM2.5, PM2.5-10, TSP) obtained from working places showed that iron, calcium, sulfate, nitrate, calcium ion, and elemental carbon were the major chemical content of PM at the melting plant, the sinter plant, and the storage field. While, iron, calcium, sulfate, nitrate, calcium ion, and organic carbon were the major chemical content of PM at electric arc plant. Results of personal exposure concentration and exposure dose of PM showed that the highest exposure level of both manufacturing workers and supporting staffs were observed at the storage field, while the lowest exposure level was found at the sinter plant. Therefore, enforcement of wearing maskers and/or shelters at the storage field is also highly recommended to prevent manufacturing workers from the exposure of high-level PM at working places. Moreover, the cancer risk of manufacturing workers exposured to hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) at the melting plant, the sinter plant, the storage field, and the electric arc plant exceeded acceptable cancer risk standard (10-5~10-6), while the hazard index of manganese (Mn) was much higher than other metals.Meanwhile, exposuring to Cr6+, Ni, and Mn at the electric arc plant also exceeded acceptable standards (Cr6+ and Ni¡G10-5~10-6 , Mn¡G1). Several control strategies, including pollution reduction measures such as the usage of clean fuel, process modification, the improvement of collection system, the enhancement of manufacture management, the conduction of environmental monitoring and exposure assessment, floor cleanup and truck entrance management, are recommended to improve the contamination of PM at working places and surrounding environments for metallurgic industries. Moreover, enforcement of wearing maskers and/or shelters at high-risk environments is also highly recommended to prevent manufacturing workers from the exposure of high-level PM at working places. Keywords: steel industry, particulate matter sampling, physical and chemical characteristics, exposure assessment, health risk

Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This thesis examines the role of agricultural activity in the process of invasion of west coast renosterveld fragments by annual alien grass species. This highly endangered vegetation type has less than 5% remaining, it is vital to understand the mechanisms allowing invasion of annual alien grasses in order to effectively prevent the loss of the many rare and endemic species found in west coast renosterveld. This study was divided into three major components. Firstly the distribution of indigenous and alien plant species in relation to fence lines, separating active agricultural fields from untransformed vegetation, was described. Regression analysis was used to test for relationships between distances from agricultural fields and soil physical and chemical characteristics in natural vegetation. Cover by annual alien invasive grasses in untransformed vegetation decreased significantly with distance away from agricultural land. Secondly alien and indigenous grass seed banks were sampled along the transects, at the same sites, in order to establish whether the seed banks correlated with above ground cover. Results varied among sites and seed banks were correlated with the vegetation cover at only one site. It appears that there are a multitude of factors determining the distribution of annual alien grass cover. Thirdly a greenhouse experiment established the role that nitrogen plays in the success of the alien grass Avena fatua. This species was grown in competition with three indigenous species, an annual forb (Dimorphotheca pluvialis), a geophyte (Oxalis purpurea) and an indigenous perennial grass (Tribolium uniolae) at three levels of soil nitrogen. The geophyte was largely unaffected, while growth of the annual and indigenous perennial grasses was negatively affected by competition with A. fatua. Nitrogen did not seem to affect competitive interactions. Management of these renosterveld patches, in order to conserve them effectively, will require a multi-faceted approach, including prevention of further invasion and removal of invasive grasses already present.

Žuvininkystė Lietuvoje turi gilias tradicijas. Tai viena seniausių verslo krypčių, todėl rūpinantis jos plėtra vis didesnis dėmesys telkiamas akvakultūrai, kuri užtikrina įvairių žuvų rūšių išteklių išsaugojimą. Lietuvai tapus ES nare, žuvininkystės plėtros galimybės tapo kur kas didesnės (tą lėmė rinkos laisvė, didelė prekybos erdvė). Žuvininkystei didelis dėmesys buvo telkiamas 2007-2013 m. žuvininkystės sektoriaus programoje. Taip pat svarbu paminėti, kad Lietuvoje įkurtas tarptautinio akvakultūros centro padalinys. Visa tai tik įrodo pakankamą akvakultūros reikšmę Lietuvos versle. Tad šiandien yra labai aktualu analizuoti, kokios yra akvakultūros vystymo galimybės, ekonominė nauda, kokios reikalingos veisimo sąlygos. Atsižvelgiant į tai, šiame darbe didelis dėmesys skiriamas analizuojamo žuvininkystės ūkio UAB „Vasaknos“ žuvų auginimo ypatumams, ekonominių duomenų analizei bei vandens fizinių ir cheminių savybių tyrimams bei jų analizei. Darbo tikslas: išanalizuoti lašišinių ir eršketinių žuvų auginimo ypatumus žuvininkystės ūkyje UAB „Vasaknos“ bei pateikti šio ūkio ekonominių rodiklių ir tvenkinių, saugyklų ir baseino vandens fizinių, cheminių savybių analizę. Darbo uždaviniai: 1) apibrėžti akvakultūros svarbą ir jos perspektyvas Lietuvos žuvininkystėje; 2) išnagrinėti lašišinių bei eršketinių žuvų rūšių ypatybes; 3) išanalizuoti lašišinių bei eršketinių žuvų auginimo ypatumus; 4) išanalizuoti 2010-2012 m. ekonominius rodiklius UAB „Vasaknos“; 5) ištirti UAB „Vasaknos“... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Fishery has rich traditions in Lithuania. It is one of the oldest branches of the business, so a growing attention for the aquaculture as for a tool for protecting various kinds of fishes’ resources is being paid at the moment. The possibilities of fishery development have increased significantly after Lithuania has become the member of EU – this is a result of market’s freedom and a bigger space of trading. A big attention for the development of the fishery has been paid in the Programme of the Fishery Sector for 2007-2013. Also it is important to notice that a Department of the International Centre of Aquaculture was established in Lithuania recently by showing the understanding of the importance of aquaculture in the Lithuania’s business field. In respect to this, it is very important today to analyse the possibilities of aquaculture development, its economical benefit as well as the conditions of fishes breeding. So in this Masters’ thesis a big attention is being paid for the peculiarities of fishes raising in the fishery farm UAB “Vasaknos” as well as for analysis of economical data of this farm and for the research of the physical and chemical characteristics of the farm’s ponds’ water. The aim of the thesis: to analyze the peculiarities of the salmon and sturgeon fishes raising in the fishery farm UAB “Vasaknos” as well as provide the analysis of the economical characteristics of this farm’s activity and physical and chemical characteristics of the farm’s ponds’... [to full text]

Submitted by Patrícia Costa Silva (patypcs@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-07-30T19:35:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Patricia_Costa_Silva_2018_final.pdf: 1846241 bytes, checksum: b3112d63566f4acc8bf90ba51cfb28d2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Lucia de Grava Kempinas (algkempinas@fca.unesp.br) on 2018-07-30T20:54:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_pc_dr_botfca.pdf: 1846241 bytes, checksum: b3112d63566f4acc8bf90ba51cfb28d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-30T20:54:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_pc_dr_botfca.pdf: 1846241 bytes, checksum: b3112d63566f4acc8bf90ba51cfb28d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-14 / O cultivo de sorgo sacarino surgiu como alternativa para produção de massa destinada à fabricação de etanol, na entressafra, e em áreas de reforma do canavial e em áreas de rotação à outras culturas. Ainda são escassos estudos sobre a irrigação em sorgo sacarino, bem como os estudos que correlacionam lâminas de irrigação e a dinâmica dos nutrientes no solo e propriedades físicas. Este estudo teve como objetivos analisar o efeito da aplicação de lâminas de irrigação sob características tecnológicas e agronômicas de variedades de sorgo sacarino e nas propriedades do solo, e avaliar a eficiência do uso da água. O experimento foi conduzido em campo na área experimental da Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Câmpus de Santa Helena de Goiás. O delineamento adotado foi o de blocos casualizados com esquema fatorial 5x3, com 5 tratamentos, 3 cultivares de sorgo sacarino e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por 5 lâminas de irrigação: 25, 50, 75, 100 e 125 % da evapotranspiração de cultura (ETc) e as variedades avaliadas foram BRS 511, CVSW 80007 e Silotec 20. O sistema de irrigação empregado foi o localizado por gotejamento. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância pelo teste F a 5% de significância. As médias para o fator variedades e propriedades do solo foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey e para o fator lâminas de irrigação empregou-se a análise de regressão. Verificou-se que as lâminas de irrigação exerceram influência significativa nas características agronômicas e tecnológicas. A variedade BRS 511 adaptou-se melhor às condições edafoclimáticas locais com reflexo em maior altura de plantas, diâmetro de colmo, número de folhas e internódios, porcentagem de folhas, produtividade de colmos, massa verde da parte aérea, rendimento de caldo, produtividade de etanol e sólidos solúveis totais; e menor peso do bagaço úmido e teor de fibra industrial. Comparando-se as variedades em cada lâmina verificou-se variação a partir da lâmina 75% de reposição da evapotranspiração de cultura com ajustes linear e quadrático. A eficiência do uso da água (EUA) em todas as variedades e lâminas estudadas apresentou resposta linear decrescente, com maior EUA na lâmina de 25% da ETc. A variedade BRS 511 foi a mais recomendada para as condições edafoclimáticas da região avaliada e a lâmina mais indicada foi a equivalente a 100% da ETc. As lâminas de irrigação exerceram influência sobre a dinâmica das propriedades químicas no solo. Os maiores teores dos nutrientes foram encontrados na camada de 0-0,10 m, à medida que aumentou a disponibilidade hídrica; para as lâminas de 100 e 125 % da ETc houve aumento dos teores de nutrientes e de matéria orgânica do solo; entre as variedades e as camadas de solo houve variação somente para o potássio e o alumínio. As propriedades físicas não foram afetadas pelo cultivo das variedades e lâminas de irrigação, apenas pelas camadas amostradas. / Cultivation of sorghum emerged as an alternative for the production of mass destined to the manufacture of ethanol, in the off season, and in areas of reforestation of cane fields and in areas of rotation to other crops. There are still few studies on irrigation in sorghum, as well as studies that correlate irrigation slides and the dynamics of soil nutrients and physical properties. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of the application of irrigation slides under the technological and agronomic characteristics of sorghum varieties and soil properties, and to evaluate the efficiency of water use. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the State University of Goiás, Campus of Santa Helena de Goiás. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with 5x3 factorial, with 5 treatments, 3 sorghum cultivars and 4 replicates. The treatments consisted of 5 irrigation slides: 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and the varieties evaluated were BRS 511, CVSW 80007 and Silotec 20. The irrigation system was located by drip. The data were submitted to analysis of variance by the F test at 5% of significance. The averages for the factor varieties and soil properties were compared by the Tukey test and for the irrigation lamina factor the regression analysis was used. It was verified that the irrigation slides exerted significant influence on the agronomic and technological characteristics. The BRS 511 variety was better adapted to local edaphoclimatic conditions with higher plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and internodes, leaf percentage, shoot yield, shoot shoot mass, broth yield, seed yield ethanol and total soluble solids; and lower weight of the wet cake and industrial fiber content. Comparing the varieties on each slide, a variation was observed from the 75% replacement blade of the crop evapotranspiration with linear and quadratic adjustments. Efficiency of water use in all varieties and slides studied presented a linear decreasing response, with a higher USA in the 25% ETc blade. The BRS 511 was the most recommended for the soil and climatic conditions of the evaluated region and the most indicated blade was the equivalent to 100% of the ETc. Irrigation slides influenced the dynamics of soil chemical properties. The highest levels of nutrients were found in the 0-0.10 m layer, as water availability increased; for the slides of 100 and 125% of the ETc there was an increase in nutrient and soil organic matter contents; between varieties and soil layers there was variation only for potassium and aluminum. The physical properties were not affected by cultivation of the irrigation varieties and slides, only by the sampled layers.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_erico_kunde.pdf: 287917 bytes, checksum: c139b1164d4ea5a2964a48d21cf91781 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-28 / Deep litter systems (DLS) have lower facility cost and less environmental impact than conventional swine production systems, but the animal thermal comfort may not be ideal, during warm seasons. This thesis studied the effect of the use of litters having different depths on indicators of environmental comfort, animal growth performance and physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of the litter. Three treatments were compared: solid concrete floor (control); litter of rice husk with depth of 0.25 (L25) and 0.50 m (L50). The first liter was used in two lots and replaced by a second litter used in other two lots. The environmental conditions were determined by the relative humidity of the air (RH), atmospheric temperature (AT) and litter temperature at the center of the pen, both in the surface (TSF) and at half of the depth (THD). Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion for the pigs raised on DLS were also estimated. Concentrations of thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were determined by the most probable number method. TSF was lowest in the control group (P < 0.05), but it did not differ between C25 and C50 (P > 0.05). TSF was higher for new than for used litters and for the first than for the second litters (P < 0.05). The highest levels of N, P and K found in the L25 indicate that its compost has greater agronomical values. The concentration of mesophilic bacteria was higher in L50 than in L25 (P < 0.05). Although no statistical comparison was performed for growth performance parameters, feed conversion was similar for pigs in the control and DLS groups, with an apparent advantage for L25. This thesis also studied the effect of the addition of inoculums, in a pilot scale, on litters similar to those used in DLS, on the parameters mentioned above. The experimental units were boxes having area equal to 1 m2., on which litter of rice husk was added at the depths of 0.25 (L25) and 0.50 m (L50). On a daily basis, 6.4 l of swine dejects were added to the boxes, which consisted of three treatments: control without inoculums (T1); inoculation of 250 g of Bacillus cereus var. tyoii with 8,4 x 107 UFC/g (T2); and inoculation of 250 g of EnziLimp with 8,4 x 107 UFC/g (T3). Concentration of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were determined and the chemical characteristics of the litter were evaluated. The addition of inoculums allowed higher concentration of thermophilic bacteria than in the control group (P < 0.05), so it would not be recommended for DLS. There was a higher concentration of thermophilic bacteria and fungi in the first lot of L50 (P < 0.05). Increased N level had a negative association with the concentration of all the thermophilic microbial populations (P < 0.05). Therefore, L25 can be recommended as a feasible option for DLS because it is associated with reduced concentration of thermophilic microbial populations in the litter, which leads to better thermal comfort for the pigs, without negative effects for growth performance, also generating compost having high agronomical value. / Em comparação com sistemas convencionais de criação de suínos, o sistema de produção sobre cama (SPC) utiliza edificações de menor custo e menor impacto ambiental, mas pode prejudicar o conforto térmico dos animais, em climas quentes. Esta tese estudou os efeitos das camas usadas para SPC, com diferentes profundidades, sobre indicadores de condicionamento ambiental da edificação, desempenho de crescimento dos animais, e características físicas, químicas e microbiológicas das camas. Três tratamentos foram comparados: piso de concreto (controle) e camas de casca de arroz com profundidade de 0.50 (C50) e 0.25 m (C25). A primeira cama foi usada em duas repetições e substituída por uma segunda cama usada em outras duas. A condição ambiental foi determinada através da umidade relativa do ar (UR) e das temperaturas atmosférica (TA) e no centro da baia, tanto na superfície (TCS), como na metade da profundidade (TCI). Também foram estimados o consumo de alimento, o ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar dos animais. Através de NMP, determinaram-se as concentrações de bactérias, fungos e actinomicetos, mesófilos e termófilos. A TCS foi mais baixa para o controle (P < 0,05), mas sem diferença entre C25 e C50 (P > 0,05). A TCS foi maior nas camas novas do que nas usadas e para as primeiras do que nas segundas camas (P < 0,05). Os maiores teores de N, P e K presentes na C25 indicaram que o composto produzido nesta profundidade possui melhor valor agronômico. A concentração de bactérias termófilas foi maior na C50 do que na C25 (P < 0,05). Ainda que não tenham sido feitas comparações estatísticas, a conversão alimentar foi similar para os animais no grupo controle e no SPC, com aparente benefício na C25. Esta tese também estudou o efeito da adição de inóculos, em escala piloto, sobre camas similares as usadas no SPC, sobre os parâmetros mencionados acima, em experimento realizado em uma granja comercial. As unidades experimentais foram caixas com 1 m2 de área, nas quais foi adicionada cama de casca de arroz, em profundidades de 0,25 (C25) e 0,50 m (C50). Diariamente, foram adicionados 6,4 l de dejetos por caixa, formando três tratamentos: controle sem inoculo (T1); inoculação de 250 g de Bacillus cereus var. tyoii com 8,4 x 107 UFC/g (T2); e inoculação de 250 g de EnziLimp com 8,4 x 107 UFC/g (T3). Foram determinadas as concentrações de bactérias, fungos e actinomicetos, mesófilos e termófilos e analisadas as características químicas das camas. A adição dos inóculos propiciou uma maior concentração de bactérias termófilas (P < 0,05), em relação ao controle, não sendo recomendável para animais em crescimento e terminação. Houve maior concentração de bactérias e fungos termófilos na primeira repetição da C50 (P < 0,05). A elevação do teor de N influenciou negativamente todas as concentrações microbianas termófilas (P < 0,05). Em conclusão, a C25 é uma opção viável para SPC, por apresentar um maior valor agronômico e possibilitar uma melhor conversão alimentar dos animais quando comparada com a C50.

Submitted by biblioteca unifenas (biblioteca@unifenas.br) on 2016-09-28T13:54:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Poliana Silvia Garcia Rosa Dissertacao.pdf: 823674 bytes, checksum: 729179eaf82075941fd1280b8b99f1e2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-28T13:54:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Poliana Silvia Garcia Rosa Dissertacao.pdf: 823674 bytes, checksum: 729179eaf82075941fd1280b8b99f1e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The objective of this research was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of the Dutch and crossbred cows milk originating from dairy tournaments, in the southern region of Minas Gerais, in the period from March to October 2012, using the nonparametric data for protein, fat, lactose, total solids, nonfat dry extract and somatic cell count variables. Normative Instruction 62 establishes maximum levels of somatic cell count of 500,000 cells / ml of milk, minimum fat content of 3.0%, total solids 11.4%, 2.9% protein, dry extract 8.4%. The somatic cell count reflects the health of the mammary gland of the animal. Of the 108 samples of milk collected from cows participants on the last day of the milk match, after complete milking and weighing of milk, 24% of the animals showed somatic cell counts that do not fit the parameters established by the Normative Instruction 62. The other parameters evaluated as lactose, fat, total solids and nonfat dry extract showed significant differences by comparing the milk with high somatic cell count, milk with low somatic cell count. The level of milk protein with high somatic cell count remained in the Normative Instruction 62 standard, because of the increase of plasma proteins in milk as a result of the inflammatory response. Most milk samples from dairy tournaments did not fit in Instruction 62, as the increase in somatic cells interfered in the chemical physical quality. / Objetivou-se nesta pesquisa avaliar as características físico-químicas do leite de vacas holandesas e mestiças oriundas de torneios leiteiros na região do Sul de Minas Gerais, no período de março a outubro de 2012, sendo utilizados os dados não paramétricos para as variáveis de proteína, gordura, lactose, sólidos totais, extrato seco desengordurado e contagem de células somáticas. A Instrução Normativa 62 estabelece níveis máximo de contagem de células somáticas de 500.000 células/mL de leite, teores mínimos de gordura de 3,0%, sólidos totais de 11,4%, proteína 2,9%, extrato seco desengordurado 8,4%. A contagem de células somáticas reflete na saúde da glândula mamária do animal. Das108 amostras de leite coletadas das vacas participantes no último dia do torneio leiteiro, após a ordenha completa e pesagem do leite, 24% dos animais apresentaram contagem de células somáticas que não se enquadram nos parâmetros estabelecidos pela Instrução Normativa 62. Os demais parâmetros avaliados como lactose, gordura, sólidos totais e extrato seco desengordurado não apresentaram diferenças significativas, comparando o leite com contagem de células somáticas altas, com leite com contagem de células somáticas baixas. O nível de proteína em leite com contagem de células somáticas altas se mantiveram no padrão da Instrução Normativa 62, pois houve um aumento das proteínas plasmáticas no leite em decorrência da resposta inflamatória. Conclui-se que a maioria das amostras de leite coletadas em torneios leiteiro não se enquadraram na Instrução Normativa 62.