Air quality monitoring system using lichens as bioindicators in Central Argentina

Air quality studies with bioindicators have not been well developed in South America. In the city of Córdoba, there are not permanent air pollutant measurements by equipment. In order to develop an air quality biomonitoring system using lichens, we applied a systematic sampling in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. A total of 341 plots were sampled in the area of the city which is a square of 24 × 24 km. In each sample plot we selected three phorophytes and estimated the frequency and cover of lichen species growing at 1.5 m on trunks. We also calculated the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) using lichen frequencies. Maps with number of lichen species, cover values, and IAP were performed. The lichen community was described with nine species where Physcia undulata and Physcia endochryscea were the most frequent. Moreover, these two species were dominant in the community with the highest cover index. The central area of the city is considered a lichen desert with poor air quality. The southeast and northwest areas of the city showed the highest IAP values and number of species. In general, the city shows fair air quality and few areas with good and very good air quality.     

Evidence of highly dynamic geochemical behaviour of zinc in the Deûle river (northern France)

The monitoring of dissolved zinc in the De?le river was undertaken at three different periods of the years 2008 and 2009. Electrolabile concentrations of Zn were estimated every 2 hours for several weeks by using an ATMS (Automatic Trace metal Monitoring System) based on voltammetric measurements using a solid Ag-Hg rotating disc working electrode. Complementary measurements were carried out with DGT (Diffusive Gradient in Thin films) pistons deployed directly in the river for 24 hours. Water samples filtrated at 0.45 μm were also analysed by HR-ICP-MS to estimate the total dissolved concentrations of zinc and other trace metals. High frequency monitoring of zinc over several weeks in the De?le river indicated that the concentration could change significantly over short time periods. Resuspension of polluted sediment and biological activities are two main factors that control the behaviour of zinc in the De?le river. Furthermore, in May 2009, daily cycles of the electrolabile zinc fraction have been observed at relatively constant total dissolved concentration. It is assumed that this particular behaviour of zinc is based on an exchange between colloids and/or nonelectrolabile forms and free cation and inorganic complexes at a daily time scale.     

Multi-residue analysis of fifty pesticides in river waters and in wastewaters

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Three sampling campaigns were performed in the Lis River (Leiria, Portugal) in February of 2018, November of 2018, and May of 2019. River water and...     

Model for predicting peak expiratory flow rate of Nigerian workers in a cement factory in Itori,Ogun State,Nigeria

The main aim of the study was to propose a model for predicting the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of Nigerian workers in a cement factory. Sixty randomly selected non-smoker and healthy workers (30 in production sections, 30 in the administrative section of the factory) participated in the study. Their physical characteristics and PEFR were measured. Multiple correlations using SPSS version 16.0 were performed on the data. The values of PEFR, using the obtained model, were compared with the measured values using a two-tailed t test. There were positive correlations among age, height and PEFR. A prediction equation for PEFR based on age, height, weight and years of exposure (experience) was obtained with R²?=?.843 (p?<?0.001). The developed model will be useful for the management in determining PEFR of workers in the cement industry for possible medical attention.     

100 years running: The need to understand why employee physical activity benefits organizations

Employee physical activity initiatives are commonplace, but management scholarship has not kept pace with theoretical and empirical work to validate such initiatives. In this Incubator, we clarify the employee physical activity construct, present mechanisms linking physical activity to organizationally valued outcomes, and consider the dark side of employee physical activity initiatives. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ensuring the service quality at a university construction technology laboratory in Brazil

Service quality in a construction technology laboratory can result in an improvement in construction companies’ competitiveness. This research aims to evaluate the service quality provided by a construction technology laboratory, specifically in the segment of performing testing through the rupturing of concrete samples. For this research, a survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire that was created based on a literature review regarding the surveying of laboratory customers at a university in the south of Brazil. Our research was both exploratory and quantitative, and the data were analyzed by applying multivariate data analysis. The conclusions of this study show that the dimensions of quality services are: communication, reliability, responsiveness, credibility, and tangibility. These five dimensions together provide a high explained variance standard of 79.75%. Having a suitable number of attendants available to serve customers and presenting agility in the construction laboratory is one of the managerial research contributions. Moreover, through information availability, this research generates greater traceability that can be used both by customers and by institutional management. Constantly and thoroughly monitoring the customer service cycle is another relevant factor that can improve the quality of the services provided.     

Inertial Deposition of Small Particles On a Sphere at Intermediate and High Reynolds Numbers: A Time Dependent Study

The paper presents a theoretical model of particle deposition on a single solid sphere in a three dimensional flow field of an incompressible fluid at Reynolds numbers from 200 to 10⁶. The results show collection efficiency fluctuations in time, a factor not previously demonstrated. It is also shown that at low Stokes numbers, the assumptions of axisymmetric and steady flow are particularly poor and therefore, simple two dimensional filtration models used in the literature are not adequate for this case.     

Influence of cadmium on the growth of Agrocybe perfecta and two Pleurotus spp and translocation from polluted substrate and soil to fruitbodies

The presence of Cd in substrate (wheat straw) strongly depressed the growth and mineralization of substrate by Agrocybe perfecta. Pleurolus ostreatoroseus was only slightly depressed and Pleurotus sp. CCB 068 increased degradation by the two highest Cd concentration. Mineralization rate of fungal substrate were increased by indigenous soil flora. However increase in Cd concentrations added to the soil depressed mineralisation of organic matter. Cadmium also affected the fruitbody yield and only Pleurotus sp. was able to fructify in high Cd concentrations. Translocation and accumulation of Cd in fruitbodies increased with the increase of Cd concentrations in substrate.     

Allocating Remedial Costs at Superfund Sites with Commingled Groundwater Contaminant Plumes

Remedial efforts at Superfund sites across the country focus on groundwater contaminant plumes that have been produced by contributions from multiple parties. Allocating cleanup costs between the parties in a fair and equitable manner can be a problem of substantial complexity. Considerable time and money may be spent determining the amount of contamination attributable to each party in order to apportion liability. Contaminant plumes that have evolved over long periods of time may affect large volumes of groundwater and require extensive remediation. Pump and treat remedial costs are driven by both the volume of water extracted and the mass of contaminants removed. Allocation methods based solely on the mass of contaminants contributed by each party are inadequate in this setting since they do not account for both components of the remedial costs. This paper presents an approach for equitably allocating remedial costs when addressing overlapping or commingled groundwater plumes. The method accounts for the major elements driving the costs of remediating dispersed contaminant plumes.     

Evaluation of alternative landfill cover soils for attenuating hydrogen sulfide from construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfills

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) generated from C&D debris landfills has emerged as a major environmental concern due to odor problems and possible health impacts to landfill employees and surrounding residents. Research was performed to evaluate the performance of various cover materials as control measures for H(2)S emissions from C&D debris landfills. Twelve laboratory-scale simulated landfill columns containing gypsum drywall were operated under anaerobic conditions to promote H(2)S production. Five different cover materials were placed on top of the waste inside duplicate columns: (1) sandy soil, (2) sandy soil amended with lime, (3) clayey soil, (4) fine concrete (particle size less than 2.5 cm), and (5) coarse concrete (particle size greater than 2.5 cm). No cover was placed on two of the columns, which were used as controls. H(2)S concentrations measured from the middle of the waste layer ranged from 50,000 to 150,000 ppm. The different cover materials demonstrated varying H(2)S removal efficiencies. The sandy soil amended with lime and the fine concrete were the most effective for the control of H(2)S emissions. Both materials exhibited reduction efficiencies greater than 99%. The clayey and sandy soils exhibited lower reduction efficiencies, with average removal efficiencies of 65% and 30%, respectively. The coarse concrete was found to be the least efficient material as a result of its large particle size.