Environmental management: What ISO 14000 brings to the table

The field of environmental management has evolved from its beginnings as a regulation-based, compliance-driven, “command and control” regime into a continuous improvement, voluntary, environmental stewardship process aspiring to protection levels beyond those required by regulations. This change in environmental management philosophies prevalent at many regulated corporations, both in the United States and abroad, has provided a fertile ground for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in developing environmental management standards that address these corporate aspirations. This task has moved closer to fruition within the ISO through its Technical Committee (TC) 207 on Environmental Management. This article provides background on the environmental management system standards, ISO/TC 207's committees' organization, and influencing factors helping to shape these standards. Equally important, this article focuses on what the standards will mean to the regulated industries in the way business is conducted.     

Estimating the volatility of mining projects considering price and operating cost uncertainties

In the real option pricing model of valuation and decision making, the estimation of future volatility is a key input parameter. For traded commodities or financial assets, past volatility is used as a proxy for predictions. But, for projects, this approach is not feasible because, in most cases, historical data of traded projects are not available. As an alternate solution, it is usually assumed that project volatility is equal to that of commodity price. In order to investigate this assumption, we estimate the project volatility considering that both commodity price and operating cost evolve as a geometric Brownian motion (GBM). Results of a hypothetical gold mining project indicate that project volatility is higher than that of commodity price and it only drops to price volatility under very unrealistic industry conditions, such as very high prices or very low production costs. In addition, we find that project volatility is independent of production capacity and taxation, but depends on increments in price and cost, as well as strongly on their degree of correlation.     

The BG measurement system for hazardous substances (BGMG) and the exposure database of hazardous substances (MEGA).

German employers' liability insurance associations or Berufsgenossenschaften (BGs)--institutions for statutory accident insurance--maintain a measurement system for hazardous substances, the so-called BGMG. The aim of the BGMG is to determine and document valid results of measurements of exposure primarily for prevention purposes. The data are collected systematically, in parallel to the sampling in a company. Parameters which are supposed to have a visible effect on exposure levels are documented. The MEGA database (documentation of measurement data relating to workplace exposure to hazardous substances) holds 1,629 million measurement values, which have been compiled in since 1972. The database offers a host of selection possibilities for assessments depending on the evaluation strategy.     

Green synthesis silver nanoparticles Bougainvillea glabra Choisy/LED light with high catalytic activity in the removal of methylene blue aqueous solution

In this study, we evaluated, in a pioneering way, the influence of wavelengths from the decomposition of white light on the production and physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Bearing in mind a process of green synthesis, an extract of the bracts of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (BgC) was used, a species native to tropical and subtropical regions and frequently used in ornamentation, possessing in its photochemical composition, biomolecules capable of acting as reducing agents for convert Ag⁺ to Ag⁰. We used light-emitting diodes (LED) to obtain the desired wavelengths (violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red) in the test called rainbow, and we evaluated the obtaining of AgNPs compared to white LED light, nature, and absence of light. In the rainbow assay, we obtained a gradual increase in the intensity of the plasmonic band resonance from the red wavelength (0.124 ± 0.067 a.u.) to violet (0.680 ± 0.199 a.u.), indicating a higher reaction yield in obtaining AgNPs. Smaller hydrodynamic sizes (approximately 150 nm) at more energetic wavelengths (violet, blue, and green) about less energetic wavelengths (yellow, orange, and red) (approximately 400 nm) were obtained. Analysis by SEM microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction indicates the presence of silver nanoparticles in all LED colors used together with white LED light and Laboratory light (natural light). Due to the high environmental demand to remove pollutants from water sources, including textile dyes, we applied AgNPs/BgC to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from an aqueous solution. A minimum removal percentage greater than 65%, with emphasis on formulations synthesized by the colors of violet LED (84.27 ± 2.65%) and orange LED (85.91 ± 1.95%), was obtained.

     

Analysis of potentially toxic metal constraints to apply sewage sludge in Portuguese agricultural soils

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The application of sewage sludge (SS) in the soil can be a valuable way to increase its content of organic matter. However, the concentration of...     

Coffee,its roasted form,and their residues cause birth failure and shorten lifespan in dengue vectors

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In dengue mosquitoes, successful embryonic development and long lifespan are key determinants for the persistence of both virus and vector. Therefore,...     

Comparison of the energetic performance of a binary cycle and a flash evaporation binary cycle,using low-enthalpy geothermal energy

In this article, the comparison of the energetic performance of a binary cycle and a modified binary cycle with flash evaporation is presented, both using a low-enthalpy geothermal resource. The comparative analysis is based on two main discourses: the first one evaluates a conventional binary cycle (CBC) with isopentane as working fluid in order to validate and compare the generated data with those reported in similar studies; the second one uses the same input parameters for both cycles, obtaining the cases in which the modified binary cycle is the most viable choice to use. In addition to the above, several aspects are considered when selecting the most suitable working fluid, and the use of water as working fluid is introduced. When the temperature of the geothermal resource is below 140 °C, and the ambient temperature is 25 °C, the flash evaporation binary cycle, using water as working fluid, shows an improved performance compared to a CBC, with a theoretical output over 1000 kWe. This may encourage new areas of opportunity for power generation, not only with low- and medium-enthalpy geothermal energy, but also with other renewable energy sources such as solar.     

Length-structured analysis of the reproductive season of anchovy and common sardine off central southern Chile

The anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and common sardine (Strangomera bentincki) are two small pelagic fish which have a similar reproductive strategy off central southern Chile. The seasonal reproductive dynamics of both the species was investigated by taking into account the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and visual maturity data as a function of female size for the period 1993–1999, and also the seasonal pattern in condition factor per size classes. Larger females of common sardine (repeat spawners) have a reproductive peak earlier in the season than younger females at first maturity, while larger anchovy have a reproductive peak delayed as compared with first-time spawners. The condition factor of females exhibited an inverse cycle with the seasonal pattern of GSI, and delayed by approximately 6 months. Although larger females tend to present better and wider condition than smaller females, the condition of females seems to be delayed in larger females probably mediated by the seasonal pattern in food availability. This “energy storage strategy” in spring and summer time seems to be size-dependent and past energetic reserves could also affect the egg production and timing of reproduction. We concluded that the reproductive season of anchovy and common sardine is different and mediated by the length structure in the seasonal upwelling system off central southern Chile.