Local Government and the WSSD

Abstract

For over a century the development industry has been less than mindful of the laws of nature and ecology. Among the negative side effects of this development track is the accumulation of nutrients in our soils and water, and greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. There is already evidence that this increased concentration is going to fundamentally change our Earth's climate and natural environment beyond recognition and predictability. The two superstorms that struck the southern United States in 2005 are an indication of the strength and frequency with which similar disasters might afflict other communities in the future. The time for celebrating the small fixes and innovations of a few industry leaders is over. Global collaboration and collective will are needed now if we are to reshape the future of our planet. New tools, economic constructs and political awareness provide the impetus and wherewithal to take on this challenge.     

Comparison of recycling outcomes in three types of recycling collection units

Commercial institutions have many factors to consider when implementing an effective recycling program. This study examined the effectiveness of three different types of recycling bins on recycling accuracy by determining the percent weight of recyclable material placed in the recycling bins, comparing the percent weight of recyclable material by type of container used, and examining whether a change in signage increased recycling accuracy. Data were collected over 6 weeks totaling 30 days from 3 different recycling bin types at a Midwest University medical center. Five bin locations for each bin type were used. Bags from these bins were collected, sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable material, and weighed. The percent recyclable material was calculated using these weights. Common contaminates found in the bins were napkins and paper towels, plastic food wrapping, plastic bags, and coffee cups. The results showed a significant difference in percent recyclable material between bin types and bin locations. Bin type 2 was found to have one bin location to be statistically different (p = 0.048), which may have been due to lack of a trash bin next to the recycling bin in that location. Bin type 3 had significantly lower percent recyclable material (p < 0.001), which may have been due to lack of a trash bin next to the recycling bin and increased contamination due to the combination of commingled and paper into one bag. There was no significant change in percent recyclable material in recycling bins post signage change. These results suggest a signage change may not be an effective way, when used alone, to increase recycling compliance and accuracy. This study showed two or three-compartment bins located next to a trash bin may be the best bin type for recycling accuracy.     

An investigation of lifting operations on UK construction sites

Lifting operations and associated equipment have become commonplace within the UK construction industry. However, recent high profile accidents involving lifting equipment have shown that the result of its misuse can have serious cost and health implications.The main aim of the research was to investigate lifting operations on construction sites exploring different options, their effectiveness, and their effect on safety. This research looked into the processes in place; the factors that have to be taken into consideration when placing and using lifting equipment; and the competent persons required when operating equipment. With these aims, literature review was conducted. This was followed by investigation on three construction sites. These case studies were enhanced through interviews with general site staff, managerial staff, and appointed persons.The findings revealed six main points to improve safety in lifting operations. These are: through planning; training; equipment selection, use and inspection; feedback/communication; appointed person’s role; and database. Thorough planning of lifting operations has positive effects on safety. There is need for tighter accreditation of all qualifications in the lifting operations field. The charter of major lifting equipment from specialist contractors should be considered as industry best practise. Companies should avoid authoritarian working culture to facilitate efficient feedback to improve safety. The appointed person should have site based role. Site inspections and maintenance should be monitored on a national database form.Practitioners can benefit from this paper as it provides information on experiences from three construction sites. Furthermore, researchers can use the findings for their future studies.     

Mobilization and Toxicity Potential of Aluminum from Alum Floc Deposits in Kensico Reservoir,New York

There is detailed literature on the mobilization of aluminum (Al) from soil to surface waters as a result of elevated acidic deposition to base‐poor forest watersheds. There is considerably less information on the mobilization and effects of Al from the application of alum that is used in some water supplies to control turbidity during high‐flow events. We report on the results of field measurements, laboratory sediment release experiments, and chemical equilibrium calculations conducted to evaluate the potential for the mobilization of Al from alum floc deposits in sediments of Kensico Reservoir, New York. Under ambient water quality conditions, mobilization of sediment Al is not a noteworthy concern at Kensico Reservoir. However, under experimental conditions of low pH, low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), and low temperature, the inorganic fraction of monomeric Al can be mobilized from Kensico sediments to concentrations that would likely impair the health of aquatic organisms (>2 μmol/l). Elevated concentrations of monomeric Al were observed only when ANC decreased below 50 μeq/l, which is outside the range of values observed in Kensico during the 1997‐2007 interval (120‐460 μeq/l). Concentrations of complexing ligands are relatively low in Kensico waters (i.e., fluoride, naturally occurring organic solutes) and do not appear to substantially contribute to potential Al mobilization. For other water supplies with low ANC, the potential for sediment release of Al may exist.     

Historical contamination of the Anacostia River, Washington, D.C.

The tidal Anacostia River in Washington DC has long been impacted by various sources of chemical pollution over the past 200 years. To explore more recent inputs of various chemicals, six sediment cores were collected for dating and chemical analysis in the downstream section of the tidal Anacostia River. Profiles of contaminants in sediment cores can be useful in determining management direction and effectiveness of pollution controls over time. There were two main objectives for this investigation: (1) determine current sediment contaminant levels; (2) determine a historical perspective of the sediment changes in contamination using (137)Cs and (210)Pb dating. The determination of an age-depth relationship using (210)Pb and (137)Cs dating gave somewhat different results, suggesting that the assumptions of (210)Pb dating were not met. Using the (137)Cs horizon allowed an assignment of approximate sediment accumulation rates and hence an age-depth relationship to contaminant events in the upper portions of the cores. Total PAHs showed higher concentrations at depth and lower surface concentrations. In the upper sections, PAHs were a mixture of combustion and petrogenic sources, while at depth the signature appeared to be of natural origins. Total PCBs, DDTs and chlordane concentrations showed a maximum in recent sediments, decreasing towards the surface. PCBs had lower molecular weight congeners near the surface and higher molecular weights at depth. A phthalate ester, DEHP, appeared in the mid 1940-1950s, and decreased towards the surface. Trace elements fell roughly into three groups. Fe, Mn, and As were in approximately constant proportion to Al, except in some deeper, sandy sediments, where they showed enrichments linked to redox conditions. Ag, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn had low concentrations in the deepest sediments, high concentrations at mid-depths, and declines to intermediate levels at the surface. Ni and Cr followed neither of these patterns closely. We observed that many contaminants appeared in the Anacostia sediments at various times, and reached relatively high concentrations in the past, but are now showing declines in loadings. In some cases, such as PCBs, DDT, chlordane, and Pb from leaded gasoline, these declines can be clearly linked to the discontinuation of their use for environmental reasons. For other contaminants (e.g., PAHs, DEHP, selected metals) these declines are more likely the result of changes in production, usage and waste control.     

Mortality Risk in Pediatric Motor Vehicle Crash Occupants: Accounting for Developmental Stage and Challenging Abbreviated Injury Scale Metrics

Objective: Survival risk ratios (SRRs) and their probabilistic counterpart, mortality risk ratios (MRRs), have been shown to be at odds with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) severity scores for particular injuries in adults. SRRs have been validated for pediatrics but have not been studied within the context of pediatric age stratifications. We hypothesized that children with similar motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries may have different mortality risks (MR) based upon developmental stage and that these MRs may not correlate with AIS severity.

Methods: The NASS-CDS 2000–2011 was used to define the top 95% most common AIS 2+ injuries among MVC occupants in 4 age groups: 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–18 years. Next, the National Trauma Databank 2002–2011 was used to calculate the MR (proportion of those dying with an injury to those sustaining the injury) and the co-injury-adjusted MR (MR_MAIS) for each injury within 6 age groups: 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–18, 0–18, and 19+ years. MR differences were evaluated between age groups aggregately, between age groups based upon anatomic injury patterns and between age groups on an individual injury level using nonparametric Wilcoxon tests and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. Correlation between AIS and MR within each age group was also evaluated.

Results: MR and MR_MAIS distributions of the most common AIS 2+ injuries were right skewed. Aggregate MR of these most common injuries varied between the age groups, with 5- to 9-year-old and 10- to 14-year-old children having the lowest MRs and 0- to 4-year-old and 15- to 18-year-old children and adults having the highest MRs (all P <.05). Head and thoracic injuries imparted the greatest mortality risk in all age groups with median MR_MAIS ranging from 0 to 6% and 0 to 4.5%, respectively. Injuries to particular body regions also varied with respect to MR based upon age. For example, thoracic injuries in adults had significantly higher MR_MAIS than such injuries among 5- to 9-year-olds and 10- to 14-year-olds (P =.04; P <.01). Furthermore, though AIS was positively correlated with MR within each age group, less correlation was seen for children than for adults. Large MR variations were seen within each AIS grade, with some lower AIS severity injuries demonstrating greater MRs than higher AIS severity injuries. As an example, MR_MAIS in 0- to 18-year-olds was 0.4% for an AIS 3 radius fracture versus 1.4% for an AIS 2 vault fracture.

Conclusions: Trauma severity metrics are important for outcome prediction models and can be used in pediatric triage algorithms and other injury research. Trauma severity may vary for similar injuries based upon developmental stage, and this difference should be reflected in severity metrics. The MR-based data-driven determination of injury severity in pediatric occupants of different age cohorts provides a supplement or an alternative to AIS severity classification for pediatric occupants in MVCs.     

Age- and Sex-Specific Thorax Finite Element Model Development and Simulation

Objective: The shape, size, bone density, and cortical thickness of the thoracic skeleton vary significantly with age and sex, which can affect the injury tolerance, especially in at-risk populations such as the elderly. Computational modeling has emerged as a powerful and versatile tool to assess injury risk. However, current computational models only represent certain ages and sexes in the population. The purpose of this study was to morph an existing finite element (FE) model of the thorax to depict thorax morphology for males and females of ages 30 and 70 years old (YO) and to investigate the effect on injury risk.

Methods: Age- and sex-specific FE models were developed using thin-plate spline interpolation. In order to execute the thin-plate spline interpolation, homologous landmarks on the reference, target, and FE model are required. An image segmentation and registration algorithm was used to collect homologous rib and sternum landmark data from males and females aged 0–100 years. The Generalized Procrustes Analysis was applied to the homologous landmark data to quantify age- and sex-specific isolated shape changes in the thorax. The Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) 50th percentile male occupant model was morphed to create age- and sex-specific thoracic shape change models (scaled to a 50th percentile male size). To evaluate the thoracic response, 2 loading cases (frontal hub impact and lateral impact) were simulated to assess the importance of geometric and material property changes with age and sex.

Results: Due to the geometric and material property changes with age and sex, there were observed differences in the response of the thorax in both the frontal and lateral impacts. Material property changes alone had little to no effect on the maximum thoracic force or the maximum percent compression. With age, the thorax becomes stiffer due to superior rotation of the ribs, which can result in increased bone strain that can increase the risk of fracture. For the 70-YO models, the simulations predicted a higher number of rib fractures in comparison to the 30-YO models. The male models experienced more superior rotation of the ribs in comparison to the female models, which resulted in a higher number of rib fractures for the males.

Conclusion: In this study, age- and sex-specific thoracic models were developed and the biomechanical response was studied using frontal and lateral impact simulations. The development of these age- and sex-specific FE models of the thorax will lead to an improved understanding of the complex relationship between thoracic geometry, age, sex, and injury risk.     

Definitions and organizational practice of sustainability in the for-profit sector of Nova Scotia

The term “sustainability” has been a part of local, national, and international environmental discussions for well over a decade. First legitimized by the United Nations in 1987 with the release of the Brundtland Commission and Our Common Future (WCED, 1987), the term “sustainability” is now often used in more mainstream contexts. However, given our continued global ecological decline (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005), the question remains: do decision makers within organizations really have a clear idea of what sustainability is? Further, are they able to communicate that vision in such a way as it can be operationalized within their organizations?Organizations are faced with a high degree of uncertainty when attempting to move towards sustainability. The immense amount of literature and information available about the concept is daunting, especially for harried managers of small businesses who must respond to many competing needs and interests. Although many concepts, frameworks, and tools are available for business executives to use, there have been relatively less attempts to develop a rigorous, applied definition of sustainability that can be clearly understood, implemented, and measured within and across organizations. Given the abundance of concepts, frameworks, and tools, with the corresponding dearth of overarching frameworks, one may wonder what are executives learning from all this literature, and how it is being diffused into strategy, planning, and operations? This study aims to gain insight into executives’ thinking around definitions and the implementation of sustainability practices in Nova Scotia. The findings of this study indicate that there are three key relationships of significance in this area including: type of definition and ease of articulation; type of definition and type of experience; and type of definition, type of experience, and integration of strategic and operational planning.