A Bayesian network highlighting the linkages between landscape structure and the local economy: the case of agritourism in lowland areas of Northern Italy

Linking landscapes to socio-economic benefits necessarily requires considering the usability of landscape structure. To do so, however, depends on the interaction between users and producers of landscape-related services. We illustrate this interaction with a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) in a case study analysing the connection between residents' perceptions of landscape structure and agritourism restaurants in the eastern lowlands of Ferrara (Italy). We use estimates of prior and conditional probabilities from a mix of different data: land use, survey data, regional statistics, and expert judgements to show the likely effects of the landscape structure on the local economy by using intermediate forms of services (i.e. second-order services). The second-order service is highly influenced by the agritourism density and by the frequency with which customers dine at agritourism restaurants and less by landscape attractiveness, confirming the importance of the supply and demand of second-order services in the provision of landscape-related services.     

Assessment of Water Quality in a Border Region Between the Atlantic Forest and an Urbanised Area in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

The preservation of water resources is one of the goals of the designation of parks that act as natural reservoirs. In order to assess the impact of the presence of humans in an environmental preservation area bordering urban areas, the presence of four pathogenic enteric viruses [group A rotavirus (RV-A), norovirus (NoV), human adenoviruses (HAdV), and hepatitis A virus (HAV)], as well as the physico-chemical parameters, and Escherichia coli levels were assessed in riverine water samples. From June 2008 to May 2009, monthly monitoring was performed along the Engenho Novo River. RV-A, NoV, and HAdV were observed in 29 % (31/108) of the water samples, with concentrations of up to 10³ genome copies/liter. The natural occurrence of infectious HAdV was demonstrated by Integrated Cell Culture-PCR (ICC-PCR). This study confirms the suitability of using the detection of fecal-oral transmitted viruses as a marker of human fecal contamination in water matrices and indicates the spread of pathogenic viruses occurring in an alleged area of environmental protection.     

A new methodology to calculate the environmental protection index (Ep). A case study applied to a company producing composite materials

Environmental indicators can be used as a first stage in progress towards comprehensive environmental impact measures [J. Environ. Manage 65/3 (2002) 285]. In this article, we develop a 'pollutant interaction matrix method' that allows calculation of a global environmental protection index (Ep) in order to verify the eco-compatibility of an industrial activity. Two methods are proposed for the Ep index evaluation (which represents the numerical measure of the environmental sustainability): the Direct Method (Epd) and the Weighted Method (Epw). Both methods need to define, in the whole industrial process, homogeneous sectors (defined as construction sites where activities of the same type are carried out). Furthermore, for each activity a set of parameters (t, duration of pollution effect, P, quantity of pollutant produced,G, hazard of the pollutant) are required to evaluate the relative pollution index Y. All indices calculations were carried out using a set of matrices. The correct use of Ep evaluation provides an improvement in the total environmental performance of companies because it points out possible critical operations in each homogeneous sector which require solutions. The methodology is applied to evaluate the environmental pollution risk of a company that produces polymer materials and to improve their environmental performance. The results obtained show that the whole productive process has a low environmental impact factor. Nevertheless the applied methodology puts in evidence some processes that generate local pollution in specific areas of the factory and which could be dangerous for the workers' health.     

Fractionation of elements by particle size of ashes ejected from Copahue Volcano,Argentina

The volcano Copahue, Neuquén province, Argentina has shown infrequent explosive eruptions since the 18th century. Recently, eruptive activity and seismicity were registered in the period July-October, 2000. As a consequence, ash clouds were dispersed by winds and affected Caviahue village located at about 9 km east of the volcano. Samples of deposited particles from this area were collected during this episode for their chemical analysis to determine elements of concern with respect to the health of the local population and its environment. Different techniques were used to evaluate the distribution of elements in four particle size ranges from 36 to 300 microm. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was selected to detect major components namely, minerals, silicate glass, fragments of rocks and sulfurs. Major and minor elements (Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, S, Si and Ti), were detected by energy dispersive X ray analysis (EDAX). Trace element (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, U, V and Zn) content was quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Nuclear activation analysis (NAA) was employed for the determination of Ce, Co, Cs, Eu, Hf, La, Lu, Rb, Sc, Sm, Ta and Yb. An enrichment was observed in the smallest size fraction of volcanic ashes for four elements (As, Cd, Cu and Sb) of particular interest from the environmental and human health point of view.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for screening contamination by chlorophenols in environmental waters

The development of an immunoassay for screening contamination by chlorophenols is presented. Two haptens were synthesized and conjugated to immunizing proteins to raise rabbit polyclonal antibodies. The antibody-coated format (direct) gave better sensitivity than the conjugate-coated format (indirect) if 2,4,6-trichlorophenol is used as target analyte. The measurement range was 86.4 microg l(-1) to 0.7 microg l(-1), with an average I50 of 7.8 microg l(-1) and a detection limit of 0.2 microg l(-1). The assay detects the presence of trichloropyridinol and other chlorophenols such as di-, tetra- and pentachlorophenols constituting thus a suitable tool for the early warning of the presence of such family contaminants. The optimized method permits the detection of the most important chlorophenols in a fast and reproducible way using no more than one antibody and a single assay. The results achieved with water samples spiked with different chlorophenols fit with a multiple linear regression model when expressing the total concentration of chlorophenols as equivalent of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (P < 0.01), demonstrating the usefulness of the assay as a screening tool to detect contamination by chlorophenols.     

Adsorption of picloram on clays nontronite,illite and kaolinite: equilibrium and herbicide-clays surface complexes

The picloram (PCM) adsorption on nontronite, illite and kaolinite was studied at pH 3, 5 and 7. The adsorption isotherms had well-fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich models equations. The interactions of PCM with the clay mineral surfaces exhibited an anionic profile adsorption, with a decrease in adsorption when the pH increases. The PCM adsorption capacity increases in the following order: kaolinite?<?illite?<?nontronite. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of PCM-clay samples revealed that the picloram molecule does not enter into the clays basal space. The interaction of PCM with clays surface sites through nitrogen of the pyridine ring was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Due to the anionic form of PCM, the adsorption onto the external and edges surface sites of the clay minerals was proposed.     

Solid-waste management in the rural area of BRAZIL: a case study in Quilombola communities

Although there has been a worldwide growing concern regarding solid-waste management, the rural area has been left behind on this matter. It is common knowledge that the lack of waste management is very detrimental to the environment and impact seriously the public health. Therefore, the aim of this work is to contribute to the decision-making process regarding waste management in the rural area by proposing a new methodology using the combination of risk analysis and complementary sustainability criteria. The proposed methodology was demonstrated through a case study in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. A field survey was performed to define the current scenarios and three new scenarios were proposed. The risk analysis showed that the major risk to which residents are vulnerable to is the appearance of vectors that can cause various types of diseases. Besides that, only 30% of rural Quilombola communities of Mato Grosso do Sul have waste collection and the predominant scenario is the burning of dry waste and use of organic waste for animal feeding. Using the complementary relevant criteria, the most suitable scenario do the studied communities would be the combination of household composting and source separation of dry waste. The proposed methodology can be easily applied to other rural regions seeking for sustainable waste management systems.     

Soils impacted by PAHs: Would the stabilized organic matter be a green tool for the immobilization of these noxious compounds?

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of stabilized organic matter (vermicompost) and tropical soils in the sorption of naphthalene, anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene. The results obtained for the three compounds were extrapolated for the priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollutants according to Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). To evaluate the sorption process, high performance liquid chromatography was employed and the data was fitted by Freundlich isotherms. The results suggest that the sorption effect generally increases with the number of benzene rings of the PAHs, and that the persistence of PAHs in the environment is possibly related to the number of benzene rings in the PAH molecule. In addition, the pH of the vermicompost can strongly affect the adsorption process in this matrix.     

Technological applications of organo-montmorillonites in the removal of pyrimethanil from water: adsorption/desorption and flocculation studies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pyrimethanil (2-aniline-4, 6-dimethylpyrimidine, PRM) is used in fruit packing plants to control fungal infections and diseases. The effluents greatly...