Applied Environmental Research最新文献

{"title":"Modelling of Radiological Health Risk in Water from Abstraction Well Close to a Hypothetical Radioactive Waste Repository in the Accra Plains","authors":"Paul Essel, M. Amo-Boateng, D. Otoo, Thomas Tetteh Akiti","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.44.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.44.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluated the integrity of the geosphere of the Accra Plains to host a radioactive waste disposal facility for Ghana’s radioactive waste materials. The study thus assessed the migration of radioactive contaminant from a hypothetical radioactive waste disposal facility through the geosphere to the biosphere in the Accra Plains. The Accra Plains is predominantly underlain by schist rocks, hence the hydrogeologic parameters of schist rock from literature were used as input data. AMBER software was used to develop a model to estimate the peak total annual effective dose from all the radionuclides at various receptor locations. The endpoint of interest was the dose received by a receptor for ingesting water from an abstraction well located at distance; 100 m, 200 m, 500 m, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, 4 km and 5 km from the hypothetical repository. From the simulation, the annual effective dose values ranged from 2.07E-25 Sv/y to 6.45E-17 Sv/y which are all below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dose constraint of 0.3 mSv/y. The lifetime cancer risk for ingesting water from the abstraction wells were then calculated from the annual effective dose values. The resulting values ranged from 1.06E-24 to 3.30E-16 thus indicating that the potential cancer risk for ingesting water from the abstraction wells located within 100 m to 5 km from the hypothetical disposal facility is negligible. The model results demonstrate that, siting a disposal facility in the study area might not pose any significant risk to the sprawling population and the environment.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"229 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77565142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Emissions from Cement Plants Using AERMOD Modeling","authors":"A. I. Abdel-Gawad, Mahmoud Noureldeen, Hamada Mahmaoud, A. Hamouda","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.44.1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.44.1.2","url":null,"abstract":"Coal combustion generates many gases and emissions which are harmful to public health and the environment. So, it is necessary to assess the health risks for the people living in the nearby cement plants that use coal as a fuel. In this article, a health risk assessment HRA was carried out concerning the air emissions from a cement plant in the heavy industry area located at Beni Suef governorate - Egypt. The article handles the assessment of the health risks for pollutants classified as non-carcinogenic i.e. sulfur dioxide - mercury and the health risks for pollutants classified as carcinogenic i.e. arsenic – chromium VI. An Air dispersion modeling program AERMOD is used to measure and evaluate long and short terms health impacts to expect the concentration of pollutants at the ground level within 30 km radius of the studied cement plant. The emissions measurements findings are used as input to the model in addition to some factors such as meteorology and surrounding terrain. Consequently, the program can implement simulations for the emissions concentration level of the mentioned pollutants and their effects on the population at Jazirat Abu Salih village, which is 10 km far from the studied cement plant. The results for mentioned pollutants concentrations levels matched with acceptance and safe levels of ambient air quality standards. In addition, the increment lifetime cancer risk ILCR by inhalation was calculated for arsenic and chromium and all results conformed with the safe and accepted limits.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81471467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preliminary Study and First Evidence of Presence of Microplastics \u0000in Green Mussel, Perna viridis from Phuket","authors":"Phaothep Cherdsukjai, Vararin Vongpanich, P. Akkajit","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.44.1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.44.1.3","url":null,"abstract":"Plastics can reach the coastal environment and could impact the marine environment. Mussels are marine organisms which are prone to be exposed to microplastics pollution. Therefore, in this preliminary study, the commercially important green mussel (Perna viridis) collected at the Koh Phee Canal in Phuket, Phuket Province, southern peninsular Thailand, was investigated. The collected mussels from aquaculture farm fell into three age groups, namely 1 year-1 month, 1 year-7 months, and 1 year-9 months. Results from the investigation showed 200 items of microplastics present in Perna viridis with 76 items (38%) in flushed water and 124 items (62%) in the soft tissue. The average counts of microplastics in soft tissue and flushed water were 4.13 items per individual and 2.53 items per individual, respectively. Blue color (98 items, 49%) and filament shape (185 items, 92.5%) were the most common color and shape of microplastics in the mussel tissues and the flushed water. The dominant polymers as microplastics were identified as polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, which are common polymer types used in protective packaging and containers. The statistical post hoc tests showed no significant differences by age group in the microplastics accumulation in the Perna viridis (p<0.05). Further studies are required to understand the accumulation rates and residence times of microplastics across the food webs for better understanding on their impacts on human health. The results from this study provide a baseline level of microplastics contamination in green mussel aquaculture located at Phuket, and urgent measures are needed to prevent contamination of food for human consumption and related health problems.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77659440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life Cycle Assessment of Ethiopian Cement Manufacturing: A Potential Improvement on the Use of Fossil Fuel in Mugher Cement Factory","authors":"Lemma Beressa, B. V. Saradhi","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.8","url":null,"abstract":"The use of imported fuel in the Ethiopian cement industry increased the cost of production and the environmental burden, necessitating intervention. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, energy usage intensity, and resource exploitation of Ethiopian cement production were evaluated using the life cycle impact assessment (LCA) tool, aiming to recommend improvements. The LCA study used cumulative energy demand (CED) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2006 life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. For the case study of Mugher cement factory (MCF), the results on energy use intensities showed 3.74, 3.67, and 2.64 GJ/ton of clinker, Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), Pozzolana Portland cement (PPC), respectively. The result revealed MCF's energy use intensity was within the global range of 3.32 to 5.11 GJ/ton of cement production using similar kiln technology. The results on the GHG emissions were 0.87, 0.84, and 0.59 tons of CO2-equivalent/ton of clinker, OPC, and PPC, respectively. Process emissions accounted for 60% of overall CO2 emissions, with energy-related emissions accounting for the remaining 40%. CO2 emissions of MCF are below the global limit of 0.9 tons/ton of clinker, where all energy sources are fossil fuels. However, it is higher than the 0.65 ton/ton of clinker from a moderate rotary kiln in China. MCF used 70% of its total energy sources from imported fossil fuels, and transportation of the imported fuel added 1.2% CO2 to total emissions. A suggested fossil fuel use improvement scenario for MCF, where coffee husk replaces 50% of the imported coal improved the energy intensity, GHG emissions, and total cost of coal in clinker production by 1.2%, 14%, 36%, respectively.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90944722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental Degradation-Education Nexus in Malaysia","authors":"Wo Yun","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.9","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to examine the role of education on CO2 emissions in Malaysia from 1974 to 2014. The unit root tests indicated that the variables were integrated in the same order. As such, the Johansen Co-integration Approach can be employed in this empirical analysis to analyze the impacts of the selected variables. The long-run estimation revealed that economic growth (GDP) and energy consumption (ENERGY) has a negative effect on CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, secondary school education (EDU) demonstrated a significant positive relationship with environmental degradation in the long-run. This can be inferred that secondary school education has a negative effect on environmental quality. However, a negative relationship was found between CO2 emissions and economic growth in the long-run. Besides that, this study had highlighted a positive association between gross fixed capital (GFC) and CO2 emissions. The findings from this study shed light on the vital importance of education in affecting environmental degradation. Empirical evidence suggested that the current education system will need to be redesigned for the reduction of CO2 emissions in the future. This is supported by the result that indicated the secondary level education promotes higher consumption of technologies that emit pollutants rather than promoting environmental awareness.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88737643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Factors and their Correlation Affecting Green Industry Performance: Evidences from Small and Medium Enterprises","authors":"Phurita Noranarttakun, C. Pharino","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.10","url":null,"abstract":"Large companies have achieved excellent progress toward green production while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) showed limited progress. This research aims to investigate key factors affect different stages of enhancing green industry implementation particularly in SMEs. This study conducted a systematic analysis to offer recommendations to unlock the inhibitors of the green industry. The electronic products and electrical equipment manufacturing industry in Thailand was chosen as a case study. Questionnaires is the main approaches to collect primary data from SMEs. The structural equation model is developed to examine correlation and the degree of influencing factors. The model indicated that the latent factors’ influence on the decision-making of SMEs in applying the green industry reflected by the influence of eighteen observable variables and it suggests that the external contexts from stakeholder have a greater influence on the decision-making than the internal context as organizational resources and capabilities. Whereas the level of certification conform with green industry criteria has minor correlation with the decision-making of SMEs. Innovative policy strategy is recommended to create synergy between incentive-based instruments in term of product charges or product tax, subsidies and voluntary measure as product certification are recommended tools to enhance green industry adoption by SMEs.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84290722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why Should Different City Characteristics Customize the Rate of Pollution Charge? Evidence of Factors Affecting Willingness-to-pay for Wastewater Management in Thailand","authors":"Kwanmanas Meethavorn, C. Pharino","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.6","url":null,"abstract":"A challenge for wastewater management is enhancing the efficiency of resource allocation. Polluter Pays Principle is a wastewater charge collection approach that could help support the financial burden faced by many countries. Tailor-made policy implementation based on city characteristics is critical to the success of implementing a national policy to fit well in different local contexts. This study examined gaps for improving municipal wastewater management systems in Thailand through in-depth interviews and a questionnaire survey to identify the factors influencing households’ perception and willingness to pay in three different cities. A contingent variation method technique was used to evaluate the preferences of residents. The study revealed that different cities have different factors that influence willingness-to-pay decisions as well as pay-out levels. A single common factor positively affecting willingness-to-pay preference in all three cities is perception and engagement of wastewater treatment service. Citizens with a positive perception of receiving wastewater service are not only more likely to pay the wastewater charge, but also at a higher amount.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87221650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fire Drivers Affecting Forest Fire Occurrences in the Tropical Mixed Broad-leaved Forests of Nepal","authors":"K. Bhujel, R. Byanju, A. P. Gautam, R. Sapkota, U. Khadka","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.7","url":null,"abstract":"Forest fires triggered by various natural and anthropogenic drivers are increasing and threatening forest ecosystems across the globe. In Nepal, the high value Tropical Mixed Broad-leaved Forests are prone to fire caused by both natural and anthropogenic drivers. Thus, understanding fire drivers and their effect is important for the sustainable forest fire management. However, the preceding studies on forest specific fire drivers and their effect are limited. This research has identified the fire drivers and assessed their effect to fire occurrences in the Tropical Mixed Broad-leaved Forests of Nawalparasi District, Nepal. Fire drivers were identified and prioritized by participatory approaches. The fire incidences and burnt areas were obtained from the MODIS fire data (2001–2017). The results revealed altogether 20 drivers including eight natural and 12 anthropogenic. Based on the public perception and magnitude of forest fire, among the natural drivers, temperature, precipitation, forest fuel, aspect, elevation and slope were the major drivers. Likewise, among the anthropogenic drivers, forest distance from roads and settlements showed significant effect. The natural drivers, ambient temperature >30ºC and annual precipitation <2400 mm, revealed signi-ficant impacts on forest fire. Likewise, forests situated at lower elevation (<500 m), and southern and eastern aspects were highly vulnerable to fire. Considering anthropogenic drivers, forest lying within 500 m from the roads and settlements were highly vulnerable to fire. Among the forest types, the Hill Sal Forest was more affected. Future strategies should address the major fire drivers, construction of adequate fire lines and conservation ponds for the sustainable forest management.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"121 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77801922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying Avoidable Food Waste and Identifying Its Underlying Causes: \u0000A Case Study of a University Dormitory in Thailand","authors":"Shimpei Iwasaki, S. Prasopsin, T. Phutthai","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.5","url":null,"abstract":"To develop well-planned and effective policies and programs for reducing avoidable food waste, it is important to quantify the actual food waste level in particular settings and assess relationships among consumers’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors. Recognizing these considerations, this paper measured avoidable food waste generated by university students living in dormitory buildings and identified its underlying causes in the case of Kanchanaburi campus, Mahidol University, Thailand. The study applied a food waste composition survey 18 times between January and May 2019 while administering questionnaires in October 2019 to the dormitory students. Based on these measures, the study identified 1,417 instances of avoidable food waste. Approximately half of the avoidable food waste had not even been eaten. Most of this waste was generated by female students. Some factors in terms of motivation, opportunity, and ability using a Motivation, Opportunity, Ability framework were found to have induced more food waste among female students. Due attention to the effect of avoidable food waste reduction includes educating dormitory students about food waste as well as more space and increased visibility of stored food in shared refrigerators. Targeting university students for reducing avoidable food waste in the setting of everyday life in dormitories is needed rather than simply focusing on the food service sector on campus.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81025066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Land Cover Classification Based on UAV Photogrammetry and Deep Learning for Supporting Mine Reclamation: A Case Study of Mae Moh Mine in Lampang Province, Thailand","authors":"Tejendra K. Yadav, P. Chidburee, N. Mahavik","doi":"10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35762/aer.2021.43.4.4","url":null,"abstract":"Detailed, accurate, and frequent mapping of land cover are the prerequisite regarding areas of reclaimed mines and the development of sustainable project-level for goals. Mine reclamation is essential as the extractive organizations are bounded by-laws that have been established by stakeholders to ensure that the mined areas are properly restored. As databases at the mines area become outdated, an automated process of upgrading is needed. Currently, there are only few studies regarding mine reclamation which has less potential of land cover classification using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry with Deep learning (DL). This paper aims to employ the classification of land cover for monitoring mine reclamation using DL from the UAV photogrammetric results. The land cover was classified into five classes, comprising: 1) trees, 2) shadow, 3) grassland, 4) barren land, and 5) others (as undefined). To perform the classification using DL, the UAV photogrammetric results, orthophoto and Digital Surface Model (DSM) were used. The effectiveness of both results was examined to verify the potential of land cover classification. The experimental findings showed that effective results for land cover classification over test area were obtained by DL through the combination of orthophoto and DSM with an Overall Accuracy of 0.904, Average Accuracy of 0.681, and Kappa index of 0.937. Our experiments showed that land cover classification from combination orthophoto with DSM was more precise than using orthophoto only. This research provides framework for conducting an analytical process, a UAV approach with DL based evaluation of mine reclamation with safety, also providing a time series information for future efforts to evaluate reclamation. The procedure resulting from this research constitutes approach that is intended to be adopted by government organizations and private corporations so that it will provide accurate evaluation of reclamation in timely manner with reasonable budget.","PeriodicalId":36747,"journal":{"name":"Applied Environmental Research","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83509432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}