Environmental Studies Commons^™

The Glorious Past And The Ecologically Modern: A Guided Journey Through Reconstructions Of China In Rural Shanxi, Melinda Herrold-Menzies

EnviroLab Asia

The article traces an EnviroLab Asia research trip designed to learn how “traditional” music and “folk” dance had been used to transform a loose configuration of farms into an integrated organic agricultural cooperative. This trip was second part of a multi-pronged case-study project looking at music, agriculture and sustainability in Indonesia and China. The importance of this research trip was to build collaborative relationships with our colleagues in Shanxi so that we will be able to produce interdisciplinary research with multinational partners in the future.

Spokane Climate Project: Chapter 5, Fire And Smoke Impact Study For Spokane, Washington, Mike Peterson, Levi Keesecker, Wei Li, Terry Lawhead, Katherine Rowden, Joel Breems, Jerusha Hampson, Katherine Hegewisch, Gonzaga University Climate Institute

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

Examines the rise in wildfire activity projected for Spokane and the Pacific Northwest throughout this century. Focusses on the health impacts that smoke from historical wildfires has had on Spokane’s residents and the health impacts that smoke from future wildfires is projected to have on Spokane residents.

The full version of this report as well as a full list of the citations and methodologies employed for this analysis can be found at the Spokane Climate Project website: https://www.spokaneclimateproject.org/.

Spokane Climate Project: Chapter 4, Streamflowimpact Study For Spokane, Washington, John Porcello, Kara Odegard, Karl Rains, Jule Schultz, Brad Morin, Gonzaga University Climate Institute

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

Examines the impact that projected hydrological changes to the Spokane River will have on river recreation, Redband trout habitat, and the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.

The full version of this report as well as a full list of the citations and methodologies employed for this analysis can be found at the Spokane Climate Project website: https://www.spokaneclimateproject.org/.

Spokane Climate Project: Chapter 3, Snowfall Impact Study For Spokane, Washington, Brian G. Henning, Levi Keesecker, David Camp, Erik Budsberg, Gonzaga University Climate Institute

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

Examines historical trends in snowfall for the Spokane region, future climate projections and mountain snow forecasts, and determines what these data suggests about the future of winter recreation at Spokane’s five-area ski resorts (Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, Silver Mountain Resort, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, and Lookout Pass Ski Area).

The full version of this report as well as a full list of the citations and methodologies employed for this analysis can be found at the Spokane Climate Project website: https://www.spokaneclimateproject.org/.

Spokane Climate Project: Chapter 2, Precipitation Impact Study For Spokane, Washington, Joel Breems, Kevin Booth, Erich Seamon, Gonzaga University Climate Institute

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

This chapter examines precipitation under projected future climate change in the Spokane area. The chapter focuses on potential climate impacts on dryland wheat farming due to the crop’s direct reliance on precipitation and economic importance to the region.

The full version of this report as well as a full list of the citations and methodologies employed for this analysis can be found at the Spokane Climate Project website: https://www.spokaneclimateproject.org/.

Regenerating Agroecosystems By Overcoming Human Exceptionalism In Designing For Increased Equity Of Benefits From Ecoservices, Ali Loker, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Our commentary explores three critical issues related to ecosystem services. First is how ecoservices are currently designed and implemented primarily for human benefit without concern for how these impact other species. We conclude that awareness of this imbalance is the first step toward meaningful change. Second we observe that human exceptionalism guides most decisions, and ask whether we can overcome this mind-set to embrace ecoregeneration and design of resilient and mutually beneficial agroecosystems. Our attitude toward the challenge and moving toward greater humility about human roles that guide management decisions in the ecosystem is a requisite for change. Third we …

Advances In Chemotactic And Non-Chemotactic Bioremediation Of Water: A Comprehensive Review, Sheetal Pardeshi, Prafulla Shede

Applied Environmental Research

Pollution has reached to a critical threshold affecting the climate and diversity of the planet Earth. All global authorities have included pollution control in their agenda for near future. Most of the environmental research nowadays is focused on removing waste generated by anthropogenic activities, may it be solid, liquid or gaseous waste. Bioremediation is believed to be the most eco-friendly approach for reducing or removing pollutants contaminating different matrices of the environment. There are various methods covered under the umbrella term of bioremediation. Chemotaxis-mediated bioremediation attracted attention of several research groups since early decade of twenty first century due to …

Soil Contamination And Risk Assessments On Selected Dumpsites Within The Basement Complex And Sedimentary Formations Of Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria, Akintayo O. Ojo, Oluwaseun T. Olurin, Oluseyi O. Adeleke

Applied Environmental Research

The concentrations of inorganic elements in soils of Saje, Ita-Oshin, Premier, and Oke-Diya dumpsites were determined using an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer to assess the soil quality through chronological changes with depths. A soil core sampler collects 56 samples at 20, 40, 60, and 80 cm depths. Saje showed high mean concentrations of Ca, K, Fe, Rb, and Ti at all depths, while Oke-Diya revealed high mean concentrations of Ca, K, Fe, Rb, Ti, Mn, Zn, V, Cr, and Ni at all depths. These concentrations were in a closed range suggesting a build-up of elements in the soil profiles. Oke-Diya had …

Occurrence Of Microplastics In The Asian Freshwater Environments: A Review, Farah Akmal Idrus, Noradriena Mohd Fadhli, Mohd Nasarudin Harith

Applied Environmental Research

Microplastics pollution has become a worldwide common problem. Despite the growing numbers in researches regarding the microplastics, the understanding of microplastics in the freshwater environment are still less. This paper overviews the present knowledge and findings on the occurrence of microplastics in water and sediment of the freshwater environments in Asia. The review also covers the size distribution, polymers, morphological characteristics and sources of microplastics to the freshwater systems. Perspective of the adsorption of heavy metals on the microplastics to the freshwater systems are also discussed in this review.

Ecological And Human Health Risk Assessment Of Heavy Metals By Consuming The Aquatic Plant Species Near An Electronic Waste Open Dumpsite In Thailand, Thitima Parkpoom, Somsak Intamat, Uraiwan Phoonaploy, Lamyai Neeratanaphan

Applied Environmental Research

Heavy metals from electronic waste (e-waste) accumulate in the environment and can affect human health. The purpose of this study was to determine As, Cd, Cr and Pb concentrations in water, sediment and three species of edible aquatic plants (Ottelia alismoides, Ipomoea aquatic and Marsilea crenata) near an e-waste open dumpsite. Samples were collected from six sampling points surrounding an e-waste open dumpsite and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) were evaluated in …

Assessing Vegetation Cover Change Using Remote Sensing: Case Study At Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Huyen, Le Hoang Tu, Le Truong Ngoc Han, Vuong Thi Thuy, Dang Nguyen Dong Phuong, Nguyen Kim Loi

Applied Environmental Research

This study aims to present the application of remote sensing in monitoring vegetation change in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. The study used Landsat 5 images in the year 2010 and Landsat 8 images in the years 2015 and 2020 to investigate the area of vegetation. The maximum likelihood classification method (MLC) was used to classify land cover and an accuracy matrix was computed to validate the classification results. The references data were collected to support classification and accuracy assessment processes including land use maps in 2010, 2015, and 2020. In addition, collected field points and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) in …

Biochar From Empty Date Fruit Bunch As An Adsorbent To Remove Eriochrome Black T And Methylene Blue From Aqueous Solution, Houari Bella, Hayet Bendaikha

Applied Environmental Research

Date fruit has a significant role in Sahara countries' economies. In this study, a bunch of empty dates waste was used to produce biochar, which will be used to adsorb Eriochrome black T (EBT) and methylene blue (MB) dyes from aqueous solution. The dates bunch was washed, dried, and ground into small particles. Then it was heated in a muffle furnace at 850 °C. The biochar from empty date bunches (BEDB) characteristics before and after adsorption was determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The experiment has used different parameters notably initial concentration (25 …

Spokane Climate Project: Chapter 1, Temperature Impact Study For Spokane, Washington, Rebecca Macmullen, Kara Odegard, Jim Simon, David Camp, Gonzaga University Climate Institute

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

This chapter examines the effects that projected future temperature increases are likely to have on human health and safety in Spokane. Spokane’s annual Lilac Bloomsday Run (Bloomsday) is used as a case study to illustrate potential impacts to human health.

The full version of this report as well as a full list of the citations and methodologies employed for this analysis can be found at the Spokane Climate Project website: https://www.spokaneclimateproject.org/.

Spokane Climate Project: Executive Summary, Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Research Consortium (Circ), Gonzaga University Climate Institute

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

This executive summary was created as part of the Spokane Climate Project (SCP) and complies the key climate science finding of the project. This summary report is part of a larger climate and weather vulnerability and resilience assessment for Spokane, Washington. The full assessment is scheduled for completion sometime in 2021.

Under the guidance of the Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Research Consortium (CIRC), Spokane Climate Project participants from Spokane used CIRC’s Climate Toolbox, a suite of online climate science tools and related datasets, to investigate how climate and weather-related impacts—including rising temperatures, wildfires, and the loss of snowpack—are projected to …

Exploring Visitor Perceptions And Behaviours Related To Ticks And Lyme Disease Risk In An Ontario Protected Area, Ryan Brady

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne zoonosis in North America and over the past decade, reported cases of the disease have been rapidly increasing in many regions throughout Canada. The relative novelty of this public health threat presents nature-based tourism and recreation organizations with a range of policy and management challenges. Currently, there is a limited understanding of public perceptions and behaviours associated with tick and Lyme disease risk, especially within a Canadian parks and protected areas visitation and visitor experience context. To address this practical and scholarly knowledge gap, this study utilized in-situ surveys to explore visitor perceptions, …

Integrating Carbon Pricing Approaches, Amay Shah

CMC Senior Theses

Concerns about global climate change and its effects have been steadily growing around the world in recent years. The Paris Agreement has laid out ambitious targets for countries to cut their emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Carbon pricing mechanisms are an inventive instrument that can help achieve these emissions reductions by placing a price on greenhouse gas emissions, creating incentives for organizations to reduce their emissions. These mechanisms can also help enable the transfers from wealthy nations to developing nations that will be essential for ensuring a …

Environmental Racism In Baltimore: A Geographical Study Into The Connections Between Environmental Toxins And Public Health, Genevieve Block

Honors Theses

An investigation into the relationship between environmental toxins and environmental racism in Baltimore City, Maryland.

A Framework For Near-Real Time Monitoring Of Diversity Patterns Based On Indirect Remote Sensing, With An Application In The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, Andrea Paz, Thiago S. Silva, Ana C. Carnaval

Publications and Research

Monitoring biodiversity change is key to effective conservation policy. While it is difficult to establish in situ biodiversity monitoring programs at broad geographical scales, remote sensing advances allow for near-real time Earth observations that may help with this goal. We combine periodical and freely available remote sensing information describing temperature and precipitation with curated biological information from several groups of animals and plants in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest to design an indirect remote sensing framework that monitors potential loss and gain of biodiversity in near-real time. Using data from biological collections and information from repeated field inventories, we demonstrate that …

Re-Storying Grant Creek: A Case Study Of Relational Dynamics On A Degraded Montana Stream, Seamus Rucci Land

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration began in 2021, and after a history of contentious ethical debates, ecological restoration is increasingly portrayed as a viable framework for combating environmental degradation and supporting more healthy and stable social-ecological systems. The proposed ecological restoration of Grant Creek, a degraded stream near Missoula, Montana, offers an opportunity to connect a restoration site to the broader, rapidly growing field of restoration practice. It also allows the opportunity to forward the ‘relational turn’ proposed by many in the sustainability sciences as an ontological and methodological means to move beyond positivist portrayals of social-ecological systems, which …

Voices Of The Often Unheard: The Environmental Impacts Of Catastrophic Wildfire Events On Individuals With Developmental Disabilities, Mary Madison Mckenzie

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The Thomas Fire for a time was the largest wildfire in California history, burning 281,893 acres and destroying 1,063 structures. Within three years, the August Complex Fire, at 1,032,649 acres, almost quadrupled that record. Climate related disasters such as these have impelled social science researchers to heed calls for a paradigm shift in understanding the risks climate change poses to the social world, in particular, disaster risks for vulnerable groups. Existing research tends to focus on disasters such as hurricanes, featuring risks for vulnerable populations by race, class, and/or individuals with disabilities in general, but not for individuals with developmental …

Modelling Of Radiological Health Risk In Water From Abstraction Well Close To A Hypothetical Radioactive Waste Repository In The Accra Plains, Paul Essel, Mark Amo-Boateng, Dominic Otoo, Thomas Tetteh Akiti

Applied Environmental Research

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 …

Effects Of Substrate Types On Nitrogen Removal Efficacy And Growth Of Canna Indica L., Arunothai Jampeetong, Pakawat Janyasupab

Applied Environmental Research

Constructed wetlands (CWs), a cost effective technology for wastewater treatment, consist of substrates and wetland plants, which should be selected carefully to gain highest treatment efficiency. However, studies on plant growth and responses to different types of substrates are very few. This study aims to assess the effects of substrate types on growth and root morphology of Canna indica L. and nitrogen (N) removal. Twenty-four similar sized approximately 1 month old C. indica plants were selected and grown on different substrates (gravel, pumice and biochar). All plants were supplied with a standard growth medium to which 14 mg L-1 NH4+, …

Rs-Gis Approach On Biomass Energy Potential Estimation Of Sugarcane Residues In Medellin, Cebu, Wenyville Nabor Galang, Ian Dominic Tabañag, Michael Loretero

Applied Environmental Research

The need to use alternative energy sources is driven by the continued rise in fossil fuel price, increasing population and energy demand most particularly in a developing country like the Philippines. Biomass resources such as sugarcane residues provide alternative means to utilize its untapped potential for renewable energy. The use of remote sensing technology and geo-graphic information system enables detailed assessment on the quantification of its distribution, abundance and quality that will yield an effective and efficient use of its potential. Available energy potential measurement was conducted in the town of Medellin, part of Bogo-Medellin mill district, in the northern …

Petrogenic And Biogenic Inputs Of N-Alkanes Along Shoreline Of The Caspian Sea In The Mazandaran Province, North Of Iran, Seyed Raheb Hosseini Bizaki, Ahmad Reza Rabbani, Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari, Mitra Cheraghi, Parisa Babaie

Applied Environmental Research

The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world and is facing an increasing risk of contamination. Sea-based and land-based hydrocarbons inputs are the most critical pollutants of the Caspian Sea. In the present study, n-alkanes and related diagnostic ratios were used to identify the sources of hydrocarbon contaminants in surface sediments along the southern coastal area of the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province. 27 surface sediment samples were collected from a depth of 5 meters under sea level. Contaminant’s compositions were extracted by Soxhlet apparatus and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. According to the results, the total …

A Fuzzy Ahp Approach To Assess Flood Hazard For Area Of Bang Rakam Model 60 Project In Yom River Basin, Northern Thailand, Aphittha Yodying, Nattapon Mahavik, Sarintip Tantanee, Charatdao Kongmuang, Agbesi Kwadzo Keteku, Polpreecha Chidburee, Kamonchat Seejata, Sasithon Chatsudarat

Applied Environmental Research

The Thai government developed the “Bang Rakam Model 60” to solve flood issues in low-lying areas (Phitsanulok and Sukhothai Provinces). In the project, farmers will have to start planting in early April and harvest in July. This research proposes a methodology for assessing flood hazard using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP) relied on Chang’s extent analysis. It was employed to derive the weight for factor ranking and create a flood hazard map. Eight hazard factors are considered in the methodology: average annual rainfall, drainage density, distance from drainage network, soil water infiltration, land use, elevation, slope, and flow …

Risk Assessment Of Total Mercury (T-Hg) In Commercial Seafood Marketed In Bangkok, Thailand, Irwan Ramadhan Ritonga, Sujaree Bureekul, Penjai Sompongchaiyakul

Applied Environmental Research

Seafood is recognized as the high protein source of human consumption. However, it is hampered by mercury contamination. The objectives of this study are to determine total mercury (T-Hg) levels in edible portions of commercial seafood available in Bangkok’s supermarkets, and to evaluate the potential risks from mercury through seafood consumption. Total 32 species, including 22 fish, 4 cephalopod and 6 shellfish, were purchased from super-markets. Fish samples were dissected in 3 parts comprised of flesh, gill and viscera. While, cephalopod and shellfish were separated for edible tissues. The samples were digested in hot acid and were determined using cold-vapor …

Prediction Of Groundwater Quality Index In The Selected Divisions Of Srikakulam Using Artificial Neural Networks Approach, Santhosh Kumar Nadikatla, Mushini Venkata Subbarao, M.P.S. Murali Krishna

Applied Environmental Research

Applicability of artificial neural network (ANN) modelling in predicting the water quality index (WQI) and in turn to ascertain the suitability of the water for human consumption has been presented in the paper. In the light of the present study, seventy-nine (79) groundwater samples were collected from two mandals (divisions) Veeraghattam (VGT) and Palakonda (PLKD) and analyzed for physicochemical parameters during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2015 and 2016. In computing the WQI, physicochemical parameters such as  pH, EC, TDS, TH, Ca, Mg, chlorine, fluoride, nitrite, DO and TA have been considered. From the results it was found that …

Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Groundwater Quality Index And Multivariate Statistical Methods And Human Health Risk Assessment In A Coastal Region Of The Vietnamese Mekong Delta, Nguyen Thanh Giao, Phan Kim Anh, Huynh Thi Hong Nhien

Applied Environmental Research

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes and assess the associated human health risks for different age groups in a coastal province of Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Twenty groundwater samples were collected in Soc Trang Province, and various water quality parameters were analyzed. The data were employed to calculate entropy-weighted groundwater quality index (EWQI), principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for adult and children health. The results revealed that groundwater in some locations, especially in GW19, was polluted by hardness, total dissolved solids, NH4+, Cl-, Fe, total coliform, and E. …

The Driving Force Of Urban Water Body Change In Chonburi Province, Thailand, Nararuk Boonyanam, Somskaow Bejranonda

Applied Environmental Research

The rapid urbanization from special economic zones (SEZs) in Asia poses a risk on water crisis. This paper identifies water body change trend and its driving force of change in Chonburi province; the most urbanized area in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand, in order to analyse the root cause of water shortage in the area. Land use maps from 2006 to 2019 were used to evaluate the changing trend in water bodies using land use transition matrix and land use dynamic degree. Panel data from 364 observations in the Chonburi sub-district was used to assess the driving forces …

Assessment Of Emissions From Cement Plants Using Aermod Modeling, Atef I. Abdel-Gawad, Mahmoud Noureldeen, Hamada Mahmaoud, Asmaa S. Hamouda

Applied Environmental Research

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. …