Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
L. DeWayne Cecil
Sustainable earth observation systems LLC, USA
Keynote: Assessment of climate change impacts on air temperature, precipitation, and human health; a specific example and some universal recommendations
Time : 09:30-10:00
Biography:
Dr. L. DeWayne Cecil is the Chief Scientist for Sustainable earth Observation Systems LLC (SeOS) in Waynesville, NC. SeOS is an Aerospace Applications and Climate Services consulting firm formed in 2015. He is also the Program Manager on the Science and Technology support contract at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI, formerly the National Climatic Data Center) in Asheville, NC and the Chief Climatologist for Global Science & Technology, Inc. (GST). He joined GST in January 2012 after retiring from 31 years of service in the U.S. federal sector with NASA, NOAA, and the USGS. Dr. Cecil maintains an office for GST and SeOS in The Collider, a regional climate solutions think-tank in Asheville, NC. Additionally he is on contract with The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, the managers of the US International Space Station National Laboratory.
Abstract:
Weather and climate change are the integrators of all environmental processes. Regardless of the sector or group of individuals being monitored, weather and climate will ultimately determine the availability of water and energy, food scarcity or abundance, and human health and wellbeing. In this talk, we will look at a specific example of approaching a challenging sustainability project with teams of individuals looking at historic preservation, sustainable design, and human health in the 18th century Villa Bologna in Malta. The talk will close with a set of generic but universal guidelines and recommendations for assessing risk and planning for resiliency, sustainability, and protecting human health in the face of changing climate and extreme weather events. As a specific example of assessing risk from climate change and extreme weather events, this talk will present data from a University of Malta study conducted by Dr. Charles Galdies coupled with findings from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 5th Assessment Report, from NASA, and from the US EPA. According to climate change projections, Malta will become hotter and drier in the coming decades (Galdies, 2011, and IPCC, 2013). Desertification is underway and projected water shortages of up to 70 percent by the year 2100 have been reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Imposed on top of these climate change projections is the increased use of nitrogen fertilizers across Malta in an attempt to respond to increasing human population that could exacerbate resource scarcity and associated human health issues. Drought conditions are projected to occur more often and to last for longer periods of time. Additionally, 5 of the 10 warmest years on record for air temperature occurred during the past 10 years. Malta’s climate is changing more rapidly than the global average and this is reflected in recorded air temperatures. Malta is currently the most densely populated nation of all 27 member nations in the European Union and is experiencing unprecedented levels of refugee incursions from northern Africa and the Middle East. These compounding factors of significant projected sea-level rise combined with storm surge and high tide, increasing air temperatures, decreasing precipitation, and increasing population all add up to major challenges for the government and people of Malta and for the owner and staff of the Villa Bologna. One of the most significant factors for determining success or failure in local designs and plans over time is baseline weather and climate data; the integrators of environmental processes. In Malta, our team insisted on establishing a continuous weather station at the Villa Bologna. Additionally, through community education and involvement, and by incorporating the weather station into the Malta Met Office network (and the World Meteorological Network (WMO) at some point), we hope to raise awareness of the potential for sustainable living, historic preservation, and to reduce the risks to human health through sound science with sustainable earth observations and data for assessment and monitoring.
Keynote Forum
Olurominiyi Ibitayo
Texas Southern University, USA
Keynote: Reducing agricultural pesticide poisoning in sub-Sahara Africa: Beyond zero-risk
Time : 10:00-10:30
Biography:
Olurominiyi Ibitayo is a Professor in the School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas. He has received his PhD in Public Administration from Arizona State University in 1994. His research interests and publications include environmental and occupational risk assessment, use and misuse of agricultural pesticides, neighborhood-level research and emergency management. His publications have appeared in a diverse set of reputable journals including Risk Analysis, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy and Hort Science among others.
Abstract:
The high population growth rate (three percent) for Sub-Sahara Africa is particularly ominous regarding food needs if the rapid rate of movement of people from rural areas, the site of food production, to urban areas is considered. In view of the need for self-sufficiency in food production, and the expansion of export agriculture, several countries in sub-Sahara Africa have been aggressively promoting the use of agricultural inputs such as pesticides. Agricultural pesticides are, however poisons by design as these chemicals are intended for use in destroying any pest that may interfere with the production or the processing of agricultural products. The capacity of pesticides to destroy is however not limited to pests but may result in serious risks to human health and to the environment. The incidence of occupational agricultural pesticide poisoning or contamination is particularly high in developing countries. In contrast to the zero-risk approach this paper suggests a mix of options for reducing agricultural pesticide poisoning in sub-Sahara Africa; pesticide risk communication and education programs, providing government subsidy for the purchase of less toxic but usually more expensive pesticides; discontinuing calendar-based pesticide application; limiting the importation of highly toxic agricultural pesticides; and encouraging the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
Keynote Forum
Ming-Tsang Wu
Kaohsiung Medicine University, Taiwan
Keynote: Environmental melamine exposure and renal diseases
Time : 10:50-11:20
Biography:
Ming-Tsang Wu has completed his MD from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan and PhD from Harvard School of Public Health in the USA. He is a full Professor in the Department of Public Health and the Director in Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medicine University, Taiwan. His major research interest is on the interactive effects of environmental and occupational exposures, genetic factors and biomarkers on the health outcomes.
Abstract:
Melamine chemical is still ubiquitously present in our environment, even after the 2008 melamine incident in China that caused kidney-related diseases and kidney failure in children due to a large amount of melamine intake. Our previous study has found that low-dose melamine exposure is associated with the risk of renal stones in adults, but the relationship between environmental melamine exposure and the risk of renal damage in adults has not been explored. In this talk, I will present our recent findings about that link by using one unique occupational population: melamine tableware manufacturing workers. In the meantime, I will illustrate how to prevent against environmental melamine exposure.
- Environmental Toxicity & Sciences | Environmental Chemistry | Global Warming
Location: Phoenix, Hall A
Chair
Mei-Ling Hsu
National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Co-Chair
Gonzalez-Acevedo Zayre I
Mexican Center of Innovation on Geothermal Energy, Mexico
Session Introduction
Maryam Khoshtinat Nikoo
Independent Researcher, California, USA
Title: An analysis of the effect of argon on methane dry reforming using dielectric barrier discharge
Time : 11:20-11:45
Biography:
Maryam Khoshtinat Nikoo has completed her PhD in 2015 from University Teknologi Malaysia. She was a Senior Researcher and Project Manager of Process Engineering and Catalyst Division in R&D Center of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex and Catalyst Research Center of Research Institute Petroleum of Iran, before starting her PhD program. She has been journal affairs Vice President of IAJC (International Association of Journals and Conferences, Asia Chapter) from 2008 to 2010 and has been serving as a Reviewer for a few prestigious international journals and as an Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Chemical and Biomedical Science. She has published quite a number of high impact journal papers, books and conference papers and presentations.
Abstract:
The use of Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is considered as one of the most promising techniques for methane dry reforming (MDR). However, the main downsides of pure DBDMDR are the low reactant conversion, syngas yield and almost severe carbon deposition. Since reactant dilution with argon (Ar) facilitates the plasma generation, the effects of the diluent gas (Ar) on DBDMDR in terms of reactant conversion, product yield, and energy efficiency were studied. The presence of higher Ar content in the reactant mixture led to a higher absolute CH4 and CO2 conversions, due to more opportunity for collisions between Ar, neutral CH4 and CO2, more contribution of Penning dissociation reactions, and direct electron-molecule/atom impact. However, the intrinsic decrease in converted CO2 and CH4 resulting from the decreased concentration of CO2 and CH4 in the feed was not compensated. Yield of CO significantly increased from 13.9% to 38.2% whereas that of H2 from 15.1% to 38%. Introducing Ar into CO2/CH4 mixture restrained carbon deposition and assisted in keeping the state of the discharge more stable. Increasing the Ar content from 0% to 80% gave rise to about 56% decline in energy efficiencies of cleavage of both C-H in CH4 and C=O in CO, which shows the current process is unsuitable for industrial scale-up. Therefore, it might be thought that a DBD plasma reactor will not become as efficient as a conventional thermal reactor for MDR. However, its ease of employment due to its quick start-up and switch-off, its simple implementation, its avoidance of chemical effluent and its long life processing may still make it advantageous over the conventional thermal MDR. Allowing for the combination of an adequate catalyst with the other kinds of plasma reactors (such as gliding arcs) reported as more efficient alternatives are of essential importance to improve the energy efficiency intending to sustain the economic values.
Jurgen Gailer
University of Calgary, Canada
Title: Probing toxicologically relevant interactions of inorganic pollutants in the bloodstream
Time : 11:45-12:10
Biography:
Jurgen Gailer has received his PhD from Karl-Franzens Universität Graz, Austria in 1997 and completed Postdoctoral studies at the University of Arizona and the GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health. In 2002 he joined Boehringer Ingelheim, Austria (Biopharmaceutical Production) where he was a Team Leader for the downstream processing. He has joined the Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary in 2004 where he currently is working as an Associate Professor and has a co-appointment in the Environmental Science Program.
Abstract:
Numerous bio-monitoring studies have revealed that various human populations including children are exposed to environmentally abundant non-essential metals/metalloid species (e.g. cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic). It is unclear; however, if the chronic low level exposure of humans to certain non-essential metals/metalloid species may be linked to the etiology of human diseases. Since health care costs that are related to chronic human diseases are increasing, the establishment of functional connections between the exposure to non-essential metals/metalloid species and human diseases is viewed by many as one of the greatest challenges in the post-genomic era. Uncovering the underlying biochemical mechanisms, however, represents a truly monumental task. Conceptually, this quest requires fundamental advances in two particular areas, namely a better understanding of the biochemical fate of non-essential metals/metalloid species in the bloodstream and within toxicological target organs. Our general lack of understanding toxicologically relevant interactions of non-essential metals/metalloid species in the bloodstream must be attributed to its inherent complexity on the one hand and a general lack of appropriate instrumental analytical methodologies on the other. To this end, we develop and apply new analytical methods to probe toxicologically critical interactions between non-essential metal/metalloid species and blood constituents based on liquid chromatography. After a brief overview of the instrumental analytical methods that we have developed to probe these interactions either in a ‘bottom-up’ or a ‘top-down’ manner, some recent results will be highlighted.
Vinit Prakash
Maharishi Markandeshwar University, India
Title: Desalination of Cd2+ and Pb2+ from wastewater by Aspergillus niger decomposed Citrus limetta peel powder
Time : 12:10-12:35
Biography:
Vinit Prakash has completed his PhD from Thapar University, Patiala, India on the research topic entitled, “Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Waste Incineration”. He is Honorary Advisor for the Environment Council in International Organization for Educational Development. He has been serving as Reviewer of many journals and an Editorial Board Member of repute.
Abstract:
The desalination of Cd2+ and Pb2+ from synthetic and paint industrial waste water was conducted to study the column mode (down flow and up flow) of Aspergillus niger decomposed Citrus limetta peels’ powder. The batch mode was carried out to optimize pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and adsorbent doses. The column studies were performed with waste water at optimized conditions. The percentage removal, metal uptake capacity and exhaustion time of the column in up flow mode were found to be far better as compared to down flow mode. The comparison of adsorption in single- and multi-metal ion systems revealed that A. niger decomposed C. limetta peels’ powder have an excellent potential for the removal metal ions from industrial effluents.
Maria Arlene Adviento-Borbe
Delta Water Management Research Unit, USA
Title: Fertilizer and management strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while optimizing grain yields from US rice and maize systems
Time : 12:35-13:00
Biography:
Maria Arlene Adviento-Borbe has completed her PhD from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Postdoctoral studies from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Pennsylvania State University. She is the Research Agronomist of the Delta Water Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a Reviewer of 15 scientific journals.
Abstract:
Improved N fertilizer management practices can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintain high grain yields. Field studies were initiated in California, Arkansas and Nebraska to determine GHG emission mitigation potential of different N fertilizer management practices that aimed to optimize yield in irrigated rice and maize cropping systems. Grain yield and GHG emissions were quantified from rice and maize fields with various fertilizer sources (i.e. urea, aqua ammonia, ammonium nitrate/sulfate) and applications (i.e. surface subsurface) at 100 to 310 kg N ha-1 rates. Emissions of CH4 and N2O for rice and CO2 and N2O for maize were measured using flux chamber and gas chromatography or photo-acoustic spectroscopy. At all sites, rice yields were 2.9 to 11.9 Mg ha-1 in unfertilized fields and increased by 117% in fertilized fields. Maize yields increased by 22% compared to yields from recommended N rates and were within 80-100% of estimated site yield potential. CH4 emissions and CO2 and N2O emissions were the main sources of GWP in rice and maize, respectively. In some cases, higher N rates increased total CH4 emissions in rice and total N2O emissions in maize field. However, GWP from rice fields had no clear patterns among different N applications and GWP emissions were minimal in maize field under intensive practice. Our study shows that GHG emissions from maize cropping can be reduced when management is implemented towards efficient N fertilization. For rice cropping, further assessments are needed to determine if strategies to increase yield can potentially mitigate GHG emissions.
Diego Defferrari
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Title: Solvent-free biodiesel epoxidation
Time : 14:00-14:25
Biography:
Diego Defferrari has studied chemistry in the Federal University of Rio Grande do sul. He is currently in pursuing graduate degree in Industrial Chemistry and is a Pharmacy student. He has published a couple of papers in biofuels area. He also teaches the best vestibular preparatory courses in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Abstract:
Biodiesel is comprised of esters that are derived from the trans-esterification of oils and fats with alcohols and has emerged in recent years as a great potential complementary resource to petroleum-based fuels and derivatives. Currently, vegetable oil derived does not have the same importance as fossil derivatives in fuel usage; however, the growing significance of these products is undeniable. Besides energy, biodiesel can be used as raw material to synthesize high value products such as epoxides. Indeed, epoxides are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis for numerous reactions due to the high reactivity of the oxirane ring. Actually common epoxidation by peracids in organic solvent can last several hours according to the double bonds number. The solvent confers selectivity to the reaction, preventing di-hydroxylation. Alternatively solvent-free reactions can be done in shorter times, but hydroxylation reactions are less controlled. In this work, we set up the synthesis of epoxides from methyl and ethyl esters of waste cooking oil, without solvent or metal catalyst. Results show that the highest epoxide yields selectivity, with high conversion of the double bonds. Organic solvent suppression, besides being environmentally friendly, also saves reaction time and subsequent purification steps.
Huiping Huang
National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Title: Exploring the impact of global warming media use, energy saving and carbon emission reduction coverage on environmental actions
Time : 14:25-14:50
Biography:
Huiping Huang has completed her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an Associate Professor of Institute of Communication Studies, National Chiao Tung University. She has published research articles and comments in reputed journals and newspapers and has served as an Associate Editor and Editorial Board Member of reputed journal in Taiwan.
Abstract:
Global warming is a major challenge to humankind. In Taiwan, greenhouse gas emissions have nearly doubled in 20 years. To mitigate the phenomenon, it is important to identify factors affecting people’s environmental action. People receive information about global warming and emission reductions mainly from the media. The first study proposes a synthetic model to examine the impact of global warming media use on environmental action. Results from a national survey in Taiwan show that individuals’ exposure and attention to global warming media coverage (on TV, newspapers and the Internet) have positive direct effects on environmental actions, including accommodating, promotional and proactive actions. Environmental beliefs and self-efficacy have indirect effects on environmental actions through media use. The findings reveal the critical role of global warming media use on people’s environmental actions. Organizations can actively market their mitigation policies or efforts through various media channels to induce more environmental actions. The second study analyzes 1,156 news reports on energy savings and emission reductions from Taiwan’s major news media. Results show that more than 65% of the news reports are local news, about 30% are national news and less than 10% are international news. The mainstream media report the subject mainly from local viewpoints and lack international perspectives. The primary target audience of the reports is the public. Over 65% appeal to the public to take action. Only about 20% appeal to the government and less than 10% appeal to the business sector, even though the industry contributes the most to carbon emissions.
Gonzalez-Acevedo Zayre I
Mexican Center of Innovation on Geothermal Energy, Mexico
Title: Environmental baseline of geothermal sites
Time : 14:50-15:15
Biography:
Gonzalez-Acevedo Zayre has completed her PhD on Environmental Geochemistry in 2006 from Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Germany. From 2006-2011, she worked at the Environmental Sciences Department in the National Institute of Nuclear Research in Mexico. Since 2012 she is working as a Researcher in the Geology Department at CICESE. In the CeMIE-Geo, she is leading a project on sustainable development and minimization of environmental impact from geothermal reservoirs in Mexico (2014-2018). In June 2016, she granted a project on environmental, social and economic impacts of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) and super-hot geothermal system (SHGS), in collaboration with the European Union (2017-2021).
Abstract:
Geothermal energy is the use of thermic energy that emerges from the interior of the Earth Crust up to the surface through rock and/or fluids to produce electricity. This energy shows up at the surface as thermal springs, geysers, fumaroles and volcanoes. Even though geothermal energy is considered as a renewable/clean energy source, environmental impacts cannot be excluded during geothermal power generation. The environmental effects that are temporary or irreversible in geothermal industry are: land subsidence, seismicity, noise, changes to landscape and land use, solid waste, ecological, emissions to the atmosphere such as: gases (CO2, H2S, NH3, CH4, N2 and H2), trace mercury, boron vapors and radon. Surface and groundwater contamination: hazardous substances used during exploration, construction or production stages. The geothermal reservoirs contain a range of toxic metals in suspension and solution: As, Hg, Pb, Zn, B and S, along with carbonates, silica, sulfates and chlorates. It is important to start an environmental monitoring before a geothermal power plant is created, to establish the environmental baseline. In this work, a polar sampling was made, starting from the geothermal expression in three geothermal sites from the central part of Mexico. Water, soil, vegetation and microorganisms were monitored in wet and dry season 2015. All environmental samples show concordance with respect to the 15 determined chemical elements, bacteria and microalgae, identifying specific characteristics related to the geothermal reservoir and other environmental stresses.
Suresh Kumar
Chhaju Ram Memorial Jat College, India
Title: Deltamethrin induced changes in endocrine glands in Heteropneustes fossilis
Time : 15:15-15:40
Biography:
Suresh Kumar has completed his PhD from Indian Institute of Toxicology Research-CSIR, India and worked as a Commonwealth Consultant (CSAP-Expert) in Ministry of Environment, Port Louice. He is the Head of Zoology Department in CRM Jat PG College, a premier Institute of Kurukshetra University. He has published many research papers in national/international reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member and Fellow of repute.
Abstract:
The impact of deltamethrin on the freshwater fish Heteropneustes fossilis exposed to two sub lethal concentrations (0.09 mg/L and 0.18 mg/L) for 30 days on the activities of endocrine glands viz. prolactin gland, corpuscles of stannous and ultimobranchial gland. Changes in the structure of endocrine gland lead significant variation in inorganic ions concentration Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in brain, kidney, gills and intestine of H. fossilis. Ca2+/ Mg2+ ATPase activities significantly decreased in all vital tissues viz., brain, gills, intestine and kidney at both the exposure for 30 days in H. fossilis. The ultimobranchial gland exhibited mild histological changes at lower concentration of deltamethrin. At higher concentration decrease in staining response of the cytoplasm, decrease in nuclear volume and degeneration in the cells were noticed. In corpuscle of stannous sever changes observed with increase in granulation, vacuolation and degeneration of cell membrane noticed at higher concentration of deltamethrin. In prolactin cells sever changes observed at both the concentration for 30 days exposure. Significant changes observed in ionic balance in vital tissues brain>gill>intestine>kidney of the fish exposed to higher concentration of deltamethrin. Significant changes noticed in the vital organs viz. Ionic levels in brain, gills, kidney and intestine. During exposure of deltamethrin endocrine glands, brain and intestine found to be most affected tissues of the fish.
Mei-Ling Hsu
National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Title: Trends and changes of factors contributing to low-carbon practices among Taiwanese public: A four-wave longitudinal comparison (2009-2015)
Time : 15:40-16:05
Biography:
Mei-Ling Hsu has obtained PhD in Communication from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and is a Distinguished Professor of Communication at National Chengchi University, Taiwan. She has been on Fulbright Visiting Scholar grants to Harvard School of Public Health and Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and twice a Visiting Scholar to the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has researched and published widely in environmental and health risk communication. Since 2008, her research in environmental communication focuses on risk communication of environmental pollution such as dioxin and soil pollution and of issues related to climate change and renewable energy.
Abstract:
Low-carbon practices are crucial to curb GHG emissions while facing the problem of global warming (GW). The present longitudinal research was designed to examine and compare those factors contributing to low-carbon practices among Taiwanese public. Data collection comes from four independent sets of telephone surveys on nationally representative samples aged 18 and older in 2009 (N=947), 2011 (N=1649), 2013(N=859) and 2015 (N=989), respectively. The results show that except for carrying one’s own utensils when dining out in 2011 (46.9%), all low-carbon acts were practiced by more than half of the respondents. Further hierarchical regression analyses show women had engaged in more low-carbon practices than men across time, suggesting a habitually more caring tendency among women. Age had predicted positively to low-carbon practices in the first three waves, but it had a negative effect in 2015. Diversity of GW information sources did not reveal any effect in the first two waves, but its effects became significant in the last two waves. The foregoing indicates younger people had more access to various GW information sources than older people, thus had increased their low-carbon acts over time. As for perceptions and attitudes, GW concern started to exert its effects since 2011, though its explanatory power decreased a bit in 2015. Perception of seriousness only had a slight positive effect in 2011. The forgoing implies saturation of public concern and worry regarding GW. Efficacy of action has been a strong and consistent positive predictor, suggesting future directions for education and campaigns among the public.
Aremu Adeola Enoch
Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
Title: Waste management as a means to mitigate environmental toxicity in developing countries
Time : 16:25-16:50
Biography:
Aremu Adeola Enoch has obtained his Bachelor’s degree at Covenant University where he studied Industrial Physics-Applied Geophysics. He did his Internship at Department of Petroleum Resources; a regulatory body that oversees the health and safety of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. He holds a certificate in General Health and Safety Environment under the umbrella of the Institute of Safety Professionals in Nigeria. He is currently undergoing his Master’s program in Energy and Environmental Waste (Oil and Gas) at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland.
Abstract:
Studies show that the level of waste management in many developing countries are relatively low compared to other developed countries, and as a result, leads to adverse effects on the health and safety of the people (UNEP, 2005). Zurbrugg (2011) also highlights the fact countries that do not properly manage their waste are more exposed to environmental degradation and toxicity. According to European Commission (2005), prevention of waste has been identified to be the most preferred approach to waste management while the disposal of waste in landfill with no recovery of energy is considered the least preferred. Between these two extremes, other acceptable waste treatment options include reuse, recycling and recovery of waste. This can only be implemented when the different waste streams being generated are assessed, with detailed analysis of the source, composition and toxicity. This, in turn, will help to identify the right waste treatment options. This paper would be focusing on the several advanced waste treatment options available to developing countries which includes biological, physical and thermal treatment options. It goes on to explain that these treatment options are not only stereotyped to reducing environmental degradation and emissions of greenhouse gas, but also to generate funds for governments. This paper concludes by recommending that public awareness and change in policies can help developing countries to understand to importance of waste management as a means to improve the health and safety of the people.
Yannick Belo Nuapia
University of Kinshasa, DR Congo
Title: Assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in raw food samples from open markets in two African cities
Time : 16:50-17:15
Biography:
Yannick Belo Nuapia is a Congolese Toxicologist. After completing his graduation as Pharmacist at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Kinshasa in 2010, he moved to South Africa and obtained Master’s degree in Environmental Analytical Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. Since, 2011, he is working as junior Lecture at University of Kinshasa, Faculty of Pharmacy.
Abstract:
The present research study investigated the level of organochlorine pesticides in the raw food from open markets in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Johannesburg, South Africa. The study assessed the potential health risks associated with the organochlorine pesticide residues. Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method has been developed as sample preparation technique. A total of 120 food samples were obtained from open markets (beans, cabbage, beef and fish). The mean concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in raw foods collected in Johannesburg market were significantly higher (pË‚0.05) than those from market in Kinshasa. DDE recorded the highest mean concentration (253.58±4.78 µg kg-1) in beef collected in Johannesburg. The lowest mean level of organochlorine pesticides was for α-BHC (38.54±7.46 µg kg-1) in beans from Kinshasa. The investigation of health risk estimates revealed that number of the organochlorine pesticides exceeded the reference dose in the food samples.
Jihui Yuan
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Title: Development of glass bead retro-reflective envelope to mitigate the urban heat island and reduce building energy consumption
Time : 17:15-17:40
Biography:
Jihui Yuan holds a PhD in Housing and Environmental Engineering from Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan and performing research mainly on the urban heat island mitigation and building energy conservation technologies at Osaka City University. He has published nearly 40 articles, regarding highly reflective and retro-reflective coating materials applied to building envelopes. He is an Associate Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China as well as a Researcher at Osaka City University in Japan.
Abstract:
Heat from buildings accounts for approximately half of urban anthropogenic heat contributing to the urban heat island (UHI). The proportion of heat from building envelopes accounts for approximately 1/3 of the anthropogenic waste heat total in Japan. Highly reflective (HR) and retro-reflective (RR) envelopes are being studied as one solution. RR materials are being applied to building facades instead of HR materials for UHI mitigation. Glass beads are the common main component of RR material. In order to evaluate the influence of glass bead RR materials on UHI mitigation, several types of glass bead RR samples with different refractive indices and different color reflective layers were developed for this study. Their RR angular distributions of reflection intensity were investigated by an emitting-receiving optical fiber system. It showed that the RR characteristic of a glass bead RR sample with a refractive index of 1.9 is more effective than that with a refractive index of 1.5. Additionally, for possible application to building facades, the long-term durability of these samples was also investigated by an outdoor exposure experiment for about 9 months. It showed that both the solar reflectivity and RR characteristics of these RR samples have no significant decrease over that time in the outdoor environment.
Ariane M Kluczkovski
Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil
Title: Selenium in Brazil nut “milkâ€: Is it safe?
Time : 17:40-18:05
Biography:
Ariane M Kluczkovski has completed her PhD from Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil and Postdoctoral studies in the same institution in 2015. She is a Professor of Food Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil. She has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and has 2 published books concerning Brazil nuts.
Abstract:
Studies on Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) and their products revealed its antioxidant benefits, especially due to the Selenium (Se) level, naturally present in Brazil nuts. The Brazil nut tree is a Se accumulating plant and it is well-known the average of 100 µg of Se in two Brazil nuts. This amount supports the recommended daily intake (RDI) for Se of 55 μg per day. On the other hand, it can be dangerous if the amount of Se is above the tolerable upper nutrient intake level for adults about 400 μg per day. In order to study toxicological risks to consumers, the aim of this work was to evaluate the Brazil nut “milk” in two forms: Hydro-soluble (condensed milk) and powdered (by atomization). The hydro-soluble samples showed an average of 150μg/100g. The value obtained was greater than that observed in the commercial soy product, which is not an acknowledged source of Se, as Brazil nut. The powdered “milk” showed Se content of 1.200 μg/100 g after atomization. Thus, when one considers the consumption of a tablespoon (10 g) of the powdered product diluted in a 200 ml glass, 60 μg per Se is proportionally obtained and this value is under the Se RDI for humans. In conclusion, the Se levels found in Brazil nuts “milk” were safe to consumers and higher than soybean milk, vegetable “milk”. Thus, the industry must evaluate each produced lot, since the Se content in the raw material varies according to the geographic region. It is import to emphasize the correct dilution in the labeling information of the product, in order to avoid the Se toxic level to the consumers.
- Aquatic Toxicity | Ecotoxicology | Environmental Stressors | Health Sciences & Risk Assessment
Location: Phoenix, Hall A
Chair
Huiping Huang
National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Co-Chair
Jihui Yuan
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Session Introduction
Ming-Tsang Wu
Kaohsiung Medicine University, Taiwan
Title: Intake of phthalate-tainted foods and microalbuminuria in children: the 2011 taiwan food scandal
Time : 09:30-09:55
Biography:
Ming-Tsang Wu has completed his MD from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan and PhD from Harvard School of Public Health in the USA. He is a full Professor in the Department of Public Health and the Director in Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medicine University, Taiwan. His major research interest is on the interactive effects of environmental and occupational exposures, genetic factors, and biomarkers on the health outcomes.
Abstract:
A major threat to public health involving phthalate-tainted foodstuffs occurred in Taiwan in 2011. Phthalates, mainly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were intentionally added to several categories of food commonly consumed by children. We investigated the relationship between intake of the phthalate-tainted foods and renal function in children. Children aged ≤ 10 years with possible phthalate exposure were enrolled between August 2012 and January 2013. Questionnaires were used to collect details of exposure to phthalate-tainted foodstuffs, and blood and urine samples were collected for clinical biochemical workups. The clinical biomarkers of renal injury, including urinary microalbumin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and β2-microglobulin, were measured. Exposure was categorized based on recommended tolerable daily intake level defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (0.02 mg/kg/day) and the European Food Safety Authority (0.05 mg/kg/day). We analyzed intake and renal function of 184 children whose intake of DEHP-tainted foods was known. Higher exposure to DEHP-tainted foods was significantly associated with increased risk for microalbuminuria (>3.5 mg/mmol creatinine) (P=0.02). Children in the high exposure group (daily DEHP intake (DDI)>0.05 mg/kg/day) had 10.395 times the risk of microalbuminuria than the low exposure group (DDI≤0.02 and > 0 mg/kg/day) and no exposure groups (95% CI=1.096-98.580, P=0.04) combined after adjustment. We conclude intake of DEHP from phthalate-tainted foods is a potential risk factor for microalbuminuria, a marker of glomerular injury in children. In this talk, I will also present the course of this incident and government response and management of the crisis.
PatrÃcia P B Eichler
Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Brazil
Title: The occurrence of the invasive foraminifera Trochammina hadai (Uchio) in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil
Time : 09:55-10:20
Biography:
Patricia P B Eichler has completed her PhD from São Paulo University in Biological Oceanography and Postdoctoral studies in the Geological Survey and in the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment of Delaware University, USA and in the University of Kiel, CAU, Germany. She is a Researcher in two universities in Brazil (Unisul and UFRN) and her expertise is on Foraminifera of recent and paleo-environments of reefs, estuaries, mangroves, rivers, marine shelves and deep-ocean. She has published 25 papers in reputed journals and has been reviewing papers in international magazines.
Abstract:
The estuarine foraminifera Trochammina hadai (Uchio) from Japan was first identified as an invasive species in sediments of San Francisco Bay in 1995. Later it was determined that it first appeared in that bay in 1983, comprising 1.5% of the fauna. However, by 2000, the taxon had been found in 96% of the samples from brackish and marine waters. The proliferation of T. hadai in San Francisco Bay is associated with a decline in relative abundance of one of the most common foraminifera, Elphidium excavatum. The sharp decline of E. excavatum suggests the arrival and proliferation of this species has profoundly influenced the native foraminiferal fauna. The impact T. hadai has had on the microfauna of San Francisco Bay prompted us to investigate other environments outside the US. We began examining foraminiferal distributions to observe populational dynamics and geo-and microhabitats from eighteen sediment surface samples in a small harbor in Saco da Ribeira, Ubatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Previous studies show that this species was not found before 2005. However, samples collected in 2014 provided us with the opportunity to document the existence of T. hadai in at least 80% of the sampled area, which were found alive in the majority of the samples. Following this finding, we intend to investigate when and how this species first arrived in Brazil, if it has expanded in other estuarine and coastal zones and how it is impacting the native fauna.
Tânia Vidal
University of Aveiro, Portugal
Title: Optimization of growth conditions for laboratory and field assessments using immobilized benthic diatoms
Time : 10:20-10:45
Biography:
Tânia Vidal is a young Researcher at the CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) and the Department of Biology (University of Aveiro, Portugal). After concluding her PhD thesis in 2013, her line of research became focused on ecotoxicology studies applied to the water quality evaluation on lotic environments. Presently, she is the PI of the SHIFT project, financed by the Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology, which deals with this oral presentation issue.
Abstract:
Benthic diatoms are key role players at lotic freshwater environments and the lack of availability of rapid and effective methodologies for assessing lotic systems are still quite scarce. The primary goal of this study was to optimize the growth conditions of the sensitive and ubiquous benthic diatom Navicula libonensis for laboratorial and field assessments. The first set of experiments started with testing the effect of different conditions of temperature, photoperiod, initial cell density, test duration and cell encapsulation into calcium alginate. Results showed growth profiles of free versus immobilized cells was fairly variable but a slight increase in growth was observed in free and immobilized cell densities at 23ºC, at lower initial cell densities and at the shortest experimental period (6 days). A second experimental trial involved the validation of selected conditions, applied to the eco-toxicological testing of N. libonensis to two reference chemicals - 3,5-dichlorophenol and potassium dichromate - and a natural stream water besides the synthetic medium. The sensitivity of N. libonensis to standard chemicals spiked in synthetic medium and natural plain stream water was similar for free and immobilized cells. This outcome suggests that N. libonensis may potentially provide reliable responses under direct in situ exposures.
Estrella Nuñez-Zarco
Mexican Center of Innovation in Geothermal Energy, Mexico
Title: Cyanobacteria and diatoms as indicators of geothermal and anthropogenic impact in Los Negritos, Michoacán, México
Time : 11:05-11:30
Biography:
Estrella Azalia Nunez-Zarco has completed her MSc in the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), Mexico. She is Oceanographer from the Faculty of Marine Sciences of UABC and studied her Masters in Management of Arid Ecosystems, Faculty of Science, UABC. She has published a total of 3 papers in reputed journals and has been working at the Center of Investigation and Higher Education of Ensenada and the Mexican Center of Innovation of Geothermal Energy as Biochemical and Microbiology Technician.
Abstract:
Microbial taxonomy and water chemistry analysis for geothermal zone of Los Negritos, Michoacán, Mexico were performed in rain and spring 2015, in order to identify cyanobacteriae and diatoms as bio-indicators of anthropogenic activities and geothermal influence for future environmental monitoring. Water samples were taken to analyze environmental variables. Analysis of 15 metal elements in water samples were determined, cyanobacterias and diatoms were identified by microscopy and DNA 16S in order to relate environment pressures. Physical and chemical analysis indicates basic waters for the zone, recording the highest temperatures in mud geothermal expressions. Sulfate concentration, total dissolved solids, and chloride concentration were the main environmental factors characterizing geothermal pressures. Phosphate and nitrate concentrations were indicators of agricultural and wastewaters loadings in radar and control areas. A total of 16 cyanobacteria species and 8 diatom genera were identified. Crocosphaera watsonii, Planktothrix mougeotii, Eucapsis alpina and Cymbella sp. presented a high correlation with B, Mo, and U values being characteristic of geothermal expressions. Meanwhile, Nostoc microscopicum, Calothrix parietina, Leptolyngbya laminosa, Prochlorococcus marinus, Snowella rosea, and Pinullaria sp. were presented in radar area with high correlation with ions of phosphate, nitrate, and Mg. Chemical analysis determined presence of Ba, V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb in all water samples, this could indicate possible metal exposure to human population, soil, and economic activities exposed in the zone, more studies of environmental impact assessment must be done to identify different level of environmental risk.
Yannick Belo Nuapia
University of Kinshasa, DR Congo
Title: Presence and distribution of heavy metal in raw food samples from open markets from johannesburg, south africa and kinshasa, democratic republic of South Africa
Time : 11:30-11:55
Biography:
Yannick Belo Nuapia is a Congolese Toxicologist. After completing his graduation as Pharmacist at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Kinshasa in 2010, he moved to South Africa and obtained Master’s degree in Environmental Analytical Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. Since, 2011, he is working as junior Lecture at University of Kinshasa, Faculty of Pharmacy.
Abstract:
Heavy metals in food are still a concern especially in developing countries where legislation is not fully implemented. Thus, this study assessed the distribution and levels of heavy metal in raw food sold in the open markets in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Johannesburg (South Africa). 120 food samples were purchased in the markets in both Kinshasa and Johannesburg. The various food samples constituted of cabbage, beans, beef and fish (tilapia). Ten trace metals: Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn were analyzed in the raw food. The study results revealed that the food collected in the Johannesburg market contained a higher level of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn than the food samples collected in the Kinshasa market. The food from the Kinshasa market, however, contained a higher level of Al than that from the Johannesburg market. Vegetables were found to contain the highest metal values especially cabbage samples from Johannesburg (75.12±5.67, 18.31±3.45, 17.29±2.03, 15.70±1.67, 4.14±1.08, 3.93±0.12 and 1.41±0.97 mgkg-1 for Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd and Se, respectively), and from Kinshasa (52.15±3.45 mgkg-1 for Al). While, fish from Johannesburg showed the highest As and Hg content of 12.04±2.23 and 0.86±0.1 mgkg-1, respectively. The obtained results showed that the concentrations of most studied metals were exceeding the recommended maximum acceptable levels proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food. Thus caution should be exercised especially for those who depend on it on a daily basis.
Chiara Martino
University of Palermo, Italy
Title: Toxicity induced by Gadolinium ions on sea urchin embryos: Comparison among phylogenetically distant species and focus on stress response and skeletogenesis
Time : 11:55-12:20
Biography:
Chiara Martino is currently a PhD student in Cellular Biology at the University of Palermo, Italy. During her PhD, she spent six months at the University of Sydney to compare the effects of marine pollutants between Mediterranean and Australian sea urchin species. Her research interests lie in ecotoxicology, cellular and molecular biology and development. She has published 4 papers in reputed journals and has been a speaker for more than 10 national and international conferences.
Abstract:
Pharmaceuticals are a class of emerging environmental contaminants. Gadolinium (Gd) is a lanthanide metal whose chelates are employed as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, and subsequently released into the aquatic environment. We investigated the effects of exposure to sub-lethal Gd concentrations on the development of four phylogenetically and geographically distant sea urchin species: two Mediterranean, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula and two from Australia, Heliocidaris tuberculata and Centrostephanus rodgersii. Sensitivity to Gd greatly varied, with EC50 ranging from 56nM to 132 µM across the four species. Measures of the Gd and Ca content inside embryos showed a time- and dose-dependent increase in Gd, in parallel with a reduction in Ca. In all the four species, we observed a general delay of embryo development at 24h post-fertilization and a strong inhibition of skeleton growth at 48h. Further experiments were carried out on P. lividus embryos: RT-PCR gene expression analysis showed the misregulation of several genes implicated both in the skeletogenic and the left-right axis specification networks. WB analysis showed an increase of the LC3 autophagic marker at 24 and 48h. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed the increased number of autophagosomes and autophagolysosomes and showed no apoptotic induction. The results show the hazard of Gd in the marine environment, indicating that Gd is able to affect three different levels in sea urchin embryos: morphogenesis, stress response such as autophagy, and gene expression. Results highlight that pollution assays based on only one species can be misleading with respect to hazard risk assessment.
Rafael Gustavo de Lima
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Title: A sustainability evaluation framework for science and technology institutes: An international comparative analysis
Time : 12:20-12:45
Biography:
Rafael Gustavo de Lima is currently pursuing Master’s in International Relations from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He graduated in Foreign Trade in Technology from the International College of Technology (FACINTER / UNINTER), Graduate in International Relations (UFSC) and is graduated in Economics (UFSC). He is today's federal public servant at the Federal University of Santa Catarina and is Head of the Coordination of Course Economics/UFSC.
Abstract:
This research part of the overall objective of identifying the formation of an international regime of sustainability promoted in particular by Institutes of Science and Technology (ICT's), demonstrating the ability construction of internationally shared frames of reference to the theme of sustainability. The existence and the sharing of networks, rules and guidelines to follow international practices reveals the formation of an international sustainability scheme promoted by Institutes of Science and Technology. The research develops and applies a model of sustainability assessment for ICT's that considers the concerns of the regime and, therefore, combines the metric of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), the A3P (Environmental Agenda in Public Administration) and ISCN - (International Sustainable Campus Network). In this sense, we have the following specific objectives: To determine the conceptual and historical background on sustainability, in order to understand their approach to international relations, relying in particular on the Theory of International Regimes and Theoretical Incursions from other theories of International Relations that can help; combine the above guidelines into a single evaluation model of sustainability (SIAS/ICT); investigate and analyze how sustainability is promoted internationally by Institutes of Science and Technology; and analyzing the results compared in order to evaluate trends and estimate performance rankings. The methodology, in its objectives, is considered descriptive and exploratory. With regard to the technical procedures, it adopts a multi-case study and literature review. In the case of problem approach, the research is qualitative and quantitative. The methodology follows three phases: Theoretical framework and conceptual approaches; proposition of evaluation model of sustainability (subsidized by SICOGEA - Accounting Environmental Management System); multi-case study and comparative analysis of the results. At the end, it is possible to demonstrate the formation of an international sustainability scheme promoted by Institutes of Science and Technology (ICT's), what their effective participation in the regime and, finally, it is possible to achieve an organized quali-quantitative system questions to evaluate sustainability in ICT's, and verify trends, rankings and relative importance of each dimension (economic, social and environmental) for the same modeling. In numbers, the international Institutes of Science and Technology surveyed reflect the attendance of 84.51% of the items arranged in the SIAS/ICT to MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, located in the United States; 92.12% for the ETH-Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, located in Switzerland; and 58.04% for Brazil, composed of 58 national contributions of Institutes of Science and Technology in Southern Brazil (IFSC, IFRS, IFPR).
Eze Chukwuebuka ThankGod
Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
Title: Environmental risk assessment of hospital wastewater in Enugu, Nigeria
Time : 12:45-13:00
Biography:
Eze Chukwuebuka ThankGod is currently a PhD student under ECOWAS sponsorship studying Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. His PhD research focuses on E-waste management in West Africa and its Environmental and Public Health Implications including toxicity testings at different biochemical, histopathological and genotoxic levels in African Cat Fish. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry with Second Class Honors, Upper Division and a MSc in Environmental Management and Toxicology with Distinction from the University of Nigeria Nsukka . He is an Assistant Lecturer in the Environmental Toxicology & Pollution Management Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. He has some journal proceedings to his credit.
Abstract:
The issue of contamination of the environment by hospital and industrial effluent or wastewater has been an issue of concern to the public health of any area where these industries and hospitals are located. This study sets out to determine the level of contamination produced from different hospital wards by the discharge of hospital wastewater at Park Lane General Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. To this end, the microbial load and heavy metal analyses of the hospital wastewater were determined using established procedures. The wastewater samples were collected directly from the outlet of different wards labeled wws1, wws2 and wws3 with pre-cleaned sterile and dried containers. The isolated pathogenic bacteria included both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria species. The result of the microbial analyses showed mean total aerobic bacteria counts of 14.40 ± 0.86 x 1010 cfu/ml, 13.70 ± 0.65 × 107 cfu/ml and 22.8 ± 1.14 ×1010 cfu/ml, for wws1, wws2 and wws3 respectively. The mean total anaerobic bacteria counts gave 6.00 ± 1.60 × 103 cfu/ml, 4.00 ± 2.50× 103 cfu/ml and 1.70 ± 0.41 ×104 cfu/ml for wws1, wws2 and wws3 respectively. The result showed the presence of Candida albican-a pathogenic fungus as the only isolated fungi specie in wws1 and wws3 with a population of 1.70 ± 0.41 x 103 cfu/ml and 2.3 ± 0.16 × 105 cfu/ml respectively. No fungi were isolated from wws2. The varying mean concentrations of the following heavy metal Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury and Chromium were determined and most were found to be within the threshold of the WHO permissible limit of such metal. Therefore, it would be necessary to properly treat hospital wastewater before discharging into the environment to avoid the possible environmental health risk that might be associated with the discharge of such contaminated water. Close monitoring of the heavy metal concentration of the discharge water is also suggested.