Bassenthwaite Lake: a general assessment of environmental and biological features and their susceptibility to change

Bassenthwaite (Lake) is one of the larger Cumbrian lakes, certainly one of the most distinctive, and of considerable conservation and amenity value. Although its shores lack sizeable settlements, its main inflow receives sewage effluent from a major tourist centre (Keswick) and is subject to episodic floods. These influences, the growing development of leisure activities at the lake (e.g. sailing, time-share units), and recent road-construction, have led to past appraisals of ecological impacts and lake management. The lake has not been the subject of intense and long-term ecological study, but much scattered information exists that is relevant to future management decisions. In the present Report, commissioned by North West Water, such information - published and unpublished - is surveyed. Especial attention is given to evidence bearing on susceptibility to change, affecting the lake environment and its biota or species of conservation interest. Extensive use has been made of the results of a recent (1986-7) seasonal survey by the FBA.

A general assessment of environmental and biological features of Windermere and their susceptibility to change

Bassenthwaite (Lake) is one of the larger Cumbrian lakes, certainly one of the most distinctive, and of considerable conservation and amenity value. Although its shores lack sizeable settlements, its main inflow receives sewage effluent from a major tourist centre (Keswick) and is subject to episodic floods. These influences, the growing development of leisure activities at the lake (e.g. sailing, time-share units), and recent road-construction, have led to past appraisals of ecological impacts and lake management. The lake has not been the subject of intense and long-term ecological study, but much scattered information exists that is relevant to future management decisions. In the present Report, commissioned by North West Water, such information - published and unpublished - is surveyed. Especial attention is given to evidence bearing on susceptibility to change, affecting the lake environment and its biota or species of conservation interest. Extensive use has been made of the results of a recent (1986-7) seasonal survey by the FBA.

Avaliação das condições ambientais e de trabalho em salas cirúrgicas e de necropsia - estudos de casos em hospitais públicos e IMLs da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro

A qualidade do ar é um importante indicador de saúde ambiental, sendo o seu monitoramento contínuo necessário. Apesar da relevância do tema, há muitos países em que os limites de exposição para agentes biológicos ainda não foram estabelecidos ou foram definidos de forma inadequada, podendo comprometer a qualidade ambiental. Os ambientes hospitalares, assim como as salas de necropsia podem apresentar problemas de contaminação do ar por agentes microbiológicos, necessitando de monitoramento contínuo a fim de evitar a ocorrência de doenças nos trabalhadores e na população em geral. Este estudo realizou a avaliação microbiológica do ar em hospitais públicos e IMLs da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro em salas cirúrgicas e de necropsia. A pesquisa exploratória e descritiva baseou-se em levantamento bibliográfico e investigação de campo, através de estudos de casos. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas e observação direta nos locais de trabalho, onde foram realizadas as avaliações microbiológicas do ar. As variações em salas cirúrgicas para bactérias e fungos foram respectivamente de 14,99 ufc/m3 88,29 ufc/m3 e de 45,93 ufc/m3 - 742,09 ufc/m3. Já nas salas de necropsia os valores para bactérias e fungos variaram respectivamente de 18,96 ufc/m3 54,9 ufc/m3 e de 144,87 ufc/m3 - 1152,01 ufc/m3. Foram identificados tanto no ambiente cirúrgico como nas salas de necropsia a presença dos seguintes fungos: Aspergillus sp., Neurospora sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., e Trichoderma sp. Já em relação às bactérias foram identificadas as presenças de Staphilococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. e Micrococcus sp. Foram traçadas recomendações para melhoria da qualidade ambiental e do ar. Os resultados indicaram que os valores são elevados quando comparados com as recomendações das normas internacionais. Foram encontrados valores inferiores aos sugeridos pela CP n. 109 da ANVISA. A presença de microrganismos patogênicos sugere adoção de medidas de controle ambiental. O estudo apontou a necessidade urgente do estabelecimento de valores de referência para ambientes hospitalares no Brasil a fim de garantir condições seguras que não venham a comprometer a saúde dos pacientes e profissionais de saúde envolvidos.

Use of macroinvertebrate communities to detect environmental stress in running waters

This paper presents an account of some current uses of RIVPACS (River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System), a software package developed by the Institute of Freshwater Ecology (UK). Background information is also given on the unique data-set on which the system is based. Before discussing RIVPACS, we consider the range of environmental stresses encountered in flowing-water systems and some of the ways in which stresses may affect macroinvertebrate communities. The wide application and relevance of the RIVPACS approach was recognised when it was chosen as the biological method for use throughout the UK in the 1990 River Quality Survey (RQS). In the concluding section we list some lessons learnt both from the 1990 survey and from our own testing exercise, and we outline current developments which will lead to a new version of RIVPACS for use in the 1995 RQS.

Microorganisms of the East African Great Lakes and their response to environmental changes

We have reviewed the phytoplankton composition and succession in the East African Great Lakes, their response to environmental changes, and the communities of microorganisms of the microbial food web. Recent studies in some great lakes, as well as progress in understanding phytoplankton succession and response to environmental factors, enable us to update knowledge of the phytoplankton ecology of these lakes. In particular, we present information indicating that phytoplankton composition in lakes Tanganyika and Kivu may reflect recent changes as a result of global warming or species introduction. We also stress the importance of microbes (at the base of the food web) in these systems and suggest that the microbial food web, which has been mostly overlooked until recently, may play a very large role in determining productivity and nutrient cycling in these large lakes.

Detection of cryptosporidium oocysts in water and environmental concentrates

Whilst current methods for the isolation and enumeration of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in water have provided some insight into their occurrence and significance, they are regarded as being inefficient, variable and time-consuming, with much of the interpretation being left to the expertise of the analyst. Two expectations of novel developments are to reduce the variability and subjectivity associated with the isolation and identification of oocysts. Flocculation, immunomagnetisable and flow cytometric techniques, for concentrating oocysts from water samples, should prove more reliable than current methods, whilst the development of more avid and specific monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with the use of nuclear fluorochromes will aid identification. Further insight into the viability, taxonomy, species identification, infectivity and virulence of the parasite should be forthcoming through the use of techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridisation and non-uniform alternating current electrical fields. Such information is necessary in order to enable microbiologists, epidemiologists, engineers, utility operators and regulators to assess the safety of a water supply, with respect to Cryptosporidium contamination, more effectively.

The potential of RIVPACS for predicting the effects of environmental change

RIVPACS has been used successfully for biological assessment of river water quality but its potential in forecasting the effects of environmental change has not been investigated. This study has shown that it is possible to simulate faunal changes in response to environmental disturbance, provided that the disturbance directly involves the environmental variables used in RIVPACS predictions. These variables relate to channel shape, discharge and substratum. Many impacts, particularly those associated with pollution, will not affect these variables and therefore RIVPACS cannot simulate the effects of pollution. RIVPACS was sensitive only to major changes in substratum. It was concluded that, because of the static nature of RIVPACS, it cannot respond to the dynamic effects and processes associated with environmental disturbance. Thus RIVPACS, while showing direction of change and indicating sensitive taxa, cannot be used to predict or forecast the effects of environmental impacts.

Blue frontiers: managing the environmental costs of aquaculture

The report begins with an overview of the current status of world aquaculture. It then goes on to describe an approach for estimating the current combined biophysical resource demands of aquaculture for producer countries and regions. Following a comparison of these results with those available for other animal food production sectors the report then examines the consequences of likely future trends in production on the environmental impacts of aquaculture. Finally, the policy implications of the report’s findings are discussed along with the research agenda that should be pursued to meet the challenge of sustainable food production.

Understanding Density in an Uneven City, Santiago de Chile: Implications for Social and Environmental Sustainability

Efforts to promote infill development and to raise densities are growing in many cities around the world as a way to encourage urban sustainability. However, in cities polarized along socio-economic lines, the benefits of densification are not so evident. The aim of this paper is to discuss some of the contradictions of densification in Santiago de Chile, a city characterized by socio-spatial disparities. To that end, we first use regression analysis to explain differences in density rates within the city. The regression analysis shows that dwelling density depends on the distance from the city center, socioeconomic conditions, and the availability of urban attributes in the area. After understanding the density profile, we discuss the implications for travel and the distribution of social infrastructures and the environmental services provided by green areas. While, at the metropolitan scale, densification may favor a more sustainable travel pattern, it should be achieved by balancing density rates and addressing spatial differences in the provision of social services and environmental amenities. We believe a metropolitan approach is essential to correct these spatial imbalances and to promote a more sustainable and socially cohesive growth pattern.

Gasificación de biomasa con astillas de madera.

[ES]Este proyecto tiene como objetivo generar energía eléctrica y térmica para un conjunto de viviendas aisladas, sin acceso a la red eléctrica, con una potencia requerida de 12KW. Se pretende plantear una solución que satisfaga las necesidades básicas de auto-abastecimiento de una forma económicamente rentable. Para comenzar, por un lado de cara al objetivo 20/20/20 se realizará un acercamiento a la utilización de las energías renovables como fuente de energía, disminuyendo así el impacto ambiental. Por otro lado, se plantearán diferentes alternativas para la generación de energía eléctrica y térmica, finalmente haciendo hincapié en el estudio de una planta de gasificación de biomasa mediante astillas de madera. De modo que, a lo largo de este documento se analizarán los principios y fundamentos necesarios para el diseño de una planta de generación eléctrica mediante gasificación de biomasa. Para ello se estudiarán los diferentes modelos de gasificadores existentes, el desarrollo del proceso de gasificación con sus respectivas etapas y la limpieza y adaptación del gas obtenido antes de introducirlo en el MACI. Se realizará una descripción de la planta junto al dimensionamiento tanto del almacenamiento de la materia prima como el de los equipos a instalar. Finalmente, para valorar si se trata de un proyecto viable. Se realizará el estudio económico analizando el presupuesto y análisis de rentabilidad. Asimismo, se plantearán los diferentes riesgos a los que puede exponerse una instalación como esta.