Environmental Impacts

Packaging plays an important role in safely distributing products throughout today's society and supply chains. With a consumption of about 40% of plastics and 50% of paper in Europe, the packaging sector is a large user of materials. Packaging has a lot of environmental impacts, while it also represents a significant cost in the current supply system. Reusable packaging has been suggested as an option to significantly reduce environmental impacts. In this paper, we review the trends in reusable packaging and the literature on reusable packaging to generate insights into the current state-of-the-art knowledge and identify directions for research and development. This can help to better understand the key factors underlying the design and impacts of more sustainable packaging systems.

An industrial-scale molasses-based bioethanol production system was modeled and studied by conducting exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental analyses. The entire process was represented by a control volume, and its exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental parameters were determined using the specific exergy costing (SPECO) approach. These exergy-based analyses were carried out to measure the overall exergy dissi-pation, cost, and environmental impact of the bioethanol production process based on actual operational ther-modynamic, economic, and environmental data. Natural gas showed the highest contribution to the total input exergy (61.1%) and total environmental impact rate (56.6%) of the process, while the highest contribution to its total cost rate (75.7%) was from molasses. The exergetic efficiency determined for the process was 35.9%, while the exergy dissipation accounted for 60.8% of its total input exergy. The unit exergoeconomic costs of the fuel and product were determined to be 6.2 and 20.9 USD/GJ, while the unit exergoenvironmental impacts of the fuel and product were 15.5 and 31.5 mPts/GJ, respectively. The exergoeconomic factor of the process was found to be 29.4%, while the exergoenvironmental factor was 0.74%. Overall, natural gas consumption was the most significant exergetic hotspot of the process, and hence more exergetically-sustainable alternatives should be considered to improve the process. Low-cost waste feedstocks need to be utilized to improve the economic viability of the process.

The growing environmental awareness of society, the advancement of nature-based solutions (NbSs), and the need for reliable and cost-effective solutions create a favorable environment of opportunities for floating wetlands as alternative solutions for marine water pollution control. The aim of this work was to screen, through OpenLCA, the environmental impacts of floating wetlands for marine water pollution control at various life cycle stages of the system, and assess its economic performance and contribution to the welfare of society. The stage of raw materials production and acquisition was found to be responsible for the main environmental impacts of the floating wetlands, especially on global warming potential, whereas the main impact of the operational stage was related to the eutrophication potential due to N and P residuals in the effluent. The economic performance indicators of economic net present value (ENPV), economic rate of return (ERR), and benefits/costs ratio (B/C ratio) indicate, although marginally, that floating wetlands may constitute a viable investment with potential positive socioeconomic impacts. However, there are still several scientific challenges and technical issues to be considered for the operational application of such systems at full-scale in marine environments.

The assessment of the environmental impacts of refugees has been a neglected subject. In environmental terms, all the recent emphasis has been on environmental degradation which may have forced some people to become “environmental refugees” and not on the environmental impacts created by the refugees themselves. From a strictly environmental viewpoint, large numbers of refugees are likely to contribute to considerable stress, a fact that has basically been ignored by the environmental profession and agencies. This paper analyses the environmental impacts of the Rwandan refugees in Zaire on the basis of a field assessment. The results indicate that the environmental impacts of the refugees are substantial, and in certain areas, critical, and thus can no longer be ignored.

Las preocupaciones mundiales por el medio ambiente han llevado a incluir los riesgos medioambientales en el Sistema de Control Interno (SCI) con los análisis de costo-beneficio. Para la realización de este trabajo, se parte del estudio de teorías de control, regulaciones ambientales y la recopilación de información respecto a las percepciones de la comunidad del Oriente antioqueño. La información se recolectó mediante la aplicación de entrevistas y encuestas. El resultado obtenido de la investigación es que aún falta concientización de los riesgos ambientales por parte de las empresas. Asimismo, se realizó un aporte para mejorar el SCI, en cuanto a la integración de prácticas responsables y los beneficios empresariales.

Global concerns about the environment have led to include environmental risks in the internal control system (ICS) with cost-benefit analysis. To carry out this work is part of the study of theories of control, environmental regulations, and gathering information about community perceptions of Oriente antioqueño. The information was collected through the application of interviews and surveys. The result of the research is still lacking awareness of environmental risks by companies. We also do a contribution to improve the (ICS), regarding the integration of responsible practices and corporate profits.

Recent advances in nanotechnology have shown numerous societal benefits through the development or improvement of smart materials. Several engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have been produced during the last years that may be found in related sectors like health, food, home, automotive, electronics, and computers (Hansen et al., 2016). The estimated output of ENMs produced was up to 270,000 metric tons/year and in this case considering only SiO2, TiO2, FeOx, AlOx, ZnO, and CeO2 nanoparticles (Medina-Velo et al., 2017).

RESUMEN
Se construyó un indicador de afectación por amenazas naturales que considera la afectación directa e indirecta con base en las variables incluidas en la base de datos DesInventar y reportes de la CNE para el periodo 1970-2015 a nivel distrital. Dicha información permitió obtener la ubicación aproximada de las comunidades que han presentado la mayor afectación por eventos naturales. Asimismo, mediante una encuesta a las Asociaciones de Desarrollo Integral y posterior trabajo de campo se logró detallar las condiciones de vulnerabilidad de estas comunidades. Como resultado se identificaron los distritos con mayor afectación por amenazas naturales del cantón de Alajuela, así como las comunidades con mayor afectación histórica, por ende, con mayores condiciones de vulnerabilidad. Esta información será utilizada por la municipalidad de Alajuela para mitigación, prevención y atención de emergencias.

ABSTRACT
An affectation indicator for natural hazards was created. This indicator considers direct and indirect affectation based on variables included in the DesInventar database and the CNE reports between 1970 and 2015 at a district level. This information led to determine the location of the most vulnerable communities of the Alajuela canton. After this process and with the cooperation of Integral Development Associations through interviews and fieldwork, the vulnerability of these populations was identified. As a result, the most affected districts and the most vulnerable communities to natural
hazards in the Alajuela canton were identified. This information will be used by the Alajuela Municipality for risk mitigation, prevention, and management.

"RESUMO
Um vasto conjunto de acções de desenvolvimento tem vindo a ser implementado no espaço do Baixo Mondego, na sequência das obras de regularização hidro-agrícola iniciadas nos anos 70, com manifestos reflexos na economia local e nos modos de ordenar o território, mas também com alterações paisagísticas e impactes ambientais significativos. Para análise destes impactes utilizamos o método das matrizes de interacção, também conhecidas pela designação de matrizes de Leopold. Com a construção de três destas matrizes foi possível uma análise que se pretende holística e integrada das condições ambientais do Baixo Mondego, dos impactes sofridos e das principais ameaças a que esta actualmente sujeito.
Da analise efectuada, ficou bem expresso o peso significativo que as transformações verificadas no Campo, e nomeadamente as modificaç6es das técnicas agrícolas, estão a ter no desequilíbrio dos restantes ecossistemas do Baixo Mondego. Ressaltam, igualmente, os impactes fortemente negativos ligados à industria extractiva, à industria transformadora e à expansão urbana. Por outro lado, a agricultura, a pesca e mesmo actividades como o turismo têm um balanço menos negativo nos impactes que geram, representando importantes suportes do desenvolvimento económico e de defesa do património natural e cultural.
Palavras-chave: Estudos ambientais. Avaliação de impactes ambientais. Obras de regularização hidro-agrícola. Baixo Mondego. Portugal.

RÉSUMÉ
Un vaste ensemble d'actions de développement a été mis en oeuvre dans l'espace du Baixo Mondego, à la suite des travaux de régularization hydro-agricole initiés dans les années 70, qui ont eu des reflets évidents dans l'économie locale et dans l'aménagement du territoire, aussi bien que dans l'altération du paysage avec des impacts significatifs dans l'environnement. Pour analyser ces impacts, nous avons utilisé la méthode des matrices d'interaction, qui sont aussi désignées par l'expression "matrices de Leopold". L'utilisation de trois de ces matrices nous a permis de faire une analyse holistique et intégrée des conditions environnementales du Baixo Mondego, des impacts subis et des principales menaces auxquelles il est soumis.
L'analyse accomplie nous montre bien l'influence que les transformations subies par le Campo, et notamment les modifications des techniques agricoles, ont eu au niveau du déséquilibre des autres écosystèmes du Baixo Mondego. Les impacts fort négatifs liés à l'industrie extractive, à l'industrie transformatrice et à l'expansion urbaine ont été également mis en relief. D'un autre côté, l'agriculture, la pêche et même des activités comme le tourisme ont un bilan moins négatif en ce qui concerne les impacts gérés. Ces activités constituent un support important dans le développement économique et la défense du patrimoine naturel et culturel.
Mots-clés: Études d'environnement. Évaluation d'impacts environnementales. Travaux de régularisation hydro-agricole. Baixo Mondego. Portugal.

ABSTRACT
Quite a lot of developing actions have been implemented in the area of the Baixo Mondego. These actions have been accomplished in the sequence of the hydro-agricultural works carried on in the beginning of 70's, which had a clear influence not only on the local economy and in the way of managing the territory, but in landscape and environmental impacts as weIl. In order to analyse these impacts, the matrices of interaction (also known as Leopold's matrices) method has been used. With the construction of three of these matrices, it was possible to examine the environmental conditions of the Baixo Mondego, as weIl as the impacts and the main threats it is subject to at present, using a holistic and integrated analysis.
From it il' s possible to estimate the significant importance that the alterations in Campo -namely those in agricultural techniques -have been causing in the unbalance of the remaining ecological systems in the Baixo Mondego. The strong negative impacts are related to the extraction and transforming industries and urban growth. On the other hand, agriculture and fishing (and even activities such as tourism) show a less negative balance in the impacts they give rise to; they represent important foundations regarding economic development and the defence of natural and cultural patrimony.
Key words: Environmental studies. Assessment of environmental impacts. Hydro-agricultural regularisation works. Baixo Mondego. Portugal."

The attention of most scholars and stakeholders is far drawn from the devastation of the environmental consequences caused by dredging related activities, which has necessitated sand filling and pilling including skewed national government policies, which has resulted to fundamental concern to halt species extinction, a situation which ecologist are not at ease with. Emphasis has been focused on alterations in the chemistry of the environment. They are worried with the numerous vanished creatures and saddened, often angered by their extinction. Man has directly or indirectly been the cause of the extinction, including the issues of depletion and degradation impact on the environment, thereby, leading to restrictions in the size, density, and distribution of organisms that threaten the biodiversity, resilience, or provision of ecosystem services. As soon as the functionally significant components of an ecosystem are missing, it is extremely challenging to identify and understand ecological thresholds. The extent and intensity of human disturbance to oceanic ecosystems is a significant threat to both structural and functional biodiversity and in many cases this has virtually eliminated natural systems that might serve as baselines to appraise these impacts. It is therefore recommended that effective management of dredging problems in the Niger delta will require enforcement of relevant environmental laws, environmental monitoring, as it help limits the huge expenses on habitat clean-up exercises and restoration programs and critical habitats should be banned or carried out in such a manner as to protect the area or limit dredging to the lowest ecological damage. This should be pressure on all oil companies and relevant stakeholders to discontinue with dredging related activities. Petrochemical such as oils and other hydrocarbon should not be present in the aquatic environment in concentration that can cause tainting of edible aquatic organism, form visible deposits on shoreline and bottom sediment or be detected as a visible film/sheen or discoloration.

This article aims to understand how agricultural policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been influencing the current change situation in the olive groves culture in Portugal, with particular emphasis on the Alentejo region, and impacts that arise from these changes, essentially environmental, and also understand what are the reasons inherent to these policies that lead to a growing foreign investment in this olive groves region. Presently, in Alentejo, we are witnessing an increase in the Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) in permanent crops, which includes the olive grove, which in turn also notes an increase in the last two decades. In this region it is also tendency of decreasing in the number of smaller farms (up to 50ha), however the larger farms have increased in the same period. The increase in farms size and production of olive grove, led by successive CAP and present market needs, in which increased demand is a stimulus to the activity intensification, takes place side by side with a growing mechanization and modernization of the sector, as well as a change in the mode of production. Thus, there is a change in olive grove crop production from a traditional mode to an intensive production mode and successively more super intensive. In Alentejo, this change was also driven by the Alqueva dam, whose construction dates back to 2002, although only in 2010 reached its maximum level, and irrigation infrastructures as well, were crucial in the transition to more intensive and demanding crops. Being Alentejo one of the regions most susceptible to desertification, it is important to understand the dynamics around the olive sector and environmental impacts that arise from the increasing investment in scaling up this activity, particularly related to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, water use and a high increase in pollution resulting from their industrialization.

Environmental and operational performance of a full-scale small and decentralized construction and demolition waste (C&DW) recycling unit (SDRU) were evaluated. The SDRU was defined as having a production capacity of up to 5 m3 per hour, occupying up to 100 m2. The operational and environmental performance indicators of the SDRU were obtained from the literature and validated by expert judgment. Subsequently, the values of these indicators were obtained from a real-scale SDRU in Bahia state, Brazil. The results showed that the SDRU presented lower levels of noise emission, very small water and energy consumption, and inhalable-particle concentration values lower than the requirements of Brazilian environmental legislation. It was observed that 90% of the C&DW in the storage area had recycling potential. The characteristics of the fine recycled aggregate make it suitable for use in road or sidewalk paving, and the coarse recycled aggregate is suitable for use in concrete without structural function. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the SDRU was also applied and it was concluded that the use of the recycled aggregate for manufacturing concrete without structural function reduced the environmental impact in all the categories considered, compared with the impact of natural sand and gravel extraction from nature. It was possible to conclude that the implementation of the SRDU in developing countries can provide an effective step towards reducing environmental impacts from the construction sector.

Organizadores: Geovana Maria Cartaxo de Arruda Freire, Leonardo de Morais Vieira, Maria Ully Eduardo Martins

A fim de explorar a temática dos rejeitos de mineração de maneira crítica e ampla, nosso livro está dividido em seis capítulos que tratam, grosso modo, sobre a legislação da atividade mineradora,
sobre metodologias de identificação e gerenciamento dos impactos ambientais ligados a esta atividade e sobre a caracterização e reutilização dos rejeitos no Brasil. Tomando como base o percurso teórico-metodológico exposto ao longo deste livro, esperamos que leitores que tenham interesse específico na área de mineração encontrem aqui não somente textos que possam auxiliá-lo na compreensão desta atividade, mas também um convite para a reflexão crítica sobre o que é feito e o que deveria ser feito para melhorar as mais diversas nuances que permeiam o fazer
da atividade mineradora no Brasil.

ISBN: 978-65-88285-46-6

DOI: 10.31560/pimentacultural/2020.466