Group items tagged

"The aim of this paper is to describe the factors within a tunnel environment that may contribute toward a corrosive atmosphere, and considering these, to determine the corrosivity of the atmosphere throughout a tunnel environment and present methods to mitigate against corrosive damage."

In October 2021 the UN passed a resolution recognising access to ahalthy and sustainable environment as a universal right. It talks about the history in getting to this point. In most cases, people are suffering due to no fault of their own. This is considered a start to motivate governments to take action

The article discusses emissions at ports around the world and focuses on a measurement of a port's affects on the environment through a measurement called Port Environmental Index (PEI). The PEI consists of standards that will allow the tracking of emissions and effects on the environment for the port over time. The internet of things (IOT) will allow real time monitoring. (alterenate link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20308888)

It is often implied that the young are more concerned about the environment than older adults, but this study suggests that is not the case. "Older people are just as likely as younger people to recognize the need for action on climate change and to say they're willing to make big sacrifices to protect the environment, suggesting claims of a generational divide over the future of the planet may be exaggerated." The polling included Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, with the results reflecting very similar beliefs about the significance of the issues and the need for action. If politicians knew this, would they behave differently, and take bolder steps to mitigate climate change?

Super interesting, great find!

"Formation of a surface layer, whether it is based on an oxide, carbonate, sulfate, or any other compound, is a major factor in corrosion resistance, particularly if the layer effectively isolates the metal substratum from the environment. Such a naturally formed coating must be diffusion- and moisture-resistant to be effective. Ordinary iron does not naturally form an effective barrier; its rust permits oxygen and moisture to penetrate and continue rusting. Thus, unless precautions are taken, such as applying a protective coating over the surface, failure will eventually occur."

The natural marine environment at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is one of the most corrosive in the continental United States. Corrosion control at KSC involves the flight hardware, ground support equipment, and facilities. A description is given of the space launch vehicles' environment and the process of materials selection for this environment. The corrosion control necessary for the Space Shuttle Orbiter and its ground support equipment is described. There is also a brief history of orbiter corrosion.

"Approximately 85% of all steel produced is carbon steel and therefore susceptible to natural oxidation and galvanic corrosion. The rate of corrosion is well understood in typical atmospheric conditions, but for the design engineer, the precise localized or micro-environment conditions must be well understood for him/her to have confidence in the ultimate durability of the design. Other micro-environments include exposure to fresh and salt water (in or very near) or in soil. "

Rising temperatures and lack of protection, both politically and from the environment, may be leading to an increase in farmworker deaths.

Designers should ensure that spaces for all six modalities of work will be available as needed for both hypersensitive and hyposensitive occupants. While the right sizes and combinations of space will vary for each organization, the key is to provide a seamless array of choices. Spaces should easily adapt to the needs of people with work styles and behavioral needs at both ends of the spectrum. They also must be exceptionally flexible to integrate new technologies over time and, as more people continue to work remotely after the pandemic, to blend real and virtual work environments. Our current design is old and un-informed. We are ripe for a huge disruption in this space. I saw some recent pictures of Tesla's office. It's lame. How can you expect excellent and group breaking work when the environment is meh.

If we can get all that plastic out of the ocean and use it to power the ocean-plastic-grabbing-machines, then this could be huge for the environment! "Honeywell International Inc. says it developed a commercially viable method to melt down low-grade plastic waste and turn it back into oil that's good enough to feed into a refinery."

Article about the less fortunate suffering at the hands of big business as climate crisis severly impacts the environments where people live. It talks about basic life support needs that are more difficult to come by as a result of climate change.

Scientists have developed a process that allows them to manipulate wood to make it denser and harder than the natural product. They used the resulting material to make items like wooden knives and nails that rival traditional steel. There is also the possibility that wood processed in this way could replace existing products that are known to be harmful to the environment. "Trees are renewable and wood is sustainable," Li said. "If we look back to mother nature, we can use this natural material toward a sustainable future."

The current problems at the sea ports warrants an even closer look at what's happeining. An article from the Sierra club identifies how ports harm the environment with diesel freighters and equipment. The article is a call to address these matters sooner than later. It also mentions that the port communities are suffering due to exposure to the emissions from operations and that often these communities are lower income families.

Lists 5 future trends in the shipping industry. All of the make sense, but each is only touched on a bit. Technology and the environment are really the two biggest, but others need to be considered.

With a rapidly growing population, many are searching for new ways of farming that are less harmful and use less resources compared to current practices. This article advocates for hydroponic farms. "Hydroponic farms offer a pathway towards a more sustainable food ethic that prioritizes the health of our food, bodies and environment without the heavy use of chemicals."

DRIVERS-TREATMENT-TTHM-POLLUTION-SCARCITY-FUNDING Disinfection by-products (DBP) are a class of chemical by-products also referred to as trihalomethanes (THMs), formed when chlorine or bromine interacts with the natural organic materials found in water. DBPs also include other formed products, such as haloacetic acids, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, and chlorophenols. The composition and levels of specific DBPs are determined by water quality, water treatment conditions, and disinfectant type (IPCS, 2000). Primary sources of DBPs are chlorinated drinking water and recreational water bodies, such as swimming pools. In drinking water, trichloromethane is the predominant DBP, usually found at much higher levels than bromodichloromethane; tribromomethane is the least abundant (Krasner et al., 1989). DBPs are volatile at room temperature and can be detected in ambient air during activities such as showering, bathing, dishwashing, and swimming (Backer, et al., 2000; Gordon et al., 2006). Trichloromethane has industrial applications and is used to produce refrigerants and feedstock. It may be released into the environment where chlorine-based chemicals are used for bleaching and disinfecting processes or disposed at hazardous waste sites (IPCS, 2004; LaRegina, et al. 1986). Tribromomethane has limited industrial uses, mainly in geological assaying, electronics manufacturing, and as a solvent in laboratory analyses (ATSDR, 2005). DBPs tend not to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms or persist in open or surface waters or soils, but they can remain in water within closed pipe systems. Workplace exposure may occur during the production of trichloromethane or tribromomethane, or in workplaces where DBPs may be generated, such as pulp or paper manufacturing, swimming pools, and water treatment plants (IPCS, 2004).

"The administration's multitrillion-dollar social spending package, widely considered the most comprehensive climate legislation ever put forward in the US, must survive razor-thin Democratic majorities in Congress...The bill includes a program of payments and penalties to ensure utilities phase out fossil fuels from America's electricity supply, a huge expansion in tax credits for clean energy and new restrictions on methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is emitted from oil and gas drilling."

This report outlines the true cost of food, which includes the impacts on our health, the environment, biodiversity, livelihoods, and much more. With this new analysis, governments, advocates, corporations, and individuals are better equipped to catalyze the change needed to develop a truly nourishing, equitable, and sustainable food system in the United States.

"The way Americans eat and produce food costs nearly $2 trillion in health and environmental expenditures alone-and that cost disproportionately burdens communities of color." the statistics they provide are very alarming !

To me this is how leadership leads - The current UN plans want at least 10% of fuel used in global aviation to be sustainable by 2030. The head of Rolls Royce, manufacturer of aircraft engines, feels the industry needs to move quicker. He has committed to making sure their Trent engine can run purely on sustainable fuel by 2023. And Shell has committed to increasing their production tenfold by 2025.