UCL open environment最新文献

International standard test guidelines for the ecotoxicological characterisation of various substances use organisms such as algae, daphnids and fish embryos. These guidelines recommend or use relatively high volumes of water for the process of testing, for example, 200 mL for a complete dose-response relationship in a daphnia assay. However, for various samples such as concentrated extracts from environmental monitoring or leachates from microplastic ageing experiments, the amount of available sample volume is limited, that is, rather in the range of 10-50 mL/biotest. Using the exposure volumes as recommended in test guidelines would not allow to test a range of different concentrations or to repeat tests or use multiple different organismic bioassays. Lower media volumes would allow the testing of more samples (more concentrations per sample, more test repetitions for statistical robustness, etc.) but it may also decrease the possible number of organisms tested in the same volume. Here, we aimed at reducing the test volumes in the acute daphnia assay (using a maximum of 30 mL for a complete dose-response relationship) without impacting animals' sensitivity towards toxicants. A literature review on existing miniaturisation approaches was used as a starting point. Subsequently, assays employing conventional as well as reduced test volumes were compared for 16 selected test substances with a diverse spectrum of lipophilicity. Results showed that there are differences in EC₅₀ between the two approaches, but that these differences were overall only within a range of a factor of two to three. Further, by retrieving EC₅₀ values for the genus Daphnia and 16 test substances from the United States Environmental Protection Agency database, we demonstrated that our results are well in line with the general differences in sensitivities.

Dealing with climate change is now an infrastructure challenge. Within the next 30 years our energy generation must switch from fossil fuels to renewables. New buildings need to be zero-carbon and existing buildings need to be retrofitted. Our global transportation network will need to be transformed. Delivering the Net Zero World is an engineering challenge. But to do this we need a globally agreed virtual carbon price so that every single infrastructure project can be assessed in terms of its impact on carbon emissions and thus planetary health. We propose a loss-and-damage-based carbon price that is enhanced or reduced by variable, national impact factors. Carbon intensity weighting would further increase the price's impact.

Arsenic exposure during pregnancy might affect foetal development. Arsenic metabolism may modulate the potential damage to the fetus. Tacna has the highest arsenic exposure levels in Peru. However, this region also has the highest birth weight in Peru. It is not known if arsenic exposure is affecting maternal-perinatal health in Tacna. This study aimed to evaluate the association between urinary arsenic metabolism and birth outcomes, specifically birth weight and gestational age at birth in Tacna, Peru. A prospective cohort study was conducted, involving 158 pregnant women in Tacna, Peru, during January-November 2019. Participants were enrolled in their second trimester and followed-up until birth. Urine samples were collected in the second and third trimesters. Urine samples were analysed for total arsenic concentration and its species. Generalised estimating equations analysis was used to evaluate the association of interest. Inter-differences in arsenic toxicokinetics, calculated with principal component analysis was included as an interaction term. Analysis was stratified by pregnancy trimester. The median total urinary arsenic concentration was 33.34 μg/L. Inorganic arsenic and dimethylarsinic acid were higher in the second trimester. Dimethylarsinic acid was the predominant component (84.78% of total urinary arsenic). No significant association was found between urinary arsenic exposure and birth weight or gestational age at birth. The association was not affected by arsenic metabolism. Stratified analyses by pregnancy trimester also showed no significant associations. Urinary arsenic was not associated with birth weight, and this null relationship remained unaffected by arsenic toxicokinetic differences reflected in urine.

Hydrophobic (or water repellent) treatments have been proposed to mitigate moisture risks associated with internal wall insulation when applied to solid masonry walls. This can reduce risks associated with moisture accumulation within the structure such as mould growth or the deterioration of joist ends and other embedded timber. Where treatments perform well there is a net reduction of moisture content and risk. However, such treatments slow down drying processes, and therefore may result in a net increase in moisture if the treatment is bypassed by, for example, cracks. Some treatments may lead to damage to external masonry surfaces in some situations. Freeze-thaw and salt crystallisation are the two main causes. Hygrothermal simulations may give some indication of risks but techniques to assess the risk of surface damage are either simplistic, impractical outside of the research environment or both. This paper reviews the current field of assessing and predicting the risk of surface damage associated with surface treatments.

The use of ventilation holes in small micro-environments has been proposed by the National Trust as a mechanism to improve the environmental conditions of moisture and temperature within bookshelves. At one National Trust historic property, this mechanism has been used to encourage air movement behind books as a possible strategy to reduce the risk of mould growth. It is believed that including ventilation holes as a passive design solution to promote airflow within micro-environments could prevent decay from occurring in the archives of historic buildings. This paper investigates the mechanisms that cause airflow behind bookshelves using field measurements in three National Trust historic libraries. The measurements indicate that small but measurable velocities, up to 4 cm/s, can be passively generated behind bookshelves. Air movement in such confined micro-environments is probably caused by a combination of natural convection, caused by temperature differences between the walls and the interior and the exterior of the bookshelf, and forced convection due to drafts in the surrounding environment. While in some cases one mechanism prevailed, both mechanisms may be present simultaneously in most cases. Further research is needed to clarify how surface temperature drives air motion behind shelves.

Lime plaster is a sustainable building material that can be an effective passive cooling strategy. The moisture buffering quality of lime causes adsorption and desorption of moisture which moderates the indoor relative humidity. Its vapour permeability is also influential in moisture transfer across the building envelope. Lime plaster also has a self-healing quality which prevents the formation of inner cracks. Moreover, its strength increases with time leading to a longer life span. In old structures, an important function is the breathability of ceilings and walls. Hence, it is often used in conservation projects where it improves the appearance and durability of old buildings. Often organic additives employed to impart certain qualities to the lime mortar/plaster led to mould growth. Mould growth degrades indoor air quality, and the occupant health is compromised. To avoid mould-related problems, it is necessary to understand the behaviour of lime plaster with respect to the indoor relative humidity and surface moisture content. This paper focuses on the hygrothermal performance of lime plaster in naturally ventilated residential spaces. Surveys were carried out in 45 traditional buildings in Ahmedabad in India with measurements of ambient variables, such as temperature, relative humidity, wall moisture content, etc. The mould growth patterns of these spaces are related to the measured variables and wall characteristics. Hygrothermal simulations of some spaces were also carried out to observe the moisture buffering of lime plaster. Experimental observations were then compared to simulation results to see if the predictions of the hygrothermal models were realistic.

The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report sets out sobering scenarios about the future for our young people and appeals for 'deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions'. Although technological responses are essential to achieve these reductions, technocratic solutions alone will not solve the environmental emergency; a widespread societal transformation is needed. Education can play a profound role in this transformation as it is fundamental to building a society with knowledge, skills and motivation to tackle climate change so as to regenerate ecological and social systems. This commentary reflects on multiple dimensions of education's role, focusing particularly on schools and the important contribution that all subjects can make towards developing interdisciplinary, complex understandings of the environmental emergency and living more sustainably. Drawing from a recent nationwide survey of teachers in England carried out by the UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, we highlight a troubling lack of engagement in formal professional development related to climate change and sustainability, even amongst a 'climate change engaged' cohort of teachers, and the imperative for comprehensive professional learning for teachers from across all subjects and year levels.

Global challenges such as climate change, food security and human health and well-being disproportionately impact people from low-income countries. These challenges are complex and require an international and transdisciplinary approach to research, with research skills and expertise from different disciplines, sectors and regions. In addressing this, a key goal of the research project, Blue Communities, was to create and expand mutual interdisciplinary capacity of both United Kingdom and Southeast Asian Partners. An existing questionnaire on research capacity was uniquely adapted to include interdisciplinary and international aspects and distributed for the first time as an online survey to the participants of the Blue Communities project comprising researchers across all career stages. Participants were asked about their perceptions of the research capacity and culture of their organisation, team and self and whether they believed any aspects have changed since their involvement with the project. Greatest improvement was seen at the self-level where results indicated a positive relationship between an individual's current success or skill and their improvement over the course of the research project across 18 out of 22 aspects of research capacity for Southeast Asian, and two for UK respondents. The conflict between achieving research aims, building research capacity and making societal impact was evident. Institutional support is required to value these core aspects of interdisciplinary research.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3038.].

Planting in front gardens is associated with a range of human and environmental health benefits. Effective interventions aimed at cultivating this practice are, however, hampered by the paucity of theory- and evidence-based behavioural research in this context. This study aims to systematically determine a set of behaviour change interventions likely to be effective at promoting planting in front gardens amongst UK householders. The Behaviour Change Wheel framework was applied. Behavioural systems mapping was used to identify community actors relevant to front gardening. Potential behavioural influences on householders' front gardening were identified using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour model. Using peer-reviewed scientific findings as evidence, behavioural influences were systematically linked to potential intervention strategies, behaviour change techniques and real-world implementation options. Finally, intervention recommendations were refined through expert evaluations and local councillor and public stakeholder feedback, evaluating them against the Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Affordability, Side effects and Equity criteria in a UK implementation context. This study formulated 12 intervention recommendations, implementable at a community level, to promote front gardening. Stakeholder feedback revealed a preference for educational and supportive (social and practical) strategies (e.g., community gardening workshops, front gardening 'starter kits') over persuasive and motivational approaches (e.g., social marketing, motivational letters from the council to householders). Householders' front gardening behaviour is complex and influenced by the behaviour of many other community actors. It also needs to be understood as a step in a continuum of other behaviours (e.g., clearing land, gardening, waste disposal). This study demonstrates the application of behavioural science to an understudied implementation context, that is, front gardening promotion, drawing on a rigorous development process promoting a transparent approach to intervention design. Stakeholder consultation allowed relevance, feasibility and practical issues to be considered. These improve the likely effectiveness of interventions in practice. The next steps include evaluating the proposed interventions in practice.