Research

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9 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Non-Market Valuation of Water Pollution Remediation and Disaster Risk Mitigation Functions: The Case of Nakdong River Estuary in South Korea

by Hyo-Jin Kim, Jeong-In Chang and Seung-Hoon Yoo

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030770 - 01 Feb 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2358

Abstract

The Nakdong river estuary in South Korea has two important functions: first, remediating water pollution from the Nakdong river; second, mitigating the risk of disaster caused by waves from the open sea. The two functions of the Nakdong river estuary have been continuously [...] Read more.

The Nakdong river estuary in South Korea has two important functions: first, remediating water pollution from the Nakdong river; second, mitigating the risk of disaster caused by waves from the open sea. The two functions of the Nakdong river estuary have been continuously threatened due to constant development pressure. This short note tries to investigate the non-market value of the water pollution remediation and disaster risk mitigation functions. For this purpose, 1000 households throughout the country were randomly selected, and a choice experiment (CE) survey of them was implemented in September 2017. The two attributes considered here are water pollution remediation and disaster risk mitigation. An increase in the yearly income tax was also considered as an attribute. The results of applying the CE approach show that the non-market values of a 1%p increase in the water pollution remediation ability and a 1 m decrease in the wave height of the estuary are KRW 105 (USD 0.09) and KRW 501 (USD 0.44), respectively, per household per year. These figures can be used to establish and execute marine spatial planning for the estuary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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15 pages, 583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wastewater Reflections in Consumer Mind: Evidence from Sewage Services Consumer Behaviour

by Dacinia Crina Petrescu, Ruxandra Mălina Petrescu-Mag, Dorin Iosif Manciula, Ioan Alin Nistor and Veronica Ioana Ilieș

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010123 - 27 Dec 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3867

Abstract

Environmental concerns have become an important decision-making determinant for consumers. Hundreds of emerging pollutants and their metabolites are listed as present in European aquatic environments and human settlements are blamed as major sources of water pollution. It was assumed that as long as [...] Read more.

Environmental concerns have become an important decision-making determinant for consumers. Hundreds of emerging pollutants and their metabolites are listed as present in European aquatic environments and human settlements are blamed as major sources of water pollution. It was assumed that as long as water treatment is not totally effective and it requires a high amount of energy and resources, household’s contribution through correct behaviour in relation to the load of waste they discharge in the sewage system can reduce efforts towards wastewater treatment. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to investigate households’ perception and behaviour related to wastewater treatment services. Results are based on a random survey with a sample of 125 Romanian consumers of water supply and sewage services. A key finding is that investigated wastewater services consumers perceive the effect of discharging untreated wastewater in the environment as highly negative both on human health and on the environment, thus pointing out the importance associated by them to water treatment. This research argues that understanding wastewater services consumer behaviour enlarges the way toward reducing environmental disturbances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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14 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collaboration Mechanisms of Taiwan Nonprofit Organizations in Disaster Relief Efforts: Drawing Lessons from the Wenchuan Earthquake and Typhoon Morakot

by Wei-Ning Wu and Ssu-Ming Chang

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4328; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114328 - 21 Nov 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4119

Abstract

Participation of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) is important in emergency management because NPOs often work in conjunction with governments to offer assistance and resources in the emergency management process. NPO participation in disaster relief efforts is a valuable experience for public officials and practitioners, [...] Read more.

Participation of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) is important in emergency management because NPOs often work in conjunction with governments to offer assistance and resources in the emergency management process. NPO participation in disaster relief efforts is a valuable experience for public officials and practitioners, but research investigating NPOs’ experiences in disaster relief efforts is limited. This study examines Taiwan’s NPO collaboration mechanisms during disaster relief efforts and specifically examines the lessons drawn from two major catastrophes by focusing on the opinions of NPO managers in the 88 Flooding Service Alliance who joined the disaster relief operation for the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake in China and 2009 Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. The vital strategies and factors that contributed to successful NPO collaborations in disaster relief operations were determined through a survey on NPOs’ strategies for resource sharing and service integration and semi-structured interviews with 19 NPO managers. The findings indicate that NPO engagement in disaster services was crucial for the relief efforts of the two disaster events, and that long-term disaster service alliances are effective mechanisms for emergency collaboration in relief work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

29 pages, 4431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Criteria Analysis of Pollution Caused by Auto Traffic in a Geographical Area Limited to Applicability for an Eco-Economy Environment

by Sorin Borza, Marinela Inta, Razvan Serbu and Bogdan Marza

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4240; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114240 - 16 Nov 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3690

Abstract

The pollution caused by road traffic is a significant problem for society in the 21st century. Climate change and mortality among the population, are increasingly influenced by increasing traffic in urban agglomerations. The present study aims at the multi-criteria analysis of the pollution [...] Read more.

The pollution caused by road traffic is a significant problem for society in the 21st century. Climate change and mortality among the population, are increasingly influenced by increasing traffic in urban agglomerations. The present study aims at the multi-criteria analysis of the pollution caused by traffic at several busy intersections in the city of Sibiu, Romania. Classification of intersections was done using the Synchro Studio with Warrants software. Air pollutants, noise, and the number of vehicles in the traffic were taken into account. To analyze these criteria as a whole, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods were used. A comparative study has been undertaken on the results obtained by applying the two multicriteria methods. The paper aims to provide solutions for the eco-economy of the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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24 pages, 3261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Keep Them Engaged: Romanian County Inspectorates for Emergency Situations’ Facebook Usage for Disaster Risk Communication and Beyond

by Monika Meltzer, Lucrina Ștefănescu and Alexandru Ozunu

Sustainability 2018, 10(5), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051411 - 03 May 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4299

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of social media by public institutions involved in disaster management is starting to become common practice. However, despite scientific interest in the effect of social media on disaster risk and crisis communication, data exploring emergency management agencies’ round-the-clock Facebook usage [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the use of social media by public institutions involved in disaster management is starting to become common practice. However, despite scientific interest in the effect of social media on disaster risk and crisis communication, data exploring emergency management agencies’ round-the-clock Facebook usage and the impact of their content and media choices on stakeholder engagement is limited. This study set out to investigate Romanian local emergency agencies’ Facebook usage patterns and stakeholders’ engagement with their content. The data is comprised of 7810 messages posted between the 1st January and 25th October 2017 by 32 County Inspectorates for Emergency Situations. First, using content analysis techniques, the topics of the posts were summarized to illustrate how these agencies use Facebook. Second, stakeholder engagement was investigated using social media marketing techniques. Third, messages related to natural hazards were analyzed in greater depth to reveal disaster risk communication patterns. The results suggest that Romanian emergency agencies mainly promote transparency and their institutional image on Facebook. Stakeholders were most likely to engage with brand-oriented posts, especially if these also offered rich multimedia feature. Meanwhile, stakeholders were less likely to interact with messages about natural hazards, particularly if they incorporated educational content. These observations suggest that, while at the moment Romanian local emergency management agencies take advantage of Facebook to create and maintain relationships with their stakeholders, they bypass opportunities to implement communication strategies for effective disaster risk reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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13 pages, 1962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection and Quantification of Genetically Modified Soybean in Some Food and Feed Products. A Case Study on Products Available on Romanian Market

by Elena Rosculete, Elena Bonciu, Catalin Aurelian Rosculete and Elena Teleanu

Sustainability 2018, 10(5), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051325 - 25 Apr 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4287

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to trace genetically modified soybean in food and feed products present on the Romanian market by using molecular extraction, identification and quantification methodologies. Nine samples (3 food samples, 5 soybean samples and 1 soybean meal) were analysed [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper is to trace genetically modified soybean in food and feed products present on the Romanian market by using molecular extraction, identification and quantification methodologies. Nine samples (3 food samples, 5 soybean samples and 1 soybean meal) were analysed using the classical and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. DNA-genetically modified organism (GMO) was not detected in two of the three analysed samples (food products). However, it could be found in four samples ranging below the limit of 0.9%, and in three samples, above the limit of 0.9%. The results obtained through real-time PCR quantification show that DNA-RRS was detectable in different amounts in different samples: ranging between 0.27% and 9.36% in soy beans, and reaching 50.98% in soybean meal. The current research focuses on how products containing GMO above the limit (it is common knowledge that it is necessary to label the products containing more than 0.9% Genetically Modified DNA) are differentiated on the market with a view to labeling food and feed products in terms of the accidental presence of approved genetically modified plants. The benefits brought by genetic engineering in obtaining genetically modified organisms can be balanced with their public acceptance and with certain known or unknown risks that they can bring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Setting the Scene for a Healthier Indoor Living Environment: Citizens’ Knowledge, Awareness, and Habits Related to Residential Radon Exposure in Romania

by Dacinia Crina Petrescu and Ruxandra Mălina Petrescu-Mag

Sustainability 2017, 9(11), 2081; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9112081 - 13 Nov 2017

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3232

Abstract

The present research is based on the premise that people perceive radiation risks in different ways, depending on their cultural background, information exposure, economic level, and educational status, which are specific to each country. The main objective was to assess and report, for [...] Read more.

The present research is based on the premise that people perceive radiation risks in different ways, depending on their cultural background, information exposure, economic level, and educational status, which are specific to each country. The main objective was to assess and report, for the first time, the Romanians’ attitude (perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors) related to residential radon, in order to contribute to the creation of a healthier living environment. A convenience sample of 229 people from different parts of Romania, including radon prone areas, was used. Results profiled a population vulnerable to radon threats from the perspective of their awareness and perceptions. Thus, study results showed that most participants did not perceive the risk generated by radon exposure as significant to their health; only 13.1% of interviewed people considered the danger to their health as “high” or “very high”. Additionally, it was found that awareness of radon itself was low: 62.4% of the sample did not know what radon was. From a practical perspective, the study shows that in Romania, increasing awareness, through the provision of valid information, should be a major objective of strategies that aim to reduce radon exposure. The present study takes a bottom-up perspective by assessing Romanian citizens’ attitudes toward radon. Therefore, it compensates for a gap in the behavioral studies literature by providing practical support for radon risk mitigation and creating the premises for a healthier living environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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13 pages, 947 KiB

Open AccessReview

Milk Protein Polymorphism Characterization: a Modern Tool for Sustainable Conservation of Endangered Romanian Cattle Breeds in the Context of Traditional Breeding

by Andrei Cristian Grădinaru, Ioan Valentin Petrescu-Mag, Firuţa Camelia Oroian, Claudia Balint and Ion Oltean

Sustainability 2018, 10(2), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020534 - 16 Feb 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5205

Abstract

The paper aims to review literature data with respect to Romanian native cattle breeds which are considered at risk of extinction. In the last decades, the number of individuals of Romanian indigenous cows decreased significantly, as a consequence of the intensification and specialization [...] Read more.

The paper aims to review literature data with respect to Romanian native cattle breeds which are considered at risk of extinction. In the last decades, the number of individuals of Romanian indigenous cows decreased significantly, as a consequence of the intensification and specialization of animal productions and agriculture modernization. Some of the native cattle breeds are already lost, due to their crossing with improved breeds. However, after the accession of Romania to the European Union, various preservation programs were initiated, and most of them included biochemical research and studies of molecular or quantitative genetics. All these, associated with the application of reproduction biotechnologies, give a chance to these animals, which are extremely valuable in terms of their genetic resistance to diseases and environmental factors. The reviewed literature on Romanian indigenous endangered cattle breeds confirms that these animals are carriers of a valuable gene pool, which can be kept and bred while applying different reproductive biotechnologies. Consequently, this paper raises awareness on two issues: the decrease of genetic diversity in two Romanian native cow breeds threatened with extinction (Grey Steppe and Romanian Pinzgauer); and the benefits of genetic diversity of the two breeds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Quest of Sustainability: Responses for Ecological and Social-Economic Systems in Front of Risks and Disasters)

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