| 1. |
- Andersson, Mathias H., et al.
(author)
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Displacement effects of ship noise on fish population : FP7 - Collaborative Project n° 314227 WP 4: Sensitivity of marine life to shipping noise Task 4.2.1
- 2015
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Ship induced noise is one of the major contributors to the elevated noise levels in the world’s oceans today. However, the knowledge about the impact on marine organisms is still scarce. Especially the effects on fish behaviour needs to be studied as fish are a fundamental part of the oceans ecosystem. Direct measurement of fish behaviour in the open sea area is technically difficult but needs to be done in order to estimate reaction thresholds and scales of any reaction. This experiment studies the long term behavioural reaction by wild cod (Gadus morhua) to ship noise and describes the character and scale of the reaction. This study took place on the Swedish west coast with a small local cod population and the area is normally without any large vessel traffic. For the ship disturbance, the Swedish Coast Guard ship KBV 032 was hired and passed thru the area nine times during three days. During the three days of ship noise exposure, the noise levels increased well above the ambient noise. The ship signature was what could be expected in terms of spectral level with most radiated noise energy between 100 - 500 Hz. The ship had a higher source level than expected (232 dB re 1μPa at 1 m, 10 - 300 Hz) but this was deliberate as the crew was asked to use the propellers in a non-optimal way to generate as much noise as possible. The result was a lot of broadband cavitation pulses generated by the ship. Then a noise footprint model was created and used in the estimates of received levels (exposure level) by the individual fish in the area based on the most probable location. It was clear in the transmission loss varied between the two sites where at the shallow site, the noise was attenuated more compared to the deep site. This is probably caused by the quite complicated propagation pattern. Also, the acoustically different bottom properties will affect the transmission loss in the area. In total, 39 cod (Gadus morhua) were caught by hand jigging and were fitted with internal acoustical tags. Bottom mounted receivers were deployed covering the area where the cod were known to inhabit. This study was designed to capture more large scale movements of hundreds of meters and not startle responses to the ship noise. Out of the 39 tagged fish, 17 and 18 fish met the set quality criterion for the short time behaviour analysis and 23 fish for long time behaviour to be included in the analysis. Some fish met the quality criteria for both the short and long term analysis. The other fish were either eaten by seals, caught by fishermen, left the area or had a malfunctioning tag. In general, the noticed reaction in terms of horizontal swimming were much smaller than expected and what the study was designed for. This results was surprising as the sound pressure levels the fish were exposed to would, based on the literature, cause a strong behaviour response in the fish. The movement was not in any large scale that would affect their energy consumption and affect their long term survival. This study was able to track fish with an accuracy of less than 10 m and estimates an interval of received noise level. This is one of the first studies of its kind that is tracking free swimming fish over a long period of time during an acoustic disturbance.
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| 2. |
- Berman, Anne H., et al.
(author)
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Reducing Risky Alcohol Use via Smartphone App Skills Training Among Adult Internet Help-Seekers : A Randomized Pilot Trial
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Psychiatry. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-0640. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alcohol is one of the leading risk factors for global disease burden and overconsumption leads to a wide variety of negative consequences in everyday life. Digital interventions have shown small positive effects in contributing to reductions in problematic use. Specific research on smartphone apps is sparse and the few studies published indicate effects ranging from negative or null to small or moderate. TeleCoach™, a web-based skills training smartphone app, has shown positive effects in non-treatment-seeking university students with excessive drinking. This pilot trial aimed to evaluate app effects in a sample of internet help-seekers from the general population in Sweden. A total of 89 participants were recruited via online advertisement. Following baseline assessment for hazardous use, they were randomized to TeleCoach or a web-based control app offering brief information and advice regarding problematic alcohol use. The primary outcome was number of standard drinks per week; secondary outcomes included drinking quantity and frequency, binge drinking and blood alcohol count measures as well as app user data and comorbidity related to depression, anxiety, and drug use. Analysis of baseline and 6-week follow-up outcomes showed significant within-group effects on alcohol consumption but no significant between-group differences. Effect sizes for the within-group changes in the primary outcome over time were significant [F(1, 55)=43.98; p < 0.001], with a Cohen's d of 1.37 for the intervention group and 0.92 for the control group. This difference in effect sizes indicated that continuation of the study as a large randomized, controlled trial with up to 1,000 participants could be worthwhile.
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| 3. |
- Berman, Anne H., et al.
(author)
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Skills Training for Reducing Risky Alcohol Use in App Form Among Adult Internet Help-seekers
- 2020
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In: Annals of Behavioral Medicine. - : Oxford University Press. - 0883-6612 .- 1532-4796. ; 54:S1, s. S417-S417
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Problematic alcohol use in Sweden occurs among 16 % of the adult population. Digital interventions of varying intensity have shown positive effects in contributing to reductions in problematic use, and the TeleCoach app has shown positive effects in non-treatment-seeking university students with excessive drinking (Gajecki et al., 2017). This pilot study evaluated the app among adult internet help-seekers, and motivated continued data collection in the current target group. Methods: Adult internet-help seekers, recruited via advertisement, were included if they scored ³6 (women) or ³8 (men) on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Those with depression scores of ³31 on the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S) or problematic drug use scores of ³8 on the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) were contacted for a telephone interview and included following clinical assessment; if not reached they were excluded. Participants randomized at a 1:1 ratio to the TeleCoach™ web-based app or to a web-based app with information texts from primary care-based self-help material for changing problematic alcohol use. At six-week follow-up, the primary outcome was the number of standard drinks per past week (Timeline-Followback). Results: Of 147 persons assessed for eligibility, 89 were assigned to the intervention group (n=42) or control group (n=47). Average AUDIT levels at baseline were ³18.The baseline number of standard drinks per week was 32.73 (SD 21.16) for the intervention group, and 26 (4.08) for the control group; at 6-week follow-up it was 12.73 (10.52) and 13.48 (11.13) for the intervention and control groups, respectively. No significant between-groups effects occurred, but withingroup changes over time were significant (F(1, 55)=43.98; p< 0.000), with an effect size of 1.37 for the intervention group and 0.92 for the control group. Conclusions: The results suggest that web-based apps can be of help to internet help-seekers motivated to reduce problematic alcohol use. We have proceeded with the planned larger randomized, controlled study and will present 6-week follow-up data for the entire study sample (n=∼1000) in this presentation.
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| 4. |
- Börjeson, Natasja
(author)
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Toxic Textiles : Towards Responsibility in Complex Supply Chains
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The governance of the environmental and health problems that follow in the wake of globalised trade is one of the great contemporary challenges. One of these challenges is the management of chemical pollution and associated risks, and one sector facing this challenge is the textile industry, which has complex supply chains spread across continents. At the same time the role of actors on the playing field are changing and market actors are being called on to responsibly manage the issue of chemical risks and associated challenges. However, governance and control are often obstructed due to complexity and considerable knowledge uncertainty. This situation complicates responsibility-taking and makes it difficult to ascribe liabilities to specific actors, as it is not obvious who is responsible for what. This thesis is concerned with the process of how a group of market actors – private and public textile buyers – assume responsibility of chemical risks in their supply chains in a situation that is characterized by uncertainty and complexity. This thesis aims to contribute to an understanding of what happens when market actors are called on to manage the negative side effects of globalisation. The focus is on Swedish textile-buying private and public organisations. The thesis constructs an analytical model based on the key concepts responsible governance, responsibilisation, and responsible supply chain management (RSCM). The thesis explores the barriers, challenges and opportunities that exist for buyers seeking to assume RSCM and whether a process of responsibilisation can be observed in the textile sector. The thesis uses an exploratory approach and interviews, participatory observations and literature studies, as well as case studies to understand the process and to investigate barriers, challenges, opportunities. In summary, the thesis shows that a process of responsibilisation is ongoing on the organisational and sector levels. Further, it is shown that due to the complex structures of the chains, there are more barriers and challenges than opportunities for buyers striving for RSCM. However, it is argued that cooperation, stronger public and private policy, and a reflexive approach could be ways forward towards RSCM and increased responsibilisation in the textile sector.
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| 5. |
- Furberg, Anna, 1990, et al.
(author)
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Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Synthetic Diamond Production
- 2019
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Synthetic diamond is a superhard material found in applications such as cutting and grinding of rocks, minerals, metals and plastics, but also in windows and lenses in analytical equipment. Since the 1950s, when the synthesis of diamond via the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) synthesis was introduced, the use of synthetic diamond has gained increasing importance within industry, for example in cutting processes. Today, synthetic diamond dominates the industrial diamond use over its natural counterpart and the production is mainly via HPHT synthesis. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis is also applied but to a lesser extent due to various technological issues, including the tendency of CVD diamond coatings to wear and tear in tooling applications. Nevertheless, a lot of research exist in the area of synthetic diamond film production via CVD synthesis addressing technological issues and CVD diamond has been described as the potential facilitator of a new diamond age. In the strive for sustainable production, it is important to investigate the environmental impacts associated with various products and life cycle assessment (LCA) is commonly applied for this purpose. Until now, however, no study has conducted LCA of conventional synthetic diamond production via HPHT synthesis and so far, only laboratory-scale LCA results have been presented for one CVD synthesis alternative. The aim of this study is to conduct a cradle-to-gate LCA for synthetic diamond production both via the conventional HPHT synthesis and the potentially emerging CVD synthesis. For the latter route of synthesis, prospective (or ex ante) LCA was conducted and a predictive scenario was constructed focusing on microwave CVD. Future scenarios were constructed, e.g. by modelling the background energy system both using a fossil-based mix, representing the currently dominating Chinese production, and a renewable energy mix in an explorative scenario. A comprehensive uncertainty analysis was furthermore conducted for the included parameters. Environmental impacts were compared between the two routes of synthesis and hotspots in synthetic diamond production identified. The results from this research can be applied as a foundation for further LCA studies of synthetic diamond products.
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| 6. |
- Furberg, Anna, 1990, et al.
(author)
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What are the Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Synthetic Diamond?
- 2019
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Synthetic diamond is due to its superior properties used in a wide range of applications including cutting and grinding of metals and rocks, but also in analytical equipment lenses and jewelry. The conventional production of synthetic diamond is energy-intensive and typically conducted via high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) synthesis, while microwave chemical vapor deposition (MW-CVD) is also used but to a lesser extent. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of synthetic diamond production via HPHT and MW-CVD synthesis. The method of life cycle assessment (LCA) is applied, where the environmental impacts of a product is studied over its life cycle. In this study, the parts of the life cycle included are the raw material extraction and manufacturing of synthetic diamond. Various types of environmental impacts are assessed, including global warming and acidification. Furthermore, the largest contributors in synthetic diamond production to the environmental impacts, i.e. the hotspots, are identified and potential improvements are discussed. Scenarios were constructed in order to assess the importance of the type of electricity mix that is applied in the production. Preliminary results from the study indicate that the cemented carbide (WC-Co) parts required for the high-pressure apparatus constitute a hotspot in the HPHT synthesis, while the required electricity constitutes a hotspot in the MW-CVD synthesis.The results provided from this study on conventional synthetic diamond production can be applied by synthetic diamond manufacturers in order to identify the largest potentials for improvement in their production. The results can also be used in future full LCA studies, which then include the whole life cycle of synthetic diamond products.
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| 7. |
- Gustafsson, Mikael, 1965, et al.
(author)
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Benthic foraminiferal tolerance to tri-n-butyltin (TBT)
- 2000
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In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. ; 40, s. 1072-1075
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tri-n-butyltin (TBT) has been used in the marine environment as a toxic agent in antifouling paints, but unfortunately it also has negative effects on non-target organisms in the environment. In this study, intact coastal sediment was exposed for seven months to three levels of TBT corresponding to nominal additions of 0.00, 0.02 and 2.00 nmol TBT per g dry sediment. This paper presents the first attempt to find out how living benthic foraminifera respond to TBT, Increased foraminiferal abundance in the 0.02 nmol mesocosm could be an effect of decreased predation (competition), since other representatives of meiofauna and macrofauna tended to be less tolerant to TBT, Increasing toxicity in the most contaminated mesocosm group (2.00 nmol) resulted in a less abundant foraminiferal population suggesting that TBT affects the foraminiferal community.
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| 8. |
- Gustavsson, Mikael, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Estimating the release of chemical substances from consumer products, textiles and pharmaceuticals to wastewater
- 2022
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In: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chemical emissions from households originate from a wide range of sources and results in highly diverse mixtures. This makes traditional monitoring based on analytical chemistry challenging, especially for compounds that appear in low concentrations. We therefore developed a method for predicting emissions of chemicals from households into wastewater, relying on consumption patterns from multiple data sources. The method was then used to predict the emissions of chemical preparations, chemicals leaching from textiles and prescription pharmaceuticals in Sweden. In total we predicted emissions of 2007 chemicals with a combined emission of 62,659 tonnes per year - or 18 g/person and day. Of the emitted chemicals, 2.0% (w/w) were either classified as hazardous to the environment or were both persistent and mobile. We also show that chemical emissions come from a wide range of uses and that the total emission of any individual chemical is determined primarily by its use pattern, not by the total amount used. This emphasizes the need for continuous updates and additional knowledge generation both on emission factors and excretion rates as well as a need for improved reporting on the intended use of individual chemicals. Finally, we scrutinize the model and its uncertainty and suggest areas that need improvement to increase the accuracy of future emission modelling. We conclude that emission modelling can help guide environmental monitoring and provide input into management strategies aimed at reducing the environmental effect caused by hazardous chemicals.
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| 9. |
- Gustavsson, Mikael, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Risk assessment of chemicals and their mixtures are hindered by scarcity and inconsistencies between different environmental exposure limits
- 2023
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In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 225
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In chemical risk assessment, measured or modelled environmental concentrations are compared to environ-mental exposure limits (EELs), such as Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs) or hazardous concentrations for 5% of species (HC05s) derived from species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). However, for many chemicals the EELs include large uncertainties or, in the worst case, the necessary data for their estimation are completely missing. This makes the assessment of chemical risks and any subsequent implementation of management strategies challenging. In this study we analyzed the uncertainty of EELs and its impact on chemical risk assessment. First, we compared three individual EEL datasets, two primarily based on experimental data and one based on computational predictions. The comparison demonstrates large disagreements between EEL data sources, with experimentally derived EELs differing by more than seven orders of magnitude. In a case-study, based on the predicted emissions of 2005 chemicals, we showed that these uncertainties lead to significantly different risk assessment outcomes, including large differences in the magnitude of the total risk, risk driver identification, and the ranking of use categories as risk contributors. We also show that the large data-gaps in EEL datasets cannot be covered by commonly used computational approaches (QSARs). We conclude that an expanded framework for interpreting risk characterization outcomes is needed. We also argue that the large data -gaps present in ecotoxicological data need to be addressed in order to achieve the European zero pollution vision as the growing emphasis on ambient exposures will further increase the demand for accurate and well -established EELs.
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| 10. |
- Gustavsson, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Transformers enable accurate prediction of acute and chronic chemical toxicity in aquatic organisms
- 2024
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In: Sciences Advances. ; 10:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental hazard assessments are reliant on toxicity data that cover multiple organism groups. Generating experimental toxicity data is, however, resource-intensive and time-consuming. Computational methods are fast and cost-efficient alternatives, but the low accuracy and narrow applicability domains have made their adaptation slow. Here, we present a AI-based model for predicting chemical toxicity. The model uses transformers to capture toxicity-specific features directly from the chemical structures and deep neural networks to predict effect concentrations. The model showed high predictive performance for all tested organism groups—algae, aquatic invertebrates and fish—and has, in comparison to commonly used QSAR methods, a larger applicability domain and a considerably lower error. When the model was trained on data with multiple effect concentrations (EC50/EC10), the performance was further improved. We conclude that deep learning and transformers have the potential to markedly advance computational prediction of chemical toxicity.
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