Environmental Health. I know nothing. by Climate Finance

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-13 14:14:43 UTC

I have never heard the name "Environmental health" before. I bet you don`t as well. So let me introduce this topic to you, my aproach and some thoughts, as far as I know something new and interesting. Feel free to comment and add some information.

This blog created for the same named course in my studies.

MAIN POSTS Mind maps Definitions and thoughts Organization of work

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-13 14:19:22 UTC

I. All things Environmental Health should be eaten with

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-13 14:28:24 UTC

Some basic information which I guess I will understand fully soon.

Environmental epidemiology
−Associations between exposure to environmental agents
and subsequent development of disease
Environmental toxicology
−Causal mechanisms between exposure and subsequent
development of disease
Hazards can be categorized into four types:

Chemical
Physical
Biological
Other like physiological, social etc

Risk factors have an impact on human health by three ways: oral, dermal and inhalation.
OK, it`s just theory but what about practice?
All factors are exposed by some sources to an object with one of the probable path. To eliminate the effect of one the factor we should just remove one thing from this chain.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-15 21:04:22 UTC

are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. For example, formaldehyde. Harmful VOCs typically are not acutely toxic, but have compounding long-term health effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, research into VOCs and their effects is difficult. [3]

Environmental Health

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-15 21:06:41 UTC

comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, biological, social, and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations. [2]

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-15 21:47:51 UTC

WHO

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-15 21:49:00 UTC

is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organisation, was an agency of the League of Nations. [4]

To read more

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-15 21:51:08 UTC

EH
http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/introeh.htm
http://stm.fi/en/environmental-health
https://www.oecd.org/env/ehs/environmenthealthandsafetypublications.htm
Chemicals and textile http://www.teonline.com/knowledge-centre/textile-chemicals.html
WHO
http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_disasters
Rio Principles
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1127rioprinciples.pdf
For more investigation, read about it:

3.The Montreal Protocol

5.the Basel Convention

6.the Washington Convention (CITES)
OMG Sources of EH factors
https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/index.php
Pay to polute policy
Air quality map
http://aqicn.org/map/world/#@g/31.01/27.5098/3z
About microbes
Climate change https://xkcd.com/1732/
About cycles in the nature (C,N..)

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-15 22:05:07 UTC

2017-01-18 11:18:27 UTC

II. Closer look at factors of EH and legislation`s controlling

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-18 11:24:39 UTC

We are living in too fast developing world. And now we can feel some consequences of it. These are Factors which somehow affect our health (body, feelings, etc). For instance, this mind map => shows which sources of impact I have in my life within one single morning. These are just thing came to my mind first, of course, there are even more. (I hope it won`t be my psychological problem that I will be worried all the time about affect of environment on me).

Legislation overview
Experts should make some standards for each EH factor and in terms of this decisions should be done to create appropriate legislation. From mind map it is clear who are responsible for each sector in government. (though I am not sure that it covers all aspects and I am completely beginner in this topic)
Risk assesment also should be taken into consideration for controlling the maintenance of state needed by law.

The goal of Ministry of the Environment in Finland:
Promotes sustainable development, aims at creation of attractive and safe living environments, safeguarding biodiversity, prevention of environmental damage and improvement of housing conditions in Finland. Formulates the Finnish Government’s environmental and housing policies on issues such as environmental protection, land use, nature conservation, construction and housing [5]

What about Russia? The law-making segment is the most stable within the institutional framework. There is a wide range of actors involved in law making: the Federal Assembly ( the State Duma and the Federation Council) , Russia’s President, the government and line ministries, as well as similar actors in sub-national and local governments. Also, the Constitutional Court,

the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of Arbitration have the right to initiate laws. Other stakeholders include lawyers, researchers, and practitioners who act as experts or provide feedback on the quality of the draft laws, etc. This diversity of authorities and stakeholders, generally, plays a positive role in balancing competing interests. Apart the Constitution, there is Ministry of naturalf Resources and Environment (with different agencies)
The main federal laws regulating environmental protection are Federal Law

“On Environmental Protection,” dated 10 January 2001 [8]

mind map=>
Main Russia`s EH problems are deforestation, energy irresponsibility, pollution (56.3 million people live in cities with high level of pollution) and nuclear waste. Also climate change (Russian climate in more sensitive to the global warming than the climate of many other regions of the Earth), ecosystem degradation, growth of wastes, issue of accumulated environment damage liquidation, and others.
Russia is a party to most of the major international conventions and treaties in the sphere of environmental protection:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (1983),

• Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985),

• Montreal Protocol on Substances Depleting the Ozone Layer (1987),

• Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989),

• Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (1991).

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-18 11:45:52 UTC

I realized that EH is really wide topic. For me, the most interesting one is about food. Some time ago I decided to study this theme and created so to say diet for myself. It fits me well, but of course sometimes I eat junk food (especially with friends). So, I need to focus on this field and continue exploring but now in terms of not only my organism but at the whole

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-21 12:24:07 UTC

Aspects of environmental law that reflects and reinforces the Russian Constitution [6]:

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-21 14:22:35 UTC

Land and other natural resources are used and protected in the Russian Federation as the basis of life and activity of the peoples living on their respective territories (Article 9, Part 1..);
Land and other natural resources may be in private, state, municipal and other forms of property (Article 9, Part 2..);
Everyone has the right to health and medical care (art. 41);
Art. 42 is fundamental. It states: "Everyone has the right to a favorable environment, reliable information about its condition and to compensation for damage caused to his health or property by ecological offenses".
Article 71 of the Russian Constitution says, "the setting up of a system... establishing federal administration agencies, laying foundations for federal policy... in the area of environmental development of the Russian Federation" is within the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation, that is the President.
However, Article 72 of the Russian Constitution says "The issues of ownership, use and management of land, mineral, water and other types of resources"; also "the use of nature, protection of the environment and ensuring a safe environment and the existence of natural parks" are within the joint management and administration of the Russian Federation and its regions.

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-23 01:38:54 UTC

Federal ministries

which are policy-making bodies. They conduct the problem analysis,

development and evaluation of policies in their

domains, as well as draft new legislation. Also

they coordinate and monitor the activities of federal services and agencies within their

jurisdiction. They are not authorized to perform enforcement functions, to manage state property

or to provide services;

Federal services

which are federal executive authorities vested with permitting, inspection and

administrative enforcement functions, but are no

t authorized to develop primary legislation;

Federal agencies

which can provide public services and manage state property, maintain various

types of registers, but are not authorized to en

gage in regulatory development or perform any

compliance assurance functions.
[7]

The Kyoto Protocol [10]

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-23 03:48:26 UTC

is an international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that (a) global warming exists and (b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 Russia have participated in Kyoto's first-round but have not taken on new targets in the second commitment period
There were established carbon credit system.

Negotiations were held in the framework of the yearly UNFCCC Climate Change Conferences on measures to be taken after the second commitment period ends in 2020. This resulted in the 2015 adoption of the Paris Agreement, which is a separate instrument under the UNFCCC rather than an amendment of the Kyoto protocol.

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-23 15:45:09 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-23 17:32:38 UTC

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climatefinance111 — 2017-01-23 19:08:09 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-23 19:08:17 UTC

III. Chemical Hazards, Air contaminants, and Microbiology

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-26 14:53:41 UTC

Chemical hazards can be caused by different sources and found in daily-using things such as food and drinking water, everything we touch, indoor and ambient air.
While there are thousands of microbes, chemical compounds and another type of contaminants, we already found the way to check it and monitor online(at least for sure in air). The table on the right indicates which AQI is appropriate. In link (c "more reading list") I was shocked by the fact that in Paris the AQI is so high while in New-Your it`s relatively low. /Need to understand the causation/
No worries - in Finland it`s low.
In addition, indoor air can be polluted if come microbes are found in the place. Building hygiene should be followed.

Microbes - make mindmap when understand the topic!
•Bacteria - exist by itself

•Viruses - needs a host

•Protists (animal and plant-like)

•Algae

•Fungi (yeasts and molds - плесень)

•Prions

Even fast look at some products showed that all types of food contain (or can be easily affected by) different microbes causing health issues. Well, it can be prevented by maintaining following conditions and rules:

Clean your arms!
Clean kitchen stuff!
Keep warm food warm and cold food cold. (different temperature-different bacteria growth)
Avoid certain kinds of meat (it`s my point since I read some researchers in this topic and pretty sure that "red meat" are more likely to be contaminated by bacteria)

NOEC

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-27 16:22:09 UTC

(no observed effect concentration) means the test concentration immediately below the lowest tested concentration with statistically significant adverse effect. The NOEC has no statistically significant adverse effect compared to the control [11]

LD50 and LC50

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-27 16:23:26 UTC

- the lethal dose at which 50% of the population if killed in a given period of time;
- the lethal concentration required to kill 50% of the population. [10]

AQI

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-27 16:35:21 UTC

is a number used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become (by slides)

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-27 16:36:00 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-27 16:50:16 UTC

Interesting off-topic

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-30 21:44:32 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-30 21:47:17 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-01-30 22:41:37 UTC

After failing Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement set goals for each country independently (to meet needs of each member!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B11kASPfYxY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZOaRdb0jNo

IV. Risk Management

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-01 08:18:10 UTC

In order to manage the risk, we need to know the severity and likelihood of the disaster. Well, it depends a lot on a million factors so we need to consider the case. For instance, I took the dust from my room (well, I live not alone and we do not clean our room as often as we would like to) and found out that we are under Extreme Risk. (Need to rethink a policy of tidying up!).
In general, the mind map below shows step by step process of Risk Management.
___
The results 100% depends on Your Sample!

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-01 08:54:37 UTC

2017-02-03 13:11:21 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-08 17:07:22 UTC

V. Potable water

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-11 11:54:11 UTC

We use water for so many aims! One of the more vital aims is for drinking purposes.
Let`s see how potable water ends up in our bodies. Resources are ground water or surface water (however, only 2.5% of all water resources are fresh water, that is why the desalinization process is on demand). Even in recourses itself, there can be some contaminants: from soil, from air, rainfall etc. Then while maintaining this water the way of getting should meet all requirements (pumps, pipes), what is more, the bottles for keeping should also be under sanitary standards. What is so common for Russia, is that landfills are next to the rivers (OMG!), so that there must be more water treatment appliances. It`s the example of one of the popular ways of contamination surface water there.
Interestingly, that some of the bacteria can be a trigger "hei, here is the contamination, clean me".
Speaking about legislation, at least in Russia everything is written (since there is an opinion that "everything that is not forbidden is legal"), so every standard, every single action is written in either Law or Directive or more local documents.
___
Really surprised that in Finland I can drink water even during the shower. But only from the cold tap!
___
My school project`s result is on the right. I investigated the water quality in my hometown, Ufa.

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-11 12:05:32 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-11 12:16:26 UTC

Groundwater is fresh water in the rock and soil layers beneath Earth’s land surface. 22% of those 2.5%

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-11 12:24:01 UTC

VI. Bath water

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-17 15:54:10 UTC

It`s not the water from a tap in your home. It`s coastal or inland water used for bathing (swimming), also pool water.
Some examples of contamination: pathogens, viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi, chemicals
The contamination can appear in different parts of the flow of this water, that is why it is important to have_at least_two monitoring points in this system (at the beginning and at the end). In addition, it should be monitored_at least_once a month.
Remember: The amount and the duration!
But how to treat pools?
–treatment (to remove particulates, pollutants, and microorganisms), including disinfection and ﬁltration;

–pool hydraulics (to ensure effective distribution of disinfectant throughout the pool and removal of contaminated water);

–addition of fresh water at frequent intervals (to dilute substances that cannot be removed from the water by treatment);

–cleaning (to remove bioﬁlms from surfaces, sediments from the pool ﬂoor and particulates adsorbed to ﬁlter materials); and adequate ventilation of indoor facilities.

___
Nice fact: the contamination (ex. microbial) can be introduced into water by people themselves.
___
Well, for sure, there are some standards for this type of water as well. And one thing to mention, it is not only for preventing people from getting extra doses of chemicals, for instance, but also for pipes not to be busted.

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-19 19:16:38 UTC

Cyanobacteria

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-19 19:28:30 UTC

•Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic

•Depending upon the species, cyanobacteria can occur as single cells, filaments of cells, or colonies.

•Nutrient-rich bodies of water may support rapid growth of cyanobacteria. High concentrations of an alga species in a water body form "blooms.“

•Blue-green blooms can pose a human health concern. Although most blue-green blooms are not toxic, some blue-green algae produce nerve or liver toxins.

•Toxicity is hard to predict in part because a single species of algae can have toxic and non-toxic strains. Also a bloom that tests non-toxic one day can turn toxic the next day.

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-19 19:31:15 UTC

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climatefinance111 — 2017-02-19 19:49:12 UTC

Free chlorine(FC): is the determinant of the chlorines ability to disinfectpool water.

(aim is 1-3 ppm)
• Combined chlorine(CC): When chlorine comes into contact with ammonia and nitrogen compounds in water, they react to form nitrogen and chloramines. These are referred to as CC.
• Total chlorine(TC):Total chlorine is simply a measure of combined chlorine and free available chlorine.

VII. Food

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-19 19:58:38 UTC

Again there are divisions into groups of hazards: chemical (look mind map), physical (hair, insects, filth, fishbones, glass, metal), microbiological (yeast, bacteria, viruses, protozoa). Most foot diseases are infections.
Contamination can appear at any stage of the process: preharvest, post-harvest, final handling, storage. They are, from one point, can be hazardous but, from another, can be useful (ex. pesticides, yeast). The amount matters! The type of contaminant depends on the type of food: dairy product, vegetables, fruits etc.
For microorganisms, a certain temperature, air (some need, other can survive without or even be poisoned), water, and food are important. While growing, they often produce desirable by-products, but if they grow in another food, they cause spoilage.
Viruses do not need special conditions but require a suitable cause. Viruses, however, do not cause spoilage, but illness by infection.
Parasites need a host and the food is just part of their natural life cycle (nematode worms in fish and meat)
__

Wash your hands!
Clean equipment!
Wash fruits, vegetables etc.
Meat should be cooked!
Keep hot food hot and cold food cold!
Maintain required temperature

Risk analysis should be done in each part of the chain beginning with growing ending at the plate

___
1. Conduct a Hazard Analysis

2. Identify Critical Control Points

3. Establish Critical Limits

4. Establish Monitoring

5. Establish Corrective Actions

6. Establish Verification

7. Establish Documentation and Records

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-22 14:00:33 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-22 14:24:04 UTC

•“food safety: concept that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use”

•“food chain: sequence of the stages and operations involved in the production, processing, distribution, storage and handling of a food and its ingredients, from primary production to consumption”

•“food safety hazard: biological, chemical or physical agent in food, or condition of food, with the potential to cause an adverse health effect”

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-22 14:24:53 UTC

•“prerequisite programme: food safety basic conditions and activities that are necessary to maintain a hygienic environment throughout the food chain suitable for the production, handling and provision of safe end productsand safe food for human consumption”

•“operational PRP: identified by the hazard analysis as essential in order to control the likelihood of introducing food safety hazards to and/or the contamination or proliferation of food safety hazards in the product(s) or in the processing environment”

climatefinance111 — 2017-02-22 14:25:37 UTC

•CCP (critical control point): food safety step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level

•“critical limit: criterion which separates acceptability from unacceptability”

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climatefinance111 — 2017-02-24 20:23:56 UTC

RASFF

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-08 10:15:07 UTC

– the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-08 10:22:29 UTC

•“food safety: concept that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use”

•“food safety hazard: biological, chemical or physical agent in food, or condition of food, with the potential to cause an adverse health effect”

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-08 10:23:47 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-08 10:24:30 UTC

•CCP (critical control point): food safety step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level

•“critical limit: criterion which separates acceptability from unacceptability”

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-10 13:35:28 UTC

В настоящее время в России по данным статистики ежегодно город с населением около 1 млн. человек выбрасывает на прилегающие территории до 400 тысяч тонн ТБО, что соответствует удельному выходу отходов на одного жителя в нашей стране порядка 350 – 400кг. в год. ^[3]

Основные методы борьбы с отходами за последние года в России не изменились: захоронение, сжигание и частичная переработка. Цена потребных ресурсов для этой борьбы высока, но более-менее известна. Так, для захоронения на современном полигоне 5 млн. кубометров твердых бытовых отходов (ТБО) – это годовой объем отходов Санкт-Петербурга, необходимо каждый год выводить из пользования 40 Га пригородных земель, что немало по любому счету, и это не считая все время увеличивающихся расстояний и затрат на перевозку отходов. Однако, традиционно, полигонное захоронение так и остается основным методом борьбы с отходами.

VIII. Air pollution and Noise

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 12:19:24 UTC

since the topic was somehow started, here I put some info from the lesson
Noise is an unwanted sound!
Noise is similar to air pollution since the sources, pathways are quite the same: roads, airports, traffic, industry, construction, forest fire, volcanic eruption.
I was shocked by the fact that almost 3 million people are dying each year from the consequences of air pollution. In addition, even noise pollution can be severe to people: check the pyramid below
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Our group took NO2 and other N compounds. What was interesting to me is that. for instance, there are more natural sources of N2O. The distribution is seen in the table on the right.
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Contaminants in the air are:
•sulfurdioxide (SO2),

•nitrogenoxides (NOx),

•ozone(O3),

•carbonmonoxide (CO),

•volatileorganiccompounds (VOC),

•hydrogensulfide (H2S),

•hydrogenfluoride (HF),

•gaseousforms of metals.
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Again, managing with these issues can be done through eliminating the pathways (building some barriers from noise or putting water into contaminants from industry) or exposure (using masks)

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 12:25:01 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 12:28:12 UTC

https://edu.flinga.fi/s/5WPE9H

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 12:28:14 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 12:58:02 UTC

Sound pressure level (SPL) or acoustic pressure level is a logarithmic measure of the effective pressure of a sound relative to a reference value.
Sound pressure level, denoted L_p and measured in dB, is defined by

•Sound Pressure Level is the RMS(root mean square) value of the InstantaneousSound Pressures measured over a specified period of time, measured in decibels (dB).

•Sound Level: Lp is a logarithmic measure of the RMS sound pressure of a sound relative to a reference value, the Threshold of Hearing. It is measured in decibels (dB).
All these terms you can check from http://www.acoustic-glossary.co.uk/definitions-l.htm

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climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 13:11:57 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 13:15:47 UTC

So, we see that valueas are nearly the same. {18}

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-16 13:16:47 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:03:32 UTC

L₁₀ is the level exceeded for 10% of the time. For 10% of the time, the sound or noise has a sound pressure level above L₁₀. For the rest of the time, the sound or noise has a sound pressure level at or below L₁₀. These higher sound pressure levels are probably due to sporadic or intermittent events.

L₅₀ is the level exceeded for 50% of the time. It is statistically the mid-point of the noise readings. It represents the median of the fluctuating noise levels.

L₉₀ is the level exceeded for 90% of the time. For 90% of the time, the noise level is above this level. It is generally considered to be representing the background or ambient level of a noise environment.

For a varying sound, L₁₀ is greater than L₅₀ which in turn is greater than L₉₀. The following graph illustrates L₁₀, L₅₀ and L₉₀.

| | In most cases, the sounds and noises we hear are not steady. Apart from variation in tones, the magnitude or the sound pressure level of a sound or noise changes with time. The n-percent exceeded level, L_n, is the sound pressure level exceeded for n percent of the time. In other words, for n percent of the time, the fluctuating sound pressure levels are higher than the L_n level. L_n can be obtained by analysing a given noise by statistical means.
19

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:05:21 UTC

The A Filter

· Measurements made on A filters are expressed in dBAs. The dBA sound level meter applies to the mid-range frequencies as opposed to the dBC sound level meter that measures low and high frequencies. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides the country's guidelines for employers regarding workplace noise exposure limitations based on dBA measurements in increments of three. For example, the permitted exposure length starts at 85 dBA, with a maximum exposure in a 24-hour period at 139 dBA for only 0.11 seconds.

The C Filter

· Measurements made using C filters are expressed in dBCs. Unlike dBA, its measurements suit low and high frequency sound levels. The C filter literally filters the sounds the microphone picks up in the sound level meter, used more in entertainment venues. The frequency response function, sometimes called a weighting characteristic, controls the tone by giving more weight to some frequencies than other less important frequencies. When transmitted sound has bass issues or problems, the C filter is typically used.

IX. Indoor air quality

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:06:37 UTC

Sources: outdoor air, people, chemicals, buildings etc.
Contaminants: CO2, VOC, Ammonia, Radon, Cigarette smoke, spores, bacteria, fungi, viruses, bioaerosols, mild, dust, noise, asbestos fibers
Effects depend on the duration of exposure and can be experienced years later.
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Ventilation reduce the duration of exposure! Good one when the air refreshes in 1-2h. Also cleaning and drying or even removing water-damaged carpets required.
=> T, moisture, and draft are the ways of controlling the conditions.
The types of buildings depend mainly on the geographical, climatic, economic conditions, but in terms of EH we need to consider the safety of this or that house. If, for example, a window of the house let the air goes through, and the house has the furnace then probably it is better to keep the way for air to come from the window than waiting when the air comes through the floor (where can be found even more contaminants!).
In the lesson, I was shocked that in Vietnam the temperature does not go under 0! Need to revise geography... So it is reasonable that they do not have heat systems, and their houses differ so much from finnish ones.

the Aarhus Convention

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:21:53 UTC

The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, usually known as the Aarhus Convention, was signed on 25 June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus. It entered into force on 30 October 2001.
The Aarhus Convention establishes a number of rights of the public (individuals and their associations) with regard to the environment. It focuses on interactions between the public and public authorities.

the right of everyone to receive environmental information that is held by public authorities ("access to environmental information"). This can include information on the state of the environment, but also on policies or measures taken, or on the state of human health and safety where this can be affected by the state of the environment. Applicants are entitled to obtain this information within one month of the request and without having to say why they require it. In addition, public authorities are obliged, under the Convention, to actively disseminate environmental information in their possession;
the right to participate in environmental decision-making. Arrangements are to be made by public authorities to enable the public affected and environmental non-governmental organisations to comment on, for example, proposals for projects affecting the environment, or plans and programmes relating to the environment, these comments to be taken into due account in decision-making, and information to be provided on the final decisions and the reasons for it ("public participation in environmental decision-making");
the right to review procedures to challenge public decisions that have been made without respecting the two aforementioned rights or environmental law in general ("access to justice").

21.22

UNECE

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:22:48 UTC

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE) was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member States.

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:44:27 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:45:01 UTC

Pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) are systems to collect and disseminate information on environmental releases and transfers of toxic chemicals from industrial and other facilities.

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 11:46:49 UTC

They were established in several countries after the 1984 Bhopal Disaster, and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, which affirmed the "right-to-know" of communities and workers about toxics chemicals and other substances of concern.

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:01:45 UTC

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, often shortened to Rio Declaration, was a short document produced at the 1992 United Nations "Conference on Environment and Development" (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit. The Rio Declaration consisted of 27 principles intended to guide countries in future sustainable development. It was signed by over 170 countries.
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All principles in brief

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:04:04 UTC

http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/RIO_E.PDF

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climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:05:33 UTC

Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development.^[1] It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:19:46 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:20:10 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:28:17 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:28:29 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-21 12:30:42 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-24 14:26:59 UTC

X. Reflection on the presentations.

2017-03-28 09:43:46 UTC

Noise in NYC
What was new: I put screenshots. I was already sure that the sleep is the most important thing for us. And it turned out that even a couple of days of disturbance (even 60dB) can make us crazy in that sense. Also for me it was interesting to know the correlation or even dependence between poor people and noise affect. You have poor isolating building = you suffer from diseases = you buy expensive medicine = you remain poor. In addition, shops, bars are not allowed to attract people via sounds which I guess anyway happens sometime... And well while construction I was wondering if in the case of emergency of many time people have for getting any kinds of permission - I found an answer, which is just three days.
Moreover, since it was our own presentation I can also reflect on the process of our work. We failed in the part of discussion, we faced some problem of misunderstanding. However, we overcame this obstacle and understood that something going wrong on time. We discusses the process and realized what was wrong: the way how we work differ from person to person and we need to consider it. Also, we have different background and different expectations and goals for presentation. These all things should be taken into account beforehand and while our first discussion which we organized not well. I am glad that every one of us understood it and we already have plan how to behave ourselves in the future.
What else, I took the most "boring" part which is legislation however, it turned out to be easy to some extant. So I should not be terrified about law there is always some guidelines for average people or at least nice explanation in the internet.

Feedback: I've already gave feedback to my team and got the same to myself so here I would like to say that it is easier if all instructions will be opened from the beginning (if there were then emphasize it since we didn't notice) also we waited till the last lecture because we thought we could not cover the topic yet, however we could start making it earlier and add things afterwards if they are missing.
Conclusion: for sure, teamwork is the most demanding. Probably, we need to have some lecture on it because not all things we can overcome within a team. In fact, I like group work and understood a lot about myself during this one.

Lead poisoning
What was new: liked that it was a precise topic. and all information is relevant.

Indoor air in office
What was new: each case is unique due to difference in moisture, temperature, etc. even people! For sure, people are the main polluters on the Earth... :( Smoke can be in solid form in our clothes, so it should be also considered as a factor of polluting inside the room.

Questions: I waited more precise data for, for example, some countries. It would be better to find one concrete case and explain thing on this basis.

Conclusion: I should include more air conditioning (at least opening the windows) in the framework of my healthy lifestyle.

Air pollution from energy
What was new: I liked these pictures, I put them on the right. Will study energy in that terms in the summer more deeply.

Questions: probably the statistics from different countries could be included, for example, if Russia is the most energy producer and there is not so much air pollution from energy sector, so it means that they do something about it. *it is just example. so I expected that kind of data. how countries can minimize effect.

CONCLUSION: to be honest, I can`t learn a lot from the presentation of my fellow students. Probably, reports would be much more helpful, however, it is just another type of work and presentations are also needed. So that it is nice that I can check slides later on, but... It is called presentation so not everybody put text on the slides (even we didn't). So that you need to check references by yourself to get the whole picture. And it is a matter of the topic if you continue studying or not. So I come to the conclusion that presentation are good way to show the case, that it exist and make you interested in it. Or not.
Overall, I like such reflections, They help to analyze and develop ourselves. I wish we did such kind of things more.

2017-03-28 09:46:48 UTC

I would like to add also that in Russia there is SAnPin standarts for everything, so I added some articles from there

2017-03-28 10:06:41 UTC

2017-03-28 10:07:47 UTC

2017-03-28 10:09:18 UTC

2017-03-28 10:10:00 UTC

2017-03-28 10:40:02 UTC

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2017-03-28 10:53:33 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-03-28 11:41:27 UTC

to be continued in the summer

2017-06-06 12:56:59 UTC

climatefinance111 — 2017-09-19 11:02:34 UTC

the Kyoto Protocol, the Energy Charter Protocol for

Energy Efficiency and Environmental Aspects, and the Energy

Community Treaty