Willingness to pay for drinking water quality improvement and the influence of social capital

Several factors have been identified as determinants of willingness to pay (WTP), including socio-economic and environmental elements. The present article aims to investigate the influence of individual social capital on willingness to pay for environmental goods. In particular, through an empirical study, a multi-dimensional measurement of social capital is conducted and its influence on WTP for water quality improvement is explored. According to the results of the survey it is observed that social capital is a significant explanatory parameter of WTP

Radon exposure in the thermal spas of Lesvos Island-Greece

The aim of this work is to study the exposure due to radon to bathers and personnel in the spas of Lesvos Island under a specific use pattern. 222Rn concentrations in the supplying water were measured during a long time period. Variations in indoor 222Rn, attached and unattached progenies, and influence of the ambient atmosphere were thoroughly analysed during bath treatment for the purpose of investigating a consequent probable short-term health impact. Concentration peaks both for 222Rn and PAEC were found to appear during bathtubs filling. These peaks considered imposing an additional short-term radiation burden for spa users. The additional doses delivered to bathers during bath treatment were found to be very low and for personnel did not exceed the value of 5 mSv per year. © Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved

Radon variations during treatment in thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece)

The aim of this paper was to study the variations of radon and daughter nuclei during treatment in the thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece). For this purpose, in the thermal spas of Lesvos we have measured the radon concentrations of thermal waters, as well as indoor radon, daughter and coarse particle (>500 nm) concentration. Various instruments and procedures were employed for measurements. Radon concentrations of thermal waters were found to lie in the range 10 and 304 Bq l-1. Concentration peaks both for radon, radon daughter and coarse particle, were found to appear during filling of baths in the treatment process. The doses delivered to the bathers during treatment were in the range of 0.00670 mSv per year to 0.1279 mSv per year, while the doses delivered to personnel were below 20 mSv per year. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Willingness to pay for drinking water quality improvement and the influence of social capital

Several factors have been identified as determinants of willingness to pay (WTP), including socio-economic and environmental elements. The present article aims to investigate the influence of individual social capital on willingness to pay for environmental goods. In particular, through an empirical study, a multi-dimensional measurement of social capital is conducted and its influence on WTP for water quality improvement is explored. According to the results of the survey it is observed that social capital is a significant explanatory parameter of WTP.Willingness to pay Social capital Drinking water quality Protest responses Greece

Social factors influencing perceptions and willingness to pay for a market-based policy aiming on solid waste management

Several instruments have been proposed for household solid waste management. In order for these instruments to be successful, it is essential to investigate social factors affecting the public's behaviour during their implementation. The present article aims to explore the influence of social parameters, connected with the concept of social capital, on the perceptions of the public in relation to a market-based instrument. In particular, the results of a case study, conducted on a Greek island community, are presented, regarding the perceptions and willingness to pay of individuals for an economic instrument, aimed at the minimization of waste volume and an increase in recycling. Furthermore, these issues are further explained taking into consideration the influence of four social capital parameters: social trust, institutional trust, social networks and compliance with social norms. In the conclusions of the study, it is underlined that, although citizens are negative towards the proposed policy, enforcement of social factors may significantly affect individuals’ perceptions and environmental behaviour during the final implementation of the policy tool

Detection and isolation of antiatherogenic and antioxidant substances present in olive mill wastes by a novel filtration system

Olive mill waste water (OMVVW) is a major environmental issue in the Mediterranean. We address this problem by investigating the wastes for the presence of biologically active compounds already detected in both olive oil and pomace. Two initial OMWW samples were filtered using two microporous filtering media: (a) clayey diatomite and (b) zeolitic volcanic tuffs, obtaining three filtered samples from each. All initial and filtrated samples were tested for their activity on platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced aggregation. The results showed that the initial samples contain biologically active compounds (PAF inhibitors) and that in their respective last-eluted filtered samples these compounds are purified. These eluted samples, along with their corresponding initial OMWW, were further separated with HPLC and the purified fractions responsible for the aforementioned biological activity, were further studied using chemical determinations and MS analysis. It was confirmed that the PAF inhibitor present in these fractions resembles the one isolated from olive oil. These results offer a new approach on the OMWW handling by offering an alternative use of this waste as starting material for nutritional and/or pharmaceutical purposes in the future. © 2009 American Chemical Society

A numerical model for methane production in managed sanitary landfills

A mathematical model for the production and transport of biogenic gases in a landfill is developed based on earlier work on the Mountain View Landfill Project in California. The present model incorporates biokinetic model equations for the microbial landfill ecosystems dynamics in a multi-layer, time-dependent gas flow and production model. It is based on first principles of the physics, chemistry, and microbiological processes controlling the production and transport of biogenic gases in a porous media context such as a landfill. The model includes chemical/biokinetic feedback loops for chemical parameter influence on microbiological rate processes. The resulting integrated biokinetic/gas transport model is based on the first principles governing the biokinetics of municipal landfill environment, and the physics of gas-migration. The model was calibrated and verified using approximately 4 years of methane production data from the Mountain View Controlled Landfill Project. Hydrolysis rate appears to be the most sensitive parameter controlling gas generation production. The model can be used to predict the rate and total production of methane in a landfill. <br/