MSc Environment and Management Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Plastic Characterization in Sediment Along the Bow River Near Calgary, Alberta(2024) Murphy, Liam; Kool, RickMacro- and microplastics are a pervasive anthropogenic pollutant in aquatic environments. My exploratory research quantified and characterized macro- and microplastic contamination in shoreline sediments along the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, and identified trends in their abundance and distribution. Sediment samples were collected from eight sites along banks of the Bow River. At each site, 1 kg of wet sediment was obtained then filtered, dried, and mixed into 100 g dry-weight subsamples. Natural debris were removed using hydrogen peroxide, and microplastics were extracted from sediment using NaCl density flotation. Macroplastics were collected along a 10 m transect deployed parallel to the shoreline at the same eight sites. Microplastics were detected in all samples. A total of 93 microplastics were detected, with an average of 11.6 pieces/100 g sample. The most frequent microplastic shape (type) was fiber (n=52), followed by fragment (n=26), foam (n=14), and round (n=1). A two-tailed t-test (p-value <0.01) and linear regression (r2 value of 0.68) showed a statistically significant difference in microplastic concentrations downstream compared to upstream sites. For macroplastics, a total of 826 individual pieces of macroplastic debris were collected from all sites. Most pieces were identified as single-use plastics. A two-tailed t-test (p-value of 0.24) and linear regression (r2 value of 0.32) suggested a weak relationship between macroplastic concentrations downstream compared to upstream.Item Roots and Routes: Exploring Environmental Identity Among Chinese Immigrants in the Capital Regional District(2024) Xia, Yu; Ling, ChrisThis study investigates the environmental identity of first-generation Chinese immigrants in the Capital Region (CRD), focusing on how age at immigration, years of residence, and interaction with the natural environment affect their environmental identity. Findings indicate that these immigrants perceive environmental awareness to be significantly higher in Canada than in China, and that their environmental awareness and behaviors have increased since moving to Canada. Quantitative assessments using the Environmental Identity Scale (EID) showed high scores, especially among older adults, suggesting that environmental identity is shaped by their experiences and adaptation to Canadian environmental practices and values. This study highlights the role of sociocultural factors in shaping environmental identity and emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive environmental policies that enhance the participation of diverse communities in environmental protection through targeted activities, tailored educational programs, multilingual resources, and intergenerational learning opportunities.Item Backcasting and Forecasting Boreal Wetland Water Balances Using Weather Data in Reclaimed Landscapes(2024) Patzer, Mark; Ciborowski, Jan, J.H.The oil sands mining industry in Alberta must return mined areas to a land capability equivalent to pre-mining conditions. The landscapes contain wetlands sustained by water balances reflecting prevailing weather conditions. Precipitation and evapotranspiration data that have been collected from six weather stations in three reclaimed landscapes were used to backcast and forecast meteorological trends. An autoregressive integrated moving average forecasting model was used to calculate trends in historical data and predict meteorological conditions until 2030 and their effects on wetland water volumes. Rates of annual evapotranspiration exceeded precipitation on an areal basis across the study area. Evapotranspiration gradually declined as landscapes aged. Water volumes in selected wetlands were quantified and analyzed in conjunction with the time series forecasts to support predictions on future water balance. Forecasts will contribute to the assessment of wetland persistence useful for future mine closure planning and provide complementary data for other water balance studies in the region.Item Soil Metal Distribution in Parks and Playgrounds in Select Municipalities in Metro Vancouver(2024) Ubayarathna, Kethumali, Mendis; Dodd, MattThis study was conducted to identify the soil metal profile in parks and playgrounds in select municipalities in Metro Vancouver that have been rapidly developing during the past few years. Sixty-eight soil samples were analyzed for metals including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sn, U, V, and Zn by X-Ray Florescence and assessed against the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) soil quality guidelines (SQG) for residential/parkland use. In vitro bioaccessibility analyses were also conducted to determine the human health risk associated with ingestion of metals present in the soil samples. Metal concentrations and the bioaccessibility results suggested that the human health risk associated with accidental ingestion of contaminated soils at parks and playgrounds where samples were collected was minimal. For Ba, which exceeded the CCME SQG, with moderate bioaccessibility, may suggest a potential risk to human health.Item Supporting the Circular Economy in Canadian Residential Construction Design For Deconstruction.(2024) Buziak, Bogdan; Martin, GaryThe conventional linear method of building houses, in which resources are extracted, materials fabricated, houses built, then demolished and disposed of, is not sustainable. A circular economy aims to optimize the flow of materials, water usage, and energy usage in a closed-loop of a circular system. Shifting from the current linear economic model to a circular one could decrease residential construction’s negative effects on the environment. Buildings need to be designed with the ease of deconstruction in mind to make the circular loop more practical and therefore adopted by the industry. This research aims to identify opportunities and challenges of design to deconstruct processes to support the circular economy within the residential construction industry in Canada.