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Nutrient budgets in forest soils at increased biomass removal – do Swedish and Finnish studies provide the same conclusion?
No full textNutrient budget calculations in forest soil are an important tool to assess the environmental effect of increased biomass harvesting and can be applied as a tool for policy makers to assess the environmental effect of different biomass scenarios. Environmental effects include losses of nutrients (phosphorous, nitrogen, base cations), which can reduce soil fertility and the soil buffering capacity against acidification. Nutrient budget calculations are performed by means of a simple mass balance model where nutrient inputs to the forest ecosystem (weathering, deposition, nitrogen fixation) are compared with the outputs (leaching and harvesting). Nutrient budget calculations have been calculated both at site level and at regional level in Sweden and Finland. This study aims at comparing nutrient budget calculations focusing on conclusions and indata applied. Despite the application of different inputs to the regional base cation budget calculations in Sweden and Finland, the result is similar, i.e. showing that the weathering rates is of the same magnitude or larger than the removal of nutrients at stem harvesting (particularly for Ca and Mg) except for some areas of the country. However, at whole tree harvesting, the output exceeds the input in many areas. When calculating the base cation balance also including leaching and deposition (only for Sweden), the output exceeds input in most of Sweden for Ca, Mg and K even at conventional stem harvesting. In Finland, nutrient budgets for N and P have been calculated at site level, but not yet at the regional level. In Sweden, the regional mass balance calculation shows losses of P throughout the country, even at conventional stem harvesting. The N budget varies within the country, with nitrogen accumulation in southern Sweden and nitrogen losses in the north. The similar conclusions from the Swedish and Finnish studies have strengthened the view of nutrient budget calculations as a useful tool to assess effects of increased biomass harvesting. Further work should concentrate on reducing uncertainties further, e.g. regarding nitrogen fixation and leaching of base cations. It is suggested that recommendations for nutrient compensation should be based on a combination of results from experiments (on intensive harvesting effects and fertilisation), nutrient budget calculations and dynamic modelling. Furthermore, it is important to maintain long-term experiments to assess long-term effects of intensive biomass harvesting on forest ecosystems. Den här rapporten finns endast på engelska. Svensk sammanfattning finns i rapporten.Nutrient budget calculations in forest soil are an important tool to assess the environmental effect of increased biomass harvesting and can be applied as a tool for policy makers to assess the environmental effect of different biomass scenarios. Environmental effects include losses of nutrients (phosphorous, nitrogen, base cations), which can reduce soil fertility and the soil buffering capacity against acidification. Nutrient budget calculations are performed by means of a simple mass balance model where nutrient inputs to the forest ecosystem (weathering, deposition, nitrogen fixation) are compared with the outputs (leaching and harvesting). Nutrient budget calculations have been calculated both at site level and at regional level in Sweden and Finland. This study aims at comparing nutrient budget calculations focusing on conclusions and indata applied. Despite the application of different inputs to the regional base cation budget calculations in Sweden and Finland, the result is similar, i.e. showing that the weathering rates is of the same magnitude or larger than the removal of nutrients at stem harvesting (particularly for Ca and Mg) except for some areas of the country. However, at whole tree harvesting, the output exceeds the input in many areas. When calculating the base cation balance also including leaching and deposition (only for Sweden), the output exceeds input in most of Sweden for Ca, Mg and K even at conventional stem harvesting. In Finland, nutrient budgets for N and P have been calculated at site level, but not yet at the regional level. In Sweden, the regional mass balance calculation shows losses of P throughout the country, even at conventional stem harvesting. The N budget varies within the country, with nitrogen accumulation in southern Sweden and nitrogen losses in the north. The similar conclusions from the Swedish and Finnish studies have strengthened the view of nutrient budget calculations as a useful tool to assess effects of increased biomass harvesting. Further work should concentrate on reducing uncertainties further, e.g. regarding nitrogen fixation and leaching of base cations. It is suggested that recommendations for nutrient compensation should be based on a combination of results from experiments (on intensive harvesting effects and fertilisation), nutrient budget calculations and dynamic modelling. Furthermore, it is important to maintain long-term experiments to assess long-term effects of intensive biomass harvesting on forest ecosystems.The similar conclusions from the Swedish and Finnish studies have strengthened the view of nutrient budget calculations as a useful tool to assess effects of increased biomass harvesting. Further work should concentrate on reducing uncertainties further, e.g. regarding nitrogen fixation and leaching of base cations
Improved waste management of textiles. Project 9 Environmentally improved recycling
No full textIn Sweden, we consume 15kg of textiles per capita and year. Of this roughly 8kg are incinerated and 3kg are reused by charity organisations. The remaining 4kg either accumulates (e.g. in a closet or wardrobe) or are handled through other means of waste management (e.g. recycling centres). This way of waste management is not optimal from an environmental point of view. The textile waste flows are small by weight but large by environmental impact. The production of virgin textiles give rise to about 15 kg of carbon dioxide per kg textile and uses large amount of water; energy and chemicals and poses a risk both for the environment and human health.Policies and measures to reduce the consumption of virgin textile are needed. Hindrances for a more sustainable textile waste management are primarily economical: The environmental cost is not incorporated in the production of virgin textiles which is one of the reasons that they are cheap compared to reused and recycled textiles. They are also produced in low cost countries while collection for reuse by nature occurs in Sweden where labour is more expensive. Recycling of textiles is not due to economic reasons performed on a large scale in Sweden today. There is a need to optimise the formal reuse of textiles from an environmental point of view, either with policy or voluntary agreements. Policies in this area must however be designed not to reduce informal reuse to achieve a higher environmental benefit. New cost efficient methods for textile recycling needs to be developed to enable high grade recycling of textiles not suitable for reuse. New textiles should be designed for reuse and/or recycling depending on their expected life time (aesthetic; technical) while conventional materials to a large extent needs to be replaced by more sustainable materials
Integrerade och levande ledningssystem - Inspirerande goda exempel
No full textMålet med detta projekt var att beskriva goda och inspirerande exempel på hur företag hade integrerat sina ledningssystem för arbetsmiljö med andra ledningssystem exempelvis för kvalitet och miljö. Fem företag som integrerat sina ledningssystem har besökts. Dessa företag har genom att integrera sina ledningssystem men framför allt genom att integrera sina ledningssystem med verksamheten byggt upp ett levande sätt att styra och ständigt utveckla företagets verksamhet, något som vi uppfattar som mindre vanligt.Nyckelfaktorer för att företagen lyckats är att de målmedvetet infört ledningssystemen för att de skulle användas och bidra till verksamhetsnytta samt anpassat arbetet med ledningssystemen till verksamheten och de anställda. Företagens personal var påtagligt delaktiga i arbetet med ledningssystemen, som användes aktivt i det dagliga arbetet. Processer kartlades och kartläggningarna användes för att förbättra och styra verksamheten och för att analysera risker. Rapporteringsrutiner och riskbedömningar fungerade och ledde bland annat till ständiga förbättringar av arbetsmiljön men också av verksamheten. Företagen hade uppenbarligen stor nytta av sina ledningssystem. I rapporten kallas detta för levande ledningssystem
Totaldeposition av kväve till skog
No full textNedfallet av kväve från luften mäts dels i nederbörden på öppet fält och dels som krondropp inne i skogen. Krondroppet skall i teorin ge en bättre uppskattning av det samlade kvävenedfallet till skogen, eftersom krondroppet i princip inkluderar både våt- och torrdeposition. För ämnen som t. ex. kväve och baskatjoner (kalium, magnesium och calcium) kompliceras uppskattningen av en interncirkulation inom trädkronorna, vilket inkluderar både upptag och läckage. I dagsläget finns därför ingen bra metod för att beräkna den samlade depositionen av kväve till skogen i Sverige utifrån empiriska mätningar.Torrdepositionen av olika ämnen kan uppskattas genom användandet av surrogatytor, t ex strängprovtagare av teflon, placerade under tak. Natrium används som en biologiskt inert markör för depositionen till skogen. Torrdepositionen av ett specifikt ämne beräknas som kvoten av koncentrationen av ämnet i provet från strängprovtagaren, dividerat med koncentrationen av natrium i strängprovet och multiplicerat med nettokrondroppet för natrium till skogen vid provplatsen. Nettokrondroppet beräknas som nedfallet i krondropp subtraherat med nedfallet på öppet fält. Med hjälp av strängprovtagare samt nedfallsmätningar på öppet fält och i krondropp beräknades den partikelbundna torrdepositionen av sulfat, nitrat och ammonium för 12 platser i landet för perioder om 4-7 år. Parallellt beräknades våtdepositionen av dessa ämnen med hjälp av öppet fält mätningar. Det samlade nedfallet av oorganiskt kväve beräknades till mellan 10 och16 kgN/ha/år för de västra delarna av Götaland, 5- 7 kgN/ha/år för mellersta och östra Götaland samt för Svealand och 1- 2 kgN/ha/år för Norrland. Andelen torrdeposition av totala depositionen av oorganiskt kväve varierade mellan 15 och 33 % för Götaland, 8-19 % för Svealand och 2 till 13 % för Norrland
Ozonmätnätet i södra Sverige. Marknära ozon i bakgrundsmiljön i södra Sverige med hänsyn till ozonets variation i landskapet. Resultat 2010.
No full textThis report is only available in Swedish but have an extended english summary
Upphandling av asbestsanering - en strategi för att säkerställa säker asbestsanering
No full textTrots förbudet mot att använda asbest, finns asbest kvar i många byggnader som byggdes före 1970 och till och med i en del fastigheter som byggdes i början av 1980-talet. I samband med ROT-arbeten (rivning, ombyggnad och tillbyggnad) kan man komma i kontakt med asbest. Det finns ett regelverk för hur sådant arbete ska utföras och hur asbest ska saneras (AFS 2006:01), men det förekommer också oseriösa asbestsaneringar som utförs av företag som inte betalar skatter och avgifter, som utsätter asbestsanerarna för allvarliga hälsorisker och som sanerar på ett sådant sätt att asbest frigörs och sprids till andra som arbetar, vistas eller bor i fastigheten.I samråd med berörda arbetsmarknadsparter, Riv- och Saneringsentreprenörerna, Byggnadsarbetarförbundet, Sveriges Byggindustrier samt Mikael Södergren, VD för Industri- och Skadesanering (Iskad) har IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet utvecklat ett underlag för upphandling av asbestsanering. Upphandlingsunderlaget har även diskuterats med Arbetsmiljöverket.I denna rapport presenteras inledningsvis det underlag för upphandling som utvecklats. Därefter ges en bakgrund till projektet. De principer och överväganden som varit särskilt viktiga i arbetet med upphandlingsunderlaget samt utvecklingen av upphandlingsunderlaget beskrivs.Despite the ban of asbestos in Sweden, asbestos still remains in many buildings built before the 1970's. Asbestos can even remain in buildings from the beginning of the 1980's. When these buildings are renovated, rebuilt or enlarged, asbestos is often found and often has to be removed.The Swedish provisions about asbestos, AFS 2006:1 regulate in detail how asbestos stripping should be done. Nevertheless, unserious asbestos stripping conducted by unskilled workers and by enterprises without the necessary permits, and enterprises not paying taxes etcetera still happens. During this work staff is exposed to asbestos which constitute a severe health hazard. Additionally unprofessional and unserious asbestos stripping may also spread asbestos in the premises where other people who work, stay or live on the premises may become exposed to asbestos.In co-operation between IVL and the social partners, Riv- och Saneringsentreprenörerna (organising asbestos stripping companies), Byggnads ( trade union organising construction workers), The Swedish Construction Federation and Mikael Södergren, CEO of an asbestos stripping company (Iskad), a document providing a basis for procurement of asbestos stripping has been developed. This document has also been discussed with the Swedish Work Environment Authority.This report starts with the documents developed to support the procurement of serious and safe asbestos stripping. It continues with a background to the project and the need for procurement demands. The principles and considerations guiding the work are described together with the process of developing the documents.This report is only available in Swedish
Framtidens trähus— energieffektiva med god innemiljö.
No full textDocumentation of project's development, planning, and building phases. Building's energy performance.The report presents documentation of the critical points during the development, planning, and building phases of the first multi-storey apartment buildings built in timber prefabricated construction according to the voluntary Swedish passive house criteria. Besides choice of the construction details, building elements, and technical systems the report includes results from blower-door tests as well as the energy analysis of building's heating needs and achieved summer indoor temperatures. Finally a comparison was done with a reference building Limnologen, which was built according to the energy requirements in the Välle Broar area in Växjö. Simulations show that the Southern Portvakten building has 33% less power need for heating than if the same building was built as the Limnologen building, while the heating demand is 41% lower. A program for following the energy performance of the building during the first year in operation is also presented. Energy simulations were done in the DEROBLTH program.Documentation of project's development, planning, and building phases. Building's energy performance.The report presents documentation of the critical points during the development, planning, and building phases of the first multi-storey apartment buildings built in timber prefabricated construction according to the voluntary Swedish passive house criteria. Besides choice of the construction details, building elements, and technical systems the report includes results from blower-door tests as well as the energy analysis of building's heating needs and achieved summer indoor temperatures. Finally a comparison was done with a reference building Limnologen, which was built according to the energy requirements in the Välle Broar area in Växjö. Simulations show that the Southern Portvakten building has 33% less power need for heating than if the same building was built as the Limnologen building, while the heating demand is 41% lower. A program for following the energy performance of the building during the first year in operation is also presented. Energy simulations were done in the DEROBLTH program
Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in sediments in the city-centre of Stockholm, Sweden Origins, deposition rates and bio-availability
No full textA study on the sediments in the city centre of Stockholm was undertaken in August and September 2010. This study had three aims: *To estimate yearly fluxes of the metals Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Sb and Pb to the sediments in the city centre of Stockholm. *To estimate the flows of the metals Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb to the sediments in the city centre of Stockholm from the important sources in the city: atmospheric deposition, storm water runoff from buildings and other infrastructure including roads, and WTPs.*To assess the bioavailability to the benthic organisms of the metals Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb dissolved in the sediment pore water. The bioavailability was defined according to the SEM/AVS (Simultaneous extraction of metals/Acid volatile sulphur) ratio. The conclusions from the study were: The concentrations of Cu in the water samples from both Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön are below the PNECs derived by the chronic Cu BLM (EURAS version 109), MEC/PNEC = 0.04 to 0.3. The sediments in both Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön the city centre of Stockholm is far from toxic with regards to pore water concentrations of the metals Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb according to the SEM/AVS method.Differences in surface sediment concentrations for the metals Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb between the sediments in freshwater Lake Mälaren and brackish water Saltsjön can be explained by a combination of differences in local sources and differences in metal speciation. The surface sediment concentrations of Cu and Zn have decreased since 1996 in both Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön in the city centre of Stockholm. The surface sediment concentrations of Cd and Pb have decreased since 1996 in Lake Mälaren in the city centre of Stockholm. Direct runoff of roads can make up a major portion of the Cu and Zn that is buried in Lake Mälaren sediments in the city centre of Stockholm. The effluents from the WTPs can make up significant parts of the Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd that is buried in the sediments in Saltsjön in the city centre of Stockholm. However, the locations of the measured sediment fluxes in relation to the discharge points of the WTPs indicate that this is not the case. Runoff of copper-roofs can only be an insignificant source of Cu to the sediments in Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön in the city centre of Stockholm. A study on the sediments in the city centre of Stockholm was undertaken in August and September 2010. This study had three aims: *To estimate yearly fluxes of the metals Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Sb and Pb to the sediments in the city centre of Stockholm. *To estimate the flows of the metals Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb to the sediments in the city centre of Stockholm from the important sources in the city: atmospheric deposition, storm water runoff from buildings and other infrastructure including roads, and WTPs.*To assess the bioavailability to the benthic organisms of the metals Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb dissolved in the sediment pore water. The bioavailability was defined according to the SEM/AVS (Simultaneous extraction of metals/Acid volatile sulphur) ratio. The conclusions from the study were: The concentrations of Cu in the water samples from both Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön are below the PNECs derived by the chronic Cu BLM (EURAS version 109), MEC/PNEC = 0.04 to 0.3. The sediments in both Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön the city centre of Stockholm is far from toxic with regards to pore water concentrations of the metals Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb according to the SEM/AVS method.Differences in surface sediment concentrations for the metals Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb between the sediments in freshwater Lake Mälaren and brackish water Saltsjön can be explained by a combination of differences in local sources and differences in metal speciation. The surface sediment concentrations of Cu and Zn have decreased since 1996 in both Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön in the city centre of Stockholm. The surface sediment concentrations of Cd and Pb have decreased since 1996 in Lake Mälaren in the city centre of Stockholm. Direct runoff of roads can make up a major portion of the Cu and Zn that is buried in Lake Mälaren sediments in the city centre of Stockholm. The effluents from the WTPs can make up significant parts of the Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd that is buried in the sediments in Saltsjön in the city centre of Stockholm. However, the locations of the measured sediment fluxes in relation to the discharge points of the WTPs indicate that this is not the case. Runoff of copper-roofs can only be an insignificant source of Cu to the sediments in Lake Mälaren and Saltsjön in the city centre of Stockholm.
Assessment methods for corporate responsibility on the fashion scene. A case study of Hennes & Mauritz, Lindex, KappAhl and MQ
No full textThe aim of this project was to describe the methods used for assessment of corporate responsibility. The comparative case study included four Swedish apparel retailers and was based on external communication in CSR and sustainability reports. The project revealed a large number of initiatives addressing social and environmental challenges both in the supply chain and for the own operations in stores and offices. A number of performance measures were also linked to these initiatives, enabling an assessment of the performance. However, differences did appear related to the transparency of performance measures and how far in the supply chain the initiatives reached. The results of this study can be discussed in a larger context, where it is relevant to shed light upon the role of sustainability and external communication to stakeholders. This study also leads back to the very core of corporate responsibility; namely, the debate on corporations´ responsibilities towards society.The aim of this project was to describe the methods used for assessment of corporate responsibility. The comparative case study included four Swedish apparel retailers and was based on external communication in CSR and sustainability reports. The project revealed a large number of initiatives addressing social and environmental challenges both in the supply chain and for the own operations in stores and offices. A number of performance measures were also linked to these initiatives, enabling an assessment of the performance. However, differences did appear related to the transparency of performance measures and how far in the supply chain the initiatives reached. The results of this study can be discussed in a larger context, where it is relevant to shed light upon the role of sustainability and external communication to stakeholders. This study also leads back to the very core of corporate responsibility; namely, the debate on corporations´ responsibilities towards society
FUTMON Avrapportering av mätdata från 2010
No full textIVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB redovisar resultat av mätningar utfört under den svenska delen av FUTMON programmet "Further Development and Implementation of an EU-level Forest Monitoring System" på uppdrag av SLU. FUTMON nätverket består av 4 Integrated Monitoring (IM) ytor och 8 skogsytor i anslutning till IM ytorna. I uppdraget har ingått att utföra mätningar under 2010, datasammanställning, granskning och kvalitetssäkring, utvärdering och rapportering av resultaten. Provtagning av krondropp, förnafall,avrinningsvatten och klimatparametrar som temperatur och luftfuktighet genomfördes under2010.Redovisning av mätningar i följande skogsytor finns i rapporten: Aneboda IM, Asa Sandbäcken, Asa Ängavägen, Kindla IM, Kindla Buskbäcken, Kindla Bohyttan, Gammtratten IM, Gammtratten Balån Nord, Gammtratten Risbäcken, Gårdsjön F1 IM, Gårdsjön F2 och GårdsjönF3. Endast mätningar som gjordes inom FUTMON rapporteras.IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd here report results of work within the Swedish part of the FUTMON project; "Further Development and Implementation of an EU-level Forest Monitoring System". Samples were collected at 3 Integrated Monitoring sites (Kindla, Gammtratten and Aneboda) and 8 forested plots, two in vicinity of each of the 4 Swedish IM sites (Asa Sandbäcken, Asa Ängavägen, Kindla Buskbäcken, Kindla Bohyttan, Gammtratten Balån Nord, Gammtratten Risbäcken, Gårdsjön F2 and Gårdsjön F3). Sampling at the fourth Swedish IM site, Gårdsjön F1 IM was performed and analysed as well; however, as a part of IM and not of FUTMON. Sampling of throughfall, litterfall, runoff, air temperature and air humidity was performed during 2010. Quality control, evaluation and reporting of results have further been carried out. The throughfall deposition of sulphur-sulphate was highest at Asa Sandbäcken (3.5 kg ha-1 yr-1). The throughfall deposition of sea salt was highest at Gårdsjön because the close position to the North Sea. The deposition of total nitrogen (nitrate-nitrogen, ammoniumnitrogen, organic nitrogen) varied between 2.8 kg ha-1 yr-1 at Gammtratten to approximately 7 kg ha-1 yr-1 at Gårdsjön. These amounts are lower than observed during earlier years, e.g. for Gårdsjön.No large difference appeared between the concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen in runoff water at Gårdsjön F2 and F3. Nitrate-nitrogen was only observed in runoff water during the winter time. On the other hand, differences occurred between the two forest catchments for the concentrations of calcium, magnesium, total aluminium and dissolved organic carbon.The concentrations of total mercury varied between 1.4 and 14.4 ng l-1 and for methyl mercury between 0.06 och 4.1 ng l-1. The highest concentrations of both were measured at Asa Sandbäcken, Asa Ängavägen and Aneboda IM that are the most southern forests. The lowest concentrations were accordingly observed at the northern most forests, Gammtratten IM. The concentrations were higher during summer time and confirm earlier analyses between different seasons.The air humidity is often very high at Gårdsjön. This causes technical problems using Tiny Tag loggers which often show relative air humidity values above 100%. The logged air humidity data at Gårdsjön should therefore be evaluated with care. Temperature values measured using the same loggers are however reasonable and approximately alike for the two forest catchments at Gårdsjön (F2 and F3).This report is only available in Swedish