College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1598
The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.
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Item A LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT THE FRIENDS HOUSE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY(2020) Rahmati, Afrouz; Sachs, Naomi Alena; Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA); Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Nature can play a vital role in people’s health. The need to access nature, and the barriers to doing so, change with each stage of life. Research highlights the importance of access to the outdoors and engagement with nature for older adults in achieving physical and psychological well-being. As people live longer and the senior population grows, there is increasing demand for well-designed residential communities that maximize residents’ health and quality of life. It is particularly important to find solutions that afford access to nature for those facilities. This thesis explores the role that landscape architecture can play in improving the quality of life for seniors at residential facilities, retirement centers and nursing homes. The project employs research-informed strategies for providing safe, easy and rewarding access to nature at the Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring, Maryland. A literature review, site visits, and site inventory and analysis led to development of a design proposal that affords a restorative outdoor environment for Friends House where residents can engage with nature and each other. The site’s significant natural and cultural resources are preserved and amplified.Item SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIANCE OF MICROBIAL WATER QUALITY IN TWO MARYLAND IRRIGATION PONDS(2019) Kierzewski, Rachel Annette; Hill, Robert; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Farm ponds must be regularly sampled for Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations to evaluate the health risks of using pond water for irrigation. However, no guidance is available regarding sampling locations and/or irrigation pump placement. We hypothesized that there exists spatial and/or temporal patterns of E. coli concentrations across ponds. To test this hypothesis, we sampled two irrigation ponds in Maryland biweekly during the summers of 2016 and 2017. Results from data analysis of mean relative differences and Spearman correlation coefficients are presented. Empirical orthogonal functions indicated spatial patterns of Log E. coli concentrations were temporally maintained. More sample variance existed over time in the pond interiors versus near shore locations. Furthermore, larger patterns of sample variance existed within the spatial analysis variance versus the temporal analysis variance over both ponds for this study. Therefore, the spatio-temporal E. coli variance may have significant impacts on sampling and pump intake locations.Item Essays on the Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health(2018) Ruiz-Tagle, Juan Cristobal; Williams, Roberton C; Agricultural and Resource Economics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)According to recent reports by The World Bank and the World Health Organization millions of people die every year because of exposure to ambient air pollution—the vast majority of them in developing countries (World Bank 2016; World Health Organization 2016). Policy makers throughout the developing world are starting to seriously address this issue by designing and implementing a battery of policies for reducing ambient air pollution. To weight the cost and benefits of these policies policy makers need estimates of the benefits of reducing ambient air pollution. In this dissertation I provide estimates of the benefits of air pollution reduction in terms of its effects on human health. I use data from Chile, a middle income country that in recent years experienced a period of rapid industrialization and economic growth—similar to the process that many developing economies are experiencing these days. I believe that estimates and methods from this dissertation can provide a valuable tool to aid policy makers in the developing world in their goals to reduce ambient air pollution. Chapter 1 examines the effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on infant mortality. Using state-of-the art techniques to identify causal effects and reduce possible bias due to measurement error in air pollution exposure, results from this chapter show significant effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on infant mortality. This effect is larger for infant mortality due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Chapter 2 examines the effect of exposure to ambient air pollution on urgent care visits for different age groups and across different types of urgent care visits. Using a novel strategy to identify causal effects, results from this chapter show a significant effect on respiratory urgent care visits and on cardiovascular and circulatory urgent care visits. This effect is larger for the elderly and for respiratory urgent care visits due to pneumonia and lower respiratory diseases. Chapter 3 examines the effect of exposure to ambient air pollution on the probability of a pregnancy ending in a stillbirth delivery. Results from this chapter show a significant effect of acute exposure to air pollution on the probability of stillbirth delivery. This effect is larger for those stillbirths that are due to hypoxia.Item INVESTIGATING THE ASSOCIATION OF PHTHALATE EXPOSURES AND ADVERSE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF U.S. WOMEN(2017) Bibb, Katrina Alexandra; Alcala, Lesliam Q; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals present in a large variety of consumer goods. There is supporting evidence from animal studies that exposure to phthalates affect the female reproductive system by disrupting the epigenome and folliculogenesis/oogenesis. Although women of reproductive age experience higher phthalate exposures versus males due to frequent use of cosmetics and personal care products (PCP), studies investigating reproductive health effects of these chemicals are scarce. In this study, a nationally representative sample was used to investigate the association between exposure to phthalates (primarily in PCPs and cosmetics) and subfertility in women aged 18-44. We observed significantly higher phthalate levels among minority women and positive associations between DBP exposure and subfertility in regressions when adjusted for important covariates This is the first study to use such a sample of women to study the effects of phthalates on subfertility. More epidemiological studies are needed to investigate phthalate levels among minorities.Item Release, Survival, And Removal of Bovine Manure-Borne Indicator Bacteria Under Simulated Rainfall(2017) Stocker, Matthew Daniel; Hill, Robert L; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The effects of simulated rainfall intensities and its interactions with manure consistency and weathering on the release, survival, and removal of fecal indicator bacteria, Escherichia coli and enterococci, from land-applied dairy manure were evaluated. Rainfall intensity had significant effects on the number of bacteria in the soil following rainfall. Bacteria concentrations in soil decreased with increased soil depths and the topmost centimeter of soil accounted for the greatest proportion of bacteria. Escherichia coli persisted longer than enterococci once removed from manure. Manure consistency was not a significant factor in the removal of bacteria when manure was fresh, but as manure weathering progressed, consistency became a significant factor. The Vadas-Kleinman-Sharpley model was preferred over the exponential model for simulating the removal of manure-borne bacteria. Results of this work will be useful for improving predictions of the human health risks associated with manure-borne pathogenic microorganisms.Item BALD EAGLES (HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS) AS INDICATORS OF GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM HEALTH(2016) Simon, Kendall Lyn; Bowerman, William W; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Environmental indicators have been proposed as a means to assess ecological integrity, monitoring both chemical and biological stressors. In this study, we used nestling bald eagles as indicators to quantify direct or indirect tertiary-level contaminant exposure. The spatial and temporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were evaluated in nestling plasma from 1999–2014. Two hexa-chlorinated congeners, PCB-138 and 153, were detected with the highest frequency and greatest concentrations throughout Michigan. Less-chlorinated congeners such as PCB-52 and 66 however, comprised a greater percentage of total PCB concentrations in nestlings proximate to urbanized areas, such as along the shorelines of Lake Erie. Toxic equivalents were greatest in the samples collected from nestlings located on Lake Erie, followed by the other Great Lakes spatial regions. Nestling plasma samples were also used to measure concentrations of the most heavily-used group of flame retardants, brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs), and three groups of alternative flame retardants, non-BDE Brominated Flame Retardants (NBFRS), Dechloranes, and organophosphate esters (OPs). BDE-47, 99 and 100 contributed the greatest to total BDE concentrations. Concentrations of structurally similar NBFRs found in this study and recent atmospheric studies indicate that they are largely used as replacements to previously used BDE mixtures. A variety of Dechloranes, or derivatives of Mirex and Dechlorane Plus, were measured. Although, measured at lesser concentrations, environmental behavior of these compounds may be similar to mirex and warrant future research in aquatic species. Concentrations of OPs in nestling plasma were two to three orders of magnitude greater than all other groups of flame retardants. In addition to chemical indicators, bald eagles have also been proposed as indicators to identify ecological stressors using population measures that are tied to the fitness of individuals and populations. Using mortality as a population vitality rate, vehicle collisions were found to be the main source of mortality with a greater incidence for females during white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunting months and spring snow-melt. Lead poisoning was the second greatest source of mortality, with sources likely due to unretrieved hunter-killed, white-tailed deer carcasses, and possibly exacerbated by density-dependent effects due to the growing population in Michigan.Item Toxicity and Contamination in Bear Creek Sediment: Spatial Analysis and Implications for Risk Assessment(2016) Hartzell, Sharon Hartzell; Yonkos, Lance T; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The sediments of Bear Creek near Baltimore, Maryland demonstrate substantial toxicity to benthic organisms, and contain a complex mixture of organic and inorganic contaminants. The present study maps the spatial extent and depth profile of toxicity and contamination in Bear Creek, and explores correlations between heavy metals, organic contaminants, and toxic responses. Two novel analytical techniques – handheld XRF and an antibody-based PAH biosensor – were applied to samples from the site to quantify total metals and total PAHs in sediments. By comprehensively assessing toxicity in Bear Creek, the present study provides data to inform future risk assessments and management decisions relating for the site, while demonstrating the benefits of applying joint biological assays and chemical assessment methods to sediments with complex contaminant mixtures.Item ENGAGING CHILDREN IN HAITI: UTILIZING FOUND MATERIALS AND PROVEN TECHNIQUES TO GROW FOOD AND FILTER WATER(2015) Trobman, Harris Brian; Ellis, Christopher; Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA); Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The focus of this thesis is the design and implementation of a community health project at a new school campus for 600 students in St. Louis Du Norde, Haiti. The design harvests and filters rainwater to drinking water standards, grows nutritional vegetable crops on secure rooftops, creates social space, and recycles old tires, plastic bottles and rice sacks that otherwise pose a massive solid waste problem in Haiti. The processes are also taught to the students so they can take and use the planters at home. The materials for building the growing containers and the growing media are all free and made from local wastes (tires, plastic bottles, rice sacks, manure, soil etc.). They are easy to build and free to construct making them accessible to even to the poorest and neediest families in Haiti. The idea is to develop easily replicable and desirable solutions to the basic health needs.Item Healing Invisible Wounds: Landscapes for Wounded Warriors Suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)(2013) Ashmun, Sarah C.; Sullivan, Jack; Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA); Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Characterized by pervasive symptoms of intrusion, numbing, and hyperarousal, coping with PTSD can be a tenacious and lifelong challenge for sufferers (Cahill and Foa 2010). Given the recent surge of war veterans resulting from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom with a high prevalence of PTSD, landscapes may provide a free and accessible means for veterans to successfully cope with their PTSD symptoms and seek treatment. The intention of this project is to merge holistic therapies for PTSD with successful landscapes for trauma patients into the creation of adaptable design principles. Guiding Principles for PTSD will be incorporated into the design of a Healing Woodland for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, while also providing potential solutions for other sites aiming to incorporate holistic therapies for PTSD into the landscape.