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The objective of this paper is to present a background for a concept of situation-dependent adjustment of environmental regulations for the prevention of ship-generated sewage pollution. Unlike the standard rules based only on a constant distance from the nearest land that routinely disregard the effect of drift caused by local surface currents, tidal streams, or winds, we consider taking into account the situational dependence in addition. This includes the available hydrometeorological data on the seawater flow, the initial position and time of disposal, and ultimately, sea state, the physical and biochemical properties of the substances (sewage, wastewater) discharged overboard. Computing the approximate dynamics of drifted sewage yields estimated information on the prohibited (permitted) zones of discharge and the boundary subareas of the predicted distribution or the maximum (minimum) concentrations of contaminants, respectively. This can be further applied to the innovative decision support systems aimed at preventing local pollution, involving stakeholders on both sides: ship masters and shore services on marine environment protection, as well as to developing local legislation. In order to justify the proposed approach and to emphasize the relevance of situational dependence concerning the natural motions of sea water bodies, our study is illustrated with some examples based on real-world data including various drift effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing air pollutant emissions and energy consumption, as a necessary step to make ports more sustainable, is one of the crucial tasks and challenges of port management. Some of the port strategies to meet the term “green port” usually include reducing fuel consumption from vessels and vehicles in ports. This paper estimates the emission inventory of maritime traffic for the cargo Port of Zadar. For this research, emissions from cargo ships are estimated in the period from January 01. 2018 until October 01. 2019. The “bottom-up” methodology has been applied for estimating emissions, which includes detailed data on the ship’s characteristics (engine power, the load factor, fuel type, the emission factor) and time spent cruising and hotelling. The emissions from cargo ships have been estimated for three ship’s activities: cruising in the reduced speed zone, hotelling (time spent at berth), and maneuvering. The emission results (tons/year) refer to the pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and carbon dioxide (CO2) which represents greenhouse gases. Estimating emission inventory is the first step for planning effective port air quality control. Some recommendations for reducing emissions in port areas are emphasized in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the efforts of all stakeholders maritime accidents still occur, most commonly caused by human failure. Efficient team work is a vital tool in preventing occurrence or rectifying the errors and violations. Therefore Bridge Resource Management course focuses on developing and sustaining work teams. Unfortunately, team work can be hampered by many factors, including poor organisation, cultural differences, improper attitudes and behaviours, as shown by analysis of many accidents and it is important to address these issues during trainings. As a starting point for a discussion simulation training can be used. In this paper we propose three scenarios based on real accidents, which address problems that are usually not familiar to students: authority gradient, desire for harmony in a group and antagonism between specialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE) addresses concerns about sub-standard shipping in oil industry. As a part of the risk assessment physical inspection of the oil tanker is performed by accredited SIRE inspector and resulting report is available to charterers, ship operators, terminal operators and government bodies. In this article SIRE inspection is described and compared with other non-mandatory and mandatory inspections on oil tankers. Some potential consequences of tanker over-inspections are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a complex socio-technical system marine transportation is open to risks. Due to the efforts of international organisations, flag and port administrations, classification societies and ship-owners the safety record has steadily improved. However, marine accidents resulting from inadequate safety culture still occur. In this paper examples of recent accidents related to different dimensions of safety culture are provided. The role of the master in achieving an enhanced safety is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because edible insects (EI) have been, in recent years, recommended as a nutritious animal protein food with enormous environmental advantages over other sources of animal protein for human consumption, studies aimed at investigating the consumer perspective have become more prominent. Hence, this study intended to examine the perceptions of participants from different countries about the commercialization and economic and social impacts of edible insects. The study was made using a questionnaire survey, and data were collected in Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. The final number of received answers was 7222 participants. For the treatment of the results, different statistical techniques were used: factor analysis, internal reliability by Cronbach's alpha, cluster analysis, ANOVA to test differences between groups, and Chi-square tests. The results obtained confirmed the validity of the scale, constituted by 12 out of the 14 items initially considered, distributed by 4 factors: the first related to the economic impact of EIs, the second related to the motivation for consumption of EIs, the third related to the places of purchase of EIs, and the fourth corresponding to a question presented to the participants as a false statement. A cluster analysis allowed identifying three clusters, with significant differences between them according to all the sociodemographic variables tested. Also, it was found that the participants expressed an exceptionally high level of agreement with aspects such as the difficulty in finding EIs on sale, knowledge acting as a strong motivator for EI consumption, and the role of personalities and influencers in increasing the will to consume EIs. Finally, practically all sociodemographic variables were found to be significantly associated with perceptions (country, sex, education, living environment, and income), but not age. In conclusion, the perceptions about EI commercialization were investigated and revealed differences among samples originating from different countries. Moreover, the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were found to be strongly associated with their perceptions.

The exposure of pregnant and lactating women and their children to environmental contaminants such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) is a subject of international concern, but the perception of these contaminants by health providers has not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to assess Croatian health care providers' knowledge of exposure to BFRs and their attitudes towards the responsibility to inform the public about the possible negative effects on human health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2017 to November 2018 with a sample of 400 health care providers. The instrument was a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions, a BFR knowledge test and a BFR attitude assessment. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed with the STATISTICA 13 software. The results of our study indicate that health providers' knowledge of BFR exposure is lacking, as evidenced by the high frequency of incorrect responses, irrespective of the field of medicine or profession. Neither age nor interest in the topic was significantly correlated with the correctness of answers. Participants expressed a moderate interest in the topic, regardless of the profession or field of medicine. Therefore, we suggest including additional information for health providers about the health effects of BFRs in continuing education programmes organized by Croatian medical associations, nurse associations and other professional bodies as well as in existing high school and university education programmes for health professionals.

When the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 enters into effect, ships to be sent for recycling will be required to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) on board, which identifies the hazardous materials contained in the ship's structure or equipment. In its current form, IHM covers two classes of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), namely polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Emerging evidence from recent literature suggests that members of all classes of BFRs are present in all environmental compartments and that exposure to them is associated with a wide range of harmful effects in humans and animals, effects that include endocrine disruption. Despite a growing body of research, the necessary data to perform health and environmental risk assessment are still lacking. This paper reviews environmental and human health impacts and discusses some issues of BFR environmental management. It is suggested that based on a precautionary approach, the inclusion of all classes of BFRs in IHM is warranted., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Concentrations of 23 trace elements (TEs; essential: Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, V, Zn; non-essential: Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cs, Li, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Ti, Tl, U) in whole soft tissues of Noah's Ark shell (Arca noae) were determined monthly during one year (March 2013-February 2014) at two sampling sites in the central part of the Eastern Adriatic Sea. Our aim was to detect the influence of reproductive cycle and changes in the environmental factors on the variabilities of TEs' contents. Higher concentrations of Pb, Ba, V, Mo, Mn and Fe were found at potentially contaminated site in Pašman channel, whereas higher concentrations of Tl, Ni, Li, Cr, Cd, Ti and Se were found at reference site in Nature Park Telašćica. Since several bioaccumulated TEs were associated to mean gonadal index, in TEs monitoring in A. noae, animal gonadal status has to be considered., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Determination of metal content in biominerals provides essential information with respect to relations between biomineralization processes and environmental status. Mussels are species that have a great potential as bio-marker species and therefore, they are in the focus of numerous biomineralization and ecological studies. In this study, elemental profile of mussel shell of Noah's Ark (Arca noe, Linnaeus, 1758), which inhabit eastern Adriatic Sea was obtained by determination of seventeen elements content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Shell samples were collected from marine protected area and from marine shipping route in eastern Adriatic Sea. The accuracy of applied analytical procedure based on microwave decomposition of shell samples was tested by use of reference materials of limestone and by matrix-matched standards. By aid of chemometric methods, the elemental profile along with variability of elements content of shell was obtained. The impact of different environment on elements content was established by use of multivariate statistical PCA method. Discernment between two groups of samples was manifested. Among results of main, minor and trace elements content, the last one which denoted to Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, and Mn was expressed as principal distinctive feature of shell samples collected from different sampling sites. Elemental profiling of mussel shell Noah's Ark provides novel insight in species status as well as in environmental status on the observed locations., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Commercially important bivalve Noah's Ark shell (Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758) represents a high-quality seafood product, but the data on levels of metal contaminants that could pose a human health risk and also on some essential elements that are important for health protection are lacking. This study examined the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Co, and Zn in the soft tissue of A. noae from harvesting area in the central Adriatic Sea, to survey whether heavy metals are within the acceptable limits for public health and whether tourism could have an impact on them. The concentrations of analysed metals varied for Cd: 0.15-0.74, Pb: 0.06-0.26, Cr: 0.11-0.34, Ni: 0.09-0.22, Cu: 0.65-1.95, Co: 0.04-0.09, and Zn: 18.3-74.7 mg/kg wet weight. These levels were lower than the permissible limits for safe consummation of seafood, and only for Cd, some precautions should be taken into account if older shellfish were consumed. Increase of Cd, Cr, and Cu in shell tissue was observed during the tourist season at the site closest to the marine traffic routes, indicating that metal levels in shellfish tissue should be monitored especially carefully during the peak tourist season to prevent eventual toxic effects due to increased intake of metals, specifically of Cd.