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Overview/Background
To manage our resources in a more holistic and sustainable manner, it is recognised that we need to consider tradeoffs within a wider systems context; often termed the ‘Ecosystem Approach’. There are a number of different methodologies for analysing systems (e.g. life cycle analysis, cost-benefit analysis, multi-criteria analysis, etc.); however a major paradigm challenge is the comparison of disparate factors. The Ecosystem Approach is centred on finding the best compromise between various benefits and disbenefits; however we have very limited understanding of how to evaluate disparate benefits vs. disbenefits in order to identify the best compromise. This project will use the specific issue of grow your own (GYO) to investigate this challenge. Whilst the issue studied is specific, the approaches developed will have much wider application in the field of ecosystem services research.
Aims & Potential outcomes
This study aims to explore the feasibility of incorporating health benefits into models for contaminated land risk assessment. Such an approach, if adopted, may bring more contaminated land back into use and should reduce cost burdens faced by individuals, companies and society as a whole. For the JHI RESAS-funded programme, this project will provide approaches and insights into how we may go about balancing benefits vs. disbenefits – a key concept of the Ecosystem Approach.
Funding Notes:
The studentship is funded under the JHI/University Joint PhD programme and will be undertaken in conjunction with the University of Nottingham and the British Geological Survey, Keyworth. Professor N. Crout will be the principal university supervisor on this project.
Candidates are urged strongly to apply as soon as possible so as to stand the best chance of success. A more detailed plan of the studentship is available to suitable candidates upon application. Funding is available for European applications, but Worldwide applicants who possess suitable self-funding are also invited to apply.
References:
Hough, R.L., Breward, N., Young, S.D., Crout, N.M.J., Tye, A.M., Moir, A.M. & Thornton, I. (2004) Assessing potential risk of heavy metal exposure from consumption of home-produced vegetables by urban populations. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(2): 215-221.
Hough, R.L., Leonardi, G., Gurzau, E., Koppova, K., Rudnai, P., Gheorghiu, E. & Fletcher, T. (2010) Lifetime exposure to arsenic in residential drinking water in Central Europe. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 83:471-481.
Hough, R.L., Towers, W. & Aalders, I. (2010) The risk of peat erosion from climate change:land management combinations – an assessment with bayesian belief networks. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. 60:962-976.
Hough, R.L. (2007) Soil and human health: an epidemiological review. European Journal of Soil Science, 58(5): 1200-1212.