Transformation of inorganic mercury (Hg) to methyl mercury (MeHg) is a biotic process that is proposed to be conducted primarily by sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB). The formation of MeHg is of great interest because it is the mercury species that biomagnifies to the greatest extent in the aquatic food webs; about 90 % of all Hg in fish is MeHg. Our understanding of factors involved in the production of MeHg is very important for making a reliable risk assessment. The purposes of this study were to investigate the different factors that control the solubility of Hg and the production of MeHg in a contaminated lake sediment. The lake Ala-Lombolo, Kiruna municipality, is well-known to be contaminated by mercury from different sources. Sediment cores were sampled at three different locations (N, SW and SE) in the lake and divided in three different layers; 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm.

KRAV-certified organic dairy herds generally have a lower milk yield than conventional dairy herds. A high-level of milk yield requires a feeding regime with high amounts of concentrates, a factor known to contribute to the development of claw lesions (Bergsten, C. 2003). The aim of this study was to compare claw health between organic and conventional dairy herds in free and tie stall systems. The number of herds from different domestic animal health associations was chosen in proportion to the association´s total portion of Swedish dairy producing herds of each type, respectively.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient but a surplus could lead to eutrophication. Furthermore, the minerals used to produce the mineral phosphate is a non renewable resource. There are in other words several reasons to reduce the leakage of P and the agriculture is one important area to attend. The aim of this work has been to investigate if carbon-rich arable soils content contain more P than arable soils with low carbon content. Moreover it has been calculated if the carbon-rich soils could pose a risk of P leakage by comparing their delivery of P with the plant uptake. The work has consisted of compiling the results from former gathered and analysed soil samples of 130 Swedish arable soils. The fractions of P considered are water soluble P (Pw), ammonium lactate-extractable P (P-AL), hydrochloric acid-soluble P (P-HCl), organic ammonium lactate-extractable P (Porg-AL) and inorganic ammonium lactate-extractable P (Porg-HCl).

Mine waste from Ljusnarsbergsfältet in Kopparberg, Sweden, is considered to constitute a great risk for human health and the surrounding environment. Some of the waste rock consists of sulphide minerals. When sulphide minerals come into contact with dissolved oxygen and precipitation, oxidation may occur resulting in acid mine drainage (AMD) and the release of heavy metals. The purpose of this study has been to characterise the waste material and try to chemically stabilize the waste rock with a mixture of sewage sludge and calcium carbonate. The drawback of using organic matter is the risk that dissolved organic matter can act as a complexing agent for heavy metals and in this way increase their mobility.

Due to global climate change and the rising levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, the interest for seeking solutions for mitigation has increased. While much attention has been directed towards technical solutions such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), biogenic carbon sinks has also garnered significant attention. Previous studies have shown that coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and mangroves have a much greater capacity for storing carbon (C) compared to terrestrial ecosystems. That raises the question if other coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetland forests, that previously haven?t been considered as blue carbon habitats also contribute to coastal carbon sink capacity.

The amount of various phosphorus (P) fractions in the sediment and the relationship between the amount of P and sediment particle size were investigated in a constructed wetland southwest of Linköping. Furthermore, the possible correlation between clay content in the sediment and distance from the inlet was investigated. Sediment samples were collected along three transects from the inlet to the outlet, with six samples in each transect. In order to measure the soluble P, an NH4Cl extraction was done. This was also analysed for total soluble P after oxidation with peroxodisulphate.

Denna studie syftar till att identifiera vad det är som driver eller hindrar lantbrukare i Östergötland att ställa om sitt lantbruk till ekologisk produktion och huruvida de identifierade påverkningsfaktorerna skiljer sig åt mellan konventionella och ekologiska lantbrukare. Semistrukturerade intervjuer med tre konventionella samt fyra ekologiska lantbrukare genomfördes för att undersöka deras erfarenheter. Respondenternas erfarenheter redovisas i sex identifierade teman; Gårdsspecifika förutsättningar, Ekonomi, Politik, Administration och regelverk, Miljö och hälsa samt Produktionsteknik. En jämförelse mellan de båda grupperna genomförs och det empiriska materialet ställs mot tidigare forskning. Resultatet av studien visar att skillnader mellan ekologiska och konventionella lantbrukares uppfattningar kring hinder och drivkrafter förekommer, men inte inom alla teman.

The amount of various phosphorus (P) fractions in the sediment and the relationship between the amount of P and sediment particle size were investigated in a constructed wetland southwest of Linköping. Furthermore, the possible correlation between clay content in the sediment and distance from the inlet was investigated. Sediment samples were collected along three transects from the inlet to the outlet, with six samples in each transect. In order to measure the soluble P, an NH4Cl extraction was done. This was also analysed for total soluble P after oxidation with peroxodisulphate.

Chemical stabilization of mine waste from Ljusnarsbergsfältet with sewage sludge and calcium carbonate residuesMine waste from Ljusnarsbergsfältet in Kopparberg, Sweden, is considered to constitute a great risk for human health and the surrounding environment. Some of the waste rock consists of sulphide minerals. When sulphide minerals come into contact with dissolvedoxygen and precipitation, oxidation may occur resulting in acid mine drainage (AMD) and the release of heavy metals. The purpose of this study has been to characterise the waste material and try to chemically stabilize the waste rock with a mixture of sewage sludge and calcium carbonate. The drawback of using organic matter is the risk that dissolved organic matter can act as complexing agents for heavy metals and in this way increase their mobility.

Product development is essential for all companies that want to survive in competitive markets regardless of the characteristics of the product that the company sells. Companies that sell products within product categories which can be seen as bad, also need to develop their products in order to remain competitive. If these bad products add a positive attribute, for example that they get organic, a contradiction within the product arises and they get incongruent. This thesis investigates which effects that follow a launch of an incongruent product. The thesis also examines if these effects are affected by the strength of the brand under which the product is launched.A total of 240 respondents participated in an experimental study where product incongruity was manipulated for two different product categories, where one well known brand and one unknown brand were examined in each category.

Biogas is a renewable fuel that can be extracted from anaerobic digestion of many differentsubstrates, for example biological household waste. An alternative handling of the waste is tomix it with other wastes and incinerate it in a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Thisstudy uses life cycle assessment to investigate which type of waste handling that is betterfrom an environmental point of view, anaerobic digestion with biogas production orincineration. The results are based on a case study of a biogas production plant owned by thecompany Ragn-Sells in Vänersborg. The alternative is incineration at a CHP plant inGothenburg.

The aim of this study is to find information about what to do when riding arena footings are worn-out. Especially, the surface layer of riding arena footings is very interesting because of its importance of giving grip in every step for the horse, as well as shock ab-sorption. Generally, surface layers are containing several different parts in order to achieve desirable properties. These different parts can consist of organic material or in-organic material (mostly gravel). Gravel and many other materials in the top-layer are environmental friendly, and therefore, easy to get rid of.

Syfte: Att analysera hur dagligvaruhandeln använder sig av Grön Marknadsföring internt och externt för att positionera sig som ett miljövänligt företag på marknaden.Metod: En deskriptiv undersökning med primärdata i form av personliga intervjuer från de tre största aktörerna inom svenska dagligvaruhandeln.Teori: ?Green Marketing Activities at the Three Levels? har används som modell för att ta reda på hur de olika företagen arbetar med Grön Marknadsföring. Modellen är uppdelad i åtta områden och tre nivåer för Grön Marknadsföring.Slutsats: Samtliga företag vill ta ett miljöansvar, men två av tre ser sig även ha ett ansvar att informera och hjälpa kunder till ett bättre handlande. Två av de tre undersökta företagen är mer inriktade på att bygga ett ekologiskt varumärke medan det tredje företaget är mer inriktad på att upplysa om ekologi. Undersökningen visar dock att alla aktörer har undermåligt arbete med marknadsföringen i butik för att fånga upp kunders ekologiska intresse.

Kommunalt avloppsvatten innehåller stora mängder föroreningar bland annat organiskt material som påverkar organismerna i naturen. Reningsverken runtom i Sverige arbetar ständigt för att minimera utsläppen av föroreningar. Det är viktigt att kontinuerligt analysera vattnets kvalité för att kontrollera reningsverkets funktion. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) och Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) är två analysmetoder som används för att mäta organisk halt i avloppsvatten. Från COD-analysen uppkommer farligt avfall som innehåller kvicksilver varför analysmetoden enligt EU-direktiv ska fasas ut.

It is important to construct or recreate different types of wetlands and study their retention of nutrients, since knowledge of their effectiveness in this matter is poor. In 2003 a wetland was constructed on an old meadow on the western shore of Lake Bornsjön in central Sweden. The main purpose of the wetland was to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake, which is the back-up water supply for Stockholm when the city cannot obtain water from Lake Mälaren. Large areas around Lake Bornsjön consist of agricultural land and the nutrient concentrations in the inflows to the lake are usually relatively high (approx. 1 mg/l total nitrogen and 0.05-0.1 mg/l total phosphorus).