Which pollutants to monitor for good air quality?
Although all media attention is focused on CO2 emissions because of its contribution to global warming, other particles and pollutants need to be monitored: toxicity for humans and the environment, reduction in air quality, increase in the greenhouse effect, … In addition to the nuisance caused by these pollutants, their lifespan, i.e. the time it takes for them to degrade, is an additional factor in their hazardousness.
BeeOdiversity, during its environmental quality measurement operations, identifies many different pollutants. What are they? What is the point of analysing them? What danger(s) do they represent for man and biodiversity?
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
The term POPs refers to a group of substances that are highly toxic to humans and the environment. They accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms. They persist for years or even decades before degrading into less dangerous forms and evaporating and travelling long distances in the air and water, far from their site of origin. There are different types of POPs: PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), dioxins and furans, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and pesticides.
PCBs are chlorinated organic compounds with two rings on which chlorine atoms replace hydrogen atoms. Their chemical stability gives them a low biodegradability and therefore a very long lifespan. They are emitted mainly by dielectric fluids from transformers and condensers, but also by industrial fluids, hydraulic fluids and gas turbines. They are also found in adhesives, certain textiles, printing and pesticides. Classified as carcinogenic to humans, the main source of exposure to PCBs is food: they are mainly found in products of animal origin (fish, meat, eggs, dairy products).
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are molecules made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. For many years, PAHs have been studied extensively because they are compounds present in all environments and show a high level of toxicity. They are natural constituents of coal and oil, but also result from the incomplete combustion of materials such as fuels, wood or tobacco. They are present in air, water or food. Like PCBs, the vast majority of human exposure to PAHs is through food, animal products as well as fruit and vegetables.
Dioxins and furans are another group of highly toxic chemicals. Dioxins and furans are produced during various combustion processes. In some cases, this occurs during natural combustion activities, such as forest fires or volcanic eruptions. However, the majority of dioxins and furans are produced during human activities such as industrial combustion, uncontrolled incineration of hazardous and medical waste, chlorine bleaching of paper and other routine activities such as rubbish burning. Dioxins and furans have a wide range of toxic and biochemical effects on human health: cancers, decreased fertility, neurological effects, etc.
Finally, pesticides are all natural or synthetic chemical substances used in agriculture to control different kinds of pests (diseases, insects and weeds) with the exception of products for medical and veterinary use. This term therefore includes fungicides (to control fungi), insecticides, herbicides, acaricides (to control mites) and molluscicides (to control molluscs: slugs, snails, etc.). There are many mechanisms for transferring pesticides: they circulate in the air, soil, water by runoff, infiltration, volatilisation, absorption, etc.
What about heavy metals?
Instead of the term “heavy metals”, which has no scientific or legal value, the term ” Metallic Trace Elements ” (MTEs) is now preferred. Heavy metals are generally referred to as natural metallic elements, metals or in some cases metalloid elements characterised by a high density, greater than 5 gr/cm³. All metallic trace elements are naturally present in trace amounts in the soil, but generally in very small quantities. A large number of “heavy metals” are useful for life, such as iron for oxygen transport. However, they become toxic when they exceed a certain concentration. Moreover, four of the MTEs have no beneficial role for our bodies and can, on the contrary, induce serious illnesses, such as mercury, lead, nickel and cadmium.
MTEs may be present in dust emitted by combustion sources, automobile traffic, metal manufacturing and processing activities, waste incineration, etc… As an example, three sectors account for more than 90% of heavy metal emissions in Wallonia, namely industry, transport and residential.
What is the point of analysing these pollutants?
Pollutant-related problems are numerous and sometimes with serious consequences: poor air quality, soil impoverishment, water pollution, biodiversity degradation, etc. In addition, these pollutants sometimes have to be monitored under regulatory provisions.
As a result, at the request of clients, BeeOdiversity, via BeeOmonitoring, carries out environmental analyses in different sectors of activity: real estate, agriculture, industry, cities, water sector, etc. Each client therefore has different needs in a different context.
BeeOdiversity offers a control of these pollutants by installing beehives on the site. The collection and analysis of pollen then allows to identify all the pollutants present, without limiting itself to some in particular.
BeeOmonitoring extends the geographical coverage up to 700ha, which makes it possible to assess the impact on the site(s) and surroundings, on a more territorial scale, taking into account the impact on stakeholders. Indeed, as we have seen, certain characteristics specific to families of pollutants show us that they are not always static and localised.
The identification of the pollutants present on the study site and their origin then allows action to be taken: improvement measures can be recommended and implemented with a collaborative and constructive approach. BeeOdiversity also assists its customers to integrate biodiversity regeneration in the strategy in order to improve for example products, their positioning, staff well-being, their relations with the local community, certification and permit applications, etc.
For more information about BeeOdiversity, please contact us.
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Vous cherchez un emploi qui revêt du sens au sein d’une équipe « fun » et souhaitez agir pour un meilleur environnement ?
BeeOdiversity a l’ambition d’étendre ses activités en lien avec la biodiversité et recherche un : Bioingénieur.e ou écologue senior.
BeeOdiversity est une entreprise à impact sociétal qui accompagne des entreprises et collectivités publiques à créer de la valeur avec la régénération de la biodiversité. Cet accompagnement intervient à un niveau stratégique (analyse d’impact, choix d’indicateurs, plan stratégique, standards, etc) et/ou opérationnel (monitoring sur site notamment via des solutions de biosurveillance, actions de régénération de la biodiversité ou de diminution des polluants agricoles et industriels).
Les fondateurs et l’équipe sont convaincus que la technologie, les solutions fondées sur la nature et l’innovation sont nécessaires pour atteindre leurs objectifs en termes d’impact environnemental, notamment en vue d’impliquer tous les acteurs concernés. Par conséquent, ces trois piliers de BeeOdiversity vont prendre de plus en plus d’ampleur. BeeOdiversity a obtenu un financement européen pour développer des innovations numériques.
BeeOdiversity se développe activement depuis quelques années. Elle est active dans +25 pays en EU, aux Etats-Unis, en Amérique du Sud et en Afrique avec des ambitions de développement dans d’autres continents.
BeeOdiversity est reconnue pour son impact environnemental et son caractère innovant (ex : Solar Impulse, Ashoka, etc). L’équipe d’une trentaine de BeeOacteurs est composée de jeunes et moins jeunes dynamiques, passionnés et soucieux du monde de demain ! La gouvernance coopérative de l’entreprise vise à inclure chaque membre dans la vie et le développement des activités.
BeeOdiversity est à la recherche d’un bioingénieur muni de minimum 5 ans d’expérience pour renforcer l’activité actuelle et soutenir le projet de transition technologique.
Description de fonction
Cette description de fonction sera à cocréer dès lors qu’il est important, à nos yeux, que la fonction rencontre la passion et les centres d’intérêt.
En tant que Drone Bee dans l’équipe BeeOsolution, vous serez amené(e) à accompagner les clients dans leur parcours en faveur de la préservation / régénération de la biodiversité et plus spécifiquement à :
- Apporter l’expertise requise dans des projets de régénération de biodiversité sur site et/ou d’agriculture durable et, le cas échéant, coordonner les projets d’ampleur:
- Inventaires sur site
- Plans de gestion et d’aménagement
- Conseil d’actions à entreprendre pour la biodiversité
- Analyse de données de monitoring de sites et génération de rapports
- Conseil en matière d’agriculture régénératrice
- Animation de parties prenantes (ex: agriculteurs) et formations
- Gestion de projet
- Fournir du support aux équipes internes (consultance stratégique, vente, R&D, etc) ;
Expertise / expérience et autres éléments requis
- Basé(e) en Belgique
- Compétence en agronomie et écologie avec une expertise dans les domaines de la biodiversité (services écosystémiques, connaissances naturalistes, réglementations ,…) et/ou du secteur agricole (intrants, PPP, itinéraires techniques, etc).
- Minimum 5 ans d’expérience dans une fonction liée à la préservation de la biodiversité et/ou d’une agriculture durable au sein d’une société de consultance, d’un bureau d'étude, d’une ONG ou d’une institution publique.
- Dispose d’une certification BREEAM ou au minimum 3 ans d’expérience en tant qu’écologue
- Compétence dans la réalisation d’audit, d’inventaire, de plan de gestion et d’aménagement du territoire.
- Animation de workshops
- Compétence en matière de conseil aux agriculteurs et des pratiques agricoles durables.
- Anglais/Français/ Néerlandais niveau C1 minimum
Expertises optionnelles à mettre en avant
- eDNA ou autres solutions de monitoring de la biodiversité
- Connaissance en chimie analytique
- Connaissance en programmation
- Gestion d’équipe
- Commercial, innovation, recherche
- Réseau au sein des responsables RSE, responsables environnement
- Connaissance des outils informatiques : bureautique et géomatique (QGIS, ArcGIS)
- Connaissance du réseau scientifique et associatif.
Nous recherchons une personne passionnée, investie, déterminée, entreprenante et convaincue de la nécessité d’agir pour les générations futures. Et capable de s’insérer dans une petite équipe avec agilité, autonomie, esprit d’équipe, leadership et surtout bonne humeur !
Offre
- Un travail plein de sens dans une entreprise innovante en plein développement
- Un bien-être au travail qui commence par une participation et adhésion à la vision et à la stratégie, une gouvernance collaborative, le pouvoir des responsabilités et une équipe inclusive.
- Un lieu de travail à définir en Belgique ou en France (flexibilité possible)
- Une super équipe qui agit ensemble
- Un salaire quand même !:-)
Pour postuler, veuillez envoyer votre CV et une lettre de passion qui décrivent surtout vos talents / centres d’intérêt et votre expérience dans la/les fonctions liées à la préservation de la biodiversité (type de fonction, types de missions, quelles étaient les bénéficiaires, rôle joué, vos succès et impact, etc.) à l’adresse suivante : stephanie.branders@beeodiversity.com
Find out more about BeeOdiversity
BeeOdiversity has been actively developing for more than 10 years. It is active in 25+ countries in Europe, the United States, South America and Africa, with international ambitions. The company was set up following a PhD by one of its founders and the need for companies and public authorities to collect field data and take action to improve biodiversity and reduce pollutants. In addition to field expertise, BeeOdiversity has developed solutions based on nature and technology, including for biomonitoring. For the past 2 years or so, clients have been looking for support in taking biodiversity to a more strategic level.
BeeOdiversity is recognised for its environmental impact and its innovative character (e.g. Solar Impulse, Ashoka, etc.). BeeOdiversity's team of 35+ BeeOplayers is made up of young and not-so-young people who are dynamic, passionate and concerned about tomorrow's world! The cooperative governance of the company aims to include every member in the life and development of the activities.
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Terms of service & General conditions of use
BeeOdiversity develops projects in several European countries, Switzerland and the United States. Its tools and services can be used the world over.
To contact us from Belgium and abroad : +32 2 428 00 82
Head office :
Avenue Arnaud Fraiteur 15-23
1050 Brussels, Belgium
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