Louise Hénault-Ethier - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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Papers by Louise Hénault-Ethier
Viridis Terra Innovations, Sainte-Marie (QC), Canada, CECI, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, CECI, Montreal... more Viridis Terra Innovations, Sainte-Marie (QC), Canada, CECI, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, CECI, Montreal (QC), Canada
European Food and Feed Law Review, 2017
Waste Management, 2017
A dynamic systems model of organic waste management for the province of Quebec, Canada, was built... more A dynamic systems model of organic waste management for the province of Quebec, Canada, was built. Six distinct modules taking into account social, economical and environmental issues and perspectives were included. Five scenarios were designed and tested to identify the potential consequences of different governmental and demographic combinations of decisions over time. Among these scenarios, one examines Quebec's organic waste management policy (2011-2015), while the other scenarios represent business as usual or emphasize ecology, economy or social benefits in the decision-making process. Model outputs suggest that the current governmental policy should yield favorable environmental benefits, energy production and waste valorization. The projections stemming from the current policy action plan approach the benefits gained by another scenario emphasizing the environmental aspects in the decision-making process. As expected, without the current policy and action plan in place, or business as usual, little improvements are expected in waste management compared to current trends, and strictly emphasizing economic imperatives does not favor sustainable organic waste management.
2016 International Congress of Entomology, 2016
Waste management (New York, N.Y.), Jan 4, 2016
Vermicomposting is a biooxidation process in which epigeicearthworms act in synergy with microbia... more Vermicomposting is a biooxidation process in which epigeicearthworms act in synergy with microbial populations to degrade organic matter. Vermicomposting does not go through a thermophilic stage as required by North American legislations for pathogen eradication. We examined the survival of a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) labeled Escherichia coli MG1655 as a model for the survival of pathogenic bacteria in both small-scale batch and medium-scale continuously-operated systems to discern the influence of the earthworm Eisenia fetida, nutrient content and the indigenous vermicompost microbial community on pathogen abundance. In batch systems, the microbial community had the greatest influence on the rapid decline of E. coli populations, and the effect of earthworms was only visible in microbially-impoverishedvermicomposts. No significant earthworm density-dependent relationship was observed on E. coli survival under continuous operation. E. coli numbers decreased below the US EPA com...
Vermicomposting is a mesophilic organic waste management practice in which earthworms interact wi... more Vermicomposting is a mesophilic organic waste management practice in which earthworms interact with the microbiota to drive the stabilization of organic matter. Earthworms influence the microbial populations both directly and indirectly through grazing, ingestion and digestion of organic matter and deposition of castings and modifications of the physico-chemical parameters of the substrate. Under continuous operations, distinct patterns in the dynamics of pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total and labile sugars content of the vermicompost were distinguished. At the beginning, there was an accumulation of organic matter whose degradation rate increased after the initiation phase. No equilibrium state with stabilizing physico-chemical parameters could be distinguished during continuous operations, but interruption of feeding led to a decrease in total sugars, organic carbon, total nitrogen and pH. Elimination of bacterial pathogens from the vermicompost is primarily attributed to the indigenous microbiota and in a minor proportion to earthworm mediated effects; abiotic factors may modulate survival patterns but they are thought to play an indirect or secondary role. Different operational modes (batch vs. continuous) and varying earthworm densities did not affect E. coli survival. We showed that vermicompost contained both opportunistic bacterial pathogens and antagonists. Vermicompost is an organic waste management technology which can safely be conducted in domestic settings, provided that recommended management guidelines are followed. Further research is necessary to ensure that different species of bacterial pathogens are reduced to safe levels during vermicomposting, and future research efforts should be directed towards sanitation mechanisms.
Viridis Terra Innovations, Sainte-Marie (QC), Canada, CECI, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, CECI, Montreal... more Viridis Terra Innovations, Sainte-Marie (QC), Canada, CECI, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, CECI, Montreal (QC), Canada
European Food and Feed Law Review, 2017
Waste Management, 2017
A dynamic systems model of organic waste management for the province of Quebec, Canada, was built... more A dynamic systems model of organic waste management for the province of Quebec, Canada, was built. Six distinct modules taking into account social, economical and environmental issues and perspectives were included. Five scenarios were designed and tested to identify the potential consequences of different governmental and demographic combinations of decisions over time. Among these scenarios, one examines Quebec's organic waste management policy (2011-2015), while the other scenarios represent business as usual or emphasize ecology, economy or social benefits in the decision-making process. Model outputs suggest that the current governmental policy should yield favorable environmental benefits, energy production and waste valorization. The projections stemming from the current policy action plan approach the benefits gained by another scenario emphasizing the environmental aspects in the decision-making process. As expected, without the current policy and action plan in place, or business as usual, little improvements are expected in waste management compared to current trends, and strictly emphasizing economic imperatives does not favor sustainable organic waste management.
2016 International Congress of Entomology, 2016
Waste management (New York, N.Y.), Jan 4, 2016
Vermicomposting is a biooxidation process in which epigeicearthworms act in synergy with microbia... more Vermicomposting is a biooxidation process in which epigeicearthworms act in synergy with microbial populations to degrade organic matter. Vermicomposting does not go through a thermophilic stage as required by North American legislations for pathogen eradication. We examined the survival of a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) labeled Escherichia coli MG1655 as a model for the survival of pathogenic bacteria in both small-scale batch and medium-scale continuously-operated systems to discern the influence of the earthworm Eisenia fetida, nutrient content and the indigenous vermicompost microbial community on pathogen abundance. In batch systems, the microbial community had the greatest influence on the rapid decline of E. coli populations, and the effect of earthworms was only visible in microbially-impoverishedvermicomposts. No significant earthworm density-dependent relationship was observed on E. coli survival under continuous operation. E. coli numbers decreased below the US EPA com...
Vermicomposting is a mesophilic organic waste management practice in which earthworms interact wi... more Vermicomposting is a mesophilic organic waste management practice in which earthworms interact with the microbiota to drive the stabilization of organic matter. Earthworms influence the microbial populations both directly and indirectly through grazing, ingestion and digestion of organic matter and deposition of castings and modifications of the physico-chemical parameters of the substrate. Under continuous operations, distinct patterns in the dynamics of pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total and labile sugars content of the vermicompost were distinguished. At the beginning, there was an accumulation of organic matter whose degradation rate increased after the initiation phase. No equilibrium state with stabilizing physico-chemical parameters could be distinguished during continuous operations, but interruption of feeding led to a decrease in total sugars, organic carbon, total nitrogen and pH. Elimination of bacterial pathogens from the vermicompost is primarily attributed to the indigenous microbiota and in a minor proportion to earthworm mediated effects; abiotic factors may modulate survival patterns but they are thought to play an indirect or secondary role. Different operational modes (batch vs. continuous) and varying earthworm densities did not affect E. coli survival. We showed that vermicompost contained both opportunistic bacterial pathogens and antagonists. Vermicompost is an organic waste management technology which can safely be conducted in domestic settings, provided that recommended management guidelines are followed. Further research is necessary to ensure that different species of bacterial pathogens are reduced to safe levels during vermicomposting, and future research efforts should be directed towards sanitation mechanisms.