Consumer willingness to pay for plastic bags levy and willingness to accept eco-friendly alternatives in Botswana

Plastic bags, though commonly used for packaging of goods, are highly durable and non-biodegradable. Plastic bag litter serves as a negative environmental externality detrimental to animal health and natural beauty of the environment. In an effort to curtail the excessive use of plastic bags in Botswana, the government introduced a plastic levy targeted at consumers at retail points. This study uses primary data collected from 367 respondents randomly selected from six geospatially and purposively selected shopping malls to determine the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for continued plastic bag usage and their willingness to accept (WTA) to shift to eco-friendly alternatives. The results of the study revealed that open dumping and burning of plastic litter are more common in Maun than in Gaborone. It also showed that there is a significant relationship between the level of education and WTP. Further, there is a significant variation in income and education in respect to environmental awareness. The government should improve its efforts of sensitizing the public about the improper disposal of plastic bags.     

Consumer attitudes on the use of plastic and cloth bags

This paper examines consumer attitudes and behavior on the use of plastic and cloth bags in Eski?ehir, Turkey. To this end, a structural equation model is proposed. Environmental consciousness regarding the use of plastic bags, social pressure, support for the banning of plastic bags, the intention to use cloth bags and behavior to reduce plastic bag use are employed as latent variables in the model. The intention to use cloth bags and the behavior to reduce the use of plastic bags are defined as endogenous latent variables in the structural model. In the conclusion of the study, it is identified that consumers who are environmentally conscious and feel under social pressure, tend to reduce the use of plastic bags and switch to using cloth bags.     

Analysis of cost–benefit in life-cycle of plastic solid waste: combining waste flow analysis and life cycle cost as a decision support tool to the selection of optimum scenario

Millions of tons of plastic are consumed annually in the world due to its significant characteristics such as durability, flexibility, and low weight. High consumption has made plastic one of the most important municipal solid waste compounds, the quantity of which has increased in recent decades. Plastic solid wastes are known as a threat to the environment, and its efficient management in various aspects such as cost–benefit requires decision-making tools. This study was assessing the cost–benefit of plastic solid waste management by development of an economic model, and definition of different scenarios to change plastic solid waste management status. The results showed that 8971 tons of plastic solid waste were generated annually in the studied city. The plastic solid wastes were finally transferred to either recycling or landfilling site through 5 identified routes. 83 percent of the total recycled plastic solid waste was due to post-separation routes, and only 7.7 percent of the total plastic solid waste was recycled from the source separation route. The economic comparison of scenarios showed that with the aggregation of post-separation routes, the net revenue of plastic solid waste management increases by 334,000 euro per year while increasing the public participation and the ratio of source separation route raises net revenue by 875,000 euro per year, which was the best economic condition among the scenarios. Using life cycle cost method and it’s respected developed economic model truly satisfied the conditions of both, the current plastic solid waste management and the alternative scenarios, and hence can be adopted as a tool for decision-making.

     

Co-leaching of brominated compounds and antimony from bottled water

A fast-growing bottled water market is occasionally challenged by reports calling for contaminant leaching from water-contact materials (plastics). Our focus was on leaching of antimony (Sb) and brominated compounds expressed by total soluble bromine (Br) measurements, including those of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). Studies are lacking on concomitant leaching of two or more inorganic plastic constituents from the same bottle. A market-representative basket survey of bottled water was initiated in Boston, USA supermarkets. Bottled water classes sampled were: i) non-carbonated (NCR), ii) carbonated (CR), and iii) non-carbonated and enriched (NCRE). Plastic bottle materials sampled were: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC). Storage conditions for the 31 bottled water samples were: 23 °C temperature, no-shaking and 12 h/12 h light/dark for 60 days of equilibration. Average Br and Sb concentrations after 60-days of storage followed the order of NCR < CR = NCRE, and NCR < CR < NCRE, respectively, suggesting that the presence of dissolved carbon dioxide in CR samples coupled to additions of flavors and color to NCRE could explain the elevated leaching of Br and Sb. Combining all bottled water classes and plastic material types, a highly significant (p < 0.001) correlation was observed between log-transformed soluble Br and Sb concentrations, suggesting similar leaching behavior. Among samples with the highest soluble Br concentrations, BDE-209 congener was qualitatively confirmed in three out of four bottled water samples. The PC, HDPE, and PS samples exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower Sb and Br leaching than PET. Upon quantitative validation of PBDE leaching from certain plastic bottles into water, a revisit to existing PBDE exposure assessment reports will be deemed necessary.     

Environmental self-efficacy, attitude and behavior among small scale farmers in Zambia

The rural livelihood system in Zambia is essentially agriculture, and agriculture is the main link between people and their environment. Through agricultural activities, people seek to husband the available soil, water and biological resources so as to ‘harvest’ a livelihood for themselves. The aim of this study is to examine Zambian farmers’ awareness and attitude toward the degradation of the environment and their relationships with a set of beliefs to evaluate their perceived capacity to take actions to improve the environment. Results of the study revealed that perception of the severity of environmental degradation had a positive influence on both awareness of and attitude toward land degradation (β = 0.47; p < .001). Perception of susceptibility and benefits significantly influence farmers’ attitude toward environmental degradation (β = 0.51; p < .001). Awareness of environmental degradation is a significant precursor of environmental self-efficacy and behavior (β = 0.38; p < .001). Increasing severity of environmental degradation tends to promote a positive attitude of Zambian farmers toward the environment (β = 0.27; p < .001). Greater awareness of environmental degradation enhances farmers’ capacity in making decisions to improve the situation. Greater environmental awareness leads to greater involvement in land management programs. Greater awareness of the degradation of the environment leads to a more positive environmental behavior. The more individuals are aware of the existence of the degradation of the environment and of its consequences, the more likely they are to do something about it in order to ameliorate the situation (β = 0.36; p < .001). Farmers’ environmental self-efficacy also plays a significant role in their decision to change their behavior. Greater perception of one’s capability to improve the environment is significantly associated with a more positive environmental behavior (β = .39; p < .001).     

Switching behaviors toward green brands: evidence from emerging economy

The aim of the current research was to recognize consumer attitude gap toward green brand by studying role of green consumer value and green brand equity toward the switching intention and purchase intention of consumers toward green brands. The current research employed quantitative research design and collected data through questionnaire from 331 respondents. The PLS-structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the structured relationships. The findings suggest green customer value is product of the three important factors namely green brand experiential risk, green brand experiential quality and green brand experience. Hence, these act as the main drivers of switching consumer behavioral intention toward the green products through consumer green brand equity. The research attempts to study the attitude–behavior gap in the green marketing literature by investigating the role which includes, green brand experiential risk, green brand experiential quality and green brand experience on customer value leading to green brand equity. The research provide an in-depth understating of attitude–behavior gaps and role of green customer value and brand equity that plays vital role in marketing campaigns and policy making to increase purchase intention of green eco-conscious products.

     

14C and 210Pb in NE atlantic sediments: Evidence of biological reworking in the context of radioactive waste disposal

Scavenging by the seabed and by sedimentary particles in the deep ocean may have a significant effect on the removal of artificial radionuclides released to the water column as a result of radioactive waste disposal operations. Biological activity in the upper layers of the sediment column will enhance the rate of removal for those particle-reactive radionuclides with a short half-life relative to the turnover time of the upper mixed layer. For longer-lived radionuclides the rate of sediment accumulation will determine the ultimate rate of removal.The rate of sediment accumulation and extent of biological mixing of deep-sea sediment from three areas of the NE Atlantic Ocean have been investigated using ¹⁴C and ²¹⁰Pb data. Treatment of the radiocarbon with a simple box model provided estimates of sedimentation rate (ω), mixed layer depth (L), mixed layer age (T_ML) and the age of material arriving at the surface (T₀), which were broadly similar to previously published values from other ocean basins. Box cores from the Iberia Abyssal Plain, Madeira Abyssal Plain and from the NEA low-level radioactive waste dumpsite yielded sedimentation rates in the range 0.8 to 2.2 cm ky^?1 over the upper 16–25 cm. Continuous particle mixing appears to be taking place to a depth of 4 to 6 cm below the present sediment-water interface. Closely spaced vertical sampling of core 161-2 for ²¹⁰Pb allowed a biodiffusion coefficient (D_B) to be calculated (4 × 10^?9cm²s^?1), treating bioturbations as a diffusive term and sedimentations as an advective term in a simple mathematical model. In general, values of D_B in deep ocean sediments fall within the range 1–10 × 10^?9cm²s^?1, two orders of magnitude lower than nearshore values. From a review of published data it is concluded that biological mixing takes place extensively in the deep ocean; it appears to be fairly constant on a basin-wide scale and amenable to incorporation in mathematical models of radionuclide behaviour in the water column.     

An economic theory of reuse

An economic model of reuse is developed to analyse the effect of reuse activity on the amount of waste in the economy and the welfare of consumers. The paper adapts the theory of durable goods and second-hand markets. There is only one type of good, a durable good, which last two periods. A durable good is called ‘new’ in the first period and ‘used’ in the second period. Following Kim (Int Econ J 3:53–63, 1989), it is assumed that consumers differ in valuing the service rate of used goods. Their valuations are represented by a parameter θ, with a higher θ denoting consumers with a greater willingness to pay. In this study, high-θ consumers are referred to as reuse-friendly consumers. The new durable good is supplied in a competitive market. After the purchaser has used the good for one period, (s)he can sell it, keep it or throw it away. If a consumer decides to enter the second-hand market, (s)he has to pay a transaction cost. In equilibrium, the price of used goods will be determined endogenously by a second-hand market; it depends on the value of transaction costs. Thus, whether the second-hand market exists or not also depends on the value of transaction costs. It is shown that the amount of durable goods that is wasted is minimal when a second-hand market exists. When a second-hand market does not exist, increase in reuse-friendly consumers leads to decrease in the amount of waste. In the case of the second-hand market, when many consumers begin to reuse, the welfare of consumers who do not buy used goods will be improved.     

农村食品安全消费态度、意愿与行为的差异研究

现阶段,我国食品安全状况不容乐观。通过梳理频繁发生的食品安全事件,可以发现食品安全问题的产生不仅仅是食品生产商、供应商或政府相关部门等方面的原因,食品消费者对于食品安全问题的产生和治理同样起到重要作用,其差异化的食品安全消费态度和行为也显著影响食品企业和政府部门的行为选择。现有研究大多针对消费者食品安全消费意愿和行为的影响因素及其相关方面进行分析,往往忽视了消费者食品安全消费态度、意愿和行为之间的客观差异现象。本文基于我国20个省份500个自然村实证调研数据,在引入空间地理分析概念的基础上,采用空间相关性检验的全局Moran’I指数分析农村食品安全消费、意愿和行为的大致集聚分布状况;再进一步利用局部Moran’I自相关指数分析判断相关具体集聚区域;最后通过消费态度、意愿、行为集聚区域的不一致性验证区域农村食品安全消费态度与行为差异的现实存在,对我国农村居民食品安全消费态度、意愿和行为之间的具体差异状况以及影响因素进行研究。结果显示:1现阶段,我国农村居民普遍持有较高程度的食品安全消费态度;2食品安全消费态度与食品安全消费意愿、行为之间存在一定程度上的差异;3造成这种差异的主要影响因素包括:主观规范作用、感知行为控制影响、农村消费者固有消费习惯障碍、安全食品消费基础设施建设不完善、政府监管认证力度不足以及相关政策制度缺失等。最后,文章提出针对性对策建议,具体包括:加强安全食品报道和宣传;加大科技技术投入力度;健全农村食品安全流通市场体系;加强食品检验检测等。     

Sustainable Everyday Life and Celebrity Environmental Advocacy in Hugh’s War on Waste

ABSTRACT

This study employs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s television program, Hugh’s War on Waste, to explore representations of sustainable everyday life and the functions of celebrity environmental advocacy. The analysis is located within broader understandings of the discursive and contested nature of sustainability and the representative functions of environmental celebrities who act as figures of both distinction and equivalence. It discusses Fearnley-Whittingstall within the context of the stable of celebrity chefs, and it demonstrates how Hugh’s War on Waste is an example of the burgeoning televisual genre based on forms of campaigning about food issues. The analysis specifically explores how Hugh’s War on Waste is informed by: narratives of self-transformation where individuals are marshaled into appropriate practices of waste management and sustainability, presentations of the pleasures associated with such practices, and revelations of the networks of food production, distribution and consumption across the contexts of domestic everyday life, farms, supermarkets, and other corporations.     

Operating characteristics of a fabric filter on a peaking/cycling boiler without auxiliary preheat or reheat

A fabric filter has been on-line for one year on a coal-fired boiler that is primarily a peaking unit within the power schedule. For the first six months, Eastern Kentucky coal with 2.5% sulfur was the fuel source for 30% of the time, with low-sulfur Montana coal constituting the remaining fuel during the operation period. Bag life has been excellent with no bag failures reported to date, and the pressure drops have been low. There has never been an auxilliary heat source to preheat the fabric filter for start-up, nor to reheat the fabric filter when operating at reduced load with associated low back-end temperatures. Conclusions are that the filter cake formed does protect the bags from blinding at low load conditions, and a special acid-resistant finish applied to the glass fibers protects the bags when high-sulfur coal is burned at low temperatures. Overall, this installation provides an excellent data base for cycling service and high-sulfur coal usage with a fabric filter.     

Increasing extremes of heat and drought associated with recent severe wildfires in southern Greece

Mountains of the northern Mediterranean basin face two major threats under global change. Aridity and available fuel are both expected to increase because of climatic and land-use changes, increasing fire danger. There may already be signs of such effects in the case of the Pinus nigra and Abies cephalonica forests on Mt. Taygetos (southern Greece). We reconstructed climate (mid- to late-fire-season drought) using tree-rings for the last 150 years and compared it with the mountain’s fire history reconstructed from P. nigra fire scars. Seven, out of the ten, large fires Mt. Taygetos experienced were associated with below-normal precipitation (P) or above-normal maximum temperature (T _max). The largest fires occurred in late summer of 1879, 1944, 1998, and 2007. However, only the recent fires (1998 and 2007) had both low P and high T _max, also confirmed from long-term meteorological data. The synergy between climate and fuel availability may explain the very high intensity of 1998 and 2007 fires that burned mostly as stand-replacing crown fires. The other two large fire events (1879 and 1944) most likely occurred under reduced availability in burning fuel and were related to above-normal T _max. Our findings are among the first based on long-term and site-specific empirical data to support the prediction that Mediterranean mountainous areas will face a very large threat from wildfires in the twenty-first century, if socioeconomic changes leading to land abandonment and thus burning fuel accumulation are combined with the drought intensification projected for the region under global warming.     

Effects of acute γ-irradiation on community structure of the aquatic microbial microcosm

To characterise indirect effects of ionising radiation on aquatic microbial communities, effects of acute γ-irradiation were investigated in a microcosm consisting of populations of green algae (Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp.) and a blue-green alga (Tolypothrix sp.) as producer; a ciliate protozoan (Cyclidium glaucoma), rotifers (Lecane sp. and Philodina sp.) and an oligochaete (Aeolosoma hemprichi) as consumer; and more than four species of bacteria as decomposers. Population changes in the constituent organisms were observed over 160 days after irradiation. Prokaryotic community structure was also examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rDNA. Principle response curve analysis revealed that the populations of the microcosm as a whole were not significantly affected at 100 Gy while they were adversely affected at 500-5000 Gy in a dose-dependent manner. However, some effects on each population, including each bacterial population detected by DGGE, did not depend on radiation doses, and some populations in the irradiated microcosm were larger than those of the control. These unexpected results are regarded as indirect effects through interspecies interactions, and possible mechanisms are proposed originating from population changes in other organisms co-existing in the microcosm. For example, some indirect effects on consumers and decomposers likely arose from interspecies competition within each trophic level. It is also likely that prey-predator relationships between producers and consumers caused some indirect effects on producers.     

Increasing concentrations of aerosols offset the benefits of climate warming on rice yields during 1980–2008 in Jiangsu Province, China

The impacts of climate change on crop yield have increasingly been of concern. In this study, we investigated the impacts of trends in sunshine duration (S) and maximum temperature (T _max) on rice yields in Jiangsu Province at both the provincial and county level during the period from 1980 to 2008. The results showed that although S and T _max both were positively correlated with rice yields, the combined impacts of the decreasing trend of S (0.37 h/decade) and the increasing trend of T _max (0.34 °C/decade) in August caused a reduction of 0.16 t ha^?1 in rice yields (approximately 1.8 %) in Jiangsu Province, and the trend of S had played a dominant role in the yield losses. Further analyses suggest that the increasing concentration of aerosols from rapid economic development in Jiangsu Province has caused a significant solar dimming at least since 1960, making mitigations and adaptation measurements on regional haze impact imperative. Our study provides a prototype for detecting negative feedback on agricultural production caused by intensified anthropogenic activities that aim only to create rapid economic development.     

快递废弃物回收产业链演化仿真研究

近年来,随着电子商务的迅速崛起,快递废弃物激增所带来的环境污染、资源浪费程度日趋严重,营建快递废弃物回收产业链,促进快递废弃物循环使用的呼声日益急促。快递废弃物的循环使用涉及到多方利益相关者,本文基于利益主体协同演化视角,分别构建未引入政府约束机制和引入政府约束机制的"快递企业-消费者"演化博弈模型,借以探索政府、消费者及快递企业在快递废弃物回收产业链营建过程中所扮演的角色,借助复制动态方程得到利益相关方的演化稳定策略和规律,并进一步应用MATLAB仿真工具进行仿真模拟,研究结果表明:未引入政府约束机制下,博弈系统难以依靠市场调节快速演化到理想状态,快递企业和消费者会反复权衡参与营建快递废弃物回收产业链的收益和成本,根据净收益进行策略选择,当二者净收益大于0时,博弈系统会逐渐演化为理想状态,反之,博弈系统则会逐渐演化为不良状态。引入政府约束机制可以快速的引导快递企业和消费者向理想状态演化,加大对快递企业营建回收产业链的补贴力度以及对营建回收产业链怠工的罚款程度能够促进快递废弃物回收产业链营建的快速高效执行。本文的研究对快递废弃物回收产业链的营建起到一定的启示作用:1从政府的角度出发,快递废弃物回收产业链的成功营建能够带来社会环境资源福利的增加,所以不应仅仅依靠市场行为,政府应当充分发挥其在营建过程中的引导作用;2从快递企业的角度出发,快递企业是回收产业链的实施方,应将环境保护作为企业发展的责任,积极主动参与回收产业链的营建;3从消费者的角度出发,作为回收产业链运行的初始点,消费者应该从自身做起,提高环保意识,责任意识,积极推动回收产业链的营建。     

Comparative toxicity of solid waste leachates to Daphnia magna

The comparative acute and chronic toxicities of municipal, industrial, coal-fired power plant, and synthetic fuel solid waste leachates to the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna were determined. Seventeen leachates were laboratory-derived by extraction with 0.5 N acetic acid, and one, an arsenic-contaminated groundwater, was naturally derived. The acute toxicity 48-h LC₅₀ estimates (concentrations of the test materials that killed 50% of the test organisms in 48 h) ranged from 0.0005% for a dye waste leachate to > 100% (i.e., undiluted) for a coal gasification waste leachate. The most toxic leachates were derived from a dye waste, a plater's waste, and the arsenic-contaminated groundwater, and the least toxic were from a soybean process cake waste and a coal gasification waste. Of the 16 leachates used in the 28 day chronic toxicity tests, only the arsenic-contaminated groundwater and a municipal sewage sludge significantly affected D. magna reproduction. The former material at 1.0% concentration and the sludge at 0.1% caused about an 88% reduction in the numbers of young produced by exposed females compared with controls. Generally, the industrial waste leachates were more toxic than those from the power plant and synthetic fuel wastes. Because its presence in the test materials interfered with interpretation of the results, acetic acid may not be an appropriate extraction medium for preparation of leachates.     

Tracking chemicals in products around the world: introduction of a dynamic substance flow analysis model and application to PCBs

Dynamically tracking flows and stocks of problematic chemicals in products (CiPs) in the global anthroposphere is essential to understanding their environmental fates and risks. The complex behavior of CiPs during production, use and waste disposal makes this a challenging task. Here we introduce and describe a dynamic substance flow model, named Chemicals in Products - Comprehensive Anthropospheric Fate Estimation (CiP-CAFE), which facilitates the quantification of time-variant flows and stocks of CiPs within and between seven interconnected world regions and the generation of global scale emission estimates. We applied CiP-CAFE to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), first to evaluate its ability to reproduce previously reported global-scale atmospheric emission inventories and second to illustrate its potential applications and merits. CiP-CAFE quantifies the pathways of PCBs during production, use and waste disposal stages, thereby deducing the temporal evolution of in-use and waste stocks and identifying their long-term final sinks. Time-variant estimates of PCB emissions into air, water and soil can be attributed to different processes and be fed directly into a global fate and transport model. By capturing the international movement of PCBs as technical chemicals, and in products and waste, CiP-CAFE reveals that the extent of global dispersal caused by humans is larger than that occurring in the natural environment. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the model output is most sensitive to the PCB production volume and the lifetime of PCB-containing products, suggesting that a shortening of that lifetime is key to reducing future PCB emissions.     

Characterization of ²⁴¹ Am and ¹³⁴Cs bioaccumulation in the king scallop Pecten maximus: investigation via three exposure pathways

In order to understand the bioaccumulation of ²⁴¹Am and ¹³⁴Cs in scallops living in sediments, the uptake and depuration kinetics of these two elements were investigated in the king scallop Pecten maximus exposed via seawater, food, or sediment under laboratory conditions. Generally, ²⁴¹Am accumulation was higher and its retention was stronger than ¹³⁴Cs. This was especially obvious when considering whole animals exposed through seawater with whole-body concentration factors (CF_7d) of 62 vs. 1, absorption efficiencies (A_0l) of 78 vs. 45 for seawater and biological half-lives (T_b½l) of 892 d vs. 22 d for ²⁴¹Am and ¹³⁴Cs, respectively. In contrast, following a single feeding with radiolabelled phytoplankton, the assimilation efficiency (AE) and T_b½l of ¹³⁴Cs were higher than those of ²⁴¹Am (AE: 28% vs. 20%; T_b½l: 14 d vs. 9 d). Among scallop tissues, the shells always contained the higher proportion of the total body burden of ²⁴¹Am whatever the exposure pathway. In contrast, the whole soft parts presented the major fraction of whole-body burden of ¹³⁴Cs, which was generally associated with muscular tissues. Our results showed that the two radionuclides have contrasting behaviors in scallops, in relation to their physico-chemical properties.     

Threshold and dose response estimation using the “filter model”

The “filter model” has been developed to explain the biologic effects of radiation and chemicals. We have examined nearly 300 sets of dose response data, of which 50 are presented here. Responses (induced by radiation and chemicals) which have been examined include in vitro survival studies on animal and plant tissues, induction of cellular aberrations and time to tumor or death. Similar data from in vivo studies has also been examined. All of the data appear to fit the model R = a lnD + b(lnD)² + c, where R is the response, a and b are parameters fitted by regression to a particular set of data, and c is the response at zero (or lowest) dose. By writing this model in exponential form, it can be seen that the response R results from multistage filtering (by net amounts a and b) of the initial dose, D. The threshold is obtained from this model as the point, $\text{D}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{T}}$, at which the second derivative becomes zero. This is given by $\text{D}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{T}}\text{=}\text{exp}\text{(1 ?}\text{a}\text{2b}\text{)}$ when a and b are oppositelt signed.     

Transfer parameter values in temperate forest ecosystems: a review

Compared to agricultural lands, forests are complex ecosystems as they can involve diverse plant species associations, several vegetative strata (overstorey, shrubs, herbaceous and other annual plant layer) and multi-layered soil profiles (forest floor, hemi-organic and mineral layers). A high degree of variability is thus generally observed in radionuclide transfers and redistribution patterns in contaminated forests. In the long term, the soil compartment represents the major reservoir of radionuclides which can give rise to long-term plant and hence food contamination. For practical reasons, the contamination of various specific forest products has commonly been quantified using the aggregated transfer factor (T_ag in m² kg⁻¹) which integrates various environmental parameters including soil and plant type, root distribution as well as nature and vertical distribution of the deposits. Long lasting availability of some radionuclides was shown to be the source of much higher transfer in forest ecosystems than in agricultural lands. This study aimed at reviewing the most relevant quantitative information on radionuclide transfers to forest biota including trees, understorey vegetation, mushrooms, berries and game animals. For both radiocaesium and radiostrontium in trees, the order of magnitude of mean T_ag values was 10⁻³ m² kg⁻¹ (dry weight). Tree foliage was usually 2–12 times more contaminated than trunk wood. Maximum contamination of tree components with radiocaesium was associated with (semi-)hydromorphic areas with thick humus layers. The transfer of radionuclides to mushrooms and berries is high, in comparison with foodstuffs grown in agricultural systems. Concerning caesium uptake by mushrooms, the transfer is characterized by a very large variability of T_ag, from 10⁻³ to 10¹ m² kg⁻¹ (dry weight). For berries, typical values are around 0.01–0.1 m² kg⁻¹ (dry weight). Transfer of radioactive caesium to game animals and reindeer and the rate of activity reduction, quantified as an ecological half-life, reflect the soil and pasture conditions at individual locations. Forests in temperate and boreal regions differ with respect to soil type and vegetation, and a faster decline of muscle activity concentrations in deer occurs in the temperate zone. However, in wild boar the caesium activity concentration shows no decline because of its special feeding habits. In the late phase, i.e. at least a few months since the external radionuclide contamination on feed plants has been removed, a T_ag value of 0.01 m² kg⁻¹ (fresh weight) is common for ¹³⁷Cs in the muscles of adult moose and terrestrial birds living in boreal forests, and 0.03 m² kg⁻¹ (fresh weight) for arctic hare. Radiocaesium concentrations in reindeer muscle in winter may exceed the summer content by a factor of more than two, the mean T_ag values for winter ranging from 0.02 to 0.8 m² kg⁻¹ (fresh weight), and in summer from 0.04 to 0.4 m² kg⁻¹. The highest values are found in the year of initial contamination, followed by a gradual reduction. In waterfowl a relatively fast decline in uptake of ¹³⁷Cs has been found, with T_ag values changing from 0.01 to 0.002 m² kg⁻¹ (fresh weight) in the three years after the contaminating event, the rate being determined by the dynamics of ¹³⁷Cs in aquatic ecosystems.