Moving Towards Sustainable Development? Integrating Economic Development and the Environment in Local Authorities

The recent growth of interest in sustainable development has led to the incorporation of the concept into policy making at a variety of scales. In all cases particular emphasis is placed upon the local scale as the focus for the implementation of policy and initiatives and especially upon local authorities as the major contributor to this process. There has been little assessment, however, of the extent to which local authorities either can, or are, undertaking such initiatives. This paper examines: the potential role that local authorities can play in integrating economic development and the environment; the forms of response and initiatives that are currently in place, drawing upon survey evidence from urban local authorities in England and Wales; and some of the limits to local authority action.     

Prenatal diagnosis of respiratory chain deficiency by direct mutation screening

Respiratory chain deficiency (RCD) is responsible for a clinically heterogeneous group of early-onset untreatable disorders. Enzymological prenatal diagnosis (PD) can only be offered to a fraction of families. Moreover, due to the two-fold genetic origin of the respiratory chain (nuclear and mitochondrial DNA) and owing to the large number of nuclear genes involved in the respiratory chain assembly, maintenance and functioning, the identification of the disease causing gene in a given family remains challenging. Here, we report on PD of RCD by direct screening of NDUFV1, SDH-Fp, SCO1 and SURF1 mutations in five unrelated families with complex I, II and IV deficiency, respectively. The identification of the disease-causing gene in a given family with RCD is a major issue to provide both adequate genetic counselling and early, reliable PD. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of the in vitro anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Origanum syriacum and Salvia lanigera leaves

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the chemical compositions of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Origanum syriacum and Salvia lanigera were identified...     

Combined Non-Catalytic Reduction of NOx and SO2 by Ammonia Liquor during Staged Fluidized-Bed Combustion

Emissions of NOx and SO2 were monitored in the presence of ammonia liquor in a 0.09 m2 and 2 m high stainless-steel fluidized-bed combustor. Experiments were carried out at 2 m/s fluidizing velocity, 40% excess air, and 870 °C bed temperature. Ammonia liquor with 7% ammonia by weight was injected into the freeboard of the combustor 52 cm above the distributor through a water-cooled injector. A 65 : 34 primary/secondary air ratio was maintained throughout the investigation. Approximately 70% of NO and 20% of SO2 was reduced at an NH3/NO molar ratio of 2 : 1, respectively. However, a higher reduction in SO2 emissions (62%) was achieved at a very high NH3/NO molar ratio of 7 : 1. These experiments showed that ammonia addition did have a significant effect in SO2 reduction if injected in an excess amount. The injection of ammonia liquor combined with staged combustion was found to be very effective in reducing NOx emissions. A reduction of about 50% was achieved at an NH3/NO molar ratio of 0.6 : 1 which is also coupled with a very low level of ammonia in the flue.     

Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition and fire on plant and soil chemistry in an alpine heathland

The response of alpine heathland vegetation and soil chemistry to N additions of 0, 10, 20 and 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in combination with simulated accidental fire (+/−) was monitored over a 5-year period. N addition caused rapid and significant increases in plant tissue N content and N:P and N:K of Calluna vulgaris, suggesting increasing phosphorus and potassium limitation of growth. Soil C:N declined significantly with N addition, indicating N saturation and increasing likelihood of N leakage. Fire further decreased soil C:N and reduced potential for sequestration of additional N. This study shows that alpine heathlands, which occupy the headwaters of many rivers, have limited potential to retain deposited N and may rapidly become N saturated, leaking N into downstream communities and surface waters.     

Effect of diflubenzuron on the development of Pinus pinaster seedlings inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius

Diflubenzuron (DFB) is an insecticide commonly used to control forest pests. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of diflubenzuron on the development of Pinus pinaster seedlings and Pisolithus tinctorius under laboratory conditions and to study the possible protective role of this ectomycorrhizal fungus against the effects of diflubenzuron. In vitro experiments revealed that diflubenzuron inhibited fungal growth at all tested concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg L^?1). Root growth was inhibited at the two highest diflubenzuron concentrations. The activity of the antioxidant defence system of non-inoculated P. pinaster increased at 1 and 10 mg DFB kg^?1 substrate, and inoculation increased the threshold to the highest concentration. The protective role of the ectomycorrhizal fungus was seen in the increase of CAT activity. This study revealed that despite causing no mortality, diflubenzuron has the ability to cause sub-lethal damage to P. pinaster. The disproportionate use of this insecticide may lead to higher amounts of its residues in soil and the biosphere, endangering trees, fungi and their symbiosis.     

VOC in an urban and industrial harbor on the French North Sea coast during two contrasted meteorological situations

Two measurement campaigns of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were carried out in the industrial city of Dunkerque, using Radiello passive samplers during winter (16–23 January) and summer (6–13 June) 2007. 174 compounds were identified belonging to six chemical families. Classifying sampling sites with similar chemical profiles by hierarchical ascending classification resulted in 4 groups that reflected the influence of the main industrial and urban sources of pollution. Also, the BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes) quantification allowed us to map their levels of concentration. Benzene and toluene (BT) showed high concentrations in Northern Dunkerque reflecting the influence of two industrial plants. Differences among spatial distributions of the BT concentrations over contrasted meteorological conditions were also observed. An atypical ratio of T/B in the summer samples led us to investigate the BTEX origins shedding light on the contribution of pollutants transported across various zones of VOC emissions situated in Europe.