Environmental problems and environmental regulations in Western Europe, 1980–1989

Environmental problems are a function of the process of economic development and the ability to mitigate the problems through regulation. An historical analysis helps to show how the problems have been solved thus far. The objective of this investigation is to present an overview of environmental problems and the corresponding regulations in Western Europe during the 1980s. Environmental problems for 18 Western European countries were identified from abstracts from a data base on environmental literature. The 1977 findings were systematized on the basis of 20 key words according to source and impact, and a new data base was established. The data showed that the main environmental problems in Western Europe were: energy production/acid rain, nuclear power/waste, air pollution/climate, heavy metals, pesticides, water pollution, solid waste, and unforeseen accidents. Many environmental problems are common to most European countries. Regulatory measures differ significantly. In some countries environmental regulations are largely limited to the implementation of European Economic Community (EEC) directives. We have supplemented the national analyses with an examination of existing and proposed EEC regulations along with interviews with civil servants in the EEC Commission. In the 1980s, EEC environmental regulations were similar to environmental regulations in some member states. It is expected that future EEC regulations will be less reflective of those of individual member states.     

Fate of the fungicide dodemorph during anaerobic digestion of biological waste

The aim of this study was to examine the stability and distribution of the fungicide dodemorph during anaerobic digestion of biological waste, including a short subsequent aerobic treatment. Three reactor experiments were conducted. The influences of pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were further studied in batch experiments. The reactor experiments showed no decrease in the concentration of dodemorph, indicating stability of the fungicide. In connection with the results of the batch experiments, a clear pH-dependency of the partitioning of dodemorph between solid and water phase could be shown. At pH values below the pK(a) value of 7.8, protonated dodemorph molecules predominate. However, a release into the water phase was only observed at pH values of 5 and below. It can be assumed that in the pH range between 5 and 7.8 dodemorph forms bonds with carboxyl groups of organic matter. Dodemorph was not completely extractable from the solid waste matrix due to strong bonds with the organic matter. Solubilising effects by water ingredients of the process water were not apparent.     

Environmental regulation of trades by fixed standards: The Danish experience

Summary In 1986, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency established a new regulatory system aimed at small-scale polluting activities. Contrary to the dominant regulatory system based on individual standards for each polluting activity, the new regulatory system established uniform and fixed environmental standards for all activities within a trade. The fixed standards concern location, design and daily operation. Thus far, the new regulatory system has been implemented in the trades of fur farms and auto-repair shops.This study shows that fixed environmental standards reduce the total administrative costs, intensify local monitoring and enforcement of the standards, and improve the environmental state. It is proposed that the following criteria should be considered if the regulatory system is to be implemented in other trades. The trade should consist of many units and be characterised by a moderate pace of technological development, it should posses well-defined and well-known environmental problems, and have a cooperative trade association. In Denmark several trades have been identified as obvious objects for future regulation by fixed environmental standards.Bente Kjærgård is a Research Associate in the Department of Environment, Technology and Social Studies at Roskilde University. Correspondence should be addressed to this author. The other authors are Associate Professors in the same Department. Each author possesses a research degree as follows: Per Homann Jespersen in Chemical Engineering, Henning Schroll in Biology, Jesper Holm in Technological Planning, and Bente Kjærgård in Environmental Planning.     

Attitudes towards the conservation of biological diversity—A case study in Kristianstad Municipality,Sweden

Human actions towards land, freshwater and oceans have already caused biodiversity to decline. This study aims to investigate attitudes towards the conservation of biological biodiversity among different groups in a Swedish city, Kristianstad. An inquiry including statements measuring attitudes towards the conservation of habitats, animals and plants, to the biological diversity within selected local areas, to global and national areas, and to societal issues, was replied to by 271 persons. Deciduous forests, birds and wild flowers were given highest priority. An area categorized as wetland including lakeshore meadows with a rich bird life was prioritized as most important for conservation while a forest area was chosen as best for recreation. The experts gave lower priority to arable land, urban parks, domestic animals, agricultural and garden plants and to conifer forests compared to the other groups. Knowledge about what people in general value as important could facilitate the future planning of nature areas in the city of Kristianstad.     

Microphytobenthos of the Dogger Bank: a comparison between shallow and deep areas using phytopigment composition of the sediment

The surface sediment characteristics related to benthic microalgae primary production were studied at the Dogger Bank, North Sea, in order to evaluate the potential role of microphytobenthos as a food source for the macrobenthic fauna. Twenty-one stations were sampled in July 2001 and May 2002, with water depth ranging from 16.3 to 68.5 m. High-performance liquid chromatography pigment analyses revealed that concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin are mainly associated with benthic diatom flora at most parts of the Dogger Bank. High percentage of phytopigments (>50%) was firmly attached to sand grains at the stations shallower than 40 m water depth. The deeper stations were characterized by a phytopigment composition originating from pelagic phytoplankton settled on the sea floor. Qualitative microscopy showed that the benthic microflora on top of the Bank mainly consists of small diatoms (5–10 μm), such as e.g., Diploneis spp., living attached to the sand grains. The results are discussed concerning possible implications for ecology and biogeochemistry of the Dogger Bank area.     

Photochemical behavior of chlorsulfuronR in water and in adsorbed phase

The photochemistry of the herbicide chlorsulfuron^R (2-chloro-N-[[4-methoxy-6-methyl-1.3.5-triazinyl-2-amino]carbonyl]benzene sulfonamide) was investigated in methanol, distilled water, natural creek-water, on silica gel and on montmorillonit surfaces. The rate of degradation was determined in outdoor and indoor experiments simulating tropospheric conditions (λ>290 nm). Two major photoproducts were identified in all cases.     

BIOGEOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF GLOBAL CHANGE ON U.S. NATIONAL PARKS1

ABSTRACT: Federal parks and other public lands have unique mandates and rules regulating their use and conservation. Because of variation in their response to local, regional, and global‐scale disturbance, development of mitigation strategies requires substantial research in the context of long‐term inventory and monitoring. In 1982, the National Park Service began long‐term, watershed‐level studies in a series of national parks. The objective was to provide a more comprehensive database against which the effects of global change and other issues could be quantified. A subset of five sites in North Carolina, Texas, Washington, Michigan, and Alaska, is examined here. During the last 50 years, temperatures have declined at the southern sites and increased at the northern sites with the greatest increase in Alaska. Only the most southern site has shown an increase in precipitation amount. The net effect of these trends, especially for the most northern and southern sites, would likely be an increase in the growing season and especially the time soil processes could continue without moisture or temperature limitations. During the last 18 years, there were few trends in atmospheric ion inputs. The most evident was the decline in SO₄² deposition. There were no significant relationships between ion input and stream water output. This finding suggests other factors as modification of precipitation or canopy throughfall by soil processes, hydrologic flow path, and snowmelt rates are major processes regulating stream water chemical outputs.