Identification of Mn-oxide minerals in some soils from Devon,UK, and their varying capacity to adsorb Co and Cu

A number of Mn-oxide minerals in soils from a farm in North Devon have been tentatively identified using a combination of advanced analytical techniques: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning electron microprobe (SEMP), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and bulk chemical analysis by wet digestion followed by inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP). The minerals lithiophorite and hollandite are thought to occur throughout the study area although there is considerable geographical variation in the proportions of minerals present. Bimessite, vernadite, romanechite, todorokite and cryptomelane may also be present, although in smaller amounts. The use of SEMP, together with a simple sorption experiment, has allowed a study of the extent of uptake of Co and Cu by different Mn-oxide minerals. Lithiophorite appears to take up Co and Cu more effectively than hollandite within a pH range of 4–6.     

Evolution of environmental impact assessment as applied to watershed modification projects in Canada

This article reviews the application of environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures and practices to three watershed modification projects situaled in western Canada. These ventures were justified for accelerating regional economic development, and cover the period during which public concerns for protecting the environment rapidly made their way into the national political agenda. An historical account and analysis of the situation, therefore, seems desirable in order to understand the development of EIA processes, practices, and methodologies since the start of construction of the first project in 1961. This study concludes that there has been good progress in predicting and evaluating environmental and related social impacts of watershed modification proposals. However, a number of obstacles need to be overcome before EIA can firmly establish itself as an effective planning tool. These difficulties include jurisdictional confusions and conflicts, division of authority and responsibility in designing and implementing appropriate mitigative and monitoring measures, lack of tested EIA methodologies, and limited availability of qualified human resources. A number of conclusions and suggestions are offered so that future watershed modification proposals may be planned and implemented in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. These include: (1) EIA processes must be completed before irrevocable decisions are made. (2) Any major intrusion into a watershed is likely to impact on some major components of the ecosystem(s). (3) Mitigation costs must form part of the benefit-cost analysis of any project proposal. (4) Interjurisdictional cooperation is imperative where watersheds cross political boundaries. (5) The EIA process is a public process, hence public concerns must be dealt with fairly. (6) The role of science in the EIA process must be at arms length from project proponents and regulators, and allowed to function in the interest of the protection of the environment and public health and safety. The views expressed here are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of FEARO and/or other government agencies and officials involved in the review of these projects.     

Violating the psychological contract: Not the exception but the norm

The occurrence and impact of psychological contract violations were studied among graduate management alumni (N = 128) who were surveyed twice, once at graduation (immediately following recruitment) and then two years later. Psychological contracts, reciprocal obligations in employment developed during and after recruitment, were reported by a majority of respondents (54.8 per cent) as having been violated by their employers. The impact of violations are examined using both quantitative and qualitative data. Occurrence of violations correlated positively with turnover and negatively with trust, satisfaction and intentions to remain.     

南宁城市大气污染对人体健康的危害及治理对策

南宁市大气属煤烟型污染 ,大气的主要污染物为SO2 、NOx、TSP、降尘 ,虽然随着环境管理和污染治理工作的加强 ,污染物浓度逐年下降 ,但是工业区大气污染仍然较重。污染物流行病学调查显示 :工业区癌症和呼吸系统疾病死亡率均高于全市平均水平 2倍左右 ,城区又高于郊区 2倍 ,大气污染综合指数与呼吸内科门诊就诊人数呈正相关。用邓聚龙的灰色系统理论分析得知污染物对癌症和呼吸系统疾病死亡率有关联 ,关联度从大到小排序为 :TSP >降尘 >SO2 >NOx ,最后提出了大气污染治理的对策。     

《Ambio》专刊<酸化水体的生物恢复--北方湖泊恢复研究>前言

20世纪70和80年代,"酸雨"成为一个主要公共政策问题.在加拿大和北欧的斯堪的纳维亚半岛的酸化水体中,生物群落及生境遭到频繁破坏,诸如土著鲑鱼和鳟鱼种群受损乃至灭绝的现象屡见不鲜.     

The Role of Foreign Direct Investment in Urban Environmental Management: Some Evidence from Hanoi, Vietnam

In recent years flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) to developing countries have rapidly been increasing. It is now an important contributor to the national economy and urban growth in scores of developing countries. Rapid urbanization in these countries is leading to many problems in the cities. Existing urban infrastructure and municipal services have been unable to cope with the increased demand arising from growing population and rapid economic growth. Consequently, the environment in these cities has deteriorated alarmingly. This paper assesses the role of FDI in urban environmental management (UEM) by analyzing the linkages between them for Hanoi City in Vietnam. The paper's analysis and findings are presented under three main themes: one, FDI, employment and income; two, FDI and environmental degradation; and three, potential of utilizing FDI for the provision of urban environmental infrastructure and services (UEI&S) in order to improve the urban environment. Both primary and secondary source data have been used. Policy implications of the research findings are drawn from the perspective of sustainable development.     

Assessment of environmental changes in the Orinoco River delta

Major anthropogenic driven changes in the hydrologic and sedimentation patterns of the Orinoco River have had an impact on environmental conditions in the delta. The abrupt water flow reduction from 3,600 to 200 m³ s^–1 in one of its major distributaries resulting from dam construction forced its transformation from a fresh-water body into a tidal channel with an increase in salinity level (as far as 100 km upstream) and with well-mixed water at the mouth and estuarine connection to the Paria Gulf. Three different sectors along this distributary can be identified (indicated by the Na/Cl ratio in the water). As a result, noticeable changes have occurred in the mangrove community which moved about 60 km further upstream. The changes have also promoted the formation of new islands of sediment progradation at the mouth of this distributary, where successional colonization and species replacement by different species of grasses and mangroves take place. Electronic Publication     

Prenatal diagnosis of femur-fibula-ulna complex by ultrasonography in a male fetus at 24 weeks of gestation

We present a case of ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis at 24 weeks of femur—fibula—ulna (FFU) complex. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an early prenatal diagnosis of FFU.     

长江三峡地区坡地发育初步研究

坡地发育是地貌学研究的基本问题之一。三峡地区坡地发育的研究对三峡库岸稳定性的评估和三峡移民的土地开发具有十分重要的意义。首先从概括坡地发育的研究进展，阐述科学家们对坡地发育的不同看法入手，引出三峡地区坡地发育的特殊性。初步研究三峡地区的坡地发育具有分段式分进的特点，包括中山峰陡坡的剥蚀后退过程，山顶缓坡的风化剥蚀夷平的过程，上段斜坡的片流坡地侵蚀过程，下段陡坡的剥坡后退过程，山麓堆积缓坡的剥蚀过程等。通过分析三峡地区坡地的五种坡段的成因、现状、发展趋势以及它们对三峡库区的稳定性和三峡移民的土地开发的影响，预测未来的三峡库岸，大部分为剥蚀陡坡，部分为崩塌滑坡陡坡，三峡沿岸城镇开发建设的重点将是库岸有坡地的防护工程。