Role of Chinese wind-blown dust in enhancing environmental pollution in Metropolitan Seoul

A suite of rock magnetic experiments and intensive microscopic observations were carried out on Asian dust deposits in Seoul, Korea, collected on 19 and 23 March 2002, 9 April 2002 and 12 April 2003. Desert-sand and loess from the dust source regions in China were also analyzed as a comparison. Asian dust showed a higher magnetic concentration than the source region samples, indicating a significant influx of magnetic particles into Asian dust had occurred during its transportation. Electron microscopy identified carbon-bearing iron-oxides as the added material. These iron-oxides were likely to have been produced by anthropogenic pollution (fossil fuel combustion) while the wind-blown dusts passing across the industrial areas of eastern China and western Korea. Such wind-paths were confirmed by a simulation of the air-mass trajectories. The magnetic technique appears to be useful for determining the anthropogenic pollution of Asian dust.     

Children's behavioral traits and risk of injury: Analyses from a case-control study of agricultural households

Problem

Children on family agricultural operations have high risk of injury. The association between children's behavioral traits and their risk of injury is not well understood.

Method

Data from the Regional Rural Injury Study-II were used to assess behavioral risk factors for injury to children ages six to < 20 years. A total of 379 injury events (cases) and 1,562 randomly selected controls were identified. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), calculated using logistic regression, were used to estimate injury risk in reference to behavioral traits.

Results

Injury risks were greater for children with high levels of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.9, CI = 1.0-3.7) and aggression (OR = 1.6, CI = 0.9-2.7), and low levels of careful/cautious behavior (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.1-2.9). Children with low levels of self-regulation had reduced risks (OR = 0.4, CI = 0.2-0.8).

Discussion

Results suggest that children's behaviors affect their risk of agricultural injury. Additional research could elucidate mechanisms and inform interventions.

Impact on industry

The development of multifaceted, sustainable approaches for prevention is necessary for this unique population. These findings suggest a need for interventions that incorporate specific behavior-related risk factors in the context of family farms and ranches.     

石笋灰度和同位素对末次冰期气候事件的响应

对石笋多指标的研究有利于全面理解季风气候事件的变化特征和机制。以湖北永兴洞YX55石笋为研究对象,通过高精度U/Th定年和多指标分析重建了65~35 ka B.P.石笋灰度和稳定同位素的变化序列。在65~40 ka B.P.时段,石笋灰度、δ¹³C与δ¹⁸O都呈现出数个千年至亚千年尺度的变化,但δ¹³C变化幅度比δ¹⁸O小得多。这说明灰度和δ¹³C这类代表局域气候的指标,都响应于δ¹⁸O指示的Heinrich（H）事件和Dansgaard-Oeschger（DO）旋回,但响应的程度各不相同。H4期间,石笋δ¹³C和灰度呈现不一致变化：δ¹³C不像在其他H事件一样小幅振荡,而是大幅正偏（相当于其他H事件2~3倍）;灰度则显示出和DO旋回一致的特征。这种δ¹³C/灰度与δ¹⁸O异常响应关系可能的机制是：H4期间季风强度急剧减弱,使得洞穴上覆土壤覆盖率大幅降低,从而削弱或阻止了土壤—岩溶系统的过滤能力,使石笋中杂质含量异常增加。     

Exploring the circumstances surrounding flood fatalities in Australia—1900–2015 and the implications for policy and practice

This paper documents the analysis of the circumstances surrounding fatalities due to flooding in Australia between 1900 and 2015. This longitudinal investigation is important to understand changing trends in social vulnerability and to inform efficient and strategic risk reduction strategies. The basis of this analysis was PerilAUS, Risk Frontiers’ database of historical natural hazard impacts in Australia. This data was augmented and verified using coronial inquest records which provide detailed data concerning the social, demographic and environmental circumstances of each fatality. A statistical analysis of the data was undertaken, examining demographics (age, gender), location (state), seasonality, circumstances surrounding the fatality, environmental factors (e.g. the event intensity) and social factors (e.g. the decisions or actions which led to death). Overall there have been 1859 fatalities identified, with distinct trends in relation to gender, age, activity and reason behind the activity. Flood deaths have been declining. The majority of the fatalities are male (79.3%): however, since the 1960s the proportion of female to male fatalities has increased. Children and young adults (<29 years) make up the greatest proportion of the fatalities (53.8% of cases where age is known). The highest proportions of fatalities occurred while victims attempted to cross a flood-impacted bridge or road. The recommendations for emergency management policy and practice are discussed, outlining the need for a new approach that accounts for a continuum of measures including regulation and incentive, education and structural intervention.     

Exploring tensions and conflicts in invasive species management: The case of Asian carp

There is a growing recognition that scientific and social conflict pervades invasive species management, but there is a need for empirical work that can help better understand these conflicts and how they can be addressed. We examined the tensions and conflicts facing invasive Asian carp management in Minnesota by conducting 16 in-depth interviews with state and federal agency officials, academics, and stakeholders. Interviewees discussed the tensions and conflicts they saw impacting management, their implications, and what could be done to address them. We found three key areas of conflict and tension in Asian carp management: 1) scientific uncertainty concerning the impacts of Asian carp and the efficacy and non-target effects of possible management actions; 2) social uncertainty concerning both the lack of societal agreement on how to respond to Asian carp and the need to avoid acting from apathy and/or fear; and 3) the desired approach to research and management – whether it is informed by “political need” or “biological reality”. Our study of these tensions and conflicts reveals their importance to Asian carp management and to invasive species management, more broadly. We conclude with a discussion of possible ways to address these areas of tension and conflict, including the potential of deliberative, participatory approaches to risk-related decision making and the need to productively engage with apathy and fear.     

Energy Use and Sulphur Dioxide Emissions in Asia

This paper presents a review of energy use in 22 selected countries of Asia and estimates the anthropogenic emission of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) for the selected countries, both at national and disaggregated sub-country regional levels. The paper also makes a comparative assessment of the Asian countries in terms of SO₂emission intensity (i.e. emission per GDP), emission per capita and emission density (i.e. emission per unit area). Total SO₂emission in the region was estimated to be about 38 million tons in 1990. Five countries, China, India, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, accounted for over 91% of the regional SO₂emission. Coal use had the dominant share (81%) of the total emission from the region. Among the economic sectors, industry contributed the largest share (49%) to the total emissions of the selected countries as a whole, followed by the power sector (30%). These findings suggest the need for mitigation strategies focussed on the industry and power sectors of the major emitting countries in Asia.     

亚青会期间南京污染气体与气溶胶中水溶性离子的分布特征

使用β射线测尘仪、EMS污染气体监测系统、安德森9级采样器和IC型离子色谱分析仪对2013年8月10~28日南京市亚青会期间PM2.5、污染气体和水溶性离子进行了观测分析.结果表明,在亚青会期间PM2.5、NO2、O3和CO的浓度分别为37.0、19.3、48.1和0.7×103μg·m-3,分别比亚青会前降低了26.0%、42.6%、36.1%和46.1%.亚青会期间,细粒子段主要水溶性离子为Na+、NH+4、Ca2+和SO2-4,占80.6%;粗粒子段主要水溶性离子为Na+、Ca2+、NO-3和SO2-4,占77.9%.Ca2+、Mg2+和NO-3在亚青会期间为双峰型分布,其余离子为三峰型分布;亚青会前和后水溶性离子均为三峰型分布.由NO-3/SO2-4的值判断亚青会前和后南京市SO2和NOx主要来自于移动源,在亚青会期间主要来自固定源.     

华北火电厂脱硫对奥运期间区域空气质量的影响

采用MM5-CMAQ模式系统模拟研究了2006—2008年间华北火电厂脱硫工程实施对奥运期间区域空气质量的影响,并对比研究了脱硫前后华北地区二氧化硫(SO2)、硫酸盐气溶胶(ASO4)浓度及能见度的变化.结果表明,华北火电厂脱硫可有效削减区域SO2和ASO4浓度,在奥运气象条件下,脱硫促使京津冀、山东北部、山西东部、内蒙河套地区SO2浓度下降1~10 ppbv,而大部分地区ASO4浓度下降约1μg·m-3.北京是SO2浓度降低最明显的地区,其SO2浓度下降百分比超过50%;太行山脉沿线、泰山地区是ASO4浓度下降最明显的地区,浓度降低达2μg·m-3.火电厂脱硫同时促使北京、河北大部、山西北部及内蒙南部地区的能见度上升0.5 km以上.     

重庆黑风洞石笋灰度记录的全新世季风气候变化

基于重庆地区黑风洞石笋HF01的~(230)Th年代数据、灰度数据、氧同位素数据和Fe含量数据,重建了长江中上游地区全新世季风变化历史。结果显示石笋HF01的灰度值主要响应东亚季风变化,石笋灰度序列能够记录东亚全新世季风气候变化历史,即全新世早中期东亚夏季风增强,在6 ka B.P.以后季风逐渐减弱。石笋HF01的灰度序列清晰地记录了一系列的Bond事件,显示石笋灰度值对气候环境变化敏感,是可靠的气候环境信息载体;也进一步证明东亚季风不仅受太阳辐射驱动,还受高纬地区千年尺度的气候变化影响。石笋HF01灰度序列功率谱所呈现的55 a周期与太平洋数10 a尺度涛动(PDO)的50~70a周期一致,45、25、23、22、18、12 a周期接近于太阳活动周期,说明在数十年至百年尺度上东亚季风可能受太平洋涛动和太阳活动的共同影响。     

Molecular genetic and behavioral analysis of social organization in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

We report on the genetic evaluation and behavioral study of social organization in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Although Asian elephants and African elephants (Loxodonta africana) were previously thought to have similar social organizations, our results demonstrate a substantial difference in the complexity and structure of Asian elephant social groupings from that described for African savanna elephants. Photographic cataloging of individuals, radio telemetry, and behavioral observations in Ruhuna National Park, Sri Lanka, enabled us to assign associated females and young to four groups with overlapping ranges. Genetic sampling of individuals from the four groups in Ruhuna National Park and three other groups in surrounding areas, conducted through PCR amplification and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA from dung, supported the matriarchal nature of female groups and the lack of inter-group transfer of females. Behaviorally and genetically, the identified social groups were best described as ”family groups”. We did not find any evidence for the existence of social groups of higher complexity than family groups. Received: 25 March 2000 / Received in revised form: 28 March 2000 / Accepted: 1 April 2000