Radiological monitoring: terrestrial natural radionuclides in Kinta District,Perak, Malaysia

Natural background gamma radiation and radioactivity concentrations were investigated from 2003 to 2005 in Kinta District, Perak, Malaysia. Sample locations were distant from any ‘amang’ processing plants. The external gamma dose rates ranged from 39 to 1039 nGy h⁻¹. The mean external gamma dose rate was 222 ± 191 nGy h⁻¹. Small areas of relatively enhanced activity were located having external gamma dose rates of up to 1039 ± 104 nGy h⁻¹. The activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were analyzed by using a high-resolution co-axial HPGe detector system. The activity concentration ranges were 12–426 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, 19–1377 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th and <19–2204 Bq kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰ K. Based on the radioactivity levels determined, the gamma-absorbed dose rates in air at 1 m above the ground were calculated. The calculated dose rates and measured dose rates had a good correlation coefficient, R of 0.94. To evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the gamma-absorbed dose rate and the mean population weighted dose rate were calculated. An isodose map for the Kinta District was also produced.     

Variation in indoor levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from burning various biomass types in the traditional grass-roofed households in Western Kenya

Biomass burning as fuel in the traditional grass-roofed rural households of Western Province of Kenya in open fire places, in poorly ventilated conditions, lead to accumulation of soot under the roofs. This study characterized and quantified the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in accumulated soot in these households and determined the variation in PAHs concentrations with fuel biomass type. Soot samples collected from the households were extracted, cleaned and analysed by gas chromatography. The PAHs were identified using retention times, verified by gas chromatographic mass spectral analysis and quantified from peak area responses using the internal standard method. The PAHs levels significantly varied (P ≤ 0.05) with biomass type in the order: dung ≥ indigenous trees ≥ exotic trees ≥ shrubs and crop residues. Use of dung and wood from indigenous trees as fuel should be discouraged since they are higher emitters (P ≤ 0.05) of carcinogenic PAHs.     

Changes in cell-type composition in digestive gland of slugs and its influence in biomarkers following transplantation between a relatively unpolluted and a chronically metal-polluted site

Changes in cell-type composition (CCTC) is a general phenomenon that takes place in the digestive gland epithelium of stressed molluscs. The aim of the present work was to determine whether CCTC is a reversible process in the digestive gland of sentinel slugs chronically exposed to metal pollution and how CCTC affects metal accumulation parameters and different cell and tissue biomarkers of exposure and effect. Slugs (Arion ater) from an abandoned zinc mine were transferred to a relatively unpolluted site and the other way around for 3, 10 and 28 d. The volume density of black silver deposits (Vv_BSD) after autometallography, and metallothionein (MT) levels were used as biomarkers of exposure to metals and CCTC and lysosomal responses were selected as effect biomarkers. Results indicated that slugs were sensitive to recent metal pollution; however, slugs chronically exposed to metals presented some characteristic features and were less responsive to pollution cessation without signs of CCTC reversal.     

Assessment of Changes in Stream and Riparian Conditions of the Marys River Basin,Nevada1

Abstract: Stream and riparian managers must effectively allocate limited financial and personnel resources to monitor and manage riparian ecosystems. They need to use management strategies and monitoring methods that are compatible with their objectives and the response potential of each stream reach. Our objective is to help others set realistic management objectives by comparing results from different methods used to document riparian recovery across a diversity of stream types. The Bureau of Land Management Elko Field Office, Nevada, used stream survey, riparian proper functioning condition (PFC) assessment, repeat photographic analysis, and stream and ecological classification to study 10 streams within the Marys River watershed of northeast Nevada during all or parts of 20 years. Most riparian areas improved significantly from 1979 to 1992‐1993 and then additionally by 1997‐2000. Improvements were observed in riparian and habitat condition indices, bank cover, and stability, pool quality, bank angle, and depth of undercut bank. Interpretation of repeat photography generally confirmed results from stream survey and should be part of long‐term riparian monitoring. More attributes of Rosgen stream types C and E improved than of types B and F. A and Gc streams did not show significant improvement. Alluvial draws and alluvial valleys improved in more ways than V‐erosional canyons and especially V‐depositional canyons. Stream survey data could not be substituted for riparian PFC assessment. Riparian PFC assessments help interpret other data.     

国外Ⅲ型环境标志发展概况

以国外Ⅲ型环境标志的发展为主要研究对象,总结了Ⅲ型环境标志的产生及发展情况。分析了国际上Ⅲ型环境标志发展较为成熟的瑞典、日本、韩国三个国家的Ⅲ型环境标志的发展概况,并总结了对发展Ⅲ型环境标志的经验。     

环境水体中油的采样工具的设计及其可行性研究

由于油在水中呈不均匀分布的特性,所以有关环境水体中油的采样工具,一直是环保部门关注的焦点。为此提出了“理想（或称假想）水柱”的概念,并依此设计出一种在环境监测工作中使用的便携式测水中油用采样器,适用于工业废水、生活污水及污染的地表水的采取。其特点是,一个底部可开闭的采样器,采样器中的采样瓶（包括瓶底衬盖、瓶底盖）与内拉杆、外套管通过螺纹联接,移动内拉杆、外套管,便可以方便地采取一定面积下的含油水柱。采样瓶装卸简单,运输方便,在实验室中可将其直接用作操作瓶。用这种采样器,计算结果将更接近真实情况。本装置已于９２ 年１２ 月３０日获国家发明专利,专利号：８９１０２４７１．９,证书号：１６３８１。     

景区建成环境对游客空间分布的影响研究——以台儿庄古城为例

游客的合理分布是景区规划管理与需求预测的重要部分,是实现景区有效保护和良性发展的关键环节。综合运用ArcGIS与Depthmap软件对台儿庄古城景区建成环境因素进行量化处理,探讨景区建成环境对游客空间分布的影响,并提出景区规划提升策略。结果表明:①整合度与入口关系、业态聚客力与景点吸引力显著正向影响游客空间分布,空间深度与选择度对游客空间分布的影响不显著。②台儿庄古城空间范围内的业态及景点沿整合度高的大衙门街两侧集聚,景区空间与功能的对应关系较为紧密。     

Improving species-based area protection in Antarctica

Area protection is a major mechanism deployed for environmental conservation in Antarctica. Yet, the Antarctic protected areas network is widely acknowledged as inadequate, in part because the criteria for area protection south of 60°S are not fully applied. The most poorly explored of these criteria is the type locality of species, which provides the primary legal means for Antarctic species-based area protection and a method for conserving species even if little is known about their habitat or distribution. The type locality criterion has not been systematically assessed since its incorporation into the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty in 1991, so the extent to which the criterion is being met or might be useful for area protection is largely unknown. To address the matter, we created and analyzed a comprehensive database of Antarctic type localities of terrestrial and lacustrine lichens, plants, and animals. We compiled the database via a literature search of key taxonomic and geographic terms and then analyzed the distance between type localities identifiable to a ≤ 25km² resolution and current Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and human infrastructure. We used a distance-clustering approach for localities outside current ASPAs to determine candidate protected areas that could contain these unprotected localities. Of the 386 type localities analyzed, 108 were within or overlapped current ASPAs. Inclusion of the remaining 278 type localities in the ASPA network would require the designation of a further 105 protected areas. Twenty-four of these areas included human infrastructure disturbance. Given the slow rate of ASPA designation, growing pace of human impacts on the continent, and the management burden associated with ASPAs, we propose ways in which the type locality criterion might best be deployed. These include a comprehensive, systematic conservation planning approach and an alternative emphasis on the habitat of species, rather than on a single locality.