Prospects for Reconciling the Conflict between Economic Growth and Biodiversity Conservation with Technological Progress

Abstract: The conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation is understood in portions of academia and sometimes acknowledged in political circles. Nevertheless, there is not a unified response. In political and policy circles, the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is posited to solve the conflict between economic growth and environmental protection. In academia, however, the EKC has been deemed fallacious in macroeconomic scenarios and largely irrelevant to biodiversity. A more compelling response to the conflict is that it may be resolved with technological progress. Herein I review the conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation in the absence of technological progress, explore the prospects for technological progress to reconcile that conflict, and provide linguistic suggestions for describing the relationships among economic growth, technological progress, and biodiversity conservation. The conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation is based on the first two laws of thermodynamics and principles of ecology such as trophic levels and competitive exclusion. In this biophysical context, the human economy grows at the competitive exclusion of nonhuman species in the aggregate. Reconciling the conflict via technological progress has not occurred and is infeasible because of the tight linkage between technological progress and economic growth at current levels of technology. Surplus production in existing economic sectors is required for conducting the research and development necessary for bringing new technologies to market. Technological regimes also reflect macroeconomic goals, and if the goal is economic growth, reconciliatory technologies are less likely to be developed. As the economy grows, the loss of biodiversity may be partly mitigated with end‐use innovation that increases technical efficiency, but this type of technological progress requires policies that are unlikely if the conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation (and other aspects of environmental protection) is not acknowledged.     

配套养殖体系中部分抗生素的污染特征

采用超声提取-固相萃取-高效液相色谱串联质谱技术分析配套养殖体系粪便、水体和沉积物中4种磺胺类(SAs)、2种四环素类(TCs)、2种大环内酯(MLs)和2种喹诺酮类(QLs)抗生素的含量和分布特征.研究结果显示,在水体中共检出8种抗生素,浓度在ND—382 ng·L-1,2种四环素类抗生素未被检出,且水体中抗生素的浓度呈现旱季高于雨季;沉积物中共检出7种抗生素,其浓度分别在ND—3400μg·kg-1范围内,磺胺嘧啶(SDZ)、磺胺甲噁唑(SMX)和罗红霉素(RTM)未被检出;在猪粪和鸭粪中均检出甲氧苄啶(TMP)、诺氟沙星(NFX)、脱水红霉素(ETM-H2O)和罗红霉素(RTM),同时猪粪中还检出2种四环素类,鸭粪中检出磺胺二甲嘧啶(SMZ)和环丙沙星(CFX),其中鸭粪中甲氧苄啶的最高浓度达到6.11 mg·kg-1.研究结果表明,不同介质中抗生素的含量存在一定差异,其中磺胺类抗生素在水体中浓度最高,喹诺酮类和四环素类在沉积物中的浓度最高;粪便中抗生素的种类与施药的种类密切相关,并且可能会加剧抗生素对水体环境的污染.     

广州地区孕妇羊水中PCBs暴露水平初步研究

随机采集广州地区非职业PCBs(polychlorinated biphenyls,多氯联苯)暴露单胎孕妇分娩时羊水,分析羊水中PCBs浓度水平;结合孕妇临床资料(年龄、孕周、身体质量指数(body mass index,BMI))以及孕妇居住环境信息等,阐明了广州地区非职业暴露孕妇羊水PCBs蓄积的影响因素。结果表明,∑33PCBs浓度为15.91-324.38 ng·g-1,平均值为114.34±83.52 ng·g-1,中值为84.8 5ng·g-1;其中十氯含量最低,平均浓度为2.66±3.46 ng·g-1,中值为1.47 ng·g-1;六氯PCBs含量最高,平均浓度为28.79±33.84 ng·g-1,中值为17.48 ng·g-1。样本中有31种PCBs同分异构体在孕妇羊水中检出,分别为PCB 8、28、30、49、52、70、74、77、82、87、99、101、105、114、118、126、128、138、153、156、158、166、169、170、179、180、183、187、189、198和209;羊水主要的PCBs暴露以五氯PCBs、六氯PCBs和七氯PCBs为主,主要的同分异构体为PCB 138(4.73%)、179(4.15%)、153(3.92%)、183(3.89%)、166(3.77%)、187(3.74%)以及180(3.67%);暴露水平与美国、西班牙、加拿大等地区相比属于严重水平。统计结果显示,年龄、身体质量指数和孕周与PCBs蓄积有显著性正相关关系;工业区居住的孕妇相与非工业区居住孕妇相比,上述统计结果更为显著。     

Structural equation model of the influence of noise annoyance on miners’ unsafe behavior in coal mines

Miners' unsafe behavior (UB) is the main cause of coal mine accidents. Previous research has suggested that excessive noise in tunnels impacts miners' temperaments and safe production behavior. To explore the influence of noise on UB, four different dimensions of noise annoyance were identified: cognitive, emotional, communication, and physical mechanism annoyance. The coal mine noise annoyance scale, miners' unsafe behavior intention (UBI) scale, and miners’ UB scale were developed according to different dimensions. In the first survey, a total of 200 questionnaires were distributed in the two coal mines, and 193 valid questionnaires were recovered. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and invalid items were removed according to the analysis results to form the final scale. Then, 500 final scales were distributed in two Chinese coal mines, and 482 valid questionnaires were collected. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted by collating the data of the second questionnaire. Based upon the structural equation model (SEM), the SEM of the influence of noise annoyance degree on UB and the path analysis with latent variable path analysis with the latent variables (PA-LVs) mediating model of the effect of UBI on UB were established, and the path coefficients with fitting data of the model were analyzed. The results indicated that the four dimensions of coal mine noise annoyance had a strong positive impact on UB, which was reduced by less noise annoyance. In addition, the Bootstrap method was used to verify the mediating method among the four dimensions of noise annoyance, cognitive annoyance, emotional annoyance, with communication annoyance indirectly affecting UB through UBI. The research results provide theoretical support for reducing the UB of miners and improving coal mine safety levels.     

White clover clones as a cost-effective indicator of phytotoxic ozone: 10 years of experience from central Italy

Data collected at one site in central Italy using the NC-S/NC-R clover (Trifolium repens) biotype system during 1997-2007 were analysed in order to assess: (a) its performance under Mediterranean conditions; (b) variations of ozone damage linked with meteorological conditions; (c) if critical level approach is a good predictor of ozone risk on vegetation. NC-S dry biomasses were systematically lower than those of NC-R, the mean ratio being 0.7. Relevant relationship between ozone visible injury and cumulated values of AOT40 were also reported. Temperature and number of rainy days were the most important factors associated with ozone presence and, as a consequence, with leaf injury index. Photosynthetic gas exchange properties indicate that NC-S has higher values of stomatal conductance.     

A global assessment of chromium pollution using sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species

Chromium (Cr) is a well-known human carcinogen and a potential reproductive toxicant, but its contribution to ocean pollution is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to provide a global baseline for Cr as a marine pollutant using the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species. Biopsies were collected from free-ranging whales around the globe during the voyage of the research vessel The Odyssey. Total Cr levels were measured in 361 sperm whales collected from 16 regions around the globe detectable levels ranged from 0.9 to 122.6 μg Cr g tissue⁻¹ with a global mean of 8.8 ± 0.9 μg g⁻¹. Two whales had undetectable levels. The highest levels were found in sperm whales sampled in the waters near the Islands of Kiribati in the Pacific (mean = 44.3 ± 14.4) and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean (mean = 19.5 ± 5.4 μg g⁻¹). The lowest mean levels were found in whales near the Canary Islands (mean = 3.7 ± 0.8 μg g⁻¹) and off of the coast of Sri Lanka (mean = 3.3 ± 0.4 μg g⁻¹). The global mean Cr level in whale skin was 28-times higher than mean Cr skin levels in humans without occupational exposure. The whale levels were more similar to levels only observed previously in human lung tissue from workers who died of Cr-induced lung cancer. We conclude that Cr pollution in the marine environment is significant and that further study is urgently needed.     

宁东基地大气PAHs污染特征及呼吸暴露风险

利用主动观测技术对宁东能源化工基地大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0和气相中的PAHs浓度水平、族谱特征、时空分布及来源进行研究,并基于该观测数据对居民呼吸暴露健康风险进行评估.结果表明,宁东基地大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0及气相中∑₁₆PAHs浓度范围分别为：17.95~325.12ng/m³、12.66~311.96ng/m³和26.33~97.88ng/m³,年均浓度分别为（99.42±117.48）ng/m³、（78.88±100.58）ng/m³和（57.89±47.39）ng/m³.宝丰基地冬夏季大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0和气相中∑₁₆PAHs浓度水平均明显高于英力特;宝丰和英力特基地冬季大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0中∑₁₆PAHs浓度水平均明显高于夏季浓度.宁东基地大气中∑₁₆PAHs的浓度水平要高于国内外其他城市,大气PAHs污染较为严重.源解析表明夏季宁东基地PAHs的主要排放源是工业煤燃烧和机动车尾气,冬季则主要来自工业煤燃烧和木材、薪柴等生物质燃烧排放.宁东基地人群暴露于大气PAHs可能会造成平均冬季每百万人中约有33~2628人罹患癌症,夏季每百万人中约有11~834人罹患癌症的风险.     

内蒙古河套灌区盐碱土壤N2O排放特征

选择内蒙古河套灌区强度盐碱土壤S₁[电导率（EC）2.60dS/m]和轻度盐碱土壤S₂[电导率（EC） 0.74dS/m]为研究对象,2014~2016年,利用静态箱法3年野外原位观测试验,研究盐碱土壤氧化亚氮（N₂O）排放通量.结果表明：2种不同盐碱程度土壤N₂O排放每年均存在显著差异,轻度盐碱土壤N₂O累积排放量低;随EC升高,土壤盐碱程度加重,土壤N₂O累积排放量升高.2014~2016年作物生长季（4~11月）轻度盐碱土壤N₂O累积排放量分别为180.6,167.6,118.2mg/m²;强度盐碱土壤N₂O累积排放量比轻度盐碱土壤分别增加19%、26%和45%,修复盐碱土壤成为减缓盐碱土壤N₂O累积排放的重要农艺措施.     

青海省西宁市和天峻县大气颗粒物中有机氯农药和类二噁英多氯联苯的水平与分布

本研究测定了青海省西宁市与海西蒙古族藏族自治州天峻县夏、冬两季大气颗粒物中有机氯农药(OCPs)和类二噁英多氯联苯(DL-PCBs)的浓度水平.结果表明,青海省大气颗粒物中OCPs主要为DDTs、HCHs.西宁市DDTs和HCHs的平均水平分别为:35 pg·m-3、5.9 pg·m-3(夏季)和93 pg·m-3、11 pg·m-3(冬季),天峻县DDTs和HCHs的平均水平分别为:83pg·m-3、6.4 pg·m-3(夏季)和28 pg·m-3、6.7 pg·m-3(冬季).与亚洲其它地区相比,青海省大气颗粒物中OCPs处于较低水平.西宁市大气颗粒物中DL-PCBs的平均水平分别为:0.52 pg·m-3(夏季),0.99 pg·m-3(冬季),天峻县为:0.58 pg·m-3(夏季)、0.52 pg·m-3(冬季).西宁市夏、冬两季OCPs的平均水平均大于天峻县,而两地DL-PCBs的平均水平相当.本研究中高原地区DL-PCBs的分布特点及变化规律与极地地区的研究相比存在一定的相似性,而DDTs和HCHs则存在差异性.     

Mercury accumulation in soils and plants in the Almadén mining district, Spain: one of the most contaminated sites on Earth

Although mercury (Hg) mining in the Almadén district ceased in May 2002, the consequences of 2000 years of mining in the district has resulted in the dissemination of Hg into the surrounding environment where it poses an evident risk to biota and human health. This risk needs to be properly evaluated. The uptake of Hg has been found to be plant-specific. To establish the different manners in which plants absorb Hg, we carried out a survey of Hg levels in the soils and plants in the most representative habitats of this Mediterranean area and found that the Hg concentrations varied greatly and were dependent on the sample being tested (0.13–2,695 μg g⁻¹ Hg). For example, the root samples had concentrations ranging from 0.06 (Oenanthe crocata, Rumex induratus) to 1095 (Polypogon monspeliensis) μg g⁻¹ Hg, while in the leaf samples, the range was from 0.16 (Cyperus longus) to 1278 (Polypogon monspeliensis) μg g⁻¹ Hg. There are four well-differentiated patterns of Hg uptake: (1) the rate of uptake is constant, independent of Hg concentration in the soil (e.g., Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus rotundifolia); (2) after an initial linear relationship between uptake and soil concentration, no further increase in Hg_plant is observed (e.g., Asparagus acutifolius, Cistus ladanifer); (3) no increase in uptake is recorded until a threshold is surpassed, and thereafter a linear relationship between Hg_plant and Hg_soil is established (e.g., Rumex bucephalophorus, Cistus crispus); (4) there is no relationship between Hg_plant and Hg_soil (e.g., Oenanthe crocata and Cistus monspeliensis). Overall, the Hg concentrations found in plants from the Almadén district clearly reflect the importance of contamination processes throughout the study region.