Binational management of hazardous waste: The maquiladora industry at the US-Mexico border

Foreign-owned industry in the form of assembly plants, termed maquiladora, has become very important in Mexico to the extent that it represents the second largest source of foreign exchange and is a valuable source for employment and regional development. The economic prosperity gained from the rapid growth of the maquiladora industry has been accompanied by increased environmental and human health risks associated with generation of hazardous waste. Diversification of industry has resulted in the predomination of those sectors that likely use hazardous substances. The Mexicali-Calexico border region was selected to demonstrate the potential for environmental and health risks associated with the generation of hazardous waste. Estimates for the generation of hazardous waste were obtained from 34 maquiladora plants in Mexicali, represented by the electronic and electrical equipment and parts, mechanical and transportation equipment, and toys and sporting equipment sectors. Repeated detection of volatile organic compounds in the New River at the US-Mexico border suggests that hazardous waste from the printed circuit board industry in Mexicali is not being disposed of in a proper manner. Potential adverse health effects, such as carcinogenic and mutagenic responses associated with the detected volatiles, are discussed. US and Mexico national legislation and the Binational Environmental Agreement were examined for their adequacy to ensure proper management of hazardous waste generated by the maquiladora industry. Environmental policy options are presented that focus on: (1) increased environmental accountability of US parent companies for their maquiladora assembly plants in Mexico; and (2) more integration between US Customs and border states with the US Environmental Protection Agency to improve the binational management of hazardous waste generated by the maquiladora industry.     

工业企业厂界环境噪声测量不确定度评定

近年来,随着社会经济生活的不断发展,人们的生活方式和居住环境都在发生着巨大的变化,环境噪声污染问题也越来越突出,也逐渐得到政府部门及城市普通居民的重视。国家修订了相关的噪声标准,用GB12348—2008《工业企业厂界环境噪声排放标准》取代了GB12348—90和GB12349—90。为了准确测量厂界噪声,引入噪声测量不确定度,通过对厂界噪声的测定分析,根据噪声背景值修正理论,分析修正的误差和测量不确定度,同时对厂界噪声测定不确定度作出评估。并提出为合理评价厂界噪声迭标与否．在噪声的监测报告中应对本次监测的不确定度进行评估。     

Impacts of quarrying activities on the environment and livelihood of people in Border II sub-location,Nyando sub-county,Kisumu County,Kenya

The aim of the study was to assess the impacts of quarrying activities on the environment and livelihood of people in the Border II sub-location. Primary data was collected through questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussion, laboratory analysis and observations. Whereas, secondary data was obtained from Landsat satellite images, journals, articles, books and reports. The acquired data were analyzed using excel and Arc GIS; and presented into tables and figures. The Land use/cover change analysis from the satellite images of the area showed that quarry lands have increased by 5.2 Ha (0.26%). Quarrying activities in the area were perceived to have both positive and negative impacts on the livelihood of people and the environment. Some of the most serious environmental problems were; dust pollution (82%), noise (76%), land degradation (74%), vegetation loss (60%) and vibration (52%). Whereas, negative socioeconomic impacts were; building cracks (54%), injuries (36%), school dropouts (35%), roads damages (33%), child labor (31%) and crop effects (30%). Moreover, 45% of the area residents and 44% of the quarry workers have experienced health problems related to quarrying activities. Nevertheless, there was a significant relationship between quarrying activities and the environmental as well as human health problems in the area (p<0.05). The positive impacts identified are; employment, roads improvement, security, CSR, building materials, business opportunities, among others. To mitigate the negative impacts, the quarry operators should develop and implement an Environmental and Social management Plan, including fair compensation of the project which affect a person, relocation of near homes, environmental pollution control, public participation, scaling down blasting activities, and strict policies compliance and enforcement.     

中国与周边国家边境保护地跨境合作潜力分析

基于《全球跨界自然保护区名录》中涉及中国的16组名录中的10个国家87个保护地,分析其空间分布规律,应用德尔菲法和层次分析法,选取生态完整性、治理结构匹配、制度文化差异和空间距离交通4个层面的9个指标,建立中国与周边国家边境地区保护地跨境合作潜力指标体系,并进行验证。结果表明：黑龙江省与俄罗斯毗邻边境地区保护地分布最集中,喀喇昆仑山—喜马拉雅山脉地区生态系统完整性较好。通过评价结果遴选出中国（兴凯湖）—俄罗斯、中国（西双版纳）—老挝、中国（塔什库尔干）—巴基斯坦、中国（珠穆朗玛峰）—尼泊尔与印度、中国（长白山）—朝鲜与俄罗斯5组未来跨境合作潜力较高的地区,并针对跨境合作存在的难点提出建议措施。研究可为中国边境保护地跨境合作提供方法参考和借鉴依据。     

Geochronology and geochemistry of eclogites from the Mariánské Lázne Complex, Czech Republic: Implications for Variscan orogenesis

The Mariánské Lázn complex (MLC) is located in the Bohemian Massif along the north-western margin of the Teplá-Barrandian microplate and consists of metagabbro, amphibolite and eclogite, with subordinate amounts of serpentinite, felsic gneiss and calcsilicate rocks. The MLC is interpreted as a metaophiolite complex that marks the suture zone between the Saxothuringian rocks to the north-west and the Teplá-Barrandian microplate to the south-east. Sm-Nd geochronology of garnet-omphacite pairs from two eclogite samples yields ages of 377±7, and 367±4 Ma. Samples of eclogite and amphibolite do not define a whole rock Sm-Nd isochron, even though there is a large range in Sm/Nd ratio, implying that the suite of samples may not be cogenetic. Eclogites do not have correlated _Nd values and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Five of the eight eclogite samples have high _Nd values (+10.2 to +7.1) consistent with derivation from a MORB-like source, but variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7059) which probably reflect hydrothermal seawater alteration. Three other eclogite samples have lower _Nd values (+ 5.4 to –0.8) and widely variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7096). Such low _Nd values are inconsistent with derivation from a MORB, source and may reflect a subduction or oceanic island basalt component in their source. The MLC is an important petrotectonic element in the Bohemian Massif, providing evidence for Cambro-Ordovician formation of oceanic crust and interaction with seawater, Late Devonian (Frasnian-Famennian) high- and medium-pressure metamorphism related to closure of a Saxothuringian ocean basin, Early Carboniferous (Viséan) thrusting of the Teplá terrane over Saxothuringian rocks and Late Viséan extension.     

Assessment of risks posed by chemical industries—application of a new computer automated tool -III

The paper describes the application of a new computer automated tool, developed by us, in the risk analysis of a typical chemical industry engaged in the manufacture of linear alkyl benzene. Using the tool—a comprehensive software package -III (MAXimum CREDible accident analysis)—nine different scenarios, one for each storage unit, have been studied. It is observed that the accident scenario for chlorine (instantaneous release followed by dispersion) leads to the largest area-under-lethal-impact, while the accident scenario for propylene (CVCE followed by fireball) forecasts the most intense damage per unit area. The accidents involving propylene, benzene, and fuel oil have a high possibility of causing domino/secondary accidents as their destructive impacts (shock waves, heat load) would envelope other storage and process units.Besides demonstrating the utilizability of -III, this study also focuses attention on the need to bestow greater effort towards risk assessment/crisis management. The authors hope that the study will highlight the severity of the risk posed by the industry and thus generate safety consciousness among plant managers. The study may also help in developing accident-prevention strategies and the installation of damage control devices.     

跨界地区环境风险识别初探

面对中国界河流域的重特大恶性事故频繁发生等复杂问题,以中国跨界河流污染源为研究对象,针对可能造成的跨界风险的重大污染源进行风险识别,建立跨界风险源识别指标体系进行综合评判打分并在典型界河流域和脆弱水环境控制单元进行应用示范。初步建立相应的跨界河流水环境风险识别技术方法体系,为中国界河流域水环境保护提供有力的技术支撑。     

云南边疆环境问题初探

云南边疆风景秀丽,资源富饶,但由于各种因素,云南边疆的环境受到了严重破坏。本文通过列举事实,对云南边疆环境破坏的现状与程度进行了详细阐述,并结合实例直言不讳地分析了边疆环境破坏的原因,尝试性地提出了保护云南边疆环境,实现边疆经济可持续发展的可行性建议。     

大豆根边缘细胞对土荆芥组培根分泌物的响应

运用组织培养技术和悬空气培养法,研究了大豆根边缘细胞对土荆芥组培根分泌物的响应。结果表明：在土荆芥组培根分泌物作用下,随处理浓度的升高和处理时间的延长,边缘细胞数量和存活率持续下降。游离的根边缘细胞周围聚集了一些颗粒状物质,根边缘细胞可能螯合土荆芥根系分泌物。土荆芥根系分泌物能促进根冠果胶甲基酯酶活性上调,但是随着处理浓度增大和处理时间延长,这种促进效应降低。这些结果表明土荆芥组培根分泌物对大豆根边缘细胞具有一定的胁迫效应,根边缘细胞通过加速死亡并分泌一些活性物质螯合土荆芥根系分泌物,可在一定范围内缓解根系分泌物的毒害作用。     

土荆芥挥发油对豌豆根边缘细胞的诱导和胁迫作用

为探讨化感胁迫对根边缘细胞的诱导效应,实验采用悬空气培养法培养豌豆(Pisum sativum L.)露白种子,在保留根边缘细胞和去除根边缘细胞状态下,选取相对根长、根边缘细胞数量及死亡率、果胶甲基酯酶（PME）等指标研究了豌豆根边缘细胞对不同剂量土荆芥挥发油化感作用的响应。结果表明：1）与对照相比,随着挥发油处理剂量增加,根的伸长被显著抑制（P<0.05）。2）每个处理时间内,随着土荆芥挥发油剂量增加,根边缘细胞数量整体表现出先增加后减少的趋势,在低剂量2μL处理中达极大值。3）土荆芥挥发油诱导豌豆根边缘细胞死亡,随着处理时间的延长和处理剂量的增加,这种毒害效应程度加剧,除去边缘细胞实验组中10μL挥发油处理24 h时,根边缘细胞死亡率达到100%。在较低剂量挥发油作用下,保留根边缘细胞组的根边缘细胞死亡率高于去除根边缘细胞组,而在高剂量挥发油处理情况则相反。4）在同一处理时间,随挥发油剂量增加,各处理组PME活性持续升高,去处边缘细胞组处理24 h后不同剂量处理皆显著高于对照,而根边缘细胞数量总体表现先增加后减少。综合以上结果,保留根边缘细胞的根尖根边缘细胞的数量减少量较少,说明根边缘细胞能缓解土荆芥挥发油的化感胁迫;去除根边缘细胞组的PME活性升高较多,表明土荆芥化感胁迫诱导了根边缘细胞的产生。