A cost-benefit analysis of a population screening programme for neural tube defects

Population screening for neural tube defects is possible by measuring maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels with appropriate follow-up as required. British Columbia has approximately 39 000 births annually and the incidence of neural tube defects is 1–55 per 1000 births (0–94 per 1000 livebirths). Results from a cost-benefit analysis suggest that the outlined screening programme would be cost-beneficial for British Columbia. Other important factors essential to consider before instituting a population screening programme are discussed.     

The Irish Sea: towards a more effective science strategy

The Irish Sea’s distinctive hydrographic features present unique opportunities for research into the complex processes that regulate shelf-sea ecosystems. Such studies are essential in developing capabilities to detect and evaluate change in marine environments. A 1993 review showed almost 230 projects underway on the Irish Sea, spanning all the major fields of marine science. But a large proportion of research projects failed to indicate the purpose of the work; overall, there was a remarkable absence of clarity and specificity in the objectives. Progress in some fields is also hampered by insufficient coordination and cohesion; at present there are no standing arrangements between Ireland and the United Kingdom that provide for bilateral co-ordination of scientific work in the area. There is clearly a need for a more planned and integrated Irish Sea science programme to provide information for management purposes and also to advance scientific understanding of the components and functions of Irish Sea ecosystems, and how and why they change with time. There is a common belief that the first of these predominantly involves monitoring, and the second research. However, the paper cautions that this is a dubious and unnecessary distinction. A strategy aimed at better integration of research and monitoring (e.g. a framework of linked objectives and targets) could substantially increase the information dividend from current investments in Irish Sea science. Based on a joint Irish/UK review, this paper outlines studies and approaches that are seen as key elements of a future, more relevant and cost-effective research programme for the Irish Sea.     

再议减轻自然灾害系统工程

随着“国际减灾十年”活动的进展，我国的减灾工作已进入制定减灾规划，实施减灾规划的新阶段，即进入减灾系统工程的设计与实施阶段。为了推动减灾系统工程的实施，需要建立先进的科学支持系统和社会保障体系，包括建立自然灾害信息系统；进行自然灾害区划与减灾区划；开展综合预报；建立自然灾害评估系统；进行灾害教育；发展灾害保险；推动减灾工作社会化与产业化；建立减灾示范区；开展灾害科学体系的全面研究和进行国际交流等。     

同位素稀释质谱法测定IMEP-6水样品中的痕量镉和铅

采用国际公认的具有绝对测量性质的同位素稀释质谱法（ＩＤＭＳ）为国际测量评估计划（ＩＭＥＰ－６）所用比对样品定值，准确测定了该样品中痕量镉和铅，提供的测定值与事后组织者公布的标准值附和较好。     

杭州市环保信访网络系统的研究与开发

在对市环保局信访处理流程研究的基础上，开发一套自动化、无纸化的环保信访处理信息系统。     

The re-territorialisation of Biosphere Reserves: The case of Wester Ross,Northwest Scotland

Biosphere reserves, designated under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, are now regarded as key mechanisms to achieve global imperatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals. The concept of biosphere reserves has evolved significantly from the 1970s to include a larger number of functions and zones, as well as the inclusion of stakeholders in governance, as codified in the 1996 Statutory Framework for the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Its implementation has led to the re-territorialisation of 66 biosphere reserves, as they have been extended beyond the protected areas that form their ‘core areas’. One example is Wester Ross in northwest Scotland. This region has been nationally recognised for its high biodiversity and landscape values since the late 1940s, and a small biosphere reserve was established in 1976. In the current decade, as required by the MAB Programme, this biosphere reserve was extended to over 100 times its original area through a participatory process which is described in detail. Following re-territorialisation, this biosphere reserve, like others, both represents opportunities and faces challenges. These are discussed with regard to four requirements: effective communication, stakeholder engagement, participatory governance, and funding.     

Experiences from early stages of a national industrial symbiosis programme in the UK: determinants and coordination challenges

This paper reviews the factors influencing the development and sustained operation of regional industrial symbiosis (IS) networks and discusses the roles a coordination body can play to alter these factors so as to catalyse the development and functioning of such networks. These are analysed within the context of experiences gained in the early stages of three regional IS programmes under development in the UK, and of the recently launched national IS programme (NISP) that they are part of. It is stated that the policy framework in the UK has elements supportive of such networks to evolve, and the regional public bodies are favouring their development. Based on differences among studied cases, it is argued that the nature of companies’ operations and industrial history in the regions, the extent of peer pressure, the positioning of the coordinating body in the region, and its approach to awareness raising and recruitment have major influence on the progress of the programmes. Finally, the paper emphasises the importance of aligning the characteristics of emerging operations with the longer-term sustainability requirements. If accepted, this challenge assigns additional responsibilities to the coordinating parties.     

Concentration of Organochlorine Pollutants in Surface Waters of the Central European Biosphere Reserve Krivoklatsko (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope The article is focused on dioxin, furan, PCB and organochlorine pesticide monitoring in the surface waters of the Central European, protected natural reserve Krivoklatsko, under the UNESCO programme Man and Biosphere. Persistent compounds are presently transported via different means throughout the entire world. This contamination varies significantly between sites. This raises the question of what constitutes the naturally occurring background levels of POPs in natural, unpolluted areas, but which are close to industrialised regions. Information of real background POP contamination can be of high value for risk assessment management of those sites evidently polluted and for the defining of de-contamination limits. Preserved areas should not be seen as isolated regions in which the impacts of human activities and natural factors are either unexpected or overlooked. Every ambient region, even those protected by a law or other means, are still closely connected to neighbouring human developed and impacted areas, and are therefore subject to this anthropogenic contamination. These areas adjacent to natural reserves are sources of diverse substances, via entry of air, water, soil and/or biota. After an extended period of industrial activities, organochlorine pollutants, even those emitted in trace concentrations have reached detectable levels. For future research and for the assessment of environmental changes, present levels of contamination would be of high importance. This work publishes data of the contamination with organochlorine pollutants of this natural region, where biodiversity and ecological functions are of the highest order. Materials and Methods: Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were utilised as the sampling system. SPMDs were deployed in two small creeks and one water reservoir selected in the central part of the Krivoklatsko Natural Reserve, where it could be expected that any possible contamination by POPs would be lowest. The exposed SPMDs were analysed both for chemical contents of POPs and for toxicity properties. The chemical analyses of dibenzo-dioxins, dibenzo-furans, PCBs and OCPs were analysed by GC/MS/MS on GCQ or PolarisQ (Thermoquest). Toxicity bioassays were performed on the alga Desmodesmus subspicatus, bacteria Vibrio fischeri and crustacean Daphnia magna. All toxicity data were expressed as the effective volume Vtox. Vtox is a toxicity parameter, the determination of which is independent of SPMD deployment time and pre-treatment dilution (unlike, for example, the EC50 of the SPMD extract). Results: The following chemical parameters were monitored: 1) tetra, penta, hexa and hepta dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans; 2) all those detectable from tri- through deca-polychloriated biphenyls (PCBs) and 3) a group of organochlorine pesticides: hexachlorobenzene and isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane, DDE, DDD and DDT. The concentrations of dioxins and furans on the assessed sites varied from under detection levels up to 7 pg.l-1; PCBs were detected in a sum concentration up to 2.8 ng.l-1; and organochlorine pesticides up to 346 pg.l-1. The responses of bioassays used were very low, with the values obtained for Vtox being under 0.03 l/d. Discussion: Toxicity testing showed no toxicity responses, demonstrating that the system used is in coherence with the ecological status of the assessed sites. Values of Vtox were under the critical value – showing no toxicity. The PCA of chemical analysis data and toxicity responses resulted in no correlations between these two groups of parameters. This demonstrated that the present level of contamination has had no direct adverse effects on the biota. Conclusions: The concentration values of six EPA-listed, toxic dioxins and sums of tetra-hepta dioxins; nine EPA toxic dibenzofurans and the sums of tetra-hepta bibenzofurans are presented together with all tri-deka PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (alfa-, beta-, gama-, delta-HCH, HCB, opDDE, ppDDE, opDDD, ppDDD, opDDT, ppDDT). These values represent possible current regional natural background values of these substances monitored within the Central European region, with no recorded adverse effects on the freshwater ecosystem (up until the present time). Recommendations and Perspectives: Assessment of dioxins, furans and other organochlorine compounds within natural reserves can be important for the monitoring of human-induced impacts on preserved areas. No systematic monitoring of these substances in areas not directly affected by industry has generally been realised. There is a paucity of data of the presence of any of these substances within natural regions. Further monitoring of contamination of both soil and biota by dioxins and furans in preserve regions is needed and can be used for future monitoring of man-made activities and/or accidents. Semipermeable membrane devices proved to be a very good sampling system for the monitoring of trace concentrations of ambient organochlorine compounds. Toxicity evaluation using the Vtox concept demonstrated that those localities assessed expressed no toxicity.     

Higher education level teaching of (master’s) programmes in sustainable development: analysis of views on prerequisites and practices based on a worldwide survey

The concept of sustainable development (SD) has highly been debated since it was presented 25 years ago, with ‘hard science’ approaches on one side and more process-oriented approaches on the other side. Academic teaching in SD has emerged in response to this in very different contexts, partly mirroring this academic debate. Some master’s programmes in SD take a strong science approach, while other programmes focus on the process of implementing sustainability projects, sometimes connected with forms of action research and teaching. In this article, we identify diverse views on the concept of SD as well as views on most relevant modes of teaching. We discuss core competencies required for sustainability professionals in their working practices and we organise them in three main clusters: Know, Interact and Be (KIB). The article presents the results of a worldwide survey, which addresses these visions on the concept of SD, the capabilities needed for ‘sustainable development professionals’ and the teaching approach needed. The analysis is based on the responses of 54 lecturers and 287 students active in 34 SD master’s programmes on all continents. The results of this worldwide survey are discussed. We observe in practice some gaps between preferences and practice. Looking at what both lecturers and students see as essential topics to address, some topics get relatively less attention (like the population issue). The identified core competencies (KIB) are supported and all addressed in practice, while the ‘Be’ competencies receive relatively less attention. Suggested consequences for academic teaching include a further matching of programmes with perceived needs and bridging the gap between the experienced teaching approaches in practice with such identified needs.     

西藏阿里地区生态环境建设规划探讨

论文对西藏阿里地区生态环境的现状和演变过程进行了深入分析,同时,探讨了该地区“气温升高、降雨减少、草场退化、植被消失和自然灾害发生频繁”等区域性生态环境问题,规划了①狮泉河盆地及周边地区的治沙工程建设;②自然保护区建设;③利用生物工程,科学灭鼠,保护与延长食物链工程建设;④建立草地生态环境的动态监测及预警系统;⑤小城镇生态环境建设;⑥以薪炭林、用材林为主的多功能防护林体系工程建设;⑦农田生态建设;⑧矿业开采和畜产品加工污染的治理工程等建设项目。提出了如下对策与措施:①建立和健全生态环境建设的管理和监督机构,做好规划的实施工作;②开展自然保护区的本底调查工作;③加大执法力度,依法保护和治理生态环境;④增大科技投入,发展绿色产业,保证环境安全;⑤节约薪柴,推行林、草业承包制,走生态环境的可持续发展之路。