Discovering meaningful information from large amounts of environment and health data to reduce uncertainties in formulating environmental policies

This study uses knowledge discovery concepts to analyze large amounts of data step by step for the purpose of assisting in the formulation of environmental policy. We performed data cleansing and extracting from existing nation-wide databases, and used regression and classification techniques to analyze the data. The current water hardness in Kaohsiung, Taiwan contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but exacerbates the development of renal stones (RS). However, to focus on water hardness alone to control RS would not be cost effective at all, because the existing database parameters do not adequately allow for a clear understanding of RS. Analysis of huge amounts of data can most often turn up the most reliable and convincing results and the use of existing databases can be cost-effective.     

Evaluation of the temporal variations of air quality in Taipei City, Taiwan, from 1994 to 2003

Data collected from the five air-quality monitoring stations established by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration in Taipei City from 1994 to 2003 are analyzed to assess the temporal variations of air quality. Principal component analysis (PCA) is adopted to convert the original measuring pollutants into fewer independent components through linear combinations while still retaining the majority of the variance of the original data set. Two principal components (PCs) are retained together explaining 82.73% of the total variance. PC1, which represents primary pollutants such as CO, NO(x), and SO(2), shows an obvious decrease over the last 10 years. PC2, which represents secondary pollutants such as ozone, displays a yearly increase over the time period when a reduction of primary pollutants is obvious. In order to track down the control measures put forth by the authorities, 47 days of high PM(10) concentrations caused by transboundary transport have been eliminated in analyzing the long-term trend of PM(10) in Taipei City. The temporal variations over the past 10 years show that the moderate peak in O(3) demonstrates a significant upward trend even when the local primary pollutants have been well under control. Monthly variations of PC scores demonstrate that primary pollution is significant from January to April, while ozone increases from April to August. The results of the yearly variations of PC scores show that PM(10) has gradually shifted from a strong correlation with PC1 during the early years to become more related to PC2 in recent years. This implies that after a reduction of primary pollutants, the proportion of secondary aerosols in PM(10) may increase. Thus, reducing the precursor concentrations of secondary aerosols will be an effective way to lower PM(10) concentrations.     

Organochlorines and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in four geographically separated populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar) populations from four locations, two from isolated Swedish lake systems, one of the Baltic Sea and one of the North Atlantic, were analyzed to determine the concentrations and spatial variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorines (DDT, PCB and HCH). Levels in both liver and muscle were in the same range as previously reported in Atlantic salmon, except for elevated concentrations found per lipid weight (lw) in the muscle samples of salmon from the North Atlantic ( summation PBDE 263 ng g(-1) lw, summation PCB 3262 ng g(-1) lw, summation DDT 4063 ng g(-1) lw summation HCH 131 ng g(-1)). In general, elevated concentrations in the muscles compared to the liver were observed, especially in lipid depleted migrating salmon, possibly caused by a faster lipid depletion compared with the redistribution of PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs. These findings indicated that the life stage and thereby the lipid dynamics of the fish must be considered prior to comparison based on lipid weight, especially as Atlantic salmon experience large variations in lipid content during periods of migration. The dominating PBDE congener was BDE-47, representing more than 25% in all fish. The PBDE pattern changed between locations, with a significant separation of the fish from the freshwater and marine environment when analyzed using principal component analysis.     

《中国环境科学》—中国科协1997年度、1998年度择优支持专项资助期刊

中国科协本着择优支持的原则，自１９９７年决定对中国科协所属全国性学会、协会、研究会主办的优秀基础性和高科技学术期刊给予专项经费资助，重点资助那些能够代表我国基础研究学术水平、与国民经济发展战略密切相关、在国内外有较大影响的基础性和高科技的学术期刊．《中国环境科学》继获中国科协１９９７年度择优支持专项资助经费后，１９９８年再度成为中国科协择优支持的基础性和高科技学术期刊之一．１９９７—１９９８年，《中国环境科学》编辑部利用此项经费提高了期刊纸张规格，并将版面增至１００页．１９９９年，《中国环境科学…     

论"两大体系建设"

1如何认识环境监管体系?环境问题以其变化性、复杂性、不确定性、长期性和冲突性的特点标志其是一个系统的问题,也因此要求环境管理必须用系统的思维方式,采用系统的解决方案构建环境管理支撑体系。当前,环保事业已经进入以环境优化经济增长的新阶段,环境监管工作面临着前所未有的良好发展机遇,在刚刚结束的第六次全国环保大会上,温家宝总理强调做好新形势下的环保工作,关键是要加快实现“三个转变”,明确指出要“不断加强环保监管能力建设。要建立先进的环境监测预警体系,全面反映环境质量状况和趋势,准确预警各类环境突发事件。”曾培炎副…     

A pilot project to detect and forecast harmful algal blooms in the northern Gulf of Mexico

More timely access to data and information on the initiation, evolution and effects of harmful algal blooms can reduce adverse impacts on valued natural resources and human health. To achieve this in the northern Gulf of Mexico, a pilot project was initiated to develop a user-driven, end-to-end (measurements to applications) observing system. A key strategy of the project is to coordinate existing state, federal and academic programs at an unprecedented level of collaboration and partnership. Resource managers charged with protection of public health and aquatic resources require immediate notice of algal events and a forecast of when, where and what adverse effects will likely occur. Further, managers require integrated analyses and interpretations, rather than raw data, to make effective decisions. Consequently, a functional observing system must collect and transform diverse measurements into usable forecasts. Data needed to support development of forecasts will include such properties as sea surface temperature, winds, currents and waves; precipitation and freshwater flows with related discharges of sediment and nutrients; salinity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll concentrations (in vivo fluorescence); and remotely-sensed spatial images of sea surface chlorophyll concentrations. These data will be provided via a mixture of discrete and autonomous in situ sensing with near real-time data telemetry, and remote sensing from space (SeaWiFS), aircraft (hyperspectral imagery) or land (high-frequency radar). With calibration across these platforms, the project will ultimately provide a 4-dimensional visualization of harmful algae events in a time frame suitable to resource managers.