Long term changes in the eutrophication process in a shallow Mediterranean lake ecosystem of W. Greece: response after the reduction of external load

Lake Pamvotis is a shallow Mediterranean lake located in Western Greece near the city of Ioannina. The lake has been recognized as an internationally important conservation site under European Community legislation due to its rich biodiversity. However, during the last three decades the trophic status of the lake has changed as a result of anthropogenic activity (among others irrigation and domestic sewage discharge), resulting in serious problems. Here we present data about the long-term development in eutrophication of Lake Pamvotis. Water samples were collected and analyzed (water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll-a) during three monitoring periods: 1985-1989, 1998-1999, 2004-2005. The high nutrient concentrations in the lake water during the three monitoring periods, as well as its eutrophic to hypertrophic status reflect the degree of impact anthropogenic activity has had on the lake. Commencement of a restoration plan in 1995-1996, involving sewage diversion, led to a reduction in external nutrient load and consequently to lower in-lake nutrients and Chlorophyll-a concentrations. Orthophosphate concentration decreased by about 87%, nitrates fell below 1.20mg/l, whilst the total reduction of inorganic N compounds showed a weaker downward trend, fluctuating between 0.39 and 1.24mg N/l with an average value of 0.76mg N/l. However, after a short-term recovery the eutrophic status of the lake remains eight years later (2004-2005), suggesting the importance of the internal loading process and the absence of the top-down effect of fish. This study provides evidence for the need of greater restoration efforts utilized in Mediterranean shallow lakes.     

可持续发展战略及其宏观调控机制

可持续发展战略对环境保护参与国民经济决策提出新的要求.市场经济体制产生“市场失灵”,应加强宏观调控机制,保证经济与环境协调发展.探讨了社会主义市场经济条件下环境与发展宏观调控机制的思路与设想.     

活性污泥外循环SBR系统循环污泥释磷能力研究

本试验以HAc作为厌氧释磷的碳源有机物，以SBR系统外循环污泥作为研究对象，探索外循环活性污泥的厌氧释磷能力和获取高浓度富磷污水的途径，试验表明：厌氧过程中聚磷菌吸收HAc和释放PO4^3 的分子比为1：1。即吸收2．06mgHAc-COD将诱导1mgP释放，单位时段比污泥的平均释磷速率Vp=6.54.t^0.76，理想的厌氧时间为60－180min，减少循环污泥释磷系统的反应容积可以提高富磷污水磷酸盐的浓度。     

上海地区高空气流长距离输送轨迹及其与酸雨的关系

分析了影响上海地区的高空气流输送轨迹。不同月份影响上海的高空气流来向不一。轨迹输送路径与天气系统的变化密切有关,且与上海地区出现的酸雨有关。研究表明,上海地区的酸雨,除与局地污染有关外,还与远处输送的外来污染有关。这些外来污染影响,主要来自上海西南向的北部湾和两广等地。也有部分来自东北——东方向的南朝鲜和日本西部地区。     

GW型加热炉烟气净化系统研究设计

为适应日益严格的环保要求,根据GW型燃油加热炉烟气排放特征和排放规律,设计采用循环流化床工艺进行除尘脱硫。中试结果表明:在最佳工况条件下,系统除尘效率可达97%～98%,脱硫效率达80%～90%,达到国家燃油锅炉一类区域排放标准要求。     

Environmental Auditing and the Role of the Accountancy Profession: A Literature Review

This review of the literature on environmental auditing and the potential role of accountants distinguishes between compliance audits and audits of the environmental management system. After an extensive introduction to the concept, this review focuses on the similarities and differences between an environmental audit and a financial statement audit. The general approach to both types of audits is similar, except that environmental audits are largely unregulated. Both audits place an emphasis on the evaluation of control systems, which is an argument in favor of external auditors playing a role in environmental audits. Another argument for including external accountants is their code of ethics. However, these professionals seem to be reluctant to enter the field of environmental auditing. It is argued that this reluctance is because of a lack of generally accepted principles for conducting environmental audits. If external accountants are engaged in environmental auditing, they should be part of multidisciplinary teams that also include scientists and engineers to avoid a too strong focus on procedures. Rather than treating these audits as totally different, it is proposed that there be a move towards integrated, or even universal, audits.     

Barriers to the adoption of proactive environmental strategies

This study contributes to the knowledge of the difficulties or barriers found by firms when adopting proactive environmental strategies, providing empirical evidence from 240 Spanish industrial firms. A set of 25 barriers are initially evaluated by the managers of the sample firms and are grouped into four types of difficulties facing firms: external barriers, endemic limitations of the firm, limited environmental motivation and limited preparation of employees and operational inertia. The estimation of a structural equation model leads us to conclude that only the barriers identified as endemic limitations of the firm can be characterized as “effective barriers”, defined as problems preventing firms from progressing toward proactive environmental behavior.     

External threats to ecosystems of US national parks

Activities beyond national park boundaries are now the principal source of threats to park natural resource integrity. Assessing the full impact of major threats as air and water pollution requires a long-term ecosystem-level approach in research design and execution, and park management. Failure to take such an approach renders most existing park data bases useless in the documentation of external threats. While the concept of managing national parks as ecosystems is not new, Park Service research and its organization have not provided the information necessary for such a basis of management. Quantifying the impacts on park resources due to external hydrologic regulation and air pollution is a good example of the need to employ an ecosystem approach in research. However, implementing such a program will require a fundamental change in research administration, priority setting, and conceptual approach.The first four of the articles in this special section arise from an AAAS symposium onExternal Threats to Ecosystems of the National Parks in the USA, which was convened in 1982. The articles have been revised to reflect subsequent developments in this field. The first article, by Dr. Stottlemyer, the symposium organizer, serves as an introduction to the topic. The fifth article in this special section was submitted separately, but included because it also is related to this particular topic.     

Environmental Equity and the Role of Public Policy: Experiences in the Rijnmond Region

This Φ Ψ study of environmental equity uses secondary quantitative data to analyze socioeconomic disparities in environmental conditions in the Rijnmond region of the Netherlands. The disparities of selected environmental indicators—exposure to traffic noise (road, rail, and air), NO₂, external safety risks, and the availability of public green space—are analyzed both separately and in combination. Not only exposures to environmental burdens (“bads”) were investigated, but also access to environmental benefits (“goods”). Additionally, we held interviews and reviewed documents to grasp the mechanisms underlying the environmental equity situation, with an emphasis on the role of public policy. Environmental equity is not a priority in public policy for the greater Rotterdam region known as the Rijnmond region, yet environmental standards have been established to provide a minimum environmental quality to all local residents. In general, environmental quality has improved in this region, and the accumulation of negative environmental outcomes (“bads”) has been limited. However, environmental standards for road traffic noise and NO₂ are being exceeded, probably because of the pressure on space and the traffic intensity. We found an association of environmental “bads” with income for rail traffic noise and availability of public green space. In the absence of regulation, positive environmental outcomes (“goods”) are mainly left up to market forces. Consequently, higher-income groups generally have more access to environmental “goods” than lower-income groups.