Uncertainty analysis on aquatic environmental impacts of urban land use change

Uncertainties hamper the implementation of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). In order to quantitatively characterize the uncertainties of environmental impacts, this paper develops an integrated methodology through uncertainty analysis on land use change, which combines the scenario analysis approach, stochastic simulation technique, and statistics. Dalian city in China was taken as a case study in the present work. The results predict that the Fuzhou River poses the highest environmental pollution risk with a probability of 89.63% for COD in 2020. Furthermore, the Biliu River, Fuzhou River, Zhuang River, and Dasha River have 100% probabilities for NH₃-N. NH₃-N is a more critical pollutant than COD for all rivers. For COD, industry is the critical pollution source for all rivers except the Zhuang River. For NH₃-N, agriculture is the critical pollution source for the Biliu River, Yingna River, and Dasha River, sewage for the Fuzhou River and Zhuang River, and industry for the Dengsha River. This methodology can provide useful information, such as environmental risk, environmental pressure, and extremely environmental impact, especially under considerations of uncertainties. It can also help to ascertain the significance of each pollution source and its priority for control in urban planning.     

Vertical profiles of organochlorine pesticides in sediment core from Nile river and Manzala lake,Egypt

Residue levels of organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCHs, HCB and chlordane compounds) were determined in core samples collected from Nile River near by Cairo and Manzala Lake, Egypt in 1994. Regional difference and vertical profiles were discussed in view of historical reconstruction of environmental pollution by these chemicals. On the basis of estimated sedimentation rate (0.5 to 0.7 cm/year) in Manzala Lake, it seems that discharge of DDTs and CHLs into Egyptian environment increased rapidly from early 1960's and the maximum discharge was recorded in 1980's. However, concentration of HCHs increased continuously up to the present in spite of decreasing of DDTs and CHLs after 1980's. It was revealed that vertical profiles of organochlorine pesticides in sediment core from Manzala Lake are useful to estimate a temporal trend of pesticide use in Egypt.     

天津市工业源污染物排放标准的优选

环境标准作为改善环境质量行之有效的手段,是实施污染减排的重要途径。针对天津市地方污染物排放标准的现状及问题,以天津市工业污染源为研究对象,从大气和水两方面入手,采用系统的数据分析方法,甄选出大气、水污染物中贡献率较大的行业以及特征污染因子的典型污染行业,从而提出天津市地方污染物排放标准制定的方向。     

基于人群健康的污染产业转移环境效应研究——以广东省陶瓷行业为例

产业转移是经济发展过程中常见现象；产业生产与资源环境之间密不可分的关系决定了产业转移必然引起资源环境状况的变化。为评价产业转移对改善区域整体环境状况的作用，构建了以环境经济损益分析定量评价产业转移的环境效应的方法框架，并以广东省陶瓷行业转移为例，研究了基于人体健康的污染产业转移的环境效应。研究结果显示，一般而言，由于污染排放变化，产业迁出地将产生环境效益，同时承接地将发生环境损失。当产业转移产生环境净效益时，意味着整体区域环境的改善。这种改善主要得益于产业迁出地和承接地之间存在的社会经济特征差异、具有经济技术可行性的污染控制技术的推广以及环境自净能力的合理利用等因素的综合作用。为促进区域协调发展，区域内产业转移过程中，应采取优化产业转移目录、加强环境管理、建立环境信息公开和公众参与制度和统筹协调区域内的污染控制责任和环境利益等环境治理措施。     

Decay effects of pollutants on stony materials in the built environment

This review discuss the effects that pollutants have on stony materials applied on the built environment, illustrating different macroscopical products (pathologies) that can affect historical and modern architectural works. The impact of the decay processes is related to the susceptibility of the materials, environmental conditions and the kind of pollutants that degrade building materials. Here are reviewed the main decay processes resulting from the actions of gases, particulate matter and solutions (from wet deposition to capillary rising and including circulating waters such as run-off), showing that besides atmospheric pollution, also pollutants rising from the ground can cause important deterioration on building materials. Following, the use of tracers is considered for the study of pollutant sources and migration, including neoformation minerals (that might also constitute markers of environmental conditions) and chemical tracers, giving special attention to isotopic tracers, namely to proposals regarding the use of some stable and radioactive isotopes for the study of pollutants that have strong potential but have not been tested yet are also presented. At the end of this chapter, some final considerations are made on the problem of durability assessment of materials in the built environment and also on the use of tracers to assess the origin of damaging compounds in the built environment.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in dated environmental samples,and their connection to known sources

This article investigates available environmental data from measurements of the everywhere present contaminants polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) in dated trends in sediment, soil and herbage from locales in Europe and North America. The PCDD/F data are examined in relation to potential major PCDD/F sources based on volume: wood and coal, example of natural combustion; pentachlorophenol (PnCP), example of chlorinated aro‐matics; and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pyrolysis, example of chlorinated aliphatic. Collected PCDD/F data of congener sums and 2, 3, 7, 8‐substituted congener (PCDD/F profiles) have been investigated with multivariate methods: principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares projection to latent structures model (PLS). The results show that PCDD/F data from 12 locales can be separated in one to three independent profiles. Normally one profile is related to the PCDD/F found in PnCP and another to combustion. A subtype of the ‘PnCP’ and ‘combustion’ profiles indicates PCDD/F contributions from PVC‐related combustions. The environmental profiles exhibit some differences from the suggested sources. The relatively unprotected PCDD/F related to PnCP is suggested to have passed photolytic and/or thermal dechlorinations. Lower‐chlorinated congeners in environmental profiles related to combustion appear to have been influenced by environmental distribution processes. PCDD/F data before industrial production of chlorinated organics have only limited similarity to PCDD/F in technical PnCP profiles; an average 4.6% of the PCDD/F is related to PnCP. This suggests that PnCP similarity in recent deposition profiles cannot be a result of environmental transformation. The average proportion of PnCP‐related PCDD/F profile in recent depositions is 35% with North America high (average 57%) and Europe low (average 24%).     

Dual <Superscript>14</Superscript>C/residue analysis method to assess the microbial accessibility of native phenanthrene in environmental samples

The aim of this work was to develop a method to assess the microbial accessibility of native phenanthrene present in soils and sediments. We developed an accelerated biodegradation assay, characterized by (a) inoculation with a sufficient number of phenanthrene-degrading microorganisms, (b) monitoring of the biodegradation activity through ¹⁴C-mineralization measurements, and (c) single-step chemical analysis of the native compound in the residue. The use of ¹⁴C-labeling allowed the determination of the time period needed for biodegradation of the bioaccessible fraction of the native chemical. The method was tested with environmental samples having a wide range of phenanthrene concentrations, i.e., from background levels (μg kg^-1) originating in soil from atmospheric deposition, to acute concentrations (g kg^-1) corresponding to industrial pollution of soils and sediments. The results showed a wide range of bioaccessibility (15–95% of the initial amount). The method can be used for the assessment of bioaccessibility involved in the management of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution.     

Pollution-Controlling Innovation in Oligopolistic Industries: Some Comparisons between Patent Races and Research Joint Ventures

Much of the literature on pollution-control innovation has focused on normative comparisons of exogenous regulatory policies in light of the incentives they induce on firms′ R&D efforts. In contrast, in the positive analysis below, both R&D incentives and regulatory policy arise endogenously as functions of market structure and external cost differentials. Incentives for pollution-controlling innovation are found to arise from within the industry in a patent race setting when innovation gives the race winner(s) a cost advantage over the other industry members. This cost advantage is shown to come about when innovating firms successfully use their influence to raise their rivals′ costs by bringing about a policy change forcing industry members to internalize pollution externalities. In contrast, an industry-wide research joint venture (RJV) has incentive to collusively prevent development of innovation unless environmental activists are sufficiently strong. This latter result is illustrated by the case U.S. vs Automobile Manufacturers Association, where the Justice Department found evidence that the "big three" used an RJV to slow the introduction of pollution-control innovation.     

Pollution characteristics of lead,zinc, arsenic,and cadmium in short-term storm water roof runoff in a suburban area

Pollution of hazardous elements in roof runoff has been a potential danger to aquatic ecosystem as documented in previous studies. In this study, concentrations of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) in roof runoff were measured for short-term rainfall events. The concentrations of the selected elements varied to a high degree during the rainfall period, and the well-known first-flush phenomenon was not observed due to the short-term rainfall patterns. Based on event mean concentrations (EMCs) and fluxes, the elemental pollution may be ranked as Zn >> Pb > As > Cd. The average levels of Pb and Zn exceeded the fourth class value and fifth class value of the environmental quality standards for surface water in China. The relative high pollution could be caused by atmospheric deposition and the erosion of crust steel appurtenance installed above the rooftop. Furthermore, elements in particulate form dominated the roof runoff pollution, and the ratios of elements in particulate form to total amounts were 0.6 (As), 0.9 (Pb), 0.7 (Cd), and 0.5 (Zn). This study cleared the pollution characteristics of hazardous elements in short-term storm water roof runoff; it was useful for the selection of best management practices.     

Accounting for the Mesoscale Effects on the Air Pollution in Some Cases of Large Sulfur Pollution in Bulgaria or Northern Greece

The objective of the present work is to demonstrate the influence of the meso-scale dynamic phenomena on the larger scale air pollution characteristics. A limited set of episodes with very large sulphur pollution in Bulgaria or Northern Greece is chosen for the study. A 3D quasi-hydrostatic model of the meso-scale dynamics, based on the Businesque approximation (the formulation of Guthman) is used for the purpose. Some numerical experiments for the Balkan Peninsula are carried out under different background (synoptic) conditions. The simulated flow systems outline the main topography effects, typical for the region, such as slope winds, channelling of the air flows or blocking effects. Numerical simulations of the air pollution transport are also carried out, with and without accounting for the meso-scale deformations of the wind field. The comparison of the air pollution characteristics, obtained in both the cases demonstrates that the underlying surface heterogeneity in some of the synoptic situations may have influence not only on the detailed air pollution field in the region, but also on some larger scale pollution characteristics – the total pollution quantity in the air above the countries, the mean surface concentration, the pollution fluxes trough the country boundaries, dry and wet deposition.     

Electrochemistry: as cause and cure in water pollution—an overview

This article reviews both the pollution by the electrochemical industry and the use of electrochemistry to clean water. Main pollutants include Pd, Cd, Ni, Hg and other metals and cyanide as well as organic pollutants. The cause for water pollution by electrochemistry is due to the effluents from different electrochemical industries such as mercury from chlor-alkali industry; lead, cadmium and mercury from battery industry; heavy metals and organic contaminants from electroplating wastes; contaminants from corrosion processes; and persistent organic pollutants from the synthesis and use of pesticides, dyes and pharmaceuticals. Most pollutants can be successfully eliminated or converted to non-toxic materials by methods based on the electrochemical principles. Electrochemical depolluting methods are mainly electrodialysis, electrocoagulation, electroflotation, anodic processes, cathodic processes and electrochemical advanced oxidation processes.     

‘Optimal’ pollution abatement—whose benefits matter, and how much?

We examine the determinants of environmental regulatory activity (inspections and enforcement actions) and levels of air and water pollution for 409 US pulp and paper mills, using data for 1985–1997. We focus on the benefits to the surrounding population from pollution abatement. Plants with larger benefits emit less pollution, as do those with more kids and elders nearby. Plants in poor areas emit more pollution, though (surprisingly) we find less pollution in minority areas. Out-of-state neighbors seem to count less than in-state ones, although this effect diminishes if the bordering state's Congressional delegation is strongly pro-environment. We use ‘spatially lagged’ instrumental variables to control for the potential endogeneity of which individuals choose to locate near the plant. The results for regulatory activity are noticeably less significant than the emissions results.     

我国集约化畜禽养殖场污染治理障碍分析及对策

随着我国集约化畜禽养殖场的快速发展，行业污染危害日益严重，对自然环境和居民健康威胁很大。由于技术经济原因，只有综合利用、农牧一体的方法才能根本解决养殖场污染问题，但这种方式在我国存在着诸多推广障碍：环境标准和监管体系有缺陷、资金和技术门槛较高、副产品没有获得应有的市场回报等。建议采取以下措施促进综合利用：提高养殖场的排污标准和排污费征收标准，按照工业污染治理的办法进行养殖场环境监管，对这类污染在重点地区开展专项整治，从税收、土地价格、贷款等方面扶持综合利用。     

Geochemical evidence of pollutants from coalfired generating stations in late Pleistocene palaeosols in the Dalijia Shan,northwestern China

Surface palaeosols in two tills and a diamicton from an area in northwestern China were analysed for geochemical pollutants. Elevated levels of Br, As and Sb indicate that pollution from coal-burning and/or coal-fired electricity generating stations is delivered by aeolian transport into palaeosols dating from the last glaciation. Because the climate in the field area is sub-humid (precipitation <760 mm) the relative movement of soluble elements in palaeosols dating from early and late stades of the last glaciation is not expected to be high. The glacial and aeolian parent materials of the palaeosols indicate differences that are probably related to their source areas and to the incorporation of geochemical pollutants.     

皮革行业化学品的管理现状

皮革工业是我国具有综合优势的传统产业,然而皮革加工过程使用的大量化学品也会带来一定的健康和环境风险,制革环保问题已成为制约我国皮革行业持续发展的关键因素。综述了国内外对皮革及其制品中残留的化学品和对制革工业排放污染物中化学品安全管理的相关法规、标准和限量要求;总结了我国皮革行业化学品管理的发展现状与存在问题;提出皮革化学品风险管理已成为行业发展的必然要求。     

全氟化合物污染现状及风险评估的研究进展

全氟化合物(polyfluorinated compounds,PFCs)是近年来受到广泛关注的一类新型持久性有机污染物。PFCs因具有优良的化学稳定性、耐热性以及高表面活性,而被广泛应用于生活消费和工业生产等领域。PFCs具有难降解、生物富集和长距离迁移等特点,已在大气、土壤和水体等环境介质及生物体中检出。在生态环境中,PFCs能够通过食物链不断传递放大,其具有的多种毒性效应已对生态系统和人类造成了一定的威胁。本文主要综述了PFCs在各类环境介质的污染现状、生物的毒性效应、人类摄入健康风险评估以及PFCs的降解研究,以期为未来PFCs的研究提供参考。     

Effect of nitrogen deposition on China's terrestrial carbon uptake in the context of multifactor environmental changes

The amount of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposited on the land surface has increased globally and by nearly five times in China from 1901 to 2005. Little is known about how elevated reactive N input has affected the carbon (C) sequestration capability of China's terrestrial ecosystems, largely due to the lack of reliable data on N deposition. Here we have used a newly developed data set of historical N deposition at a spatial resolution of 10 km x 10 km in combination with other gridded historical information on climate, atmospheric composition, land use, and land management practices to drive a process-based ecosystem model, the dynamic land ecosystem model (DLEM) for examining how increasing N deposition and its interactions with other environmental changes have affected C fluxes and storage in China's terrestrial ecosystems during 1901-2005. Our model simulations indicate that increased N deposition has resulted in a net C sink of 62 Tg C/yr (1 Tg = 1012 g) in China's terrestrial ecosystems, totaling up to 6.51 Pg C (1 Pg = 10(15) g) in the past 105 years. During the study period, the N-induced C sequestration can compensate for more than 25% of fossil-fuel CO2 emission from China. The largest C sink was found in southeast China, a region that experienced the most significant increase of N deposition in the period 1901-2005. However, the net primary productivity induced by per-unit N deposition (referred to as ecosystem N use efficiency, ENUE, in this paper) has leveled off or declined since the 1980s. This indicates that part of the deposited N may not be invested to stimulate plant growth, but instead leave the ecosystem by various pathways. Except shrubland and northwest/southwest China, signs of N saturation are apparent in the rest major biome types and regions, with ENUE peaking in the 1980s and leveling off or declining thereafter. Therefore, to minimize the excessive N pollution while keeping the N-stimulated C uptake in China's terrestrial ecosystems, optimized management practices should be taken to increase N use efficiency rather than to keep raising N input level in the near future.     

Environmental policies and productivity growth: Evidence across industries and firms

This paper investigates the impact of changes in environmental policy stringency on industry- and firm-level productivity growth in a panel of OECD countries. To test the strong version of the Porter Hypothesis (PH), we extend a neo-Schumpeterian productivity model to allow for effects of environmental policies. We use a new environmental policy stringency (EPS) index and let the effect of countries׳ environmental policies vary with the pollution intensity of the industry and with the countries’ and firms’ technological advancement. A tightening of environmental policy is associated with a short-term increase in industry-level productivity growth in the most technologically-advanced countries. This effect diminishes with the distance to the global productivity frontier, eventually becoming insignificant. For the average firm, no evidence of PH is found. However, the most productive firms see a temporary boost in productivity growth, while the less productive ones experience a productivity slowdown.     

兽药类环境内分泌干扰效应及评价研究进展

兽药在保障动物健康、提高畜禽产品质量尤其在畜牧业集约化发展等方面起着至关重要的作用,然而兽药和饲料添加剂的大量使用成为生态环境污染和人体健康损害的一个重要因素。研究表明许多抗生素类和激素类兽药是典型的环境内分泌干扰物,通过多种方式干扰生物体雄激素、雌激素、甲状腺激素等内分泌过程,产生内分泌干扰效应。本文介绍了典型兽药的污染现状及其内分泌干扰效应研究最新进展;以环境内分泌干扰物的最新研究方法为基础,较全面地评述了可用于兽药类内分泌干扰物的快速筛选、检测及评价方法,并对该领域未来研究提出了展望和建议,以期为环境和农业等管理部门制定兽药的使用、排放、管理政策提供科学依据。