三台县建筑物室内天然本底辐射水平及其所致居民剂量的研究

本文对三台县建筑物室内天然本底辐射水平进行了调查,其结果:为(10.97±1.98)×10~(-8)GY·h~(-1),室内天然本底辐射剂量因建筑材料不同而差别有高度显著性(P<0.01),主体建筑和地雨材料相同,其γ辐射剂量率不同楼层存在差别亦有高度显著性(P<0.01);居民个人年有效剂量当量0.54mSV,集体年有效剂量当量为7.39×10~2人·SV。     

苏联核电站事故后新疆地区大气沉降物及空气气溶胶总β放射性水平

本文报道了苏联切尔诺贝利核电站事故释放出放射性物质所致新疆地区环境中大气沉降物和空气气溶胶总β放射性污染水平。北疆高于东疆,东疆高于南疆。空气气溶胶中总β放射性衰减指数(n)值为0.50,污染的主要放射性核素可分成半衰期为7.7天和54.1天两组。污染空气放射性核素导致居民肺组织的待积剂量当量,乌鲁木齐为29.6×10~(-7)sv;阿勒泰为31.6×10~(-7)sv;哈密为9.7×10~(-7)sv;喀什为4.8×10~(-7)sv。均远低于我国放射防护基本标准中规定的公众年剂量限值,对广大居民的身体健康不会产生不良影响。     

伊宁市和雅马图一带环境外照射贯穿辐射水平的测量

环境中存在着天燃和人工放射性辐射。天燃辐射是人类所受各种辐射的主要来源,其年剂量当量约占环境总年剂量当量的五分之四。由于人类的生产和生活,特别是核试验及放射性伴生矿的开采,对环境放射性水平产生了不同程度的影响,核电站的出现和发展,更引起了人们对环境放射性的关心。     

德阳市道路环境γ辐射剂量水平

本文在德阳市环境天然放射性水平调查基础上,对市辖5953.75平方公里范围内的五种不同材料路面,47个测点的道路γ辐射剂量率进行了分析研究,其结果是:(1)陆地γ辐射剂量率为5.54×10~(-8)Gyh~(-1);(2)贯空辐射剂量率为8.71×10~(-8)Gyh~(-1);(3)不同材料路面γ辐射剂量率的大小顺序是:泥土>碎石>水泥>柏油>石块路面。     

吐鲁番市环境放射性水平

本文报道了对吐鲁番市环境放射性的调查结果。调查表明,吐鲁番市的外照射贯穿辐射剂量率、贯穿辐射致居民人均年有效剂量当量、土壤和水体中的天然放射性核素含量均比较低,属于世界正常本底辐射水平。     

基于走航的CO2驱油与封存场地大气环境监测

CO2驱油和地质封存项目中的泄漏风险是制约其发展的重要瓶颈,对地表大气中的CO2开展监控被认为是预防项目泄漏风险、证实项目埋碳量的关键手段。该研究首次引入了CO2走航监测技术,选取新疆克拉玛依油田CO2混相驱试验区为研究对象,开展了地表CO2泄漏特征监测。监测结果显示：该试验区周边行政区内9个功能区块的CO2均值浓度为417.95×10-6～767.59×10-6,清洁本底浓度为416.66×10-6。试验区CO2小时浓度变化与现场生产组织的作息呈现相关性,小时均值浓度为416.81×10-6～420.69×10-6,与本底浓度差异不大,因此对大气环境影响较小。局部异常点出现于注气点、采油井、现场休息室、修井作业点、生活基地5类位置。注气系统中,储罐、换热器和注入泵有较明显检出,6组注气系统的泄漏值最大值低于CO2长期接触限值,远低于CO2短期接触限值。     

无源累积氡法监测成都,自贡环境空气中的氡

本文报道固体核径迹法测定成都、自贡市的环境氡水平。１９９１年在成都市布放探测器４个月，３４个室内测点平均氡浓度３６．６±１７．４Ｂｑ·Ｍ￣－３；２个室外点平均１６．２±４．２ＢｑＭ￣－３。１９９２年在自贡市６个区域布放６７个探测器，６４个测点平均氡浓度４９．２±２４．５Ｂｑ·Ｍ￣－３。有３个测点，探测器上出现局部高密集氡径迹，重要探索，未统计入内。若以上述室内氡平均值和环境氡平均植分别代表两市的全年氡平均水平，并以室内公众成员所受平均氡浓度与年有效剂量关系式计算。成都、自贡市公众成员各自受氡年有效剂量当量为１．１０ｍＳｖ和１．４８ｍＳｖ．     

生产测井用密封源的存储与辐射防护

生产测井使用的密封源具有较强电离辐射,对放射性操作人员具有较大的伤害性。文章在对放射性密封源进行风险评估的基础上,通过计算密封源存储过程中操作人员所受的辐射与距离、时间的关系,提出了减少操作人员照射剂量当量的有效辐射防护措施为:利用距离、时间、屏蔽防护方法,降低操作人员照射剂量;改善放射源存储条件,从本质上保证放射安全;加强放射源监管,增强安全防范意识;建立和完善各项放射性管理规章制度。     

低温供热堆选址阶段的环境影响评价与分析

根据低温供热堆选址阶段环境影响评价的要求,结合工程具体设计方案,对低温供热堆在正常运行和事故工况下可能造成的环境影响进行分析、预测与评价,以作为审管当局决策的重要依据.低温供热堆在正常运行状态时,放射性气载流出物在大气中迁移和扩散及对公众的辐射剂量估算采用的是IAEA安全系列19号报告中给出的筛选模式(稀释模式);事故...     

某企业工业X射线探伤机环境影响评价

以某企业的工业X射线探伤机为例讨论了固定式探伤的环境影响评价过程,分析了探伤机项目对周围环境的影响,评价结果表明,该企业探伤室的屏蔽防护符合有关标准要求,对放射性职业工作人员和周围公众人员的年有效剂量分别低于相应的剂量约束值。     

Conversion of temperate forests into heaths: Role of ecosystem disturbance and ericaceous plants

Fire and logging in nutrient-poor temperate forests with certain ericaceous understory plants may convert the forests into heaths. The process of disturbance-induced heath formation is documented by using examples ofCalluna in western Europe,Kalmia in Newfoundland, andGaultheria (salal) in coastal British Columbia. In a cool, temperate climate, rapid vegetative growth ofCalluna, Kalmia, and salal following disturbance results in increasing organic accumulation (paludification), nutrient sequestration, soil acidification, and allelochemicals. These are thought to be the main reasons to conifer regeneration failure in disturbed habitats. If continuation in forest is a land-use objective, then temperate forests with an ericaceous understory should not be logged unless effective silvicultural methods are devised to control the ericaceous plants and restore forest regeneration. Preharvest vegetation control may be considered as an option. Failure to control the understory plants may lead to a long-term vegetation shift, from forest to heathland, particularly in nutrient-poor sites. Successful methods of controllingKalmia andGaultheria, however, have yet to be developed. While theKalmia- andGaultheria- dominated heathlands are undesirable in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, a wide range ofCalluna heathlands of western Europe are being conserved as natural and seminatural vegetation.     

AN APPLICATION RUNOFF MODEL STRATEGY FOR UNGAGED WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Mathematical models for predicting watershed surface flow responses are available, most of which are elaborate nonlinear numerical surface and channel flow models linked with infiltration models. Such models may be used to make predictions for ungaged areas, assuming an acceptable fitting of the model to the topography and roughness of the real system. For some application purposes, these models are impractical because of their complexity and expensive computer solutions. A procedure is developed that uses a complex model of an ungaged area to derive a simpler parametric nonlinear system model for repetitious simulation with input sequences. The predicted flow outputs are obtained with the simpler model at significant savings of money and time. The procedures for constructing a complex kinematic model of a 40 acre (161,880 m²) reference watershed and deriving the simpler system model are outlined. The results of predictions from both models are compared with a selected set of measured events, all having essentially the same initial conditions. Peak discharges ranged from 3 to 118 ft³/sec (0.085 to 3.34 m³/sec), which includes the largest event of record. The inherent limitations of lumped systems models are demonstrated, including the bias caused by their inability to model infiltration losses after rainfall ceases. Computer costs and times for the models were compared. The derived simple model has a cost advantage when repeated use of a model is required. Such an applications hydrologic model has an engineering tradeoff of reduced accuracy, and lumping bias, but is more economical for certain design purposes.     

Urban ecological systems: scientific foundations and a decade of progress

Urban ecological studies, including focus on cities, suburbs, and exurbs, while having deep roots in the early to mid 20th century, have burgeoned in the last several decades. We use the state factor approach to highlight the role of important aspects of climate, substrate, organisms, relief, and time in differentiating urban from non-urban areas, and for determining heterogeneity within spatially extensive metropolitan areas. In addition to reviewing key findings relevant to each state factor, we note the emergence of tentative "urban syndromes" concerning soils, streams, wildlife and plants, and homogenization of certain ecosystem functions, such as soil organic carbon dynamics. We note the utility of the ecosystem approach, the human ecosystem framework, and watersheds as integrative tools to tie information about multiple state factors together. The organismal component of urban complexes includes the social organization of the human population, and we review key modes by which human populations within urban areas are differentiated, and how such differentiation affects environmentally relevant actions. Emerging syntheses in land change science and ecological urban design are also summarized. The multifaceted frameworks and the growing urban knowledge base do however identify some pressing research needs.     

Using Paleo Reconstructions to Improve Streamflow Forecast Lead Time in the Western United States

In water stressed regions, water managers are exploring new horizons that would help in long‐range streamflow forecasts. Oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations have been shown to influence streamflow variability. In this study, long‐lead time streamflow forecasts are made using a multiclass kernel‐based data‐driven support vector machine (SVM) model. The extended streamflow records based on tree ring reconstructions were used to provide a longer time series data. Reconstructed data were used from 1658 to 1952 and the instrumental record was used from 1953 to 2007. Reconstructions for oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations included the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and North Atlantic Oscillation. Streamflow forecasts using all four oscillations were made with one‐year to five‐year lead times for 21 gages in the western United States. This is the first study that uses both instrumental and reconstructed data of oscillations in SVM model to improve streamflow forecast lead time. SVM model was able to provide “satisfactory” to “very good” forecasts with one‐ to five‐year lead time for the selected gages. The use of all the oscillation indices helped in achieving better predictability compared to using individual oscillations. The SVM modeling results are better when compared with multiple linear regression model forecasts. The findings are statistical in nature and are expected to be useful for long‐term water resources planning and management.     

Neighbourhood characteristics and urban gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area: staffing and voluntarism,food production,infrastructure, and sustainability practices

Urban gardens are important sources of sustenance for communities with limited access to food. Hence, this study focuses on food production in gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area in Northwest Ohio. We administered surveys to 150 garden managers from November 2014 to February 2015 in our attempt to better understand how neighbourhood racial composition and poverty levels are related to staffing and voluntarism, food production and distribution, the development of infrastructure, and the adoption of sustainability practices in urban gardens. The results from 30 gardens are presented in this paper. We used Geographic Information Systems to map the gardens and overlay the map with 2010 census data so that we could conduct demographic analyses of the neighbourhoods in which the gardens were located. Though the gardens were small – two acres or less – up to 46 varieties of food were grown in a single garden. Gardens also operated on small budgets. Food from the gardens was gifted or shared with friends, family, and neighbourhood residents. Gardens in predominantly minority neighbourhoods tended to have fewer institutional partners, less garden infrastructure, and had adopted fewer sustainable practices than gardens in predominantly White neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, residents of predominantly minority and high-poverty neighbourhoods participated in garden activities and influenced garden operations. Volunteering and staffing were racialised and gendered.     

Predicting deer-vehicle collisions in an urban area

Collisions with deer and other large animals are increasing, and the resulting economic costs and risks to public safety have made mitigation measures a priority for both city and wildlife managers. We created landscape models to describe and predict deer-vehicle collision (DVCs) within the City of Edmonton, Alberta. Models based on roadside characteristics revealed that DVCs occurred frequently where roadside vegetation was both denser and more diverse, and that DVCs were more likely to occur when the groomed width of roadside right-of-ways was smaller. No DVCs occurred where the width of the vegetation-free or manicured roadside buffer was greater than 40 m. Landscape-based models showed that DVCs were more likely in more heterogeneous landscapes where road densities were lower and speed limits were higher, and where non-forested vegetation such as farmland was in closer proximity to larger tracts of forest. These models can help wildlife and transportation managers to identify locations of high collision frequency for mitigation. Modifying certain landscape and roadside habitats can be an effective way to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.     

MANGANESE CYCLE IN IMPOUNDMENT WATER

Manganese entering impounded water will undergo a cyclic transformation. Oxidation precipitates manganese from top waters. At the bottom of the lake, biological activity will render manganese soluble by both intracellular as well as extracellular activity. The study was made to demonstrate that biological reduction and transformation, organometallic complexation, together with the presence of carbon dioxide and the lowering of pH all have some effect on the solubility of manganese. Dissolved manganese may be brought back to top waters during the lake overturn and therefore deteriorates the water quality.     

Biodiversity and biotechnology

The maintenance of biodiversity is urged from many quarters and on grounds ranging from aesthetic considerations to its usefulness, particularly for biotechnology. But regardless of the grounds for preserving biodiversity, writers are generally in agreement that it should be preserved. But, in examining the various references biodiversity, such as species diversity, genetic diversity, and habitat diversity, it is apparent that we cannot aim to preserve biodiversityas such, since there are a number of conflicts in any such undertaking. In preserving one aspect of biodiversity, we damage another aspect. Five arguments which attempt to ground our moral concern for biodiversity are reviewed and critiqued, not only for their consistency but also for their power to move us to action. The final section of the paper shows how conflicts in the values of personal and environmental health can impair ethical action and especially policy formation.An earlier version of this paper was read at the conference on Agriculture, Food, and Human Values: Tradition and Change, Orlando, Florida, October 7–9, 1987.     

Sources and Transport of Phosphorus to Rivers in California and Adjacent States,U.S., as Determined by SPARROW Modeling

The SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression on Watershed attributes) model was used to simulate annual phosphorus loads and concentrations in unmonitored stream reaches in California, U.S., and portions of Nevada and Oregon. The model was calibrated using de‐trended streamflow and phosphorus concentration data at 80 locations. The model explained 91% of the variability in loads and 51% of the variability in yields for a base year of 2002. Point sources, geological background, and cultivated land were significant sources. Variables used to explain delivery of phosphorus from land to water were precipitation and soil clay content. Aquatic loss of phosphorus was significant in streams of all sizes, with the greatest decay predicted in small‐ and intermediate‐sized streams. Geological sources, including volcanic rocks and shales, were the principal control on concentrations and loads in many regions. Some localized formations such as the Monterey shale of southern California are important sources of phosphorus and may contribute to elevated stream concentrations. Many of the larger point source facilities were located in downstream areas, near the ocean, and do not affect inland streams except for a few locations. Large areas of cultivated land result in phosphorus load increases, but do not necessarily increase the loads above those of geological background in some cases because of local hydrology, which limits the potential of phosphorus transport from land to streams.     

Surface applied water treatment residuals affect bioavailable phosphorus losses in Florida sands

Water treatment residuals (WTR) can reduce runoff P loss and surface co-application of P-sources and WTR is a practical way of land applying the residuals. In a rainfall simulation study, we evaluated the effects of surface co-applied P-sources and an Al-WTR on runoff and leacheate bioavailable P (BAP) losses from a Florida sand. Four P-sources, namely poultry manure, Boca Raton biosolids (high water-soluble P), Pompano biosolids (moderate water-soluble P), and triple super phosphate (TSP) were surface applied at 56 and 224kgPha(-1) (by weight) to represent low and high soil P loads typical of P- and N-based amendments rates. The treatments further received surface applied WTR at 0 or 10gWTRkg(-1) soil. BAP loss masses were greater in leachate (16.4-536mg) than in runoff (0.91-46mg), but were reduced in runoff and leachate by surface applied WTR. Masses of total BAP lost in the presence of surface applied WTR were less than approximately 75% of BAP losses in the absence of WTR. Total BAP losses from each of the organic sources applied at N-based rates were not greater than P loss from TSP applied at a P-based rate. The BAP loss at the N-based rate of moderate water-soluble P-source (Pompano biosolids) was not greater than BAP losses at the P-based rates of other organic sources tested. The hazards of excess P from applying organic P-sources at N-based rates are not greater than observed at P-based rates of mineral fertilizer. Results suggest that management of the environmental P hazards associated with N-based rates of organic materials in Florida sands is possible by either applying P-sources with WTR or using a moderate water-soluble P-source.