Incorporating health outcomes into environmental justice research: The case of children's asthma and air pollution in Phoenix, Arizona

Asthma is a health condition that is also an environmental justice issue. Using an environmental justice frame, this paper explores socio-demographic, indoor hazard, and air quality factors that contribute to disparities in asthma hospitalizations. Multivariate Poisson regression models predicting asthma hospitalizations at the zip code level are employed to examine the case of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona (AZ). Controlling for socio-demographics, indoor hazards, and toxic releases from industry, ozone was the strongest predictor of asthma hospitalizations. This paper contributes to the project of inserting health measures into quantitative environmental justice studies.     

Hazardscapes in reunified Germany

Abstract

German reunification had significant political, economic, social, and environmental impacts. A major environmental impact involved changes to the German technological hazardscape (especially in the East). Hazardscapes are defined here as the spatial distribution and attributes of human engineered facilities such as industrial plants, military bases and power stations that contain or emit substances harmful to humans and the environment. The purpose of this paper is to explain how and why the German technological hazardscape changed after reunification. A cursory analysis might ascribe hazardscape change to the application of strict West German environmental laws and sophisticated environmental protection technologies to the East. This paper contends, however, that it was a political economy rather than an environmental imperative that drove the changes to the hazardscape, and that this continuing conflict may have serious repercussions on the future environmental health of eastern Germany.     

基于人类动力学的地震压埋人员先验在室率研究

破坏性地震发生后,科学、有效地评估地震压埋人员压埋情况,是有序地开展应急救援工作的基础。人员在室率作为压埋率评估模型的主要参数之一,目前主要以作息时间区为基础以省或市为基础单元进行计算,这难以体现基础单元之下的不同市或县人员在室率之间的差异性。为解决这一问题,采用人类动力学相关原理,运用极大似然法估算人员在室率,进而形成基于人类动力学的地震压埋人员压埋率预估模型。最后以汶川8.0级地震部分受灾学校为例,进行压埋率实际评估和模型误差分析。研究表明:提出的微观在室率能更准确地反映人员在室情况具有更好的适用性;在实际评估中模型精度达到±0.13,表明模型能达到较好的预估效果,能为震后应急救援工作提供一定的参考。     

Theorizing distributive justice and the practice of post-disaster housing recovery

This paper examines the implications of contemporary conceptions of distributive justice for post-disaster recovery programmes. The question asked in this paper is essentially theoretical: what does a concern with distributive justice entail when developing and evaluating post-disaster recovery programmes? Housing recovery programmes are employed to provide a contextual grounding for the discussion. We present a review of the disaster recovery literature and recent programmes of post-disaster housing recovery to map the ways in which distributive justice have been theorized, interpreted, debated and put into practice. We reflect on what different principles of distributive justice imply for post-disaster recovery programmes in terms of their impact on opportunities for individuals and communities to recover from disasters, and also on their realizing possibilities of advancing justice in the post-disaster society. The paper concludes by outlining a number of dimensions of a pluralist account of distributive justice. Using these dimensions and taking into account tensions within and between them, we attempt to offer a framework for reflecting on and assessing distributive arrangements of disaster recovery programmes.     

Climate,urbanisation and vulnerability to vector-borne disease in subtropical coastal Australia: Sustainable policy for a changing environment

This paper examines the current health policy response to the management of vector-borne disease (VBD), specifically Ross River (RR) virus, in subtropical coastal Australia. It demonstrates the multi-dimensional nature of the VBD problem and considers the value of more sustainable policy responses. The paper provides an integrated exploration of the incidence of RR virus in the context of socio-biophysical interactions and change, climate variability, and possible enhanced threat due to climate change. The study focuses on two subtropical coastal case study regions in Australia. Collectively, the existing and emerging socio-biophysical interactions in these regionsraise questions as to the future risks and management of RR virus, while climate change adds a significant further dimension. The paper demonstrates the need for the incorporation of environmental planning elements, particularly attention to strategic assessment and planning, into the traditional suite of health policy responses given the multi-dimensional nature of the problem and evident socio-biophysical environmental change.     

21世纪人类将面临的环境灾害

环境问题是当今世界面临的重大问题,已引起世界各国高度重视。本文就21世纪威胁人类健康发展一些环境问题进行了简要阐述,以期引起人们的重视和开展研究工作有所借鉴。     

Hurricane Harvey and Greater Houston households: comparing pre-event preparedness with post-event health effects,event exposures,and recovery

Most disaster studies rely on convenience sampling and ‘after-only’ designs to assess impacts. This paper, focusing on Hurricane Harvey (2017) and leveraging a pre-/post-event sample of Greater Houston households (n=71) in the United States, establishes baselines for disaster preparedness and home structure flood hazard mitigation, explores household-level ramifications, and examines how preparedness and mitigation relate to health effects, event exposures, and recovery. Between 70 and 80 per cent of participants instituted preparedness measures. Mitigation actions varied: six per cent had interior drainage systems and 83 per cent had elevated indoor heating/cooling components. Sixty per cent reported home damage. One-half highlighted allergies and two-thirds indicated some level of post-traumatic stress (PTS). Three-quarters worried about family members/friends. The results of generalised linear models revealed that greater pre- event mitigation was associated with fewer physical health problems and adverse experiences, lower PTS, and faster recovery. The study design exposed the broad benefits of home structure flood hazard mitigation for households after Harvey.     

基于工程地震风险评估的地震保险费率厘定

着重探讨了如何将我国许多城市已完成的工程地震风险评估结果用于厘定地震保险费率,具体提出了地震房屋保险、地震室内财产保险和地震人身保险费率的厘定方法,对应不同的免赔率定义提出了赔偿金额的计算方法.为了说明所提方法的实用性,以某地的多层砌体房屋为例,对设计的几种免赔率,计算了相应的费率.     

The impact of refugees on the health status and health services of host communities: Compounding bad with worse?

Although there have been a number of recent developments in our understanding of refugee health problems that have influenced policies and action, the effects of refugees on the health status and services of host communities remain relatively neglected. This article sets out to explain why this is an important issue with implications for policy, planning surveillance and evaluation, training and research.
The first sections outline some of the problems facing host governments and communities in Africa and discuss the changing rhetoric between the first and second International Conferences for Assistance to Refugees in Africa. A number of possible ways in which refugees could affect the individual, agent and environmental causes of disease are considered, as are the characteristics of the refugees, the host communities and the response which may all modify this impact.
Policy implications of the impact of the refugees, both negative and positive, are discussed, and detailed consideration is given to the pros and cons of integrated and parallel approaches to health care provision. The need to monitor carefully the health status and services of host communities is emphasized and recommendations are made for this and other essential developments relating to training and research.     

城市重大环境风险事故应急救援系统的设计--以大连市为例

根据联合国"阿佩尔计划"(APELL),环境风险事故管理的一个重要方法是建立面向地区的应急0援系统.以大连市环境污染事故风险预警的实际工作为例,在研究环境事故应急管理现状的基础上,分析了救援系统支持平台GIS的优势,论述了该系统的需求、功能、数据库及救援网络等设计内容,完善了环境事故管理的方法研究,为环境风险事故应急管理提供了较理想的实用型管理手段.     

Food as an instrument of war in contemporary african famines: a review of the evidence

Famine is conventionally portrayed as a natural disaster expressed in terms of food scarcity and culminating in starvation. This view has attracted criticism in recent years as the political, legal and social dimensions of famine have become more clearly understood. This paper draws upon these criticisms to understand the particular conditions of famine creation in conflict situations. Following an examination of six contemporary African famines, it is suggested that the use of food as a weapon of war by omission, commission and provision has contributed to the creation of famine in recent decades. Despite the optimism for peace engendered by the demise of the Cold War, the momentum for conflict would seem to be sustained by internal factors, including economic and environmental decline, political instability and ethnic rivalry. Within these conflicts, the strategic importance of food is likely to remain central. This study highlights the need to link concerns with food security and public health to those of development, human rights and international relations.     

某尾矿坝稳定性分析与加固措施

针对某尾矿库堆积坝下游坡出现的水流高位出逸及流砂现象,对该尾矿坝进行了渗流与稳定计算,提出了渗流和稳定评价意见及可行的除险加固方案。研究内容包括:采用先进的三维激光扫描仪对尾矿坝及其附近区域进行大比例尺地形测量,现场测量堆积坝坡及干滩坡比,为数值计算提供基础地形资料;现场取尾矿砂样本,进行室内试验,包括颗粒分析、渗透性和强度参数试验等;根据下游坡出逸点高度进行渗流计算输入参数反分析,获取合理的尾矿砂渗透系数各向异性比例与坝顶垂直入渗流量;对尾矿坝现状与远期规划坝高进行6个工况的渗流与抗滑稳定分析,指出坝体处于滑动失稳临界状态,提出采用辐射井降水的排渗措施。该尾矿库采用辐射井降水后,稳定安全系数提高至1.7以上,坝体下游坡水流高位出逸和流砂管涌现象已基本消除。     

Heat-health warnings in regional Australia: examining public perceptions and responses

ABSTRACT

Heatwaves are an increasing environmental hazard and an important public health issue in Australia. Heat-health warnings are being adopted widely to promote protective behaviours, but there has been limited evaluation of public responses. This study used a household telephone survey to examine public attitudes and responses to heat-health warnings in regional areas in two Australian states, South Australia and Victoria. The results indicate a high level of recall of heat-health warnings and awareness about managing extreme heat. Respondents viewed heat-health warnings positively, but the effects on behaviour change were variable. Our findings suggest that the warnings may be reinforcing existing protective behaviours more than promoting change. Perceptions of heat risks were higher among women than men, but lower in older age groups. Evidence of this nature is important to identify ways to improve heat-health warnings and more effectively address the public health risks.     

苏通大桥结构健康状态评估技术研究与应用(2):主梁损伤预警

为了建立"环境因素归一化"的苏通大桥主梁损伤预警方法,本文对苏通大桥主梁240天的小波包能量谱与温度实测数据进行了季节相关性研究。分析结果表明,苏通大桥主梁的小波包能量谱与温度具有明显的季节相关性,其特征频带能量比的日平均值,随着温度的季节变化在一年中可以发生平均约200%的变化。在此基础上,采用6次多项式模型对小波包能量谱—温度进行了统计建模,并采用均值控制图法对特征频带能量比的异常变化进行了统计模式识别。结果表明,运用本文方法可以有效地消除温度的季节变化对斜拉桥实测小波包能量谱的影响,较好地识别出结构损伤引起的特征频带能量比10%的异常变化,适合于苏通大桥主梁的实时在线监测。     

Environmental Change in Refugee-Affected Areas of the Third World: The Role of Policy and Research

This paper reviews the current nature of policy responses to environmental change in refugee assistance programmes. Based on a review of existing documentary material and a survey of UK-based NGOs, it is suggested that although refugee assistance agencies are aware of environmental issues, this is rarely translated into effective policy measures to identify and combat environmental degradation. Various existing methods used to calculate environmental impacts are considered, but a number of pitfalls are identified. It is suggested that little is known about the processes that lead to accelerated environmental change in situations of forced displacement, and that research providing deeper understanding of local environments and resource management systems is required for environmental policies to be effective.     

The Symphony of the Damned: Racial Discourse, Complex Political Emergencies and Humanitarian Aid

This paper concerns the manner in which the West is responding to protracted political crises beyond its borders. It examines the conceptual world-view that aid agencies bring to complex emergencies and which shapes action. The paper provides an analysis of developmentalism. That is, the currently dominant idea of development which is an adapted form of multiculturalism. It is based on the empowerment of cultural differences and the relativisation of progress. As a variant of multiculturalism, developmentalism is part of Western racial discourse. In terms of understanding conflict, it establishes a mirror-image relationship with new rascist ideas premised on cultural pluralism inevitably leading to social breakdown, violence and anarchy. To the contrary, with its functional view of social harmony, libertine developmentalism claims that even unresolved political crisis constitutes a development opportunity.
Developmentalism, like culturalism generally, is incapable of analysing power. It therefore cannot understand the effects and significance of its own organisational forms. Moreover, since the absence of power translates into operational neutrality in a war zone, it is also unable to analyse the nature of new political formations emerging in the global periphery. That is, the so-called weak or failed states, warlords and so on. This functional ignorance has allowed a widespread incorporation of humanitarian aid into the fabric of political violence. Developmentalism is an essential underpinning for the growing organisational accommodation to ongoing conflict and eroding standards of justice and accountability.     

太阳能热发电系统中的水消耗问题研究

以明置于室内地面上的大型直流电压发生器塔架结构的抗震计算为例,分别计算结构在正弦共振调幅5波、正弦共振3波、El Centro地震波、Taft地震波和云南澜沧地震波5种激励下的响应,讨论了输入不同地震波对结构地震反应的影响及不同Rayleigh阻尼模型下的动力响应特性,最后对这类结构的输入地震动及Rayleigh阻尼模型的选择提出建议。     

Mapping social vulnerability to flood hazard in Norfolk,England

In this paper, we present a method to assess social vulnerability through the creation of an Open Source Vulnerability Index (OS-VI). The OS-VI provides context to environmental hazards and allows NGOs and local agencies to better tailor services and provide targeted pre-emptive vulnerability reduction and resilience-building programmes. A deductive indicator-based approach is utilised to incorporate a wide range of vulnerability indicators known to influence vulnerability. Unlike many vulnerability indices, the OS-VI incorporates flood risk as well as the loss of capabilities and the importance of key services (health facilities and food stores) through the measurement of accessibility when determining an area's level of social vulnerability. The index was developed using open-source mapping and analysis software and is composed completely of open-source data from national data sets. The OS-VI was designed at the national level, with data for all proxy indicators available across the entirety of England and Wales. For this paper, a case study is presented concerned with one English county, Norfolk.

Highlights

• We produce an open-source vulnerability index.

• Accessibility to health care found to be severely affected by flooding.

• High vulnerability areas found to be disproportionately impacted by flooding.

• Urban extent of an area found to increase its level of vulnerability.

• Flood affected areas more likely to be composed of elderly, sick and poor.

     

湖南省农业生态环境现状分析及应对措施

湖南省正处在经济快速发展时期,协调经济、社会、资源、环境保护之间的关系,保证区域农业和农村经济可持续发展,是迫切需要解决的根本问题之一。本文指出了目前湖南主要面临着农业资源减少、水土流失严重、农业生态环境污染加剧、农业环境污染事故频繁发生和农产品质量下降等农业生态环境问题,从群众认识、环境管理、资金投入等方面,分析了造成湖南农业生态环境污染和破坏的原因,简要介绍了国际上农业环境保护的先进经验和发展趋势,提出了解决湖南省农业生态环境问题的应对措施。     

泥石流坝后侵蚀坑纵剖面形态及最大深度实验研究

泥石流拦砂坝坝后侵蚀坑形态和深度是泥石流冲刷基础研究的薄弱环节。通过室内水槽实验,探讨了泥石流坝后侵蚀坑的形态和不同实验控制条件下侵蚀坑深度的变化规律等。由实验观察可知,侵蚀坑纵剖面整体上呈现两端浅中间深的形态特征,其最深点的位置随水槽坡度增大向下游方向发展;侵蚀坑坑内上游坡度较下游坡度陡,对于具有相同级配的粘性砂和无粘性砂,无粘性砂的侵蚀坑坑内坡度较粘性砂的缓;侵蚀坑的最大深度受沟床纵坡、泥石流的容重、沟床组成物质的性质(特征粒径、粘性)等因素的影响较大;泥砂粘性的存在将大大削弱侵蚀的深度。