Environmental risk assessment of the middle route of south-to-north water transferring source project in China

Ｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔａｌｒｉｓｋａｓｓｅｓｓｍｅｎｔｏｆｔｈｅｍｉｄｄｌｅｒｏｕｔｅｏｆｓｏｕｔｈ－ｔｏ－ｎｏｒｔｈｗａｔｅｒｔｒａｎｓｆｅｒｒｉｎｇｓｏｕｒｃｅｐｒｏｊｅｃｔｉｎＣｈｉｎａ￥ＷａｎｇＨｕａｄｏｎｇ；ＷａｎｇＦｅｉ（Ｉｎｓｔｉｔｕｔ...     

The use of imaging technology in the assessment of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome—imaging of the fetal thymus

The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) describes a state of extensive fetal multi organ involvement during chorioamnionitis, and is associated with grave implications on perinatal outcome. The syndrome has been linked to the preterm parturition syndrome and is associated with inflammation/infection processes in most of the fetal organs. The fetal thymus, a major organ in the developing immune system involutes during severe neonatal disease and has been shown to be smaller in fetuses with FIRS. Various methods for imaging of the fetal thymus and measurement are described. Currently the only method to diagnose FIRS prenatally is through amniocentesis. We suggest that women who are admitted with preterm labor with intact membranes and those with PPROM should have a detailed sonographic examination of the fetal thymus as a surrogate marker of fetal involvement in intrauterine infection/inflammation processes. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linking the Northeast states of the US mitigation program to the EU Emission Trading Scheme—Implications and costs

It is argued that there are at least five reasons for the Northeast states of the United States to implement a regional emission trading scheme for carbon dioxide despite the lack of federal policy regulations: goodwill, learning, political influence, risk management and competitiveness interests. Using an energy-economy model, the carbon price to bring the firms into compliance with a 10% reduction by 2020 is estimated to be 20-150 US$ per ton C. There have been discussions about linking the ongoing EU Emission Trading Schemes to the Northeast state initiative. The prime argument is that such a linkage would encourage a change of the federal US policy, which has traditionally followed action taken at the state level. Emissions trading with binding mitigation commitments could thus be demanded and accepted also on federal level. This paper demonstrates that the impact of linkage on permit prices depends on the reduction target in the European scheme: A low EU target results in a net flow of permits to the Northeast scheme, while a 40% EU reduction target results in a net flow of permits from the Northeast. Flow of permits from the Northeast state must be compensated for by the EU because the United States is not a party of the Kyoto Protocol. The EU must therefore buy permits in allowances recognized in the Kyoto regime in an amount equal to the net flow of permits from the Northeast states.

River flood risk and adaptation in Europe—assessment of the present status

Flood disasters have had a devastating effect worldwide over the past century, both in terms of human suffering and material losses. The study of these events and development of more effective adaptation and mitigation policies has become a priority, both in Europe and other parts of the globe. This paper detects and presents the spatial distribution of river flood risks in Europe. The methodology we developed involves an assessment of three key risk components: exposure, vulnerability and hazard. A topography-based flood hazard map of Europe, identifying low-lying areas adjacent to rivers, is presented and used to identify risk, together with land-use data and damage-stage relationship for different land uses. The study covers river flood risk for the entire European continent. This methodology can be used to determine the level of future risk, using the estimations on Hazard, Exposure and Vulnerability from specific climate and economic development models. Annual average flood damage is estimated for European regions, in absolute monetary terms and in % of regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The results highlight regions where the threat to the economy from river flood hazard is of major concern.     

The use of cost–benefit analysis in environmental policies: Some issues raised by the Water Framework Directive implementation in France

This paper aims to practically contribute to the literature on the use of cost–benefit analysis (CBA) and economic evaluation in environmental decision-making through a practical case study: the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in France, for the first cycle (2010–2015). The WFD requires that Member States achieve “good status” for all water bodies in 2015. However, exemptions can apply, if justified, on natural, technical or economic reasons. For the latter, EU guidance documents recommend to use CBA. In France, the water agencies carried out 710 CBAs on proposed restoration projects for water bodies. This article reports on this experience. Issues concerning these analyses are discussed, especially the assessment of non-market benefits. Finally, this article questions the use of economic analysis in the implementation of environmental policy.     

Water quality characteristics along the course of the Huangpu River （China）

Huangpu River is about 114.5 km from upriver Dianfeng to downriver Wusong,near the estuary of the Yangtze River.It plays a key role in supplying water for production,life,shipment and irrigation.With the industrial development,the pollution of the Huangpu River has become serious recently.The biological oxygen demand (BOD),total nitrogen (TN),total phosphorus (TP),oil,phenol and suspended solids (SS) were lower in the upstream sites than in the downstream sites,indicating pollutants being input along its course. Water quality was the worst in the Yangpu site,near the center of Shanghai City.Dissolved oxygen (DO) content was less than 2 mg/L in the site of Yangpu in July.Among relations between thirteen characteristics,relations between BOD,DO,TN,TP,NH_4~ -N, NO_3~--N and the count of total bacteria or Escherichia coli were significant and interdependent.Inner relationships between these main characteristics in the Huangpu River were studied.High nutrient concentration led to growth of microorganisms,including E.coli. Degradation of organic matters and respiration of bacteria made oxygen concentration decreased in the water body,and DO was a key factor for nitrification-denitrification process of nitrogen.In the Yangpu site,DO was decreased to less than 3.0 mg/L with BOD higher than 7.5 mg/L in May and July.Low DO concentration will decrease nitrification rate.Nitrification need at higher DO value than other organic substrate oxidation.Consequently,river water contains low NO_3~--N values with high amounts of TN and NH_4~ -N there.This will block the self-purification of surface water,by decreasing the rate of nitrification-denitrification transformation process in the water body.     

Why the Use of Adenoviruses as Water Quality Virologic Marker?

Adenovirus is the virus that contains the highest amount of features favorable to its use as a virologic marker for water quality. Those pathogens are resistant on the environment, abundant, easily detected by molecular methods and are of great importance in public health.     

Life cycle assessment of milk production — a comparison of conventional and organic farming

An LCA was performed on organic and conventional milk production at the farm level in Sweden. In the study, special focus was aimed at substance flows in concentrate feed production and nutrient flows on the farms. The different feeding strategies in the two forms of production, influence several impact categories. The import of feed by conventional dairy farms often leads to a substantial input of phosphorus and nitrogen. Organic milk production is a way to reduce pesticide use and mineral surplus in agriculture but this production form also requires substantially more farmland than conventional production. For Swedish conditions, however, a large use of grassland for grazing ruminants is regarded positively since this type of arable land use promotes the domestic environmental goals of biodiversity and aesthetic values.     

Transfer of Australian environmental research on the insecticide endosulfan to Anhui Province, China

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＴｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙｔｒａｎｓｆｅｒ，ｏｒｅｘｔｅｎｓｉｏｎ（ａｔｔｈｅｌｏｃａｌｌｅｖｅｌ），ｉｓｔｈｅｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｏｆｍｏｖｉｎｇｉｎｎｏｖａｔｉｏｎｓｆｒｏｍｔｈｅｉｒｏｒｉｇｉｎｔｏｔｈｅｉｒｐｏｉｎｔｏｆｏｐｅｒａｔｉｏｎ．Ｉｎｎｏｖａｔｉｏｎｓｍａｙｉｎｃｌｕｄｅｓｃｉｅｎｔｉｆｉｃａｎｄｔｅｃｈｎｉｃａｌｋｎｏｗｌｅｄｇｅ，ｉｄｅａｓ，ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅｓ，ｉｎｖｅｎｔｉｏｎｓａｎｄｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｓ．Ｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙａｄｏｐｔｉｏｎｉｓｔｈｅｉｍｐｌｅｍｅ…     

A streamlined life cycle assessment on the fabrication of WC–Co cermets

Tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) cermets have been widely used because of their high hardness and excellent wear-resistant properties. In this study, the environmental burdens related to WC–Co component fabrication were evaluated to compare the Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS^®) process and the conventional powder metallurgy (P/M) process. Sensitivity analysis revealed that choice of weighting scheme does not significantly affect the final result; the LENS^® process is more preferable if powder recycling is applied, part size is small, or part shape is complex; and the P/M process provides more benefits to produce large parts of simple shape.     

Storage and sequestration of organic carbon in major paddy soils of China： Mechanism, stability and the impact on global change——A key project funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China（2003-2005）

Chinapaddysoilsoccupyalandareaofabout3×107hm2andproduce44%oftotalcerealsofthestatewithalandportionof25%.Managementofpaddysoilscanbetracedbackto7000yearsB.P.andhaveledtoaparticularsoiltypeofanthropogenicwetlandsoilswithenhancedCstorageincomparisonwiththeu…     

Modeling the fate of paddy field pesticide in surface water and environmental risk assessment

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＭｉｃｒｏ ｏｒｇａｎｉｃｃｏｍｐｏｕｎｄｓｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｉｄｅｎｔｉｆｉｅｄａｓｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｍａｉｎｒｉｓｋａｇｅｎｔｇｒｏｕｐｓｉｎｄｒｉｎｋｉｎｇｗａｔｅｒ.Ｉｎｓｕｒｆａｃｅｗａｔｅｒ,ａｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌｃｈｅｍｉｃａｌｓａｃｃｏｕｎｔｆｏｒａｌａｒｇｅｐａｒｔｏｆｔｈｅｏｒｇａｎｉｃｃｏｍｐｏｕｎｄｃｏｎｔｅｎｔｓ.ＩｎＥａｓｔａｎｄＳｏｕｔｈｅａｓｔＡｓｉａ ,ｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇＣｈｉｎａａｎｄＪａｐａｎ ,ｃｕｌｔｉｖａｔｉｎｇｏｆｒｉｃｅ,ｔｈｅｍａｉ…     

Efficacy assessment of peracetic acid in the removal of synthetic 17α-ethinyl estradiol contraceptive hormone in wastewater

Increasing concerns have been raised on endocrine disrupting chemicals like the sex hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), the more since traditional wastewater (WW) treatments appear to be ineffective for their removal. The efficacy of the relatively novel disinfectant peracetic acid (PAA) in EE2 removal was evaluated, as well as its potential effects on WW quality parameters. The treatments tested for EE2 removal were also evaluated in terms of toxicity, through the determination of biochemical responses (antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation and vitellogenin induction) using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a biological model. PAA contact times less than 20 min appeared insufficient regardless of the PAA dose tested, but a 100% EE2 removal was attained at a PAA concentration of 15 mg/L with a contact time of 20 min. Total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and pH in PAA treatments remained well within levels set in European legislation for WW discharge. EE2 induced significant increased vitellogenin (VTG) levels in both female and male fish, indicating increased estrogenic activity, especially in males suggesting an endocrine disruption effect. With the addition of PAA (15 mg/L), however, VTG levels in both sexes returned to control values. Although this PAA treatment showed increased levels of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, the lipid peroxidation levels were similar or even lower than in controls. Overall the results suggest that the use of PAA appears a promising way forward as a less toxic alternative to chlorine disinfection with high efficiency in the removal of EDC like EE2.     

Development and experience in the monitoring,assessment and control of environmentalpollutants in Hong Kong

The late start of environmental protection in Hong Kong was discussed in the light of problems encountered during the development of environmental protection legislation in Hong Kong for the past 20 years. The collaboration in monitoring and assessment of environmental pollutants between the University of Hong Kong and various governments were descrbed in parallel with the progress in environmental protection in Hong Kong. The developments of new analytical techniques for environmental monitoring and analysis is given and their application in environmental control described. The joint projects in assessment and control of environmental pollutants carried out in collaboration with local industries and other organizations within and without the university are given and discussed. The problems and possible solution facing Hong Kong in development control equipment for small scale industries are discussed and areas of development identified. The development and experience in the monitoring assessment and co     

Neurobiology of the homing pigeon—a review

Homing pigeons are well known as good homers, and the knowledge of principal parameters determining their homing behaviour and the neurological basis for this have been elucidated in the last decades. Several orientation mechanisms and parameters—sun compass, earth’s magnetic field, olfactory cues, visual cues—are known to be involved in homing behaviour, whereas there are still controversial discussions about their detailed function and their importance. This paper attempts to review and summarise the present knowledge about pigeon homing by describing the known orientation mechanisms and factors, including their pros and cons. Additionally, behavioural features like motivation, experience, and track preferences are discussed. All behaviour has its origin in the brain and the neuronal basis of homing and the neuroanatomical particularities of homing pigeons are a main topic of this review. Homing pigeons have larger brains in comparison to other non-homing pigeon breeds and particularly show increased size of the hippocampus. This underlines our hypothesis that there is a relationship between hippocampus size and spatial ability. The role of the hippocampus in homing and its plasticity in response to navigational experience are discussed in support of this hypothesis.     

Water quality monitoring in a slightly-polluted inland water body through remote sensing — Case study of the Guanting Reservoir in Beijing, China

This study focused on the water quality of the Guanting Reservoir, a possible auxiliary drinking water source for Beijing. Through a remote sensing (RS) approach and using Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data, water quality retrieval models were established and analyzed for eight common water quality variables, including algae content, turbidity, and concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, and dissolved phosphorus. The results show that there exists a statistically significant correlation between each water quality variable and remote sensing data in a slightly-polluted inland water body with fairly weak spectral radiation. With an appropriate method of sampling pixel digital numbers and multiple regression algorithms, retrieval of the algae content, turbidity, and nitrate nitrogen concentration was achieved within 10% mean relative error, concentrations of total nitrogen and dissolved phosphorus within 20%, and concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus within 30%. On the other hand, no effective retrieval method for chemical oxygen demand was found. These accuracies were acceptable for the practical application of routine monitoring and early warning on water quality safety with the support of precise traditional monitoring. The results show that performing the most traditional routine monitoring of water quality by RS in relatively clean inland water bodies is possible and effective.