Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of treated wastewater reuse for agriculture

Reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) for agriculture is in practice in many countries. TWW reuse requires wastewater collection, treatment and recycling, which is associated with cost as well as risk to human and ecological systems. In contrast, it can increase agricultural production and reduce environmental risks by reducing wastewater discharge into the natural environment. In Saudi Arabia, where available water resources are extremely limited, TWW reuse can save significant amount of non-renewable groundwater used in agricultural development, which is a strategic goal for the country. In this paper, a multicriteria decision-making approach was developed where cost, risk, benefits and social acceptance of TWW reuse were considered to be the main criteria. A multistage hierarchy risk management model was constructed for this evaluation. Fuzzy synthetic evaluation technique was incorporated where fuzzy triangular membership functions were developed to capture uncertainties of the basic criteria. The analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the relative importance of various criteria at different hierarchy levels. This study indicated that TWW reuse could have positive impact on agriculture, risk reduction and groundwater conservation.     

Preliminary indoor radon risk assessment at the Poços de Caldas Plateau,MG-Brazil

This paper aims to present an assessment of the environmental radiological exposure at a Brazilian area of high natural radiation and discusses the indoor radon exposure risk. A survey of inhabitant exposures arising from the inhalation of radon progeny and external gamma exposure was conducted in urban and rural areas of the Po?os de Caldas Plateau, which is recognized worldwide as a high natural radiation region. The results of this survey indicated that highest radiation exposure was restricted to the rural area of Po?os de Caldas. The radiation exposure in urban locations was quite similar to the values observed in normal background areas in some Brazilian counties. By the application of a constant relative risk model, an additional 20% in the lifetime risk of lung cancer mortality due to the exposure to radon progeny was estimated at Po?os de Caldas. It was also estimated that 16% of all lung cancer deaths at Po?os de Caldas county could be attributable to radon exposure.     

都市边缘区田园综合体建设能力测算——以南京市高淳区为例

从田园综合体概念出发,量化评价乡镇田园综合体建设能力,为农地综合利用提供理论支撑。该研究以南京市高淳区为例,构建了涵盖现代农业、休闲旅游、田园社区的评价指标体系定量测算,以镇级尺度,综合运用GIS空间分析、TOPSIS、障碍度模型等探析田园综合体建设能力及其阻碍因素,在此基础上提炼差异化的发展路径。结果表明：（1)现代农业、休闲旅游、田园社区建设能力空间差异显著;（2)休闲旅游、田园社区、现代农业等3个维度对田园综合体建设作用程度和方向不一;（3)影响各乡镇田园综合体建设能力主要障碍因子互有差异,各因子间具复合制约功效;(4）研究针对东部慢城生态区、中南部环湖湿地区、西部水乡圩网区、中北部中心老城区的土地利用提出相应的建设路径。     

基于村域的乡村多功能类型划分及评价研究——以江苏省金坛市为例

随着城镇化的快速推进,我国经济社会发展进入转型期,乡村地域向多元方向发展和演变。近年来,乡村多功能发展成为地理学研究的重要课题,成为指导乡村转型发展的新理论和新范式。在系统梳理乡村多功能发展概念及其内涵基础上,探索村域尺度下我国乡村地域多功能的类型划分及其评价方法,并开展了江苏省金坛市乡村地域生态功能、农业功能、工业功能、生活功能及其综合功能的分级评价与空间分异研究,进而识别出全市分村域的地域主导功能类型。结果表明:生态功能高值区主要分布在环长荡湖、直溪镇和薛埠镇等水网密集、林地资源丰富的地区;农业功能高值区主要分布在金坛市中部和南部等河网平原地区;工业功能高值区主要集中在中心城区周边和尧塘镇等城市集聚发展区域;生活功能高值区主要集中在中心城区周边等地;乡村地域多功能指数呈现出以城区为中心、向外围逐渐递减的空间分异特征;全市乡村地域主导功能可划分为6种类型,并揭示其空间分布特征、分别总结其所对应的乡村发展策略。研究结果可为明确乡村功能定位、优化主体功能区划、完善乡村管理政策以及促进乡村可持续发展提供科学依据。     

An approach to comparative assessments of potential health risks from exposure to radionuclides and hazardous chemicals

The need to compare potential health risks to the public associated with different activities that can result in releases of hazardous substances to the environment is becoming increasingly important in decision-making. In making such comparisons, it is desirable to use equivalent indicators of potential health risks for radionuclides, chemical carcinogens, and noncarcinogenic hazardous chemicals. Current approaches to risk assessment that were developed for purposes of protecting human health do not provide equivalent indicators of potential risks from exposure to radionuclides and hazardous chemicals. Comparisons of environmental concentrations or calculated exposures or risks with standards for protection of public health also do not provide equivalent indicators of potential risks. We propose a simple approach to comparative risk assessments in which calculated exposures to any hazardous substances are expressed relative to no-observed-effect levels (NOELs) or, preferably, lower confidence limits of benchmark doses (BMDLs) in humans. This approach provides an equivalent, science-based indicator of the relative risks posed by different exposures to any hazardous substances.     

农村水环境保护与经济可持续发展

我国的生态环境问题 ,如水土流失、草场退化、沙漠化、盐渍化等问题 ,归根到底还是农村水环境问题。本文分析了农村水环境保护、高效利用水资源的紧迫性 ,以及影响农村生态系统可持续性的因素和保护、改善农村水环境的主要措施 ;认为加强农村水环境保护及其持续发展能力的建设是我国整个社会特别是农村经济可持续发展的基本保障     

曲靖市在滇中城市群发展中的资源环境基础分析

曲靖市在滇中城市群大经济圈构建中具有资源丰富,基础资源水、土组合较佳,人均拥有量相对较多,能源优势突出的特点。这些使得曲靖市在滇中城市群发展中起着十分关键的作用,曲靖是滇中城市群农业、能源和重化工工业基地,其资源环境基础是促进滇中城市群快速、稳步、健康、高效发展的发动机和加速器。同时也应看到,一些矿产资源不足及作为生态保障的森林资源不足是其发展的限制因素,加之长期的消耗也使曲靖市面临水土流失和煤大量消耗而产生酸雨等严重的生态压力,人地关系呈现紧张状态。分析曲靖市资源环境基础情况,可以为曲靖市和滇中城市群快速、稳步、健康、高效的发展和相关政策的制定提供参考。〖     

农户认知、外部环境与绿色农业生产意愿——基于湖北省632个农户调研数据

以湖北省632个农户调研数据为实证,在考虑绿色农业生产外部环境的情况下,结合农户对绿色农业生产的认知和农户特征因素,利用logistic回归探析农户绿色农业生产意愿的影响因素。结果表明:（1）农业收入占家庭总收入比重、绿色技术的经济效益和了解程度、农村环境污染现状、政府补贴都对农户绿色农业生产意愿具有正向影响;（2）农户年龄、绿色技术采用风险和政府管制则会减弱农户的绿色生产意愿。因此在推进农业生产绿色化转型的过程中,应加强职业农民培育和绿色农业生产技术的宣传培训,确保绿色技术的适用可靠性。同时政府应加强完善农业绿色生产制度,通过激励政策替代管制和惩罚机制,引导和规范农户绿色农业生产行为     

Population dynamics,rural livelihoods and environmental degradation: some experiences from Tanzania

Population growth and environmental degradation are closely linked. Increasing population has in many rural areas of Tanzania contributed to changes in land use/cover patterns, land fragmentation and livelihood insecurity. Increasing demand for food, energy and other environmental services has contributed to expansion of agriculture, including marginal areas, and deforestation often leading to environmental degradation. Increased reliance on natural resources for rural livelihoods, subsistence nature of the agricultural sector and limited economic opportunities in rural areas are among the factors leading to rural–rural and rural–urban migrations searching for better livelihood opportunities. The high urban demand for food and biomass energy from rural areas has also contributed to rural deforestation and overall environmental degradation. This paper addresses the linkages between population and environmental degradation in Tanzania. It argues that effective implementation of development and resources management policies can lead to environmental sustainability even with growing populations. It provides evidence from successful land management interventions such as HADO, HASHI and SECAP, which support the argument that with effective implementation of resource management initiatives even larger populations can be supported by the available resources. Such successful interventions ought to be emulated elsewhere with similar environmental problems.     

城市土地置换过程中土壤多环芳烃污染的健康风险评价

利用健康风险评价方法判定污染土壤是否需要修复或再次开发已成为一个新的研究领域。以某区域土地置换开发为案例，结合区域未来土地利用类型，采用健康风险评价模型对土壤多环芳烃（PAHs）污染可能给未来入住人群带来的健康风险进行初步评价。结果显示，在正常情况与极端情况两种暴露场合下，考虑直接接触不慎摄入、呼吸土壤尘和皮肤直接接触土壤3种途径，计算出的土壤PAHs污染的致癌风险相对较高，部分点位已经超过了人体健康可接受的致癌风险程度。且以敏感人群儿童为例，利用摄入量和风险评价反推得出，当土壤中PAHs含量低于634 μg/kg时，在极端情况下，儿童致癌风险可降低到可接受的致癌风险水平。随着环境管理工作的深入发展，在城市土地置换过程中应逐步加强环境健康风险评价方面的研究。     

Governance and networks for health co-benefits of climate change mitigation: Lessons from two Indian cities

Health has been the main driver for many urban environmental interventions, particularly in cases of significant health problems linked to poor urban environmental conditions. This paper examines empirically the links between climate change mitigation and health in urban areas, when health is the main driver for improvements. The paper aims to understand how systems of urban governance can enable or prevent the creation of health outcomes via continuous improvements in the environmental conditions in a city. The research draws on cases from two Indian cities where initiatives were undertaken in different sectors: Surat (waste) and Delhi (transportation). Using the literature on network effectiveness as an analytical framework, the paper compares the cases to identify the possible ways to strengthen the governance and policy making process in the urban system so that each intervention can intentionally realize multiple impacts for both local health and climate change mitigation in the long term as well as factors that may pose a threat to long-term progress and revert back to the previous situation after initial achievements.     

Subregional differences in Australian climate risk perceptions: coastal versus agricultural areas of the Hunter Valley,NSW

‘Environmental cognitive stress’ a hybrid model combining environmental stress and cognitive determinants of pro-environmental behavior is explored among Australians living in contrasting ‘micro’ climates in the same river catchment system. Peoples’ climate risk perceptions are mediated by their connections to local environment, observations of environmental change and personal weather experiences. A longitudinal study randomly sampled 1,162 Hunter Valley coastal and rural residents in New South Wales. Telephone interviewers (2008) recruited lakeside homeowners ‘at risk’ of sea level rise, nearby ‘control’ residents and a comparable farming area group. Follow-up interviews (2011) located 81.5 % of the original sample. Fifty-six items based on the model asked about climate change observations, concerns, impacts and actions. Statistically significant rural–suburban and time differences were found. The rural sample was attuned to conditions affecting agricultural productivity: They worried about drought and heat, saw trees dying and changes to seasons and natural rhythms. They anticipate the impact of water scarcity, conserve water and value protecting plants and animals. Compared to higher elevation residents, lake dwellers observed marine life loss, worry about sea level rise and predict the decline of property values. Across time, all groups’ perceptions of warming indicators declined. Concerns and impacts were high and generally stayed high, as did actions related to energy use. No differences emerged in beliefs about climate warming. Climate change observations, along with concerns and actions, have important implications for the environmental cognitive stress model. Overall, dynamic changes in residents’ understandings are related to a changing policy environment, the vicissitudes of climate debates and weather experiences, including extreme swings from inundation to drought.     

A multiple criteria evaluation of sustainable agricultural development models using AHP

Selection of the appropriate agricultural development model has become an important issue in Iran. Using data from Fars province of Iran, the purpose of this paper is to use analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for selecting between the two competing sustainable agricultural development models, which have been developed based on the general tenets of Ecological Modernization (EM) and De-Modernization (DM) theories. Farmers, environmentalists, board members of rural cooperative, rural women and experts from Fars Agricultural (Jehad-e-Keshavarzi) Organization participated in application of AHP to this study. They applied AHP to determine the priority of DM and EM based sustainable agricultural development models. Each group determined the priority of the two models for sustainable agricultural development. The findings indicated that ecological criteria i.e. wise use of resources, environmental protection and product quality are the most important criteria for sustainable agriculture of Iran, followed by economic criterion employment and social criterion participation. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine the critical factors that affected the priority of alternatives. The results indicated that EM-based sustainable agricultural development model has a higher priority as the theoretical base of agricultural development of Iran. Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue     

乡镇工业企业发展与环境,资源协调问题初探

我国乡镇工业企业的发展与环境、资源的协调问题已经成为我国发展与环境、资源关系方面的大问题。实行工农相对分离,组建乡村工业区,是提高乡镇工业企业素质、效益,强化乡镇工业企业优化组合、规模经营的有效途径;是保护环境,实现资源有效利用的基础工作之一;是提高农业劳动生产率,实现农业规模经营的基础工作之一。     

Agricultural productivity and environmental insecurity in the Usangu plain, Tanzania: policy implications for sustainability of agriculture

Sustainable agricultural development is a necessity for sustainable economic growth and social development in Africa. Sustainable agriculture largely depends on how effective natural and environmental resources are managed and utilized; it also depends on the security of continuous access to such resources. This research was aimed to look into trends in agricultural productivity, examine the persistence of the environmental insecurity, analyze the relationship between the two, and explore their links to the national development policies. The results are discussed in the context of relevance to national development policies and their implications on the sustainability of agriculture and rural livelihoods security. Literature survey, records collection from the stakeholders, village level participatory assessments (PAs), observations and questionnaire survey were tools used for data collection. The study shows significant (P < 0.01) declines in cereal crop yields, cattle milk yield and cattle calving rate, and increasing cattle mortality rate. Elements of environmental insecurity were found to account for decline in agricultural productivity; significant (P < 0.01) proportion (68%), of 266 households interviewed, reported land resources deterioration, declining soil fertility, and increasing drought frequencies as the causes of their low productivity. Declined fertilizer consumption and increasing variability in rainfall amount significantly (P < 0.01) accounted for 59% and 39%, respectively, of the variations observed in total annual production of rice and maize, which are major cereals in the study area. This study recommends measures to improve soil productivity such as improved fertilizer application and use of organic manures along with mineral fertilizers for maintaining soil productivity; education of farmers on sustainable use and management of land resources; and pro-poor rural policies in agricultural development and environmental governance. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

PestScreen: a screening approach for scoring and ranking pesticides by their environmental and toxicological concern

A chemical ranking and scoring method entitled PestScreen has been developed as a screening tool to provide a relative assessment of pesticide hazards to human health and the environment. The method was developed to serve as an analytical tool in screening and identification of pesticides of environmental concern used in agriculture. PestScreen incorporates both the toxic effects of pesticides and their fate and exposure characteristics in different compartments of the environment. This is done by combining measures of chemical toxicity pertaining to both human health and the environment with chemical release amounts and information on overall environmental persistence, long-range transport potential and human population intake fractions. Each hazard measure is scored and weighted and finally combined with the pesticide application dose to provide a single final indicator of relative concern (PestScore). Results for 217 pesticides are presented and the practical implementation is illustrated on behalf of three practical case studies.     

Problems of Rural Migrant Workers and Policies in the New Period of Urbanization

The huge migration of rural workers has new characteristics such as the bad order, high degree of concentration, low level of collective action, marginality in social status, unfair treatment, difficult integration of the new generation, and the new return trend of rural migrants, which causes ＇urban diseases＇ in China. Countermeasures should be taken to develop medium-sized and small cities, integrate the labor market of the city and countryside, provide necessary public services, social security and vocational training, guide the rural migrant workers to return rationally, and help the new generation live in harmony with urban residents.     

长江干流滨江水体As空间梯度变化与健康风险评价

重金属污染是世界各国河流面临的重要问题。长江是中国第一大河流,其在提供水资源、调蓄洪水及维持生态平衡等方面发挥重要作用。因此,有必要对其重金属污染状况进行研究。As是重要的致癌重金属,也是长江水体重要污染物之一。沿长江从上游至下游取水样,对长江滨江水体As空间梯度变化进行研究,并评价其健康风险。结果显示:As浓度整体呈从上游至下游增加的趋势。与已有研究比较显示,长江As浓度呈减小趋势。但As在一些点位(如芜湖市、池州市、东至县、常州、无锡、崇明岛等地区点位)存在较大致癌风险,需要引起特别关注。水体温度、离子浓度可能是影响水体As毒性的重要因子。研究结果可为长江水环境污染治理与保护提供基本依据。     

Multicriteria decision-making for efficient water and land resources allocation in irrigated agriculture

The irrational use of water in agriculture is often responsible for several problems concerning the depletion and/or the pollution of water resources. In these cases specific policy measures should be taken to protect water resources from harmful agricultural activities, mitigating at the same time their potential impact on farmers’ welfare. To this end, a multicriteria decision-making model is formulated that aims at allocating efficiently water and land resources in a rural area of Greece, by optimizing a set of important socio-economic and environmental objectives. According to the model’s output, past and current decisions on irrigated agriculture turned out to be oriented towards meeting exclusively the socio-economic objectives. Yet, there are several other possible allocations schemes that could be applied in order to improve the performance of environmental indicators and to contribute to a more sustainable use of natural resources. Moreover, the decision-making model can be further employed to assess a number of additional policy measures in irrigated agriculture. In this framework, the outcome of imposing various water pricing policies was evaluated. The efficiency of these policies was found tightly connected to the elasticity of water demand. Namely, higher elasticity seems to enhance the flexibility in resource allocation and the movement towards environmental objectives. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.