Health risk assessment of emissions of dioxins and furans from a municipal waste incinerator: comparison with other emission sources

The aim of this study was to calculate the incremental lifetime-risk to dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) for the population living in the surroundings of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI), as well as to establish the potential reduction on human health risks as a consequence of the adaptation to the EU legislation on pollutant emissions from the MSWI stack. Analytical and modelled results were obtained. PCDD/F concentrations in environmental media were determined by means of a simple-compartment-multimedia model (air-soil-vegetation model). Predicted and measured PCDD/F concentrations in soils and vegetation were compared, and the effects of MSWI emissions in the environmental media were determined. Human health risks due to PCDD/F emissions from the MSWI were also estimated based on I-TEQ measured and modelled in various environmental media. Cancer risks due to PCDD/F emissions of the plant were 1.07E-07 and 3.08E-09, before and after installation of the clean air system, respectively. On the other hand, cancer risks due to other PCDD/F emission sources in the area were 5.54E-06 and 1.86E-06. Total PCDD/F cancer risks (including those from diet) for the population living in the vicinity of the MSWI were 1.3E-04 and 4.25E-05, respectively (67.6% of reduction). Hazard ratio for total PCDD/F exposure (including diet) decreased during the last 5 years from 1.16 to 0.38. The above data show that other emission sources of PCDD/Fs also have a notable environmental impact on the area under direct influence of the MSWI.     

Comparison of VOC and ammonia emissions from individual PVC materials, adhesives and from complete structures

Emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia measured from six PVC materials and four adhesives in the laboratory were compared to the emission rates measured on site from complete structures. Significantly higher specific emission rates (SERs) were generally measured from the complete structures than from individual materials. There were large differences between different PVC materials in their permeability for VOCs originating from the underlying structure. Glycol ethers and esters from adhesives used in the installation contributed to the emissions from the PVC covered structure. Emissions of 2-ethylhexanol and TXIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate) were common. High ammonia SERs were measured from single adhesives but their contribution to the emissions from the complete structure did not appear as obvious as for VOCs. The results indicate that three factors affected the VOC emissions from the PVC flooring on a structure: 1) the permeability of the PVC product for VOCs, 2) the VOC emission from the adhesive used, and 3) the VOC emission from the backside of the PVC product.     

Trends in food production and nitrous oxide emissions from the agriculture sector in India: environmental implications

We studied trends in food production and nitrous oxide emissions from India's agricultural sector between 1961 and 2000. Data from Food and Agricultural Statistics (FAO) have been gathered covering production, consumption, fertilizer use and livestock details. IPCC 1996 revised guidelines were followed in studying the variations in N₂O-N emissions. Results suggest that total N₂O-N emissions (direct, animal waste and indirect sources) increased ~6.1 times from ~0.048 to ~0.294 Tg N₂O-N, over 40 years. Source-wise breakdown of emissions from 1961–2000 indicated that during 1961 most of the N₂O-N inputs were from crop residues (61%) and biological nitrogen fixation (25%), while during 2000 the main sources were synthetic fertilizer (~48%) and crop residues (19%). Direct emissions increased from ~0.031 to ~0.183 Tg. It is estimated that ~3.1% of global N₂O-N emissions comes from India. Trends in food production, primarily cereals (rice, wheat and coarse grains) and pulses, and fertilizer consumption from 1961–2000 suggest that food production (cereals and pulses) increased only 3.7 times, while nitrogenous fertilizer consumption increased ~43 times over this period, leading to extensive release of nitrogen to the atmosphere. From this study, we infer that the challenge for Indian agriculture lies not only in increasing production but also in achieving production stability while minimizing the impact to the environment, through various management and mitigation options.     

Characteristics of oxidant precursor emissions from anthropogenic sources in the United States

Hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) have been identified as the most important precursor pollutants for oxidant formation in the atmosphere. These pollutants are emitted both from natural and anthropogenic sources; however, these two types of sources are generally geographically separated. Anthropogenic emissions are dominant in and around urban centers, where the majority of severe oxidant problems occur. Based on data gathered by the MAP3S/RAINE emissions inventory project, anthropogenic emissions of HC in the conterminous United States were 24.8 million metric tons in 1979. HC emissions were predominantly from area sources, the transportation sector being the largest contributor with 39.8% of the total. State-by-state breakdowns are also included. Based on analyses by other emissions inventory projects, the nonreactive fraction of the emissions from the transportation sector is less than 20% by weight. The highest proportion of HC emissions occur at low altitudes (0–50 m range) in high population density areas. Anthropogenic emissions of NO_x were 23.7 million metric tons in 1979; 50.8% were from point sources. The transportation sector and the electric utilities sector account for 37.1% and 30.9% of the NO_x emissions, respectively. The NO₂ fraction of the emissions from the transportation and electric utilities sectors is less than 10% by weight, based on NO/NO₂ speciation data from two other emissions inventories. Highest rates of NO_x emissions occur in high population density areas and are released at low altitude (0–50 m); three areas of high electric generating capacity were found to have high release altitudes.     

Dynamics and sustainability of urban agriculture: examples from sub-Saharan Africa

Urban agriculture can have many different expressions, varying from backyard gardening to poultry and livestock farming. This article focuses on crop production on larger open spaces in cities of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and investigates the sustainability and dynamics of this type of land use, which is common on undeveloped plots particularly in lowlands, such as in inland valleys, or along urban streams or drains. An adapted version of the Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Land Management (FESLM) developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was used to assess the sustainability of urban agriculture. As an example for dynamics, the spatio-temporal changes of open-space agriculture in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, are analyzed for the period from 1992 to 2005, and compared with data from other cities. Crop production on urban open spaces appears as a market-driven, highly productive and profitable phenomenon. However, it is often constrained by tenure insecurity and non-agricultural land demands. Also, the common use of polluted water limits the official support of irrigated urban farming. However, despite these constraints, the phenomenon of urban farming appears persistent and resilient to its changing environment, although individual farmers might have to shift to other sites when their plots are needed for construction. Open-space vegetable production in urban areas is a dynamic, viable and largely sustainable livelihood strategy, especially for poor urban dwellers. Spatio-temporal analysis shows that it is not a short-lived or transitional phenomenon—probably as long as it can maintain its comparative market advantage. However, its informal nature and resulting lack of political recognition need to be addressed.     

Income inequality and CO2 emissions: nonlinear evidence from Turkey

The income inequality-economy link has been argued by researchers a long time. But the impact of income inequality on environmental pollution is a new investigation topic for developing countries. Turkey is well known as an emerging economy which has a high level of income inequality and CO₂ emissions. Therefore, this paper concentrates on the income inequality-CO₂ emissions link in Turkish economy by applying a nonlinear analysis. This paper integrates economic growth and financial development to the CO₂ emissions specification over the period of 1987–2019. We employ the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach to explore the long-run nonlinear linkages between the series. Our findings reveal an asymmetric cointegration among variables. Positive and negative income inequality shocks positively affect CO₂ emissions implying that positive and negative shocks of income inequality enhance CO₂ emissions in the long run. Negative economic growth shocks decrease CO₂ emissions, while positive shocks to financial development increase CO₂ emissions in the long run. We provide important policy suggestions that might be useful to the policymakers to decrease CO₂ emissions in Turkey.

     

The connection between urbanization and carbon emissions: a panel evidence from West Africa

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This study examined the nexus between urbanization and carbon emissions in West Africa. Second-generation econometric techniques that are robust to...     

Methane emissions from dairy farms: case study from a coastal district in South India

Environment, Development and Sustainability - India has the largest dairy industry in the world and accounts for a significant share of the global emission of livestock methane ( $$hbox...     

能源活动碳排放核算与减排政策选择

应对气候变化的科学基础是摸清区域碳排放基本状况,对碳排放现状的梳理是探索环境改善路径的依据。探索低碳发展路径的核心在于减排政策选择,同时也是实现可持续发展的条件保障。京津冀协同发展背景下区域环境保护及大气污染治理成为研究热点,河北省资源环境容量与经济增长之间的矛盾日益凸显,生态文明、可持续发展的要求促使探明环境现状,研究节能减排低碳发展的创新机制。摸清河北省碳排放基本现状,探明能源需求和碳排放的演变规律,对河北省探索低碳发展路径具有实践意义。本文基于河北省全域的数据资料和实地调查,核算了河北省下辖11个地级市能源活动引起的碳排放,分析了2005-2013年碳排放的时空演化规律,以情景分析方法为基础,预测了河北省到2030年的碳排放状况。认为:第一,能源活动的碳排放量从研究时间尺度上来看,始终保持增长的趋势,且2009年以后增长更为显著;从空间尺度上来看,唐山市的排放始终是全省最高。第二,基于情景分析对河北省能源活动的碳排放可能状况进行预测。基准情景是排放量最高的情景;低碳情景下2025年前后碳排放量基本稳定;强化低碳情景下设定2030年回到2005年的排放水平上,人均碳排放量始终保持下降,2030年将与全国2012年的人均排放平均水平相当。     

Spanish agriculture from 1900 to 2008: a long-term perspective on agroecosystem energy from an agroecological approach

Regional Environmental Change - According to the agroecological approach, energy analyses applied to agriculture should provide information about the structure and functions of the agroecosystem;...     

REDD+项目中不确定性对森林碳减排量的影响研究

减少砍伐和退化所致排放(REDD+)项目旨在通过采取各种政策方法和积极的激励措施,以帮助发展中国家减少砍伐和森林退化,同时还包括森林保护、森林可持续经营以及增加森林碳信用。在REDD+项目实施过程中,对于碳减排量的准确监测与度量是一个非常重要的步骤,而不确定性问题的普遍存在将可能对碳减排量产生影响。本文通过建立一个包含REDD+项目开发商和代理人两个博弈者的动态博弈模型,通过对动态博弈模型的仿真研究,分析了不确定性对利益相关者收益以及森林碳减排量的影响。研究结果表明,不确定性会使得森林碳减排量增加,以弥补因不确定性所导致的低估量。同时,不确定性的增加也会导致碳排放量的补偿支付价格增长。由于不确定性只会对代理人补贴产生影响,而不会影响开发商补贴,因而向开发商提高补贴更能促进利益相关者的利润增加。并且不确定性越大效果越明显,因此在未来向开发商而非代理人提供补贴才是政策制定者的最佳选择。由于REDD+项目中除了能给开发商和代理人带来收益之外,还以可以增进全社会环境和生态福利水平,而这种外部收益在"森林碳信用"的市场价格中并未得到完全体现,因此需要政策制定者为REDD+项目提供经济激励以弥补这种外部收益。政策制定者选用补贴模式时应优先考虑基于开发商补贴建立公平有效的激励机制。同时,为保证资金被完全用于REDD+的项目之中,并被负责任地按照预期目标使用,因此需要建立能满足国际标准的良好财政治理机制以预防腐败和欺诈,促进REDD+项目的成功实施。     

Sustainable agriculture in Canada and Cuba: a comparison

Agriculture-related discussions in climate change research have been largely focused on the effects of a changing environment on agriculture and the possible consequences for global and regional food security. However, from a policy standpoint, it is also essential to address the impact of agriculture and related activities on environmental change. Over the last 50 years, most of the world’s agriculture has transitioned into industrial agriculture that requires greater inputs of fossil-fuel energy, water, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which have created substantial harmful effects on air, soil, water and biodiversity. Sustainable farming that uses less chemicals and fossil-fuel energy and emphasizes localized production and consumption has come to be viewed as an eco-friendly alternative to modern agriculture. This paper will examine the concept of sustainable agriculture and compare and contrast its practice in Canada and Cuba. The paper will conclude with lessons that the two countries can learn from each other.     

Monitoring of emissions from selected trades and industries in Hong Kong

A survey on the concentration of organic and inorganic compounds emitted from various trades and industries in Hong Kong was performed to indicate the level of pollutants occuring in the factories, in the stacks and their dispersion into the environment. The results indicate that none of the organic or inorganic compounds present in the workplace exceed the TLV value for the factories during the visit in the two years period of study. However, the concentration of the chemistry compounds in the stack are found to be very high, with NH₃ and HCl exceeding the emission limits. As the dispersion of pollutants in a highly populated place like Hong Kong is an important concern, the effect of prominent stationary sources on the nearby population were investigated qualitatively to establish their contribution to the pollution level at the receptor site in addition to the background pollutant level. Due to the lack of input meteorological data and the highly complex topology around most sites amongst high-rise buildings in Hong Kong, it is difficult to use advanced computer model dealing with complex terrain. Instead, a simple impaction formula was tested for its applicability in Hong Kong. The results indicate an over estimation of the experimental value. Nevertheless, it could be used to provide a rough estimate of the upper limit of the pollutant concentration at given receptor sites. The feasibility of assessing the contribution or different stationary sources to the particulate collected at given receptor sites was studied and work is in progress to obtain a more comprehensive pollutant data inventory for the above assessment.     

Pollutant emissions,energy consumption and economic development in China:Evidence from dynamic panel data

This study investigates the relationship among pollutant emissions,energy consumption and economic development in China during the period 1982-2007 by using a one-step GMM-system model under a multivariable panel VAR framework,controlling for capital stock and labor force.Regarding the data for all 28 provinces as a whole,we find that there is a unidirectional positive relationship running from pollutant emission to economic development and a unidirectional negative relationship between pollutant emission and energy consumption.Based on traditional economic planning,the panel data of28 provinces are divided into two cross-province groups.It is discovered that in the eastern coastal region of China,there is only a unidirectional positive causal relationship leading from economic development to pollutant emission;while in the central and western regions,there are the unidirectional Granger causal relationships between pollutant emission and energy consumption,as well as between pollutant emission and economic development.There is also a unique unidirectional causal relationship running from economic development to energy consumption,which does not appear in the eastem coastal region or in China as a whole.     

Integrated and comprehensive estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from land systems

Exchanges of carbon and nitrogen between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems involve a complex set of interactions affected by both natural and management processes. Understanding these processes is important for managing ecosystem productivity and sustainability. Management processes also affect the net outcome of exchanges of greenhouse gases between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. In developing a national carbon accounting system (NCAS) for Australia to account for emissions and removal of greenhouse gases to and from the atmosphere, a carbon:nitrogen mass balance ecosystem model (FullCAM) was developed. The FullCAM model is a hybrid of empirical and process modelling. The approach enables application to a wide range of natural resource management issues, because it is at land-management-relevant spatial and temporal resolution and captures the main process and management drivers. The scenario-prediction capability can be used to determine the emissions consequences of different management activities. Because, in Australia, emissions of greenhouse gases are closely related to the retention of dead organic matter and the availability of nitrogen for plant growth, the carbon and nitrogen cycling as modelled are good indicators of ecosystem productivity and condition. The NCAS also emphasizes the advantages of a comprehensive and integrated approach to developing a continental scale ecosystem-modelling system that has relevance both to estimation of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable management of natural resources.     

Issues in assessing the economic benefits of ambient ozone control: Some examples from agriculture

Information on the economic benefits arising from alternative secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards can provide one measure of regulatory efficiency. If benefits assessments are to be used in assessing regulatory impacts of federal standards as recently ordered by President Ronald Reagan, the economic concept of benefits, the limitations of benefits analysis, and the validity of those estimates needs to be clarified. This paper briefly reviews some methodological and applied issues which can effect the validity of environmental economic assessments as they pertain to agriculture. Recent studies from the assessment literature on agriculture are critiqued with respect to how well they address such issues. An attempt is made to identify potential sources of variability in estimates found within that literature. Finally, implications for performance of future assessments are discussed.     

Emission of ammonia from indoor concrete wall and assessment of human exposure

Addition of urea-based antifreeze admixtures during cement mixing can make it possible to produce concrete cement in construction of buildings in cold weather; this, however, has led to increasing indoor air pollution due to continuous transformation and emission from urea to gaseous ammonia in indoor concrete wall. It is believed that ammonia is harmful to human body and exposure to ammonia can cause some serious symptoms such as headaches, burns, and even permanent damage to the eyes and lungs. In order to understand the emission of ammonia from indoor concrete wall in civil building and assess the health risk of people living in these buildings, the experimental pieces of concrete wall were first prepared by concreting cement and urea-based antifreeze admixtures to simulate the indoor wall in civil building in this work. Then environmental chamber was adopted for studying the effect of temperature, relative humility and air exchange rate on emission of ammonia from experimental pieces of concrete wall. Also the field experiment was made at selected rooms in given civil buildings. Exposure and potential dose of adult and children exposed to indoor/outdoor ammonia in summer and in winter are calculated and evaluated by using Scenario Evaluation Approach. The results indicated that high air exchange rate leads to decreased ammonia concentration, and elevation of temperature causes increasing ammonia concentration and volatilizing rate in chamber. The complete emission of ammonia from the wall containing urea-based antifreeze admixtures needs more than 10 years in general. Ventilating or improving air exchange can play a significant role in reducing ammonia concentration in actual rooms in field experiments. Urea-based antifreeze admixtures in concrete wall can give rise to high exposure and potential dose, especially in summer. Generally, adults have a high potential dose than children, while children have personal average dose rate beyond adults in the same conditions.     

The intellectual capital efficiency and corporate sustainable growth nexus: comparison from agriculture,tourism and renewable energy sector

Environment, Development and Sustainability - In the new situation of Chinese economic development, how to achieve sustainable development of enterprises has become an important issue concerned by...     

Effects of energy consumption and ecological footprint on CO2 emissions: an empirical evidence from Pakistan

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This study aims twofold; first, to analyze the effects of traditional energy, renewable energy, ecological footprint, urbanization, transportation on...