Is the degrowth debate relevant to China?

In industrialized countries, the idea of degrowth has emerged as a response to environmental, social, and economic crises. Realizing environmental limits to and failures of more than half a century of continual economic growth in terms of social progress and environmental sustainability, the degrowth paradigm calls for a downscaling of consumption and production for social equity and ecological sustainability. The call for economic degrowth is generally considered to be delimited to rich countries, where reduced consumption can save “ecological space” enabling people in poor countries to enjoy the benefits of economic growth. China, as one of the economically most expanding countries in the world, has dramatically improved its living standards, particularly along the Eastern coast, over the latest 30 years. However, China is absent from the international debates on growth. This article discusses the implications of the Western degrowth debates for China. Given the distinctive features of China’s development, the paper aims to enrich the degrowth debates, which have hitherto been dominated by Western perspectives. Based upon reflections on social, environmental, and moral dimensions of economic growth, the paper argues that limited natural resources may not continuously support universal affluence at the current level of the rich countries, a level that China is likely to reach within a few decades. Priority for growth in China should therefore be given to the poor regions of the country, and future growth should be beneficial to social and environmental development.     

Toxicity of pesticides toward human immune cells U-937 and HL-60

Abstract

The industrialization of the agricultural sector has significantly increased the use of chemicals such as pesticides. Therefore, exposure to them is unavoidable, which makes it necessary to assess their safety for humans at actual exposure doses. This paper aims to determine toxicity of three types of pesticides toward human immune cells (HL-60 and U-937): glyphosate (GLY), deltamethrin (DEL), and chlorothalonil (CHL). Cell viability, membrane integrity, inflammation induction, and antioxidant activity were evaluated to determine differences in cellular response to the tested plant protection agents. In experimental models, all tested substances caused increased mortality of cells after only 24?h. Cell membrane damage was recorded under DEL and CHL influences. The largest disintegration of the cell membrane was due to the action of 100?μg/mL DEL for U-937 and CHL at 1?μg/mL for HL-60. GLY at a concentration of 3,600?μg/mL caused significant peroxidation of U-937 cells’ lipids. CHL-induced inflammation in both types of cells tested. DEL and GLY also induced antioxidant activity in cells. These results lead to the conclusion that the tested pesticides act cytotoxically to the cells of the human immune system in doses to which both farmers and consumers are exposed.     

Decreased blood level of β2-microglobulin in the employees of a factory which produced polychlorinated biphenyls

Under the project of evaluating the health status of the employees of CHEMKO factory (East Slovakia) which produced PCBs between 1955 and 1985, the level of β₂-microglobulin (β₂-m) was measured in the serum of 242 subjects from CHEMKO (Group A) and two control groups from much less polluted areas: 1. 277 females from a small mountainous village (Group B), 2. 179 adults from the area of a large city of Ko ice (Group C). The level of thymidine kinase (TK) was measured in the groups A and B only. In addition, age-matched groups of 155 women each from all areas were evaluated. In both the whole group and the age-matched group from CHEMKO the level of β₂-m was significantly lower (P<0.001) than that in the respective control groups, while no difference was found in the level of TK. In conclusion, it is suggested that the decrease of β₂-m in CHEMKO employees might be related to the immunotoxic effects of organochlorines.     

Metal accumulation in sediments and benthic invertebrates in lakes of Latvia

The concentrations of cadmium, lead, nickel and copper in waters, sediments (total metal concentrations and their speciation forms) and benthic macroinvertebrates in 11 lakes of Latvia were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Metal concentrations in lake waters, sediments and biota were compared with water chemistry. Compared to total concentrations, metal speciation forms in sediments were better correlated with respective metal concentrations in invertebrates. Therefore, the evaluation of potential metal bioaccumulation should consider metal speciation. The mean concentrations of trace metals in benthic invertebrates in Latvia were much lower than in other countries, which can be explained by comparatively lower anthropogenic loads. However, local areas of anthropogenic impacts were evident.     

Perfluorinated chemicals in relation to other persistent organic pollutants in human blood

In order to evaluate blood levels of some perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and compare them to current levels of classical persistent organic pollutants (POPs) whole blood samples from Sweden were analyzed with respect to 12 PFCs, 37 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), six chlordanes and three polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The median concentration, on whole blood basis, of the sum of PFCs was 20-50 times higher compared to the sum of PCBs and p,p'-DDE, 300-450 times higher than HCB, sum of chlordanes and sum of PBDEs. Estimations of the total body amount of PFCs and lipophilic POPs point at similar body burdens. While levels of for example PCBs and PBDEs are normalized to the lipid content of blood, there is no such general procedure for PFCs in blood. The distributions of a number of perfluorinated compounds between whole blood and plasma were therefore studied. Plasma concentrations were higher than whole blood concentrations for four perfluoroalkylated acids with plasma/whole blood ratios between 1.1 and 1.4, whereas the ratio for perflurooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) was considerably lower (0.2). This suggests that the comparison of levels of PFCs determined in plasma with levels determined in whole blood should be made with caution. We also conclude that Swedish residents are exposed to a large number of PFCs to the same extent as in USA, Japan, Colombia and the few other countries from which data is available today.     

A carbon budget of a small humic lake: an example of the importance of lakes for organic matter cycling in boreal catchments

Lakes play an important role in the cycling of organic matter in the boreal landscape, due to the frequently high extent of bacterial respiration and the efficient burial of organic carbon in sediments. Based on a mass balance approach, we calculated a carbon budget for a small humic Swedish lake in the vicinity of a potential final repository for radioactive waste in Sweden, in order to assess its potential impact on the environmental fate of radionuclides associated with organic matter. We found that the lake is a net heterotrophic ecosystem, subsidized by organic carbon inputs from the catchment and from emergent macrophyte production. The largest sink of organic carbon is respiration by aquatic bacteria and subsequent emission of carbon.dioxide to the atmosphere. Although the annual burial of organic carbon in the sediment is a comparatively small sink, it results in the build-up of the largest carbon pool in the lake. Hence, lakes may simultaneously disperse and accumulate organic-associated radionuclides leaking from a final repository.     

Preliminary assessment of risk of ozone impacts to maize (Zea mays) in southern Africa

Surface ozone concentrations in southern Africa exceed air quality guidelines set to protect agricultural crops. This paper addresses a knowledge gap by performing a preliminary assessment of potential ozone impacts on vegetation in southern African. Maize (Zea mays L.) is the receptor of interest in the main maize producing countries, i.e. South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Surface ozone concentrations are estimated for the growing season (October to April) using photochemical modelling. Hourly mean modelled ozone concentrations ranged between 19.7 and 31.2 ppb, while maximums range between 28.9 and 61.9 ppb, and are near 30 ppb over South Africa and Zambia, while in Zimbabwe, they exceed 40 ppb and translate into monthly AOT40 values of over 3,000 ppb h in five of the seven months of the growing season. This study suggests that surface ozone may pose a threat to agricultural production in southern African, particularly in Zimbabwe.     

What is the lesson from the unprecedented event over antarctica in 2002

Varotsos (2002a,b), suggested that both the smaller-sized ozone hole over Antarctica and its splitting in two holes in September 2002 occurred due to an unprecedented major sudden stratospheric warming caused by very strong planetary waves propagated in the southern hemisphere. Subsequently, a NASA press release of December 6, 2002, also reported the prevalence of very strong planetary waves in Antarctica. The aim of this Letter is to further discuss the morphology of the Antarctic ozone hole, to detect the causes that allowed the Antarctic stratosphere to exhibit this exceptional warming and to examine what it denotes about its mechanisms. Concerning the morphology, among the principal findings is that the ozone hole split occurred not only in the stratosphere but extended in the lower altitudes (upper troposphere). As to the causes of the major sudden stratospheric warming of 2002, a comparison with the previous warmings in Antarctica since 1964 is made. The smaller-sized Antarctic ozone hole of 2002 is approximately equal to that of 1988 when a strong sudden stratospheric warming occurred. If only the destruction of ozone by chlorofluorocarbons resulted in the delayed sudden stratospheric warmings in Antarctica, then the early sudden stratospheric warmings of 1988 and 2002 would not have occurred, since chlorofluorocarbon loading of the stratosphere has remained relatively stable in recent years. Furthermore, it appears that the El Nino characteristics in 1988 and 2002 are not similar.     

Environmental impacts of coastal aquaculture in eastern mediterranean bays the case of astakos gulf,Greece

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Over the last decade Greece has become a leading country in the EU as concerns the cage farming of seabream and seabass. A strong debate has risen, however, about the environmental impacts of aquacultures in the coastal areas. The present paper deals with this problem and it is based on measurements of physico-chemical parameters in the water column, particulate matter and sediments in the area of Astakos Gulf, a coastal embayment in western Greece where three big fish farms are currently operating. METHODS: Water samples were collected by using Hydro-Bios sampling bottles, whereas a prototype sediment trap was installed under a fish cage for the collection of particulate matter. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and salinity were measured in situ using portable equipment. Nutrients were determined by standard spectrophotometric methods. Trace metals were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Dissolved organic carbon was determined by a Shimadzu 5000A carbon analyzer, whereas organic carbon in sediments was determined titrimetrically. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: No clear eutrophication incidents have been identified, although the water column near the fish farms was enriched in nutrients and organic carbon. A sludge 'blanket' covers considerable parts of the seabed and is enriched in colloidal organic carbon and trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn) that come from unused fish food. The biodegradation of this sludge leads to the development of anoxic conditions followed by the formation of undesirable gases, precipitation or remobilization of metals and the extinction of benthic fauna. CONCLUSION: The operation of fish farms at the coastal area of Astakos Gulf, and probably in similar Mediterranean gulfs, affects the marine environment, particularly in the vicinity of the cages. The most significant influence concerns the near-bottom water layer. The environmental impacts depend on the amount of food given to fishes, the mode of feeding, the fish density in cages, the annual production and the years of unit operation. The hydrology and the geomorphology of the area are also critical factors for its environmental quality. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The success of the fish-farming sector in the Mediterranean is accompanied by environmental and, in some extents, by social and marketing problems. These problems, derived from the rapid development of fish farming, can be solved only through an integrated management, using methods such as environmental impact assessment, risk assessment, economic evaluation, vulnerability assessments, resource accounting, cost-benefit analysis and outcome-based monitoring.