Screening and prioritisation of chemical risks from metal mining operations, identifying exposure media of concern

Metals have been central to the development of human civilisation from the Bronze Age to modern times, although in the past, metal mining and smelting have been the cause of serious environmental pollution with the potential to harm human health. Despite problems from artisanal mining in some developing countries, modern mining to Western standards now uses the best available mining technology combined with environmental monitoring, mitigation and remediation measures to limit emissions to the environment. This paper develops risk screening and prioritisation methods previously used for contaminated land on military and civilian sites and engineering systems for the analysis and prioritisation of chemical risks from modern metal mining operations. It uses hierarchical holographic modelling and multi-criteria decision making to analyse and prioritise the risks from potentially hazardous inorganic chemical substances released by mining operations. A case study of an active platinum group metals mine in South Africa is used to demonstrate the potential of the method. This risk-based methodology for identifying, filtering and ranking mining-related environmental and human health risks can be used to identify exposure media of greatest concern to inform risk management. It also provides a practical decision-making tool for mine acquisition and helps to communicate risk to all members of mining operation teams.     

'It'll never happen to me': understanding public awareness of local flood risk

Following the severe flood events of 1998 and 2000, the United Kingdom's Environment Agency prioritised the need to increase public flood risk awareness. Drawing on data collected during research undertaken for the Environment Agency, this paper contributes to understanding of one aspect of flood awareness: people's recognition that their property is in an area that is potentially at risk of flooding. Quantitative analyses indicate that class is the most influential factor in predicting flood risk awareness, followed by flood experience and length of time in residence. There are also significant area differences. Our qualitative work explores how those defined as 'at risk' account for their lack of awareness or concern about their risk status. We conclude that the problem is often not simply a lack of awareness, but rather, assessments of local risk based on experience that underestimate the impact of rare or extreme events. We underline the importance of engaging with local perspectives on risk and making local people part of 'awareness-raising' processes.     

2006~2020年中国大气本底站BC气溶胶的时空分布特征

黑碳（BC）气溶胶来源复杂且具有特殊环境和气象影响效应.我国不同大气环境下的BC时空分布特征亟待全面认识.使用2006~2020年中国7个大气本底站长期BC观测数据,结合气象数据、排放源、增强植被指数（EVI）和气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）数据,综合分析了BC的时空分布特征、长期演化趋势及其影响因素.结果表明,中国不同地区的BC浓度和AOD差异较大,BC对AOD多为正贡献.受排放源和气象条件等因素的影响,BC浓度和AOD空间分布为东高西低,"胡焕庸线"以东的龙凤山、上甸子、临安和金沙的浓度较高,ρ（BC）和AOD平均值分别为（1699±2213）~（3392±2131） ng·m^-3和0.36±0.32~0.72±0.37;"胡焕庸线"以西的阿克达拉、瓦里关和香格里拉的浓度较低,ρ（BC）和AOD平均值分别为（287±226）~（398±308） ng·m^-3和0.20±0.13~0.22±0.19.不同大气本底站BC的年际变化可分为4类：年际变化较小型,主要为阿克达拉站;先增后减然后稳定型,主要为瓦里关站;先降低后稳定类,主要为香格里拉站;先稳定后降低型,主要为龙凤山、上甸子、金沙和临安.不同大气本底站BC的季节变化具有差异."胡焕庸线"以西地区秋季BC浓度最低,冬季和春季BC浓度较高;"胡焕庸线"以东地区冬季BC浓度最高,夏季BC浓度最低.BC对AOD的影响在"胡焕庸线"东西部站点的春季和夏季均较大,在"胡焕庸线"以西站点的秋季较小,在"胡焕庸线"以东站点的冬季较小.大气本底站BC的日变化多为双峰型分布,但是峰值时间存在显著地区和季节差异.     

An In-depth Examination of Farmers’ Perceptions of Targeting Conservation Practices

Watershed managers have largely embraced targeting of agricultural conservation as a way to manage strategically non-point source pollution from agricultural lands. However, while targeting of particular watersheds is not uncommon, targeting farms and fields within a specific watershed has lagged. In this work, we employed a qualitative approach, using farmer interviews in west-central Indiana to better understand their views on targeting. Interviews focused on adoption of conservation practices on farmers’ lands and identified their views on targeting, disproportionality, and monetary incentives. Results show consistent support for the targeting approach, despite dramatic differences in farmers’ views of land stewardship, in their views about disproportionality of water quality impacts, and in their trust in conservation programming. While the theoretical concept of targeting was palatable to all participants, many raised concerns about its practical implementation, pointing to the need for flexibility when applying targeting solutions and revealing misgivings about the government agencies that perform targeting.     

Karyotype abnormalities in fetuses diagnosed as abnormal on ultrasound before 20 weeks' gestational age

This study examined rates of karyotype abnormalities in fetuses diagnosed by ultrasound as abnormal before 20 weeks' gestational age and which prompted a follow-up amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Those diagnosed before 20 weeks were compared with those diagnosed at or after 20 weeks. A retrospective study identified ultrasonographically abnormal fetuses in whom karyotyping had been undertaken, 306 fetuses before 20 weeks' gestational age and 241 after. Isolated malformations before 20 weeks had, on average, an 18 per cent risk of karyotype abnormality, compared with 20 per cent later. Specific rates were calculated; for example, heart abnormality was associated with karyotype abnormality in 7 per cent of cases before 20 weeks and in 14 per cent later. Multiple malformations and karyotype abnormalities were found together in 28 per cent of fetuses prior to 20 weeks and in 33 per cent of the older fetuses. Specific associations included nuchal oedema and trisomy 21 in 21 per cent of fetuses before 20 weeks. No karyotype abnormalities were found in fetuses diagnosed with choroid plexus cysts. An overview of trisomies in Victoria, in 1991, showed that 50 per cent of trisomy 18, 42 per cent of trisomy 13, and 9·5 per cent of trisomy 21 cases were identified by ultrasound in women less than 37 years of age. Another 28·6 per cent of trisomy 21 fetuses were detected in women of advanced maternal age who underwent amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, making a total of 38·1 per cent of trisomy 21 that were detected prenatally. The importance of early karyotyping specifically relates to the ongoing management of the pregnancy if the chromosomes are normal, and facilitates decision-making regarding termination of pregnancy if the chromosomes are abnormal.