Risk assessment of potentially toxic element pollution in soils and rice (Oryza sativa) in a typical area of the Yangtze River Delta

Soil pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) resulting from rapid industrial development has caused major concerns. Selected PTEs and their accumulation and distribution in soils and rice (Oryza sativa) collected from Changshu, east China, were analyzed to evaluate the potential health risk to the local population. The soils were primarily contaminated with Hg, followed by Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn. The concentrations of Pb, Hg, and Cd of 46, 32, and 1 rice samples exceeded their national maximum allowable levels in foods, respectively. Spatial distributions of total Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils shared similar geographical trends. The risk assessment of PTEs through rice consumption suggests that the concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Cd in some rice samples exceed their reference oral dose for adults and children. In general, there was no target hazard quotient value of any individual element that was greater than 1, but hazard index values for adults and children were 1.726 and 1.523, respectively.     

How much real cost has China paid for its economic growth?

China’s economic growth has a serious impact on the environment and resources. How much real cost did China pay for its economic growth? This paper estimates the monetary costs of resource depletion, environmental pollution, and ecological degradation. The paper examines the geographic distribution of resource and environmental losses across 31 provinces. The findings allow us to reach the following conclusions. First, the national cost of resource depletion, environmental pollution, and ecological degradation in 2005 was 2.5 trillion RMB. It accounted for 13.5% of China’s gross domestic product (GDP). Secondly, the cost of resource depletion, ecological degradation, and environmental pollution has a different spatial distribution. The cost of resources depletion mainly distributes in the central area, the cost of environmental pollution is in the eastern area, and the cost of ecological degradation lies in the western area. Thirdly, the cost of natural resources depletion is 1,672.5 billion RMB, accounting for 67.8% of the total cost of resource and environment. It indicates that economic development has a high cost of resource depletion.     

At a tipping point? How the debate on biofuel standards sparks innovative ideas for the general future of standardisation and certification schemes

Consumer demand for environmentally and socially responsible products is the driving force behind the expansion of competing certification systems. Paradoxically, this has led to an increasingly crowded marketplace for labels and confusion among stakeholders such as producers, retailers and buyers, rather than providing clear and reliable product information as intended. The situation has sparked a debate about the future of certification schemes and the need for a more streamlined system. This article explores some of the innovative ideas coming from the current discussion regarding biofuel certification and standardisation and outlines how those ideas can be applied to create a global generic standard-setting scheme for natural resources.     

Variety of technological trajectories in low emission vehicles (LEVs): A patent data analysis

This paper focuses on the diversity of engine technologies for low emission vehicles (LEVs) that are developed by car manufacturers in order to substitute for the conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). Our purpose is to analyse the competition between the various technologies for LEVs as well as the innovative strategy of car manufacturers. We first propose to define and to represent these technological trajectories in order to compare their performances and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The technological bottlenecks, the barriers to the adoption of these alternative engine technologies as well as the features of this technological competition are underlined. We then use a patent data analysis to study the patent portfolios of the main car manufacturers in these technologies over the period [1990–2005]. The dynamics of patent applications by car manufacturers gives insight on the competition among technologies and on the strategy of firms. This analysis emphasises the progressive diversification of firms' patent portfolios over the whole set of engine technologies and the differentiated strategic positioning of car manufacturers according to countries.     

南京市郊农业生态系统建设与发展

南京市处于长江流域下游，是我国重要的农业生产基地，也是全国经济发达地区之一。它既有近郊的蔬菜生产，又有远郊的粮食作物种植，农田生态类型与农、牧、副的复合生态类型多种多样，而且其生产潜力很大。本文对南京市郊生态系统的建设进行分析研究，并着重探讨生态系统建设模式及土地合理利用，为建立合理的南京市郊区农业生态系统提供依据。     

民众环境意识是环境教育的核心与目的

当前“低碳经济”、“低碳生活”等理念在众多媒介有大量的表述和宣传报道。但抽样调查显示，实际上广大公众对于“低碳”的认知却颇有一些不甚清晰明了。概念的模糊性及不确定性，势必影响并阻碍我们积极倡导和实践推进生态文明建设，努力实现清洁发展、安全发展、绿色发展及可持续发展。     

武义萤石矿床矿物包裹体研究

矿物包裹体研究表明,武义萤石矿床是含矿地热水活动的产物。其形成温度为130°±27℃,压力为47.23-426.96×10~5帕。属于低温浅成热液矿床。冷渗流大气降水在深处受地热影响加热活化,发生水—岩化学反应和物质交换,导致含矿地热水的形成。它在构造作用和热力及压力梯度驱动下回返上升,于地表—近地表裂隙带与大气降水混合,温压骤降,加以冷的含CO_2和O_2的大气降水界入,使成矿物质自溶液中沉淀析出。     

化学热洗法处理页岩气开采废钻井液

针对页岩气开采过程中所产生的废钻井液处理,采用化学热洗的方法对废钻井液进行了油、水、固三相分离,并使用5%的清洗剂对废钻井液中的泥砂和岩屑进行除油。结果表明:温度为40℃、搅拌转速为160 r/min、破稳剂浓度为50 g/L、清洗剂的浓度为5%时,废钻井液中油的回收率达到了98%,泥砂与岩屑的含油量均小于2%。     

Microcystis aeruginosa/Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes interaction effects on off-flavors in algae/bacteria co-culture system under different temperatures

We conducted an experiment to study the interaction effects of Microcystis aeruginosa and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes on off-flavors in an algae/bacteria co-culture system at three temperatures (24, 28 and 32°C). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was applied to measure off-flavor compounds dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), 2-methylisoborneol, geosmin (GEO) and β-cyclocitral. During the lag phase of co-cultured M. aeruginosa (first 15 days), P. pseudoalcaligenes significantly increased the production of DMS, DMTS and β-cyclocitral at all three temperatures. In the exponential phase of co-cultured M. aeruginosa (after 15 days), M. aeruginosa became the main factor on off-flavors in the co-culture system, and β-cyclocitral turned to the highest off-flavor compound. These results also indicated that DMS, DMTS and β-cyclocitral were the main off-flavor compounds in our M. aeruginosa/P. pseudoalcaligenes co-culture system. Univariate analysis was applied to investigate the effects of M. aeruginosa and P. pseudoalcaligenes on the production of off-flavors. The results demonstrated that both M. aeruginosa and P. pseudoalcaligenes could increase the production of DMS and DMTS, while β-cyclocitral was mainly determined by M. aeruginosa. Our results also provide some insights into understanding the relationship between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria.