Recovery from acidification in central Europe--observed and predicted changes of soil and streamwater chemistry in the Lysina catchment,Czech Republic

The geochemical model MAGIC was applied to estimate streamwater and soil chemistry between 1851 and 2030 at the Lysina catchment, an acid-sensitive granitic catchment covered by planted Norway spruce monoculture in the western Czech Republic. The total deposition of sulfur to the catchment was 164 meq m(-2) in 1991, but had declined to 52 meq m(-2) by 2000. Although SO2 emissions in the region declined by 90% compared to the 1980s, acidification recovery was small within the period 1990-2000. Stream pH increased only slightly (from 3.92 to 4.07), although SO4 concentration declined sharply from 568 microeq l(-1) (1990) to 232 microeq l(-1) (2000). Organic acids played an important role in streamwater buffering. According to the MAGIC prediction using deposition measured in 1999-2000, streamwater pH will increase to 4.3 and soil base saturation will increase to 6.2% by 2030 (from 5.7% in 2002). Pre-industrial pH was estimated to be 5.5 and soil base saturation 24.7%. The loss of base cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) was caused predominantly by atmospheric acidity, but intensive forestry was responsible for approximately one third of the net base cation loss via accumulation in harvested biomass. Severely damaged sites, under continued pressure from forestry, will not return to a good environmental status in the near future (if ever) when the acid deposition input is only partially reduced.     

Mono- to tri-chlorinated dibenzodioxin (CDD) and dibenzofuran (CDF) congeners/homologues as indicators of CDD and CDF emissions from municipal waste and waste/coal combustion

Total homologue concentrations and select congener concentrations from amongst the mono- to tri-chlorinated dibenzodioxins (CDDs) and dibenzofurans (CDFs) are used to model both Total (mono- to octa-) CDD + CDF emissions and the toxicity equivalent (TEQ) of the 2,3,7,8-chlorine-substituted emissions. Analysis of emission data from two facilities indicates that use of total homologue concentrations shows limited, facility-specific correlations with Total CDDs/CDFs and TEQ. Concentrations of select mono- to tri-CDD/CDF congeners show promising correlation with CDD/CDF TEQ across facilities, suggesting that these compounds can act as TEQ indicators.     

In search of human-associated bacterial pathogens in Antarctic wildlife: report from six penguin colonies regularly visited by tourists

We investigated the potential role of Antarctic tourism in the introduction of human-associated pathogens into Antarctic wildlife. We collected and analyzed 233 fecal samples from eight bird species. The samples were collected at six localities on the Antarctic Peninsula, which often is visited by tourists. Every sample was investigated for pathogens of potential human origin: Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Yersina spp. None of these bacteria was found. Our data suggest that the tourism industry so far has achieved its goal of not introducing pathogens into the Antarctic region. There is, however, an urgent need to further investigate the situation in areas closer to permanent Antarctic settlements.     

Recent mild and wet years in relation to long observation records and future climate change in Sweden

Recent mild and wet years in Sweden were compared with long observation series of temperature, precipitation and runoff. Spatial average series for northern and southern Sweden were constructed and analyzed for the period 1901-2002. Precipitation increased considerably during the period, whereas temperature and runoff increases were weaker. On average, for the whole country, the differences between the period 1991-2002 and 1901-1990 were +0.7 degrees C for temperature, +11% in precipitation and +7% in runoff. The differences in temperature and precipitation, but not runoff, were significant at the 5% level. However, the 1930s were equally mild, and the runoff was almost as high in the 1920s. The characteristic feature of the past decade is the combination of high temperature, precipitation and runoff. The deviation between the most recent decade and the preceding years is consistent with climate scenario projections for Sweden, but there are also differences in the seasonal pattern.     

Evaluation of the Galega-Rhizobium galegae system for the bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil

The bioremediation potential of a nitrogen-fixing leguminous plant, Galega orientalis, and its microsymbiont Rhizobium galegae was evaluated in BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene)-contaminated soils in microcosm and mesocosm scale. To measure the intrinsic tolerance of the organisms to m-toluate, a model compound representing BTX, G. orientalis and R. galegae were cultivated under increasing concentrations of m-toluate alone and in association with Pseudomonas putida pWWO, a bacterial strain able to degrade toluene-derived compounds. The test plants and rhizobia remained viable in m-toluate concentrations as high as 3000 ppm. Plant growth was inhibited in concentrations higher than 500 ppm, but restituted when plants were transferred into m-toluate-free medium. Nodulation was blocked under the influence of m-toluate, but was restored after the plants were transferred into the non-contaminated media. In the mesocosm assay the Galega plants showed good growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and developed a strong rhizosphere in soils contaminated with oil or spiked with 2000 ppm m-toluate. Thus, this legume system has good potential for use on oil-contaminated sites     

天津碱渣有了新出路

天津泰达园林绿化公司研究中心的科研人员大胆进行废弃物资源化的研究和实验 ,在天津滨海新区的绿化建设中 ,使碱渣、海湾泥、粉煤灰等工业废弃物成为滨海新区绿化建设的新土源。在近日召开的该研究项目专家论证会上 ,专家们一致认为“滨海新区绿化新土源的研究项目”具有独创性 ,在国内外尚属首例 ,技术达到国际先进水平天津滨海新区原址地势低平 ,地面必须通过垫土增高 ,为了寻找新的土资源 ,科研人员从环境的可持续发展出发 ,将港口清淤的海湾泥、碱厂的废渣、电厂的粉煤灰等废弃物 ,按一定的比例混合、掺拌、改良后作为园林绿化的种植基…     

美国食品和药物管理局要求瓶装水标签上注明其纯净程度

根据美国食品和药物管理局-FDA-在联邦记录上的一则通告-2000,65-166-,51,833-51,839-,要求瓶装水瓶上贴上标签注明其纯度.FDA建议瓶装水也要像自来水厂那样为用户提供水中污染物的信息.美国安全饮用水法-SDWA-要求自来水厂年度报告中要说明自来水的来源并告知法规规定的污染物含量.但是过去没有规定瓶装水瓶上的标签必须提供有关污染物最大水平及降低目标的信息.虽然FDA的建议还没有成为法律生效,这对瓶装水行业仍然是一个打击,瓶装水厂家坚持说没有必要附加标签.现在有一半以上美国人饮用瓶装水,年销售额40亿美元.据一家环境保护组…     

Impacts of a participatory approach to developing national level sustainable development indicators in Finland

The paper explores the role of a participatory approach in the outcome of the Finnish sustainable development indicator (SDI) exercise in 1998-2002. The process is analysed through three main objectives: to achieve stronger democracy, better quality of the end product and a more effective process. The analysis is further structured by a set of criteria needed for successful participation and differentiation of types of participants. The criteria comprise three main aspects: fairness, competence and social learning. In addition to the normally mentioned stakeholders (e.g. citizens and interest groups) participants also include experts and civil servants. Using the set of criteria above the participatory approach of the Finnish SDI process is then evaluated, and in the light of this evaluation the paper also discusses the specifications needed as evaluation criteria for national level policy programme processes like developing the SDIs. The results are based on documentation of the indicator task force meetings, written comments and a study of the putative end-users conducted after the publication of the indicators. The results show that the intense and broad participation of experts and civil servants increased the competence of the outcome and led to greater efficiency in working methods. However, this led to technocratic participation, absence of democratic participation and absence of social learning. Thus the ultimate goal of SDIs to contribute to achieving sustainability was not reached.