Governing Change: Land-Use Change and the Prevention of Nonpoint Source Pollution in the North Coastal Basin of California

Many rural areas in the United States and throughout much of the postindustrial world are undergoing significant ecological, socioeconomic, and political transformations. The migration of urban and suburban dwellers into rural areas has led to the subdivision of large tracts of land into smaller parcels, which can complicate efforts to govern human–environmental problems. Non-point source (NPS) pollution from private rural lands is a particularly pressing human–environmental challenge that may be aggravated by changing land tenure. In this article, I report on a study of the governance and management of sediment (a common NPS pollutant) in the North Coastal basin of California, a region undergoing a transition from traditional extractive and agricultural land uses to rural residential and other alternative land uses. I focus on the differences in the governance and management across private timber, ranch, residential, vacation, and other lands in the region. I find that (1) the stringency and strength of sediment regulations differ by land use, (2) nonregulatory programs tend to target working landscapes, and (3) rural residential landowners have less knowledge of sediment control and report using fewer sediment-control techniques than landowners using their land for timber production or ranching. I conclude with an exploration of the consequences of these differences on an evolving rural landscape.     

Living without buffers—illustrating climate vulnerability in the Lake Victoria basin

Exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity are essential, albeit theoretically vague, components of climate vulnerability. This has triggered debate surrounding how these factors can be translated into, and understood in, an empirical context subject to present and future harm. In this article, which draws on extensive fieldwork in the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya and Tanzania, we illustrate how exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity play out in the context of climate vulnerability and discuss how they interact in situ. Using a mixed methods approach including survey data, rainfall data and a suite of participatory methods, such as focus groups and interactive mapping of seasonal calendars, we identify how climate-induced stressors affect smallholder farmers’ well-being and natural resources. Drawing on the seasonal calendar as a heuristic, and climate vulnerability terminology, we illustrate when, where and how these climate-induced stressors converge to constrain farmers’ livelihoods. Our analysis indicates that farmers in the basin face a highly uncertain future with discernible, but differentiated, adaptation deficits due to recurring, and potentially worsening, patterns of hardship.     

Levels of PCDD/Fs and trace elements in superficial soils of Pavia Province (Italy)

Trace elements and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were analyzed in soils from rural and light-industrialized sites (n=168) of Province of Pavia (Northern Italy). Most of the trace element values fit in typical ranges of concentrations in soils and are similar to the ones reported for rural sites in Italy or sites with no direct anthropogenic impact. Total concentrations of 2,3,7,8 chlorine substituted PCDD/Fs in superficial soils ranged between 24.4 and 1287 pg g(-1) dw (0.5-28.9 pg WHO(98)-TEQ g(-1) dw). The North Eastern part of the Province presented significantly higher levels (p<0.001) than the rest of the Province for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn and PCDD/Fs. While the existence of a defined heavy metal polluting source for this specific site has been suggested, in the case of PCDD/Fs, profiles were not linked to any specific emission source fingerprint. In the whole extension of Pavia Province, OCDD/F dominated the 2,3,7,8 chlorine substituted congener soil pattern, followed by the 1,2,3,4,6,7,8 hepta-CDD/F congener. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that this profile could not be associated to any described PCDD/F emission source fingerprint and was relatively similar to the baseline deposition of sites with no direct impact of PCDD/F emission sources independently of land use.     

Micropollutant content of Sargassum drifted ashore: arsenic and chlordecone threat assessment and management recommendations for the Caribbean

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Massive Sargassum beachings occurred since 2011 on Caribbean shores. Sargassum inundation events currently involve two species, namely S. fluitans and...     

A Simulation-Based Assessment of Alternative Explanations for Apparent Confounding in “PM Decomposition” Studies

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - Determining whether there is a causal link between chronic exposure to PM2.5 (atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5&nbsp;µm or...     

Managing mercury in the great lakes: an analytical review of abatement policies

Mercury, a toxic metal known to have several deleterious affects on human health, has been one of the principal contaminants of concern in the Great Lakes basin. There are numerous anthropogenic sources of mercury to the Great Lakes area. Combustion of coal, smelting of non ferrous metals, and incineration of municipal and medical waste are major sources of mercury emissions in the region. In addition to North American anthropogenic emissions, global atmospheric emissions also significantly contribute to the deposition of mercury in the Great Lakes basin. Both the USA and Canada have agreed to reduce human exposure to mercury in the Great Lakes basin and have significantly curtailed mercury load to this region through individual and joint efforts. However, many important mercury sources, such as coal-fired power plants, still exist in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. More serious actions to drastically reduce mercury sources by employing alternative energy sources, restricting mercury trade and banning various mercury containing consumer products, such as dental amalgam are as essential as cleaning up the historical deposits of mercury in the basin. A strong political will and mass momentum are crucial for efficient mercury management. International cooperation is equally important. In the present paper, we have analyzed existing policies in respective jurisdictions to reduce mercury concentration in the Great Lakes environment. A brief review of the sources, occurrence in the Great Lakes, and the health effects of mercury is also included.     

Climate change and sustainable development: realizing the opportunity

Manifold linkages exist between climate change and sustainable development. Although these are starting to receive attention in the climate exchange literature, the focus has typically been on examining sustainable development through a climate change lens, rather than vice versa. And there has been little systematic examination of how these linkages may be fostered in practice. This paper examines climate change through a sustainable development lens. To illustrate how this might change the approach to climate change issues, it reports on the findings of a panel of business, local government, and academic representatives in British Columbia, Canada, who were appointed to advise the provincial government on climate change policy. The panel found that sustainable development may offer a significantly more fruitful way to pursue climate policy goals than climate policy itself. The paper discusses subsequent climate change developments in the province and makes suggestions as how best to pursue such a sustainability approach in British Columbia and other jurisdictions.     

Toxicity of water and sediment in a small urban river (Store Vejleå, Denmark)

The urban stream Store Vejle? (Denmark), which receives discharges of urban runoff, was investigated using a combination of biological toxicity tests and chemical analysis. The urban stormwater and road runoff gave low, but statistically significant, effects on the reproduction of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In all pre-concentrated water samples toxic effects were found and differences in toxicity depending on time and location of sampling were identified. Undiluted pore water samples from sediments collected in the stream were all toxic towards the algae and dilutions from 4 to 14 times were needed compared to a pore water sample from an unpolluted stream where a dilution factor of only 1.6 was required. A qualitative correlation between the toxicity of the pore water and the degree of pollution as evidenced by the metal concentration was observed, but statistically significant correlations could not be established by ranking procedures of, e.g. metal content or PAH-concentrations versus the observed toxicity.     

Cell phones and driving: review of research

OBJECTIVE: The research literature on drivers' use of cell phones was reviewed to identify trends in drivers' phone use and to determine the state of knowledge about the safety consequences of such use. METHODS: Approximately 125 studies were reviewed with regard to the research questions, type and rigor of the methods, and findings. Reviewed studies included surveys of drivers, experiments, naturalistic studies (continuous recording of everyday driving by drivers in instrumented vehicles), studies of crash risk, and evaluations of laws limiting drivers' phone use. RESULTS: Observational surveys indicate drivers commonly use cell phones and that such use is increasing. Drivers report they usually use hand-held phones. Experimental studies have found that simulated or instrumented driving tasks, or driving while being observed, are compromised by tasks intended to replicate phone conversations, whether using hand-held or hands-free phones, and may be further compromised by the physical distraction of handling phones. Effects of phone use on driving performance when drivers are in their own vehicles are unknown. With representative samples of adequate size, naturalistic studies in the future may provide the means to document the patterns and circumstances of drivers' phone use and their effects on real-world driving. Currently, the best studies of crash risk used cell phone company billing records to verify phone use by crash-involved drivers. Two such studies found a fourfold increase in the risk of a property-damage-only crash and the risk of an injury crash associated with phone use; increased risk was similar for males and females, younger and older drivers, and hands-free and hand-held phones. A number of jurisdictions in the United States and around the world have made it illegal for drivers to use hand-held phones. Studies of these laws show only limited compliance and unclear effects on safety.CONCLUSIONS: Even if total compliance with bans on drivers' hand-held cell phone use can be achieved, crash risk will remain to the extent that drivers continue to use or switch to hands-free phones. Although the enactment of laws limiting drivers' use of all phones is consistent with research findings, it is unclear how such laws could be enforced. At least in the short term, it appears that drivers' phone use will continue to increase, despite the growing evidence of the risk it creates. More effective countermeasures are needed but are not known at this time.     

Spatial and Geographical Variations of Urban, Suburban and Rural Atmospheric Concentrations of Phenols and Nitrophenols (7 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background Atmospheric sampling (gas and particles) of 5 phenols (phenol, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, pentachlorophenol) and 15 nitrophenols (3-methyl-2-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, 4-methyl-2-nitrophenol, 5-methyl-2-nitrophenol, 2-methyl-3nitrophenol, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, 2,6-dinitrophenol, bromoxynil, 2,5-dinitrophenol, 2,6-dinitro-p-cresol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, ioxynil, DNOC, 3,4-dinitrophenol, dinoseb) on XAD-2 resin (20 gr) and glass fibre filters, respectively, were performed in 2002 by using 'Digitel DA80' high volume samplers. These measurements were undertaken in order to show spatial and geographical variations of concentrations and the role of traffic in the emissions of these compounds to the atmosphere. Methods Sampling were performed in Strasbourg (eastern France), in its vicinity (Schiltigheim) and in Erstein. Sites were chosen to be representative of urban (Strasbourg), suburban (Schiltigheim) and rural (Erstein) conditions. Field campaigns were undertaken simultaneously in urban and suburban sites during all the seasons during 4 hours at a flow rate of 60 m3.h-1, which gives a total of 240 m3 of air per sample. Period of sampling varied between 06h00 to 10h00, 11h00 to 15h00 and 18h00 to 22h00 in order to evaluate a variation of concentration during automobile traffic between urban, suburban and rural areas. Gas and particle samples were separately Soxhlet extracted for 12 h with a mixture of CH2Cl2 / n-hexane (50:50 v/v), concentrated to about 1 mL with a rotary evaporated and finally dried under nitrogen. Dry extracts were dissolved in 1 mL of CH3CN. Before analysis, extracts were sylilated by using MTBSTFA. Analysis was performed by GC/MSD in the SIM mode. Results and Discussion Partitioning of phenolic compounds between gas and particle phases seems to be mainly correlated with vapour pressure. Among phenolic compounds analysed, phenol, p-cresol, pentachlorophenol and 2.4-dinitrophenol were detected in all samples and emissions from traffic seems to be the major source for the presence of these compounds to the atmosphere. No increase of concentrations in autumn tend to confirm this hypothesis since, with the use of domestic heating in colder months, increases of PAHs concentrations were observed and these compounds are known to be emitted by all combustion processes. Pentachlorophenol is a special case since this molecule is only used as wood preservative. Its presence in all atmospheric samples, whatever the locations and the period of time is the consequence of its persistence. Conclusions and Perspectives These measurements demonstrate that phenols and nitrophenols are emitted to the atmosphere and further measurements, in order to confirm their sources, their behaviour and their potential impact to the air quality and to human health should be undertaken especially since the literature collected is relatively old. Concentrations of pentachlorophenol measured are very low and, due to its toxicity, further investigations should be undertaken. - * The basis of this peer-reviewed paper is a presentation at the 9th FECS Conference on 'Chemistry and Environment', 29 August to 1 September 2004, Bordeaux, France.