Does the GreenWatch program work? Evidence from a developed area in China

The GreenWatch program has been implemented nationally in China. However, whether the program and its process have been effective in improving firms' environmental performance remains unclear. Based on the stakeholder theory, this paper conducts a comparative analysis between firms participating in the program and those that do not, all of which are based in Changshu City in the developed part of Jiangsu Province, China. Data suggest that GreenWatch encourages firms to improve and disclose their environmental performance. Through pressures imposed by different stakeholders—from the government, investors, and consumers, to the public, such as the community and media—this program has become the main driving force for improving the firms' environmental performance. The current study also provides substantial evidence that public disclosure in China opens up channels for effective public participation. Therefore, the GreenWatch program deserves to be promoted in China.     

基于耕地资源约束的中国大豆生产能力研究

论文首先在理论上系统分析了耕地资源约束与农产品生产能力之间的关系;以东北地区和黄淮海地区的大豆生产为重点,对主产区大豆生产的经济效益及影响大豆生产的资源、环境等其他问题进行了研究;并以县为基本单元,对中国大豆主产区未来大豆最大可能生产规模进行了预测;在分析大豆主产区大豆综合生产潜力基础上,研究提出了2020年之前中国大豆的最大可能生产能力在2800×10⁴～3400×10⁴t左右。但由于中国大豆生产和大豆加工存在严重的空间布局错位,应实施“南进北出”的大豆贸易战略;东北平原区的三江平原和松嫩平原是大豆增产潜力最大的地区,但该地区也是玉米主产区,扩大大豆种植面积必然带来玉米种植面积的下降,也将影响未来中国玉米的供求,所以,在耕地资源有限的情况下,应在“耕地资源-农产品”系统中研究耕地资源与农产品的综合平衡问题。     

生态示范区建设中生态型第三产业发展探讨——以江苏省吴县市、邗江县、邳州

文中分析了在区域城市化水平初级阶段选择以生活服务基础性第三产业,在加速发展阶段选择生产服务性行业,在城市化稳定发展阶段,选择新兴技术服务行业不断升级的产业发展模式。本文以江苏省吴县市、邗江县、邳州市三个不同经济水平的地区为例做了详细分析。     

Sources of 24-h personal exposure to PM2.5-bound metals: results from a panel study in Wuhan,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Atmospheric PM2.5-bound metals have been widely addressed, but research on the exposure levels and sources of personal PM2.5-bound metals among urban...     

Effect of Soils on Water Quantity and Quality in Piedmont Forested Headwater Watersheds of North Carolina1

Boggs, Johnny, Ge Sun, David Jones, and Steven G. McNulty, 2012. Effect of Soils on Water Quantity and Quality in Piedmont Forested Headwater Watersheds of North Carolina. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐19. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12001 Abstract: Water quantity and quality data were compared from six headwater watersheds on two distinct soil formations, Carolina Slate Belt (CSB) and Triassic Basins (TB). CSB soils are generally thicker, less erodible, and contain less clay content than soils found in TB. TB generated significantly more discharge/precipitation ratio than CSB (0.33 vs. 0.24) in the 2009 dormant season. In the 2009 growing season, TB generated significantly less discharge/precipitation ratio than CSB (0.02 vs. 0.07). Over the entire monitoring period, differences in discharge/precipitation ratios between CSB and TB were not significantly different (0.17 vs. 0.20, respectively). Storm‐flow rates were significantly higher in TB than CSB in both dormant and growing season. Benthic macroinvertebrate biotic index scores were excellent for all streams. Nutrient concentrations and exports in CSB and TB were within background levels for forests. Low‐stream nitrate and ammonium concentrations and exports suggested that both CSB and TB were nitrogen limited. Soils appear to have had a significant influence on seasonal and storm‐flow generation, but not on long‐term total water yield and water quality under forested conditions. This study indicated that watersheds on TB soils might be more prone to storm‐flow generation than on CSB soils when converted from forest to urban. Future urban growth in the area should consider differences in baseline hydrology and effects of landuse change on water quantity and quality.     

Water Stress Projections for the Northeastern and Midwestern United States in 2060: Anthropogenic and Ecological Consequences

Future climate and land‐use changes and growing human populations may reduce the abundance of water resources relative to anthropogenic and ecological needs in the Northeast and Midwest (U.S.). We used output from WaSSI, a water accounting model, to assess potential changes between 2010 and 2060 in (1) anthropogenic water stress for watersheds throughout the Northeast and Midwest and (2) native fish species richness (i.e., number of species) for the Upper Mississippi water resource region (UMWRR). Six alternative scenarios of climate change, land‐use change, and human population growth indicated future water supplies will, on average across the region, be adequate to meet anthropogenic demands. Nevertheless, the number of individual watersheds experiencing severe stress (demand > supplies) was projected to increase for most scenarios, and some watersheds were projected to experience severe stress under multiple scenarios. Similarly, we projected declines in fish species richness for UMWRR watersheds and found the number of watersheds with projected declines and the average magnitude of declines varied across scenarios. All watersheds in the UMWRR were projected to experience declines in richness for at least two future scenarios. Many watersheds projected to experience declines in fish species richness were not projected to experience severe anthropogenic water stress, emphasizing the need for multidimensional impact assessments of changing water resources.     

Research on the exploitation and utilization degree of mineral water based on ecological base flow in the Changbai Mountain basalt area,northeast China

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Mineral water from the Changbai Mountain basalt area is China's most important source of drinking water. Mineral water with abundant output and enriched...     

Inactivation and risk control of pathogenic microorganisms in municipal sludge treatment: A review

• Diversity and detection methods of pathogenic microorganisms in sludge. • Control performance of sludge treatment processes on pathogenic microorganisms. • Risk of pathogen exposure in sludge treatment and land application. The rapid global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has promoted concern over human pathogens and their significant threats to public health security. The monitoring and control of human pathogens in public sanitation and health facilities are of great importance. Excessive sludge is an inevitable byproduct of sewage that contains human and animal feces in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It is an important sink of different pollutants and pathogens, and the proper treatment and disposal of sludge are important to minimize potential risks to the environment and public health. However, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of the diversity, exposure risks, assessment methods and inactivation techniques of pathogenic microorganisms in sludge. Based on this consideration, this review summarizes the control performance of pathogenic microorganisms such as enterovirus, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli by different sludge treatment technologies, including composting, anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, and microwave irradiation, and the mechanisms of pathogenic microorganism inactivation in sludge treatment processes are discussed. Additionally, this study reviews the diversity, detection methods, and exposure risks of pathogenic microorganisms in sludge. This review advances the quantitative assessment of pathogenic microorganism risks involved in sludge reuse and is practically valuable to optimize the treatment and disposal of sludge for pathogenic microorganism control.     

石油石化有机液体装载油气回收技术评估

对炼化企业和储油库企业有机液体装载油气回收技术路线开展了调查分析,从设计气量和浓度、现场监测、技术路线对比等方面对装载油气回收技术进行了评估,指出存在的问题并对技术路线分三类提出了选择建议;通过减排效益分析,提出油气回收可实现全成本微盈利,对企业具有环保和经济双赢效益。