Volatilization and Metabolism of Pesticides Under Simulated Outdoor Conditions

The fate of 14C-labelled formulated parathion-methyl was investigated for 24 h after application to French beans in a laboratory chamber, where the air temperature and air humidity fluctuations as measured outdoors during a day in August 1993 could be simulated. The wind velocity directly above the plant stand and the radiation intensity could also be simulated with slight restrictions. Under these conditions, 65.9 % and 65.3 % of the A.I. applied volatilized and were directly determined in air samples in two experiments carried out under identical conditions. 28.9 % and 27.8% were determined after 24 h on the plants, only a part of this radioactivity still representing unchanged parathion methyl. The recovery of the radioactivity applied was 94.8 % and 93.1 %, respectively in the two experiments.     

Alcohol problems among Swedish drunk drivers: differences related to mode of detection and geographical region

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of alcohol problems in a representative sample of Swedish drivers suspected of drunk driving in comparison with control drivers and the general Swedish population in relation to mode and time of detection. Is the time of day or night or the detection mode important for the prevalence of alcohol problems and which are the best predictors for identifying alcohol problems among DUI offenders? METHODS: Two thousand and one hundred drivers (169 females) suspected of DUI offence during 1997-2001 who agreed to respond to the AUDIT questionnaire (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and 785 control drivers (266 females) not suspected of DUI recruited at general traffic controls were investigated. RESULTS: Both mode and time of detection were found to be important. The greatest impact on the prevalence of alcohol problems emanated from the predictors in the following order: high BAC; unlicensed driving; detection hours between 12.00 and 18.00, and age under 26 years. Age over 55 years and detection in general traffic controls were the two strongest factors negatively correlated to alcohol problems prevalence. The differences between regions with regard to alcohol problems incidence could only partly be explained by police routines and resources. CONCLUSIONS: Mode and time of detection affect the prevalence of DUI offenders with alcohol problems, and to a lesser degree also BAC level. Both the detection mode and the time of detection are significant for the proportion of identified DUIs with alcohol problems. Because the majority of committed DUI offenses are never identified, it is important to optimize the detection strategies of the police with the purpose of minimizing public damage and expenses.     

Perceived landscape values and public participation in a road-planning process – a case study in Sweden

The European Landscape Convention indicates that assessment of different dimensions that exist in landscapes should be taken into account in planning. In this study, we first investigated ecological, cultural and social values as perceived by the local people in a highway-planning process in Sweden. Next, we explored which factors influenced the local people's participation in the road-planning process. We used questionnaires, planning documents and the Theory of Planned Behavior to investigate the relations between different factors and local people's participation in the planning process. The results showed that people presumed the ecological values in the landscape to be adversely affected by the new road, while the social values would remain the same. Landowners had heard of the participatory-process, but few participated. Those who lived within 300 m of the road were more active in the planning process than people living further away. The findings suggest that people living within a few hundred metres of the road should be treated as key stakeholders in the planning process. The involvement of other stakeholders, and when in the public participation process stakeholders should be involved, is also discussed.     

Population Monitoring of the Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae)

In 1991 the population size of the coelacanth (   Latimeria chalumnae ) on Grande Comore Island, Western Indian Ocean, was estimated at 230–650 individuals, based on counts of individually recognized fish in an 8-km stretch of coastline. This census area represents about 9% of the total suitable habitat at the island. Counts in the same area in 1994 indicated a reduction of sighted coelacanths of about 30%. Additional surveys in 1995 suggested a total coelacanth population of less than 300 individuals. The local artisanal fishery is probably responsible for the observed decline. The survival of the coelacanth seems to be severely threatened if fishing pressure is not reduced. Conservation measures should focus on providing local fishermen with fishing alternatives.

Monitoreo Poblacional del Celacanto ( Latimeria chalumnae )

En 1991 el tamaño poblacional del celacanto, Latimeria chalumnae en Grande Comore, al Oeste del Oceano Indico, fue estimada de 230 a 650 individuos, en base a conteos de individuos reconocidos en un estrecho costero de 8 km de longitud. Esta área de censo representa cerca de un 9% del total de hábitat adecuado en la isla. Los conteos en la zona en 1994 indicaron una reducción de celacantos de aproximadamnete un 30%. Estudios adicionales en 1995 sugirieron una población total de menos de 300 individuos. Probablemente la pesqueria artesanal local es responsable de la declinación observada. La sobrevivencia del celacanto aparenta estar amenazada si la presion por pesca no disminuye. Las medidas de conservación se deberan enfocar en proveer a los pescadores locales de alternataivas de pesca.     

Storm surges: perspectives and options

This review paper attempts to summarize the scattered and fragmented knowledge about past and possible future changing storm-surge statistics using the particularly well-studied case of the North Sea as an example. For this region, a complete and robust analysis methodology has been developed in recent years. This methodology is based on dynamical and statistical models. Using the concept of dynamical downscaling, development during recent decades, when sufficiently good and homogeneous weather data exist, has been “reconstructed,” and scenarios of possible future change are described. “Localization” allows estimation of changes at specific sites, e.g., harbors. As local water-level statistics depend not only on climate variations but also on local modifications of the local bathymetry, new options for adaptation emerge. For the case of Hamburg, an option for such future adaptations is discussed.