采矿业资金提供者重申他们的绿色信任

在联合国环境规划署、世界银行集团和采矿、矿产和可持续发展计划(MMSD)一起组织的关注金融机构在为采矿项目提供资金方面作用的研讨会之前,对采矿业投资过程中的关键决策者进行了采访.本文提供了给采矿业提供投资的金融机构对当前环境状态的印象     

以产电气石和黄玉标本而著名的巴西维尔赫姆达拉帕伟晶岩

<正> 1974-1975期间,巴西的米纳斯吉拉斯州东北部的一个小伟晶岩地区,开始生产异常精美的电气石、黄玉和伴生矿物标本。首次见到在叶钠长石和锂云母上长有宝石级兰色黄玉和光彩夺目的锂电气石晶体。接着找到了美丽的紫色羟磷铍硅石和巨大的浅绿色磷灰石晶体。现今全世界许多重要收藏单位和博物馆都以拥有这些标本而感到自豪。     

Leafyeasts as indicators of air quality in Europe

Leafyeast populations were surveyed in 1987 and 1988 with the help of schoolchildren at 23 centres throughout Europe located at Brussels, Rochfort-Marche, Flobecq-Renaix and Tournai (Belgium); Aberdeen and Halifax (Britain); Lyon, Rouen and Toulouse (France); Hamburg, Koblenz and Stuttgart (Federal Republic of Germany); Banbridge, Belfast, Dublin and Enniskillen (Ireland); Hollenfels and Ettenbruck (Luxembourg); Apeldoorn, Deventer, Harlem, Leiderdorp and Zutphen (Netherlands). From one to one hundred schools were involved at each centre. The results demonstrate the suitability of leafyeasts for assessing air quality in both urban and rural areas of the non-Mediterranean countries of Europe. Low counts are associated with known pollution sources. As leafyeast populations change quite quickly, the effect of weather systems on the impact of pollution clouds from urban/industrial areas can be followed. Leafyeasts thus give information complementary to that from traditional biological monitors like lichens which provide an integrated picture of the pattern of air pollution over the months or years prior to study.     

Effect of gamma-irradiated sludge on the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L. var. GR-3)

The effects of gamma-irradiated sludge on the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L. var. GR-3) in pot cultures have been studied. Compared to plants grown only in soil, shoot length, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, total proteins, total soluble sugars, starch and chlorophyll content of plants grown in soil supplemented with unirradiated or gamma-irradiated sludge were found to be significantly increased. Irradiation of sludge significantly stimulated the linear growth of shoot and root systems as well as fresh and dry weights of plants, compared to those grown in soil containing unirradiated sludge. There was also an improvement in the grain yield (weight of seed) when plants were grown in soil supplemented with irradiated sludge. The results obtained suggest that the gamma-irradiated sewage sludge can be beneficially recycled for agricultural uses.     

Stage dependent susceptibility to lead in Bufo arenarum embryos

The stage dependent susceptibility to lead in amphibian development was studied by exposing Bufo arenarum embryos during neurulae, neuromuscular activity and gill circulation stages for twenty hours to 1 ppm Pb(2+). Survival, malformations and behavioral disorders were evaluated. The embryonic susceptibility to lead was markedly stage dependent. The survival at the neuromuscular activity stage was approximately half that of the other two periods; concerning malformations, the gill circulation stage was the least sensitive. The observed malformations consisted of failed closure of neural tube, hydropsy, small and cylindrical tails, reduced body size and incurvations in the body axis. Some alterations occurred in all experimental groups and therefore were considered non-dependent on the period of treatment. In all experimental embryos, neurological disorders such as trembles and loss of equilibrium were observed.     

The mental health of expatriate and Kosovar Albanian humanitarian aid workers

The mental health consequences of exposure to traumatic events and the risk factors for psychological morbidity among expatriate and Kosovar Albanian humanitarian aid workers have not been well studied. In June 2000, we used standardised screening tools to survey 285 (69.5%) of 410 expatriate aid workers and 325 (75.8%) of 429 Kosovar Albanian aid workers from 22 humanitarian organizations that were implementing health programmes in Kosovo. The mean number of trauma events experienced by expatriates was 2.8 (standard deviation: 2.7) and by Kosovar staff 3.2 (standard deviation: 2.8). Although only 1.1% of expatriate and 6.2% of Kosovar aid workers reported symptoms consistent with the diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder, 17.2% and 16.9%, respectively, reported symptoms satisfying the definition of depression. Regression analysis demonstrated that the number of trauma events experienced was significantly associated with depression for the two sets of workers. Organisational support services may be an important mediating factor and should be targeted at both groups.     

Cracking the code: the genesis, use and future of the Code of Conduct

This paper reflects on the genesis of the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief, on the tenth anniversary of its adoption. The origins, usage and future of the code are examined with respect to three debates, current at the time of its inception, namely: the debate about the core content of humanitarianism; the debate about coherence and the consensual nature of the humanitarian community; and the debate about the need for, and the ability to demonstrate, accountability. The paper concludes that although the Code of Conduct was very much a product of its time, its content remains relevant today. However, its future application hinges on the capacity of those who purport to follow it to realise true accountability, and on proving that the code, written essentially for natural disasters, is relevant to contemporary complex emergencies.     

Toxicity and accumulation of lead and chromium in Hydrocotyle umbellata

The aquatic plant, Hydrocotyle umbellata, was studied for its toxicity and accumulation of lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in a synthetic solution. Plants were cultured in a modified Hoagland's nutrient solutions supplemented with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg Pb/l as lead nitrate [Pb(NO3)2] and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg Cr/l as potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). They were separately harvested after 3, 6, 9, and 12 days. Plants exposed to Pb and Cr showed significant decreases in the biomass productivity and total chlorophyll content when the exposure time and metal concentration were increased. The accumulation of Pb and Cr in the plants was significantly increased, but it was not linear with the exposure time and metal concentration. Both metals were accumulated higher in the roots than in the shoots. The bioconcentration factor of Pb was higher than that of Cr at the same exposure time, indicating a higher accumulation potential of Pb than Cr in H. umbellata. Toxicity symptoms of both metals showed a reduction in the production of new plantlets, withering of petioles, and change in color of roots from light green to dark brown. Pb caused leaf chlorosis, whereas Cr caused leaf necrosis. The toxicity symptoms increased when the exposure time and metal concentration were increased.     

Performance of semipermeable membrane devices for sampling of organic contaminants in groundwater

Lipid-filled semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) are receiving increasing attention as passive, in situ samplers for the assessment of environmental pollutant exposure. Although SPMDs have been successfully used in a variety of field studies in surface waters, only a few studies have addressed their characteristics as groundwater samplers. In this study, the performance of the SPMDs for monitoring organic contaminants in groundwater was evaluated in a pilot field application in an area severely contaminated by chemical waste, especially by chlorinated hydrocarbons. The spatial distribution of hydrophobic groundwater contaminants was assessed using a combination of passive sampling with SPMDs and non-target semiquantitative GC-MS analysis. More than 100 contaminants were identified and semiquantitatively determined in SPMD samples. Along the 6 field sites under investigation, a large concentration gradient was observed, which confirms a very limited mobility of hydrophobic substances in dissolved form in the aquifer. The in situ extraction potential of the SPMD is limited by groundwater flow, when the exchange volume of well water during an exposure is lower than the SPMD clearance volume for the analytes. This study demonstrates that SPMDs present a useful tool for sampling and analyzing of groundwater polluted with complex mixtures of hydrophobic chemicals and provides guidance for further development of passive sampling technology for groundwater.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in marine sediments from the southern North Sea and Scheldt estuary: a ten-year study of concentrations, patterns and trends

The paper reports the concentrations and patterns of CBs in sediments of the Belgian part of the southern North Sea and the Scheldt estuary for the period 1991-2001. The long-term analytical performance was well within the quality assurance boundaries set at the outset of the study and is consistent with the state of the art for this type of analysis. The CB concentrations (given as the median of the sum of IUPAC Nos 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) vary between 0.1 microg kg(-1) and 50 microg kg(-1) dry weight in the total sediment and it could be demonstrated that CB patterns in the fine fraction of the sediment were closely similar throughout the investigated area. Isolation of the fine fraction (<63 microm) by sieving can be regarded as a physical normalisation to reduce the differences in sediment granulometric composition. It allows for a better understanding of CB distribution and patterns and improves the trend analysis. A significant downward trend could not be found at any of the stations, which suggests that CB levels have not been changing in the area of interest in the past decade.