Synthetic organic chemicals (flame retardants and pesticides) with neurotoxic potential induced behavioral impairment on zebrafish (Danio rerio): a non-invasive approach for neurotoxicology

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Behavior responses of organisms can be used as a non-invasive method for neurotoxicology studies since it directly links the nervous system’s...     

Perceptions toward stewardship among residents living near U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Facilities

Although stewardship has been widely defined and used in environmental management and planning, there is a dearth of studies that describe how the lay public perceives this concept. A national sample of residents in 14 states who live near DOE nuclear facilities were interviewed to delineate public understanding and awareness of the stewardship program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This study discusses the findings of the survey and discusses how institutional trust influences public participation and resident’s choices of potential stewards. Almost 40% of the respondents could not define stewardship; those who did, believed that ‘responsibility,’ ‘management,’ and ‘accountability’ are key elements of stewardship. In addition, about a third of the respondents identified Federal groups and the DOE as potential stewards. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue     

Material suppliers and industrial metabolism

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is not sufficiently tailored to the analysis of strategic environmental problems of material suppliers. Sustainable development calls for a reduction by a factor of 10 to 20 in the material intensity of the economy, a situation which leads to dramatic shifts in markets for raw materials. Furthermore, a material supplier might have major improvement options in the material’s numerous downstream uses. LCAs, however, can’t cover these two aspects. An adapted form of Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) may be an answer. This approach defines a system in relation to the flow of a specific material through society. All environmental interventions related to the material are inventoried. An emission evaluation indicates the dominant environmental bottlenecks, given the current market volume of each application of the material. This helps to identify improvement options and strategic choices in market portfolios. Scenario analysis on potential measures can further indicate changes of material flows — and thus markets — in the system. The approach is illustrated with a case study on chlorine.     

加强能力培养, 提高专业水平——论环境类中专的教学改革

介绍了环境保护中专办学２０年来所取得的成绩及其为环保事业的发展做出的积极贡献，并指出存在的问题．为适应环保事业发展的需要，对环保中专在专业设置、课程设置、教学计划和教材建设方面，均提出改革意见     

造纸行业的清洁生产示范

文章概述了我国造纸行业清洁生产示范项目审计的成果，从环境、经济及清洁生产方案类型等角度对企业推行清洁生产进行了初步分析，提出了存在的主要问题，并就进一步推动造纸行业的清洁生产提出了建议。     

浮选剂污染河段大型底栖无脊椎动物的群落特征及其对水质的评价

利用大型底栖动物的群落结构及其行为反应对有毒化合物——浮选剂污染河段水质进行评价,并提出了受浮选剂污染的污水生物系统评价标准.结果表明,主要污染物丁基磺药对涡虫(Dugesia gonocephala)的24h LC_51为78ppm.根据受污河段底栖动物群落的变化和涡虫在各断面河水中的行为反应,浮选剂污水生物系统可以划分成α-多污带,β-多污带,α-中污带,β-中污带和寡污带。并对所提出的浮选剂污水生物系统进行了讨论。     

Gamergates in the myrmicine genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metapone</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerinae. We report here the discovery of gamergates in two species of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Until now, mated reproductive females in colonies of myrmicine species have been considered morphologically distinct from the worker caste. However, in two species of the myrmicine Metapone (Metapone madagascarica and a newly discovered, not yet described Metapone species) all workers have six ovarioles and a spermatheca; and some of them are mated. There are no morphological differences between mated and non-mated workers. Field observations and laboratory studies indicate that colonies of the Metapone species can reproduce with gamergates only.