Who's afraid of zoning?

Changes to the British Planning System aimed at simplification of controls have introduced the concept of zoning. Far from being a limited and rigid concept, the Australian approach to zoning offers some interesting possibilities because of its balance between flexibility and certainty. The principal elements of an Australian zoning system are described and discussed to demonstrate the opportunities available to planners adjusting to changing political and economic climates. It is shown that it is possible to combine strategic planning with greater certainty in development control.     

Seeking for Your Own Sake: Chinese Citizens’ Motivations for Information Seeking About Air Pollution

Based on data from a Qualtrics panel, this study examines Chinese citizens’ motivations for information seeking about air pollution. Results from structural equation modelling indicate that information insufficiency, negative affect, attitudes toward seeking, and perceived information gathering capacity are positively related to information seeking. Informational subjective norms, however, were not significantly related to information seeking. Further, participants with more knowledge and higher risk perception were more likely to desire more information about air pollution. These results suggest that communication campaigns should highlight individuals’ personal risks and self-efficacy to encourage greater information seeking about air pollution among Chinese citizens. Emotional appeal may serve as an effective strategy as well.     

In vitro bioassay for reactive toxicity towards proteins implemented for water quality monitoring

Reactive organic chemicals comprise a large number of compounds with a variety of reactive moieties. While most assays for reactive toxicity focus on DNA damage, reactivity towards proteins can also lead to irreparable damage, but reactivity towards proteins is typically not included in any test battery for water quality assessment. Glutathione (GSH) is a small tripeptide whose cysteine moiety can serve as a model for nucleophilic sites on proteins. GSH is also an important indicator of detoxification processes and the redox status of cells and due to its protective role, depletion of GSH ultimately leads to adverse effects. A bioassay based on genetically modified Escherichia coli strains was used to quantify the specific reactivity towards the protein-like biological nucelophile GSH. The significance of GSH for detoxification was assessed by comparing the growth inhibition induced by reference chemicals or water samples in a GSH-deficient strain to its fully functional parent strain. The GSH deficient strain showed the same sensitivity as the GSH proficient strain to non-reactive and DNA damaging chemicals, but was more sensitive to chemicals that attack cysteine in proteins. The difference in effect concentrations for 50% inhibition of growth assessed as biomass increase (EC(50)) between the two strains indicates the relevance of GSH conjugation as a detoxification step as well as direct reactivity with cysteine-containing proteins. Seven reference compounds serving as positive and negative controls were investigated. The E. coli strain that lacks GSH was four times more sensitive towards the positive control Sea-Nine, while negative controls benzo[a]pyrene, 2-aminoanthracene, phenol, t-butylhydroquinone, methyl methane sulfonate and 4-nitroquinoline oxide showed equal effect concentrations in both strains. Water samples collected across an indirect potable reuse scheme representing the complete water cycle from sewage to drinking water in South East Queensland, Australia were used to evaluate the applicability of the E. coli assay for reactive toxicity in water samples. While the EC(50) values of the GSH+ strain showed similar trends as in other biological endpoints over the various treatment chains, the specific response indicative of protein damage was only observed in samples that had undergone chlorination as a disinfection process. High natural organic matter or other matrix components disturbed the bioassay so much that we recommend it for future routine testing only in tertiary treated water or drinking water.     

Relationship between depth, sediment, latitude, and the structure of benthic infaunal assemblages on the mainland shelf of southern California

A regional benthic survey was conducted in 1994, and the data were used to assess the relationship among three habitat factors (depth, sediment grain size, and latitude) and the distribution of benthic infaunal assemblages on the southern California coastal shelf. Benthic samples were collected with a 0.1 m² Van Veen grab from 251 sites on the continental shelf (10–200 m deep) from Point Conception, California, to the United States–Mexico international border. The relationship between habitat and assemblages was investigated by conducting a Q-mode cluster analysis to define groups of stations with similar species composition and then examining whether differences were present in physical habitat attributes among those groups of stations. Analysis of data from 175 uncontaminated sites yielded four habitat-related benthic infaunal assemblages along the southern California coastal shelf: a shallow-water assemblage from 10–32 m, a mid-depth assemblage between 32 and 115 m, and two deep-water (115–200 m) assemblages, one in fine and one in coarse sediments. These empirically defined points in the depth and sediment grain size gradients can be used to define reference habitats for the development of biocriteria. Benthic abundance and diversity were greatest in the mid-depth assemblage, conforming to predictions for benthic assemblages in regions of upwelling. Within the 500 km of coastline examined, latitude was not an important factor in defining assemblages. Received: 3 December 1999 / Accepted: 9 October 2000     

Control of Photochemical Smog by Alteration of Initial Reactant Ratios

This paper is an endeavor to show how several experimenters have quite closely equaled the results of the other, and how the results from these various laboratories can, by a change of coordinate system, be related to each other in a systematic manner. Only after demonstrating where the Los Angeles Civic Center atmosphere is in relation to these coordinates and the contours, or gradients, of these various effects, eye irritation and oxidant, is it possible to predict the photochemical effect of a reduction of olefins (hydrocarbons) or the reduction of nitric oxide. In addition, a study of the variation in eye irritation with irradiation time, demonstrates that the time at which eye irritation measurements are taken is important in understanding the entire photochemical mechanism underlying the “smog” problem in the summertime in Los Angeles     

Idle Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel and Natural Gas Vehicles at High Altitude

ABSTRACT

Idle emissions of total hydrocarbon (THC), CO, NO_x, and particulate matter (PM) were measured from 24 heavy-duty diesel-fueled (12 trucks and 12 buses) and 4 heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles. The volatile organic fraction (VOF) of PM and aldehyde emissions were also measured for many of the diesel vehicles. Experiments were conducted at 1609 m above sea level using a full exhaust flow dilution tunnel method identical to that used for heavy-duty engine Federal Test Procedure (FTP) testing. Diesel trucks averaged 0.170 g/min THC, 1.183 g/min CO, 1.416 g/min NO_x, and 0.030 g/min PM. Diesel buses averaged 0.137 g/min THC, 1.326 g/min CO, 2.015 g/min NO_x, and 0.048 g/min PM.

Results are compared to idle emission factors from the MOBILE5 and PART5 inventory models. The models significantly (45-75%) overestimate emissions of THC and CO in comparison with results measured from the fleet of vehicles examined in this study. Measured NO_x emissions were significantly higher (30-100%) than model predictions. For the pre-1999 (pre-consent decree) truck engines examined in this study, idle NO_x emissions increased with Health and Environment; June 30, 1999 (available from the authors).     

Evaluation of a four year intervention to reduce musculoskeletal hazards among berry growers

PROBLEM: Fresh market berry production workers are exposed to physical risk factors for musculoskeletal injury. METHOD: We disseminated information through trade publications and other sources to berry managers in seven U.S. states about five prevention through design practices that were both safer and more profitable than traditional methods. We administered mail evaluation questionnaires prior to the intervention and after each of four intervention years to rolling, independent U.S. samples and to comparison New Zealand berry farm manager samples after years one through three. RESULTS: U.S. manager self-reports of reading trade publication information increased compared to baseline values for two of five practices and self-reported awareness increased for four of five practices. There were no increases in adoption. More U.S. than New Zealand managers reported getting information about two practices from trade publications and about four practices from public events. No U.S. versus New Zealand differences were observed in reported awareness or adoption for any practice. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This study showed that even a modest campaign can build awareness of safer practices fairly quickly in three to four years among small agricultural firms but that increasing adoption apparently requires more time. Widespread adoption of safer practices could help keep operators in business longer as they age by reducing the workload and musculoskeletal strain associated with labor intensive crop production for them and their workforce. Adoption of practices that also improve profits, like the five practices featured in this study, could also help managers stay in business.     

Assessing and Prioritizing Ecological Communities for Monitoring in a Regional Habitat Conservation Plan

In nature reserves and habitat conservation areas, monitoring is required to determine if reserves are meeting their goals for preserving species, ecological communities, and ecosystems. Increasingly, reserves are established to protect multiple species and communities, each with their own conservation goals and objectives. As resources are always inadequate to monitor all components, criteria must be applied to prioritize both species and communities for monitoring and management. While methods for prioritizing species based on endangerment or risk have been established, approaches to prioritizing ecological communities for monitoring are not well developed, despite a long-standing emphasis on communities as target elements in reserve design. We established guidelines based on four criteria derived from basic principles of conservation and landscape ecology--extent, representativeness, fragmentation, and endangerment--to prioritize communities in the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP). The MSCP was one of the first multiple-species habitat conservation areas established in California, USA, and it has a complex spatial configuration because of the patterns of surrounding land use, which are largely urbanized. In this case study, high priority communities for monitoring include coastal sage scrub (high endangerment, underrepresented within the reserve relative to the region, and moderately fragmented), freshwater wetlands, and coastal habitats (both have high fragmentation, moderate endangerment and representativeness, and low areal extent). This framework may be useful to other conservation planners and land managers for prioritizing the most significant and at-risk communities for monitoring.