Strategic environmental assessment application for sustainable transport-related air quality policies: a case study in Hanoi City,Vietnam

Recognition has grown among policy-makers that early in the decision-making process, there is a need for an environmental assessment of the effects of the policy, plan, and program (PPP) and their alternatives. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is widely recognized as a supporting tool that systematically integrates environmental aspects into strategic decision-making processes, thereby contributing to sustainable development. In this study, SEA was applied for an integrated assessment of environmental, social, and economic impacts of a wide range of scenarios for transport-related air quality policies to help decision-makers in identifying the most sustainable scenario with the purpose of reducing carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations from transport emissions in Hanoi City, Vietnam. In conducting SEA process, the urban air dispersion model MUAIR was used as a quantitative tool in prediction of CO concentrations. To evaluate the predicted impacts of scenarios, the SEA objectives concerning sustainability and the corresponding sustainable indicators were identified. Based on the likely significant predicted impacts on landscape, biodiversity, and health benefits, mitigation measures were proposed. These included planning in infrastructure development and implementation of public education campaign. The results of predicted and evaluated impacts of scenarios as well as proposed mitigation measures were taken into account for supporting sound decision-making that is consistent with the principles of sustainable development. Considering sustainable impacts of the scenarios, the SEA result clearly indicates that a combination of policy for public transport development and policy for installation of oxidation catalytic converter for motorcycles is the most sustainable scenario for reducing CO concentrations from transport emissions.     

Converging impact assessment discourses for sustainable development: the case of Flanders,Belgium

The scientific field of impact assessment encompasses various ‘traditions’, each reflecting a set of particular policy objectives. This paper analyses two types of impact assessment. Regulatory impact analysis focuses on better regulation and competitiveness, while sustainability assessment fosters a holistic approach centred on the values of sustainable development. Through an analysis of the political discourses at the level of the European Union and at the sub-national level of the Flemish Region of Belgium, elements of convergence between the better regulation and sustainable development discourse are identified. The paper analyses how integrated impact assessment can be an integrative tool that allows to merge both discourses and to implement them in day-to-day decision-making. The potential of the existing Flemish regulatory impact analysis framework to be the starting point of an integrated assessment scheme for sustainable development is advocated and motivated.     

BOD biosensors for pulp and paper industry wastewater analysis

Introduction

Two semi-specific microbial biosensors were constructed for the analysis of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in high-cellulose-content pulp and paper industry wastewaters. The biosensors were based on living cells of Bacillus subtilis and Paenibacillus sp. immobilized in an agarose gel matrix. Semi-specific microorganisms were isolated from various samples (decaying sawdust and rabbit manure) and were chosen based on their ability to assimilate cellulose.

Materials &; methods

The biosensors were calibrated with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development synthetic wastewater, and measurements with different wastewaters were conducted.

Results

The response time of biosensors using the steady-state method was 20?C25 min, and the service life of immobilized microorganisms was 96 days. Detection limit was 5 mg/l of BOD₇ while linear ranges extended up to 55 and 50 mg/l of the BOD₇ for B. subtilis- and Paenibacillus sp.-based biosensors, respectively. Repeatability and reproducibility of both biosensors were within the limits set by APHA??less than 15.4%. In comparison, both biosensors overestimated the BOD₇ values in paper mill wastewaters and underestimated the BOD₇ in aspen pulp mill wastewater.

Conclusions

The semi-specific biosensors are suitable for the estimation of organic pollution derived from cellulose, while the detection of pollution derived from tannins and lignins was minor. Better results in terms of accuracy and repeatability were gained with Paenibacillus sp. biosensor.     

Immunotoxic effects of environmental toxicants in fish �� how to assess them?

Numerous environmental chemicals, both long-known toxicants such as persistent organic pollutants as well as emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, are known to modulate immune parameters of wildlife species, what can have adverse consequences for the fitness of individuals including their capability to resist pathogen infections. Despite frequent field observations of impaired immunocompetence and increased disease incidence in contaminant-exposed wildlife populations, the potential relevance of immunotoxic effects for the ecological impact of chemicals is rarely considered in ecotoxicological risk assessment. A limiting factor in the assessment of immunotoxic effects might be the complexity of the immune system what makes it difficult (1) to select appropriate exposure and effect parameters out of the many immune parameters which could be measured, and (2) to evaluate the significance of the selected parameters for the overall fitness and immunocompetence of the organism. Here, we present - on the example of teleost fishes - a brief discussion of how to assess chemical impact on the immune system using parameters at different levels of complexity and integration: immune mediators, humoral immune effectors, cellular immune defenses, macroscopical and microscopical responses of lymphoid tissues and organs, and host resistance to pathogens. Importantly, adverse effects of chemicals on immunocompetence may be detectable only after immune system activation, e.g., after pathogen challenge, but not in the resting immune system of non-infected fish. Current limitations to further development and implementation of immunotoxicity assays and parameters in ecotoxicological risk assessment are not primarily due to technological constraints, but are related from insufficient knowledge of (1) possible modes of action in the immune system, (2) the importance of intra- and inter-species immune system variability for the response against chemical stressors, and (3) deficits in conceptual and mechanistic assessment of combination effects of chemicals and pathogens.     

Major, minor and trace element content derived from aquacultural activity of marine sediments (Central Adriatic, Croatia)

Introduction and purpose

Studies examining the environmental impact of marine aquaculture have increased significantly in number during the last few decades. The present paper investigates a region of rapid growth in intensive aquaculture and its influence on the local marine ecosystem.

Discussion

This study was undertaken with the specific aim of assessing the effect of fish farming on marine sediment at a farm near the island of Vrgada in the Central Adriatic. Data obtained regarding major (Si, Al, K, Na, Fe, Ca, Mg), minor (Mn, P, Ti) and trace (As, Au, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Hf, Hg, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Ta, Th, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr) elements were used to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of metals in the sediment and their possible relationship with local aquacultural activity.

Results

Although the measured concentrations of heavy metals in sediment below fish cages were notably different and potentially a result of farming activity, the values were generally lower than background concentrations observed in the Central Adriatic. In contrast, concentrations of heavy metals at a reference site unaffected by aquaculture varied from lower levels to values even higher than those observed below the high-production cages. Furthermore, calculated environmental index values indicate that the sediment below the farm is either uncontaminated or suffers from only low levels of contamination.

Conclusion

Such results suggest that the effect of observed fish farm activity on the local marine ecosystem is practically negligible.     

Persistent organic pollutants in food items collected in Hong Kong

This study aims to investigate levels of POPs in meat, edible oils, nuts, milk and wine collected from Hong Kong. Naphthalene, pp-DDE, beta-, gamma-HCH and PBDE 47 were detected in most of the food items. Goose liver accumulated the highest PAHs (47.9 ng g⁻¹ wet wt), DDTs (25.6), HCHs (13.0), PCBs (4.17), PBDEs (468 pg g⁻¹ wet wt) among all the selected food. Meat and nut groups had significant (p < 0.01 or 0.05) correlations between lipid contents and concentrations of PAHs (meat: r = 0.878), HCHs (meat: r = 0.753), DDTs (meat: r = 0.937; nuts: r = 0.968) and PCBs (meat: r = 0.832; nut: r = 0.946). The concentrations of DDTs, HCHs and PCBs in vegetable oil were lower, but HCHs in fish oil were higher, when compared with other countries. The concentrations of PAHs, DDTs, PCBs and PBDEs in food tested in the present study were all below various safety guidelines.     

Action of soil microorganisms on PCL and PHBV blend and films

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) PCL/PHBV (4:1) blend films were prepared by melt-pressing. The biodegradation of the films in response to burial in soil for 30 days was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The PHBV film was the most susceptible to microbial attack, since it was rapidly biodegraded via surface erosion in 15 days and completely degraded in 30 days. The PCL film also degraded but more slowly than PHBV. The degradation of the PCL/PHBV blend occurred in the PHBV phase, inducing changes in the PCL phases (interphase) and resulting in an increase of its crystalline fraction.     

Rheological and Thermal Properties of the PLA Modified by Electron Beam Irradiation in the Presence of Functional Monomer

Polylactic acid (PLA) has been modified by electron beam radiation in the presence of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to enhance the melt strength of PLA. The modified PLA was prepared by varying both the amount of GMA and the irradiation dose and was characterized by observing the thermal properties, the melt viscoelastic properties and the gel fraction. For comparison, virgin PLA was also irradiated. All irradiated virgin PLA had a lower complex viscosity and a storage modulus compared to virgin PLA due to irradiation-induced chain scission. However, these properties were remarkably improved due to formation of long chain branching and retarding chain scission if GMA was introduced in this system. The increase in melt viscoelastic property was much dependent on the irradiation dose. At optimum doses of radiation, it showed maximum complex viscosity and storage modulus. The PLA irradiated with 20 kGy in the presence of 3 phr GMA showed a complex viscosity of about 10 times higher and a storage modulus of 100 times higher than those of virgin PLA at 0.1 rad/s. Gel fraction measurement revealed that chain scission and branching was more dominant than crosslinking. The biodegradability of irradiated PLA was slightly decreased by the presence of GMA.     

Epiphytic lichen diversity in central European oak forests: Assessment of the effects of natural environmental factors and human influences

We investigated lichen diversity in temperate oak forests using standardized protocols. Forty-eight sites were sampled in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The effects of natural environmental predictors and human influences on lichen diversity (lichen diversity value, species richness) were analysed by means of correlation tests. We found that lichen diversity responded differently to environmental predictors between two regions with different human impact. In the industrial region, air pollution was the strongest factor. In the agricultural to highly forested regions, lichen diversity was strongly influenced by forest age and forest fragmentation. We found that several natural factors can in some cases obscure the effect of human influences. Thus, factors of naturality gradient must be considered (both statistically and interpretively) when studying human impact on lichen diversity.