Quantitative method to determine the regional drinking water odorant regulation goals based on odor sensitivity distribution：Illustrated using 2-MIB

Taste and odor （T/O） in drinking water often cause consumer complaints and are thus regulated in many countries. However, people in different regions may exhibit different sensitivities toward WO. This study proposed a method to determine the regional drinking water odorant regulation goals （ORGs） based on the odor sensitivity distribution of the local population. The distribution of odor sensitivity to 2-methylisobomeol （2-MIB） by the local population in Beijing, China was revealed by using a normal distribution function/model to describe the odor complaint response to a 2-MIB episode in 2005, and a 2-MIB concentration of 12.9 ng/L and FPA （flavor profile analysis） intensity of 2.5 was found to be the critical point to cause odor complaints. Thus the Beijing ORG for 2-MIB was determined to be 12.9 ng/L. Based on the assumption that the local FPA panel can represent the local population in terms of sensitivity to odor, and that the critical FPA intensity causing odor complaints was 2.5, this study tried to determine the ORGs for seven other cities of China by performing FPA tests using an FPA panel from the corresponding city. ORG values between 12.9 and 31.6 ng/L were determined, showing that a unified ORG may not be suitable for drinking water odor regulations. This study presents a novel approach for setting drinking water odor regulations.     

Increased risk of preterm delivery among people living near the three oil refineries in Taiwan

The petrochemical and petroleum industries are two of the main sources of industrial air pollution in Taiwan. Data used in this study concern outdoor air pollution and the health of individuals living in communities in close proximity to oil refinery plants. The prevalence of delivery of preterm birth infants was significantly higher in mothers living near the oil refinery plants than in control mothers in Taiwan. After controlling for several possible confounders (including maternal age, season, marital status, maternal education, and infant sex), the adjusted odds ratio was 1.14 (95% CI=1.01-1.28) for delivery of preterm infants for mothers living near oil refinery plants. These data provide further support for the hypothesis that air pollution can affect the outcome of pregnancies.     

A Structural Equation Model of Residents’ Support for Mega Event

Abstract

The aim of this article is to develop a structural equation model to assess key factors of residents’ support for hosting mega event based on previous literature. The model consisted of five latent constructs and eight path hypotheses. A survey was conducted in Shanghai before 2010 World Expo. It was found that the support for mega events is affected directly and/or indirectly by four determinants factors: perceived benefits, perceived costs, personal benefits and community attachment, and support relies heavily on perceived benefits rather than costs. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in an attempt to understand local residents’ support for a mega event in different economic and cultural settings.     

Adapting to change: transitions in traditional rangeland management of Tibetan yak herders in northwest Yunnan

Tibetan yak herding practices in northwest Yunnan, southwest China have maintained remarkable biological diversity. To learn more about local cultural adaptation to policy changes, we interviewed 37 households in Deqin County on their traditional knowledge, and the changes they have observed in ecological conditions, livestock health, and land management. These villages varied in proximity to main roads, farmland quality, and livelihood options. Herd sizes in Deqin have quadrupled since the 1950s, due to commune era policies and subsequent privatization of livestock. The practice of burning shrubs increased during the communal period but has since decreased due to a burn ban. Herders report that the increase in shrublands invading alpine meadows has reduced livestock forage, reducing the productivity of alpine rangelands and yak health. Butter production has declined by 30 % over the last two decades. Herders are shifting to diversify sources of income when available, but villagers in remote and protected areas continue to depend on livestock for much of their livelihood. Scientific data confirm herder reported ecological changes including increased temperature, decreased snowfall, and accounts of increased erosion (which deserves further study). Climate, policy, and economic incentives have interacted to increase pressure on shrinking alpine meadows and reduce dairy production.     

How to amend land subsidence treatment policies to solve coastal subsidence problems in Taiwan

Coastal land subsidence is a serious problem in Taiwan. Starting in 1995, the goal of the “Land Subsidence Prevention and Treatment Implementation Program” is to restructure the aquaculture industry to reduce groundwater consumption and reduce coastal land subsidence problems. However, this goal has not been met. This study aims to determine the reasons for its failure through a literature review and an analysis of questionnaires of stakeholders taken over a 5-year period, and design a new program to resolve these problems. The study was conducted in 2005–2009. According to the literature, over-pumping of groundwater around densely concentrated coastal fish ponds is the primary cause of coastal land subsidence. However, the key measure of the program was to establish aquaculture districts primarily in subsiding coastal areas, which failed to reduce land subsidence. In addition, the program did not consider reductions in agricultural and industrial groundwater use. Results of the questionnaire survey were in accord with the literature review results. This paper proposes to establish a “Fish Farming Abandonment Program” offering compensation payments and job training to fish farmers who leave the aquaculture business, thus reducing the amount of coastal land devoted to fish farming, decreasing groundwater consumption, and halting further coastal subsidence. In addition, the proposal also suggests adjustments to the structure of the agriculture industry. The results of this study can serve as a reference for governments of Taiwan and other countries.     

青、草、鲢、鳙的乳酸脱氢酶同功酶谱及其与毒物作用的关系

本文报道了我国四大家鱼——青、草、鲢、鳙的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)同功酶电泳图谱及毒物对草鱼血清乳酸脱氢酶(SLDH)同功酶谱的影响。 用聚丙烯酰胺垂直平板电泳,可以测出鲢、鳙血清中各有一条深色的LDH带、背、草鱼血清中含有五条深色的LDH同功酶带。草鱼不同器官组织匀浆中的LDH同功酶相对活性比例不同,与人类相似。 0.1ppm氯化汞、氯化镉、硝酸铅、硫酸铜,0.008ppm滴滴涕和0.84ppm对硫磷分别使草鱼致毒33天,发现氯化镉、硝酸铅使SLDH_5活性升高,氯化汞使SLDH_1升高,而硫酸铜使SLDH_4降低。在这个浓度下,滴滴涕、对硫磷致毒没有使鱼SLDH同功酶在比例上发生显著变化。 农药厂废水污染的Y湖中,肯、草、鲢、鳙SLDH总活性比污染较轻的T湖同种鱼高,特别是青、草鱼的SLDH_5活性明显升高。     

Distribution and temporal trends of butyltins monitored by molluscs along the Chinese Bohai coast from 2002 to 2005

Thirteen areas around the Chinese Bohai coast, individuals including ten kinds of bivalves and two kinds of snails were collected during the period of 2002-2005 for the investigation of spatial distribution and temporal variations of butyltin compounds (BTs). BTs including tributyltin (TBT) and its derivates, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were quantified by gas chromatography/flame photometric detection after extraction and Grignard derivatization. BTs compounds were widely existed in the samples and TBT was the dominant composition, indicating recent TBT input along Bohai coast. As a whole, BTs concentration remained high during the sampling years except a slightly decreased in samples from several sites in 2005. The contamination characteristics of BTs in different sampling sites were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) method, and the species specific bioaccumulation of BTs was also identified using cluster analysis.     

菌株qy37的异养硝化/好氧反硝化机制比较及氨氮加速降解特性研究

筛选出1株耐盐异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌qy37,通过形态观察、生理生化试验和16S rDNA序列分析,确定其为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas).研究了异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌qy37的脱氮特性.在以NH4Cl为氮源的异养硝化系统内,该菌32 h内使NH 4+-N由138.52 mg/L降至7.88 mg/L,COD由2 408.39 mg/L降至1 177.49 mg/L,NH2 OH最大积累量为9.42 mg/L,NO 2--N最大积累量仅为0.02 mg/L,推测该菌将NH2OH直接转化为N2O和N2从系统中脱除.在以NaNO2为氮源的好氧反硝化系统内,该菌24 h内使NO 2--N由109.25 mg/L降至2.59 mg/L,NH2OH最大积累量为3.28 mg/L.好氧反硝化系统与异养硝化系统相比菌体生长量高,TN去除率低,COD消耗量低,NH2OH积累量低,并且检测到NO 3--N的积累.认为好氧反硝化在菌体生长和能量利用方面比异养硝化更有效率.在异养硝化-好氧反硝化混合系统内,16 h NH 4+-N去除速率比异养硝化系统提高了37.31%.混合系统的NH2 OH积累量低于异养硝化系统和好氧反硝化系统,但N2 O产出量高于二者.     

关于黄土高原空间范围的讨论

长期以来,黄土高原的空间范围缺乏明确的定论。争论的焦点反映出不同学者对自然地理现象空间分布过渡性的认识和处理的差异。本文从黄土、黄土分布区、黄土高原及其毗邻的黄土分布区、黄土高原、典型黄土地貌区等几个不同层次的概念出发,探讨了划分黄土高原的客观标准,并根据野外考察和航卫片判读确定了黄土高原的空间范围。     

中美环境监测体制之比较

对中美环境监测体制进行对比性评述,指出了中国环境监测行业存在的分析标准滞后、体制不完善、人员匮乏等问题,提出借鉴美国经验,完善法律体系,引入市场机制,逐步培育竞争有序、监管到位的环境监测行业的建议。