A case study of flood control schemes for the Kakehashi river and their socio-cultural consequences

SUMMARY

This paper is concerned with a twenty-five year campaign against the relocation of the Komatsu-Tenmangu shrine as a result of the enlargement of the Kakehashi river. The Komatsu-Tenmangu shrine is an important cultural property of Japan, and was constructed by Toshitsune Maeda, the third dynasty of the Kaga clan in 1657. It is suggested that the primary reason why it took so long to settle this issue is a flaw in our social system for managing public works. It is concluded that preservation of cultural property is not always contrary to land development, and that the proposed procedures or something like them must be put into practice for the real expansion of our culture.     

粤港澳大湾区甲醛污染的时空特征研究

利用Aura卫星搭载的臭氧观测仪(ozone monitoring instrument,OMI)反演的甲醛(HCHO)柱密度数据,分析自2005年以来粤港澳大湾区(Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,GBA)HCHO的空间分布特征、变化趋势及其影响因素.研究结果表明HCHO呈现明显的增长趋势,2005年和2019年区域年平均分别为1.4840 mol·cm-2和1.7983 mol·cm-2,2005-2019年增长了0.3 143 mol·cm-2,增长率约为21.17％.粤港澳大湾区HCHO演化过程存在11个月的主振荡周期.HCHO月变化在时空上呈现明显差异,最大值和最小值分别出现在7月和1月,多年平均值分别为1.9824 mol·cm-2和1.1728 mol·cm-2.6月空间异质性最为明显,最大值和最小值分别为2.6842 mol·cm-2和1.0849 mol·cm-2.粤港澳大湾区HCHO污染严重的区域主要出现在中部,如中山市、佛山市和广州市,多年平均值高达1.9938 mol·cm-2.低值区主要在区域四周,特别是在惠州市,多年平均值约为1.3522 mol·cm-2.HCHO增长率在空间上呈现明显差异,增长量的变化范围为-0.1374-0.6833 mol·cm2,增长率为-7.20％-52.53％.大部分区域的HCHO呈增长趋势,而在广州市部分地区出现减少,最大的减少量为-1.3742 mol·cm-2,约为-7.20％.从城市尺度来看,所有城市的HCHO均出现增长,增长量和增长率最大的是惠州市,分别为0.3863 mol·cm-2和28.27％;其次是江门市,分别为0.3411 mol·cm-2和23.71％;最小的是香港,分别为0.9093 mol·cm-2和6.52％.     

Using Multimedia Modeling to Expedite Site Characterization

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: This paper uses two case studies of U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons complex installations to illustrate the integration of expedited site characterization (ESC) and multimedia modeling in the remedial action decision making process. CONCEPTUAL SITE MODELS, MULTIMEDIA MODELS, AND EXPEDITED SITE CHARACTERIZATION: Conceptual site models outline assumptions about contaminates and the spatial/temporal distribution of potential receptors. Multimedia models simulate contaminant transport and fate through multiple environmental media, estimate potential human exposure via specific exposure pathways, and estimate the risk of cancer and non-cancer health outcomes. ESC relies on using monitoring data to quantify the key components of an initial conceptual site model that is modified iteratively using the multimedia model. CASE STUDIES: Two case studies are presented that used the ESC approach: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Pantex. LANL released radionuclides, metals, and organic compounds, into canyons surrounding the facility. The Pantex Plant has past waste management operations which included burning chemical wastes in unlined pits, burying wastes in unlined landfills, and discharging plant wastewaters into on-site surface waters. CONCLUSIONS: The case studies indicate that using multimedia models with the ESC approach can inform assessors about what, where, and how much site characterization data needs to be collected to reduce the uncertainty associated with risk assessment. Lowering the degree of uncertainty reduces the time and cost associated with assessing potential risk and increases the confidence that decision makers have in the assessments performed.     

Simulation of a Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spill in the marine environment: Lethal and sublethal effects of acrylonitrile to the European seabass

Despite the extensive maritime transportation of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), there is a current lack of knowledge on the effects posed by HNS spills on the marine biota. Among the HNS identified as priority, acrylonitrile was selected to conduct ecotoxicological assays. We assessed the acute and subletal effects of acrylonitrile in seabass, followed by a recovery phase to simulate the conditions of a spill incident. The work aimed at testing a broad range of biological responses induced by acrylonitrile. Sublethal exposure to the highest two doses increased the fish mortality rate (8.3% and 25% mortality in 0.75 and 2 mg L⁻¹ acrylonitrile concentrations), whereas no mortality were observed in control and 0.15 mg L⁻¹ treatments. Additionally, important alterations at sub-individual level were observed. Acrylonitrile significantly induced the activities of Catalase– CAT and Glutathione S-Transferase – GST; and the levels of DNA damage were significantly increased. Conversely, Superoxide Dismutase– SOD – activity was found to be significantly inhibited and no effects were found on Lipid Peroxidation– LPO and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase – EROD – activity. Following a 7 d recovery period, the levels of CAT, GST and EROD fell to levels at or below those in the control. In the 2 mg L⁻¹ group, SOD remained at the levels found during exposure phase. This study has gathered essential information on the acute and subletal toxicity of acrylonitrile to seabass. It also demonstrated that 7 d recovery allowed a return of most endpoints to background levels. These data will be useful to assist relevant bodies in preparedness and response to HNS spills.     

A comparative analysis of predictors of sense of place dimensions: attachment to, dependence on, and identification with lakeshore properties

Sense of place can be conceived as a multidimensional construct representing beliefs, emotions and behavioural commitments concerning a particular geographic setting. This view, grounded in attitude theory, can better reveal complex relationships between the experience of a place and attributes of that place than approaches that do not differentiate cognitive, affective and conative domains. Shoreline property owners (N=290) in northern Wisconsin were surveyed about their sense of place for their lakeshore properties. A predictive model comprising owners' age, length of ownership, participation in recreational activities, days spent on the property, extent of property development, and perceptions of environmental features, was employed to explain the variation in dimensions of sense of place. In general, the results supported a multidimensional approach to sense of place in a context where there were moderate to high correlations among the three place dimensions. Perceptions of environmental features were the biggest predictors of place dimensions, with owners' perceptions of lake importance varying in explanatory power across place dimensions.     

Preparation of gasification feedstock from leafy biomass

Dried leaves are a potential source of energy although these are not commonly used beside to satisfy daily energy demands in rural areas. This paper aims at preparing a leafy biomass feedstock in the form of briquettes which can be directly used for combustion or to extract the combustible gas using a gasifier. Teak (Tectona grandis) and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) leaves are considered for the present study. A binder-assisted briquetting technique with tapioca starch as binder is adopted. Properties of these leafy biomass briquettes such as moisture content, calorific value, compressive strength, and shatter index are determined. From the study, briquettes with biomass-to-binder ratio of 3:5 are found to be stable. Higher mass percentage of binder is considered for preparation of briquettes due to the fact that leafy biomasses do not adhere well on densification with lower binder content. Ultimate analysis test is conducted to analyze the gasification potential of the briquettes. Results show that the leafy biomass prepared from teak and rubber leaves has calorific values of 17.5 and 17.8 MJ/kg, respectively, which are comparable with those of existing biomass feedstock made of sawdust, rice husk, and rice straw.     

Butyltins in muscle and liver of fish collected from certain Asian and Oceanian countries

Concentrations of butyltin residues were determined in muscle tissue of fish collected from local markets and sea food shops in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Contamination levels were determined in the Asia-Pacific region and human exposure was estimated. Similarly, corresponding liver samples of fish muscle collected in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands were analyzed to obtain information on partitioning of butyltin compounds between muscle and liver tissues. Butyltin compounds were detected in most of the samples which suggested widespread contamination in Asia and Oceania. The concentrations of butyltin compounds were, on average, an order of magnitude higher in liver than in muscle. Residue concentration of Sigmabutyltin in liver was found to be correlated significantly (p < 0.02) with those in muscle. Intensive ship-scrapping activities, sewage disposal and antifouling paints are considered the major sources of butyltins in this region. Increased proportions of MBT over DBT and TBT in samples from most locations indicated degradation of TBT to MBT in fish tissues during storage at 4 degrees C in the dark over 1-2 years. The possibility that fish have been subject to increased exposure to MBT and that TBT degrades to MBT quite rapidly in tropical environments are also considered. Butyltin concentrations in fish from Asia and Oceania were lower than those reported for Japan, Canada and the USA. Although the number of samples analyzed from each country was small, it is tentatively suggested that intake of butyltins by humans via consumption of fish in these countries was < 25% of the tolerable daily intake of 250 ng kg bw(-1) day(-1). To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on butyltin pollution in developing Asian countries.