Human Diets and Animal Welfare: the Illogic of the Larder

Few moral arguments have been made against vegetarian diets. One exception is the “Logic of the Larder:” We do animals a favor by purchasing their meat, eggs, and milk, for if we did not purchase these products, fewer animals would exist. This argument fails because many farm animals have lives that are probably not worth living, while others prevent a significant number of wild animals from existing. Even if this were not so, the purchase of animal products uses resources that could otherwise be used to bring a much greater number of animals into existence.     

Utilization of coal fly ash in China: a mini-review on challenges and future directions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The rapid economic development in China places a large demand for energy, and as a result, thermal power plants in China are producing an enormous...     

The improved activity of Co3O4 nanorods using silver in the catalytic oxidation of toluene

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Co3O4 nanorods with diameters of ~0.15 μm and lengths of ~1 μm were prepared using a hydrothermal method via the assembly of microcrystals...     

Groundwater geochemical signatures and implication for sustainable development in a typical endorheic watershed on Tibetan plateau

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Groundwater resource is significantly important for sustainable development of the world, especially for arid endorheic watersheds. A total of 28...     

Contribution of precursor compounds to the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from waste water treatment plants (WWTPs)

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs) are ubiquitous in sludge and water from waste water treatment plants, as a result of their incorporation in everyday products and industrial processes. In this study, we measured several classes of persistent PFASs,precursors, transformation intermediates, and newly identified PFASs in influent and effluent sewage water and sludge from three municipal waste water treatment plants in Sweden, sampled in 2015. For sludge, samples from 2012 and 2014 were analyzed as well.Levels of precursors in sludge exceeded those of perfluoroalkyl acids and sulfonic acids(PFCAs and PFSAs), in 2015 the sum of polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters(PAPs) were 15–20 ng/g dry weight, the sum of fluorotelomer sulfonic acids(FTSAs) was 0.8–1.3 ng/g,and the sum of perfluorooctane sulfonamides and ethanols ranged from non-detected to 3.2 ng/g. Persistent PFSAs and PFCAs were detected at 1.9–3.9 ng/g and 2.4–7.3 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The influence of precursor compounds was further demonstrated by an observed substantial increase for a majority of the persistent PFCAs and PFSAs in water after waste water treatment. Perfluorohexanoic acid(PFHxA), perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid(PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid(PFOS)had a net mass increase in all WWTPs, with mean values of 83%, 28%, 37% and 58%,respectively. The load of precursors and intermediates in influent water and sludge combined with net mass increase support the hypothesis that degradation of precursor compounds is a significant contributor to PFAS contamination in the environment.     

一种生物除臭方法及装置的研究

文章介绍了一种生物除臭的方法,这种方法是将装有碳质填料的反应包悬挂于好氧池中,反应包在好氧池中,历经曝气挂膜20~30天;就可以将装有碳质填料的反应包/或碳质填料放于生物除臭装置内;然后向生物除臭装置通入湿润的臭气,就可以将其生成水、二氧化碳、硫酸、硝酸和亚硝酸.使臭气被氧化,转化成无污染的物质,由于它的转化效率高,符合现代生产的高效性,因此一定会在生产实际中受到欢迎.     

兰州市废旧手机产生量预测分析研究

手机普及率日益提高,随之产生的废弃量也日益增多,分别采用时间梯度模型、市场供给A模型、斯坦福(stanford)模型对兰州市2013年-2022年废旧手机的产生量进行了预测.结果显示,不同模型预测结果之间存在较大差异,市场供给A模型和斯坦福(Stanford)模型的预测结果比较接近,均大于时间梯度模型的预测结果,三种模型预测的兰州市2022年废旧手机的产生量分别为40.40万、46.67万和21.04万部.总体上看,兰州市废旧手机的产生量增长趋势较快.     

旅游不文明行为风险形成机理研究

如何有效治理旅游不文明行为、实现文明旅游已成为目前我国旅游研究的热点和焦点问题。辨识旅游不文明行为风险影响因素,分析旅游不文明行为风险形成机理,有助于从源头上根治旅游不文明行为的发生。为此,在分析相关文献及案例的基础上,根据危险源理论,从人、物、环境及管理等四个维度出发,提炼出导致旅游不文明行为风险的影响因素,并借鉴物理学中触发器工作原理,分析旅游不文明行为风险形成过程,建立旅游不文明行为风险形成机理模型。结果表明:所建立风险形成机理模型可以客观反映旅游不文明行为风险形成过程及其相互作用路径,可为旅游不文明行为治理提供参考依据和破解途径。     

Factors influencing the contents of metals and As in soils around the watershed of Guanting Reservoir, China

Topsoil samples from 61 sites around the Guanting Reservoir,China,were measured for Cu,Zn,Cr,Ni,Cd,Pb and As concentrations.The mean concentrations of Cu,Zn,Cr,Ni,Cd,Pb and As were 16.8,59.4,37.8,18.3,0.32,20.1 and 8.67 mg/kg dry weight,respectively.Factors that influence the dynamics of these metals in soils around the watersheds of Beijing reservoirs were examined.The influence of atmospheric deposition,land use,soil texture,soil type and soil chemical parameters on metal contents in soils was investigated.Atmospheric deposition,land use and soil texture were the important factors affecting heavy metal residues.Soil type and soil chemical parameters were also involved in heavy metal retention in soils.The data provided in this study are considered crucial for reservoir remediation,especially since the Guanting Reservoir will serve as one of the main drinking water sources for Beijing in the foreseeable future.     

明胶厂剩余高钙污泥作为燃煤固硫剂的应用研究

明胶生产产业在废水处理工艺中产生大量剩余高钙污泥,采用该剩余污泥作为燃煤固硫剂,在高温管式电阻炉内进行燃烧实验,通过测定燃烧前和燃烧后样品中的硫含量确定该剩余污泥的固硫效果。通过单因素研究煤粉粒径、剩余污泥粒径和剩余污泥/煤样%等影响因素对固硫率的影响。在单因素试验的基础上通过正交设计法优选达到较高固硫率的实验条件。实验结果表明:影响固硫率的因素从大到小依次为燃烧温度>剩余污泥/煤样%>煤粉粒径>剩余污泥粒径。以剩余污泥作为固硫剂,固硫率最高的实验条件为:燃烧温度800℃,剩余污泥/煤样为3%,煤粉粒径60⁹0目,剩余污泥粒径9090目,剩余污泥粒径90¹20目。并且,当温度达到1150℃,煤粉粒径90120目。并且,当温度达到1150℃,煤粉粒径90¹20目,剩余污泥粒径为60120目,剩余污泥粒径为60⁹0目,污泥/煤样(质量比)为3%时,固硫率可达62.78%,说明在高温下该剩余污泥保持较高的固硫率。将明胶厂剩余污泥作为固硫剂是较为合适的再利用方法,可有效缓解当前该污泥大量堆积污染环境的状况。