Agricultural practices,ecology, and ethics in the third world

The increasing demand for horticultural products for nutritional and economic purposes by lesser developed countries (LDC's) is well-documented. Technological demands of the LDC's producing horticultural products is also increasing. Pesticide use is an integral component of most agricultural production, yet chemicals are often supplied without supplemental information vital for their safe and efficient implementation. Illiteracy rates in developing countries are high, making pesticide education even more challenging. For women, who perform a significant share of agricultural tasks, illiteracy rates are even higher than for men. The dilemma exists of how a developing country can improve its nutritional and economic situation without giving consideration to social and environmental consequences.     

城镇燃气管道个人及社会风险可接受标准研究

为响应我国“十四五”规划中对清洁能源提出的要求,使我国城镇燃气管道安全管理水平适应发展的需求,从生命风险的角度研讨城镇燃气管道风险可接受标准。首先采用平均个人风险(AIR)法和最低合理可行(ALARP)准则相结合的方法,统计2012—2021年的事故数据;然后以5年为一周期进行对比分析,以上一个5年周期的风险可接受标准预测下一个5年周期的风险可接受标准参考值,并得出2022—2026年个人风险可接受标准的参考值;最后依照在个人风险可接受标准 5年周期预测法,采用累计频率-死亡人数(F-N)曲线法,统计2017—2021年每起事故死亡数及年管道长度,并确定社会风险可接受标准。研究表明:以风险水平1.017 13×10^-7作为个人风险不可接受风险区与ALARP区分界线,2.034 27×10^-7作为ALARP区与可接受风险区的划分边界;同时确定了社会风险最大可接受风险曲线和可忽略风险曲线,并结合ALARP准则划分出风险区域。     

西北地区水汽输送特征及其年际、年代际变化

利用1950-2002年NCAR/NCEP再分析逐日平均资料,计算了我国西北地区格点整层水汽输送通量,分析了西北地区水汽输送在推进过程中逐候的气候特征及其年际、年代际变化特征。研究发现:北疆和河西走廊常年为偏西风水汽输送,渭水流域中上游、陕西和高原东北侧偏西风和西南风水汽输送交替出现,高原和南疆的水汽输送常年都很弱;西南风水汽输送主要集中在6-10月,8月达到38°N附近的北界;近50年西北地区水汽输送在逐渐减弱,大值区开始的时间在逐渐拖后,结束的时间变化不大,春季的水汽输送明显减少。     

Dynamics of Plains Cottonwood (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus deltoides</Emphasis>) Forests and Historical Landscape Change along Unchannelized Segments of the Missouri River,USA

Construction of six large dams and reservoirs on the Missouri River over the last 50–75 years has resulted in major landscape changes and alterations in flow patterns, with implications for riparian forests dominated by plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides). We quantified changes in land cover from 1892–1950s and the 1950s–2006 and the current extent and age structure of cottonwood forests on seven segments (two reservoir and five remnant floodplain) comprising 1127 km (53 %) of the unchannelized upper two-thirds of the Missouri River. Riparian forest area declined by 49 %; grassland 61 %; shrubland 52 %; and sandbar habitat 96 %; while agricultural cropland increased six-fold and river/reservoir surface area doubled from 1892 to 2006. Net rates of erosion and accretion declined between the 1892–1950s and 1950s–2006 periods. Accretion exceeded erosion on remnant floodplain segments, resulting in declines in active channel width, particularly in 1950s–2006. Across all study segments in 2006, most cottonwood stands (67 %) were >50 years old, 22 % were 25–50 years old, and only 10 % were <25 years old. Among stands <50 years old, the higher proportion of 25–50 year old stands represents recruitment that accompanied initial post-dam channel narrowing; while declines in sandbar and shrubland area and the low proportion of stands <25 years old suggest declines in geomorphic dynamism and limited recruitment under recent river management. Future conservation and restoration efforts should focus both on limiting further loss of remnant cottonwood stands and developing approaches to restore river dynamics and cottonwood recruitment processes.     

双酚A在城市污水和污泥中的赋存与分析方法的研究进展

双酚A(BPA)作为典型的环境内分泌干扰物,由于其在环境中痕量浓度即可对生物产生内分泌干扰效应,因此受到了越来越广泛的关注。城市污水为BPA重要污染源,污水处理过程中部分BPA转移到污泥中,成为潜在的环境隐患。本文综述了双酚A在环境中的赋存情况以及相应的萃取技术、分析检测方法。此外,通过对比不同的回收率与检测下限,对几种常用的分析方法进行了比较,并展望了这一领域未来的研究发展趋势。     

地铁线路隧道沉降对车辆-轨道系统力学特性的影响*

为评估地铁线路隧道沉降对车辆-轨道系统力学特性的影响,基于有限元(FE)方法和车辆-轨道耦合动力学理论,建立地铁车辆-轨道-下部基础动力学耦合模型,并以北京某地铁线路为例,分析沉降作用下系统的静、动力学特性。研究结果表明:上部不平顺幅值与沉降幅值基本呈1∶1传递;在沉降区边界道床有拉裂的风险;车辆进入沉降区域后,轮轨垂向力因下凹曲线变化率影响出现冲击-减载-平稳-冲击现象;随着沉降量的增加,车辆动力学指标基本呈线性增长,沉降幅值从5 mm增长至20 mm,车体加速度峰值由0.167 m/s²增加至0.259 m/s²,增加了55.08%。     

Using Ecological Risk Assessment to Identify the Major Anthropogenic Stressor in the Waquoit Bay Watershed,Cape Cod,Massachusetts

The Waquoit Bay Watershed ecological risk assessment was performed by an interdisciplinary and interagency workgroup. This paper focuses on the steps taken to formulate the analysis plan for this watershed assessment. The workgroup initially conducted a series of meetings with the general public and local and state managers to determine environmental management objectives for the watershed. The workgroup then decided that more information was needed on the impacts of six stressors: nutrient enrichment, physical alteration of habitat, altered freshwater flow, toxic chemicals, pathogens, and fisheries harvesting. Assessment endpoints were selected to establish the link between environmental management objectives, impacts of stressors, and scientifically measurable endpoints. The following assessment endpoints were selected: estuarine eelgrass cover, scallop abundance, finfish diversity and abundance, wetland bird distribution and abundance, piping plover distribution and abundance, tissue contaminant levels, and brook trout distribution and abundance in streams. A conceptual model was developed to show the pathways between human activities, stressors, and ecological effects. The workgroup analyzed comparative risks, by first ranking stressors in terms of their potential risk to biotic resources in the watershed. Then stressors were evaluated by considering the components of stressors (e.g., the stressor chemical pollution included both heavy metals and chlorinated solvents components) in terms of intensity and extensiveness. The workgroup identified nutrient enrichment as the major stressor. Nutrient enrichment comprised both phosphorus enrichment in freshwater ponds and nitrogen enrichment within estuaries. Because phosphorus impacts were being analyzed and mitigated by the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, this assessment focused on nitrogen. The process followed to identify the predominant stressor and focus the analyses on nitrogen impacts on eelgrass and scallops will serve as an example of how to increase the use of the findings of a watershed assessment in decision making.     

Climate change adaptation and mitigation: next steps for cross-sectoral action to protect global health

Effectively addressing the health risks of climate change necessitates an active crosssectoral approach because health risks arise predominantly via sectors such as water, agriculture and energy. Much has been written on climate change and its impact on health, but little attention has focused on the realpolitik of how to progress the development and implementation of health-relevant strategies and policies to reduce this impact. The objective of this paper is to propose three solutions to address current deficiencies: i) strengthening the capacity and understanding of health officials in relation to climate change and health; ii) improving cross-sectoral partnerships with sectors relevant to climate change and health, and iii) identifying organisations influential in the development of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies, with a view to better target advocacy efforts. Practical examples of each solution are provided. In conclusion, as a steward of public health, the health sector must take the initiative to encourage a cross-sectoral approach that includes capacity development, coupled with an understanding of influential organisations. If this is done effectively, health, social and economic development goals can be reached more efficiently.