Selenium and arsenic content of agricultural soils from Bangladesh and Nepal

Arsenic (As) contamination of the available domestic drinking water from shallow aquifers to villagers in Bangladesh often exceeds the newest WHO standard of <10 µg As L^?1 and the older Bangladeshi standard of <50 µg As L^?1. An estimated 9.2 million shallow tube wells in Bangladesh deliver water to 97% of the rural population, placing an estimated 57 million people at risk for arsenicosis. The contamination of drinking water by As extends to W. Bengal, India and Nepal. The same shallow aquifers used for domestic water are also used to irrigate food crops, particularly rice. Irrigation adds As to soils and increases exposure of the population to additional As via foods consumed. Selenium (Se), an essential trace mineral found in soils, is absorbed by plants, entering the human food chain. It was suggested that a low dietary intake of Se may be contributing to the problem of human arsenicosis in Bangladesh. Dietary Se acts as a natural antidote to As by (1) accelerating As excretion, (2) sequestering As by complexation and (3) as an antioxidant component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase that may counteract the prooxidant effects of As that contribute to arsenicosis and cancer. Analysis of 70 agricultural soil samples from Bangladesh by fluorimetry, ICP-AES and Neutron Activation Analysis showed the soils analyzed to be high in As (～33 µg g^?1) and biologically low in soluble Se (～0.02 µg g^?1). A low dietary intake of Se related to low soil content and this mineral in foods may be contributing to human arsenicosis in the Ganges–Brahmaputra delta.     

The changing face of public concern about pollution in the United States: A case study of New Jersey

National surveys and a survey conducted by the authors in March and April 2004 revealed that the public’s concerns about air, water and land pollution have declined during the last four years in the United States and more specifically in the State of New Jersey. In New Jersey pollution remains a major concern of most residents, even during a period of a war, anxiety about terrorism and the economy. Those most anxious about pollution do not believe that government is doing enough to protect the environment, want to maintain current environmental laws, and are worried about the future. Disproportionately they are African and White Americans, middle income, and college graduates, in other words, part of the American mainstream. Direct attempts to weaken environmental protection are likely to be resisted by this core of the population, which does not trust current federal, state and local governments to protect the environment. We expect concerns for the environment to continue and yet change as production processes in the United States continue a trend toward pollution prevention, and we wait for the public’s mental models to catch up with this evolving reality.     

Examining the impacts of disaster resettlement from a livelihood perspective: a case study of Qinling Mountains,China

Disaster resettlement, as a mitigation and preparedness measure, entails significant economic, physical, and social impacts, which continue to challenge understanding of recovery from major events, especially regarding the extent of the context and environmental efforts to rebuild livelihoods. Based on a case study of Qinling Mountains, China, this research investigates the effects of disaster resettlement from a livelihoods perspective. Methodologically, it proposes a framework that combines the pressure–state–response framework and the sustainable livelihoods approach, and it employs a structural equation model to examine how specific factors affect disaster resettlement. The results indicate that conflicts may occur during and after resettlement owing to the difference or disparity between the concerns of resettled peasants and those of the government. Consequently, the risks related to livelihoods need to be taken seriously. Effective risk communication is critical to bridge the gap between different stakeholders. The paper concludes with some practical and policy recommendations.     

Variation in prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis: Policies in 13 european countries, 1989–1991

The livebirth prevalence of autosomal chromosomal anomalies is determined by several factors, including maternal age distribution and the impact of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis (PCD). The impact of PCD varies between countries, as the indications and the uptake vary. In a previous study we described differences in Down syndrome prevalence and the proportion of older mothers. We have now made a survey of the official PCD policies in 25 regions in 13 European countries for the period 1989–1991. In two countries, termination of pregnancy was not available. In the other 11 countries, international agreement existed on five indications: advanced maternal age, a previous child with a chromosomal anomaly, parents who are carriers of a balanced translocation, mothers who are carriers of an X-linked disorder, and malformations at ultrasound. The exact limit for advanced maternal age varied from 35 to 38 years. There was a considerable variation for the indications advanced paternal age, amniocentesis for AFP or DNA, parental anxiety, a previous child with a congenital anomaly, abnormal maternal serum markers, and exposure to radiation/chemotherapy. The PCD uptake for mothers above the maternal age limit varied from 10 to 88 per cent. International harmonization of the indications for PCD is not considered feasible at present, because of the rapid changes in PCD policies even within countries.     

Linking the environmental and social agendas

Summary In the United Kingdom there is no obvious connection between the Department of the Environment and the Home Office, nor indeed with the Department of Social Security. Yet crime rates are rising and social surveys reveal a drop in support for the institutions of governance-moral, legal and political. Other evidence clearly shows that the income and security of the very poor are declining in relation to the better off. There may well be a link between environmental deprivation, poverty and social alienation. This is not an area where heretofore any British Government has noticeably directed its energies. The UK response to the Rio Agenda 21 contains a proposal to create a Citizens' Environmental Initiative, designed ostensibly to bring sustainability to the grass roots. It now appears that this is to be a largely cosmetic exercise of grant aid to worthy local causes. It does not appear to have addressed significantly the opportunity of linking environmental and social agendas via the medium of locally promoted sustainable development. Yet the divergence efficiency and equality of treatment lies at the heart of the contemporary environmental debate. Proposals to price resource depletion and polluting emissions penalize the poor in the name of environmental efficiency. Unless there is an explicit intertwining of efficiency and equity doctrines, the cause of sustainability is doomed to self-inflicted defeat. Ecological taxation offers a solution, so long as the proceeds promote the cause of social as well as environmental justice.The address was delivered at the Global Forum '94 Academic Conference Towards a Sustainable Future: Promoting Sustainable Development Manchester UK (Fig. 1).     

A field test of processed oil shale reclamation strategies designed for minimal use of limited resources

Reclamation of processed oil shale disposal areas in the arid and semi-arid regions of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming faces several challenging problems. Shallow topsoil, harsh climate and limited water supply and low suitability of processed oil shale as a plant growth medium must be addressed if any reclamation plan is to be successful.A prototype reclamation plan that addressed the harsh environmental conditions was proposed early in the development of oil shale in eastern Utah. Studies to validate the reclamation plan were initiated in 1978 on a simulated oil shale disposal area at Anvil Points, Colorado.Four native shrubs, one forb and a grass, were successfully established by planting container-grown transplants into a topsoil-filled V-shaped trench. Supplemental water was provided from an adjacent water harvesting slope. The roots of the transplanted species grew into the adjacent shale from the soil trench, thus indicating their adaptability to the adverse oil shale conditions.Support for this research was provided by the White River Shale Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah.     

Trace metal analysis of solvents used as fuel in a cement kiln

The kilns used to manufacture Portland cement provide an excellent environment for the safe disposal of certain combustible, hazardous wastes. Moreover, the fuel value of these wastes may yield significant savings in fuel costs.In order to evaluate part of the air pollution potential associated with these fuels, spent solvents were analyzed for trace metals using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Lead, zinc, chromium, nickel, selenium, cadmium, beryllium and arsenic levels were examined in 55 samples of solvents that had been obtained by a single distillation of unblended spent solvents, 185 samples of undistilled solvents, and 10 samples of coal. All samples of distilled solvents showed metal concentrations near the limit of detection.The mixed, undistilled solvents showed metals concentrations that were relatively higher than the distilled product, and very scattered except for cadmium, beryllium and arsenic, which were always below the limit of detection. The average values (mg/l) for lead, zinc, chromium, nickel and selenium were 42, 58, 30, 14 and 4, respectively.In order to determine the potentialnet increase or decrease of trace metals in the stack gases, ten coal samples were tested. These coal samples were obtained from a nearby cement kiln. The average concentrations for coal were 20 mg/l lead, 38 mg/l zinc, 43 mg/l chromium (corrected), 60 mg/l nickel 2 mg/l beryllium, and <0.62 mg/l cadmium. No determinations were made for selenium and arsenic. Most of the metal content of the spent solvents was contained on or in the participate matter in the solvents. It follows that the supernatant liquid from a settling tank should be a relatively safe fuel for use at cement kilns.     

Regional assessment of plant growth problems for colliery spoil reclamation

The data on plant growth conditions collected for 34 sites in the Barnsley and South Yorkshire Areas of the National Coal Board are analysed using methods of ordination and numerical classification in order to display the regional variations of plant growth characteristics. The potential value of such regional analyses and the manner in which such information could be used by reclamation agencies is discussed and a detailed example is presented for one site. The complete methodology and its limitations are reviewed and the implications for planning of reclamation projects discussed.     

Efficacy of insurance for organisational disaster recovery: case study of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes

Insurance is widely acknowledged to be an important component of an organisation's disaster preparedness and resilience. Yet, little analysis exists of how well current commercial insurance policies and practices support organisational recovery in the wake of a major disaster. This exploratory qualitative research, supported by some quantitative survey data, evaluated the efficacy of commercial insurance following the sequence of earthquakes in Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2010 and 2011. The study found that, generally, the commercial insurance sector performed adequately, given the complexity of the events. However, there are a number of ways in which insurers could improve their operations to increase the efficacy of commercial insurance cover and to assist organisational recovery following a disaster. The most notable of these are: (i) better wording of policies; (ii) the availability of sector‐specific policies; (iii) the enhancement of claims assessment systems; and (iv) risk‐based policy pricing to incentivise risk reduction measures.