How Useful are the Concepts of Familiarity, Biological Integrity, and Ecosystem Health for Evaluating Damages by GM Crops?

In the discussion about consequences of the release of genetically modified (GM) crops, the meaning of the term “environmental damage” is difficult to pin down. We discuss some established concepts and criteria for understanding and evaluating such damages. Focusing on the concepts of familiarity, biological integrity, and ecosystem health, we argue that, for the most part, these concepts are highly ambiguous. While environmental damage is mostly understood as significant adverse effects on conservation resources, these concepts may not relate directly to effects on tangible natural resources but rather to parameters of land use or ecological processes (e.g., the concept of biological integrity). We stress the importance of disclosing the normative assumptions underlying damage concepts and procedures for the evaluation of damages by GM crops. A conceptualization of environmental damage should precede its operationalization. We recommend an unambiguous definition for damage developed earlier and recommend that evaluation criteria be based on this. However, a general damage definition cannot replace case-specific operationalization of damage, which remains an important future challenge.     

Untersuchung von Abfällen mit biologischen Testverfahren zur Bewertung der Wassergefährdung

Wastes from three different types of waste treatment facilities were examined with bioassays to determine their hazard potential to waters (→Part I). All examined wastes showed toxic effects and have to be classified as hazardous to waters according to section 19g of the German Federal Water Management Act. The toxicity is probably caused by heavy metals in the leachates, especially copper. An evaluation pattern to classify wastes in the German system of Water Hazard Classes is presented. According to this proposal, a classification of the examined wastes into Water Hazard Class 1 seems to be appropriate. This classification does not describe the hazards resulting from the regular disposal on a landfill or from the utilisation of the treated wastes.     

The European Water Framework Directive beyond 2010: let actions speak louder than words

The first generation of WFD River Basin Management Plans is now available. This is a formidable achievement and a great step towards addressing Europe's deteriorated river systems. However, plans are only words: only the actual implementation of the selected measures will result in achievement of good ecological and chemical status. The WFD Lille 2010 Conference pointed out that a lot of new, but so far unused scientific knowledge is available to improve the effectiveness of selected measures or to inspire the introduction of complementary measures. Furthermore, the complexity in terms of the functioning of the water system, its interaction with the socio-economic system and the uncertain consequences of climate change, urges a 'learning-by-doing' approach. This approach should be applied in well-designed, -coordinated and -monitored learning catchments.     

燃煤电厂典型超低排放除尘技术组合下的尘排放特性

为研究典型超低排放除尘技术组合下的尘排放特性,梳理了目前超低排放除尘技术改造的主流技术路线,归纳出典型的7种改造技术路线。依据典型的改造技术路线,选择了27台在2015—2017年完成改造的燃煤发电机组,并对其烟尘排放进行长期的连续监测,根据机组长期运行的排放表现对典型超低排放除尘技术路线的实际减排效果进行量化对比分析。结果表明,7种除尘改造技术路线均可达到控制烟尘排放浓度在10 mg·m~(-3)以下的超低排放标准,其中路线6改造后尘浓度控制在2 mg·m~(-3)以下。对减排效率的研究表明,各技术路线改造后的减排效率均可达到99.97%以上,计算得到机组的平均排放因子为0.025 7 kg·t~(-1)(95%置信区间0.025 4～0.026 1 kg·t~(-1)),其中路线6的排放因子最低,为0.008 6 kg·t~(-1)(95%置信区间0.008 4～0.008 8 kg·t~(-1))。     

Passive sampling of herbicides combined with effect analysis in algae using a novel high-throughput phytotoxicity assay (Maxi-Imaging-PAM)

We propose to combine a passive sampler for polar organic compounds (POS) with a specific bioassay for phytotoxicity to assess the hazard of herbicidal compounds in surface waters. The POS consisted of an Empore disk coated with styrenedivinylbenzene deployed in a Teflon housing, which has relatively high sampling rates (e.g., approximately 1 L d(-1) for diuron). POS were deployed for 5 days in a small-scale field study in South East Queensland, Australia, in a relatively pristine environment and an urban environment to explore sensitivity towards herbicides and potential influences of non-herbicidal pollutants. Besides chemical analysis of 8 herbicides, a novel bioassay (Maxi-Imaging-PAM, IPAM) was employed to assess the phytotoxic effects of water samples and POS extracts. The IPAM allows rapid assessment of photosynthetic quantum yields of a large number of samples via chlorophyll-fluorescence imaging and the saturation pulse method. Sampling rates for several herbicides from laboratory calibrations were found to be applicable under field conditions. Toxic equivalent concentrations (with reference to the herbicide diuron) were computed from the concentrations determined by chemical analysis and the relative potency (also termed toxic equivalence factor) of the detected herbicides. There was good agreement between diuron equivalent concentrations from chemical analysis and diuron equivalent concentrations determined with the IPAM.     

Bepflanzung einer Tankstelle mit Weiden

In Axelved, Denmark, an abandoned gas filling station serves as a test field for phytoremediation. Laboratory studies accompany the project. The toxicity of fresh and weathered gasoline and diesel to willow and poplar trees was studied by use of a tree transpiration toxicity test. The correlation between diesel content in soil and decrease in willow tree transpiration (Salix viminalis x schwerinii) was highly significant (r ²=0.81, n=19). the EC₅₀ (50% inhibition of transpiration) for the sum of hydrocarbons (HC) was determined to be 3910 mg/kg (95% confidence interval from 2900 to 5270 mg/kg). The EC₁₀ was 810 mg/kg (95% confidence interval 396 to 1660 mg/kg). The results were verified with artificially mixed diesel and gasolinecontaminated soils and two willow and one poplar species (S. viminalis, S. alba andPopulus nigra). The degradation of radiolabeledm-xylene was studied with and without willows. The compound was readily degraded. Willow trees accelerated the elimination, but mainly due to the volatilization ofm-xylene. Model studies provided the result that biodegradation in soil is the fastest elimination process at the site, but it is limited by the availability of electron acceptors. The pollutants are almost persistent in the groundwater, but in aerated soil, 10000 mg/kg hydrocarbons at 1 m depth are degraded within 13 years. The main effect of willows on the pollutants’ persistence is that willows transpire water, lower the groundwater level and aerate the soil, hereby speeding up biodegradation.     

Erprobung und Erfolgskontrolle eines Phytoremediations-verfahrens zur Sanierung Sprengstoff-kontaminierter Böden

Results of a field experiment (please refer to Warrelmann et al. 2000a) document TNT-degradation and regeneration after the establishment of a phytoremediation. Various approaches are included in a complex monitoring system, which are conducted in the field (nitroaromatics in soil, seepage water, and plants; soil fauna; soil fungi; decomposition) as well as in the lab (a battery of 6 biotests). The data document a high heterogeneity of the TNT-contamination, a rapid initial decrease and a mediocre displacement of nitroaromatics in plants and seepage water. The initial rapid transformation of TNT to aminodinitrotoluenes ceases significantly after 3 months. Results of the biotest battery allow a sophisticated assessment of soil toxicity; the results from the soil ecological field investigations make the long-term effects of TNT-contamination likely. In a third part of the series of articles, a synopsis and judgement of the project will be delivered.     

River habitat monitoring and assessment in Germany

Whereas assessing the biological and chemical quality of water is a standard environmental procedure in many countries, the use of habitat survey methods that assess the ecomorphological quality of rivers is relatively new. In Europe, the EC Water Framework Directive requires such assessment from all EU Member States. In Germany, the first river habitat assessments were introduced in the late 1990 s. Each federal state develops its own river habitat map using the 'On-site Survey' and/or the 'Overview Survey'. The assessment describes the difference of the actual condition from a previously defined reference condition. In practice, a defined 'potential for restoration', a more realistic condition, makes restoration activities much easier and more successful. In Germany, the first River Habitat Map 2001 was published in 2002. The survey covered 33,000 km of river length, which equates to 10% of all rivers. A wide range from 'Undisturbed' (class 1) to 'Totally Disturbed' (class 7) river units exists; 77% of them are 'Clearly Disturbed' (class 4) or in worse condition. These result reflects extensive anthropogenic impact on the environment in general, but also past intense technical river 'improvements' that focused on the protection of settlements and traffic routes from flooding, better shipping conditions, the use of water power, and drainage of floodplains for agriculture and urban development. For comparability of survey results between EU Member States, a harmonization of national survey methods is in progress. A crucial point here is the definition of the reference condition for each river (near-natural conditions), since it influences the survey results.     

Ozone and forests in South-Western Europe--What have we learned?

Monitoring of forest condition and ozone (O3) at 83 sites in France, Italy, Luxenbourg, Spain and Switzerland resulted in a number of findings in relation to the knowledge of O3 exposure (concentration and cumulative AOT40), feasibility of the assessment of stomatal O3 flux and relationships between O3 and crown defoliation of beech and visible symptoms on native vegetation. However, the project provides evidence of issues to be addressed within the current monitoring system (data quality, validation sites and response indicators) and indications as to how the monitoring of O3 risk in the context of an effect-oriented monitoring program can be improved.