Quantitative assessment of the Japanese “local production for local consumption” movement: a case study of growth of vegetables in the Osaka city region

This study aimed to assess Japan’s recent “local production for local consumption” (LPLC) movement, with a special focus on vegetables in the Osaka city region of central Japan. After collecting statistics and spatial data, we conducted a multi-scale analysis of vegetable production and consumption along with the associated energy consumption, using geographical information system software at three spatial scales along the vegetable flow paths: national, regional, and local. Vegetables consumed in the Osaka city region came from prefectures throughout Japan, and we mapped the foodshed within this region at 1-km spatial resolution, as well as the distribution of farmland, farmers’ and other markets. We also conducted a scenario analysis for reduced energy consumption through organic farming and the utilization of abandoned farmland near a city to replace food imports from distant areas. We found that the large majority of vegetables consumed in the Osaka city region currently come from remote prefectures, and that this is associated with a high level of energy consumption. Inside the Osaka city region, peri-urban vegetable farming contributes to regional vegetable provision, resulting in an approximately 70 % production/consumption ratio within an 80-km radius of the urban center; if all of the area of abandoned farmland were restored to production, this ratio would increase to approximately 75 %. Organic farming activities that bring together farmers and urbanites are emerging in many parts of the study area, contributing to increased LPLC. Scenario analysis suggested that a decrease of more than 1 × 10⁶ GJ of energy inputs could be achieved through wider adoption of local organic farming for local consumption and complete utilization of abandoned farmland in the Osaka city region.     

Influence of physical properties of ammonium nitrate on the detonation behaviour of ANFO

In order to obtain a better understanding of the non-ideal detonation behaviour of ammonium nitrate based explosives, detonation velocities of ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil) prepared with different kinds of ammonium nitrate (AN) were measured in steel tubes. In this series of test six kinds of AN were used and the influence of the pore diameter, the pore volume and the particle diameter of the AN particle on the detonation velocity of ANFO was investigated.

It was found that the pore diameter and the pore volume had a strong influence on the detonation velocities of ANFO. In the case of ANFO samples which were prepared with AN that had the same pore diameter and the pore volume, when tested the highest detonation velocity (3.85 km/s) was observed when the smallest particle diameter (<0.85 mm) was used. This value corresponded to 75% of the ideal detonation velocity, which was theoretically predicted by the CHEETAH code with the JCZ3-EOS.

The 12 months aging showed the change of the detonation velocities of ANFO and the reaction of ANFO was influenced both by the physical and the chemical properties of AN particles and oil during the storage period.     

Estimating Future NO2 Levels in the Greater Los Angeles Area by Source–Type Contribution

Two indicator pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO) for mobile source influence and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) for stationary source influence, were used to estimate source-type contributions to ambient NO₂ levels in a base year and to predict NO₂ concentrations in a future year. For a specific source-receptor pair, the so-called influence coefficient of each of three source categories (mobile sources, power plants, and other stationary sources) was determined empirically from concurrent measurements of CO and SO₂ concentrations at the receptor site and CO and SO₂ emissions from each source category in the source area. Those coefficients, which are considered time invariant, were used in conjunction with the base year and future year NO _x emission values to estimate source-type contribution to ambient NO₂ levels at seven study sites selected from the Greater Los Angeles area for both the base year period, 1974 through 1976, and the future goal year of 1987 in which the air quality standards for NO₂ are to be attained. The estimated NO₂ air quality at the seven sites is found to meet the national annual standard of 5 pphm and over 99.9% of total hours, the California 1-hr NO₂ standard of 25 pphm in 1987. The estimated power plant contributions to ambient NO₂ levels are found to be considerably smaller than those to total NO _x emissions in the area. Providing that reasonably complete air quality and emissions data are available, the present analysis method may prove to be a useful tool in evaluating source contributions to both short-term peak and long-term average NO₂ concentrations for use in control strategy development.     

Fungal levels in houses in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuation zone after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Residences located within 20 km of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The levels of airborne and surface fungi were measured in six houses in the evacuation zone in August 2012 and February 2013. Airborne fungal levels in all of the houses in the summer were higher than the environmental standard levels for residential houses published in Architectural Institute of Japan (>1000 colony-forming units [CFU]/m³). In two houses whose residents rarely returned to visit, fungal levels were extremely high (>52,000 CFU/m³). Although fungal levels in the winter were much lower than those in the summer, they were still higher than environmental standard levels in several houses. Indoor fungal levels were significantly inversely related to the frequency with which residents returned, but they were not correlated with the air exchange rates, temperature, humidity, or radiation levels. Cladosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. were detected in every house. Aspergillus section Circumdati (Aspergillus ochraceus group) was also detected in several houses. These fungi produced ochratoxin A and ochratoxin B, which have nephrotoxic and carcinogenic potential. The present study suggests that further monitoring of fungal levels is necessary in houses in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuation zone, and that some houses may require fungal disinfection.

Implications: The results suggest that residents’ health could be at risk owing to the high levels of airborne fungi and toxic fungi Aspergillus section Circumdati. Therefore, monitoring and decontamination/disinfection of fungi are strongly recommended before residents are allowed to return permanently to their homes. In addition, returning to home with a certain frequency and adequate ventilation are necessary during similar situations, e.g., when residents cannot stay in their homes for a long period, because fungal levels in houses in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuation zone were inversely correlated with the frequency with which residents returned to visit their houses.     

大辽河流域环境变化卫星遥感监测研究

将中巴地球资源一号卫星（CBERS—1）采集到的数据与地面监测站、数据传输与处理系统、地理信息系（GIS）相结合，可以实现对区域环境准确、客观、动态、简捷、快速的监测。在全球定位系统（GPS）支持下，对大辽河流域精选地面解译标志，开展野外实地调查及CBERS-1卫星数据遥感分析，在系统设计与开发中坚持规范化、完备性、可操作性、先进性原则的基础上，建立了可运行的环境动态监测调控信息系统。     

Sensitivity of gametes, fertilization, and embryo development of the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii, to the harmful dinoflagellate, Heterocapsa circularisquama

Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama cause massive bivalve kills in Japan. Mariculture of the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii, is the industry most affected by these blooms, especially in Ago Bay, Mie Prefecture, where they are frequent, cause mass mortality of oysters, and overlap with their spawning season. The goal of this August 2009 study was to assess the effects of a toxic strain of H. circularisquama isolated from Ago Bay on gametes, fertilization, and embryo development of pearl oysters. Spermatozoa, eggs, spermatozoa and eggs, and fertilized eggs of pearl oysters from Ago Bay were exposed to H. circularisquama at cell densities reported during the bloom (10–10⁴ cells mL^?1) for different periods of time. The concentration of H. circularisquama, exposure duration, and their interactions all had significant effects on gamete quality, fertilization, and embryo development. The motility and swimming velocity of spermatozoa, egg viability, fertilization, and embryo development rate were significantly reduced in all concentrations, with a cell density of 10 cells mL^?1 determined to be the critical density of H. circularisquama for deleterious effects. This is the first evidence of inimical effects of an HAB species on bivalve spermatozoa upon direct exposure. Further field and laboratory studies are required to investigate the potential effects of H. circularisquama blooms on the reproduction and recruitment of Japanese pearl oysters and other bivalves.     

Fertilization success and sexual behavior in male medaka, Oryzias latipes, exposed to tributyltin

We evaluated the effects of tributyltin (TBT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and a mixture of TBT and PCBs on reproduction, gonadal histology, and sexual behavior in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). We administered TBT (1 microg g(-1) body weight [b.w.] daily), PCBs (1 microg g(-1) b.w. daily), or both to medaka for 3 weeks. We assessed reproductive success during week 3 and the sexual behavior of male medaka after the exposure period. Fertilization success was significantly decreased in groups that received TBT. The profiles of fertility developed a bimodal distribution in the TBT and TBT+PCBs groups, and the numbers of males that performed "following" and "dancing" were significantly decreased in the TBT+PCBs group. The frequency of "dancing" also decreased after treatment with TBT, whereas fish that received PCBs only showed no difference in sexual behavior. Testes that had oocytes showed normal spermatogenesis, even though two of the five males treated with TBT+PCBs had some indication of testis-ova, which did not occur in any other group. Our results indicate that TBT, but not PCBs, affects sexual behavior and reproduction in medaka.     

Evaluation of Episode Control Schemes Through Air Quality Data Analysis

Prediction performance of various air pollution episode models are first compared with that of a persistence model which is based on the assumption that present concentrations persist to a future time. The comparisons are made by computing a correlation coefficient for different lead times between the observed and predicted values, and an auto-correlation function of the air quality data to which the episode model is applied. The persistence of high levels of air pollution is next examined, using existing air quality data, by constructing frequency distributions of air pollution episode duration for various concentration thresholds. Based on the results of persistence analysis, the flaws of currently used episode management schemes are discussed and some alternative episode management schemes are presented. Methodologies and parameters to evaluate the anticipated performances of episode management schemes are developed and some examples are worked out. In conclusion, it is suggested that a combination of episode persistence analysis and air pollution meteorological forecasting could lead to a workable air pollution episode management scheme.     

A novel extractant for removal of hazardous metals from preservative-treated wood waste

The purpose of this study was to develop a one-step metal extraction process that would effectively remove hazardous elements from wood powder or chips of western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.] treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative. In addition, we tested this method for wood treated with other copper-based preservatives such as ammoniacal copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper, boron, and azole (CuAz). A bioxalate solution consisting of 0.125 M oxalic acid adjusted to pH 3.2 with sodium hydroxide was tested for its ability to extract chromium, copper, and arsenic from wood treated with CCA and copper from ACQ, CuAz, or a mixture of CCA-, ACQ-, and CuAz-treated wood in single step. The extraction proceeded efficiently with 6 h of treatment, and was insensitive to the differences in chemical characteristics, including solubility of individual elements. After 6 h of treatment, approximately 90% of chromium, copper, and arsenic were effectively removed from wood treated with CCA or a mixture of CCA, ACQ, and CuAz and 90% of copper from ACQ- and CuAz-treated wood. These results demonstrate that the solvent extraction technique using pH-adjusted bioxalate solution with sodium hydroxide is a promising method for pollution minimization by various types of wastes contaminated with heavy metals and arsenic.     

Chlorophyll and suspended sediment mapping to the Caribbean Sea from rivers in the capital city of the Dominican Republic using ALOS AVNIR-2 data

This study aims to study the distribution of contaminants in rivers that flow into the Caribbean Sea using chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and suspended sediment (SS) as markers and ALOS AVNIR-2 satellite sensor data. The Haina River (HN) and Ozama and Isabela Rivers (OZ-IS) that flow through the city of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, were chosen. First, in situ spectral reflectance/Chl-a and SS datasets obtained from these rivers were acquired in March 2011 (case A: with no rain influence) and June 2011 (case B: with rain influence), and the estimation algorithm of Chl-a and SS using AVNIR-2 data was developed from the datasets. Moreover, the developed algorithm was applied to AVNIR-2 data in November 2010 for case A and August 2010 for case B. Results revealed that for Chl-a and SS estimations under cases A and B conditions, the reflectance ratio of AVNIR-2 band 4 and band 3 (AV4/AV3) and the reflectance of AVNIR-2 band 4 (AV4) were effective. The Chl-a and SS mapping results obtained using AVNIR-2 data corresponded with the field survey results. Finally, an outline of the distribution of contaminants at the mouth of the river that flows into the Caribbean Sea was obtained for both rivers in cases A and B.