Identifying the determinants and spatial nexus of provincial carbon intensity in China: a dynamic spatial panel approach

Is emission intensity of carbon dioxide (CO₂) spatially correlated? What determines the CO₂ intensity at a provincial level? More importantly, what climate and economic policy decisions should the China’s central and local governments make to reduce the CO₂ intensity and prevent the environmental pollution given that China has been the largest emitter of CO₂? We aim to address these questions in this study by applying a dynamic spatial system generalized method of moment technique. Our analysis suggests that provinces are influenced by their neighbours. In addition, CO₂ intensities are relatively higher in the western and middle areas, and that the spatial agglomeration effect of the provincial CO₂ intensity is obvious. Our analysis also shows that CO₂ intensity is nonlinearly related to gross domestic product, positively associated with secondary-sector share and foreign direct investment, and negatively associated with population size. Important policy implications are drawn on reducing carbon intensity.     

Breeding habitat characteristics and nest survival of yellow-rumped flycatcher (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficedula zanthopygia</Emphasis>) in natural tree-cavities

Studies of nest-site selection and reproduction are essential for bird species assessment and conservation. We compared breeding habitats and random sites within a secondary cavity-nesting bird, Yellowrumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia), in a 5-year studying period in northeast China. We also modeled the effects of factors on daily nest survival rates. The flycatcher nest cavities were mostly located in tree trunks, with only 15% found in limbs. They often located their nests in east and south direction (45°–180°) with dense canopy cover surrounding the nest trees. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher nest-site selection appears to be nonrandom, such that they select nest sites with higher tree density and higher canopy closure. Yellowrumped Flycatcher daily nest survival rate was 0.9731 ± 0.007. Daily nest survival increased with increasing percent cover of canopy closure and decreased with the distance closing to the edges. The causes for nest failure were mainly nest usurpation by other secondary cavity-nesters. Predation rate and the competition for cavities with other secondary cavity-nesters may constrain the ability of Yellow-rumped Flycatchers to optimize nest nest-site selection.     

海上石油平台及管线弃置的海洋环境保护研究

随着相当数量的海上油田接近或者超过服役年限,越来越多的平台需要弃置。文章介绍了国内外海洋石油平台弃置的环境管理法律法规,以某海洋石油平台的拆除为例,从对海洋环境影响最大的油井永久封堵、导管架桩基的切割和海底管线拆除与回收三个方面,合理选择弃置方案,并分析了石油平台弃置对海洋的环境影响。最后针对海洋石油平台弃置过程和弃置后凸显的问题,提出了科学、可行的环境管理建议。     

大田条件下施加组配改良剂对蔬菜吸收重金属的影响

通过向湘南某矿区周边重金属污染的农田施加不同添加量(0、2、4和8 g/kg)的组配改良剂HS(海泡石+石灰石),分析农田土壤理化性质变化和土壤重金属及其交换态含量的影响、空心菜和辣椒可食部位和根部位重金属含量的影响。结果表明,施用2~8 g/kg组配改良剂HS能使2种蔬菜土壤p H值和CEC含量显著增加,使交换态重金属含量大幅降低,且不同程度地降低了空心菜和辣椒可食部位及根部位的重金属含量。与对照相比,空心菜和辣椒可食部位重金属Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn的降幅分别为:21.1%~47.5%、6.5%~31.0%、57.7%~80.0%、65.3%~92.0%和27.3%~74.5%、29.8%~62.0%、55.4%~76%、37.8%~77.1%;根部位的重金属含量也有明显降低。当添加量为8 g/kg时,2种蔬菜可食部位和根部位重金属含量降低幅度最大。由此可知,组配改良剂HS的施用对2种蔬菜吸收土壤重金属起到有效的抑制作用。     

Adsorption of ammonium on biochar prepared from giant reed

Giant reed was used as precursor for making biochar in order for the adsorption of NH₄ ⁺–N from aqueous solution. And the adsorption of the product to NH₄ ⁺–N was examined. The surface features of biochar were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD patterns showed several peaks and correspond to the high amount of crystalline material. The crystals contain KCl, K₂O, CaO, MgO, and SiO and possess high surface area which enhances adsorption. The influence of different parameters such as initial concentration, adsorption time, pH, and ionic strength has been carried out. The adsorption could reach equilibrium through 24 h reaction and had the best adsorption amount at the solution pH values from 7 to 9. The cation has great influence on the adsorption of NH₄ ⁺–N, whereas the anion exerted a weaker effect. The adsorption followed pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. And the intraparticle diffusion and desorption studies further elucidated that the mechanism of adsorption on the product was ion exchange. The product equilibrium data was well described by the Langmuir and Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacities were 1.490 mg/g. Biochar derived from giant reed at 500 °C was suggested as a promising adsorbent for the removal of NH₄ ⁺–N from slightly polluted wastewater.     

Tetracycline resistance in semi-arid agricultural soils under long-term swine effluent application

Annually, millions pounds of antibiotics are released unmetabolized into environment along with animal wastes. Accumulation of antibiotics in soils could potentially induce the persistence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Antibiotics such as tetracyclines and tetracycline-resistant bacteria have been previously detected in fields fertilized with animal manure. However, little is known about the accumulation of tetracyclines and the development of tetracycline resistance in semi-arid soils. Here we demonstrate that continuous land application with swine effluent, containing trace amounts of chlortetracycline, does not necessarily induce tetracycline resistance in soil bacteria. Based on the testing of more than 3,000 bacteria isolated from the amended soils, we found no significant increase in the occurrence and level of chlortetracycline resistant bacteria in soils after 15 years of continuous swine effluent fertilization. To account for a possible transfer of tetracycline-resistant bacteria originated from the swine effluent to soils, we analyzed two commonly found tetracycline resistant genes, tet(O) and tet(M), in the swine effluent and fertilized soils. Both genes were present in the swine effluent, however, they were not detectable in soils applied with swine effluent. Our data demonstrate that agronomic application of manure from antibiotic treated swine effluent does not necessarily result in the development of antibiotic bacterial resistance in soils. Apparently, concentrations of chlortetracycline present in manure are not significant enough to induce the development of antibiotic bacterial resistance.     

Risk assessment and interpretation of heavy metal contaminated soils on an urban brownfield site in New York metropolitan area

In this study, soil samples were collected at 22 sites in Liberty State Park, New Jersey, in 2005, for metal enrichment and potential ecological risk assessment. The geoaccumulation index (I _geo) showed that enrichment levels of trace metals followed an order of Cu > Pb > Zn > As > Cr > Hg while the potential ecological risk factor (\( {E}_r^i \)) indicated that the potential ecological risk of the metals was in the order of Cu > Pb > As > Hg > Zn > Cr. Among these 22 sites, this investigation identified 9 sites at moderate ecological risk, 3 sites at considerable ecological risk, and 4 sites at high ecological risk according to the potential ecological risk index (RI). Hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) of soil metal concentrations separated the study sites into four groups, which are supported by the significant difference in RI values. Geographically, three regions in the Liberty State Park brownfield site were determined based on the CA results and RI values. Subarea 1 had low ecological risk while subareas 2 and 3 had a greater potential for ecological risk. Significant correlations of Pb with Cr and Zn were observed in subareas 2 and 3, respectively. This study shows that statistical approaches coupled with a risk assessment index provide a more comprehensive interpretation of land contamination than a single approach in support of planning land redevelopment.     

A multi-objective location-allocation optimization for sustainable management of municipal solid waste

The location problem of treatment and service facilities in municipal solid waste (MSW) management system is of significant importance due to the socioeconomic and environmental concerns. The consideration of waste treatment costs, environmental impact, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, social fairness as well as other relevant aspects should be simultaneously taken into account when a MSW management system is planned. Development of sophisticated decision support tools for planning MSW management system in an economic-efficient and environmental friendly manner is therefore important. In this paper, a general multi-objective location-allocation model for optimally managing the interactions among those conflicting factors in MSW management system is proposed. The model is comprised of a three-stage conceptual framework and a mixed integer mathematical programming. The inclusion of environmental impact and GHG emission objectives push the output of the model tightening toward more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions in MSW management. The application of this model is demonstrated through an illustrative example, and the computational efficiency of the programming is also tested through a set of incremental parameters. Latter in this paper, a comparison with previous case studies of MSW system design is presented in order to show the applicability and adaptability of the generic model in practical decision-making process, and the perspectives of future study are also discussed.     

A^2/O-MBR组合工艺运行优化与氮磷深度控制的分析

为了遏制水环境不断恶化的趋势,应加强对氮、磷超标的治理工作,促进水生态环境平衡发展。本文采用A^2/O-MBR作为主体工艺,后续辅以化学除磷和以深床滤池为反硝化单元的组合工艺,确保最终出水满足天津市《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(DB12/599-2015)A标准排放要求。     

突发环境污染事故应急预案编制中应急池计算的几个问题探讨

企业突发环境污染事故应急预案的制定中应急池容量计算尤为重要。本文应急预案编制中的事故应急池容量符合性分析计算的几个问题供大家探讨。