The origin of speciation: trace metal kinetics over natural water/sediment interfaces and the consequences for bioaccumulation

The speciation of heavy metals was measured over a variety of natural and undisturbed water/sediment interfaces. Simultaneously, two benthic species (oligochaete Limnodrilus spp. and the midge Chironomus riparius) were exposed to these sediments. Under occurring redox conditions, free ion activities of trace metals Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured with a chelating exchange technique, while geochemical conditions (i.e., redox) remained in tact. Free ion activities were compared with total dissolved concentrations in pore waters and surface waters in order to relate speciation to bioaccumulation. Limnodrilus spp. and C. riparius have accumulation patterns that could be linked to time-dependent exposure concentrations, expressed as chemical speciation, in the surface water and the sediment's pore water. Concentrations of free metal ions in the overlying surface water, rather than in sediment pore water, proved to be the best predictor for uptake. For the first time, measurements are obtained from sediments without disturbing physical-chemical conditions and thus bioavailability, a major restriction of other studies so far.     

环境空气自动监测质量管理框架体系研究

以环境监测管理各项法规政策、空气自动监测技术规范和方法标准的技术规定及管理要求为准绳,研究搭建环境空气自动监测质量管理总框架,制定体系化的环境空气自动监测质量管理框架体系及管理文件规程,从而规范环境空气自动监测活动,提高空气自动监测数据的科学性和准确性,为环境保护管理部门实施环境空气预报预警及规划空气污染治理各项工作奠定坚实基础。     

One common way — The strategic and methodological influence on environmental planning across Europe

In the last decades the European Union exerted influence on precautionary environmental planning by the establishment of several Directives. The most relevant were the Habitat-Directive, the EIA-Directive, the SEA-Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Comparing these EU policies in the area of environmental precaution it becomes obvious that there is a lot of common ground. Thus, the conclusion seems likely that the European Union, in doing so, has intended to establish general planning concepts through introducing several methodological steps indicated by the regulations. The goal of this article is firstly to point out, which are the common planning principles, converted by methodological elements and secondly examine the consideration of these planning concepts by the implementation and application in the member states. In this context it is analysed whether the connections and divergences between the directives lead to significant differences in the implementation process. To this aim the directives are shortly introduced and significant steps of the processes regulated by them are outlined. In the second steps the national legal implementation in the Alpine states and its consequences for the practical application are discussed. The results show a heterogeneous application of the EU principles. Within the comparative view on the four directives influence and causalities between the national implementation and the practical application were identified, which can be simplified as four types. Since a coherent strategic and methodological concept for improving environmental precaution planning from part of the EU is noticeable, more unity and comparability within the implementation is desirable, particularly in areas with comparable habitats such as the alpine space. Beyond this the trade-off between the directives poses an important task for the future.     

淮河流域水污染防治的框架研究

1994年淮河流域发生特大水污染事件引起了各方面的极大关注。笔者介绍了淮河流域水污染的背景;指出了治理淮河流域水污染的总体框架及各组成部分之间的关系;分析了淮河流域环境问题识别评估的主要结论;归纳了强化管理能力建设,制订实施细则,调整和建设排污收费和监测系统,以及治理工程项目的研究内容。      

Freshwater systems and ecosystem services: Challenges and chances for cross-fertilization of disciplines

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world, while providing numerous essential ecosystem services (ES) to humans. Despite their importance, research on freshwater ecosystem services is limited. Here, we examine how freshwater studies could help to advance ES research and vice versa. We summarize major knowledge gaps and suggest solutions focusing on science and policy in Europe. We found several features that are unique to freshwater ecosystems, but often disregarded in ES assessments. Insufficient transfer of knowledge towards stakeholders is also problematic. Knowledge transfer and implementation seems to be less effective towards South-east Europe. Focusing on the strengths of freshwater research regarding connectivity, across borders, involving multiple actors can help to improve ES research towards a more dynamic, landscape-level approach, which we believe can boost the implementation of the ES concept in freshwater policies. Bridging these gaps can contribute to achieve the ambitious targets of the EU’s Green Deal.     

Using diatoms to assess the impacts of prehistoric, pre-industrial and modern land-use on Danish lakes

The impact of contemporary agriculture on Danish lakes is acknowledged to be extreme. In particular, high loading of nutrients from agricultural soils contributes to the eutrophic conditions found in many of Denmark’s lakes. Palaeolimnological studies have shown that human disturbance of the Danish landscape since the introduction of agriculture around 6,000 years ago has had a major impact on lake ecosystems. The European Union’s Water Framework Directive requires an evaluation of reference conditions for lakes, the conditions expected with only minimal human impact. Monitoring data and palaeolimnological studies of Danish lakes demonstrate that many of the most detrimental effects of eutrophication have been experienced in recent decades. A new study has suggested that the reference status for Danish lakes may be set to the status in ad 1850–1900, probably providing attainable, realistic restoration targets for many sites. The aims of this study were to explore the impacts of past and contemporary land-use on Danish lakes, and to consider how appropriate the use of 1850 as a date to define reference status is for these sites. Catchment land-cover data for ad 1800, taken from historical maps, and sedimentary diatom assemblages of the same age, from dated sediment cores, were used to assess the impact of pre-industrial land-use on 20 Danish lakes. Analysis of contemporary land-cover data and surface-sediment diatom assemblages for the 20 sites was also made. In-lake total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were estimated using the sedimentary diatom assemblages and an existing calibration dataset for Danish lakes. The percentage of the lake catchment that was agricultural land in ad 1800 explained 8.8% of the total variation in the diatom data. The land-cover variables ‘built-up areas’ and ‘plantations’, together explained 16.9% of the variation in the diatom data for the modern samples. Diatom-inferred TP concentrations were high for both ad 1800 (mean 112 μg TP L⁻¹) and the present (mean 122 μg TP L⁻¹), the latter estimates reflecting efforts in recent decades to reduce nutrient loading to Danish lakes following very high levels of nutrient enrichment post-1950. The data presented highlight the impact that human activities 200 years ago, particularly agriculture, had on Danish lake systems. The long cultural history and major anthropogenic disturbance of the Danish landscape mean that true reference conditions for lakes (or ‘baseline’ conditions, those found prior to human impacts) can be found only by considering century to millennial timescales.     

关于石油管道企业HSE管理体系、环境管理体系和职业安全健康管理体系的整合探讨和建议

石油管道企业已经建立了HSE管理体系。为了提高企业的管理水平 ,适应企业的发展和参与国际石油管道建设市场的竞争 ,在近几年内 ,石油管道企业计划建立ISO140 0 0和职业安全健康管理体系。为了提高企业管理效率 ,便于 3个体系的运行和操作 ,笔者提出了企业在建立体系中将EMS、HSEMS、OSHMS整合的思路 ,并对整合的可能性作了探讨 ,提出了体系整合后的基本框架。     

Adapting regional eutrophication targets for surface waters—influence of the EU Water Framework Directive, national policy and climate change

Large amounts of waterborne nutrients are major problems for society since they can cause harmful algal blooms in surface water bodies. Consequently, there are a variety of national and international guidelines, e.g. Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives and the EU Water Framework Directive, which include targets to be achieved within a certain time frame. This paper uses the example of a large Swedish lake to show that national and international targets must be adapted to the local situations. Despite decreasing nutrient concentrations, cyanobacterial blooms in the lake have increased over recent years. We found that these blooms coincide with depleted nitrate–nitrogen concentrations and increased water temperatures. We propose a simple model with water temperature, nitrate–nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations as input variables as a basis for formulation of regional eutrophication targets. Political decisions should be preceded by open discussion between policymakers and scientists to differentiate between real knowledge, assumptions or feelings. For optimal results, recommendations for reducing nutrient load should consider all sources, including urban stormwater and wastewater from rural houses, and should be founded on a balanced reduction in emissions of algae-available nutrients. In addition, climate change calls for more effective environmental policy to protect surface water resources.     

A decision support system for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in the Netherlands: Process,validity and useful information

This paper discusses the development and use of the first version of the WFD Explorer (WFDE), a decision support system (DSS) for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in the Netherlands. The paper's aim is to increase our understanding of the development process of DSSs and the impact the development process has on the perceived validity and usefulness of the DSS. In other words, whether the DSS is seen as representing reality correctly and as fit for purpose and user-friendly. Contrary to the expectations, the WFDE was not used much. Tensions in the development process over the intended users, the level of analysis, the level of ambition and the type of expertise to be included have contributed to doubts over its usefulness and validity. These tensions reflect general tensions in river basin management: different actors will prefer different approaches, and none of these is objectively the best. Whereas guidelines for the development of DSSs can increase awareness of these tensions, resolving these tensions is beyond the power of the developers to control. Guidelines have their use, but also their limitations, simply because they are general and circumstances differ from case to case.     

Did you say reference conditions? Ecological and socio-economic perspectives on the European Water Framework Directive

Reference conditions are a key concept in the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). The WFD stipulates that the ecological status of a given water body shall be assessed by quantifying the deviation from a set of reference conditions that represent the stable state of an ecosystem in the absence of significant human disturbance. This concept is subject to criticism from several authors, particularly because underlying ecological concepts are weak and the distinction between natural variability and the effects of anthropogenic activities on ecosystem function will become increasingly artificial. In this paper, a sociologist and an aquatic ecologist examine the origin, successes and limits of the reference conditions concept and raise important questions about applying this concept in practice. We argue that this concept fitted specific needs from different institutions and stakeholders which promoted the WFD. Monitoring practices using this concept require some adaptations. Setting goals for restoration based on reference conditions is more problematic. A more adaptive management approach would be wiser.