Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Precautionary Science and Conflicts of Interests

Risk governance of GM plants and GMfood products is presently subject to heatedscientific and public controversies. Scientistsand representatives of the biotechnologyindustry have dominated debates concerningsafety issues. The public is suspicious withregard to the motives of scientists, companies,and political institutions involved. Thedilemmas posed are nested, embracing valuequestions, scientific uncertainty, andcontextual issues. The obvious lack of data andinsufficient information concerning ecologicaleffects call for application of thePrecautionary Principle (PP). There are,however, divergent opinions among scientistsabout the relevance of putative hazards,definition of potential ``adverse effects,' andwhether actions should be taken to preventharm. The reliance on the concept ofsubstantial equivalence in safety evaluation ofGM food is equally controversial. Consequently,value assumptions embedded in a scientificframework may be a barrier for employment ofthe PP. One of our major conclusions is thatprecautionary GMP usage requires riskassessment criteria yet undeveloped, as well asbroader and more long-term conceptions of risk,uncertainty, and ignorance. Conflicts ofinterest and public participation are otherissues that need to be taken intoconsideration. GMP governance regimes that arejustifiable from a precautionary and ethicalpoint of view must transcend traditionalscientific boundaries to include alternativescientific perspectives as well as publicinvolvement.     

Possible Utilization of Silica Gel Sludge for the Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Solutions: Laboratory Studies

This paper discusses the adsorption capacity of silica gel sludge for phenol removal from aqueous solution. Kinetic experiments showed that phenol adsorption was completed after 2 h. Adsorption isotherms were measured for phenol from aqueous solution onto silica gel sludge under various pHs and temperatures. Results showed that the adsorption capacities for phenol was increased as pH decreased from 6.5 to 2. Temperature also was found to affect the adsorption isotherm. As temperature increases from 30 to 50°C, the adsorption capacity increases. The adsorption equilibrium of phenol on silica gel sludge was described by the linear Freundlich and Langmuir models. Furthermore, results showed that the isotherm parameters fit both linearized Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The Freundlich and Langmuir parameters at optimum pH was found as K _f=2.89, 1/n=0.23 and K _d=22.0, q _m=7.98, respectively. Whereas, for those at optimum temperature it was observed as K _f=2.87, 1/n=0.16 and K _d=20.93, q _m=7.91, respectively.     

You Are What You Eat: Genetically Modified Foods, Integrity, and Society

Thus far, the moral debateconcerning genetically modified foods (GMF) hasfocused on extrinsic consequentialist questionsabout the health effects, environmental impacts,and economic benefits of such foods. Thisextrinsic approach to the morality of GMF isdependent on unsubstantiated empirical claimsand fails to account for the intrinsic moralvalue of food and food choice and theirconnection to the agent's concept of the goodlife. I develop a set of objections to GMFgrounded in the concept of integrity andmaintain that food and food choice can beintimately connected to the agent's personalintegrity. I argue that due to the constitutionof GMF and the manner in which they areproduced, such foods are incompatible with thefundamental values and integrity of certainindividual moral agents or groups. I identifythree types of integrity that are threatened byGMF: religious, consumer, and integrity basedon certain other moral or metaphysical grounds.I maintain that these types of integrity aresufficiently important to provide justificationfor political and societal actions to protectthe interests of those affected. I conclude byproposing specific steps for handling GMFconsistent with the moral principles ofinformed consent, non-maleficence, and respectfor the integrity of all members of society.They include mandatory labeling of GMF, theimplementation of a system for control andregulations concerning such foods, andguaranteed provision of conventional foods.     

论三峡库区城市污水、垃圾处理市场化

论述了用市场化模式解决三峡库区城市污水处理场和垃圾处理场的建设和运营问题，并提出了市场化的总体架构。     

青藏铁路的环境与安全

概述了青藏铁路线的环境特征，立足于青藏铁路及其周边环境构成一个相互影响的系统，重点分析了青藏高原环境对青藏铁路安全的危害和铁路建设与运营对环境构成的负面影响，并针对两个方面分别提出了相应的对策，对促进铁路安全保障和环境保护具有积极的意义。     

清洁生产技术在建筑陶瓷工业中的应用研究

清洁生产已成为当今的一种世界潮流，被公认为是实现社会可持续发展的唯一途径。本对建筑陶瓷生产比重较高的江西省高安市的建筑陶瓷业进行了一次全面的清洁生产调查，分析了建筑陶瓷传统的生产工艺流程及产品中存在的各种污染问题及环境问题，根据清洁生产的特征和实施原则，建筑陶瓷工业采用各种途径实施清洁生产，并取得了显成效。     

车用三效催化剂的研究进展

三效催化剂是机外治理机动车尾气污染最常采用的有效方法，车用三效催化剂已发展到第4代。目前车用三效催化剂的研究主要集中在：开发稀燃型三效催化剂和紧耦合三效催化剂及发展三效催化剂低温冷起燃技术等。国内应以稀土添加少量贵金属的三效催化剂为主要研究方向，开发适合我国现状的车用净化催化剂技术。     

运用“12345”安全文化系统工程追求长久的安全效应

通过安全生产的理论和实践活动相结合 ,笔者从一个行业出发 ,阐述了安全文化系统工程 ,概括、总结并创建了以“1个严为特征、2个抓为重点、3项工作为途径、4个规范为核心、5个开展为动力”的“12 345”安全文化系统工程 ,以系统思维、以人为本、科学管理的思想 ,论述了“12 345”安全文化系统工程的形成过程 ,为安全工作系统化、科学化、规范化和丰富安全文化的内容 ,追求长久的安全效应 ,提供了新的思路和方法。     

商厦火灾危险性评价研究

商厦火灾是火灾中危害性较大的灾害之一，常常造成人员的大量伤亡和巨大的财产损失。商厦火灾危险性评价是一个减少火灾危险性的可行方法。在基于影响商厦火灾危险性因素之上，讨论了评价指标体系的建立及量化和权重的处理方法，然后应用模糊数学理论建立了评价商厦火灾的模糊评价模型，对商厦火灾的预防与商厦消防管理具有指导意义。