Charity hazard—A real hazard to natural disaster insurance?

After the flooding in 2002 European governments provided billions of Euros of financial assistance to their citizens. Although there is no doubt that solidarity and some sort of assistance are reasonable, the question arises why these damages were not sufficiently insured. One explanation why individuals reject to obtain insurance cover against natural hazards is that they anticipate governmental and private aid. This problem became to be known as “charity hazard”. The present paper gives an economic analysis of the institutional arrangements on the market for natural disaster insurances focusing on imperfections caused by governmental financial relief. It provides a theoretical explanation why charity hazard is a problem on the market for natural disaster insurances, in the way that it acts as an obstacle for the proper diffusion and therefore the establishment of natural hazard insurances. This paper provides a review of the scientific discussion on charity hazard, provides a theoretical analysis and points out the existing empirical problems regarding this issue.     

Status of recycling end-of-life vehicles and efforts to reduce automobile shredder residues in Korea

The present end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycle rate and management status during the dismantling stage were investigated to aid the establishment of policies for the management of ELVs by surveying information and using the results gained from questionnaires given to dismantlers. The average recycle rate at the dismantling stage was 44% of the mass of a new vehicle and the rest of the ELV was then compressed and transported to shredding companies to recover mainly the iron content, which averaged 38.7% of the mass of a new vehicle. Nonferrous metals such as copper, antimony, zinc, and aluminum accounted for only 1.5%. The automobile shredder residues (ASRs) were composed of light and heavy fluffs and soil/dust and amounted to 15.8% based on the mass of a new vehicle. The dumping of fluff and inorganic residues in landfill sites, however, will be restricted when new regulations are implemented to reduce the disposal amount to less than 5% of a new car, as has been done in European countries and in Japan. The detailed characteristics of ASR were investigated to suggest appropriate means of treatment such as volume reduction or the utilization of thermal technologies to meet future expected enforcement. Also, some concerns on hazardous pollutant release such as that of dioxins while utilizing such thermal treatment methods were considered. The present on-going research and development projects to meet such future management targets are also introduced.     

Effect of Recycling on Material Properties of Glass-filled Polyethylene Terephthalate

Recycled plastics are considered low performance materials because their properties are expected to decrease drastically with recycling. The objective of this study was to characterize a 15 wt.% glass filled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET-15GF) using six recycle generations and four recycle ratios. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elastic modulus, and percent elongation to failure of the PET composite were determined for various recycle generations and recycle ratios. Results show that the mechanical properties of rPET-15GF decrease slightly per recycle generation. In contrast, thermal properties of rPET-15GF were not at all affected by the recycling process. This data demonstrates that recycled glass filled PET can be used effectively to fabricate components without significantly affecting their mechanical performance.     

苯法马来酸酐生产危险分析及安全控制技术

马来酸酐作为一种重要的有机化工原料和精细化工产品,其安全生产具有一定的典型性.对马来酸酐生产过程中的介质危险、过程危险及装置危险进行了分析,提出了马来酸酐装置安全控制技术措施.     

改进的灰色关联分析在滑坡危险性评价中的应用——以广东省滑坡危险性评价为例

利用改进的灰色关联分析方法,采用“中心化”无量纲的处理方法,对广东滑坡灾害危险性的影响因素进行灰色关联度分析。通过地形地貌条件、地层岩性特征、地质构造特征、岩土体结构特性、水文地质条件、植被覆盖率、降雨分布、地震、人类经济工程活动等9个评价因素与滑坡危险性的关联度计算,得出各影响因素与滑坡危险性评价的关系,具有一定的客观性、科学性和合理性。     

泥石流体的流变和冲淤特征及其与危险度的关系

从泥石流体流变特性的分析入手,深入地探讨了蒋家沟泥石流阵性流的淤积和冲刷特征。其冲淤变化特征与泥石流体的浓度特性和规模大小的发展过程有很大的关系。根据这些分析,可以将泥石流的危害划分为侵蚀和堆积两大类,并可能进一步完善泥石流危险度的评估。     

宁波市水旱灾害孕灾环境因子分析

分析了宁波市水旱灾害形成的主要因子,认为水旱灾害是在天气气候因子、地貌因子、水文因子、土壤植被因子、社会经济因子、防洪抗旱能力因子等自然因素和人为因素的共同作用下产生和发展的。水旱灾害的形成,自然条件固然重要,但形成严重灾害,则与人为因素有密切的关系。     

长白山天池火山的研究现状与展望

较详细地介绍了近年来长白山天池火山喷发历史、火山形成机制、火山系统的探测和火山灾害的研究现状，指出了当前研究中存在的一些主要问题。建议今后应加强火山活动历史研究；探测岩浆作用及其动态变化，限定火山失稳条件；研究岩浆作用和火山触发机制；开展火山作用的试验模拟和火山灾害区划的定量模拟研究；建立火山灾害预警系统，制定火山灾害应急预案，以达到减轻火山灾害的目的。     

一氯二乙基铝装置危险源辨识及预防措施

一氯二乙基铝装置为甲类火灾危险装置。通过对一氯二乙基铝装置工艺流程及各单元工艺特点的详细分析,危险源的辨识从物料危险性、工艺过程危险性、工艺操作危险性等角度展开,从而确定出该装置的重大风险因素。在对一氯二乙基铝装置危险源辨识和分析的基础上,对各工艺单元提出相应的控制措施,预防事故发生。     

浅析国内外重大危险源辨识中危险物质临界量的差异

通过分析国内外重大危险源辨识标准中危险物质临界量的差异,以汽油和液化石油气为例,分别选择池火灾和沸腾液体扩展蒸气云爆炸模型计算事故后果,并结合我国企业的安全管理状况,说明了修改我国《重大危险源辨识》中危险物质临界量的必要性。