Metals pollution and human bioaccessibility of topsoils in Grugliasco (Italy)

Polluted soils can present a significant health risk especially in an urban environment. Most current legislation and health risk frameworks are based on pseudototal metal content. However, only a fraction of these concentrations is available for plant and human uptake. The aim of this work was to study the diffuse metal contamination in the soils of a municipality in Northern Italy in terms of: (i) metal availability, and (ii) metal accessibility to the human body and its relationship to soil properties, considering lead, copper, zinc, nickel, and chromium. Soil metal content was measured simulating availability conditions. Human bioaccessibility was derived from a modified physiologically-based extraction test. The human bioaccessible content was then estimated taking into account the relationships between pseudototal content and selected soil parameters. For the case study, the prediction of human bioaccessibility based on pseudototal content, organic matter and soil texture produced statistically significant models, with r² = 0.60 for Cu, r² = 0.53 for Pb and r² = 0.42 for Zn.     

Modelling remediation options for urban contamination situations

The impact on a population from an event resulting in dispersal and deposition of radionuclides in an urban area could be significant, in terms of both the number of people affected and the economic costs of recovery. The use of computer models for assessment of urban contamination situations and remedial options enables the evaluation of a variety of situations or alternative recovery strategies in contexts of preparedness or decision-making. At present a number of models and modelling approaches are available for different purposes. This paper summarizes the available modelling approaches, approaches for modelling countermeasure effectiveness, and current sources of information on parameters related to countermeasure effectiveness. Countermeasure information must be applied with careful thought as to its applicability for the specific situation being modelled. Much of the current information base comes from the Chernobyl experience and would not be applicable for all types of situations.     

Painted surfaces--important sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination to the urban and marine environment

A study of a large number of samples of flaking old paint from various buildings in Bergen, Norway (N = 68) suggests that paint may be the most important contemporary source of PCBs in this urban environment with concentrations of PCB₇ up to 3.39 g/kg. Twenty-three of the samples were collected from a single building, and the concentrations were found to vary over 3 orders of magnitude. In addition, 16 concrete samples from a large bridge previously coated with PCB-containing paint were collected and separated into outer- and inner samples indicating that PCBs are still present in high concentrations subsequent to renovation. PCBs were found in several categories of paint from wooden and concrete buildings, potentially introduced to the environment by natural weathering, renovation, and volatilization. Consequently, this dispersion may lead to increased levels of PCBs in urban atmospheres, soils, and harbor sediments where high concentrations have resulted in Governmental advice against consumption of certain seafood.     

An integrated tool to assess the role of new planting in PM10 capture and the human health benefits: A case study in London

The role of vegetation in mitigating the effects of PM₁₀ pollution has been highlighted as one potential benefit of urban greenspace. An integrated modelling approach is presented which utilises air dispersion (ADMS-Urban) and particulate interception (UFORE) to predict the PM₁₀ concentrations both before and after greenspace establishment, using a 10 × 10 km area of East London Green Grid (ELGG) as a case study. The corresponding health benefits, in terms of premature mortality and respiratory hospital admissions, as a result of the reduced exposure of the local population are also modelled. PM₁₀ capture from the scenario comprising 75% grassland, 20% sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and 5% Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) was estimated to be 90.41 t yr⁻¹, equating to 0.009 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ over the whole study area. The human health modelling estimated that 2 deaths and 2 hospital admissions would be averted per year.     

Historical record of black carbon in urban soils and its environmental implications

Energy use in urbanization has fundamentally changed the pattern and fluxes of carbon cycling, which has global and local environmental impacts. Here we have investigated organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) in six soil profiles from two contrast zones in an ancient city (Nanjing) in China. BC in soils was widely variable, from 0.22 to 32.19 g kg⁻¹. Its average concentration in an ancient residential area (Zone 1) was, 0.91 g kg⁻¹, whereas in Zone 2, an industrial and commercial area, the figure was 8.62 g kg⁻¹. The ratio of BC/OC ranged from 0.06 to 1.29 in soil profiles, with an average of 0.29. The vertical distribution of BC in soil is suggested to reflect the history of BC formation from burning of biomass and/or fossil fuel. BC in the surface layer of soils was mainly from traffic emission (especially from diesel vehicles). In contrast, in cultural layers BC was formed from historical coal use. The contents of BC and the ratio of BC/OC may reflect different human activities and pollution sources in the contrasting urban zones. In addition, the significant correlation of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) with BC contents in some culture layers suggests the sorption of the metals by BC or their coexistence resulted from the coal-involved smelting.     

Valuation of open space and conservation features in residential subdivisions

Conservation subdivision design has been promoted as a way to protect ecologically sensitive areas while maintaining housing densities comparable to standard subdivisions, but many developers and planners question the appeal of conservation design to consumers. This study was conducted to compare economic aspects of conservation subdivision design to standard subdivision design in the midwestern United States. Three methods were used to determine the value homebuyers have for embedded conservation features in residential areas: transactional analyses (to indicate the value homebuyers have expressed for such features in the past); hedonic analyses (to determine the proportion of present value of homes attributable to such features); and contingent valuation (to examine willingness to pay according to homebuyers' preferred features, an indicator of potential future investment). Transactional analyses were based on assessment and transaction data for homes in three conservation-oriented subdivisions and three standard subdivisions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. Hedonic price models were also derived from assessment and transaction data. Contingent valuation analyses were based on a survey of residents in the same six subdivisions. Transactional data indicated higher 5-year appreciation rates for conservation versus standard subdivision design. Hedonic price models revealed that well-integrated conservation features (e.g. protected stream corridors) within subdivisions have a positive effect on home prices. Sixty-six percent of all respondents indicated willingness to pay for more embedded open space. Maximum willingness to pay was related to several factors including income, gender, desired level of open space, and concern about urban development. Overall, these results indicate that consumer demand and willingness to pay for conservation subdivision design are positive and should not be considered a barrier to implementation.     

Accumulation of Cs in puddle sediments within urban ecosystem

The role of puddle sediments as a final depot of ¹³⁷Cs horizontal migration within the urban landscape is studied using the example of Ekaterinburg city, Russia. Radioactive contamination in the city appeared due to fallout after atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and nuclear accidents. Contamination density of ¹³⁷Cs in the region was assessed from archive data to be about 5.1 kBq/m², of which the maximum activity concentration (<30 Bq/kg) is associated with the upper 15 cm soil layer. Results of the survey reported here indicate a mean ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in puddle sediments of 80 Bq/kg, with a maximum value of 540 Bq/kg. It is estimated that horizontal migration has led to about a fourfold concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in puddle sediments.     

皖江城市带温泉旅游地定量评价及开发策略

运用专家咨询法,从温泉资源质量、市场区位条件、区域支持条件3个方面构建了涵盖13个评价因子的温泉型旅游地开发评价指标体系。为最大限度降低评价的主观性,将评价因子分为数值型和模糊型两种,综合运用菲什拜因 罗森伯格模型和模糊数学模型,在深入调研皖江城市带各温泉旅游地并掌握相关数据的基础上,从市域层面对皖江城市带6个地区的温泉旅游开发条件进行了量化评价。结果显示: 合肥、马鞍山开发条件最优,其温泉旅游资源与市场区位及区域支持条件匹配良好;安庆、六安次之,宣城、池州较差。最后结合评价结论,先从文化和竞合2个方面提出皖江城市带温泉旅游地整体开发和提升的策略,再针对得分不同地区的开发现状和所处阶段,分别提出“共生模式”和“提升模式”两大对策     

近百年重庆主城区汛期降水及其集中期的变化特征

利用一种改进的定义汛期降水集中期的方法对重庆主城区近百余年汛期降水集中期进行了划分,并分析了集中期的重心日、雨量及其与汛期降水总量的关系。结果表明：近百余年重庆主城区汛期降水量线性变化趋势不明显,阶段变化显著。百余年来发生过两次突变,分别发生于1914年和1925年,分别突变为增加和减少趋势。3 a左右的周期为汛期降水的主要周期。6月为降水集中期重心日发生最多的月份,8月出现相对较少,4月上半月和10月均没有出现过。近百余年重庆主城区降水集中期雨量及其占汛期降水总量的比例表现为线性增加的趋势,它们的阶段性变化比较一致,尤其是21世纪以来近10 a显著偏多。集中期雨量与汛期降水之间存在很好的相关关系,但是在某些特殊年份上也存在差异。15 d滑动统计方法划分的集中期雨量作为一种极端气候事件,具有较强描述灾害事件的能力,但其极端特殊性可能会表现在某些特殊年份或年际间的变化中,充分认识其规律,能为诊断和预测业务提供更为可靠的参考依据     

皖江城市群旅游经济空间联系格局

在皖江城市群作为承接长三角产业转移示范区背景下及区域交通网络化、区域旅游一体化发展的新形式下,对皖江城市群旅游经济联系和影响范围研究就显得必要。以该地区10城市的旅游经济联系为主线,以界定旅游中心节点、测算旅游经济联系量和场强模型为手段,构建皖江城市群旅游圈。研究表明：以合肥和芜湖为双核的皖江城市群大旅游圈,其内部分为3个次旅游经济圈,北部以合肥为中心,包括六安区域、滁州和含巢湖整个水面的大部分区域的合肥旅游圈;西南以安庆为中心、池州为副中心,含铜陵一部分地区的安庆旅游圈;东南以芜湖为中心、宣城为副中心,包括马鞍山和部分巢湖区域、部分铜陵区域的芜湖旅游圈。最后提出了3个旅游经济圈发展的旅游规划建议