Exposure and Health Effects of Cadmium

The results of a study of photocatalytic degradation of phenol using aqueous oxygenated TiO₂ (anatase) suspensions in a batch Pyrex photoreactor are reported. The influence on the photodegradation rate of various parameters as pH, phenol and TiO₂ content, oxygen partial pressure, anions present in the dispersions was investigated. A complete oxidation of phenol was observed. Intermediate compounds, catechol and quinone, were detected. It was observed that the photodegradation also proceeded with sunlight radiation. A mechanistic and kinetic model, which accounts for the results obtained, is given. Likely reasons for inactivity of the rutile modification for this reaction are also given.     

Speciation and carcinogenic classification—some limits of assessment and prevention procedures—the case of “nickel”

The speciation of nickel is of the highest importance for the definition of lists of substances for regulatory activity in terms of prevention, regarding possible cancer risk. A review is made of the different attitudes of outstanding administrations in front of nickel speciation. Some of them show a maximum of care in chemical definition, others reflect a lack of scientific rigor leading to generic classifications, more or less abusive. The great complexity of the chemistry and physicochemistry of nickel imposes the “two‐level speciation concept” (chemical and physicochemical), at least for compliance with the “Good Laboratory Practice” as far as experimental toxicology is concerned. Recommendations are exposed for the attention of toxicologists and regulators who have been for some years now extremely solicited for prevention aims.     

Ecoregions and ecosystem management in China

Ecological regionalization is a base for rational management and sustainable utilization of ecosystems and natural resources. It can provide a scientific basis for constructing healthy ecological environments and making policies of environmental management. In this paper, based on synthetic analysis of the characteristics of the ecology and environments of China, the principles of ecological regionalization are discussed, and indices and nomenclature of ecological regionalization are proposed. The ecoregions on a national scale are divided. The results show that there are 3 domains, 13 ecoregions and 57 ecodistricts. The present scheme can be used as a framework for ecosystem assessment and management. Based on the ecoregions, measurements of management for forest, grassland, agriculture and wetland ecosystems are recommended. The experience and information can be used within and beyond the national scale for land-use planning, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.     

Roles of digital technology in China's sustainable forestry development

China has the fifth largest forest area in the world and any change in China's forestry development will have inevitable impacts on global ecological sustainability. China has undergone excessive logging of natural forests and also made tremendous efforts in afforestation during the past half century. China's forestry is now going through a variety of transitions and several forestry programs have been implemented to drive forestry transitions. The goal of these actions is to protect ecological services of forests and sustain China's forestry development. These forestry programs are spatially sophisticated and cannot be successfully implemented without accurate and transparent forest/forestry information. A variety of digital technologies, including forest modeling, remote sensing, geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and visualization, have been applied in handling diverse information in China's forestry. Digital forestry is not just a theoretical concept in China. Our digital forestry experience in northeast China suggests that digital technology is both usable and useful in China's forestry development. Digital technology is playing an important interactive role in China's top-down forestry administration system. The analog-to-digital transition in technology is expected to lead to the success of forestry programs and forestry transitions in China.     

生活垃圾强制分类形势下的多源废荧光灯管回收管理机制建议

废荧光灯管的来源广泛,包括工业来源和社会来源,社会来源又包括居民来源,企业事业单位、公共场所等机构来源,具有多来源的特性。废荧光灯管中含有汞,若不经过妥善处理,会造成环境污染,对人的身体健康造成危害。随着国内生活垃圾分类的开展,废荧光灯管作为生活垃圾中有害垃圾的典型类别被强制分类,但仍存在很多问题。本文梳理了我国废荧光灯管的产生情况、LED灯替代情况,并对美国、欧盟、日本和我国国内典型城市的废荧光管理情况进行了总结。针对我国废荧光灯管的回收现状,从责任主体、责任划分、收集渠道、资金机制等角度提出了相关的管理建议,为推动我国废荧光灯管的管理提供借鉴。     

个人护理用品(PCPs)的生态毒性和处理工艺效果研究进展

个人护理用品的大量使用导致其生产量和排放量也日渐增加,会不可避免地进入环境,对生态环境和人体健康产生影响。本文归纳整理了个人护理用品的分类,总结了其中代表化合物对水生生物的生态毒性研究现状,分析比较了主要废水处理工艺技术对个人护理用品的去除效果,为今后对这类物质的生态毒性和处理工艺研究提供参考。     

Accounting for monogastric livestock as a driver in global land use and cover change assessments

Land systems are described based on various characteristics, including land cover composition and agricultural production. However, it is uncertain to what extent livestock, particularly monogastric livestock, determines land systems. We included monogastrics in a land system classification, and statistically analyzed the land cover composition and agricultural production of otherwise similar land systems with and without monogastric livestock. The results indicate that land systems with monogastrics are statistically different from their counterparts in the classification without monogastrics in terms of grassland area and crop yields, but are less different in terms of tree area, crop area, and ruminant livestock production. We then used a land systems map that includes monogastrics in the classification and a similar map that does not include monogastrics to project future changes in a novel manner that integrates livestock as a determinant of land systems. The results show that including monogastrics in otherwise similar projections yields less cropland intensification and more cropland expansion in several world regions, including Northern Africa and the Middle East. Other regions, such as Europe and Australia, were characterized by less decrease or more increase in tree area in the application with monogastrics, mainly due to the occurrence of open forests with monogastrics. This study prompts a call for improved characterization of land systems for land use and cover change (LUCC) assessments in order to better represent LUCC driven by monogastric livestock.     

海域有机污染物优先排序和风险分类模糊评判系统

本文提出了对区域性有机污染物优先排序和风险分类和定量评判系统：模糊评判系统。该评判系统以反映污染物的毒性，暴露水平和环境化学性质的７项碜数为指标，通过指标参数的标准化及模糊运算，获得有机污染优先排序和风险分类的定量结果。     

海水水质评价的倍斜率隶属函数聚类法

建立了宽域式倍斜率聚类的海水水质评价模式，其函数的右侧斜度为左侧斜率的２倍，勿求权重，直接聚类，海水水质评价实例说明，本文模糊综合评判法和灰色聚类法和更为合理，实用。     

家庭危险废物管理探讨

家庭产生的危险废物因产生量少、分布广泛、难以管理等原因,尚未纳入危险废物管理体系。家庭危险废物混同生活垃圾进行管理、处置,对地下水、大气、地表水、土壤产生污染。文章对美国及欧洲的家庭危险废物管理方法进行了系统分析,其管理措施为:在法律管理体系下,以分类收集为主,宣传教育为辅,采取无害化处置方式。我国目前对于家庭危险废物的管理尚处于起步阶段,相关的法律法规不健全,处理处置设施也不完善。文章基于对国外管理特点的分析,针对我国国情对家庭危险废物管理提出以下建议:建立相关的法律法规;进一步完善收集、运输和处置系统;通过教育宣传等方法提高全民对家庭危险废物的认识。