A COST‐BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION IN THE CATAWBA BASIN1

ABSTRACT: The primary objective of this study was to perform a cost‐benefit analysis of maintaining the current level of water quality in the Catawba River basin. Economic benefits were estimated using a stated preference survey method designed to value respondents' willingness to pay for a management plan to protect water quality in the Catawba basin over time. From the surveys conducted with 1,085 area residents, we calculated an annual mean willingness to pay of $139 for the management plan, or more than $75.4 million for all taxpayers in the area. Over the five‐year time horizon in which respondents were asked to pay for the management plan, this resulted in a total economic benefit of $340.1 million. The Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework model was used to estimate the amount of management activities needed to protect the current level of water quality in the basin over time. Based on the model results, the total cost of the management plan was calculated to be $244.8 million over a ten‐year period. The resulting cost‐benefit analysis indicated that the potential benefits of this management plan would outweigh the costs by more than $95 million.     

Effect of ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nicotine on the structure of Aβ42 protein

● B[a]P, nicotine and phenanthrene molecules altered the secondary structure of Aβ₄₂. ● β-content of the peptide was significantly enhanced in the presence of the PAHs. ● Nicotine made stable cluster with Aβ₄₂ peptide via hydrogen bonds. ● Phenanthrene due to its small size, interfered with the Aβ₄₂ monomer more strongly. Recent studies have correlated the chronic impact of ambient environmental pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, either by using statistical data from various cities, or via tracking biomarkers during in-vivo experiments. Among different neurodegenerative disorders, PAHs are known to cause increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, related to the development of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide oligomers. However, the complex molecular interactions between peptide monomers and organic pollutants remains obscured. In this work, we performed an atomistic molecular dynamics study via GROMACS to investigate the structure of Aβ₄₂ peptide monomer in the presence of benzo[a]pyrene, nicotine, and phenanthrene. Interestingly the results revealed strong hydrophobic, and hydrogen-bond based interactions between Aβ peptides and these environmental pollutants that resulted in the formation of stable intermolecular clusters. The strong interactions affected the secondary structure of the Aβ₄₂ peptide in the presence of the organic pollutants, with almost 50 % decrease in the α-helix and 2 %–10 % increase in the β-sheets of the peptide. Overall, the undergoing changes in the secondary structure of the peptide monomer in the presence of the pollutants under the study indicates an enhanced formation of Aβ peptide oligomers, and consequent progression of Alzheimer’s disease.     

The relevance of James Lovelock’s research and philosophy to environmental science and academia

James E. Lovelock, famed for his Gaia hypothesis, which views the Earth as a living integrated and interconnected self-regulating system whose equilibrium comes about from complex energy-based interactions and feedback loops, ultimately sustaining life, passed away at the end of July, 2022 at the age of 103. Not only are the adaptive mechanisms of Gaia central to the conversation of environmental homeostasis, they lie at the heart of climate change and global warming. Lovelock is also remembered as the co-inventor of the electron capture detector that eventually allowed for the sensitive detection of chlorofluorocarbons and pesticides. Finally, Lovelock’s free-spirited nature and research independence allow academia to rethink current research’s modus operandi.     

环境DNA技术在环境监测与动物生产管理中的应用进展

概述了环境DNA技术目前的研究方向和分析原理,介绍了该技术在水生、土壤和植物生态系统中的应用进展,以及在监测畜舍环境、促进畜禽粪污无害化处理、检测动物营养与健康状况、调查动物群体遗传多样性、监测和预防畜禽疾病等动物生产管理中的应用前景。分析了环境DNA技术的优势与局限,并在此基础上提出了建立标准操作流程、提高检测精确度、积极推广应用环境DNA技术等建议。     

基于指标规范值的地表水水质的模糊综合评价

传统的模糊综合评价法用于地表水水质评价,当指标数较多时需要设计很多隶属函数,设计和计算工作量皆很大,实际使用不便。在设定指标参照值和规范变换式基础上,将指标按各级标准规范值相近程度进行适当分类,只需分类设计隶属函数即可,大幅减少了计算工作量,使模糊综合评价法应用于地表水水质评价变得简化。     

环境监测现代化建设体系中的实验室管理

阐述了重点实验室建设的主要目标,以及重点实验室的主要研究内容和发展方向,提出对重点实验室实行开放运行的管理机制,规范管理制度,争取重大科研项目,注重人才培养,加强国际合作与交流,加强质量控制和质量管理,坚持持续改进。     

环境经济学在中国的发展

本文讨论了环境经济学在中国的发展过程,并对新时期环境经济学面临的理论和现实问题进行了展望。在新的时期,环境经济学应更加注重以环境问题表现的社会利益结构和利益均衡的实证分析,并对满足可持续发展要求的宏观经济政策变革和微观环境管理提供理论支持。     

上、下悬窗阻风能力对比研究

环境风会改变排烟窗附近的烟气流向和速度,影响建筑内烟气流动,进而导致建筑自然排烟效率受到影响。采用数值模拟方法,对比研究了排烟窗开启角度和环境风对上、下悬窗阻风能力的影响,分析了不同开窗角度下,悬窗进风量和进风区域随开窗角度和风速的变化规律。结果表明:上、下悬窗相对进风量与开窗角度均成指数关系,但上悬窗阻风能力弱于下悬窗,上悬窗开窗角度大于45°后即失去阻风能力,而下悬窗开窗角度大于75°后才逐渐失去阻风能力,且开窗角度小于30°时,下悬窗至少能比上悬窗多减少50%空气进入室内。上悬窗开窗角度小于56°时,主要进风区域为近窗下侧水平区域;下悬窗开窗角度小于30°时,主要进风区域为窗体两侧及远窗下侧竖直区域,随着开窗角度增大,上、下悬窗主要进风区域均过渡到远窗下侧竖直区域。窗体用于日常通风时建议优选上悬窗。若要用于排烟,则应首选下悬窗,开窗角度15°即可满足阻风要求,若选用上悬窗,开窗角度不宜大于45°。     

基于经济学视角的职业健康规制问题研究

用经济学分析工具对现有的职业健康规制进行探讨,研究规制机构、企业和劳动者三方行为主体的博弈,通过分析存在的问题,提出解决职业健康规制的对策。在理顺职业健康规制体制,健全机构的同时不断完善法规体系。同时,加强对劳动者职业健康的保障,完善第三方介入机制,并且加大对违规企业的处罚力度,提高对劳动者的赔偿。不断强化企业作为职业健康责任主体的意识,推进职业危害防治技术创新,培养"以人为本"的职业健康安全文化观念。     

环境污染事故应急监测装备的配置思路

分析了应急监测装备的配置形势,提出了应急监测装备的配置思想和配置原则,剖析了配置的关键点在于实现快速响应功能,准确、快速监测数据获取功能,快速解析、准确判断污染趋势功能,图像和声讯实时双向传输功能,以及安全保障和防护功能.