Cumulative effect assessment in Canada: a regional framework for aquatic ecosystems

Sustainable development of the aquatic environment depends upon routine and defensible cumulative effects assessment (CEA). CEA is the process of predicting the consequences of development relative to an assessment of existing environmental quality. Theoretically, it provides an on-going mechanism to evaluate if levels of development exceed the environment's assimilative capacity; i.e., its ability to sustain itself. In practice, the link between CEA and sustainable development has not been realized because CEA concepts and methods have developed along two dichotomous tracks. One track views CEA as an extension of the environmental assessment (EA) process for project developments. Under this track, stressor-based (S-B) methods have been developed where the emphasis is on local, project-related stressors, their link with aquatic indicators, and the potential for environmental effects through stressor-indicator interactions. S-B methods focus on the proposed development and prediction of project-related effects. They lack a mechanism to quantify existing aquatic quality especially at scales broader than an isolated development. This limitation results in the prediction of potential effects relative to a poorly defined baseline state. The other track views CEA as a broader, regional assessment tool where effects-based (E-B) methods specialize in quantification of existing aquatic effects over broad spatial scales. However, the predictive capabilities of E-B methods are limited because they are retrospective, i.e., the stressor causing the effect is identified after the effect has been measured. When used in isolation, S-B and E-B methods do not address CEA in the context necessary for sustainable development. However, if the strengths of these approaches were integrated into a holistic framework for CEA, an operational mechanism would exist to better monitor and assess sustainable development of our aquatic resources. This paper reviews the existing conceptual basis of CEA in Canada including existing methodologies, limitations and strengths. A conceptual framework for integrating project-based and regional-based CEA is presented.     

Can health feasibly be considered as part of the planning process in Scotland?

The planning system is significant because of its capacity to determine the quality of the built environment as well as the health, well-being and quality of life of the individuals and communities therein. Development planning is especially important because of the long-term impact of the decisions. This paper was developed in response to increasing recognition amongst HIA practitioners in Scotland of the importance of planning for health. It focuses on the relationship between the planning system in Scotland, specifically the Development Planning element of it, and population health and considers how the health impact assessment (HIA) approach can facilitate and support joint working with planners. In particular, consideration is given to the potential impact of the introduction of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on the linkages between health, HIA and planning.     

Equity-focused health impact assessment: A tool to assist policy makers in addressing health inequalities

In Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) the use of health impact assessment (HIA) as a tool for improved policy development is comparatively new. The public health workforce do not routinely assess the potential health and equity impacts of proposed policies or programs. The Australasian Collaboration for Health Equity Impact Assessment was funded to develop a strategic framework for equity-focused HIA (EFHIA) with the intent of strengthening the ways in which equity is addressed in each step of HIA. The collaboration developed a draft framework for EFHIA that mirrored, but modified the commonly accepted steps of HIA; tested the draft framework in six different health service delivery settings; analysed the feedback about application of the draft EFHIA framework and modified it accordingly. The strategic framework shows promise in providing a systematic process for identifying potential differential health impacts and assessing the extent to which these are avoidable and unfair. This paper presents the EFHIA framework and discusses some of the issues that arose in the case study sites undertaking equity-focused HIA.     

天然石材产品放射性水平及其防护管理

简介了我国天然石材产品中放射水平、分类控制使用的现状以及应用天然石材装饰室内所致辐射对人体健康产生的不良影响，提出了加强对天然石材产品使用过程中的监督、监测和管理的建议。     

苯胺类化合物含量对还原--偶氮光度法测定硝基苯的影响

通过将硝基苯和苯胺以不同比例混合制作标准曲线，讨论苯胺类化合物含量对还原－偶氮光度法测定硝基苯的影响。     

“入世”对我国环境监测工作的影响及对策初探

加入 WTO后 ,我国环境监测工作将面临重大的挑战和机遇 ,文章初步分析了入世对我国环境监测工作的正负面影响以及现存的若干问题 ,积极探索了环境监测工作的新战略和新思路 ,提出了创建新体制和适应新形势的对策。     

共振光散射技术在环境分析中的应用

共振光散射技术是一项在普通荧光分光光度计上进行测量的光散射技术,文章简要介绍了光散射现象,共振光散射的基本原理并作了定量基础讨论,对共振光散射技术在环境分析中的应用作了初步研究。     

悬浮物对三峡水库水质测定结果的影响

以长江寸滩断面和嘉陵江大溪沟断面水样为测定样品,探讨了悬浮物对三峡水库水质测定结果的影响,提出在三峡水库水质监测中,应对经0.45μm滤膜过滤的滤液进行指标测定,同时测定悬浮物含量,并对悬浮物进行组分分析;建议在地表水环境质量标准中,纳入悬浮物项目。     

地面水环境质量评价的有时序多目标决策方法

将有时序多目标决策方法应用于地面水环境质量优势的比较，介绍了决策方法的原理和评价步骤。实例分析表明该方法计算过程简便，分辨率高，排序结果与实际环境质量状况相符合。     

酸性法测定高锰酸盐指数加热时间的选择

酸性法测定高锰酸盐指数，会因实验条件的差异产生不同的结果。对不同加热时间，加热方式等因素进行了试验，结果表明加热时间以水浴加热沸腾３０ｍｉｎ或电炉直接加热８ｍｉｎ为宜。