Protection from psychosocial risks at work under the European Convention on Human Rights: is it possible?

This paper argues the possibility of establishing common principles of protection from psychosocial risks (PSR) on the basis of the legal positions of the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) expressed in recent cases on degrading treatment and occupational health. The author focuses on the positive obligations of the States to ensure the protection of the right for life and of the right to respect for private life. The prohibition of degrading treatment in relations between private persons is also considered as relevant to the issue of the protection from PSR. Analyzing the Court's case law (judgments of the Court) we substantiate the possibility of claiming protection from PSR under the European Convention on Human Rights, namely, articles 2, 3 and 6, 8.     

呼吸器标准中的泄漏率与实验室呼吸防护水平

结合国内外呼吸器最新标准中有关泄漏率与实验室呼吸防护水平的测试条件和方法,从基本概念和评价方法入手对比剖析了不同标准之间内容的差异.文中涉及的国内外标准主要有美国职业安全与健康研究所指定的系列化生放核呼吸器标准、欧洲EN 13274 - 1:2001、日本JIST8159:2006、中国GB 2626 - 2006和GB 2890 - 2009以及ISO/DIN 16900-1.2草案.通过对比分析不同标准之间在评价方法中采用的气溶胶种类、受试者人数、模拟动作种类及持续时间、采样方法、测试结果评价方法等具体内容,指出了我国呼吸器标准中泄漏率测试方法及相关标准发展中应注意的问题.     

Technological improvements in automotive battery recycling

Recycling of automotive batteries for the recovery of secondary lead is extremely important in Brazil, for the country does not possess large reserves of this metal. Lead is one of the most widely used metals in the world, but it is highly toxic, posing risks for humans and for the environment if not utilized or treated adequately. Industrial waste containing lead in Brazil are classified by the Brazilian Residue Code (NBR—10004:2004) as hazardous. The lead recycling process employed by the recycling industry in Brazil is the pyrometallurgical process in a rotary furnace. This process consists of four stages: (1) grinding of the battery to separate plastic, electrolyte and lead plates; (2) lead reduction in a rotary furnace; (3) separation of metallic lead from slag; and (4) refining of recycled lead. The purpose of this work is to propose process improvements aimed primarily at increasing production output by reducing the loss of lead in slag and particulates, thereby providing a healthier work environment in line with Brazilian environmental and labor laws.     

油气田污泥无害化处理途径探讨

我国污泥处理和处置研究起步较晚,大部分为农田堆肥处置,这对环境保护有不良的影响。在室内进行了油田污泥固化试验研究。研究结果表明:水泥固化污泥可用于制作筑路材料,以水泥、石灰、水玻璃为主要固化剂的污泥可进行填埋处理,含油污泥可制成煤球,可将含油污泥焚烧处理,可以用污泥焚烧灰制砖。这些方法都是污泥后续无害化、资源化处理的有效手段。     

Impacts after four years of experimental trampling on alpine/sub-alpine environments in western Tasmania

Experimental trials were undertaken over four years to assess the impact of recreational trampling in undisturbed alpine and sub-alpine vegetation communities in the Western Arthur Range, western Tasmania. Data on 'pad' formation due to human trampling were collected using vegetation cover assessments, biomass estimates and detailed cross-sectional surface profiles. In sub-alpine buttongrass and alpine herbfield, prolonged and sustained damage may occur after 100 passes by walkers. The environmental threshold of the flat alpine herbfield site was breached after 200 passes. Plant morphology was one determinant of resistance and resilience, with upright woody shrubs and tall tussock graminoids most vulnerable to sustained trampling damage. Cushions are susceptible to trampling impacts at 500 passes. Loss of vegetation cover peaks 6-12 months after trampling. Our results show that pads formed with as few as 30-100 passes per annum and tracks form at between 100 and 500 passes per annum. Two years after the cessation of trampling, there is some small recovery in vegetation cover after 30 and 100 passes per annum applied for three years, but no evidence of recovery at the 500 pass treatments. The low trampling threshold and slow recovery rates in western Tasmania suggest that concentrating walkers on a minimal number of sites may be the best management option for these untracked alpine and sub-alpine environments.     

Environmental protection in Hong Kong amidst transition: Is Hong Kong ready to manage its environment by law?

Within the context of political democratization, this article explores environmental protection in Hong Kong since the government lauched a ten-year program to “save the environment” in 1989. Examining environmental management by law from a social-choice perspective, it argues that the government has yet to reach an integrative policy orocess. Hence the preconditions for an integrative set of environmental legislation are absent. Institutionally, without a comprehensive green policy, the current arrangements lack a vision as an integrative force to promote effective coordination among various sectoral environmental coordination among various sectoral environmental programs. The dominant approach of policy and law enforcement through consultation has rendered impossible strict enforcement of environmental rules and regulations as local economic growth enjoys a priority over environmental protection. At a time of environmental awakening, the people of Hong Kong are not yet prepared awakening, the people of Hong Kong are not yet prepared to participate in environmental management in a strict legal manner. The overall observation is that Hong Kong has yet to see more mature political, legal, administrative, and social conditions for managing its environment within a legal framework.     

企业环保设施市场化运营瓶颈的经济博弈分析

从经济学角度构建了企业环境污染的理论模型。并运用制度经济学与博弈论原理揭示我国企业环境污染行为与企业环保设施市场化运营瓶颈的内在原因，据此给出制度改革的有效建议。     

浅论沙湾县荒漠生态区荒漠植被的保护与开发利用

沙湾县是以农业生产力支柱产业的地处准噶尔盆地南缘的半干旱荒漠内陆区域,区域内荒漠植物被较脆弱,随着经济与人口的快速增长及农、林、牧业的大发展、如何保护县域内荒漠生态区荒漠植被,更好的开发和利用这种资源、将是一个十分重要的研究课题。     

Ecological approach to resource survey and planning for environmentally significant Areas: The ABC method

A resource survey and planning method for parks, reserves, and other environmentally significant areas (ESAs) is presented in the context of a holistic balanced approach to land use and environmental management. This method provides a framework for the acquisition, analysis, presentation, and application of diverse ecological data pertinent to land use planning and resource management within ESAs. Through the independent analysis and subsequent integration of abiotic, biotic, and cultural or ABC information, land areas within an ESA are identified in terms of their relative environmental significance and environmental constraints. The former term encompasses wildlife, historic, and other resource values, while the latter term reflects biophysical hazards and sensitivities, and land use conflicts. The method thus calls for a matching of an ESA's distinctive attributes with appropriate land use and institutional arrancements through an analysis of available acts, regulations, agencies, and other conservation and land use management mechanisms. The method culminates with a management proposal showing proposed park or reserve allocations, buffer areas, or other land use controls aimed at preserving an ESA's special ecological qualities, while providing for resource development. The authors suggest that all resource management decisions affecting ESA's should be governed by a philosophical stance that recognizes a spectrum of broad land use types, ranging from preservation to extractive use and rehabilitation.