Pathways to urban sustainability

The concept of sustainable development has become very much in vogue in the past decade. We have also observed a shift in the interpretation of this concept from a global perspective to a meso perspective—that is, at a local, regional or sectoral level. This paper aims at highlighting the urban dimension of environmental issues. After a sketch of urban pollution problems and of tools for economic analysis, the notion of urban sustainability will be advocated as a meaningful analytical and policy concept. Next, the main focus of this paper will be on a typological approach to urban sustainability issues on the basis of three characteristic angles, viz. strong and weak sustainability, absolute and relative decoupling and the spatial ecological footprint. Various methodological issues will also be discussed, while the paper will conclude with some perspectives on policy issues. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Challenges in assessing the toxic effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to marine organisms: a case study on the acute toxicity of pyrene to the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The acute toxicity (96 h) of pyrene (PY) to European seabass (Dicentrachus labrax) juveniles assessed in a semi-static bioassay (SSB) with medium renewal at each 12 h, and in a static bioassay (SB) without medium renewal was compared in laboratorial conditions (water PY concentrations: 0.07-10 mg L⁻¹). Main findings in the SSB that assessed mainly the toxicity of PY and its metabolites were: increased levels of bile PY metabolites in good agreement with the profile of lipid peroxidation levels (LPO) in exposed fish relating PY exposure and oxidative damage; increased levels of PY-type compounds in the brain indicating their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier; increased levels of these substances in liver and muscle which are edible tissues for humans thus raising concern on potential adverse effects on consumers of fish from PY contaminated areas; a significant inhibition of glutathione S-transferase activity suggesting its involvement in PY detoxication as toxicant scavenger; finally, an almost complete impairment of the swimming velocity at all the PY concentrations linking sub-individual to higher population level effects. In the SB, where the overall toxicity of PY, its metabolites and environmental degradation products was evaluated, 19% and 79% of PY decay in test media was found at 12 and 96 h, respectively. In general, the effects were similar to those of SSB but with significant effects being induced at higher PY concentrations indicating that the parental compound is more toxic than its environmental degradation products. The other main differences relatively to the SSB were: increased levels of PY-type substances in the liver suggesting more accumulation in this organ. Therefore, these findings highlight the need of carefully considering experimental design options when assessing the toxicity of readily degradable substances to marine fish, and stress the importance of taking into consideration the toxicity of environmental degradation products in addition to toxic effects of the parental substance and its metabolites for marine ecological risk assessment.     

Assessment of DDT and mercury levels in fish and sediments in the Iriri River,Brazil: Distribution and ecological risk

Abstract

In order to assess the risk of exposure of human populations to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and mercury, muscles of five fish species were analysed, along with the surface sediment of 14 Iriri River sampling sites. The fish specimens were sacrificed by the spinal section, prior to sex identification, body weight determination and total length. Considering the fish specimens studied, 11% of them showed concentrations of mercury higher than the maximum established by the World Health Organization for safe human consumption. A positive correlation between fish body weight and mercury concentration was observed, besides a positive correlation between the fish size and Hg concentration. Significant differences (P?<?0.05) were found between mean concentrations of DDT and metabolites among species of fish studied. In the Plagioscion squamossissimus species, the highest concentration of total DDT (151.4?ng/g) was found, while in Eugerres Brasilianus species, the lowest. However, the DDT levels in fish muscle of studied species are below the maximum set by FAO-Alimentarius CODEX. In the sediments, total DDT ranged from 11.58?ng/g to 48.4?ng/g, which is associated with the historical DDT use in the Amazon. According to sediment quality guidelines, these levels have a moderate toxic effect in almost all of the studied region.     

采油废水中多环芳烃的生态风险评价

先利用C-18固相萃取小柱富集大港油田港东联合处理站污水处理站的采油废水中16种多环芳烃(PAHs,即萘、苊烯、苊、芴、菲、蒽、荧蒽、芘、、苯并[a]蒽、苯并[b]荧蒽、苯并[k]荧蒽、苯并[a]芘、茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘、二苯并[a,h]蒽和苯并[g,h,i]苝),再用气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)分析测定其浓度,以评价PAHs的去除率和生态风险。结果表明:(1)采油废水经处理后,COD、石油类去除率分别达到82.27%、91.06%;外排水COD、石油类达到《污水综合排放标准》(GB 8978—1996)一级标准要求,优于中国采油废水处理的一般水平。(2)采油废水主要以2、3环的PAHs为主,约占总量的93%以上。(3)苯并[a]芘超过《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838—2002)中限值。(4)处理前的采油废水中蒽、菲和苯并[a]芘具有一定的生态风险;处理后的外排水中萘、蒽、菲、荧蒽、苯并[a]芘的暴露浓度(PEC)/预测无效应浓度(PNEC)均小于1,目前尚未对环境造成威胁。但是8种PAHs(苊烯和苯并类PAHs除外)总和表现出较大的毒性,需要引起重视。     

SO2-4/TiO2光催化降解苯酚

以工业硫酸氧钛为原料水解制得SO42-/TiO2光催化剂,并以苯酚为目标降解物,考察了SO24-/TiO2的光催化性能。结果表明:随着SO42-/TiO2制备过程中焙烧温度的升高,其光催化活性逐渐增加,650℃焙烧获得的SO24-/TiO2的光催化活性最好,此后再升高温度会因催化剂中硫的挥发而下降;在确定苯酚原液初始浓度为50 mg/L条件下,SO42-/TiO2的光催化降解苯酚的最佳工艺条件为反应时间2 h、苯酚pH为7、催化剂用量1 g/L。XRD、SEM和FTIR的分析结果显示实验温度下制得的SO42-/TiO2均为锐钛型TiO2;其间掺杂的SO24-在TiO2表面分散性较好,没有聚集成大的颗粒;红外分析的结果初步判定低温(<550℃)焙烧制得的催化剂SO42-在TiO2表面是螯合双配位吸附,高温焙烧时(>550℃)SO42-在TiO2表面是桥式配位吸附。     

资源环境约束下的中国经济增长质量研究

现有对于资源环境与经济增长之间关系的研究主要是在经济增长数量分析的框架下展开分析,而很少从经济增长质量分析的框架入手进行考察。经济增长质量是指经济增长内在的性质与规律,具体包括经济增长的结构、经济增长的稳定性、福利变化与成果分配以及资源利用和生态环境代价四个维度。当资源利用效率不断提高和生态环境代价逐渐降低时,经济增长质量都将会得到提高。本文从经济增长质量视角出发,采用国际规范的逻辑实证主义分析方法,以中国经济转型时期的省级面板数据为样本对改革开放以来中国资源环境代价与经济增长质量之间的关系进行理论研究与实证考察。研究表明:模型的估计结果与理论研究的结论是一致的,中国经济转型期资源环境代价与经济增长质量之间存在显著的正向关系。因此,在中国经济发展进入新阶段的背景下,在经济增长数量不断扩张的同时,还需要不断改进经济增长的资源利用效率和生态环境代价,要实现经济增长的数量与质量的统一,追求中国经济发展的长期可持续性。     

低碳沼气工程建设的生态经济效益核算研究——以广西恭城瑶族自治县为例

在全球气候变暖和快速城市化的背景下,农村地区是能源集约消耗的薄弱区域,其经济、社会、生态的可持续发展一直受到制约。沼气工程作为一种清洁用能方式,在优化用能结构、减少环境污染、节约自然资源、增加农民收入和促进农村经济转型等方面具有较大优势。本文选择广西恭城瑶族自治县这一沼气工程建设全国示范县为案例,针对户用8m3沼气池,对施工建设、运营维护和消费利用全生命周期过程中的碳足迹、减排效益、经济收益和生态价值方面进行核算和评价。结果表明在沼气池的建设与正常使用年限内,该县农户通过替代燃煤、柴薪和秸秆等共可减排CO2约1.24×106t。从户用沼气池建设及生产过程的投入产出价值的来看,仅通过节约炊事燃料和沼液沼渣的回收利用就能为每户节约19 877元,为全县带来1.26亿余元的总收益。因此,沼气工程在该地区的建设普及是发展农村低碳经济、走富农之路的有效措施,可为广大西部地区新农村建设提供借鉴。     

Study on the Relationship between Tourist Influence and Residents’ Sense of Community:An Empirical Study from Changdao Countyin Shandong Province

Residents’ sense of community is an important prerequisite to promote the development of community.Tourism has significant influence on residents’ sense of community.An empirical study from Changdao shows that economy and life conflict caused by tourism can affect neighborhood-friendly and community participation significantly.Culture,environment and social services from tourism can significantly affect community association,community care and place recognition.Therefore,the regional managers should pay attention to allocate revenues in the residents fairly and protect own culture to avoid the negative impact from tourism.     

低温等离子体技术降解含氮硫废气的研究进展

论述了采用低温等离子体技术处理含氮硫废气以及恶臭气体的反应机理和研究现状,重点介绍了低温等离子体技术与催化、吸附、光催化等技术的联合技术,分析了低温等离子体联合技术存在的问题及发展方向。     

旋转电极式电除尘器技术研究

简要阐述了旋转电极式电除尘器的原理、结构、应用及特点,并总结出其除尘效率计算公式。研究结果表明：该技术能最大限度的减少二次扬尘,显著降低电除尘器出口排放浓度,对高比电阻粉尘有很好的收尘效果。与其他除尘器比较,旋转电极式电除尘器节省场地、空间和能源,性价比高,具有较广阔的应用前景。