Industry Response to the Challenge of Sustainability: The Case of the Canadian Nonferrous Mining Sector

/ The paper investigates how the Canadian nonferrous sector is tackling the challenge of sustainable development. Although there is no consensus as to what sustainable development means in practice for management in the sector, at least three dimensions must be taken into account: (1) metals are recyclable, the availability of this resource is not a concern for the foreseeable future; (2) the need to minimize environmental impacts of metals exploration, extraction, transformation, consumption, and recycling; and (3) production activities should not be socially or culturally disruptive. The nonferrous mining industry faces several environmental problems. Some of the most significant are acid mine drainage, sulfur emissions, recycling, and metals toxicity. The industry has developed a number of responses to address these specific concerns as well as other more general challenges. Six strategies are described and analyzed: (1) research and development, (2) an effort of consensus building among stakeholders known as the Whitehorse Mining Initiative, (3) international networking, (4) active involvement in the development of environmental management standards, (5) management reorganization and (6) voluntary agreements. The importance of external factors in the shaping of corporate environmental management practices is discussed, in particular the role of government. Progress has been achieved in three areas: (1) managerial practices and organization, (2) reducing the impacts of ongoing operations and (3) minimizing future liabilities, but two significant fields of conflict remain, namely mining in wilderness areas and projects on aboriginal lands.KEY WORDS: Canada; Environmental management; Minerals industry; Nonferrous metals; Sustainable development; Whitehorse Mining Initiative     

临安市实施清洁生产和发展绿色产业总体构思

以临安市为例，通过对该市社会经济发展现状及其制约“瓶颈”的分析，指出县域经济的进一步发展存在强烈的路径依赖，即必须按照可持续发展的基本原则，以清洁生产与绿色产业为目标取向，并相应提出一些设想和措施。     

Methylmercury and total mercury in estuarine organisms from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Guanabara Bay (GB), located in the Rio de Janeiro State, is still a productive estuary on the south-eastern Brazilian coast. It is an ecosystem heavily impacted by organic matter, oil and a number of other toxic compounds, including Hg. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the aquatic total mercury (THg) and MeHg contamination, and the ratios of MeHg to THg (% MeHg), in 3 species of marine organisms, Micropogonias furnieri-carnivorous fish (N = 81), Mugil spp.--detritivorous fish (N = 20) and Perna perna--filter-feeding bivalves (N = 190), which are widely consumed by the population. A total of 291 specimens were collected at the bay in different periods between 1988 and 1998. THg concentrations were determined by cold vapour AAS with stannous chloride as a reducing agent. MeHg was extracted by dithizone-benzene and measured by GC-ECD. Analytical quality was checked through certified standards. All organisms presented both low THg and MeHg concentrations and they were below the maximum limit of 1,000 micrograms Hg.kg-1 wet wt. as established for human intake of predatory fish by the new Brazilian legislation. Carnivorous fish showed higher THg and MeHg concentrations, and also % MeHg in muscle tissues, than organisms with other feeding habits and lower trophic levels. The average of THg concentrations in carnivorous fish was 108.9 +/- 58.6 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt. (N = 61) in 1990 and 199.5 +/- 116.2 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt. (N = 20) in 1998, but they presented different total length and body weights. The average THg content in detritivorous fish was 15.4 +/- 5.8 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt., whereas THg concentrations ranged from 4.1 to 53.5 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt. for the molluscs. The THg and MeHg contents of mussel varied according to the sampling point and water quality. MeHg concentration in detritivorous fish was similar to MeHg concentration in molluscs, but there was a significant difference in the MeHg/THg ratio: the carnivorous fish presented higher MeHg percentages (98%) than the detritivorous fish (54%) and the molluscs (33%). Weight-normalised average concentration of THg in carnivorous fish collected in 1990 (0.18 +/- 0.08 microgram.g-1/0.7 kg wet wt.) and in 1998 (0.16 +/- 0.09 microgram.g-1/0.7 kg wet wt.) presented no significant difference (t = 1.34; P < 0.5). In conclusion, the low THg and MeHg concentrations in the organisms from the GB ecosystem, are related to its eutrophic conditions and elevated amounts of suspended matter. In this situation, Hg could be strongly complexed or adsorbed by the particulate, which would dilute the Hg inputs and reduce its residence time in the water column, with a consequent decrease in its availability to organisms.     

辽宁省造纸行业现状与企业转型发展

在对辽宁省造纸行业工业现状、特点及污染现状进行调查分析的基础上,结合辽宁省开展的造纸行业专项治理取得的进展和成果,提出辽宁省应加快造纸产业结构调整,推动造纸企业转型,加强清洁生产工艺的开发与应用等污染防治对策。     

金属波纹填料在废油处理中应用的研究

文章主要对其结构特征进行剖析,并对波纹板在油液处理过程中的作用原理进行分析。通过两种油水分离材料进行真空脱水试验,真空脱水第一次循环中,金属波纹板的脱水率为79.12%,较传统折叠丝网脱水率高21%,证明金属波纹填料对废油真空脱水有良好的效果。最后通过两种不同规格的金属波纹板填料进行真空脱水试验,证明比表面积较大的350Y波纹板填料在废油脱水中并不优于比表面积较小的250Y金属波纹板填料。     

云南抚仙湖流域磷化工对农田土壤和农作物的影响

通过对云南抚仙湖流域磷化工厂附近农田和区域内地表径流污染物含量进行调查分析,结果表明距磷化工厂越近,农田灌溉水、土壤、农作物中污染物含量越高。磷化工生产排放的废水和废渣淋溶废水严重污染了附近农田灌溉水,从而造成农田土壤氟、磷积累,最高分别超过对照农田土壤氟、磷含量35和37倍。相关分析结果表明农作物茎、叶蓄积的高浓度氟、磷主要来源于受磷化工排放废水和废渣污染的农田土壤。     

平板玻璃行业环境影响评价中工程分析要点浅析

在对平板玻璃行业环境影响评价中的工程组成、一般特征和环境影响特征进行全面分析的基础上,详细分析了建设项目的工艺过程、物料平衡、水平衡及硫平衡等,计算污染物的产生量,制订相应的防治措施,并从行业准入条件及清洁生产角度分析了项目建设的可行性,为环境影响预测和评价提供所需基础数据,为项目的环境管理提供建议指标和科学数据。     

我国生态经济产业的实践及发展趋势

介绍了我国生态经济产业在农业、工业两大领域的实践情况,从生态设计、技术体系、管理体系和生态产业链的角度探讨了今后我国生态经济产业的发展趋势。     

我国物质流研究述评

在分析我国近年来物质流研究成果的基础上,探讨目前研究存在的问题,并提出今后物质流研究应在以下几方面作出努力:建立学术平台、研究基地,加强学术交流;建立统一的分析和计算的框架和具体系数的估算方法;把物质流分析的成果与具有社会价值的经济、人口、土地等因素结合分析,与国外进行对比,找出我国的问题所在;建立我国或者特定区域的隐藏流系数的实时分析模型;物质投入产出表的编撰与研究;对我国未开展物质流研究的典型区域进行物质流分析。     

电解铝行业清洁生产实践

概述了电解铝行业清洁生产实践,分析说明企业实施清洁生产后,能够达到污染减排、节能降耗、提高企业经济效益的目的。