Do energy prices affect employment? Decomposed international evidence

This paper analyzes the energy price-employment nexus and contributes to the literature by showing that it is important to decompose the regulatory effect into demand, cost, and factor-shift effects. This is done by means of a cross-country multi-sectoral dataset. The results show that both rising energy prices and shadow prices of energy have no significant effect on net employment when the manufacturing sectors only are analyzed. While finding significant variations across countries, the average employment effects become significantly positive once jobs in the economy as a whole are considered. This change is driven mainly by larger positive cost effects, which more than offset the negative demand effects and reductions in the positive factor-shift effects. Moreover, the paper reveals that the often implemented approach of using a simple regulation regressor, instead of decomposing the employment effect, can result in biased estimates.     

Ecotoxic Effect of Photocatalytic Active Nanoparticles (TiO2) on Algae and Daphnids (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Due to their large potential for manifold applications, the use of nanoparticles is of increasing importance. As large amounts of nanoparticles may reach the environment voluntarily or by accident, attention should be paid on the potential impacts on the environment. First studies on potential environmental effects of photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles have been performed on the basis of widely accepted, standardized test systems which originally had been developed for the characterization of chemicals. The methods were adapted to the special requirements of testing photocatalytic nanoparticles. Materials and Methods: Suspensions of two different nanoparticles were illuminated to induce their photocatalytic activity. For testing, the growth inhibition test with the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus and the immobilization test with the daphnid Daphnia magna were selected and performed following the relevant guidelines (algae: ISO 8692, OECD 201, DIN 38412-33; daphnids: ISO 6341, OECD 202, DIN 38412-30). The guidelines were adapted to meet the special requirements for testing photocatalytic nanoparticles. Results: The results indicate that it is principally possible to determine the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles. It was shown that nanoparticles may have ecotoxicological effects which depend on the nature of the particles. Both products tested differ in their toxicity. Product 1 shows a clear concentration-effect curve in the test with algae (EC50: 44 mg/L). It could be proven that the observed toxicity was not caused by accompanying contaminants, since the toxic effect was comparable for the cleaned and the commercially available product. For product 2, no toxic effects were determined (maximum concentration: 50 mg/L). In the tests with daphnids, toxicity was observed for both products, although the concentration effect-curves were less pronounced. The two products differed in their toxicity; moreover, there was a difference in the toxicity of illuminated and non-illuminated products. Discussion: Both products differ in size and crystalline form, so that these parameters are assumed to contribute to the different toxicities. The concentration-effect curves for daphnids, which are less-pronounced than the curves obtained for algae, may be due to the different test organisms and/or the differing test designs. The increased toxicity of pre-illuminated particles in the tests with daphnids demonstrates that the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles lasts for a period of time. Conclusions: The following conclusions can be drawn from the test results: (I) It is principally possible to determine the ecotoxicity of (photocatalytic) nanoparticles. Therefore, they can be assessed using methods comparable to the procedures applied for assessing soluble chemicals. - (II) Nanoparticles may exert ecotoxicological effects, which depend on the specific nanoparticle. - (III) Comparable to traditional chemicals, the ecotoxicity depends on the test organisms and their physiology. - (IV) The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles lasts for a relevant period of time. Therefore, pre-illumination may be sufficient to detect a photocatalytic activity even by using test organisms which are not suitable for application in the pre-illumination-phase. Recommendations and Perspectives: First results are presented which indicate that the topic 'ecotoxicity and environmental effects of nanoparticles' should not be neglected. In testing photocatalytic nanoparticles, there are still many topics that need clarification or improvement, such as the cause for an observed toxicity, the improvement of the test design, the elaboration of a test battery and an assessment strategy. On the basis of optimized test systems, it will be possible to test nanoparticles systematically. If a potential risk by specific photocatalytic particles is known, a risk-benefit analysis can be performed and, if required, risk reducing measures can be taken.     

Analysis of heavy metal distribution in superficial estuarine sediments (estuary of Bilbao, Basque Country) by open-focused microwave-assisted extraction and ICP-OES

Open-focused microwave-assisted extraction and ICP-OES determination of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn from surface sediments of the estuary of Bilbao (Basque Country, North of Spain) was carried out. All the samples were collected at three different tributaries of the estuary (Asua, Galindo and Nerbioi-Ibaizabal) every two months during 1999. The digestion procedure was proposed from the conclusions of a fractionated factorial design, and the precision and accuracy of the method was verified using a certified reference sediment (RTC008-050). The results of the analysis were statistically treated by means of principal component analysis and correlation analysis. The principal component analysis of sediment data (32 samples × 9 metals) indicated different patterns of contamination regarding the tributary and sampling station. The two main patterns observed were a steady increment of the metal concentration along all the campaigns in the samples collected in the Galindo River and a seasonal variation in the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal River, with higher metallic content during summertime and lower content during wintertime.     

贵州喀斯特地区旅游资源的变异与可持续利用

喀斯特景观与民族文化是不可再生的旅游资源,其开发在促进喀斯特地区经济、文化发展的同时,也加剧了环境的损耗和地方特色的消失,旅游资源变异现象普遍发生。文中分析了资源变异的几种情况,并指出控制资源变异,实现可持续利用的途径     

Associations of trace elements in aerosol at the south Adriatic coast

We applied statistical methods to the data of a 5-year sampling period to characterize the features of trace elements in airborne particulate matter at the South Adriatic Coast. The analysis of surface soil samples was also performed. The data were processed by cluster analysis, enrichment factor determination and receptor rose statistics. It is shown that the principal element association consists of Fe, Mn and Ti originating from surface material resuspension. Hg and Se were shown to originate from more complex natural and anthropogenic processes. A strong emission source of Cd and Se was identified in the SSE direction.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organized by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic.     

重庆金佛山岩溶区不同植被条件下土壤-植被系统CO2浓度日变化

对重庆金佛山典型岩溶区林地、裸地表层岩溶生态系统CO2浓度进行短时间尺度变化的野外观测结果表明,林地与裸地不同深处土温变化幅度由地表向土壤深部逐步降低,裸地地表温度和不同深度土温波动幅度均较林地大.林地与裸地各层次土壤CO2浓度变化与土温呈较好的相关关系.林地各层土壤CO2浓度波动微弱,变幅小于裸地.林地与裸地土层中CO2浓度随土层深度增加而增高.植被各层的温度和温度变化幅度从大到小依次为林层、灌层和草层.林层温度最大值滞后于气温约3 h.     

单甲脒盐酸盐农药在水体悬浮颗粒物上的吸附行为

用批量平衡法研究了单甲脒农药在三种水体悬浮颗粒物上的吸附规律，所得数据进行回分析后，发现吸附规律符合Ｆｒｅｕｎｄｉｌｉｃｈ方程，并且在悬浮颗粒物上的吸附能力随着颗粒物中有机碳含量的增加而稍有减少。     

太阳能光催化降解法去除水中罗丹明染料的研究

在太阳光的紫外线辐射下，应用载有ＴｉＯ２薄层的平板式光催化反应器，进行了光催化降解法去除水中罗丹明染料的试验，结果表明，当紫外线辐射强度平均为３３Ｗ／ｍ＾２，反应时间为１８ｍｉｎ时，水中罗丹明染料浓度由１０ｍｇ／Ｌ降至０．０１ｍｇ／Ｌ，在室国家排放标准，探讨了太阳能光催化反应系统的改进方向及工业化应用的有关问题。     

非定态SO2制酸工艺在铅精矿烧结烟气治理中的应用

介绍了非定态SO2制酸工艺的特点、流程及其在铅精矿烧结烟气治理中的应用效果.该工艺具有良好的社会效益、环境效益和较好的经济效益,具有较高的推广应用价值.     

Untersuchungskonzept zur Charakterisierung toxischer Stoffe in belastetem Wasser

Zusammenfassung  Zur ?kotoxikologischen Beurteilung von belastetem Wasser werden h?ufig einfache Biotests eingesetzt. Nicht selten werden dabei toxische Effekte festgestellt. Es stellt sich dann die Frage nach den verantwortlichen Wasserinhalts-stoffen. Durch Festphasenextraktion (SPE) werden diese angereichert, gewonnen und dünnschichtchromatographisch unter Verwendung der automatisierten Mehrfachentwicklung aufgetrennt. Von der DC-Platte wird ein Streifen abgetrennt und darauf direkt die biologische Detektion mit Mikroorganismen (Bacillus subtilis, Leuchtbakterien) durchgeführt. Dadurch k?nnen toxische Banden erkannt werden, Auf dem DC-Plattenrest wird von der toxischen Bande mit einem DC-scanner ein UV-Spektrum aufgenommen, die entsprechende Bande herausgekratzt, der toxische Stoff eluiert und infrarotspektroskopisch untersucht. Durch Spektrenvergleich gelingt es meistens, den Stoff zu charakterisieren. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird am Beispiel eines Zitzengummieluates das Analysenkonzept vorgestelit. Es zeigte sich, dass dieser Gummiartikel einen Vulkanisationsbeschleuniger (2-Mercaptobenzothiazol) freisetzt. Online-Publikation am: 21.12.1999