The Precautionary Principle and Chemicals Regulation: Past Achievements and Future Possibilities (8 pages)

Background, Aim and Scope

The paper investigates the development of the institutional basis of the present modes of chemicals regulation and management, with special attention to interrelations with the precautionary principle. Main Features: The paper elucidates on how the precautionary principle has been shaped in relation to chemicals regulation and management since Carson's Silent Spring (years before the principle was confirmed as a policy-principle in German and European legislation. Furthermore, it is examined how the precautionary principle interacted with the development of the present chemicals regulatory regime, in a complex interplay within the OECD and Member Countries. The present modes of precaution in the new EU chemical legislation – REACH – are investigated with respect to the precautionary principle, and tested against two contemporary problems; brominated flame retardants and endocrine disrupting substances. Results: The analysis demonstrates the changing character of the integration of the precautionary principle. The main tendencies are from implicit to more explicit precaution and from a closed expert-orientation towards a more deliberative approach to scientific knowledge and uncertainty. The results demonstrate that the precautionary principle is manifest in both the design of the testing strategy and in policy provisions. In particular, the substitution of hazardous substances with less hazardous is important. Discussion: Despite explicit attention to the precautionary principle, is the present reformulation of the European Chemicals policy in danger of falling into loop-holes that equal problems related to the present regulation of existing chemicals? 'Precaution' has been reduced virtually to an abstract concept that is more or less devoid of practical meaning in the regulatory process. Conclusions: It is concluded that the role of the precautionary principle in chemicals regulation will require continued scrutiny in the future shaping of the REACH strategy. Perspectives: Continued development of robust and precaution-based chemicals regulation will have to involve both new data-generation strategies and new forms of political decision-making, with special attention given to transparency and deliberative policymaking.     

单体液压支柱工作面顶板事故的原因与防治

简要地介绍了安徽淮南某矿回采工作面发生的1起重大冒顶事故,从地质、技术、装备、管理以及认识等方面分析r事故发生的原因,并提出了防治顶板事故的6项措施。     

工业动火防护方法的探讨

介绍了在石油生产设备设施的建设安装和检修动火过程中 ,工程技术人员创造发明的防护盲板、防护接地、加装管道扫线接口和绝缘螺栓4种防护方法 ,简要叙述它们的结构、用途和适用范围 ,为油田施工单位进行动火作业提供技术参考。     

废催化剂中金属组分回收利用概述

废催化剂中金属组分的回收利用具有经济性和环保性,从工程项目开发的角度,对废催化剂中金属组分回收利用技术与经济等方面的问题进行了概述,主要包括废催化剂原料的收集与分类、回收技术方案选择、经济评价及关键理论,同时也指出了相关问题及发展前景。     

Good news for environmental self-regulation? Finding the right link

We investigate the stock market response to firm disclosure of positive environmental information and the link from that information to environmental outcomes. We classify environmental media releases by informational content and value relevance, and assess the abnormal stock returns of each type of event. While announcements of future environmental activities lead to the largest favorable stock market reactions, there is no guaranteed link from this type of information to environmental outcomes. Further analysis of the abnormal returns shows that the magnitude of the stock market reaction depends on firm financial characteristics across all event types rather than on firm environmental performance. Our results indicate that the ability for voluntary environmental information disclosure to induce environmental self-regulation is limited to the extent that firms are able to follow through with their announcements of planned environmental activities.     

飞行安全技术影响因素及其作用机制研究

为通过管控飞行安全技术的影响因素提高飞行员飞行技术水平,从信息感知、信息处理、判断决策和反应行动4个方面分析了影响飞行安全技术的因素,并对影响作用做出假设。采用问卷调查获取数据,并应用结构方程模型定量分析各因素对飞行安全技术的作用。研究结果表明:判断决策相关因素、信息处理相关因素、反应行动相关因素、信息感知相关因素对飞行安全技术的影响程度依次递减;平衡觉、运动觉、视觉、震动觉、听觉通过作用于飞行员的信息感知进而影响飞行安全技术且影响程度依次递减;飞行经验、注意、理论知识、记忆通过作用于飞行员的信息处理进而影响飞行安全技术且影响程度依次递减;空间定向、风险感知、逻辑推理、快速运算通过作用于飞行员的判断决策进而影响飞行安全技术且影响程度依次递减;动作协调性、动作准确性、动作及时性通过作用于飞行员的反应行动进而影响飞行安全技术且影响程度依次递减。     

Did the Clean Air Act cause the remarkable decline in sulfur dioxide concentrations?

Over the last three decades, ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) air pollution have declined by approximately 80%. This paper tests whether the 1970 Clean Air Act and its subsequent amendments caused this decline. The centerpiece of this legislation is the annual assignment of all counties to SO₂ nonattainment or attainment categories. Polluters face stricter regulations in nonattainment counties. There are two primary findings. First, regulators pay little attention to the statutory selection rule in their assignment of the SO₂ nonattainment designations. Second, SO₂ nonattainment status is associated with modest reductions in SO₂ air pollution, but a null hypothesis of zero effect generally cannot be rejected. This finding holds whether the estimated effect is obtained with linear adjustment or propensity score matching. Overall, the evidence suggests that the nonattainment designation played a minor role in the dramatic reduction of SO₂ concentrations over the last 30 years.     

论流域水质与水量集成规划

“水量”与“水质”是流域大系统的两个特征,水环境研究偏重于水质,而水资源研究则更偏重水量,但是“质”与“量”是不能截然分开的,它们之间既相互关联,又互影响,相互制约,构成矛盾的统一体,基于这一出发点,本文从规划方法学的历史发展与流域水环境大系统的结构分析入手,系统阐述了提出流域水质与水量集成规划基本概念,目标及其策略与技术路线。     

Secondary metabolism — evolution and function: Products or processes?

Summary The distinguishing characteristics of secondary metabolism and its associated metabolites are outlined. Current theories relating to the function of secondary metabolism in plants and micro-organisms are enumerated and the view that consideration of the processes rather than the products may best explain the origins of secondary metabolism is discussed.     

徐州市景观生态调控途径

从全新的角度提出了城市景观生态调控的概念。在分析了徐州市景观现状和问题的基础上,根据调控理念和调控目标,从空间、技术、政策3个方面提出了4个调控途径10个调控措施,从而可以在一定程度上缓解徐州可持续发展中的景观生态瓶颈问题,并为其它城市解决景观问题提供借鉴。