Implementing the Water Framework Directive: Contract Design and the Cost of Measures to Reduce Nitrogen Pollution from Agriculture

The performance of different policy design strategies is a key issue in evaluating programmes for water quality improvement under the Water Framework Directive (60/2000). This issue is emphasised by information asymmetries between regulator and agents. Using an economic model under asymmetric information, the aim of this paper is to compare the cost-effectiveness of selected methods of designing payments to farmers in order to reduce nitrogen pollution in agriculture. A principal-agent model is used, based on profit functions generated through farm-level linear programming. This allows a comparison of flat rate payments and a menu of contracts developed through mechanism design. The model is tested in an area of Emilia Romagna (Italy) in two policy contexts: Agenda 2000 and the 2003 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. The results show that different policy design options lead to differences in policy costs as great as 200–400%, with clear advantages for the menu of contracts. However, different policy scenarios may strongly affect such differences. Hence, the paper calls for greater attention to the interplay between CAP scenarios and water quality measures.     

Efficiency analysis for organic agricultural producers: the role of soil-improving inputs

Greater emphasis is being placed on indicators of agri-environmental efficiency of organic production systems. Linking environmental measures with profitability measures based on net income is the only way to develop such indicators. A stochastic production frontier model that explicitly incorporates farm decisions about acquiring and managing organic soil-improving inputs is used to measure efficiency. The results confirm that on-farm self-sufficiency in soil-improving inputs is positively related to farm-level efficiency.     

Modelling photochemical oxidant formation, transport, deposition and exposure of terrestrial ecosystems

The chemical processes responsible for production of photochemical oxidants within the troposphere have been the subject of laboratory and field study throughout the last three decades. During the same period, models to simulate the atmospheric chemistry, transport and deposition of ozone (O(3)) from individual urban sources and from regions have been developed. The models differ greatly in the complexity of chemical schemes, in the underlying meteorology and in spatial and temporal resolution. Input information from land use, spatial and temporally disaggregated emission inventories and meteorology have all improved considerably in recent years and are not fully implemented in current models. The development of control strategies in both North America and Europe to close the gaps between current exceedances of environmental limits, guide values, critical levels or loads and full compliance with these limits provides the focus for policy makers and the support agencies for the research. The models represent the only method of testing a range of control options in advance of implementation. This paper describes currently applied models of photochemical oxidant production and transport at global and regional scales and their ability to simulate individual episodes as well as photochemical oxidant climatology. The success of current models in quantifying the exposure of terrestrial surfaces and the population to potentially damaging O(3) concentrations (and dose) is examined. The analysis shows the degree to which the underlying processes and their application within the models limit the quality of the model products.     

A preliminary validation of a new measure of occupational health and safety

INTRODUCTION: This article describes the validation of an instrument designed to conduct an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) self-diagnosis using workers observations of tangible facts and actions in the workplace. The instrument puts the emphasis on observable factors that make it possible to act proactively before accidents actually occur. METHOD: Three companies were recruited from the printing sector in Québec based on their OHS performance (low, medium, and high), their interest in the project, and their availability. The master sample was composed of 269 people. Partial least squares (PLS) and vanishing tetrad analyses were used to study the behavior of the formative scales developed. RESULTS: The results indicate that partial revision of the instrument will be necessary to reach a fully satisfying level of validity. With regards to the statistical approach adopted, the use of a macro called CTA-SAS 2.0 developed by Bollen and Ting [Bollen, K.A., & Ting, K.-F. (1993). Confirmatory tetrad analysis. In P.V. Marsden (Ed.), Social methodology.Vol.23 (pp.147-176). Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 23] has proven to be effective in providing a suitable statistical treatment of the latent formative variables on which our instrument's development is based. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the instrument appears to be relatively robust and appropriate to diagnose OHS leading measures. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: In the long run, this instrument will make it possible for companies to draw a more refined picture of OHS evolution, even in the absence of occupational injuries.     

温压炸药弹内爆轰特性试验研究

研究温压炸药爆炸初期弹内爆炸波作用过程,可以进一步分析温压炸药分散爆轰的作用机理,为温压炸药武器设计和系统优化提供可靠依据.设计了用测时法研究温压炸药爆轰波传播速度的试验装置,并用探针对相同组分和密度条件下、温压战斗部弹内爆炸初期的爆炸作用过程进行了对比试验,记录了触发时间信号,计算并分析了温压炸药弹内爆炸波的传播特性,得到了波阵面与弹径方向夹角α的变化规律.试验结果表明,温压炸药的爆轰波传播速度为4.632km/s,其弹内爆轰波的传播特性与中心高能分散药的爆轰波有密切联系,通过合理设计弹体结构和比药量,可以实现温压炸药的分散爆轰,提高温压炸药的爆炸威力.     

Zn2+对铁氧化物吸附苄嘧磺隆的影响

研究2种人工合成的铁氧化物对磺酰脲类除草剂--苄嘧磺隆(bensulfuron-methyl,BSM)的吸附,以及Zn2 对供试样品吸附苄嘧磺隆的影响.实验结果表明,用Langmuir、Freundlich、Temkin等方程对供试样品加入Zn2 后吸附BSM的数据进行了拟合,发现供试样品吸附苄嘧磺隆的等温曲线较好地符合Freundlich方程.加入Zn2 后,铁氧化物吸附苄嘧磺隆的量较未加Zn2 有较大幅度的增加,但在苄嘧磺隆的平衡质量浓度较低(＜4 mg/L)时,氧化物吸附苄嘧磺隆的量不随Zn2 浓度的增加而增加;在苄嘧磺隆的平衡质量浓度较高(＞6 mg/L)时,氧化物吸附苄嘧磺隆的量随Zn2 浓度的增加而增加.这可能是Zn2 和苄嘧磺隆被吸附时存在竞争和协同交互作用的结果.     

硼掺杂CeO2/TiO2光催化剂的制备及其活性研究

在三氯化钛和钛酸丁酯水解过程中引入硼酸、硝酸铈,制备了具有可见光活性的硼(B)掺杂CeO₂/TiO₂复合氧化物光催化剂,采用XRD、DRS、XPS等手段进行表征,以偶氮染料酸性红B为模型污染物评估了催化活性.结果表明,硝酸铈加入量影响催化剂的吸收带边,随用量增加,吸收带边红移至481nm(Ce/Ti=1.0,摩尔比),继续增加用量,吸收带边轻微蓝移.催化剂晶相组成与焙烧温度有关,500℃时焙烧样品主要由立方晶型CeO₂和锐钛矿TiO₂组成,焙烧温度高于700℃时,TiO₂转化为金红石型,CeO₂则无显著变化.随焙烧温度升高,催化剂吸收带边明显蓝移,综合考虑催化剂稳定性和太阳能利用,认为500℃焙烧较为合适.B1s XPS显示仅有少量B原子进入复合氧化物晶格取代了氧原子,主要以B₂O₃形式存在.酸性红B降解试验显示B掺杂CeO₂/TiO₂可以提高TiO₂的催化活性,紫外光辐射10min最高可使96.0%的酸性红B分解,且反应彻底,表现出较强的氧化能力,但Ce/Ti>0.5(摩尔比)时催化活性显著下降.     

Aluminium in tea plantations: mobility in soils and plants, and the influence of nitrogen fertilization

The levels of extractable aluminum (Al) in soils of tea plantations, Al concentrations in tea leaves and the impact of nitrogen fertilization on these two parameters were investigated. In addition, the properties of soils from tea plantations were compared to those from soils of adjacent non-tea fields to evaluate the effect of land use conversion (from non-tea soils to tea soils). Exchangeable Al (extracted in 1 mol l⁻¹ KCl) ranged from 0.03 to 7.32 cmol_c kg⁻¹ in 94 tea fields and decreased rapidly with increasing soil pH. In comparison with non-tea soils, tea soils had a significantly lower pH and exchangeable Mg²⁺ concentration but higher organic matter contents and exchangeable K⁺ concentration. Contents of extractable Al were not different (P > 0.05) between these two soils. The concentrations of Al in mature tea leaves correlated significantly with exchangeable Al in soil samples taken at a depth of 20–40 cm and with exchangeable Al saturations in soil sampled at␣depths of 0–20 and 20–40 cm. In the pot experiment, nitrogen fertilization significantly increased extractable Al levels but decreased soil pH and the levels of exchangeable base cations. Nevertheless, the levels of Al in mature leaves and young shoots were significantly reduced by the application of large amounts of N fertilizer.     

The fate of nitrogen in a moderately alkaline and calcareous soil amended with biosolids and urea

The determination of nitrogen (N) based loading rates for land application of biosolids is challenging and site specific. Over loading may contribute to environmental, agricultural, or human health problems. The objective of this study was to monitor N mineralization and losses in a moderately alkaline and calcareous desert soil amended with either anaerobically digested (AN) or lime-stabilized (LS) biosolids, and irrigated with and without urea enriched water. For Experiment 1, N inputs, leaching and residuals in soil were evaluated in an open soil column system. For Experiment 2, ammonia (NH₃) emissions were evaluated in a closed soil column system. In Experiment 1, AN and LS biosolids increased soil ON (organic N) by three and two fold, respectively. Respective net N mineralization of ON from biosolids alone was 90% and 62% without urea, and 71% and 77%, respectively with added urea. Nitrogen leaching losses and residuals in amended soil did not account for all N inputs into the soil/biosolids system. In Experiment 2, NH₃ emissions were not significantly different among treated soils with or without added urea, except LS amended soil receiving urea. Ammonia losses did not account for unaccounted N in Experiment 1. We concluded that deep placement and rapid mineralization of AN biosolids promoted anaerobic soil conditions and denitrification, in addition to the high denitrification potential of desert soil. LS biosolids showed greater potential than AN biosolids for safe and beneficial land application to desert soils regardless of biosolids placement and the inclusion of N rich irrigation water.     

MEAD: an interdisciplinary study of the marine effects of atmospheric deposition in the Kattegat

This paper summarises the results of the EU funded MEAD project, an interdisciplinary study of the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the Kattegat Sea between Denmark and Sweden. The study considers emissions of reactive nitrogen gases, their transport, transformations, deposition and effects on algal growth together with management options to reduce these effects. We conclude that atmospheric deposition is an important source of fixed nitrogen to the region particularly in summer, when nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth, and contributes to the overall eutrophication pressures in this region. However, we also conclude that it is unlikely that atmospheric deposition can, on its own, induce algal blooms in this region. A reduction of atmospheric nitrogen loads to this region will require strategies to reduce emissions of ammonia from local agriculture and Europe wide reductions in nitrous oxide emissions.