Assessing of Environmental Quality in Six Areas in India,Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Environmental quality for environmental health has been examined visually by describing general conditions and drinking water supply, sanitation and solid waste treatment conditions and practices in six South-East Asian villages with a dense population. The environmental review was supplemented by discussions with local people and political and administrative decision makers. Some drinking water analyses were done in order to show the water quality to the local people. The quality of the general conditions and the conditions and practices of drinking water supply, excreta disposal and solid waste treatment practices have been graded with the grading system presented below. The grading could be done in 1 or 2 days in each area by two persons, of which one was an environmental scientist and the other a social scientist, who also knew the local culture and worked as a translator.     

Heterozygosity‐Fitness Correlations and Inbreeding Depression in Two Critically Endangered Mammals

The relation among inbreeding, heterozygosity, and fitness has been studied primarily among outbred populations, and little is known about these phenomena in endangered populations. Most researchers conclude that the relation between coefficient of inbreeding estimated from pedigrees and fitness traits (inbreeding‐fitness correlations) better reflects inbreeding depression than the relation between marker heterozygosity and fitness traits (heterozygosity‐fitness correlations). However, it has been suggested recently that heterozygosity‐fitness correlations should only be expected when inbreeding generates extensive identity disequilibrium (correlations in heterozygosity and homozygosity across loci throughout the genome). We tested this hypothesis in Mohor gazelle (Gazella dama mhorr) and Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). For Mohor gazelle, we calculated the inbreeding coefficient and measured heterozygosity at 17 microsatellite loci. For Iberian lynx, we measured heterozygosity at 36 microsatellite loci. In both species we estimated semen quality, a phenotypic trait directly related to fitness that is controlled by many loci and is affected by inbreeding depression. Both species showed evidence of extensive identity disequilibrium, and in both species heterozygosity was associated with semen quality. In the Iberian lynx the low proportion of normal sperm associated with low levels of heterozygosity was so extreme that it is likely to limit the fertility of males. In Mohor gazelle, although heterozygosity was associated with semen quality, inbreeding coefficient was not. This result suggests that when coefficient of inbreeding is calculated on the basis of a genealogy that begins after a long history of inbreeding, the coefficient of inbreeding fails to capture previous demographic information because it is a poor estimator of accumulated individual inbreeding. We conclude that among highly endangered species with extensive identity disequilibrium, examination of heterozygosity‐fitness correlations may be an effective way to detect inbreeding depression, whereas inbreeding‐fitness correlations may be poor indicators of inbreeding depression if the pedigree does not accurately reflect the history of inbreeding. Correlaciones Heterocigosidad‐ Adaptabilidad y Depresión Endogámica en Dos Especies de Mamíferos Críticamente en Peligro     

Climate change policy and water resources in the EU and Spain. A closer look into the Water Framework Directive

Climate change effects are becoming evident worldwide, with serious regional and local impacts. The European Union (EU) has launched and developed initiatives and policies that scratch the surface of water resources impacts. This article presents an introduction of the existing environmental policy and more concisely in the areas of climate change and the interactions with water resources. It also addresses main management tools, and plans linked to policies, recent updates on the Science–Policy Interface, highlighting major results from research and development projects. Establishing appropriate policies to tackle climate change impacts on water is essential given the cross-sectorial and flowing nature and the importance of water in all environmental, social and economic sectors. There are still some pending reviews and updates in the current EU policy and its implementation, as well as at the national level in Spain. This article identifies existing gaps, and provides recommendations on how and where reforms could take place and be applied by decision makers in the water policy sector.     

A methodological framework for improving air quality monitoring network layout. Applications to environment management

This work aims to provide a methodology framework which allows to improve the performance and efficiency of an air quality monitoring network (AQMN). It requires to be constituted by a minimum and reliable number of measurement sites. Nevertheless, the AQMN efficiency should be assessed over time, as a consequence of the possible emergence of new emission sources of air pollutants, which could lead to variations on their spatial distribution within the target area. PM₁₀ particles data monitored by the Community of Madrid's (Spain) AQMN between 2008 and 2017 were used to develop a methodology to optimize the AQMN performance. The annual spatial distribution of average PM₁₀ levels over the studied period monitored by all current stations vs those more representative was provided by a geographic information system (GIS), and the percentage of similarity between both postulates was quantified using simple linear regression (> 95%). As one innovative tool of this study, the practical application of the proposed methodology was validated using PM₁₀ particles data measured by AQMN during 2007 and 2018, reaching a similitude degree higher than 95%. The influence of temporal variation on the proposed methodological framework was around 20%.The proposed methodology sets criteria for identifying non-redundant stations within AQMN, it is also able to appropriately assess the representativeness of fixed monitoring sites within an AQMN and it complements the guidelines set by European legislation on air pollutants monitoring at fixed stations, which could help to tackle efforts to improve the air quality management.     

Applying integrated assessment methodologies to air quality plans: Two European cases

Air pollution Integrated Assessment Models (IAM) can be used for determining how emissions should be reduced to improve air quality and to protect human health in a cost-efficient way. The application of IAM is also useful to spread information to the general public and to explain the effectiveness of proposed Air Quality Plans. In this paper, the application of the RIAT+ system to determine suitable abatement measures to improve the air quality at a regional/local level is presented for two European cases: the Brussels Capital Region (Belgium) and the Porto Urban Area (Portugal). Both regions are affected with PM10 or NO₂ concentrations that exceed the limit values specified by the European Union legislation. To properly assess air quality abatement measures a surrogate model was used, allowing the implementation of an efficient optimization procedure. This model is derived in both cases through a set of simulations performed using a Chemistry Transport Model fed with different emission reduction scenarios. In addition, internal costs (due to the implementation of emission reduction measures) and external costs (due to population exposure to air pollutant concentrations) of policy options were considered. The application of this integrated assessment modelling system in scenario (Brussels case) and optimization (Porto) modes contributes to identifying some advantages and limitations of these two approaches and also provides some guidance when urban air quality has to be assessed.     

室内空气环境质量的探讨

介绍了室内空气环境质量的国内外有关研究成果。内容包括IAQ问题引发关注的缘由,IAQ的影响因素、评价方法及改善IAQ的相关措施。     

武汉市城市化过程中的空气质量响应研究

以武汉市2000-2013年的城市化水平和空气质量状况数据为基础,运用主成分分析法和目标比率模型构建综合评价体系,并用多元回归模型进行检验,探究城市化过程中的空气环境质量响应特征.结果表明:1)2000年以来,武汉城市化进入稳增长的快速抬升阶段,空气污染综合指数总体变化平稳,2013年有变坏的趋势;2)不同类型的污染物对城市化水平具有不同的响应规律和影响程度,SO2为倒“U”型,表明随着城市发展,SO2浓度得到控制并呈下降趋势;NO2为“U”型,近9年来NO2浓度不减反增,对空气环境污染严重;而PM10及空气质量综合水平表现为倒“N”型特征,表明现阶段空间环境呈现污染加重的趋势;3)城市化快速扩张过程中的基础设施建设、建筑扬尘,汽车尾气排放、工业烟尘等是影响武汉空间环境质量的主要因素,需有针对性地加强城市空气环境管理.     

上海松江泖港地区蟹种养殖对水质的影响

为了探究河蟹蟹种养殖模式对水环境的影响,于2012年6-10月,对上海松江泖港地区蟹种池塘和水源的水质进行了监测.结果表明,在整个养殖周期中,蟹种池CODMn不断增长,水源水的变化趋势为先增后减.在多数时段,水源水亚硝酸盐质量浓度高于蟹种池,但6月26日蟹种池反而显著高于水源水(p＜0.05).在整个监测过程中,水源水硝酸盐质量浓度均显著高于蟹种养殖池(p＜0.05).养殖前期,水源水磷酸盐质量浓度高于蟹种池;养殖后期蟹种池高于水源水,但均无显著差异(p＞0.05).台风过境后,水源水氨氮质量浓度达2.21 mg/L,磷酸盐质量浓度达0.467 mg/L,表明农田化肥水和地表径流可能是导致水源水体富营养化的重要原因.     

长株潭城市环境空气中PM2.5和O3质量浓度的相关性研究

PM2.5与O3均为导致城市环境空气质量恶化的主要污染物,采用自动设备监测湖南省长沙、株洲、湘潭3市商业区和郊区空气中的PM2.5和O3质量浓度,并对数据进行相关性分析.结果表明:PM2.5和O3质量浓度的季节性变化大,其中O3质量浓度夏、秋2季高,春、冬2季低;PM2.5则秋、冬2季高,春、夏2季低;O3质量浓度峰值一般出现在当天午后,PM2.5质量浓度峰值一般出现在上午;空间分布上,O3质量浓度在郊区站点相对较高,而PM2.5质量浓度在商业区站点较高.PM2.5与O3质量浓度变化以负相关为主,即PM2.5质量浓度高时,O3质量浓度则低,反之亦然,二者一般不产生叠加污染.总体上,夏、秋季节应主要防O3污染,春、冬季节则主要防PM25污染.