Human geography of New Orleans’ high-lead geochemical setting

Previous soil lead studies in New Orleans focused on the geochemical footprint and its health impacts. This study examines the human geography of race, income, and age in pre-Katrina metropolitan New Orleans within the context of lead accumulation in soils. Sample points of soil lead data (n = 5,467) collected in 1998–2000 were mapped in a geographic information system (GIS), binned into 9 ranges, and queried by (1) 2000 Census racial demographic data, (2) 1999 median household income, and (3) 2000 age data. The absolute population generally declines as lead levels increase except at lead levels from 200–400 to 400–1,000 mg/kg when population increases; the African–American population comprises a disproportionate share of this cohort. The high-lead areas occur in the inner city, home to the largest populations of African-Americans in New Orleans. The mean household income curve indicates that lower economic groups are at risk to higher levels of lead. A total of 44,701 children under the age of 5 years, plus 123,579 children aged 5–17, lived in census block groups containing at least one sample point with over 100 mg/kg lead, and these include 23,124 and 64,064 young people, respectively, who live near at least one point over 400 mg/kg. Lead exposure affects a panoply of outcomes that influence the health and welfare of the community. Unless corrected, children are likely to return to the same or, because of lack of lead-safe practices during renovation, even higher exposure risks than before the flooding of New Orleans.     

Efficiency and Concordance of Alternative Methods for Minimizing Opportunity Costs in Conservation Planning

Abstract:  Scarce resources and competing land-use goals necessitate efficient biodiversity conservation. Combining multicriteria analysis with conservation decision-support tools improves efficiency of conservation planning by maximizing outcomes for biodiversity while minimizing opportunity costs to society. An opportunity cost is the benefit that could have been received by taking an alternative course of action (i.e., costs to society of protecting an area for biodiversity rather than developing it for some other use). Although different ways of integrating multiple opportunity costs into conservation planning have been suggested, there have been no tests as to which method is most efficient. We compared the relative efficiency of 3 such procedures ( Faith & Walker [1996] , Sarkar et al. [2004] , and a procedure of our own design) in a systematic conservation-planning framework for the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. We devised 14 opportunity costs and assigned these to 3 scenarios representing different conservation planning concerns: food security, macro-economic development, and biodiversity persistence. For each scenario, we compared the efficiency of the 3 methods in terms of amount of biodiversity protected relative to total expenditure for each opportunity cost. All 3 methods captured similar amounts of biodiversity, but differed in total cost. Our method had the least overall cost and was therefore most efficient. Nevertheless, there was a high correlation and geographical concordance among all 3 methods, indicating a high degree of spatial overlap. This suggests that choosing an appropriate approach may often depend on contextual factors related to the design of the planning question, rather than efficiency alone.     

沈北新区土壤中多环芳烃污染特征及源解析

采用均匀网格布点法采集沈阳市沈北新区不同土地利用类型101个表层(0~20 cm)土壤样品,开展土壤中美国环保署优先控制的16种多环芳烃(PAHs)的含量空间分布特征、成分谱分析和污染物来源解析研究.结果表明,沈北新区土壤中16种PAHs(ΣPAHs)总含量为123.7~932.5μg·kg~(-1);PAHs组分以3~4环的中、低环组分为主,其中3环PAHs比例最高;ΣPAHs的空间分布特征明显,呈现出由南向北、自东向西逐渐递减的趋势.在研究区域所涉及的5种土地利用类型土壤中,土壤ΣPAHs含量的高值主要集中在城区绿地和人工绿化林地,其次为设施菜地,水稻田和玉米田中ΣPAHs含量相对较低且无明显空间分布差异.利用特征比值分析和因子分析/多元线性回归分析进行土壤中PAHs的污染源解析,初步确定沈北新区表土中PAHs的主要污染源为燃烧源和石油源的混合源,其中,工业燃煤和机动车尾气是PAHs的主要污染源,其贡献率达79.6%,石油泄漏和焦炉排放贡献率约为16.2%,生物质燃料的燃烧贡献率占4.2%.     

模拟高空气象数据在AERMOD预测中的适用性分析研究

针对同一污染源,采用2006年～2009年上海浦东高空探空气象数据和高空模拟气象数据,利用AER—MOD进行了大气预测中排气高度、温度、速度等因子敏感性分析。点源预测结果表明：在中、短时间尺度下,除非排气筒高度特别高（〉60m）,一般情况下模拟高空气象数据预测结果与实际探空气象数据预测结果的偏差在一6％～6％之间,高空模拟数据适用;但长时间尺度下,只有当排气筒高度低于20m和（或）排气温度低于30℃时,模拟高空气象数据才适用。对面源的预测结果表明,模拟高空气象数据通常适合于各种情形。     

基于生态足迹的福州仓山区生态安全评价

以生态足迹分析方法为基础,利用生态压力指数对福州市仓山区2010年的生态安全进行初步研究和评价。结果表明,仓山区2010年的生态足迹为0.845255ghm2,生态压力指数为2.693。仓山区的人口消费需求超过了自然生态系统的承载能力,可持续发展状况不容乐观,生态环境处于不安全状态。就此提出建议。     

上海宝山快速城市化进程对河网演变影响分析

以我国快速城市化区域——上海宝山区为例,基于近20 a经济发展和河系水网变化相关数据,探讨区域河网水系的时空变化规律,不同功能区的河网变化分异特征及其驱动因子。分析结果表明:(1)宝山区的河网水系数量变化经历了基本稳定(1994-2003年)、快速消亡(2003-2006年)、缓慢回升(2006-2008年)3个阶段,这与其城市化发展进程有较好的对应关系;(2)不同功能区域河网数量和水环境质量变化具有分异性,其中水面率大小关系为Ⅲ区>Ⅰ区>Ⅱ区,有机污染综合指数和总磷为Ⅱ区7Ⅰ区7Ⅲ区;(3)不同功能区的河网水系数量和水环境质量对城市化响应具有明显差异,居住用地、工业用地和设施用地的增加是各功能区河网水系变化的主要驱动因素。在此基础上,对于区域防洪除涝问题提出建议,即在城市化进程中,不仅应重视河道数量,更应重视河道长宽度的保护,才能改善河网水质和水生态环境。     

黔西南喀斯特地区国土空间规划“双评价”技术与实践:以义龙新区为例

国土空间规划是落实主体功能区战略、绘制未来“美丽国土一张蓝图”的重要抓手,资源环境承载能力和国土空间开发适宜性评价是国土空间规划编制的前提和基础.以贵州省黔西南布依族苗族自治州义龙新区为研究对象,围绕生态保护、农业生产、城镇建设功能特征,以定量方法为主、定性方法为辅,依次开展了资源环境要素单项评价、资源环境承载能力集成评价、国土空间开发适宜性评价,并与现状土地利用进行对比,识别其国土空间开发问题和潜力.结果表明:①义龙新区生态保护极重要区面积占比为36.93%,农业生产适宜区面积占比为24.84%,城镇建设适宜区面积占比为25.08%,三者可分别作为重点生态功能区、农产品主产区、城市化发展区.②生态保护极重要区中基本农田面积为23.60 km2、一般农用地面积为15.21 km2,农业生产不适宜区中基本农田面积为72.17 km2、一般农用地面积为27.63 km2,地块功能指向重叠性较大,建议结合城市发展意向,明确不同区域功能指向的侧重.③后备耕地面积为131.87 km2,后备建设用地面积为114.85 km2,与实地核查结果相符.研究显示,构建的喀斯特地区“双评价”方法体系可以很好地应用于区域国土空间规划,实现了格网单元地域功能优化分区.      

中国环境保护战略政策70年历史变迁与改革方向

系统地回顾了新中国成立70年以来环境保护战略政策的历史变迁,分析其演进脉络、阶段性变化特征和取得的成效,对于制定新时代国家生态环境保护战略政策、全面推进生态文明和"美丽中国"建设具有重大现实意义.以环境保护战略政策历史演进为主线,将新中国成立70年以来的环境保护战略政策历史变迁与发展划分为5个阶段:①非理性战略探索阶段（1949-1971年）;②建立环境保护三大政策和八项管理制度的环境保护基本国策（1972-1991年）;③强化重点流域、区域污染治理的可持续发展战略（1992-2000年）;④控制污染物排放总量、推进生态环境示范创建的环境友好型战略（2001-2012年）;⑤推进环境质量改善和"美丽中国"建设的生态文明战略（2013年至今）.分析表明,我国基本形成了符合国情且较为完善的环境战略政策体系,在生态文明和环境保护法制与体制改革、生态环境目标责任制、生态环境市场经济政策体系以及多元有效的生态环境治理格局下取得了重大成就,对环境保护事业发展发挥了不可替代的支撑作用,为深入推进生态文明建设和"美丽中国"伟大目标实现提供了重要保障.结合新时代生态文明建设和"美丽中国"建设的目标需求,提出了未来我国生态环境保护战略政策的基本走向、改革目标,指出了管理体制、生态法治、空间管控、市场机制、公众参与、责任考核等六大改革方向.      

Online single particle measurement of fireworks pollution during Chinese New Year in Nanning

Time-resolved single-particle measurements were conducted during Chinese New Year in Nanning, China. Firework displays resulted in a burst of SO_2, coarse mode, and accumulation mode(100–500 nm) particles. Through single particle mass spectrometry analysis, five different types of particles(fireworks-metal, ash, dust, organic carbon-sulfate(OC-sulfate), biomass burning) with different size distributions were identified as primary emissions from firework displays. The fireworks-related particles accounted for more than70% of the total analyzed particles during severe firework detonations. The formation of secondary particulate sulfate and nitrate during firework events was investigated on single particle level. An increase of sulfite peak(80SO_3~-) followed by an increase of sulfate peaks(97HSO_4~-+ 96SO_4~-) in the mass spectra during firework displays indicated the aqueous uptake and oxidation of SO_2 on particles. High concentration of gaseous SO_2, high relative humidity and high particle loading likely promoted SO_2 oxidation. Secondary nitrate formed through gas-phase oxidation of NO_2 to nitric acid, followed by the condensation into particles as ammonium nitrate. This study shows that under worm, humid conditions, both primary and secondary aerosols contribute to the particulate air pollution during firework displays.     

津北大气干湿沉降重金属元素通量与评价研究

大气干湿沉降是有害物质进入土壤的一种重要途径,是影响农田生态系统安全的重要因素.天津市北部的蓟州区大气干湿沉降重金属元素具有以下特征:(1)大气干湿沉降重金属元素年沉降通量从大到小依次为Zn>Pb>Cr>Cu>Ni>As>Cd>Hg,Zn、Pb是大气干湿沉降重金属元素中最主要的元素,山区年沉降通量小于平原区,表明山区空气环境质量相对于平原区好,与天津城区、北京平原区、全国相比,津北蓟州区大气干湿沉降重金属各元素年沉降通量均相对较低;(2)大气干湿沉降物输入浓度中,Cd、Pb、Zn、Hg显著高于蓟州区土壤含量平均值,尤其是Cd,表明大气干湿沉降可能是土壤中Cd的重要来源;(3)根据大气干湿沉降物环境地球化学评价结果,大气干湿沉降物环境地球化学单指标和综合指标评价结果均为一等,表明该地区大气环境质量很好.