Ethics of Sustainable Development – a Study of Swedish Regulations for Genetically Modified Organisms

In spite of stricter provisions inthe new EU directive on deliberate release ofgenetically modified organisms (GMOs), criticsstill advocate a moratorium on permits forcultivation of GMOs. However, in an attempt tomeet concerns raised by the public, thedirective explicitly gives Member States thepossibility to take into consideration ethicalaspects of GMOs in the decision-making. Thisarticle investigates the potential effects ofsuch formulation by means of an empiricalanalysis of experiences gained the last yearsfrom similar Swedish regulations for GMOs,aiming at promoting sustainable development.The faulty implementation shown in the Swedishcase indicates that legal stipulations forethics as such have limited importance. It issuggested that public participation is animportant factor for successful implementationof the ethics of sustainable development.     

Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Precautionary Science and Conflicts of Interests

Risk governance of GM plants and GMfood products is presently subject to heatedscientific and public controversies. Scientistsand representatives of the biotechnologyindustry have dominated debates concerningsafety issues. The public is suspicious withregard to the motives of scientists, companies,and political institutions involved. Thedilemmas posed are nested, embracing valuequestions, scientific uncertainty, andcontextual issues. The obvious lack of data andinsufficient information concerning ecologicaleffects call for application of thePrecautionary Principle (PP). There are,however, divergent opinions among scientistsabout the relevance of putative hazards,definition of potential ``adverse effects,' andwhether actions should be taken to preventharm. The reliance on the concept ofsubstantial equivalence in safety evaluation ofGM food is equally controversial. Consequently,value assumptions embedded in a scientificframework may be a barrier for employment ofthe PP. One of our major conclusions is thatprecautionary GMP usage requires riskassessment criteria yet undeveloped, as well asbroader and more long-term conceptions of risk,uncertainty, and ignorance. Conflicts ofinterest and public participation are otherissues that need to be taken intoconsideration. GMP governance regimes that arejustifiable from a precautionary and ethicalpoint of view must transcend traditionalscientific boundaries to include alternativescientific perspectives as well as publicinvolvement.     

You Are What You Eat: Genetically Modified Foods, Integrity, and Society

Thus far, the moral debateconcerning genetically modified foods (GMF) hasfocused on extrinsic consequentialist questionsabout the health effects, environmental impacts,and economic benefits of such foods. Thisextrinsic approach to the morality of GMF isdependent on unsubstantiated empirical claimsand fails to account for the intrinsic moralvalue of food and food choice and theirconnection to the agent's concept of the goodlife. I develop a set of objections to GMFgrounded in the concept of integrity andmaintain that food and food choice can beintimately connected to the agent's personalintegrity. I argue that due to the constitutionof GMF and the manner in which they areproduced, such foods are incompatible with thefundamental values and integrity of certainindividual moral agents or groups. I identifythree types of integrity that are threatened byGMF: religious, consumer, and integrity basedon certain other moral or metaphysical grounds.I maintain that these types of integrity aresufficiently important to provide justificationfor political and societal actions to protectthe interests of those affected. I conclude byproposing specific steps for handling GMFconsistent with the moral principles ofinformed consent, non-maleficence, and respectfor the integrity of all members of society.They include mandatory labeling of GMF, theimplementation of a system for control andregulations concerning such foods, andguaranteed provision of conventional foods.     

改性沸石用于饮用水除氟的试验研究

试验针对存在的氟污染饮用水问题,将天然沸石用NaOH和Al2（SO4）3溶液改性制成除氟材料.静态试验研究表明：改性沸石除氟吸附反应快,其最佳pH值范围为5～9,而且对氟离子具有较好的离子选择性能.通过动态试验研究发现,降低进水流量和原水浓度可以增大滤层的吸附容量.两种再生方式对比试验表明：用Al2（SO4）3溶液再生效果优于用NaOH和Al2（SO4）3溶液联合再生.     

TMA改性粘土矿物对模拟地下水中苯系物的吸附

用短链季铵盐阳离子表面活性剂四甲基铵离子（ＴＭＡ）改性膨润土和凹凸棒土,研究它们对模拟地下水中苯系物的吸附作用。二种ＴＭＡ改性粘土矿物均可以有效地吸附模拟地下水中的苯系物,吸附机理较复杂,主要以表面吸附为主。     

铁镍改性膨润土对废水中有机污染物的吸附性能研究

以钠基膨润土为原料,制备了铁镍无机改性土和铁镍有机复合改性土,并应用于造纸废水的处理,探讨了改性土用量、废水pH值、搅拌时间等因素对COD去除率的影响,通过正交实验对实验条件进行了优化.结果表明:铁镍有机复合改性土和铁镍元机改性土对废水的处理效果明显好于原土;膨润土的用量、废水的pH对COD的去除率影响较大;对于铁镍无机改性土,吸附剂用量为12g/L,溶液pH=2,吸附时间为10 min时,对废水中COD的去除率为54.06%;对于铁镍有机复合改性土,吸附剂用量为14g/L,溶液pH=3,吸附时间为20 min时,对废水中COD的去除率为70.10%.     

复极性三维电极处理含酚废水的研究

实验研究了模拟含酚废水(100～500mg／L)在复极性三维电解槽中的电化学氧化过程。考察了电解时间、电解电压、支持电解质浓度、pH值及苯酚初始浓度对苯酚去除效果的影响，并确定适宜的反应条件。实验表明，在填充较少粒子的条件下，通入空气而处于分散悬浮状态的填充粒子可以综合利用阳极的直接氧化作用、阳极产生羟基自由基的间接氧化作用及阴极产生过氧化氢的间接氧化作用，从而在较低能耗的情况下，充分提高填充粒子的利用率，达到较好的苯酚降解效果。     

一种新型石墨电极的制备及其对苯酚的去除

为了探索一种对有机废水处理有效、廉价、来源广泛、环境友好的电极,以石墨、环氧树脂、固化剂和丙酮为原料,研究制备了一种新型石墨电极 (NGE). 分别采用热水浸泡、乙醇溶液回流、丙酮回流、超声-丙酮回流以及电化学法对制备的石墨电极进行预处理,前三者效果较差,超声-丙酮回流可改善处理效果,但不够理想,电化学法可取得满意的效果.苯酚降解的UV光谱分析表明,尽管商品石墨电极 (CGE) 比NGE具有更高的苯酚氧化效率,但其电解液积累大量的苯醌,而NGE电解液中苯醌积累量少,并且电解过程中逐渐降低. NGE比CGE具有更好的TOC去除效果,两者TOC去除率分别为40%和31%. SEM分析结果表明,CGE被严重腐蚀,NGE无明显变化,表现出良好的稳定性.     

不同配置人工湿地对分散性生活污水的处理效能研究

为研究不同植物及组合(美人蕉+黄菖蒲、花叶芦竹、黄菖蒲、旱伞草)与不同填料(陶粒、沸石、改性沸石、改性钢渣)对系统处理分散性生活污水效能的影响,建立了8种不同配置的潜流式人工湿地中试系统。结果表明,各湿地对COD均具有较好的去除效果(去除率大于70%)。旱伞草、黄菖蒲+美人蕉、黄菖蒲和花叶芦竹四植物系统对TN的去除率均呈先降低后上升的趋势,最终平均去除率分别为57.8%、51.1%、50.4%和45.5%。改性沸石、沸石、陶粒和改性钢渣填料系统对TN平均去除率分别为96.4%、83.7%、34.6%和26.6%。各植物系统对TP的去除效果差异不显著,其中旱伞草系统TP平均去除负荷最大(0.63 g/(d·m2))。各填料对TP的去除效果从大到小依次为改性钢渣、改性沸石、陶粒、沸石,改性钢渣和改性沸石对TP的去除能力显著高于陶粒和沸石,平均去除率达86.3%和78.8%。研究表明,分别采用旱伞草和改性沸石为湿地植物和填料具有较好的应用前景。     

利用玉米浸泡液产电的微生物燃料电池研究

以玉米淀粉生产过程中的浸泡液（玉米浸泡液）作为接种液和基质,利用“三合一”膜电极的单室空气阴极微生物燃料电池进行试验,采用在线监测电压和废水分析方法对产电功率和化学需氧量（COD）、氨氮进行测定,探讨高COD、高氨氮有机废水产电及废水处理的可行性.结果表明,经过94 d（1个周期）的连续运行（固定外电阻为1 000 Ω）,17 d时输出电压达到最大（525.0 mV）,稳定期最大输出功率可达169.6 mW/m²,此时电池相应的电流密度为440.2 mA/m²,内阻约为350 Ω,开路电压619.5 mV;但燃料电池电子利用效率较低（库仑效率为1.6%）;1个周期结束时浸泡液的COD去除率达到51.6%,氨氮去除率25.8%.本试验利用玉米浸泡液成功获得电能,同时对浸泡液有效地进行了处理,为其资源化利用提供新途径.