Strengthening the policy framework to resolve lax implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan for agriculture

In this perspective article, we provide recommendations for strengthening the policy framework for protecting the Baltic Sea from agricultural nutrient pollution. The most striking weakness is the lax implementation of prescribed abatement measures, particularly concerning manure management, in most countries. Institutions of the EU should also be leveraged for achieving Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) goals. In contrast to the Helsinki Convention, the European Union has economic, political and legal mandates to further implementation and compliance. Equally important is the need for strengthening of local institutions, particularly Water Boards and independent agricultural advisory services in the eastern Baltic Sea Region countries. There is also an urgent need for implementation of voluntary land-use measures where EU funding available to farmers is more broadly and effectively used by providing it on the basis of estimated abatement performance, which can be realized through modelling. The enormous potential for funding performance-based schemes, manure management infrastructure and advisory services through the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy are currently underutilized.Supplementary Informationhe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01573-3.     

Evaluation of A Sampling Strategy for Estimation of Long-term Pm2.5 Exposure for Epidemiological Studies

As part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) PM_2.5 (particles collected with an upper 50% cut point of 2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter) was measured using an EPA-WINS (Environmetal Protection Agency Well Impactor Ninety-six) sampler. The monitoring schedule was restricted to 7 days per month for one year. Simultaneously, during this one year study period a collocated Harvard Impactor (HI) was run on a daily basis in Erfurt, Germany. Here we validated the reliability of annual, seasonal and monthly means estimated using the ECRHS scheme (measurements taken less than 25% of the whole study period) with the ‘true’ long-term averages, which were estimated using all available daily means.The daily PM_2.5 means, obtained by both instruments operated in parallel, were only slightly different (the mean difference between EPA-WINS and HI was 1.8 μg m⁻³ and 2.8 μg m⁻³ for the winter means). The values obtained by the two instruments were highly correlated (r = 0.95).In view of that negligible difference, no additional bias was seen with respect to the annual and the winter means estimated by the two different sampling strategies (the difference was 1.7 μg m⁻³ and 2.7 μg m⁻³, respectively). Monthly means, however, can only be considered to be a crude estimate that may substantially under- or overestimate the true monthly mean value.     

Banging heads onboard buses: Assessment scheme to improve injury mitigation for bus passengers

Abstract

Objective: Although bus travel is one of the safest modes of transport, a substantial number of bus passengers in London are still injured in collision and harsh maneuver incidents, in particular emergency braking. It is not well understood how these passengers are injured. The objective was to better understand the injury mechanisms and develop countermeasures with a test and assessment procedure to prevent or mitigate these injuries.

Methods: The UK national STATS19 data were used to determine the size of the problem. Data, including CCTV footage, in combination with inspection of current buses, were used to determine injury mechanisms and identify features and areas in buses associated with more injuries.

An assessment system based on visual inspection was developed to encourage a reduction in the number of features associated with injury.

Results: The STATS19 analysis showed that three quarters of all injured casualties occurred in incidents where there was no impact, with this proportion rising for seriously injured casualties. Overrepresentation of older females was also seen.

The CCTV analysis and bus examinations highlighted issues with poorly positioned handrails, lack of compartmentalization (restraint), and objects with sharp edges and corners. It also showed that a much higher proportion of passengers seated in the area close to the middle doors and wheelchair area were injured compared to other areas of the bus. Factors contributing to this result were that this area contained more features associated with injury and that persons with reduced mobility have greater exposure in this area; that is, more vulnerable passengers currently sit in the less safe areas of the bus.

Conclusions: A novel analysis of CCTV footage has enabled a better understanding of injury mechanisms for bus passengers to be developed. In combination with inspection of current buses, this has been used to develop an assessment system to improve the safety of buses in London.     

城市生活垃圾焚烧厂设计方案研究

本文章简要介绍了城市生活垃圾焚烧厂工艺参数、炉型结构、烟气处理、用地面积、设备配置、环境保护、工程投资和运行成本等内容的选择原则和设计方案。     

余热电站系统中的水泥窑余热锅炉

主要介绍了应用于水泥窑余热电站系统中的余热锅炉的特点及在设计、应用中应注意的问题。     

Promise and performance of agricultural nutrient management policy: Lessons from the Baltic Sea

Following decades of international collaboration to restore the Baltic Sea, we provide an assessment of the domestic implementation of measures agreed to limit diffuse agricultural pollution and the patterns of policy instruments applied. Despite the Helsinki Convention being unusually specific in detailing what measures countries should introduce, we find many shortcomings. These are most pronounced in the larger countries (Poland, Germany and Russia), while smaller countries perform better, notably Sweden and Estonia. The patterns of policy instruments applied differ, influenced by domestic politics. The limited use of complementary policy instruments suggests that other priorities overrule full and effective implementation, with engagement mirroring the advantages that a restored Baltic Sea can bring to countries. Using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to support farmers in managing nutrients, particularly advisory services and investments in modern manure management technologies, represents a significant opportunity for reducing agricultural pollution in most countries.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01549-3.     

Assessing the efficiency gains of improved spatial targeting of policy interventions; the example of an agri-environmental scheme

GIS-based spatial targeting is increasingly recognised as a potentially useful tool to design more efficient policy interventions. The use of this tool has also been advocated in the context of incentive-based agri-environmental schemes, but there has been little work to date to estimate the level of efficiency gains which it may help to achieve. This paper investigates the requirements to arrive at such estimates, using a Scottish farm woodland scheme as a case study. This agri-environmental scheme aims to provide visual amenity and biodiversity. Maps of these two benefits are used to develop improved spatial targeting scenarios that deliver significant efficiency gains in comparison to the existing scheme design. The paper discusses the nature of the spatial distribution of the relevant benefits at the landscape scale and the data requirements for the realistic estimation of efficiency gains. It concludes that although much work needs to be done, the methods available today could and should play a much greater role in improving the landscape-scale design of existing land use schemes focused on the delivery of non-market benefits.     

Evaluation of Generic Types of Drilling Fluid Using a Risk-Based Analytic Hierarchy Process

The composition of drilling muds is based on a mixture of clays and additives in a base fluid. There are three generic categories of base fluid - water, oil, and synthetic. Water-based fluids (WBFs) are relatively environmentally benign, but drilling performance is better with oil-based fluids (OBFs). The oil and gas industry developed synthetic-based fluids (SBFs), such as vegetable esters, olefins, ethers, and others, which provide drilling performance comparable to OBFs, but with lower environmental and occupational health effects. The primary objective of this paper is to present a methodology to guide decision-making in the selection and evaluation of three generic types of drilling fluids using a risk-based analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In this paper a comparison of drilling fluids is made considering various activities involved in the life cycle of drilling fluids.This paper evaluates OBFs, WBFs, and SBFs based on four major impacts—operations, resources, economics, and liabilities. Four major activities—drilling, discharging offshore, loading and transporting, and disposing onshore—cause the operational impacts. Each activity involves risks related to occupational injuries (safety), general public health, environmental impact, and energy use. A multicriteria analysis strategy was used for the selection and evaluation of drilling fluids using a risk-based AHP. A four-level hierarchical structure is developed to determine the final relative scores, and the SBFs are found to be the best option.     

应用QUAL2K模型模拟优选河道水体生态净化方案

以南京市十字河为例,采用潜没式生态床、生态浮床、生物接触氧化床3种技术组合为6种生态净化方案,通过在不同的单元输入不同的降解参数,用QUAL2K模型对6种不同的水处理技术组合方案进行模拟,通过对模拟效果的综合评价选取最佳方案。结果表明:上、中、下游依次设计为生物接触氧化床、生态浮床、潜没式生态床的处理效果最佳,其BOD、NH₃-N、TN和TP削减率分别为49.50%、32.81%、35.94%和45.27%。     

汉江中游水污染规律与控制方案研究

汉江中游是汉江流域的重要区段和历史文化名城襄樊市所在地 ,其水环境保护意义重大。干流襄樊市区上游水质良好 ,为Ⅱ～Ⅲ类 ;干流宜城段及除清溪河外的所有支流均污染严重。“九五”期间工业COD重于生活COD ,占 6 1.8% (1998)。预测“十五”期间生活COD重于工业COD ,占58.92 % ;污染负荷集中于襄樊市区、枣阳、襄阳三个流域段 ,共占COD总负荷的 75.32 % (1998) ;制浆造纸业COD在工业源中占 4 9.96 % (1998)。治理 6家重点工业源排污大户共需资金 930 0万元 ,削减COD 1772 6t/a。在工业源全面达标排放的基础上 ,“十五”期间安排了治理生活污水含A、B、C三种项目类型的三个工程方案。第一方案突出了襄樊市区、枣阳、老河口三市的生活污水治理 ,“十五”期间投资 4 80 0 0万元 ,削减COD 170 0 0t/a ,实现汉江中游全流域 2 0 0 5年的水质目标 ;第二方案总投资 6 980 0万元 ,削减COD 2 550 0t/a ,保证汉江中游全流域稳定地达水质目标 ;第三方案总投资7580 0万元 ,削减COD 2 910 0t/a ,为汉江中游水质进一步改善提供条件。建议保证第一方案 ,创造条件部分实施第二、第三方案