A Simple Intervention to Reduce Framing Effects in Perceptions of Global Climate Change

This paper explores a technique for mitigating framing effects in perceptions of global climate change. People's opinions on issues ranging from same sex marriage and the environment to free speech and health care have been shown to be influenced by the way in which the issue is presented: the metaphors, images, and catchphrases that communicate implicit normative messages about the issue. The work described here synthesizes insights from experimental research on moderators of framing effects and sociological research on frame reflection. Based on this synthesis, this paper describes a test of a simple highlighting technique for focusing respondents' attention on the framing operating in political materials. Results suggest that this intervention not only can reduce the opinion-shaping impact of frames but may also reduce ideological polarization. Implications include a better understanding of the mechanisms by which frames operate, techniques for making frame reflection possible among political non-elites, and recommendations for strengthening environmental groups' public communication strategies.     

人体呼出气中NO 作为超细颗粒物健康效应生物标记物的测量

建立了一个简易、准确的人体呼出气中NO(eNO) 测量方法,并利用该方法测量成人呼出气中NO的含量,10 名志愿者9d的NO 平均值为9.4±3.3μg·m-3.对测得的NO 值与大气颗粒物浓度进行相关性分析及回归分析,初步分析了超细颗粒物与eNO 的相关性,这些相关性说明了大气超细颗粒物对人体呼吸系统健康存在的潜在影响,而eNO 可作为这一效应的生物标记物.     

Interaction effect of micro- and macro-organic on the biogeochemical function of the sediment and aquatic interface

Constructed stormwater infiltration basins have been broad applied in urban areas in terms of stormwater disposal and compensation of reduced groundwater recharge. However, stormwater derived from sediments accumulating in infiltration beds may act as a source of dissolved contaminants for groundwater. Concentrations of DO, NO3-N, NO2^--N, NH4^＋-N and PO4^3--P were monitored at multiple depth with time. The results showed that the occurrence of denitrificarion was restrained by sediments in term of no invertebrates. Under the conditions of invertebrates inoculated, the concentrations of DO, NO^3--N, NO2^＋-N, NH4^＋-N and PO4^3＋-P varied respectively with time and the occurrence of nitrification and mobilizing nitrate in the sediment. It is concluded that there exist the invertebrate activities such as building tubes and galleries and excreting faecal pellet which may increase water dispersion and enhance accessibility of nutrient, and stimulate microbial process effected in the sediment. Besides, the natural death and rot of worms were also found to be important factors of the invertebrate activities.     

环境中微/纳米塑料的污染现状、分析方法、毒性评价及健康效应研究进展

微塑料是粒径小于5 mm的塑料颗粒,纳米塑料是粒径小于1 μm的塑料颗粒.微/纳米塑料广泛存在于各种环境介质中,由于其粒径小、比表面积大,很容易被直接吸入、经口食入或皮肤浸入至体内,造成毒害作用,危害健康.本文主要总结了环境中微/纳米塑料在水、大气、土壤和食品中的污染现状,阐述了其对生物体可能产生的毒性效应,探讨了其对...     

Ecotoxicological Classification of the Berlin River System Using Bioassays in Respect to the European Water Framework Directive

Bioassays as well as biochemical responses (biomarkers) in ecosystems due to environmental stress provide us with signals (environmentally signalling) of potential damage in the environment. If these responses are perceived in this early stage in ecosystems, the eventual damage can be prevented. Once ecosystem damage has occurred, the remedial action processes for recovery could be expensive and pose certain logistical problems. Ideally, “early warning signals” in ecosystems using sensing systems of biochemical responses (biomarkers) would not only tell us the initial levels of damage, but these signals will also provide us with answers by the development of control strategies and precautionary measures in respect to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Clear technical guidelines or technical specifications on monitoring are necessary to establish and characterise reference conditions for use in an ecological status classification system for surface water bodies. For the Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment (ERA) of endocrine effects we used an approach of the exposure – dose – response concept. Based on the “Ecototoxicological Classification System of Sediments” that uses pT-values to classify effects in different river systems, we transferred the bio-monitoring data to the five-level ecological system of the WFD. To understand the complexity of the structure of populations and processes behind the health of populations, communities and ecosystems an ERA should establish links between natural factors, chemicals, and biological responses so as to assess causality. So, our ecological monitoring assessment has incorporated exposure & effects data.     

Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative: Context and Prevailing Legacy

The Northern River Ecosystem Initiative (NREI), 1997–2004, has provided new scientific knowledge in response to specific recommendations from its predecessor, the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS), 1990–1996. The two initiatives together provide a remarkable body of science which is, and will continue to be, used by resource managers responsible for economic and environmental sustainability in the northern watersheds of Alberta. The NREI focused its investigative efforts on improving our understanding related to ecological considerations of changes in river flow, effect of climate change on flow, ecological responses to pollution and cumulative effects, vulnerability of drinking water quality, and to a lesser degree, wildlife (birds) response to large scale changes within the watersheds. Key findings are briefly presented in this paper and discussed in greater detail in the other NREI papers included in this. Commensurate with the undertakings of NREI, provincial and territorial governments, First Nation and Métis communities, and other administrative organizations such as the Mackenzie River Basin Board, undertook policy, regulatory, and watershed initiatives towards achieving sustainability and providing reliable drinking water quality.     

Sampling Scale Effects in Random Fields and Implications for Environmental Monitoring

The concept of a sampling scale triplet of spacing, extent and support is used to define the spatial dimensions of a monitoring network or a field study. The spacing is the average distance between samples, the extent is the size of the domain sampled and the support is the averaging area of one sample. The aim of this paper is to examine what is the bias and the random error (uncertainty) introduced by the sampling scale triplet into estimates of the mean, the spatial variance and the integral scale of a variable in a landscape. The integral scale is a measure of the average distance over which a variable is correlated in space. A large number of two dimensional random fields are generated from which hypothetical samples, conforming to a certain sampling scale triplet, are drawn which in turn are used to estimate the sample mean, spatial variance and integral scale. The results indicate that the biases can be up to two orders of magnitude. The bias of the integral scale is positively related to the magnitude of any of the components of the scale triplet while the bias of the spatial variance is different for different components of the scale triplet. All sampling scale effects are relative to the underlying correlation length of the variable of interest which is closely related to the integral scale. The integral scale can hence be used for sampling design and data interpretation. Suggestions are given on how to adjust a monitoring network to the scales of the variables of interest and how to interpret sampling scale effects in environmental data.     

Environmental and human exposure assessment monitoring of communities near an abandoned mercury mine in the Philippines: a toxic legacy

Abandoned mines are an important global concern and continue to pose real or potential threats to human safety and health including environmental damage/s. Very few countries had government mine regulation and reclamation policies until the latter part of the century where legal, financial and technical procedures were required for existing mining operations. Major reasons for mine closure may be mainly due to poor economies of the commodity making mining unprofitable, technical difficulties and national security. If the mine is abandoned, more often than not it is the government that shoulders the burden of clean-up, monitoring and remediation. The topic of abandoned mines is complex because of the associated financial and legal liability implications. Abandoned mercury mines have been identified as one of the major concerns because of their significant long-term environmental problems. Primary mercury production is still ongoing in Spain, Kyrgzystan, China, Algeria, Russia and Slovakia while world production declined substantially in the late 1980s. In the Philippines, the mercury mine located southeast of Manila was in operation from 1955 to 1976, before ceasing operation because of the decline in world market price for the commodity. During this time, annual production of mercury was estimated to be about 140,000 kg of mercury yearly. Approximately 2,000,000 t of mine-waste calcines (retorted ore) were produced during mining and roughly 1,000,000 t of these calcines were dumped into nearby Honda Bay to construct a jetty to facilitate mine operations where about 2000 people reside in the nearby three barangays. In October, 1994 the Department of Health received a request from the Provincial Health Office for technical assistance relative to the investigation of increasing complaints of unusual symptoms (e.g. miscarriages, tooth loss, muscle weakness, paralysis, anemia, tremors, etc.) among residents of three barangays. Initial health reports revealed significant elevation of blood mercury levels exceeding the then recommended exposure level of 20ppb in 12 out of the 43 (27.9%) residents examined. The majority of the volunteers were former mine workers. In this study the abnormal findings included gingivitis, mercury lines, gum bleeding and pterydium. The most common neurologic complaints were numbness, weakness, tremors and incoordination. Anemia and elevated liver function tests were also seen in a majority of those examined. The assessment also revealed a probable association between blood mercury level and eosinophilia. The same association was also seen between high mercury levels and the presence of tremors and working in the mercury mine. To date, there are very limited environmental and health studies on the impact of both total and methylmercury that have been undertaken in the Philippines. Thus, this area of study was selected primarily because of its importance as an emerging issue in the country, especially regarding the combined effects of total and methylmercury low-dose and continuous uptake from environmental sources. At present the effects of total mercury exposure combined with MeHg consumption remain an important issue, especially those of low-dose and continuous uptake. Results of the study showed that four (4) species of fish, namely ibis, tabas, lapu-lapu and torsillo, had exceeded the recommended total mercury and methylmercury levels in fish (NV>0.5 microg/gf.w., NV>0.3 microg/gf.w., respectively). Saging and kanuping also exceeded the permissible levels for methylmercury. Total and methylmercury in canned fish, and total mercury in rice, ambient air and drinking water were within the recommended levels, however, additional mercury load from these sources may contribute to the over-all body burden of mercury among residents in the area. Surface water quality at the mining area, Honda Bay and during some monitoring periods at Palawan Bay exceeded total mercury standards (NV>0.002 ng/mL). Soil samples in two sites, namely Tagburos and Honda Bay, exceeded the EPA Region 9 Primary Remediation Goal recommended values for total mercury for residential purposes (NV>23 mg/kg). The hand to mouth activity among infants and children is another significant route for mercury exposure. Statistically significant results were obtained for infants when comparing the results after one year of monitoring for methylmercury levels in hair for both exposed and control sub-groups. Likewise, comparing the initial and final hair methylmercury levels among pregnant women/mothers in the exposed group showed statistically significant (p<0.05) results. Comparing the exposed and control sub-groups' mercury hair levels per sub-group showed statistically significant results among the following: (a) initial and final total mercury hair levels among children, (b) initial and final methylmercury hair levels among children, (c) final total mercury hair levels among pregnant women, (d) initial and final total mercury hair levels among mothers, and (e) initial and final methyl hair levels among mothers.     

活性炭滤池深度处理水中有机物

生物活性炭滤池能有效去除常规工艺出水中CODMn、UV254、三氯甲烷生成势和一溴二氯甲烷生成势,但在相同水力停留时间下,新鲜活性炭滤池对这些有机物去除效果更显著。生物活性炭滤池出水二溴一氯甲烷生成势升高,而新鲜活性炭滤池对二溴一氯甲烷生成势有时有一定的去除效果。     

基于水动力数值模型的港口规划累积影响评价

累积影响评价是战略环境评价的主要方法和重要内容之一,但目前还缺乏通用的评价程序和方法.通过识别港口规划的累积影响源和途径,建立了基于水动力数值模型的累积影响评价的量化评估和分析框架.以厦门港嵩屿港区规划为例,通过对海湾纳潮量及各敏感点流速的模拟,计算淤积量及其分布变化,进而推测海域水质和底质变化,并分析了由此引起的海洋生物群落的变化趋势.通过比较不同岸线方案的累积影响,为港区岸线优选提供了科学判据.实践表明,该方法框架综合运用定量预测和定性分析手段,其结果能为港口规划的战略环境评价提供科学依据.