Low blood lead levels and hemoglobin concentrations in preschool children in China

It is well known that lead (Pb) produces reduced haemoglobin (Hb) levels and risk of anemia when blood lead levels (BPb) are greater than 20?µg?dL^?1. Two recent studies reported an increased risk of anemia in children with BPb between 10–20?µg?dL^?1, but few studies examined the association between Hb levels or risk of anemia and BPb under 10?µg?dL^?1. In the present study this association was examined using data of 140 preschool children from a larger prospective cohort study in China. Data showed that compared to children with BPb <5?µg?dL^?1, children with BPb between 7.5–10?µg?dL^?1 had significantly lower Hb levels, but there were no marked differences for other groups. A linear regression model showed a negative relationship between BPb and Hb levels after controlling for age, gender, height, weight, and iron (Fe) deficiency. This finding, although limited by a small sample size, suggests it may be important to examine Pb-induced hemosynthesis effect at concentrations less than 10?µg?dL^?1.     

Sources and Distribution of Heavy Metals in East China Sea Surface Sediments

Box cores and surficial sediments collected from the shelf, slope and Okinawa Trough of the East China Sea were analyzed for loss on ignition, and concentration and speciation of Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn. in general, concentrations of these metals are higher in the inner shelf and lower in the midshelf, but the highest LOI, Cd and Mn levels are found in the Okinawa Trough. Spatial distributions of these metals in surficial sediments indicate that the Yangtze River is the major source for materials deposited in the inner shelf. the results of a six-stage sequential leaching experiment indicate that the fluvial input includes natural (e.g., Al and Fe) and anthropogenic (e.g., Pb) materials. the depletion concentration of these metals in the midshelf sediments reflects the dominance (～ 70%) of coarse, relict sand, while the enrichments in the inner shelf and the Okinawa Trough sediments are due to the fine grained, organic-rich sediments. the speciation of Mn in the sediments of the Okinawa Trough indicates that its distribution is diagentically or hydrothermally controlled.     

Evaluation of the sustainable land use status of the North China Plain

The North China Plain is one of the most important production areas for wheat and maize in China, and also has the densest agricultural population in China. How to use and develop the limited land resources reasonably, and improve and protect them, have become issues of major concern. This paper is based on sustainability theory, reviewing the fundamental principles of sustainability, and developing an index system with which to evaluate the sustainability status of land use. We also use this method to evaluate the land-use status of the North China Plain and to analyze current factors affecting sustainable land use in this area. In addition, we propose a specific method for evaluating sustainable land use.     

China's dairy crisis: impacts,causes and policy implications for a sustainable dairy industry

The dairy industry is an important part of the global economy, and the rapidly developing dairy enterprises in China have become increasingly important to the rest of the world. Due to increasing demand for dairy products and support from the government, China's dairy industry has thrived in recent decades. But rapid growth has been accompanied by a suite of industry/structural problems associated with raw milk supply, processing enterprises, product retailing and profit allocation. Thus, a major dairy crisis took place in 2008, triggered by a notorious melamine-contaminated milk event. The dairy crisis has had devastating impacts on China's dairy industry, negatively affecting farmers, consumers, processing enterprises and even government agencies. The Chinese government has developed rigorous measures to prevent future incidents of this sort, including the enactment of the Food Safety Law and reinstatement of the no-exemption quality inspection of food products. In this paper, we analyse the wide-ranging impacts and root causes of the recent dairy crisis in China. We also examine how the crisis has been handled and what measures have been put in place in its aftermath. Then we discuss policy implications for promoting the sustainability of China's dairy industry. Lessons learned from this crisis, as well as implications for policy improvements, should be valuable for the development of a sustainable dairy industry in other regions of the world.     

Incorporating greenhouse gas effects to evaluate energy efficiency in China

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions without hampering economic growth is a significant issue for China. Taking into account environmental sustainability principles, this study analysed the energy efficiency of 30 regions of China for the period 2002–2007. By employing a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, this study included undesirable CO₂ and SO₂ outputs and the desirable GDP output in the model. Empirical outcomes demonstrated that the overall average technical efficiency (TE) of China is 0.843, indicating a 15.70% input inefficiency. Among three geographic areas, the east has the highest technical efficiency, with the highest ability to set up clean-burning power plants based on best technology available. Performance in the west is less good because of much inefficient technology. Finally, the study demonstrates detailed management implications of the BCG matrix. The most important contribution of this paper is a detailed demonstration of an energy performance evaluation mechanism for China. The valuable results and insights gained can be equally effectively applied to studies in other developing countries facing the same gaseous emissions.     

中国碳排放的区域差异及其与经济增长的关联分析

采用政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)的碳排放测算方法,计算了除香港、澳门、台湾和西藏外中国30个省(市、自治区)1995-2010年的碳排放量,并选取碳排放总量、碳排放强度和人均碳排放量3个指标,运用多指标面板数据聚类法,将各省份划分为高、中和低碳排放区域:高碳排放区域包括河北、山西、内蒙古、辽宁、山东和宁夏,低碳排放区域包括北京、浙江、安徽、福建、江西、湖北、湖南、广东、广西、海南、重庆、四川、云南、陕西和青海,中碳排放区域包括天津、吉林、黑龙江、上海、江苏、河南、贵州、甘肃和新疆.分别对3类地区的人均碳排放量和人均GDP进行协整检验和回归分析,结果显示人均碳排放量和人均GDP存在长期协整关系且符合环境库兹涅茨曲线,高、中和低碳排放区域的理论曲线拐点分别为人均GDP 41 046、50 219和47 049元.今后一段时期内我国碳排放总量还将继续增长,但GDP的增长速度大于碳排放量的增长速度,碳排放强度会继续下降.     

Advances in LID BMPs research and practice for urban runoff control in China

China is at present experiencing a very rapid urbanization process, which has brought a number of adverse impacts upon the water environment. In particular, urban runoff quantity and quality control have emerged as one of the key concerns for municipal officials. One of the strategies being considered is the use of a Low Impact Development type of Best Management Practices (LID BMPs) for urban storm water runoff quantity and quality control. In this paper, the situation surrounding urban runoff control in China is reviewed first. Then the conventional strategy and technologies for the construction and management of urban drainage systems are discussed, while exploring their inherent dilemmas. The LID BMPs are then introduced to control urban runoff in the context of urban sustainable water systems. After the comprehensive analysis of the various LID BMPs, the advances in LID BMPs research and practice for urban runoff control in China are investigated and summarized. At last, the difficulties of implementing LID BMPs in China are discussed, and a direction for the future is proposed.     

施肥及秸秆还田处理下玉米季温室气体的排放

以华北地区冬小麦-夏玉米轮作农田为研究对象,在玉米整个生长季,运用静态箱法针对正常施肥及正常施肥结合秸秆还田处理进行了为期3年N2O排放通量的连续观测,并开展了1季CO2和CH4交换通量的研究.在玉米整个生长过程中施肥阶段N2O的排放量占到了总排放量的83%—96%,表明现有化肥的使用明显导致了农田N2O排放增加.与控制地相比,施肥和耕种可导致玉米田CO2排放明显增加,且正常施肥及秸秆还田样地CO2排放主要集中在苗期至吐丝期.控制地、正常施肥样地及施肥结合秸秆还田样地CH4的累积排放量均为负值,说明旱地土壤是CH4的一个汇.秸秆还田在一定程度上增加了玉米季N2O和CO2的排放量,但对CH4的吸收有所抑制.正常施肥样地和秸秆还田样地全球净增温潜势分别为-1392.8 kg C.hm-2和-179.2 kg C.hm-2,表明华北农田在现有耕作方式下是大气温室气体的一种重要汇.     

川西亚高山暗针叶林恢复初期土壤酶活性研究

研究以川西亚高山暗针叶林恢复过程中初级阶段的鲜类阔叶林（MBLF）、鲜类针阔混交林（MCBLF）和箭竹阔叶林（BBLF）土壤为研究对象,针对不同森林类型采用多点分层[0-10 cm（A层）、10-20 cm（B层）、20-30 cm（C层）和30-40 cm（D层）]采样、测定混合样的方式,研究了不同森林类型不同土层土壤的pH值、有机碳、全氮、全磷含量及脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、淀粉酶、过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶和蔗糖酶活性。研究结果表明,MBLF、MCBLF、BBLF不同土层土壤pH值均低于5.0,有机碳、全氮、全磷含量呈下降趋势,且有机碳、全氮与A层土壤差异显著（P〈0.05）。MBLF和BBLF随土层深度的增加脲酶活性较A层呈显著下降趋势（P〈0.05）,而MCBLF土壤脲酶活性以B、C层活性最高,分别为A层的1.22和1.08倍。蔗糖酶和酸性磷酸酶活性呈现先升后降的趋势,均以MCBLF活性最高;在林型MCBLF和BBLF中,随着土层深度的增加,蛋白酶和淀粉酶活性较A层显著降低（P〈0.05）,而MBLF、MCBLF、BBLF过氧化氢酶活性则一直呈显著下降趋势（P〈0.05）,D层过氧化氢酶活性分别为A层的60.21%、73.37%和46.84%。     

嘉峪关市中心城区扩张过程及其景观特征变化

以中国干旱区嘉峪关市1986、1996、2006和2010年Landsat TM/ETM＋影像为数据源,采用道路扩展和城市建设用地扩张强度反映城区建设扩张过程,同时分析了城市景观类型的斑块特征和结构特征,研究结果表明：1）嘉峪关市中心城区主干道路扩展显著,城市面积增加明显。1986—2010年间嘉峪关市道路长度增加了100.20 km,城市面积从1986年的2 220.03hm^2增加到2010年的5 048.22hm^2,年均扩张强度指数达5.10%。2）城市景观格局变化显著,建设用地、城市绿地和水体分别增加了2 003.74hm^2、655.30hm^2和169.15hm^2,未利用地则减少2 828.19hm^2。建设用地和城市绿地破碎度增加,未利用地破碎度减少。3）城市景观斑块类型更趋均衡化,整体景观和异质性多样性增加。4）城市扩张是嘉峪关城市绿地和水体明显增加的重要原因,人类活动对城市生态环境的影响逐渐增强。