The accumulation levels of heavy metals (Ni,Cr, Sr, & Ag) in marine algae from southwest coast of India

In the context of use of marine algae as biological indicators of heavy metal pollution in coastal waters, six species of marine algae collected from the southwest coast of India were analysed for the levels of heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Sr, and Ag). Interspecies and interclass variations were determined on a spatial and temporal scale. The metal contents varied in the ranges, Ni: 0.20–21.06?µg?g^?1 (mean?=?10.13?µg?g^?1), Cr: non-detectable level (ND)–37.18?µg?g^?1 (mean?=?13.86?µg?g^?1), Sr: 2.19–103.90?µg?g^?1 (mean =?29.40?µg?g^?1), and Ag: ND–6.39?µg?g^?1 (mean?=?1.80?µg?g^?1). Ni and Cr contents were of similar magnitude to those reported for algae from polluted areas.     

Blood lead level in the children of western Uttar Pradesh,India

The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead levels (blls) of children under an age of 5 years living in western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 100 blood samples, 100 drinking water samples, and 21 vegetable samples were assessed for lead contamination. Blood levels in the range of 30–116?µg?L^?1 were observed at Kazipur village. The levels of lead in water samples were reported to be in the range of 0.006–0.095?ppm and identified at up to 9.5 times the stated permissible limit. A significant positive correlation (+0.679) was obtained between blls and water lead levels. All vegetable samples were also contaminated with lead up to 12 times higher than the permissible limit of 2.5?mg?kg^?1 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954. The cottage lead battery industry, industrial effluents, and lead paints were identified as possible factors for lead incidence in the study area. Lead may be associated with increased antisocial activities of the children living in western Uttar Pradesh. Children with elevated blls had poorer nutritional status than those with normal levels, and parents did not know that lead causes health problems. A national population-based study is recommended to determine the prevalence of elevated blls.     

Risk assessment of children's blood lead level in some rural habitations of western Uttar Pradesh,India

The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead level (BLL) of children aged under 5 living in western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 100 blood samples, 100 drinking water samples, and 21 vegetable samples were assessed for lead (Pb) contamination. BLL was observed in the range of 3–11.58?µg?dL^?1 with a maximal level of 11.58?±?0.05?µg?dL^?1 in Kazipur village. Lead in water samples was detected in the range of 0.006–0.095?ppm and identified at upto 9.5-fold higher than the stated permissible limit. A significant positive correlation (+0.679) was obtained between BLL and water Pb levels. All vegetable samples were also contaminated with Pb upto 12-fold higher than the permissible limit of 2.5?µg?g^?1 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954. Untreated industrial effluents were identified as the responsible factors for Pb occurrence in the study area. The presence of lead may be associated with the increased antisocial activities of children living in western Uttar Pradesh. Children with elevated BLL had poorer nutritional status than those with background Pb levels. There is an urgent need for a national campaign to monitor the BLL of children in India.     

Joint protected area management: a proposal for the management of Sanctuaries and National Parks in India

SUMMARY

With the aim of evaluating the biotic pressure on a protected area, Kuldiha Sanctuary in Orissa, India was taken as a case study. In the 19 villages lying within a 1 km radius of the Sanctuary, there are 9814 people with 19% literacy. Tribals constitute 73.3% of the population. Some 7507 head loaders collect firewood from the Sanctuary every day. In addition, 37 297 cattle enter the forest for grazing. Consequently alienating the people depending on the Sanctuary in the management and conservation of wild flora and fauna is not only futile but also detrimental to the socio-cultural-economic fabric of the ecosystem of the people. In this study, involvement of the local community in the protection and management of the Sanctuary and National Park is proposed and methods of implementation, funding and a legal framework are discussed.     

Probabilistic cost‐benefit analysis of disaster risk management in a development context

Limited studies have shown that disaster risk management (DRM) can be cost‐efficient in a development context. Cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is an evaluation tool to analyse economic efficiency. This research introduces quantitative, stochastic CBA frameworks and applies them in case studies of flood and drought risk reduction in India and Pakistan, while also incorporating projected climate change impacts. DRM interventions are shown to be economically efficient, with integrated approaches more cost‐effective and robust than singular interventions. The paper highlights that CBA can be a useful tool if certain issues are considered properly, including: complexities in estimating risk; data dependency of results; negative effects of interventions; and distributional aspects. The design and process of CBA must take into account specific objectives, available information, resources, and the perceptions and needs of stakeholders as transparently as possible. Intervention design and uncertainties should be qualified through dialogue, indicating that process is as important as numerical results.     

东北三省畜禽养殖环境风险时空特征

以东北三省土壤、水体的环境保护为出发点,基于研究区192个县畜禽养殖量数据,采用畜禽单元和养分排泄系数法,通过AD(畜禽养殖密度),粪便TN、TP耕地负荷来评估三期(2000年、2005年和2010年)不同尺度(省、县和流域)下畜禽养殖的潜在环境风险,并对其环境风险进行综合评价. 结果表明:①三期东北三省畜禽养殖的环境风险在2005年最为显著,基中AD达到Ⅲ级(AD>2.00 AU/hm2)的县市高达54个,畜禽粪便TN、TP耕地负荷达到Ⅳ级水平的县市共有50个,2010年有所缓解,而2000年最低;②三省中辽宁省畜禽养殖的环境风险最高(三期该省AD均大于2.00 AU/hm2,畜禽粪便TN、TP耕地负荷均分别在115和15 kg/hm2以上),吉林省次之,黑龙江省较低;③分县畜禽养殖密度及粪便TN、TP耕地负荷较高的区域主要集中在松花江水系南部以及辽河流域的大部分地区,具体行政区域为吉林省中南部和辽宁省大部,而黑龙江省有继续发展的空间.      

土地发展权视角下东北粮食主产区农村宅基地退出补偿及增值收益分配研究

实现公平补偿、增值收益合理分配是推进农村宅基地顺利退出的关键。论文以土地发展权为视角,采用模型测算方法,从宅基地复垦为耕地产生机会成本损失和置换新增建设用地指标产生增值收益两个方面,构建宅基地退出补偿及增值收益分配理论模型,并以东北粮食主产区——哈尔滨市为研究区进行实证模拟。结果表明：1）城乡建设用地增减挂钩背景下,退出的宅基地整理复垦为耕地,产生的机会成本损失补偿给农户和村集体,空间置换的新增建设用地产生的增值收益来自政府和开发商的资本投入,政府和开发商有权分享其土地增值收益;2）研究区农户、村集体、政府和开发商应获得宅基地退出补偿及增值收益分配比例分别为41.5%、6.5%、27.1%、24.9%;3）基于土地发展权的宅基地退出补偿及增值收益分配,不仅兼顾了效率和公平,也符合通过政府调控手段和市场调节机制相结合的方式对宅基地有偿退出制度改革的方向。     

Animal Consciousness and Ethics in Asia and the Pacific

The interactions between humans, animals and the environment have shaped human values and ethics, not only the genes that we are made of. The animal rights movement challenges human beings to reconsider interactions between humans and other animals, and maybe connected to the environmental movement that begs us to recognize the fact that there are symbiotic relationships between humans and all other organisms. The first part of this paper looks at types of bioethics, the implications of autonomy and the value of being alive. Then the level of consciousness of these relationships are explored in survey results from Asia and the Pacific, especially in the 1993 International Bioethics Survey conducted in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore and Thailand. Very few mentioned animal consciousness in the survey, but there were more biocentric comments in Australia and Japan; and more comments with the idea of harmony including humans in Thailand. Comparisons between questions and surveys will also be made, in an attempt to describe what people imagine animal consciousness to be, and whether this relates to human ethics of the relationships. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

东北区低温冷害风险评估及区划

从变异系数、正态分布风险概率、风险指数三方面对东北区热量条件的稳定性和低温冷害的风险进行了讨论和评估;并将上述三种风险指标极差化,以求取低温冷害的综合风险指数,最后以综合风险指数为指标,并参考变异系数、正态分布风险概率、风险指数,给出了东北区低温冷害风险区划。     

东北地区水稻热量指数预测模型

利用1961-2000年的逐月气温资料,计算了东北地区3省和全区水稻的热量指数.通过对热量指数和大气环流资料的统计分析,建立了6个预测水稻热量指数的预测模型和1个集成模型,各模型都能较好地预测东北地区各省及全区的水稻生长发育期间的热量状况.检验结果表明,所有模型的准确率较高,且稳定性较好.7个模型预测辽宁省、黑龙江省、吉林省和全区水稻热量指数的平均准确率都在90%以上,其中辽宁省的准确率最高,都在97%以上,预测效果最好,黑龙江省的平均准确率最小,但也都在91%以上.从不同类型的模型来看,集成模型的预测效果最好,准确率最高.