Characterization of Dust Storms to Hong Kong in April 1998

In April 1998, two intense dust storms were generated in CentralAsia and transported eastward across East Asia (15 and 19 April). This article presents the chemical characterization ofHong Kong (HK) aerosols during the dust storms. During the 15 Aprildust storm, hourly respiratory suspended particles (RSP)(particle diameter smaller than 10 m) concentrationsmonitored at 7 sites in Hong Kong reached the peak valuessynchronously between 9 and 11 a.m. on 17 April, in which thehighest concentration was 267 g m^-3. Analysis ofthe RSP samples showed that concentrations of crustalelements (Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mg, K⁺) and anthropogenicspecies (As, Ni, Pb, Zn, NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^-,SO₄ ^2- and total carbon) were substantiallyenhanced. Enhancement of these species was more than afactor of 2 to 14 relative to the non dust period. The totalcarbon content was high, at 59 g m^-3 (notincluding carbonate), and the enrichment factors of Asand Pb on 17 April were 122 and 117, respectively. Thisimplied that anthropogenic materials together with mineraldust were transported to HK from Mainland China. Based onmaterial balance calculations, mineral dust contributed41% to the observed RSP mass on 17 April, which was 2 times thatof the nondust sample (22%). From the 5-day backwardtrajectory analysis, this storm was transported directlyfrom Northwest China to HK. However, there was nocorresponding observation for the 19 April dust stormaerosol. Consequently, 15 April storm had stronger impact onHK's atmosphere than 19 April storm. Compared to the HK AirQuality Objective, 15 April dust storm did not cause seriousair pollution in HK.     

新疆油田稠油开发固体废物对环境的影响及处置措施

新疆油田九1～九5区稠油开发过程中,产生了大量的固体废物,主要包括落地原油、废钻井液和岩屑及原油处理站的含油泥砂,如果处理不当,会对环境造成极大的危害。通过对各主要污染物的环境影响分析,提出了几种针对性的防治措施,以确保油田开发实现清洁生产,达到经济效益、环境效益和社会效益统一。     

社区居民参与的激励因素——"周庄现象"的思考

从对“周庄现象”的思考提出了为实现旅游可持续发展而激励旅游地居民参与的两种因素——物质激励因素及非物质激励因素，分析了两种激励因素的运用与作用机理，认为激励手段的使用要根据旅游地的发展阶段有重点地确定，这样才能激发旅游地居民积极参与到旅游业的发展中去。     

四川青衣江上游若壁小沟泥石流及其防治对策

若壁小沟为四川青衣江上游左岸的一级支沟,该沟处于深切割高山峡谷区,地形坡度陡,构造发育,岩石破碎,加之较为丰富的降雨,使该沟具备泥石流暴发的条件。该沟如果暴发泥石流,将对某电站拟建厂房产生威胁。该沟泥石流具有成灾快、危害严重、松散固体物质以坡面崩塌补给为主、活动频率中等等特征。通过野外考察和取样分析,该沟泥石流的性质和类型为中频率—中~大规模—低~高粘度泥石质泥石流。分析预测了该沟泥石流在强烈地震条件下、近期出现不同频率暴雨情况下及人类活动影响下的发展趋势。在此基础上,提出了该沟泥石流减灾工程规划方案。     

湖南传统村落的防御性特征

防御性在中国传统村落的规划和建设中具有很高的研究价值。通过分析湖南传统村落在选址、空间形态、防火和建筑装饰等方面的防御性特征,指出传统村落的物质防御和精神防卫等防御理念具有明显的先进性与科学性。两个方面共同作用,所营造的传统村落的安全居住环境,是中国传统文化因素中的心理安全防御意识在具体环境中的物化体现,是中国传统哲学观念和生态环境观念的有机统一,指出传统村落的防御性在当今和谐社会宜居社区的规划和建设中的借鉴意义。     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed:
Thomas Drabek, Disaster-induced Employee Evacuation
Hugh Brammer, Agricultural Disaster Management in Bangladesh
Boris Porfiriev, Disaster Planning and Emergency Management in Russia
Patrick Bracken and Celia Petty, eds, Rethinking the Trauma of War
R. Cohen and F. M. Deng, eds, The Forsaken People: Case Studies of the Internally Displaced
Tom Trier and Lars Funch Hansen, eds, Conflict and Forced Displacement in the Caucasus: Perspectives, Challenges and Responses     

Radon exhalation from building materials for decorative use

Long-term exposure to radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer. There is considerable public concern about radon exhalation from building materials and the contribution to indoor radon levels. To address this concern, radon exhalation rates were determined for 53 different samples of drywall, tile and granite available on the Canadian market for interior home decoration. The radon exhalation rates ranged from non-detectable to 312 Bq m⁻² d⁻¹. Slate tiles and granite slabs had relatively higher radon exhalation rates than other decorative materials, such as ceramic or porcelain tiles. The average radon exhalation rates were 30 Bq m⁻² d⁻¹ for slate tiles and 42 Bq m⁻² d⁻¹ for granite slabs of various types and origins. Analysis showed that even if an entire floor was covered with a material having a radon exhalation rate of 300 Bq m⁻² d⁻¹, it would contribute only 18 Bq m⁻³ to a tightly sealed house with an air exchange rate of 0.3 per hour. Generally speaking, building materials used in home decoration make no significant contribution to indoor radon for a house with adequate air exchange.     

Adsorption behavior of ammonium by a bioadsorbent - Boston ivy leaf powder

The adsorption behaviors of ammonium ions from aqueous solution by a novel bioadsorbent,the Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) leaf powder (BPTL) were investigated.The SEM images and FT-IR spectra were used to characterize BPTL.The mathematical models were used to analyze the adsorption kinetics and isotherms.The optimum pH range for ammonium adsorption by BPTL was found to be 5-10.The adsorption reached equilibrium at 14 hr,and the kinetic data were well fitted by the Logistic model.The intraparticle diffusion was the main rate-controlling step of the adsorption process.The high temperature was favorableto the ammonium adsorption by BPTL,indicating that the adsorption was endothermic.The adsorption equilibrium fitted well to both the Langrnuir model and Freundlich model,and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacities calculated from Langmuir model were 3.37,5.28 and 6.59 mg N/g at 15,25 and 35℃,respectively,which were comparable to those by reported minerals.Both the separation factor (RL) from the Langmuir model and Freundlich exponent (n) suggested that the ammonium adsorption by BPTL was favorable.Therefore,the Boston ivy leaf powder could be considered a novel bioadsorbent for ammonium removal from aqueous solution.     

聚丙烯基高分子功能材料吸附卷烟烟气中多种有害成分的应用

为了寻找能同时降低卷烟烟气中甲醛、乙醛、巴豆醛和颗粒物有害成分含量的离子交换树脂吸附材料,采用电镜扫描方法观察聚丙烯基阳离子树脂高分子功能材料的表面特征,应用压汞法分析其平均孔径、中值孔径、比孔容和比表面积,并测试了该材料的交换容量,采用环境试验舱检测法对比测试了该材料和活性炭降低卷烟烟气中甲醛、乙醛、巴豆醛和颗粒物有害成分含量的效果.结果表明,聚丙烯基高分子功能材料表面多斑点状突起,凹凸状明显,微孔和缝隙多,平均孔径为0.26 μm,中值孔径为149.3 μm,比孔容为19.23 cm3/g,比表面积为293.42 m2/g,交换容量为5.16 mmol/g,对烟气中甲醛、乙醛、巴豆醛和颗粒物的净化率分别达到79.6％、79.8％、82.8％和64.7％,而活性炭的净化率分别为20.3％、0、6.4％和54.2％.研究表明,该聚丙烯基高分子功能材料具有物理吸附和化学吸附性能,净化卷烟烟气中多种有害成分的效果明显优于活性炭.     

Spatial allocation of material flow analysis in residential developments: a case study of Kildare County,Ireland

Studies of urban metabolism provide important insights for environmental management of cities, but are not widely used in planning practice due to a mismatch of data scale and coverage. This paper introduces the Spatial Allocation of Material Flow Analysis (SAMFA) model as a potential decision support tool aimed as a contribution to overcome some of these difficulties and describes its pilot use at the county level in the Republic of Ireland. The results suggest that SAMFA is capable of identifying hotspots of higher material and energy use to support targeted planning initiatives, while its ability to visualise different policy scenarios supports more effective multi-stakeholder engagement. The paper evaluates this pilot use and sets out how this model can act as an analytical platform for the industrial ecology–spatial planning nexus.