Valuing improvements to threatened and endangered marine species: an application of stated preference choice experiments

Non-market valuation research has produced value estimates for over forty threatened and endangered (T&E) species, including mammals, fish, birds, and crustaceans. Increasingly, Stated Preference Choice Experiments (SPCE) are utilized for valuation, as the format offers flexibility for policy analysis and may reduce certain types of response biases relative to the more traditional Contingent Valuation method. Additionally, SPCE formats can allow respondents to make trade-offs among multiple species, providing information on the distinctiveness of preferences for different T&E species. In this paper we present results of an SPCE involving three U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed species: the Puget Sound Chinook salmon, the Hawaiian monk seal, and the smalltooth sawfish. We estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) values for improving each species' ESA listing status and statistically compare these values between the three species using a method of convolutions approach. Our results suggest that respondents have distinct preferences for the three species, and that WTP estimates differ depending on the species and the level of improvement to their ESA status. Our results should be of interest to researchers and policy-makers, as we provide value estimates for three species that have limited, if any, estimates available in the economics literature, as well as new information about the way respondents make trade-offs among three taxonomically different species.     

Sustainable options of post treatment of UASB effluent treating sewage: A review

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process is reported to be a sustainable technology for domestic wastewaters treatment in developing countries and for small communities. However, the inability of UASB process to meet the desired disposal standards has given enough impetus for subsequent post treatment. In order to upgrade the UASB based sewage treatment plants (STPs) to achieve desired effluent quality for disposal or for reuse, various technological options are available and broadly differentiated as primary post-treatment for the removal of organic and inorganic compounds and suspended matter; secondary post-treatment for the removal of hardly degradable soluble matter, colloidal and nutrients; and polishing systems for removals of pathogens. Hence, this paper discusses the different systems for the treatment of UASB reactor effluent treating sewage. Additionally, a comparative review, an economic evaluation of some of the emerging options was conducted and based on the extensive review of different integrated combination, i.e. UASB-different aerobic systems, a treatment concept based on natural biological mineralization route recognized as an advanced technology to meet all practical aspects to make it a sustainable for environmental protection, resource preservation and recovering maximum resources.     

作业疲劳测量方法对比研究

作业疲劳是导致生产效率下降、事故发生的重要原因之一。研究作业疲劳对提高生产效率、减少事故的发生,以及保护劳动者安全和健康具有重要意义。而作业疲劳测量方法是作业疲劳研究的前提和基础。因此,本文首先对作业疲劳的分类及其导致疲劳的原因进行了简单概述,并归纳总结了目前常用的几种作业疲劳测量方法,包括：主观感觉询问表评价法、生理参数测试法、生物化学测试法、心理学测试方法以及几种方法相结合的综合测试方法,并分析了上述几种作业疲劳测量方法的测量目的、适用范围、以及各自的优缺点,且针对不同研究目的提出了作业疲劳测量方法的选择和使用原则,并探讨了几个重点作业疲劳测量方法的研究方向,以及作业疲劳测量方法的完善方法。     

高校环境专业实验教学存在的问题及对策

实验教学在高校环境专业教学工作中发挥着越来越重要的作用。通过对高校环境专业实验教学的现状和所存在的问题进行分析,提出了优化实验教学内容、改进实验教学方法和考核方式等改进措施,以提高高校环境专业实验教学水平。     

Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States1

Preston, Stephen D., Richard B. Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, and Charles G. Crawford, 2011. Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(5):891‐915. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00577.x Abstract: We compared the results of 12 recently calibrated regional SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) models covering most of the continental United States to evaluate the consistency and regional differences in factors affecting stream nutrient loads. The models – 6 for total nitrogen and 6 for total phosphorus – all provide similar levels of prediction accuracy, but those for major river basins in the eastern half of the country were somewhat more accurate. The models simulate long‐term mean annual stream nutrient loads as a function of a wide range of known sources and climatic (precipitation, temperature), landscape (e.g., soils, geology), and aquatic factors affecting nutrient fate and transport. The results confirm the dominant effects of urban and agricultural sources on stream nutrient loads nationally and regionally, but reveal considerable spatial variability in the specific types of sources that control water quality. These include regional differences in the relative importance of different types of urban (municipal and industrial point vs. diffuse urban runoff) and agriculture (crop cultivation vs. animal waste) sources, as well as the effects of atmospheric deposition, mining, and background (e.g., soil phosphorus) sources on stream nutrients. Overall, we found that the SPARROW model results provide a consistent set of information for identifying the major sources and environmental factors affecting nutrient fate and transport in United States watersheds at regional and subregional scales.     

Inverse calculation approaches for source determination in hazardous chemical releases

Source determination is vital in decision making and emergency planning involving hazardous chemical releases. This work was concentrated on inverse calculation approaches for source determination as well as current trends and future perspectives. In this paper, these different approaches are reviewed by dividing them into two categories: probability modeling methods and optimization modeling methods. The traits of these approaches are comparatively analyzed. Then it is shown how these approaches behave when applied to practical cases, and their feasibility, applicability, stability, and limitation in determining the location and strength are presented. It is argued that when experimenting with potential terrorist attacks involving hazardous chemical releases, observation points should be around the main line of the downwind direction when the source is known; while the uniform distribution of observation points is an efficient solution for unknown incidents. Probability modeling methods are demonstrated to be insufficient during emergency responses due to their lacking of enough prior information of unknown parameters, while optimization modeling methods are efficient and become a new trend in source determination. Findings reflect an urgent need for the development of high-accuracy detectors and further research of data transmission techniques in order to ensure the validity of these approaches.     

中国生活源固体垃圾产生和处理及其N2O排放

核算和评估固体垃圾产生和处理及其N₂O排放具有重要的现实和指导意义.本研究以中国为例（2008—2017年）,建立了固体垃圾产生、处理和N₂O排放核算框架.结果表明,10年间中国固体垃圾产生量上升了34.6%,年均6.13亿t,生活垃圾（48.6%）和工业日用品垃圾（24.6%）是主要贡献源;处理格局仍以填埋为主（占53.0%）,焚烧为辅（25.5%）;堆弃（42.5%）和焚烧（31.2%）是固体垃圾处理中N₂O气体的主要排放源,堆肥占21.9%,填埋处理排放最少（4.4%）;固体垃圾处理产生的渗滤液逐年增加,渗滤液排放的N₂O占固体垃圾处理N₂O排放总量的41.7%,生活垃圾产生的渗滤液是其主要排放源.加大垃圾分类处理和资源化利用力度,加强农村生活垃圾处理处置能力、减少垃圾堆弃量及提高垃圾处理技术对固体垃圾的产生及其N₂O排放减排至关重要.     

有证标准样品的应用及其管理方法探讨

介绍了有证标准样品的定义和主要作用,详细阐述了有证标准样品在检测实验室的7个主要应用领域、正确使用指南和科学管理方法,以保证检测实验室检测结果的准确和量值溯源性。     

焦化废水处理技术的发展

焦化废水主要来自焦化厂和煤气厂，污染物组成复杂，含有挥发酚、许多难以生物降解的芳香族有机物、多环化合物和氧硫氮等杂环化合物，属较难生化降解的高浓度有机工业废水。因此焦化废水的处理难度大，已引起国内外人士的关注，一直是国内外废水处理领域的一大难题。文章阐述了焦化废水的处理技术发展及其近年来发展的新技术。     

建立我国战略环境评价理论与方法体系

战略环境评价是环境影响评价在战略层次上的应用，是具体落实可持续发展战略的重要工具。在分析其现实意义的基础上，提出我国战略环境评价理论与方法体系的主要研究内容，就建立我国战略环境评价理论与方法提出建议。