A case study of dioxin monitoring in and around an industrial waste incinerator in Korea

Many studies have been conducted that monitor and trace the sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans (PCDD/Fs) by comparing congener patterns of environmental samples with those of possible sources. In this study, we measured PCDD/F concentrations and compared congener patterns of samples of various media found in and around an industrial waste incinerator in Korea, including stack gas, fly ash, bottom ash, ambient air, soil, pine needle, and human blood. We obtained reliable data on the relationship between the PCDD/F distributions in these sources and the environment, and thus found indicators with which to assess the impact of such sources on the surrounding environment. In addition, the difference between the levels of PCDD/Fs in the blood of short-term workers and long-term workers demonstrates that these workers are exposed to the compounds produced by the indicator.     

Effects of Bridge Shading on Estuarine Marsh Benthic Invertebrate Community Structure and Function

The effect of bridge shading on estuarine marsh food webs was assessed by comparing benthic invertebrate communities beneath seven highway bridges with marshes outside of bridge-affected areas (reference marshes). We used light attenuation and height–width ratio (HW ratio), which takes into account the two main bridge characteristics that determine the degree of shading, to quantify the impact of shading on invertebrate communities. Low bridges, with HW ratio <0.7 and light attenuation greater than 85–90%, had benthic invertebrate densities and diversity that were significantly lower than reference marshes. Density of benthic invertebrates at low bridges was 25–52% (29,685–72,920 organisms/m²) of densities measured in adjacent reference marshes (119,329–173,351 organisms/m²). Likewise, there were fewer taxa under low bridges (5.8/11.35 cm² core) as compared to the reference marshes (9.0/11.35 cm² core). Density of numerically dominant taxa (e.g., oligochaetes and nematodes) as well as surface- and subsurface deposit feeders also were reduced under low bridges. Decreased invertebrate density, diversity, dominant taxa, and alterations of trophic feeding groups beneath low bridges was correlated with diminished above- and below-ground macrophyte biomass that presumably resulted in fewer food resources and available refuges from predators. With a greater knowledge of bridge shading effects, bridge construction and design may be improved to reduce the impacts on estuarine benthic invertebrate communities and overall ecosystem structure and function.     

Gamma radiation measurements and dose rates in commercially-used natural tiling rocks (granites)

The gamma radiation in samples of a variety of natural tiling rocks (granites) imported in Cyprus for use in the building industry was measured, employing high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. The rock samples were pulverised, sealed in 1-l plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with an accumulating time between 10 and 14 h each. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, activity concentrations were determined for (232)Th (range from 1 to 906 Bq kg(-1)), (238)U (from 1 to 588 Bq kg(-1)) and (40)K (from 50 to 1606 Bq kg(-1)). The total absorbed dose rates in air calculated from the concentrations of the three radionuclides ranged from 7 to 1209 nGy h(-1) for full utilization of the materials, from 4 to 605 nGy h(-1) for half utilization and from 2 to 302 nGy h(-1) for one quarter utilization. The total effective dose rates per person indoors were determined to be between 0.02 and 2.97 mSv y(-1) for half utilization of the materials. Applying dose criteria recently recommended by the EU for superficial materials, 25 of the samples meet the exemption dose limit of 0.3 mSv y(-1), two of them meet the upper dose limit of 1 mSv y(-1) and only one clearly exceeds this limit.     

近40年新疆沙漠化与人类活动

据对新疆近代沙漠化的调查,及对近40年新疆的气温、降水、地表径流与新疆垦荒、河流湖泊变化、植被减少等分析对比得出,新疆近代沙漠化的速度是惊人的,但其气候没有显著变旱,而人类活动对新疆沙化作用已明显地超越了自然干旱作用。     

Ecological planning: A review

Beginning with the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969, the federal government of the United States has enacted numerous pieces of legislation intended to protect or conserve the environment. Other national governments have also enacted environmental legislation during the past two decades. State and local governments have also adopted policies concerned with environmental planning and management. Multiple laws and overlapping governmental agency responsibilities have confused development and resource management efforts. A comprehensive methodology that integrates the legal mandates and the agency missions into a common and unified framework is needed. Ecological planning offers such a method. Application of the method allows planners and resource managers to better understand the nature and character of the land and/or resource and therefore make better decisions about its appropriate use or management. The steps taken in an ecological planning process—1) goal setting, 2) inventory and analysis of data, 3) suitability analysis, 4) developing alternatives, 5) implementation, 6) administration, and 7) evaluation—are outlined and explained. Hand-drawn overlays and computer programs as techniques for handling ecological planning information are compared. Observations and suggestions for further research are offered.     

河北省地质地貌灾害与防灾减灾

河北省是我国地质地貌灾害最为严重的地区之一．本文从人类生态学角度,研究地质地貌灾害的成因与分布,并强调通过调整人类活动,减轻灾害损失和影响．     

室内空气污染对人类健康的影响及防治措施

本文通过论述第三污染源室内空气污染对人类健康的危害,并提出了主要防治措施。     

Effects of halobenzoquinone and haloacetic acid water disinfection byproducts on human neural stem cells

Human neural stem cells(h NSCs) are a useful tool to assess the developmental effects of various environmental contaminants; however, the application of h NSCs to evaluate water disinfection byproducts(DBPs) is scarce. Comprehensive toxicological results are essential to the prioritization of DBPs for further testing and regulation. Therefore, this study examines the effects of DBPs on the proliferation and differentiation of h NSCs. Prior to DBP treatment, characteristic protein markers of h NSCs from passages 3 to 6 were carefully examined and it was determined that h NSCs passaged 3 or 4 times maintained stem cell characteristics and can be used for DBP analysis. Two regulated DBPs, monobromoacetic acid(BAA) and monochloroacetic acid(CAA), and two emerging DBPs, 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DBBQ) and 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DCBQ), were chosen for h NSC treatment. Both 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ induced cell cycle arrest at S-phase at concentrations up to 1 μmol/L. Comparatively, BAA and CAA at 0.5 μmol/L affected neural differentiation. These results suggest DBP-dependent effects on h NSC proliferation and differentiation. The DBP-induced cell cycle arrest and inhibition of normal h NSC differentiation demonstrate the need to assess the developmental neurotoxicity of DBPs.     

某地戈壁与普通环境辐射剂量率对比及差异分析研究

利用NaI(Tl)便携式x-γ剂量率仪对西北某地戈壁砾石地带及普通环境地表的辐射剂量率进行对比测量,对可能的影响因素进行分析,并使用统计检验的方法分析测量结果,发现戈壁砾石地带结果高于普通环境,均值高约14.5%.基于实验室HPGeγ谱测量土壤样品及理论分析,得到导致此结果的原因主要是土壤中天然放射性核素含量及地表氡析出率的差异.结论提示需重视人员稀少地带的辐射环境水平,为中国在某些戈壁地区从事核技术利用开发项目的环境影响评价提供经验.     

海洋生物污染对人群健康的影响及对策

海洋生物为人类提供了丰富的食品、药物资源。然而,海洋环境污染却使得海洋生物受到重金属、难降解有机物、微生物等污染,使得原本优质的海洋食品对食用人群产生危害。研究分析表明．海洋污染物质的主要来源是陆地污染物通过地表径流携带入海。安全的食品离不开安全的水灞、土壤、空气等产地环境,海洋食品亦是如此。应严格按照相关标准向海洋排放陆源污染物,应对入海河流及沿岸排污口实施环境监控和综合治理,从国家政策、公众教育、国际合作等层面加强行动,防范海洋食品安全事故的发生。