Trace metals used as natural markers for discriminating some karstic freshwaters near Trieste (Italy)

Some heavy metals have been determined using voltammetry in freshwaters forming part of a karstic hydrological system (the Timavo River, north of Trieste), during attempts to characterize and discriminate the different sources of the springs. The trace elements can be considered natural markers, with lead appearing to be the most discriminating variable. Non parametric statistics and cluster analysis were used to estimate the significance of the determined parameters with respect to the considered ecosystem.     

Beyond strong sustainability

Since the Brundtland Commission's delineation of the term sustainable development in 1987, virtually every country has incorporated the terms sustainability and sustainable development into their planning vocabulary and criteria for decision-making. However, many issues remain unresolved. Broad and sweeping references to sustainability and sustainable development do not necessarily translate into implementable policies to achieve these goals. In particular, unresolved issues include developing an understanding of how one sector of the economy can contribute to the sustainable development of the economy as a whole and the role of ecological resources in sustainable development. Our paper provides an initial conceptual examination of these questions by folding mining and ecological quality into the sustainability discussion. We use the Brazilian Amazon as an application of our sustainable development model.     

新疆于田县优质富锂富锶天然饮用矿泉水及其开发前景

为了调查新疆于田县的水质和水资源特色,2010 年和2012 年在新疆于田县及于田县邻区采集水样,并对其元素含量进行分析测定。结果在新疆于田县新发现一个优质天然富锂富锶饮用矿泉水水源,水化学类型为Na·Mg-HCO₃·Cl,锂含量1 765.5 μg/L,锶含量1.1 mg/L,分别为国家饮用矿泉水锂（Li≥200 μg/L）和锶（Sr≥0.2 mg/L）最低界限指标的8.8 倍和5.5 倍。于田县城饮用矿泉水含水层厚度大,岩性为卵砾石,透水性好,水量较丰富。于田县优质矿泉水与国内外主要矿泉水相比,具有富锂、富锶等有益元素,且富锂矿泉水是中国稀缺的矿泉水资源,因此具有广阔的市场前景。     

Measuring vulnerability to natural hazards: a macro framework

The measurement of vulnerability—defined here as the asymmetric response of disaster occurrences to hazardous events—signifies a key step towards effective disaster risk reduction and the promotion of a culture of disaster resilience. One of the reasons for not being able to do the same in a wider context is related to conceptual, definitional, and operational issues. This paper presents an operationally feasible framework for conducting this task and measures revealed macro vulnerability as a function of disaster risk and hazard probability. The probabilities of hazard and its perceived disaster risk were obtained from past data and from probability distributions. In this paper, the corresponding analytical framework is constructed using the case study of floods in Assam, India. The proposed indicator will help policymakers to draw on available macro‐level data to identify the regions that are vulnerable to disasters, where micro‐level disaster vulnerability assessments could be performed in greater detail.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of cadmium(II) for preconcentration prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection in water

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure for cadmium(II) as its 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylamino-phenol chelate is presented. Carbon tetrachloride and methanol were used as extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. After phase separation, the preconcentrated-separated cadmium(II) is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with a microinjection technique. The factors which affected the extraction efficiency, i.e. the pH of the sample solution and the volumes of reagent and sample were investigated. The effects of some alkali, alkali earth, and transition metal ions, and of some anions on the recovery of cadmium were also studied. A preconcentration factor of 250 was obtained for a sample volume of 50?mL under optimum conditions. The method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials and applied to some water samples from Turkey.     

Radioactive Contamination in the Italian Seas: An Overview Also in the Light of the European Marina-Med Project

Following a similar project performed for the Northern European Seas in the years 1985–1990, a study on the radioactive contamination of the Mediterranean Sea has recently been conducted by a group of experts of the European Union (MARINA-MED Project). Its aim was to assess the radiological exposure of the population of the European Union, due both to natural and man-made radionuclides in the Mediterranean Sea. A review of the conclusions of this study is presented, with special attention to the environmental radioactive data. the Italian radioactive monitoring organisation is described. Starting from this experience, some proposals for new research projects are presented.     

Release of phosphorous from igneous phosphate rock through bioturbation: a low-cost approach for phosphorous fertilization in fish farms

The influence of bioturbation caused by common carp fry was treated in 24 transparent polythene jars (5?L each) in the laboratory and in outdoor vats (150?L), increasing the fertilizer value of phosphate rock in eight treatment combinations in triplicate. Input of water soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) was determined to quantify the effects of bioturbation, fish excrements and soil. The level of SRP in water was always lowest in the control series. Introduction of common carp fry resulted in a net increase of 0.009–0.010?mg phosphate g^?1day^?1 of SRP attributable to the effect of fish excrement. Bioturbation caused by common carp resulted in as high as a 64.8 to 90% influx of phosphate from bottom soil in the presence of phosphate rock but only about 6.3 to 7.2% in the absence of phosphate rock. The bioturbation that occurred in this treatment resulted in a significant release of phosphorous into the overlying water from an apatite source. The results confirm the environment friendly application of phosphate rock in fish-farming ponds at low cost.     

Analysis of management effectiveness of natural reserves in Yunnan Province,China

Yunnan Province has many and unique natural resources and rich biodiversity. Natural reserves (NRs) play a significant role in maintaining and protecting the biodiversity and stability of ecosystems in this area. Yunnan is a typically eco-environmentally fragile area; thus positive effects of NRs are important in the construction of an ecological safety barrier for southwest China. Evaluation of the effectiveness of management of NRs has been implemented to improve management outcomes. This study provides indices to evaluate problems and management effectiveness for 60 NRs, covering national and provincial NRs of Yunnan Province. These indicate that management of NRs suffers from inadequate funding, poor infrastructure and equipment, low community participation, and a lack of government support. The indices had relatively low scores for infrastructure and equipment, ecotourism, monitoring, and evaluation, but high scores for planning and design and ownership. There were significant positive correlations between protection rank, size, age of NRs, and management effectiveness. International exchanges and collaboration would help to improve management of the NRs. NRs that straddle administrative boundaries had relatively higher scores than those within an administrative unit. Management success was not correlated with staff input, which might imply low efficiency of staff in this area. Some recommendations are offered to improve management of NRs based on analysis of management problems and identification of influencing factors.     

A review of ecological mitigation measures in UK environmental statements with respect to sustainable development

SUMMARY

The European and UK legislation on environmental assessment (EA), as well as requiring assessment of significant ecological effects, also requires development proponents to recommend mitigation measures for adverse impacts.

Drawing on a review of proposed ecological mitigation measures in 194 environmental statements (ES) for UK development proposals, this paper highlights problems with the current legislation in ensuring that ecological impacts are mitigated effectively, with a view to sustainable development.

The review reveals confusion about the extent to which ecological mitigation is required. First, there is no objective basis for deciding which potentially adverse impacts should be mitigated. Proposed mitigation measures do not always relate directly to the ecological impacts identified in ES and there is a high risk of residual adverse effects. Second, there is no generally accepted method for evaluating the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures, despite a clear recommendation from the UK's Department of the Environment (DOE, 1989) that an ‘assessment of the likely effectiveness’ of mitigation measures should be included in ES. Methods which can be used to evaluate the likely feasibility, costs and redistributional effects of ecological mitigation measures in EA are needed. Some of the factors which should be taken into account are considered in this paper.     

两种仪器测定煤层瓦斯含量的对比研究

以平煤矿区高瓦斯地区为研究应用基地,对分别根据脱气法和常压自然解吸法研发的两种瓦斯含量直接测定装置进行基础理论、测试过程和结果评价几方面的对比分析,研究两种仪器的优点、缺点及其准确度。从服务于煤矿安全的实际出发,总结出不同仪器所适用的条件。