The nature and significance of public exposure to arsenic: a review of its relevance to South West England

In South West England, more than two hundred years of intensive exploitation of metalliferous ore deposits, combined with the natural processes of pedogenesis from mineral-rich parent rocks, has resulted in the creation of a aignificant area of arsenic-contaminated wastes and soils. The scale of arsenic dispersion by natural and anthropogenic processes is such that 722 km² of land contains concentrations of arsenic in excess of 110 g g^–1, more than twice the maximum that might be expected in a normal soil.The general rationale for the clean-up of derelict and contaminated mining sites often includes aesthetic factors and the desirability of preventing the dispersion of contaminants beyond the site boundaries. Only in extreme cases is public health directly invoked as justification for remediation. In South West England, if arsenic constitutes a genuine threat to the public, an increased rate of site remediation would be justified. The primary purpose of this review is to establish whether or not widespread arsenic contamination (principally of soils) has any measurable effects on public health in South West England, and how this might affect current contaminated site remediation policy. The review is based on data from previous research in the region, and other relevant international studies of mining and smelting communities, and other populations exposed to elevated arsenic concentrations. The literature reviewed also includes the determination of the extent and sources of contamination, and pathways between source and man.While the contamination of potable waters in some countries has led to measurable health effects, this scenario has not yet been identified in South West England, and there is little reason to believe that significantly contaminated potable water supplies would escape detection for extended periods of time under the current monitoring regime.In relative terms (based on both globaland local data), one of the most significant links between contaminated soils and humans appears to be contaminated food stuffs. In absolute terms, such exposure is low due to the natural constraints on arsenic uptake by herbage, cereal crops and vegetables, and the food chain does not appear to have been significantly compromised in South West England. Chronic health effects are unlikely as excessive arsenic concentrations in locally grown food crops remain rare.With the problems of confounding medical and social factors, it is not surprising that studies in South West England have failed to identify chronic exposure to arsenic at very low concentrations as a significant health risk. Those studies that indicate otherwise do not stand up to close scrutiny. It appears that the number of additional deaths arising from the widespread arsenic contamination in South West England is small. The relative benefits of a costly statistical study to actually determine the number of additional deaths might be considered minimal, but one major area could benefit from further studies: the sensitivity of certain population sub-groups to environmental arsenic exposure. Of particular interest are children, for whom significant exposure to arsenic via soil ingestion may be occurring.Based on available information, there appears to be no justification for a large programme of site remediation. Resources should, however, be expended on enlightening the general public, and private and governmental organisations as regards the gap between the perceived and actual significance of arsenic contamination in South West England.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

A botanical importance rating system for estuaries

In many semi-arid areas, estuaries are threatened because of freshwater impoundment. Estuaries are important sites for ecological diversity and, increasingly, for recreation. A system has been developed which rates estuaries according to their botanical importance. A formula allows a single numerical importance score to be calculated. The area cover of each estuarine plant community type (i.e. intertidal salt marsh, submerged macrophytes, reed/sedge swamps and supratidal salt marsh) and its importance in the estuary forms the basis of the score. The ‘ecological condition’ of the plant community and the community richness within the estuary are incorporated into the formula. The formula is effective in determining the botanical importance of estuaries. Further methods to determine the zoological, physical and socio-economic importance of estuaries need to be developed to allow the overall importance of estuaries to be determined.     

浙江墩头盆地横山组孢粉化石的发现及其地层意义

浙江墩头盆地红色岩层中上部首获丰富的以Cassopllis为主(58.39—62.54％)伴有Exesipollenites(15.21—15.84％),Hsuisporites(0.56—0.62％),Cicatricosisporites(0—0.31％)等孢粉化石。该孢粉组合特征既与国内外晚侏罗世孢粉组合面貌差别较大,又与早白垩世中晚期孢粉组合面貌存在明显差异,显示了早白垩世早期孢粉组合的色彩。笔者认为这套红色岩层应归早白垩世早期横山组为宜。     

利用西湖淤泥进行低成本有机型基质栽培试验

以西湖淤泥为主要原料，配以砻糠灰、干鸡粪、菜籽饼等，组配低成本有机型基质，旨在合理开发利用西湖淤泥。处理Ⅰ(西湖淤泥 砻糠灰 干鸡粪)与处理Ⅱ(西湖淤泥 砻糠灰 菜籽饼)均有良好的理化性质，其孔隙度、有机质含量及N、P、K含量适宜樱桃番茄的生长。处理Ⅰ樱桃番茄早期营养生长及前期产量、总产量等方面与对照(泥炭 珍珠岩 泡沫粒)无显著性差异，果实中Vc含量显著高于对照。处理Ⅱ早期营养生长不如对照，但前期产量、总产量与对照无显著性差异，干物质、Vc含量与糖度显著高于对照。处理Ⅰ、处理Ⅱ的成本约为对照的1／2左右。     

改性膨润土和沉水植物联合作用处理沉积物磷

首次将改性膨润土（modified bentonite,MB）作为原位吸附材料与沉水植物苦草（Vallisneria spiralis,V.spiralis）联合处理沉积物磷.研究结果表明,MB可以促进沉水植物V.spiralis的生长, V.spiralis可能通过根系分泌作用促进溶磷或是通过促进根际微生物群落的P代谢活性增加沉积物中的生物可利用性P含量.MB与沉水植物V.spiralis对沉积物P的联合作用效果优于MB和沉水植物V.spiralis单独作用之和.厚度5cm MB和V.spiralis联合作用对沉积物TP,IP,OP,Fe/Al-P和Ca-P的去除率可达59.8%,57.1%,67.8%,66.7%和44.7%.微生物试验结果表明,厚壁菌门Erysipelotrichaceae科的菌属PSB-M-3是联合组相比单一V.spiralis组或单一MB组微生物群落P代谢功能增强的主要贡献者.本研究还首次发现了Erysipelotrichaceae科微生物可作为沉积物中潜在的除磷菌.研究结果表明MB和沉水植物联合控制沉积物磷技术可进一步应用到富营养化湖泊沉积物控制工程.     

How does economic complexity influence environmental degradation? New insights from African countries

This paper seeks to investigate the effect of economic complexity on environmental degradation in 20 selected African countries over the period 1991–2014. The Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS), and Driscoll-Kraay estimators (DK) are used to capture the objectives of the study. The results suggest that economic complexity and economic growth enhance environmental degradation. Also, natural resources rents and globalization improve environmental quality. Furthermore, the findings reject the U-shaped relationship between economic complexity and environmental degradation. In addition, the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality test shows a bidirectional causal relation between economic complexity and environmental degradation. Taking into account the ecological deficit or ecological reserve status of country, it is shown that while the natural resource rents reduce environmental degradation in ecological reserve countries, they increase environmental degradation in ecological deficit countries. The results are robust when an alternative measure of economic complexity is used. Based on these findings, the paper suggests that the governments of African countries should take into account economic complexity when designing their environmental protection policies.     

国家级新区产城融合的耦合协调评价--以舟山群岛新区和青岛西海岸新区为例

国家级新区具有产城融合发展的示范作用,这种示范作用是否达到政策预期是值得探讨的。研究基于产城相互作用机制,构建了产城融合指标体系,运用熵值法、耦合协调度模型对舟山群岛新区和西海岸新区两个地区2014—2018年产业发展与城市功能的发展水平,以及两者之间的协调度进行了测度和分析。结果发现:①两新区初期均呈现出不同程度的不平衡状况,但整体趋于良性发展。②后期两区在一定程度上实现了产城融合,不过发展空间仍然较大。③两新区由于发展条件不一,呈现出不同的发展态势。鉴于此,国家级新区在推进城市产城融合时应遵循因地制宜的原则,及时根据新区的发展现状采取相应的发展调控策略。     

Bibliometric analysis of ecosystem monitoring-related research in Africa: implications for ecological stewardship and scientific collaboration

Regional ecosystem monitoring is a central form of knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst scientists and decision makers on environmental health, land use change, and science-policy development. Despite the proliferation of such research networks on long-term monitoring on many continents, little has been achieved in Africa. This study aims to assess and examine the spatiotemporal trend and categorical patterns in ecosystem monitoring-related research in Africa for the benefits of conserving biodiversity and sustaining natural resource sectors for well-being and livelihood security, environmental planning, and ecological stewardship. A systematic review was conducted using bibliometric tools. Based on a set of search terms and peer-reviewed publications retrieved from various ecosystem monitoring networks and journal databases, further analysis was conducted using social network approaches, mapping tools, and content analysis. About 1442 scientific publications on ecosystem monitoring and related research were documented from 1987 to 2014 mostly published in English. The number of publication increased progressively since 1992 after the Convention on Biodiversity was signed and this trend peaked till 2008. South African Journal of Science was the most leading journal and Nature the most cited. Internationally coauthored and collaborative articles represented majority of the findings with the United Kingdom at the central position in the research network due to colonial relationships. Regional collaboration amongst countries is limited owing to language barriers and other institutional constraints such as funding and short-term projects. These findings have implication for prioritizing national and regional policies toward biodiversity science and its contribution to human well-being, food security, and global change responses.     

辽河东西支流与干流水体光学特性和组分对比研究

通过对东、西辽河和辽河干流有色溶解有机物(CDOM)吸收特性和荧光特征以及溶解有机碳(DOC)浓度的分析,对比研究不同子流域CDOM的光学特性差异,并分析影响CDOM与DOC浓度的主要因素.对比研究发现,辽河干流CDOM与DOC相关性(R = 0.89,P < 0.01)高于西辽河(R = 0.81)与东辽河(R = 0.75).总悬浮物浓度(TSM)和总碱度与不同子流域CDOM/DOC相关性较高.不同流域内CDOM与DOC的浓度变化较大,西辽河CDOM和DOC浓度明显高于东辽河和辽河干流.流域内土地利用、气候条件对两者浓度的影响显著,林地和CDOM及DOC浓度存在显著负相关(R = -0.41, -0.56),即林地面积越大,CDOM和DOC浓度越低;而农田与两者存在正相关(R = 0.40, 0.32),农田面积越大,相应的CDOM和DOC浓度越高;降雨量与CDOM和DOC呈现明显的负相关(R = -0.53, -0.38),说明降雨对河流CDOM的稀释作用较大.对于CDOM荧光强度Fn(355)与CDOM浓度来说,在每个子流域两者均存在较好的相关性,特别是西辽河流域(R = 0.96, P < 0.01).CDOM的三维荧光光谱发现,东、西辽河及辽河干流均表现出较强的类腐殖酸荧光峰(A峰和C峰),同时辽河干流表现出很强的类蛋白质峰(T峰).CDOM的吸收斜率(S)以及基于荧光光谱的FI和HIX表明东、西辽河和辽河干流CDOM的主要来源是外源高等植物输入的大分子量DOM,但是,西辽河和辽河干流CDOM的分子量要小于东辽河CDOM组成物质.     

Liver and renal lesions in mercury-contaminated narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from North West Greenland

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from North West Greenland are known to bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) in tissues and internal organs. This is postulated to be a health concern and therefore studies were undertaken to conduct a screening study of Hg concentrations and histopathology of liver and renal tissues in a total of 12 specimens. The sample consisted of two sub-adults (one male, one female) and 10 adult (six males, four females) collected in Qaanaaq (Thule) 2010. In liver, Hg mean ± SD was 11.88 ± 10.47 μg/g ww (range: 0.39?31.8 μg/g ww) while the concentrations in kidneys were 1.85 ± 1.20 μg/g ww (range: 0.41?4.03 μg/g ww). There was no marked difference in Hg concentrations between males and females while sub-adults had significantly lower concentrations. The histological examinations of renal tissue showed glomerular capillary dilatation and basement membrane thickening, dilatation, and hyalinization of Bowman's space/capsule and tubular lesions with hyaline casts accompanied by interstitial fibrosis in the kidneys. In liver tissue, portal cell infiltrates and fibrosis, bile duct proliferation, lipid-filled Ito cells, and steatosis were found. There was no marked difference in histological prevalence between males and females and in Hg concentrations in individuals with or without lesions. Four of seven renal lesions and one liver lesion were found in the two sub-adult whales. Based upon these findings, as well as the nature of the lesions, evidence suggests that histopathological alterations were a result of age but that Hg might be an aggravating co-factor in development of renal lesions in particular.