National-scale vegetation change across Britain; an analysis of sample-based surveillance data from the Countryside Surveys of 1990 and 1998

Patterns of vegetation across Great Britain (GB) between 1990 and 1998 were quantified based on an analysis of plant species data from a total of 9596 fixed plots. Plots were established on a stratified random basis within 501 1 km sample squares located as part of the Countryside Survey of GB. Results are primarily conveyed in terms of a classification of national land-cover into 22 mutually exclusive Broad Habitat types. Each of the fixed vegetation plots could be assigned to the Broad Habitat in which they were located in either year. Two types of analysis are reported, both based on changes in plant species composition within monitoring plots. The first examined turnover and net change between Broad Habitat types. The second quantified more subtle changes that had occurred within each Broad Habitat using a series of condition measures that summarized multivariate plant species data as a single scalar value for each plot at each time. There are major difficulties in using uncontrolled, large-scale surveillance data to unravel causal linkages and no attempt was made to quantitatively partition variation among competing causes. However, it was clear that results were broadly consistent with environmental drivers known to have operated prior to and during the survey interval. Large-scale vegetation changes could be summarized in terms of shifts along gradients of substrate fertility and disturbance. Changes implied increased nutrient availability across upland and lowland ecosystems while, in lowland landscapes, linear features and small biotope fragments saw a marked shift to species compositions associated with greater shade and less disturbance.     

Lung-cancer reduction from smoking cessation and radon remediation: a preliminary cost-analysis in Northamptonshire, UK

Domestic radon levels in parts of the United Kingdom are sufficiently high as to increase the risk of lung-cancer among residents. Public health campaigns in the county of Northamptonshire, a designated radon Affected Area with 6.3% of homes having average radon levels in excess of the UK Action Level of 200 Bq m(-3), have encouraged householders to test for radon and then, if indicated to be necessary, to carry out remediation in their homes. These campaigns have been only partially successful, since to date only 40% of Northamptonshire houses have been tested, and only 15% of those householders finding raised levels have proceeded to remediate. Those who remediate have been shown to have smaller families, to be older, and to include fewer smokers than the average population, suggesting that current strategies to reduce domestic radon exposure are not reaching those most at risk. During 2004-2005, the NHS Stop-Smoking Services in Northamptonshire assisted 2847 smokers to quit to the 4-week stage, the 15% (435) of these 4-week quitters remaining quitters at 1year forming the subjects of a retrospective study considering whether smoking cessation campaigns contribute significantly to radon risk reduction. Quantitative assessment of the risk of lung-cancer among the study population, from knowledge of the individuals' age, gender, and smoking habits, together with the radon levels in their homes, demonstrates that smoking cessation programmes have significant added value in reducing the incidence of lung-cancer in radon Affected Areas, and contribute a substantially greater health benefit at a lower cost than the alternative strategy of reducing radon levels in the smokers' homes, while they remain smokers. Both radon remediation and smoking cessation programmes are very cost effective in Northamptonshire, with smoking cessation being significantly more cost effective, and these are potentially valuable programmes to drive health improvements through promotion of the uptake or environmental management for radon in the home.     

三唑酮在设施栽培土壤及大白菜中的消解动态及残留

为评价三唑酮在大白菜施用后的环境安全性,建立了GC测定蔬菜及土壤中三唑酮残留的方法,进行露地与设施栽培条件三唑酮在大白莱和土壤中的消解动态和最终残留研究.在大白菜和土壤中的最低检测质量分数均为0.001 mg/kg,三唑酮的平均加标回收率为81.5％～110.6％,变异系数为1.32％～6.04％.消解动态试验为2倍推荐使用剂量施药1次,三唑酮在设施栽培大白菜的半衰期分别为2.72～3.30 d和3.21～3.35 d;露地栽培为2.35～2.87 d和2.30～3.12 d.设施栽培大白菜中三唑酮残留量与用药量正相关,随着施药量的增加,消解速度减慢,残留量相应增大.研究可为制定三唑酮设施栽培大白菜上最大残留限量和合理使用准则以及风险评估提供科学依据.     

超微气泡富氧+生物活化技术在黑臭水体治理中的工程应用

针对当前黑臭河道治理工作中出现的黑臭反复,长效性难保持问题,以某内源污染严重的重度黑臭河道为例实施原位生态修复。第1阶段采用超微气泡富氧（移动式曝气船+定点式曝气设备）和生物活化技术进行水体和底质修复,削减内源污染,改善生境;第2阶段应用定点式曝气设备、生态浮岛、水生植物净化、水生动物多样性调控进行生态修复,营造健康稳定的生态系统。经过近4个月的治理,治理区水质由重度黑臭稳定达到GB 3838—2002《地表水环境质量标准》Ⅴ类水标准,水体COD、NH₃-N和TP含量分别为28.79,0.36,0.19 mg/L,去除率分别达到45%、98%和85%以上,治理后水体澄清,可见多种水生动物和沉水植物,河道底质呈现自然泥土色泽,在未进行清淤处理的情况下即达到了泥水共治的效果,水环境质量得到显著提升,实现了长效治理。