Dynamics and Causation of Environmental Equity, Locally Unwanted Land Uses, and Neighborhood Changes

/ Why are some environmental risks distributed disproportionately in the neighborhoods of the minorities and the poor? A hypothesis was proposed in a recent study that market dynamics contributed to the current environmental inequity. That is, locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) make the host communities home to more poor people and people of color. This hypothesis was allegedly supported by a Houston case study, whereby its author analyzed the postsiting changes of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding solid waste facilities. I argue that such an analysis of postsiting changes alone is insufficient to test the causation hypothesis. Instead, I propose a conceptual framework for analysis of environmental equity dynamics and causation. I suggest that the presiting neighborhood dynamics and the characteristics of control neighborhoods be analyzed as the first test for the causation hypothesis. Furthermore, I present theories of neighborhood change and then examine alternative hypotheses that these theories offer for explaining neighborhood changes and for the roles of LULUs in neighborhood changes. These alternative hypotheses should be examined when analyzing the relationship between LULUs and neighborhood changes in a metropolitan area. Using this framework of analysis, I revisited the Houston case. First, I found no evidence that provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of LULUs made the neighborhoods home to more blacks and poor people, contrary to the conclusion made by the previous study. Second, I examined alternative hypotheses for explaining neighborhood changes-invasion-succession, other push forces, and neighborhood life-cycle; the former two might offer better explanation.KEY WORDS: Environmental equity and justice; Locally unwanted lane uses; Siting; Market dynamics; Invasion-succession; Neighborhood changes     

上海城市泔脚垃圾市场化回收处置现状调查、分析及对策研究

通过对上海市8个主要城区的232家泔脚垃圾产生单位进行面对面问卷调查，了解其对泔脚垃圾的中报、委托、收运、处置以及付费方式等市场化行为的现状，分析了目前上海城市泔脚垃圾市场化进程中所存在的问题，并提出了较为完善的市场化调控对策。     

关于建立环保产业资金助动系统

说明缺乏强有力的资金支持系统是阻碍环保产业快速发展的根本问题，建议在资金筹划，分配及使用上引进市场机制，发挥市场在资金运作方面的调节作用，引导资金向环保产业流动。     

海南东寨港红树林湿地面积变化及其驱动力分析

本文分析了海南省东寨港红树林湿地的面积变化及其驱动力。结合早期地形图和实地调查数据，利用3个时相的TM遥感图片，计算出1959年、1989年、1996年、2002年4个时相的红树林面积分别为3213．8hm^2、1657．8hm^2、2018．8hm^2和1552．6hm^2。在过去的近50年里，有近50％的天然红树林被毁掉，红树林湿地被转换为经济林种植田、水产养殖塘、城镇基础设施建设用地等。自1980年成立红树林自然保护区以来，红树林得到了一定程度的保护，1989年到1996年图像对比上红树林面积增加了361．0hm^2。近年来，旅游业的开发对红树林生态系统存在一定程度的干扰。2002年，红树林面积相对于1996年减少了566．2hm^2。此外，红树林斑块的空间格局和树种的构成发生了变化，红树林群落植物多样性明显减弱。在综合分析基础上，根据生态系统综合管理的思想。提出了建立高水平的管理研究队伍，采用先进的管理技术和手段，综合管理红树林生态系统。     

地球化学元素记录的沂河中游16.9~4.7 ka BP气候变化

临沂商品城剖面记录了末次冰消期至中全新世沂河中游的气候环境变化,其地球化学元素的古环境意义显著。分析表明末次冰消期至中全新世沂河中游的古气候环境经历了5个阶段:(1)16866～13630cal a B.P.气候回暖但仍以冷湿为主;(2)13630～10440cal a B.P.气候变冷变干,并记录到了YD气候事件;(3)10440～8670cal a B.P.暖湿气候显著;(4)8670～6420cal a B.P.冷暖波动仍以暖湿为主;(5)6420～4698cal a B.P.稳定的暖干气候环境。     

大气14CO2的时空分异特征及其在化石源CO2示踪中的应用

大气CO₂中放射性碳同位素(¹⁴C)的水平可以反映化石源CO₂的影响程度,这对于评估我国目前化石源CO₂的排放状况和制定节能减排政策具有重要的指导意义。本文在概述大气¹⁴CO₂采样和分析方法的基础上,简要介绍了大气¹⁴CO₂观测的起源和主要的源汇过程,重点论述了大气¹⁴CO₂的时空分异特征及其驱动因素;阐述了化石源CO₂浓度的估算方法及¹⁴CO₂在国内外化石源CO₂示踪中的应用现状,并对大气¹⁴CO₂观测在我国化石源CO₂示踪中的应用前景进行了展望;旨在为我国正确地开展大气¹⁴CO₂的观测研究,深刻地理解特定区域大气¹⁴CO₂的时空分异特征和化石源CO₂的分布状况提供参考。     

Assessing the long-term supply risks for mineral raw materials—a combined evaluation of past and future trends

This paper develops a method for identifying and assessing long-term supply risks for mineral raw materials. The method is based on a combined evaluation of past and future supply and demand trends. By analysing raw material boom and bust cycles over the past 50 years, we have quantified indicators and defined benchmarks for identifying critical market situations. By applying the method, risks for supply shortage may be identified at an early stage. In addition, a numerical evaluation model has been developed for better comparison between various mineral raw materials. Compared to other assessment methods this method uses specific benchmarks for each raw material to better assess supply risks. The method is embedded within a systematic and comprehensive analytical approach.     

Chlorinated and brominated organic contaminants in fish from Shanghai markets: a case study of human exposure

In the present study were two favorite edible fish species for local residents, i.e., mandarin fish and crawfish, collected from the Shanghai market and analyzed for selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). Efforts were also made to identify the potential sources of these contaminants. Comparable concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and HBCDD were found in muscle tissue of mandarin fish from Guangdong (GDF), the Pearl River Delta and from Taihu Lake (TLF), the Yangtze River Delta. Levels of chlordanes, PCBs and PBDEs were about one magnitude lower in TLF compared to GDF. The concentrations of OCPs in the butter-like gland of the crawfish (CFB) were 2-5 times of those in the crawfish muscle (CFM) while concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs were comparable. The different patterns and levels of chlorinated and brominated organohalogen contaminants seen in mandarin fish from GDF and TLF indicates that different types of chemicals might be used in the two delta regions. The present study also shows a good correlation between the concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachloroanisol (PCA) in fish for the first time. Fish consumption limits based on chemical contaminants with non-carcinogenic effects were calculated. The estimated maximum daily consumption limit for GDF, TLF, CFM and CFB were 1.5, 2.6, 3.7 and 0.08 kg, respectively, indicating no significant risk regarding the persistent organic pollutants measured in the present study.     

Thoughts concerning the economic valuation of landscapes

The incorporation of economic thinking into the valuation of landscapes is still relatively new. It is an approach that yields valuable new insights and can help with prioritizing the use of scarce resources to improve and/or preserve landscapes. This paper explores and discusses the uses and limitations of economic valuation of landscapes from market failure, policy process, and theoretical and philosophical perspectives.     

中美环境监测体制之比较

对中美环境监测体制进行对比性评述,指出了中国环境监测行业存在的分析标准滞后、体制不完善、人员匮乏等问题,提出借鉴美国经验,完善法律体系,引入市场机制,逐步培育竞争有序、监管到位的环境监测行业的建议。