Sustainability: a Dissent

Abstract:  Broadly conceived and considered in its many usages, sustainability has grave defects as a planning goal, particularly when used by conservationists: it confuses means and ends; it is vague about what is being sustained and who or what is doing the sustaining; it is uninspiring; it is little more than Pinchot-era conservation (and thus ignores the many lessons learned since then); it need not be linked to land, to the land's functioning, or to any ecological science; it need not include a moral component; it is consistent with the view of humans as all-powerful manipulators of the planet; and, in general, it is such a malleable term that its popularity provides only a facade of consensus. When sustainability is defined broadly to include the full range of economic and social aspirations, it poses the particular risk that ecological and biodiversity concerns will be cast aside in favor of more pressing human wants. Given these many defects, the conservation movement should discard the term in favor of a more alluring goal, attentive to nature and its ecological functioning. A sound goal would incorporate and distill the considerable ecological and moral wisdom accumulated since Pinchot's day while giving conservationists the rhetorical tools needed to defend the land against competing pressures. In our view, conservation would be well served by an updated variant of "land health," Aldo Leopold's ecologically grounded goal from the 1940s. Land health as an independent understanding should set the essential terms of how we live and enjoy the earth, providing the framework within which we pursue our many social and economic aims.     

A Marine Pollution Study of Northeast Coastal Water Off Taiwan Island

The coastal water of northeast Taiwan island, called 'Yin-Yang Hai' for its distinct yellow colour compared with blue offshore water, was investigated from 1989 to 1990 by the authors. Biological study showed the dominant species of plankton to be Copepoda, Cladocera, planktonic eggs and Diatoma. Dominant species of benthos were young crabs, Amphipoda and Annelida, with Amphipoda usually occurring in heavily polluted areas. Heavy metal data showed that the concentration of copper was high. the copper and iron concentration in algae of the intertidal zone was also high. the concentrations of iron and copper in inshore water were also higher than in offshore water. By comparison of the pH and salinity distribution of this area, we conclude that this coastal water has been polluted by acid waste water from coastal industry. the suspended solids concentration in sea water is high. Flocculation occurring at the boundary of fresh and saline water might be a reason for the distinct yellow colour of the water of this area. Further study is required.     

Monitoring atmospheric metal pollution: a review of the use of mosses as indicators

This article reviews the literatureon the use of mosses for monitoring atmospheric metalpollution. It discusses the nature of mosses, themechanisms for moss uptake of metals from the air andwet precipitation, the various forms in which mossesare used for this purpose, and cases in which mosseshave been used for monitoring local hot spots ofpollution, and regional patterns of metal pollution.Also highlighted are the questions of uptake of metalsfrom the substrates, interspecies differences, and acomparison of the effectiveness of mosses with otherindicator materials, among other issues.     

蔬菜样品的H_2SO_4-H_2O_2快速消化方法

本文报道了使用硫酸 -过氧化氢对蔬菜样品进行快速消化的方法。其消化时间比常规消化方法大为缩短。重金属元素镉、铬、铜、镍、锌含量测定的结果 ,与用常规消化方法 (硝酸 -高氯酸 )相吻合。     

Removal of heavy metals (Cr6+,Ni2+)from polluted water using decaying leaves of plane (Plantanus orientalis)

plane decaying leaves have been found capable of removing chromium and nickel ions from aqueous solutions. The removal efficiency depends upon the pH conditions, ions components and concentrations, and concentrations of leaves in media. The maximum removal for unique Cr⁶⁺ is about 7.5-8.0g/kg leaves at pH 4. 0, for unique Ni²⁺ about 2. 6g/kg at the region of PH5. 0-5.5. Under the described conditions nickel increases chromium uptake by plane decaying leaves from solution.     

云南省土壤污染状况调查中样品的保存与管理

主要介绍了土壤污染状况调查中,应通过规范要求土壤样品的保存与管理步骤,确保土壤污染状况调查数据的准确性与可比性。     

印刷线路板厂含铜污泥固化处理工艺研究

研究采用水泥作固化基材固化处理某印刷线路板厂酸性废水用石灰混凝所产生的含铜、锡、金的污泥 ,对固化块在不同 pH的水中重金属Cu2 +的浸出实验结果表明 :水泥固化处理该混凝污泥效果良好 ,控制合适的条件 ,可得到混合性能好、初凝时间适当、抗压强度较好的固化块。Cu2 +的浸出率低于允许浸出浓度。混凝过程中加入硫脲硅酸钠等助剂 ,可提高固化效果。研究还对几种不同配比的固化块抗压强度进行了探讨。     

金属板料成形摩擦机理研究

对不锈钢板料和碳钢在金属塑性成形时 (高接触压力 )的摩擦机理进行了实验研究 ,分析了压力对滑动阻力和摩擦系数的影响 ,得出了随压力增大摩擦系数逐渐变小的结论 ,从而为应用有限元法进行板料成形过程中塑性变形的计算机模拟提供真实的边界条件打下了基础。     

西藏自治区土地资源的适宜性评价与利用

本文综合评价了西藏自治区土地资源的适宜性及其质量．阐明了影响土地资源潜力发挥的主要限制因素，分析了土地资源利用现状、存在问题和开发潜力。并在此基础上、提出了西藏自治区土地资源合理开发利用的方向、对策和措施。     

岷江上游半干旱河谷土壤成土特征研究：以大沟流域为例

岷江上游半干旱河谷位于新构造运动活动带，其土壤形成和发育过程有着鲜明的区域特征。本文结合该区域的自然地理特点，综合分析各成土因素和土壤性状，对该区域土壤的成土特征进行了深入的分析和研究。