The influence of degree of substitution on blend miscibility and biodegradation of cellulose acetate blends

In this account, we report our findings on blends of cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution (DS) of 2.49 (CA2.5) with a cellulose acetate having a DS of 2.06 (CA2.0). This blend system was examined over the composition range of 0–100% CA2.0 employing both solvent casting of films (no plasticizer) and thermal processing (melt-compressed films and injection molding) using poly(ethylene glycol) as a common plasticizer. All thermally processed blends were optically clear and showed no loss in optical quality after storage for several months. Thermal analysis and measurement of physical properties indicate that blends in the middle composition range are partially miscible, while those at the ends of the composition range are miscible. We suggest that the miscibility of these cellulose acetate blends is influenced primarily by the monomer composition of the copolymers. Bench-scale simulated municipal composting confirmed the biodestructability of these blends and indicated that incorporation of a plasticizer accelerated the composting rates of the blends.In vitro aerobic biodegradation testing involving radiochemical labeling conclusively demonstrated that both the lower DS CA2.0 and the plasticizer significantly enhanced the biodegradation of the more highly substituted CA2.5.While this work was in progress, Robert Gardner was struck with cancer and died on June 6, 1995. This paper is dedicated to his memory and to his contributions as a friend and colleague.     

Respecting The Autonomy of European and American Consumers: Defending Positive Labels on Gm Foods

In her recent article, “Does autonomy count in favor of labeling genetically modified food?,” Kirsten Hansen argues that in Europe, voluntary negative labeling of non-GM foods respects consumer autonomy just as well as mandatory positive labeling of foods with GM content. She also argues that because negative labeling places labeling costs upon those consumers that want to know whether food is GM, negative labeling is better policy than positive labeling. In this paper, we argue that Hansen’s arguments are mistaken in several respects. Most importantly, she underestimates the demands of respecting autonomy and overestimates the cost of positive labeling. Moreover, she mistakenly implies that only a small minority of people desire information about GM content. We also explore the extent to which her arguments would apply to the US context, and argue that any discussion of the relationship between autonomy and labeling should include not just considerations of consumer autonomy but also considerations of what we call citizen autonomy.     

Eco-Labeling and ISO 14000: An Analysis of US Regulatory Systems and Issues Concerning Adoption of Type II Standards

/ Current private and public regulatory systems may not provide an optimal degree of regulation for labels bearing environmental information, and established institutions may detract from efforts to provide for better environmental management. The advent of ISO 14000 offers new opportunities for making eco-labeling a meaningful tool to encourage environmental stewardship. While new federal legislation offers the best vehicle to introduce these standards into US law, the slow pace of the legislative process may recommend an alternative system. Multinational and civic-minded firms may be expected to employ private programs to nurture benevolent environmental management practices until more definitive governmental institutions can be put in place.KEY WORDS: Eco-labels; Environmental labeling; International standards; ISO 14000     

欧日中实施GHS政策的对比和思考

通过研究欧盟、日本和我国实施全球化学品统一分类和标签制度(GHS)的基本情况,并从实施GHS的框架体系、实施GHS的时间节点、GHS的危险类别和GHS危险类别的判定,4个方面对欧盟、日本和我国实施GHS的现状进行重点研究。通过对比分析得出我国当前实施GHS主要存在4个方面的问题,即缺乏实施GHS的综合法律、实施GHS缓冲期的设置存在问题、缺乏开展GHS分类的配套指南、没有合理的运用"积木原则"。结合我国的实际情况提出3个方面的建议:适时推动我国GHS法律法规体系的建设、在各部门的协作下编制我国的GHS分类指南、合理的运用"积木原则"。通过分析表明:欧盟实施的GHS政策最为完善且力度最强,日本次之;由于充分利用"积木原则",欧盟的GHS类别与日中存在一定的差异;欧日中在数据运用和GHS危险判定原则上存在差异。     

水稻光合碳在植株-土壤系统中分配与稳定对施磷的响应

为探究稻田土壤光合碳的输入及分配对施磷的响应特征,本研究选用籼性常规水稻品种（中早39）,在两个施磷（0 mg·kg^-1和80 mg·kg^-1;分别记为P₀和P₈₀）条件下进行盆栽试验,同时采用¹³CO₂连续标记技术量化光合碳在水稻-土壤系统中的分配.结果表明,施磷显著增加光合碳在水稻地上部的分配,降低其在根际土的分配（P<0.05）;施磷使拔节期水稻的光合碳含量增加了70%,根系干重降低了31%.与不施磷相比,施磷显著提高了水稻地上部全碳含量0.31 g·pot^-1（P<0.05）,显著降低了水稻根冠比;施磷使进入非根际土壤微生物量的光合碳（¹³C-MBC）显著增加了0.03 mg·kg^-1,但降低其在根际土壤的分配;光合碳在非根际土壤颗粒态有机碳（POC）和矿物结合态有机碳（MOC）的分配对施磷的响应不显著,但在根际土壤施磷处理显著降低了其在POC中的含量.因此,施磷增加了光合碳在水稻-土壤系统的分配,但降低了光合碳在土壤中的积累.本研究探讨施磷对水稻光合碳在水稻-土壤系统的分配及其稳定的影响,为缺磷土壤的合理施用磷肥及其对土壤有机碳积累的影响提供理论基础和数据支撑;对理解稻田土壤光合碳的传输与分配特征及其固碳潜力具有重要意义.     

A Short History of Food Ethics

Moral concern with food intake is as old asmorality itself. In the course of history, however,several ways of critically examining practices of foodproduction and food intake have been developed.Whereas ancient Greek food ethics concentrated on theproblem of temperance, and ancient Jewish ethics onthe distinction between legitimate and illicit foodproducts, early Christian morality simply refused toattach any moral significance to food intake. Yet,during the middle ages food became one of theprinciple objects of monastic programs for moralexercise (askesis). During the seventeenth andeighteenth century, food ethics was transformed interms of the increasing scientific interest in foodintake, while in the nineteenth century the socialdimension of food ethics was discovered, with theresult that more and more attention was given to theproduction and distribution of food products. Becauseof the increasing distance between the production andconsumption of food products ever since, theoutstanding feature of contemporary food ethics is itreliance and dependence on labeling practices.     

水分管理对水稻生长与根际激发效应的影响特征

作物根际沉积碳输入而引起的根际激发效应,对农田土壤碳排放通量和碳平衡起到关键的调控作用.在稻田生态系统中,由于频繁的干湿交替,土壤CO2 和CH4 排放以及根际激发效应明显有别于其他自然生态系统.因此,明确稻田生态系统干湿交替过程中水稻根际激发效应的方向与强度,对于减缓稻田温室气体排放具有重要意义.本研究采用13C-C...     

基于天气背景天津大气污染输送特征分析

区域输送是大气污染防治中需要考虑的重要因素,本文利用大气化学模式定量估算2016年10月～2017年9月区域输送对天津的影响,重点基于天气背景分析区域输送影响和气象条件的关系,为京津冀地区大气污染联防联控提供支撑.结果表明,京津冀地区各城市区域输送贡献百分率平原城市显著高于沿山城市,天津一次PM_2.5本地贡献62.9%,区域输送贡献37.1%,主要受沧州、廊坊、河北中南部、北京、唐山和山东等地输送影响,每年4～6月区域输送最显著, 7～8月区域输送最弱.区域输送与天气形势、风场和降水等气象条件密切相关,高压后和锋前低压是区域输送占比最高的两种污染天气类型,西南风、西风和南风3个风向下天津大气污染输送影响最为明显,风速2～3 m·s^-1时最有利于PM_2.5区域传输,降水超过5 mm以上将降低大气污染物区域传输效率.对于不同污染类型和重污染阶段,轻度污染天气时区域输送贡献最为明显,比均值偏高20.5%,重污染天气虽受静稳气团控制,但由于周边区域高浓度的PM_2.5,污染气团迁移对区域内污染聚集传输有显著影...     

FISH-NanoSIMS技术在环境微生物生态学上的应用研究

微生物分子生态学技术的不断发展,使得同时分析复杂生态系统中微生物的分布和功能特征成为可能.为了研究荧光原位杂交-纳米二次离子质谱技术(fluorescence in situ hybridization-Nano secondary ion mass spectroscopy,FISH-Nano SIMS)在环境微生物生态学上的应用,本研究采用稳定同位素标记的化合物13C-C6H12O6、15N-NH4Cl作为C源和N源,分别对纯培养锰氧化细菌假单胞菌Pseudomonas sp.QJX-1(培养基加锰及不加锰两种条件下),以及浅层土壤及厌氧污泥两种环境样品进行培养.利用FISH-NanoSIMS技术检测培养后样品中微生物体内12C-、13C-、12C14N-、12C15N-的分布特征及其丰度值,进而探讨纯菌及环境样品中微生物利用同位素碳氮源的情况.结果显示所有样品细菌分布区域对应的同位素碳氮(13C、15N)的含量均显著大于其自然丰度值,这表明Pseudomonas sp.QJX-1及环境样品中的微生物均能代谢13C-C6H12O6和15N-NH4Cl.研究进一步发现,Pseudomonas sp.QJX-1在碳氮源消耗至较低浓度时才进行锰氧化;浅层土壤和厌氧污泥中可能都存在同步硝化反硝化细菌群落.FISH和Nano SIMS技术联用能同时分析环境样品中特定微生物的分布特征及代谢功能,进而能更好地掌握环境样品中微生物群落的生理生态学特征.     

政府采购环境标志电子产品的环境效益分析

实施政府绿色采购,引导和推动消费和生产向更可持续的方向发展是解决环境问题,实现经济社会全面可持续发展的必然要求.进行绿色采购成本效益分析是政府绿色采购政策可持续推进发展的有力保障.本文在介绍了中国环境标产品政府采购的现状和国外相关政府绿色采购环境效益研究的基础上,针对电子产品展开了相应的环境效益分析,最后对国内广泛开展此项工作的存在的问题和挑战进行了总结.