Levels and distribution of trace metals in surface sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic

Trace metal contents (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) have been measured in 27 surface sediment samples collected from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. The analyses yielded concentration values (in mg kg^?1) of 0.13–0.63 for Cd, 11.89–21.90 for Co, 48.65–81.84 for Cr, 21.26–36.60 for Cu, 299.59–683.48 for Mn, 22.43–35.39 for Ni, 10.68–36.59 for Pb, 50.28–199.07 for Zn and 8.09–65.34 for Hg (in ng g^?1), respectively. Relative cumulative frequency method has been used to define the baseline values of these metals, which (in mg kg^?1) were 0.14 for Cd, 13.56 for Co, 57.86 for Cr, 25.14 for Cu, 364.08 for Mn, 26.22 for Ni, 17.46 for Pb, 70.49 for Zn and 9.76 for Hg (in ng g^?1), respectively. The enrichment factor analysis indicated that Hg showed some extent of anthropogenic pollution, while Pb, Zn and Cd showed limited anthropogenic contamination in the study areas.     

Trace metal contents in some brands of canned beef in Nigeria

The concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel in some brands of canned beef in Nigerian markets were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean concentration ranges for these metals in mg?kg^?1 were 0.02–0.37 for Cd, <0.04–0.75 for Cr, 1.1–2.4 for Cu, <0.001–1.5 for Pb, 1.1–8.0 for Zn, <0.04–0.57 for Mn, 13.8–28.8 for Fe, 0.05–0.26 for Co, and 0.8–5.9 for Ni. The estimated dietary intake of metals from these products did not indicate any risk since the values were far below the permissible dietary intakes.     

Trends over 1999–2014 in the concentrations of Ba,Cs, Co,Mo, Pb,Sb, Tl,and W in urine of US children aged 6–11 years

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for children aged 6–11 years for 1999–2014 were used to study time trends and factors affecting the urinary levels of barium, cobalt, cesium, molybdenum, lead, antimony, thallium, and tungsten. Adjusted levels in urine declined every two years by 5.9% for barium, by 1.2% for cesium, by 18.2% for lead, and by 14% for antimony. For every additional smoker smoking inside a home, the levels of barium increased by 10.6% and for lead by 10%, but for tungsten levels decreased by 7.7%.     

Trends in natural-resource commodity prices: An analysis of the time domain

This paper attempts to reconcile the theoretical predictions of increasing real prices for nonrenewable natural-resource commodities obtained from Hotelling-style models with the empirical findings of falling prices for these commodities. A theoretical model for relative-price movements is derived for the case of exogenous technical change and endogenous change in the grade of ores mined. The model suggests a U-shaped time path for relative prices. The implied price movements are tested for all the major metals and fuels and the model parameters are found to be statistically significant for 11 out of the 12 commodities tested.     

Concentrations of selected metals in chicken eggs from commercial farms in Southern Nigeria

This work presents the results of the determination of concentrations of the trace metals Ni, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, and Fe in eggs from farms in Southern Nigeria. The mean concentrations (µg?g^?1 fresh weight) ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 for Ni, 3.1 to 8.9 for Zn, 0.45 to 0.65 for Mn, 0.4 to 1.2 for Pb, <0.09 to 0.3 for Cr, 0.1 to 0.3 for Cd, 0.26 to 0.34 for Co, 0.9 to 1.2 for Cu and 19.5 to 24.0 for Fe. The concentrations and estimated dietary intakes of these metals were below the respective statutory limits. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for the individual metals in all zones are less than 1, i.e., within safe levels. The combined THQ values for the different zones were greater than 1but less than 2, with a significant contribution of cobalt.     

Relationship between total concentration and dilute HCl extraction of heavy metals in sediments of harbors and coastal areas in Korea

Total concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in surface sediments were determined to investigate the regional trends of heavy metal contamination in 11 coastal areas in Korea. Enrichment factor (EF) of heavy metals was calculated by comparing the level of their regional background. The averages of EF values in study areas were 0.99 for Cr, 1.05 for Ni, 4.23 for Cu, 1.80 for Zn, 3.92 for Cd and 1.54 for Pb, respectively. Dilute HCl extractions were useful to deduce the anthropogenic sources of heavy metals and the 1 M HCl extractable fractions of each metal varied from 0.3 to 37.3% for Cr, 1.9 to 66.3% for Ni, 4.2 to 92.9% for Cu, 7.1 to 99.7% for Zn, 10.9 to 98.9% for Cd and 15.0 to 99.1% for Pb. Comparing 1 M HCl extractable fraction to total concentration, large portions of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were present as potentially bioavailable fractions from anthropogenic input and were significantly correlated with their EF values showing r > 0.68.     

Bioconcentration of butyltin compounds by round crucian carp

Bioconcentration factors (BCF) by round crucian carp and partition coefficients between n‐octanol and water (Pow) were measured for dibutyltin, tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds. Pow was 0.97–3.66 for 7 organotin compounds. BCF of tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds was 1.70–2.77 for muscle, 1.70–2.66 for vertebra, 2.05–3.70 for liver and 1.49–3.50 for kidney.     

Risk assessment in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African mud catfish (Clarias gariepinus) exposed to cassava effluent

Toxicity of cassava effluent in water on aquatic lives was examined via acute and chronic bioassay experiments on Clarias gariepinus (I) and Oreochromis niloticus (II) under laboratory conditions, using standard procedures. The effluent cyanide concentration exceeded the WHO limit for wastewater. Fish body weights and haematological parameters (HMP) significantly decreased with increasing effluent concentration at p≤0.05. Toxicity on HMP for the respective (I) and (II) varied from 5.4 to 52.8; 4.8 to 51.9% for packed cell volume, 4.1 to 43.9; 5.3 to 64.0% for red blood count, 0.0 to 15.7; 0.0 to 61.4% for white blood count, 3.6 to 45.9; 5.2 to 49.5% for haemoglobin, 11.6 to 71.9; 28.4 to 63.8% for total protein, 11.5 to 75.5; 15.0 to 58.2% for albumin and 11.8 to 75.0; 46 to 83.9% for globulin. Acute exposure yielded 96-h LC₅₀ values of 0.45% for (I) and 0.25% for (II) and chronic exposure caused reduced growth and poor blood quality.     

Lethal levels of hypoxia for gulf coast estuarine animals

There is increasing concern about eutrophication and subsequent hypoxia problems in estuaries. The US Environmental Protection Agency has developed Water Quality Criteria (WQC) for dissolved oxygen (DO) in saltwater for Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC but inadequate data exists for development of such criteria for other coastal geographic areas. We performed acute tests with two species of crustaceans and seven species of estuarine fishes native to the Gulf of Mexico to complement the data base for northeastern species. Flow-through tests were conducted for either 24- or 48-h at test temperatures from 24 to 28°C and at salinities from 20 to 31.5‰. Estimated 24-h LC50 values obtained for crustaceans ranged from 1.36 mg/l for adult pink shrimp to 1.56 mg/l for 10-day-old mysids. Similarly, estimated LC50 values for fish ranged from 1.34 mg/l in one of the three tests with pinfish to 2.22 mg/l in one of the two tests with scaled sardines. The majority of mortality attributable to low DO concentrations in our experiments usually occurred within the first 4 h of exposure. LC50 values for the species tested are below the WQC recommended protective limit of 2.3 mg/l for juvenile and adult animals.     

可持续发展战略的环境保护行动

从可持续发展论释义,以及以污染现实反证,提出环境是可持续发展的基础,保护环境就是保护人类社会赖以生存和发展的自然资源,自然资源是发展的根本条件的论点,进而提出环境保护工作的二项基本任务。依此提出可持续发展战略的环境保护行动框架意见。     

桉树人工林生态系统养分循环与平衡研究Ⅳ.桉树林间种山毛豆对生态系统养分循环的作用

桉树人工林间种山毛豆，增加了凋落物量和养分归还量，改善了营养元素的生物小循环。在一个轮伐期内山毛豆归还土壤养分的数量如下：氮528.37kg／hm^2，磷28.06kg／hm^2，钾66.20kg／hm^2，钙184.96kg／hm^2，镁57.21kg／hm^2；而同期刚果W5桉归还土壤养分的数量为：氮85.98kg／hm^2，磷3.94kg／hm^2，钾11.80kg/hm^2，钙36.98kg／hm^2，镁18.30kg／hm^2。由于间种山毛豆增加了生态系统的养分收入，减少了水土流失的养分支出，系统的各种养分出现了盈余的状况。     

A set of associated statistical tests for spatial clustering

The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of associated statistical tests for spatial clustering. In particular, a set of three associated tests will be developed; these will correspond to the three types of tests set out by Besag and Newell (general tests, focused tests, and tests for the detection of clustering). The associated tests draw primarily, though not exclusively, upon existing tests and results. The principal contributions are based upon the score statistic for focused tests, which has been an important approach to testing for clustering around environmental hazards. The first contribution consists of the formulation of a global statistic for general tests that corresponds to focused score statistics, along with an assessment of the distribution of the statistic under the null hypothesis of no raised incidence. The local score statistics used for focused tests will have the property of summing to the global statistic used for the corresponding general test. Attention is also given to the maximum local score statistic for the “test for the detection of clustering”. The critical values of this statistic which are required for testing the null hypothesis are described. Application of the methods is made to leukemia data for central New York State.     

Priority-Setting Tool Applied to Canada's Landbirds Based on Concern and Responsibility for Species

Abstract: As a contribution to Partners in Flight–Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service developed a ranking system to help set priorities for landbird species. Two complementary species lists were generated: one with scores for "concern" representing vulnerability and population trend, and one for "responsibility" for regionally characteristic fauna. The concern score gave equal weight to vulnerability, a composite score based on abundance and breadth of range, and population trend, because its purpose was to give early warning of potential problems. Responsibility scores were scale-free and were assigned for the season in which the species is most abundant. Other systems for identifying species of concern may be more appropriate for other jurisdictions or organisms, but the responsibility ranking is widely applicable. This system is a coarse filter that generates preliminary ranks; additional information should be considered in deciding how to allocate scarce resources for conservation. Unrefined results are nonetheless useful for a variety of purposes, as illustrated by the scores for Canadian landbirds. About 25% of Canada's high-responsibility species are also of high concern. These high-concern species are not associated with specific habitats or migration patterns. Conservation of species ranking high on concern and responsibility merits cooperation with the United States and Mexico in particular. The scores identified improved monitoring as a priority conservation activity for Canada.     

Income inequality and willingness to pay for environmental public goods

We study how the distribution of income among members of society, and income inequality in particular, affects social willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental public goods. We find that social WTP for environmental goods decreases (increases) with income inequality if and only if environmental goods and manufactured goods are substitutes (complements). We derive adjustment factors for benefit transfer to control for differences in income distributions between a study site and a policy site. For illustration, we quantify how social WTP for environmental public goods depends on the respective income distributions for empirical case studies in Sweden and the World at large. We find that the adjustment for income inequality can be substantial.     

Effectiveness of amphibians as biodiversity surrogates in pond conservation

Amphibian decline has led to worldwide conservation efforts, including the identification and designation of sites for their protection. These sites could also play an important role in the conservation of other freshwater taxa. In 89 ponds in Switzerland, we assessed the effectiveness of amphibians as a surrogate for 4 taxonomic groups that occur in the same freshwater ecosystems as amphibians: dragonflies, aquatic beetles, aquatic gastropods, and aquatic plants. The ponds were all of high value for amphibian conservation. Cross‐taxon correlations were tested for species richness and conservation value, and Mantel tests were used to investigate community congruence. Species richness, conservation value, and community composition of amphibians were weakly congruent with these measures for the other taxonomic groups. Paired comparisons for the 5 groups considered showed that for each metric, amphibians had the lowest degree of congruence. Our results imply that site designation for amphibian conservation will not necessarily provide protection for freshwater biodiversity as a whole. To provide adequate protection for freshwater species, we recommend other taxonomic groups be considered in addition to amphibians in the prioritization and site designation process.     

Biotransformations of Chlorophenols in River Sediments

The accumulation of chlorophenols, including 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP), from river sediments from southern Taiwan were studied. Through simple or more exhaustive extractions, the results showed that 99% of the samples containing 2,4,6-TCP and PCP could be removed by simple extraction. the concentrations were found to range from non-detectable to 16.60 ngg¹ for 2,4,6-TCP and to 25.02 ngg¹ for PCP. Partition coefficients (K_p) were 0.71, 0.74 mlg¹ for 2,4,6-TCP, 1.35 and 1.41 mlg¹ for PCP. Biodegradation by DCP-adapted or unadapted anaerobes in sediment was carried out. During 21 days' incubation, the complete degradation time for 2,4,6-TCP in DCP-adapted anaerobic, unadapted anaerobic, and unadapted aerobic conditions were found to be 9, 10, 12 days for N3 sediment, and 8, 10, 11 days for N6 sediment, respectively; for PCP it was 19 days, without degradation, 14 days for N3 sediment, and 13, 17, 10 days for N6 sediment, respectively. the biodegradable products were identified as 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol (2,3,4,5-TeCP), 3,4,5-TCP, 3,5-DCP, 3-MCP, phenol, methylphenol, and benzoate for PCP, and 2,4-DCP, 4-MCP, phenol, methylphenol, and benzoate for 2,4,6-TCP.     

Assessment of Trace Metals in the Sediments From the Coastal Zone of Alexandria, Egypt

Freshly deposited surface sediments from the Alexandria coastal zone were collected and analysed in 1995 for their trace metal concentrations. Metal concentrations in the sediments vary between sites within a wide range for copper, zinc, iron, lead, chromium and cadmium. the statistical analysis between the metal concentrations and the different constituents (organic carbon, total nitrogen, silt, clay and total iron) showed significant correlations. the enrichment factors for the sediments ranged between 3 and 4-fold for copper, chromium and zinc and reached up to 9-fold for lead and 113-fold for cadmium. the highest index for cadmium and lead may be attributed to the anthropogenic inputs from the surrounding area, where they are highest in lower discharge areas.     

Values and willingness-to-pay for sustainability-certified mobile phones

ABSTRACT

This study investigated whether endorsement of personal values is associated with willingness to pay more for mobile phones with an environmental or social sustainability label. Participants were students in Sweden, Norway and Germany. A self-report inventory was used to measure willingness to pay and the importance attached to values of Schwartz’s circular model. In Sweden and Norway, participants were willing to pay, on average, 18% extra for a mobile phone with labels for environmental or social sustainability. In Germany, the corresponding share was 12%. To strive for self-enhancement values, that is, social status and prestige, as well as control and dominance over people and resources, was associated with a lower willingness to pay for mobile phones with labels for environmental or social sustainability in all three countries. Furthermore, women were willing to pay more than men for mobile phones with both kinds of sustainability labels. In Sweden and Norway, participants were, on average, willing to pay more for a mobile phone with a label for social sustainability compared to a mobile phone with a label for environmental sustainability.     

Energetics of Euphausia pacifica. I. Effects of body carbon and nitrogen and temperature on measured and predicted production

Laboratory production during the life span of Euphausia pacifica was measured directly (as the sum of growth, molting and reproduction) and indirectly (as assimilation minus metabolism and leakage) to test the hypothesis that weight-specific production is a constant for all sizes. Euphausiids were collected in Puget Sound, Washington State, USA, from September 1973 to March 1978. Equations were determined (in terms of carbon and nitrogen at 8° and 12° C) expressing the relationships between body weight and the daily rates of growth, molting, reproduction, ingestion and metabolism. The allometric equation (R=aW ^b ) best related body weight (W) to the rate (R) for growth, molting, ingestion, respiration and excretion for life stages from late larvae through adults. As predicted by the original above hypothesis, the weight-specific coefficient (b) was close to 1.0 for ingestion and excretion; in contrast, b was 0.62 for growth, and 0.77 to 0.85 for molting and respiration. The Q₁₀ s also varied: 3.5 for growth, 2.4 for molting, about 3.0 for ingestion, and 2.0 for respiration and excretion. Assimilation efficiencies, for all weights and at both temperatures, were 81.3% of carbon and 85.9% of nitrogen ingested. The relationships between rate and body weight of early larvae for growth and molting were linear, as was the relationship for reproduction in adults. Weight-specific production was higher by I to 2% at 12° than 8° C for all life stages, and was 2 to 4% for carbon and 2 to 6% for nitrogen in adults, but 13 to 17% for carbon and 14 to 15% for nitrogen in early furcilia larvae. The null hypothesis was rejected for production measured directly, but would have been accepted if only an indirect measurement of nitrogen production had been considered. Clearly, indirect measurement incorporates all errors of measurement and assumption and makes interpretation difficult.     

The Case for Diminishing Marginal Existence Values

This study addresses the debate over sensitivity of existence values measured by contingent valuation to scope tests. We reconcile much of the debate within one theoretical model. If marginal WTP for existence goods is diminishing, then a study that tested for sensitivity to scope over a range for which marginal WTP is high would be more likely to detect sensitivity to scope than a study that focused on a range for which marginal WTP is much lower. An empirical model demonstrates this point for existence value of remote wilderness parks. These results have significant implications for future contingent valuation work.