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With the fast development of industrialisation, the environment has been exposed to various elements which are hazardous. The soils are found to be the major sink of variety of contaminants. Most important of these contaminants are heavy metals. The study aimed to investigate heavy metal soil profile from five locations of an agricultural field in vertical direction. The study area chosen is village Salarpur in Tehsil Tijara, District Alwar, Rajasthan, India. Presence of Heavy metals is also compared at two depths i.e. 0 to 1 cm and 1 to 5 cm at each location. Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Fe, and Ni concentrations in the soil samples were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS. Cr III was estimated by spectrophotometric method. The study of the area reveals that Total Zn, Total Pb, Total Cu, Fe and Ni content in soil decreases with depth at locations 1, 2, and 3 but increase with depth at locations 4 and 5. Total Cd content of soil increases with depth at location 1, 2, 3, and 4 but decreases with depth at location 5. The non-uniform distribution of Total Zn, Total Pb, Total Cu, Fe, Cd and Ni contents with depth is revealed. Concentration of Cr-III of soil increases with depth at all locations. Strong positive correlation of Zn with Pb, Cu, Fe and Ni, Pb with Cu, Fe and Ni, Cu with Fe and Ni, Fe with Ni is revealed at both the depths i.e. 0-1 cm and 1-5 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, being a product of industrialisation, can easily fuel the idea that adaptation to climate impacts is something new. Scholars of the past, however, show that societies have dynamically and heterogeneously coped with climate variability and with recurrent and abrupt weather extremes. This research aims to explore climate adaptation in preindustrial societies taking into account different levels of social organisation. We argue that this multilevel perspective can enrich our understanding of the different strategies to cope with climate impacts in past societies. Archival research was carried out in the early modern villages of Terrassa and Sant Pere (Barcelona, Spain) to reconstruct the set of strategies to cope with recurrent droughts both at community and household levels. We found that peasant families developed a wider range of strategies than communities, but that many strategies used by households and communities overlapped, potentially generating a redundancy effect and fostering complex strategies operating through cross-level interactions. By studying past adaptation strategies with common taxonomies and detailed methodologies, our paper aims to improve interdisciplinary communication with research about the human dimensions of anthropogenic climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of understanding the impact of effluents and on the occurrence and distribution of macrobenthic organisms, an investigation has been carried out for a period of 8 months from October 2006 to May 2007 in the nearshore water of Thannirbhavi and Chitrapur receiving treated industrial effluents and Bengre coast having estuarine influences. The quality composition of benthic organism revealed the presence of hydroids such as Obeliasp,Cordylophorasp and companularia sp. Polychaetes belonging to 15 diferent families have been identified and their distribution revealed variation with respect to the type of the effluents. 24 different types of molluscss have been identified and their occurrence and distribution was found to be related to type of sediment and the quality of the effluents. Bulks of crustaceans were formed mainly due to species of Gammarus, Caprellids and Tanaidaceans. The great abundance and diversity of benthic organisms was observed in the Thannirbhavi receiving effluents from a fertilizer industry, when compare to the Chitrapur receiving treated effluents from a dye industry and an oil refinery industry. Silty-clayey sediment harbored higher density of polychaetes where as sandy-silty sediment supported greater abundance of molluscs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors aim to present some aspects about the history of treatment plants. If the importance of providing drinking water for a community has been paramount since the beginning of mankind, sewage and wastewater treatment have become widespread only in the modern era. Water consumption increased with the industrialization. The populated centers developed and the population density increased also. At first, after the sewerage networks were built, the sewage, regardless of its nature, was discharged directly into the river. Subsequently, the purification of these waters became a necessity. The first treatment plants offered only a mechanical treatment. It is interesting to see how they were made 100 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air quality on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is influenced by local anthropogenic and biogenic emissions as well as marine air masses from the South China Sea and aged emissions transported from highly polluted East Asian regions during the winter monsoon season. An atmospheric observation tower has been constructed on this coastline at the Bachok Marine Research Station. Daily PM 2.5 samples were collected from the top of the observation tower over a 3-week period, and ion chromatography was used to make time-resolved measurements of major atmospheric ions present in aerosol. SO42- was found to be the most dominant ion present and on average made up 66 % of the total ion content. Predictions of aerosol pH were made using the ISORROPIA II thermodynamic model, and it was estimated that the aerosol was highly acidic, with pH values ranging from -0.97 to 1.12. A clear difference in aerosol composition was found between continental air masses originating from industrialised regions of East Asia and marine air masses predominantly influenced by the South China Sea. For example, elevated SO42- concentrations and increased Cl- depletion were observed when continental air masses that had passed over highly industrialised regions of East Asia arrived at the measurement site. Correlation analyses of the ionic species and assessment of ratios between different ions provided an insight into common sources and formation pathways of key atmospheric ions, such as SO42- , NH4+ and C2O42-. To our knowledge, time-resolved measurements of water-soluble ions in PM 2.5 are virtually non-existent in rural locations on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Overall this dataset contributes towards a better understanding of atmospheric composition in the Maritime Continent, a region of the tropics that is vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality, largely as a result of rapid industrialisation in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Spatiotemporal variations of CO 2 emissions were explored from multiple perspectives. • Impact factors of CO 2 emissions were quantified and compared at different levels. • Spatiotemporal variations of CO 2 emissions are greater at the prefecture level compared to the provincial level. • Impact factors of CO 2 emissions vary substantially across two levels. Abstract Due to the continuing industrialization and urbanization, China's CO 2 emissions have experienced a rapid increase in recent 30 years. The increase of CO 2 emissions will not only effect country's own sustainable development, but also potentially pose a negative impact on the global climate stability. Since the socioeconomic development is sensitive to geographic scales and regional heterogeneity, a systematic investigation of spatiotemporal variations (SV) of CO 2 emissions and their impact factors (IF) across different levels will help to develop more effective and reasonable policies and measures for CO 2 emissions mitigation. However, multi-scale analysis of those issues is still lacking. Hence, using two administrative levels (e.g., prefectures or provinces) in China as experimental objects, this study attempted to quantify and compare SV and IF of CO 2 emissions from nighttime light images and socioeconomic data at different levels using the variation coefficient (VC), spatial autocorrelation spatial model, and spatial econometric model. Our results show that the VC of CO 2 emissions is uninterruptedly increases from 0.66 in 1997 to 0.73 in 2006, and then gradually decreases to 0.69 in 2012 at the provincial level, and it consistently decreases from 1.29 in 1997 to 1.03 in 2012 at the prefectural level. The Global Moran's I of CO 2 emissions increases from 1997 to 2012 at the provincial and prefectural levels. Specifically, the Global Moran's I gradually increases from 0.23 in 1997 to 0.27 in 2012 at the provincial level, while it shows a rapid growth trend, from 0.23 in 1997 to 0.34 in 2012 at the prefectural level. The proportion of second industry has been demonstrated as a major factor influencing CO 2 emissions at different levels, while gross domestic product, urbanization rate, and population play more important roles in CO 2 emissions at the prefectural level. This study illustrates that China's CO 2 emissions are sensitive to the spatial-temporal hierarchy of multi-mechanisms, and suggests that "proceed in the light of local conditions" strategies can help Chinese government for CO 2 emissions mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract How to protect the Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) has become a practical problem to be solved due to its number increasing rapidly. To promote the industrial integration development (IID) in IAHS sites was an essential measure regarded widely. This paper first reviewed IID theories, and then analyzed resources characteristics in IAHS sites and IAHS conservation requirements. Then based on these aspects, an IID theoretical framework was built for IAHS sites. In the theoretical framework, the definition and connotation and the principles that IID should abide by were proposed first, and then an implemented procedure of IID was built. The implemented procedure drew an IID route for IAHS sites, which describes the key indexes of assessment on the IID level, how to analyze resources characteristics, which resource types can be used, how to achieve industrial integration, how to organize operating entities of industries and how to balance benefits of stakeholders. The theory indicated the distinctiveness and key aspects of IID in IAHS sites and suggested how to promote the IID in IAHS sites and which themes are research priorities. Highlights • Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) conservation is a crucial work for IAHS sites. • Promoting Industrial Integration Development (IID) in IAHS sites is an essential protective measure. • IID in IAHS sites is restrained by conservation conditions but also has many resources advantages. • This paper proposes a theoretic framework of IID in IAHS sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current debate on critical raw materials lacks a historical dimension. While the idea of identifying certain raw materials as particularly problematic - and therefore critical - to future development is not a new one, a historical perspective has not yet been systematically integrated into the debate. This article explores concepts from history of technology to make suggestions about how we can better understand the ways in which reflection triggers and shapes material change. It discusses the concepts of social construction of technology (SCOT) and the development of technological systems, applying them to the debates on the criticality of wood and limestone during the age of industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity of heavy metals from industrialization poses critical concern, and analysis of sources associated with potential human health risks is of unique significance. Assessing human health risk of pollution sources (factored health risk) concurrently in the whole and the sub region can provide more instructive information to protect specific potential victims. In this research, we establish a new expression model of human health risk based on quantitative analysis of sources contribution in different spatial scales. The larger scale grids and their spatial codes are used to initially identify the level of pollution risk, the type of pollution source and the sensitive population at high risk. The smaller scale grids and their spatial codes are used to identify the contribution of various sources of pollution to each sub region (larger grid) and to assess the health risks posed by each source for each sub region. The results of case study show that, for children (sensitive populations, taking school and residential area as major region of activity), the major pollution source is from the abandoned lead-acid battery plant (ALP), traffic emission and agricultural activity. The new models and results of this research present effective spatial information and useful model for quantifying the hazards of source categories and human health a t complex industrial system in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid development and industrialization in Southeast (SE) Asia has led to environmental pollution, potentially exposing the general population to environmental contaminants. Human biomonitoring (HBM), measurement of chemical and/or their metabolites in human tissues and fluids, is an important tool for assessing cumulative exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals and for monitoring chemical exposures in the general population. While there are national HBM programs in several developed countries, there are no such national programs in most of the SE Asian countries. However, in recent years there has been progress in the field of HBM in many of the SE Asian countries. In this review, we present recent HBM studies in five selected SE Asian countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. While there is extensive HBM research in several SE Asian countries, such as Thailand, in other countries HBM studies are limited and focus on traditional environmental pollutants (such as lead, arsenic and mercury). Further development of this field in SE Asia would be benefited by establishment of laboratory capacity, improving quality control and assurance, collaboration with international experts and consortiums, and sharing of protocols and training both for pre-analytical and analytical phases. This review highlights the impressive progress in HBM research in selected SE Asian countries and provides recommendations for development of this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carried out field measurements of aerosols in Lhasa, a major city in the Tibetan Plateau that has been experiencing fast urbanization and industrialization. Aerosol number size distribution was continuously measured using an optical particle size spectrometer near the center of Lhasa city during the Asian summer monsoon season in 2016. The mass concentration of fine particles was modulated by boundary layer dynamics, with an average of 11 μg m −3 and the high values exceeding 50 μg m −3 during religious holidays. Daytime high concentration coincided with the religious burning of biomass and incense in the temples during morning hours, which produced heavy smoke. Factor analysis revealed a factor that likely represented religious burning. The factor contributed 34% of the campaign-average fine particle mass and the contribution reached up to 80% during religious holidays. The mass size distribution of aerosols produced from religious burnings peaked at ∼500 nm, indicating that these particles could efficiently decrease visibility and promote health risk. Because of its significance, our results suggest that further studies of religious burning, a currently under-studied source, are needed in the Tibetan Plateau and in other regions of the world where religious burnings are frequently practiced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is considered to be the most systematic methodology that is widely used in the area of energy analysis. However, embodied energy (EE) and carbon (EC) analysis requires significant time and effort to ensure the reliability of the LCA results. Therefore, a more comprehensive model of conducting the energy analysis is required to provide more realistic EE and EC analysis in turn. Hybrid LCA has been identified as the best model in improving the completeness of EE and EC inventory data. However, such a benefit was not empirically verified extensively, especially in the Malaysian construction industry. This paper demonstrates an extended application of hybrid LCA to Malaysian building design systems, and further investigates the completeness of the model. Finally, the potential for EE and EC reduction through the allocation of low EE and EC intensities of alternative materials, products or components has been evaluated. The results revealed that the hybrid LCA improved the completeness of the EE and EC inventory data compared with other models. By using low EE and EC intensity materials, products or components, a total EE and EC reduction of 43% and 41%, respectively was achieved. The results showed that the proposed methodology can assist designers practically during the early stage of the design process in the Malaysian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of soil water under coniferous forests of Murmansk oblast—an industrially developed region of northern Russia—was investigated. The studied objects were dwarf-shrub-green-moss spruce forests and dwarf-shrub-lichen pine forests on Al-Fe-humus podzols (Albic Rustic Podzols) that are widespread in the boreal zone. The concentrations and removal of organic carbon performing the most important biogeochemical and pedogenic functions were estimated. The results proved significant intra- and inter-biogeocenotic variability in the composition of atmospheric depositions and soil water. Carbon removal with soil water from organic and mineral horizons within elementary biogeoareas (EBGA) under tree crowns was 2-5 and 2-3 times (in some cases, up to 10 times) greater than that in the intercrown areas, respectively. The lowest critical level of mineral nitrogen (0.2 mg/L) was, as a rule, exceeded in tree EBGAs contrary to intercrown areas. Concentrations of sulfates and heavy metals in water of tree EBGA were 3-5 times greater than those in inter-crown areas. Significant inter-biogeocenotic variations related to differences in the height of trees and tree stand density were found. It is argued that adequate characterization of biochemical cycles and assessment of critical levels of components in soil water of forest ecosystems should be performed with due account for the intra- and inter-biogeocenotic variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main problems that arise in the assessment of air quality in an area is to estimate the number of representative sampling points of each microenvironment within it. We present a new model that reduces the variability and increases the quality of the comparison of the sampling points. The study is based on the comparison between a city in eastern Spain, Vila-real, a macro city in México, Monterrey and the Piemonte region regarding the assessment of PM10 in microenvironments. Vila-real is located in the province of Castellón. This province is a strategic area in the framework of European Union (EU) pollution control. On the other hand, Monterrey in México, located in the northern state of Nuevo León, has several problems with particulate material in the atmosphere produced by the extraction of building materials in the hill that surround the city. Finally, the Piemonte region, which is located in the north of Italy, has to be in consideration due to higher concentrations of PM10 in the Po river basin. In the case of Vila-real the PM10 samples were collected by a medium volume sampler according to European regulations. Particle concentration levels were determined gravimetrically (EN 12341:1999). In the case of Monterrey the PM10 concentrations were determined by Beta Ray Attenuation according to US-EPA regulations. In the Piemonte region, the average concentration of PM10 was also obtained by means of the Beta Ray Attenuation as well as using gravimetric instruments. The methodology carried out in this paper is a useful tool for developing future Air Quality Plans in other industrialised areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 400 groundwater samples were collected from different types of aquifers in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and the concentrations of groundwater arsenic (As) and other 22 hydrochemical parameters in different types of aquifers were then investigated. Results showed that groundwater As concentration was up to hundreds μg/L in granular aquifers, while those in fissured aquifers and karst aquifers were only up to dozens and several μg/L, respectively. Correspondingly, about 9.4% and 2.3% samples with high concentrations (>0.01 mg/L) of As were in granular and fissured aquifers, respectively, but no samples with high concentration of As were in karst aquifers. The source and mobilization of groundwater As in granular aquifers are likely controlled by the following mechanism: organic matter in marine strata was mineralized and provided electrons for electron acceptors, resulting in the release of NH4+ and I- and the reduction of Fe/Mn and NO3-, and was accompanied with the mobilization of As from sediments into groundwater. By contrast, both natural processes including the competitive adsorption between As anions and F-/PO43-/HCO3- and anthropogenic processes including industrialization were responsible for high concentrations of groundwater As in fissured aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has become one of the most heavily polluted countries in the world with China's air pollution attracting claims from some international media of its spread to neighboring countries such as Korea and Japan, in order to bring to the concern of the international community. PM 2.5 (fine particles) pollution is one of the main sources of China's air pollution. The detrimental effect PM 2.5 pollution poses on health of residents and its hindrances to transportation has attracted the attention of many scholars who have conducted a wide range of investigations on PM 2.5 pollution. However, in spite of the avalanche of research on PM 2.5 pollution in China, majority of the existing studies in terms of methodology has usually investigated air pollution using the averaging method. In fact, the data distribution of socio-economic variables is often non-normal, with the tail having hidden important information. In order to overcome the shortcomings of existing research, this paper uses a quantile regression approach to explore the main driving forces of the difference in PM 2.5 pollution under high, medium and low emission levels. The results show that the effect of economic growth on PM 2.5 pollution in the upper 90th quantile provinces is the highest in all the quantile provinces due to the differences in fixed–asset investment and export trade. The impacts of energy efficiency in the 75th–90th and upper 90th quantile provinces are stronger than those in the lower 10th, 10th–25th, 25th–50th, and 50th–75th quantile provinces because of a big differences in research and development (R&D) funding and R&D personnel investment. The case of industrialization was similar on account of the differences in the industrial and building sectors. However, the empirical evidence showed that influences of urbanization in the 25th–50th and 50th–75th quantile provinces were lower than those in the other quantile provinces owing to the differences in motor vehicle and real estate industry. Thus, the heterogeneous effects of these driving forces on the different quantile provinces should be taken into consideration when discussing the mitigation of PM 2.5 pollution in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: China has suffered severe air pollutions during wintertime as national industrialization and urbanization have been increasingly developed in the past decades. Recent studies suggest that climate change has important impacts on extreme haze events in northern China. This study uses reanalysis datasets to analyze the trend and variability of Siberian High (SiH) intensity, and its relationship with the Arctic temperature and sea ice cover (SIC) in past two decades. The results show that Arctic is warming accompanied by a rapid decline of SIC, while Eurasia is cooling and SiH intensity is gradually enhancing. The statistics illustrates that the SiH has a significantly positive correlation to the temperature (R = 0.70), and a significant anticorrelation to the SIC (R = −0.69), and this is because the warming Arctic and the reducing SIC enhanced the SiH. The enhanced SiH leads to strengthened northerly winds in the North China Plain (NCP). The WRF‐Chem model calculation reveals the strengthened northerly winds during the stronger SiH period in January 2016 produce a significant decrease in PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) concentrations by 100–200 µg m−3 than that during the weaker one in January 2013. A sensitivity calculation figures out the reduction of PM2.5 concentrations due to a decrease of 50% in emissions is comparable to changes from the weak SiH condition to the strong SiH condition, suggesting that extreme climate variability in the past few years could have an equivalent impact as a consequence of a large emission reduction on wintertime air pollution in the NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol pollution in eastern China is an unfortunate consequence of the region's rapid economic and industrial growth. Here, sun photometer measurements from seven sites in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2011 to 2015 were used to characterize the climatology of aerosol microphysical and optical properties, calculate direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF) and classify the aerosols based on size and absorption. Bimodal size distributions were found throughout the year, but larger volumes and effective radii of fine-mode particles occurred in June and September due to hygroscopic growth and/or cloud processing. Increases in the fine-mode particles in June and September caused AOD440 nm >1.00 at most sites, and annual mean AOD440 nm values of 0.71-0.76 were found at the urban sites and 0.68 at the rural site. Unlike northern China, the AOD440 nm was lower in July and August (~0.40-0.60) than in January and February (0.71-0.89) due to particle dispersion associated with subtropical anticyclones in summer. Low volumes and large bandwidths of both fine-mode and coarsemode aerosol size distributions occurred in July and August because of biomass burning. Single-scattering albedos at 440 nm (SSA440 nm/ from 0.91 to 0.94 indicated particles with relatively strong to moderate absorption. Strongly absorbing particles from biomass burning with a significant SSA wavelength dependence were found in July and August at most sites, while coarse particles in March to May were mineral dust. Absorbing aerosols were distributed more or less homogeneously throughout the region with absorption aerosol optical depths at 440 nm ~0.04-0.06, but inter-site differences in the absorption Angström exponent indicate a degree of spatial heterogeneity in particle composition. The annual mean DARF was -93±44 to -79±39Wm-2 at the Earth's surface and ~-40Wm-2 at the top of the atmosphere (for the solar zenith angle range of 50 to 80°) under cloud-free conditions. The fine mode composed a major contribution of the absorbing particles in the classification scheme based on SSA, fine-mode fraction and extinction Angström exponent. This study contributes to our understanding of aerosols and regional climate/air quality, and the results will be useful for validating satellite retrievals and for improving climate models and remote sensing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have revealed a significant influx of anthropogenic aerosol from South Asia to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (TP) during pre-monsoon period. In order to characterize the chemical composition, sources, and transport processes of aerosol in this area, we carried out a field study during June 2015 by deploying a suite of online instruments including an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS) and a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP) at Nam Co station (90°57' E, 30°46' N; 4730ma.s.l.) at the central of the TP. The measurements were made at a period when the transition from premonsoon to monsoon occurred. The average ambient mass concentration of submicron particulate matter (PM1/ over the whole campaign was ~2.0 μgm-3, with organics accounting for 68 %, followed by sulfate (15 %), black carbon (8 %), ammonium (7 %), and nitrate (2 %). Relatively higher aerosol mass concentration episodes were observed during the pre-monsoon period, whereas persistently low aerosol concentrations were observed during the monsoon period. However, the chemical composition of aerosol during the higher aerosol concentration episodes in the pre-monsoon season was on a case-by-case basis, depending on the prevailing meteorological conditions and air mass transport routes. Most of the chemical species exhibited significant diurnal variations with higher values occurring during afternoon and lower values during early morning, whereas nitrate peaked during early morning in association with higher relative humidity and lower air temperature. Organic aerosol (OA), with an oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O / C) of 0.94, was more oxidized during the pre-monsoon period than during monsoon (average O/C ratio of 0.72), and an average O/C was 0.88 over the entire campaign period, suggesting overall highly oxygenated aerosol in the central TP. Positive matrix factorization of the high-resolution mass spectra of OA identified two oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) factors: a less oxidized OOA (LO-OOA) and a more oxidized OOA (MO-OOA). The MO-OOA dominated during the pre-monsoon period, whereas LO-OOA dominated during monsoon. The sensitivity of air mass transport during pre-monsoon with synoptic process was also evaluated with a 3-D chemical transport model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive and close economic linkages among different regions of China have effects not only on regional economic growth, but also on CO2 emissions and carbon leakage among regions. Taking Beijing as a study case, we constructed MRIO models for China's 30 provinces and municipalities for 2002, 2007 and 2010, to measure the embodied CO2 emissions in the interregional trade of China on regional and industrial levels to explore their changes over time, and to analyze the driving forces of the final demand-induced interregional CO2 emissions through an SDA model. Results showed that Beijing was a surplus region for embodied carbon and the net input embodied CO2 emissions were in industries with high CO2 emission coefficients, while the net output embodied carbon was in industries with low carbon-emission coefficients. Beijing's trade with non-Beijing areas led to an increase in the total CO2 emissions in China and a composite effect of Beijing and the efficiency effect of non-Beijing areas were the main effects behind the reduction of Beijing's input embodied carbon. The results have yielded important implications for China's CO2 emissions control: first, the embodied CO2 need be taken into consideration when formulating CO2 emissions control measures; second, CO2 emission reduction requirements should be reasonably distributed across the provinces to reduce carbon leakage in interprovincial trade; third, the consumption structure in the production chain needs to be moderately adjusted; and last but not least, financial and technical support for CO2 emissions control in the central and western provinces should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Water & Land Development is the property of Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

China is at the stage of industrialization and urbanization and because the energy demand and consumption for this process is rigid, coupled with emissions and global warming awareness, China is on a path to cut back emissions as she focuses on alternative and sustainable way to green the economy. This research investigates determining factors in measuring the dynamic changes in green development growth index (GDGI) over a given time frame. By adopting a non-radial directional distance function (NDDF), where more pollutants are added like sulphur dioxide emissions, solid wastes, waste water, and carbon dioxide emissions instead of using only one pollutant in measurement and using a global distance envelop analysis (DEA) to model green performance by considering both desirable and undesirable outputs, the model was decomposed into efficiency change (EC) index, best practice gap change (BPC) index, and technology gap change (TCG) index and these three indexes were employed to measure the green development performance in thirty provinces across china from 2000 to 2012. Results showed that provinces in the eastern region of China are greener than the central and western regions. Analyzing all three calculated dependent variables from a quantile perspective revealed that effects of EC, BPC, and TGC varied across different quantiles of GDGI. The coefficients of BPC were more significant than EC across quantiles, and TGC coefficients only became significant from Q(0.35), and continued on this path until the last observed quantile Q(0.95) however it was less than EC in terms of significance. The values of pseudo R 2 also continued to increase from Q(0.20) until the last observed quantile with 86% accuracy in prediction recorded at Q(0.95). Analyzing the 80th percentile revealed that the coefficient of BPC was highest in this percentile which implies that a unit increase in best practice gap change, will influence green development growth by 102.3 percent, and a unit increase in efficiency change, will accelerate green development growth by 99.41 percent while a unit increase in technical gap ratio change will produce 99.38 percent increase in green development growth of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping water quality change is helpful in the study of the water environment of a region. Using visual methods, interpretation of water condition and pollution issues can be intuitive and easy to understand. In this paper, we present a map to represent the spatial and temporal variation of water quality change in the Yangtze River during the period from 2006 to 2015. The calendar view was developed to explore the water quality condition and water pollutants for sections of the Yangtze River. A "W" construction was proposed to arrange the weekly water quality data in a continuous logic, and qualitative colors were designed to identify the change in major pollutants throughout the period. This map provides a promising visual analytical approach to investigate the water quality status and reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of water quality change in the Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aims The association between particulate matter < 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 10 ) and mild disease episodes, not leading to hospitalization or death, has been rarely investigated. We studied the short-term effect of PM 10 on purchases of specific cardiorespiratory medications, as proxies of mild episodes, in 7 small- and medium-sized cities of Northern Italy, during 2005–2006. Materials and methods We extracted information on purchased prescriptions from healthcare administrative databases, and we obtained daily PM 10 concentrations from fixed monitoring stations. We applied a time-stratified case-crossover design, using the time-series of antidiabetic drugs purchases to control for confounding due to irregularities in daily purchase frequencies. Results During the warm season, we estimated a delayed (lags 2–6) increased risk of buying glucocorticoid (4.53%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.62, 6.48) and adrenergic inhalants (1.66%, 95% CI: 0.10, 3.24), following an increment (10 μg/m 3 ) in PM 10 concentration. During the cold season, we observed an immediate (lags 0–1) increased risk of purchasing antiarrhythmics (0.76%; 95% CI: 0.16, 1.36) and vasodilators (0.72%; 95% CI: 0.30, 1.13), followed by a risk reduction (lags 2–6), probably due to harvesting. Conclusions Focusing on drug purchases, we reached sufficient statistical power to study PM 10 effect outside large urban areas and conclude that short-term increments in PM 10 concentrations might cause mild cardiorespiratory disease episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evidence available worldwide about the quantitative relationship between particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 µm (PM 10 ) and years of life lost (YLL) caused by respiratory diseases (RD), especially regarding long-term time series data. We investigated the quantitative exposure-response association between PM 10 and the disease burden of RD. We obtained the daily concentration of ambient pollutants (PM 10 , nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide), temperature and relative humidity data, as well as the death monitoring data from 2001 to 2010 in Tianjin. Then, a time series database was built after the daily YLL of RD was calculated. We applied a generalized additive model (GAM) to estimate the burden of PM 10 on daily YLL of RD and to determine the effect (the increase of daily YLL) of every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 on health. We found that every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 was associated with the greatest increase in YLL of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.45, 1.23) years at a 2-day (current day and previous day, lag01) moving average PM 10 concentration for RD. The association between PM 10 and YLL was stronger in females and the elderly (≥65 years of age). The association between PM 10 and YLL of RD differed according to district. These findings also provide new epidemiological evidence for respiratory disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the association of anti-citrullinated antibodies (ACPA) with the ambient air pollutants fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Methods The CARTaGENE first-wave cohort includes 20,000 general population subjects from Quebec (Canada). On a sample of unselected 1586 subjects, we determined serum, ACPA and performed multivariable logistic regression, for the outcome of positive ACPA, assessing for independent effects of our air pollution variables, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and French Canadian origin. Two models assessed distance to main industrial emitters of PM 2.5 , and of SO2, and two models assessed tons of SO2 and of PM 2.5 annual emissions. We also assessed associations with PM2.5 regional ambient concentrations estimated with satellite imagery. Results Adjusted analyses suggested a positive association between annual industrial PM 2.5 and SO2 emissions and the presence of ACPA antibodies (OR: 1.02, 95%CI 1.00–1.04 per 10 t of PM2.5 and 100 t of SO2). The data were also consistent with a negative association between the presence of ACPA, and distance to a major industrial emitter of both PM 2.5 and SO 2 . We found no association with PM2.5 estimates of ambient levels. Conclusions These analyses suggest that exposure to industrial emissions of air pollutants is related to ACPA positivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of informal collection channel has been a serious problem for reverse supply chain management in China. Informal collectors interrupt the normal order of end-of-life product collection. To assess this problem, this article explores governance mechanisms of the current recycling system in practical operations from the perspectives of both governments and enterprises. Based on the respective characteristics of two collection channels (i.e., formal and informal), we establish a Stackelberg game model to describe and analyze the dual-channel collection supply chain in which consumer preference to collection channels is considered. Based on the benchmark model, three governance mechanisms set by both governments and formal collectors are introduced and analyzed when deriving optimal decisions and certain parameter properties. This study demonstrates that both governments and collectors can implement appropriate governance mechanisms to control or utilize the informal collection channel under different circumstances on one hand. On the other hand, governance mechanisms set by the government are unenforceable to control informal collection under certain situations. The effectiveness of governance mechanisms is determined based on different channel preferences of consumers and the economic value of the waste electrical and electronic equipment ( WEEE ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has gained the reputation of “global factory” due to its phenomenal industrial growth over the past decades. At the same time, its industrial energy consumption has resulted in serious environmental problems. Accordingly, there is an urgent and critical need to reduce industrial carbon emissions at a minimum cost without hampering the country's economic development. The dual targets for carbon emission intensity and amount from the 12th Five-Year (2011–2015) Plan make it necessary to investigate the environmental efficiency and reduction costs of different sectors. This study employs a three-stage data envelopment analysis model based on a directional distance function approach with radial and non-radial slacks of desirable and undesirable outputs considered to measure the environmental efficiency and marginal CO 2 emission abatement costs of China's 37 two-digit industries during 2005–2014. Based on the environmental efficiency and abatement cost of the industrial sectors, we reached the following conclusions. First, the adjusted estimates differ significantly from the results that do not consider the influence of environmental factors, and it is essential to consider the heterogeneity of industries in proposing emission reduction strategies. In addition, the stimuli for the smelting and pressing of metal industries result in cost reduction and the supervision on the top nine emitters and the Equipment Manufacturing Industries should be strengthened. Finally, the industrial sectors with large abatement potential are classified into short-term and long-term key target industries according to the emission abatement cost analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization and urbanization are the main sources of pollutions worldwide and particularly in developing countries. This study aims the determination of anthropogenic inputs with trace metals in aquatic ecosystems at the Plain of Annaba (NE Algeria), which is known as one of the largest industrial areas in Africa. Samples of surface waters and upper sediments were conducted in six stations: four in Meboudja wadi and two in Seybouse wadi. Contents of iron, copper, chromium, nickel, zinc, and manganese were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, whereas Cd and Pb were determined using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Measurements of Hg were carried out using atomic fluorescence. Spatiotemporal variations of metal concentrations were tested using generalized linear models (GLM), whereas the influence of water pollution on sediment contamination was tested with generalized additive models (GAMs). Metal contents measured in surface water and sediments varied differently from upstream to downstream of the study wadis and between seasons. The results showed that the surface water was polluted with high levels of iron, nickel, chromium, lead, and cadmium. Values of the contamination index revealed that the surface sediments were contaminated by iron, chromium, lead, and cadmium. The GAMs indicated that water-phase metal concentrations had no significant effects on trace metal concentrations in the sediment. This suggests that seasonal metal concentrations in water phase, which are measured during the study period (2012) and are time-dependent, contribute increasingly and gradually over time-not immediately-to the accumulation of metals into the sediments. Therefore, the long-term accumulation of metals in the sediments resulted from the continuous discharges of metals in the water phase. The anthropogenic impacts are marked by high contaminations of Meboudja wadi particularly in downstream areas of the steel factory and the nearby industrial areas. The direct industrial discharges into the water and atmosphere (iron, lead, cadmium) as well as urban disposals and agricultural activities are at the origin of these contaminations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially explicit approach is essential to prioritise the ecosystems for biodiversity conservation. In the present study, the conservation status of 20 protected areas of the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, was analysed based on long-term changes in forests (1975-1985-1995-2005-2013), landscape level changes in fragmentation and forest fires (2005-2015). This study has shown that a significant forest loss occurred in protected areas before declaration. Idukki is one of the major protected areas which showed a drastic reduction (18.83%) in its forest cover. During 1985-1995, Periyar tiger reserve had lost 24.19 km core 3 forest area followed by Peppara (18.54 km), Parambikulam (17.93 km), Chimmony (17.71 km), Peechi-Vazhani (12.31 km) and Neyyar (11.67 km). An area of 71.33 km of the protected area was affected by fires in 2014. Overall protected area-wise decadal analysis indicates Periyar has the highest number of fire incidences followed by Wayanad, Kurinjimala, Silent Valley and Eravikulam. Disturbances in the form of fires and fragmentation still exist and may have significant conservation threat to flora and fauna. Among protected areas, many are having a probability to go under threat or dynamic stage. Chinnar, Thattekkad and Kurinjimala sanctuaries are representing high levels of vulnerability, or they are near to decline stage. Habitat level monitoring of the anthropogenic disturbances can be efficiently useful for the strategic conservation planning. The present study has provided geospatial database on spatial patterns of deforestation, fragmentation and forest fires in protected areas of Kerala. Conservation prioritization approach based on these parameters will be useful for the strategic planning in the state of Kerala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization is a common strategy adapted by developing countries in order to stimulate urban development and socio-economic development. Unless guided by a stringent development plan, industrialization-based urban development can lead to negative environmental consequences. This paper examines the environmental conflict that raged into an impasse between the state, society and industry stakeholders at the Map Ta Put industrial zone of the Eastern Seaboard Development Program of Thailand. Using RS-GIS tools, the study conducted a spatial-environmental analysis to elucidate the causes for the conflict and the outcome of the pragmatic approach of the state to resolve it. The study finds expansion of industries and spread of industrial air pollution beyond the buffer zone into the surrounding residential area as the main reasons for the conflict. The policy interventions by the government since 2007 were found to be ineffective to resolve the conflict. Based on the lessons learnt, the study recommends a three-pronged approach to guide similar type of industrial development toward green growth in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollution of groundwater has worsened with rapid industrialization and economic development and its unreasonable exploitation. In addition, the absence of effective legislation that prevents pollution and effective measures that punish polluters significantly, contributes to groundwater pollution. To secure the sustainable use of groundwater resources, this study analyses the specific causes of groundwater pollution, highlights the lack and insufficiency of the legislation that prevents groundwater pollution, and proposes legal control measures to prevent groundwater pollution in Xinjiang, China. Results show that uncontrolled discharge of industrial wastewater and waste residue, unrestrained mining activities, and excessive fertilizer application are the specific causes of groundwater pollution. Four aspects of legal control measures are proposed to improve the effectiveness of current legislation that prevents groundwater pollution, that is; stringent groundwater pollution control laws and regulations systems, and pollution discharge registration systems; strengthened preventative measures; improved coordination systems; surveys on groundwater pollution conditions and improved systems for the environmental evaluation of groundwater; evaluation systems to optimize government performance and strengthened public education on the groundwater environment. The present results have research and reference value in the analysis of the characteristics and main sources of groundwater pollution, evaluation of groundwater quality, and control of groundwater pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution has drastically increased now-a-days due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. There are many sources of air pollution, but the predominant one is caused by burning of coal in Thermal Power Plant (TPP). The TPPs are the major sources of electricity production, especially in developing countries like India. The non-conventional energy sources like solar or wind will produce pollution-free electricity, unfortunately they are in their infancy, and hence the conventional TPP usage is still encouraged. The installation of new TPPs for pollution free electricity production is nearly impossible, hence optimizing existing TPPs for air pollution reduction and maximizing electricity production is of prime importance. This can be achieved by constructing a mathematical model of TPPs and optimizing the same. There are many mathematical techniques to model optimization of air pollution and power generation. This paper proposes a new mathematical model for TPPs based on multiple objectives to be optimized simultaneously. Further, it integrates multi-objectives with Weighted distance Grey Wolf Optimizer (WdGWO) for minimizing air pollution and maximizing electricity generation of Delhi Thermal Power Plants. The presented results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mathematical model and the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization and urbanization have promoted the rapid development of China's economy. However, the site contamination, environmental and health damage, and the government's ecological responsibility supervision have become hot topics in the society in recent years. This study selects Liaoning province of China to further analyse the local governments' ecological responsibility in treating contaminated sites. Moreover, the ecological responsibility of foreign governments in the treatment of contaminated sites is summarized, the characteristics of site contamination are analysed, and the functional localization of local governments in the treatment is clarified. Finally, the paths for local governments to realize the ecological administrative responsibility in the treatment process are pointed out. Research results show that site contamination is characterized by concealment, lag, accumulation, difficulty of repair and complexity. In the treatment process, local governments have two roles, namely: (1) as the public service provider; and (2) as the restorer and redeveloper in the contaminated site treatment. This study suggests the establishment of the perfect treatment laws for contaminated sites, acceleration of the law system construction, strengthening of the responsibility supervision and accountability mechanisms, implementation of the administrative accountability system, improvement of external supervision means, encouragement of the public to participate in environmental contamination control, formulation of environmental management measures in contaminated sites, and regulation of contaminated site treatment market to encourage the local governments to fulfil and implement the ecological responsibility during the treatment of the contaminated sites. This research provides a reference value for the discussion in the dominant role and ecological responsibility of the local governments in the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites and the establishment of an effective remediation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization has provided humanity with materials and social benefits. It has also brought in its wake up many unwanted substances and social problems. One of these problems is the degradation of the environment. The environment, upon which our life is most dependent, has fallen victim of pollution brought by the man himself through unplanned and unscientific development and mineral exploitation. Air pollution is an inevitable harmful by-product of rapid industrialization and urbanization that is responsible for a variety of deleterious effects on both human and plant communities. It has been a major environmental concern since the beginning of industrialization, resulting in a release of gaseous and particulate pollutants into the atmosphere. A relationship between traffic density and photosynthetic activity, stomatal conductance, total chlorophyll content and leaf senescence has been reported. Exposure of evergreen plants to air pollutants create many changes in physiological and biochemical parameters. Each plant species has a different ability to absorb and adsorb pollutants by their foliar surfaces, which is influenced by several biochemical, physiological and morphological characteristics. Rampant and uncontrolled use of fossil fuels in industries and transport sector has led to an increase in concentrations of the gaseous pollutants. Indian cities are facing serious problems of airborne particulate matter. Atmospheric particulate matter, which is a mixture of diverse elements, is of most concern in context of public health. Particulates may also cause a reduction in yield, change in photosynthesis and transpiration along with foliar injuries. The plant species which accumulate more dust onto their surfaces can act as buffer around industries and along roadsides. The present study deals with the plant-pollutant interactions and how the physical and chemical characteristics of plants vary with air pollution. It also throws light on how dust affects various plant species and what is the role of plants in dust accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road spills of hazardous substances are common in developing countries due to increasing industrialization and traffic accidents, and represent a serious threat to soils and water in catchments. There is abundant literature on equations describing the wash-off of pollutants from roads during a storm event and there are a number of watershed models incorporating those equations in storm water quality algorithms that route runoff and pollution yields through a drainage system towards the catchment outlet. However, methods describing catchment vulnerability to contamination by road spills based solely on biophysical parameters are scarce. These methods could be particularly attractive to managers because they can operate with a limited amount of easily collectable data, while still being able to provide important insights on the areas more prone to contamination within the studied watershed. The purpose of this paper was then to contribute with a new vulnerability model. To accomplish the goal, a selection of medium properties appearing in wash-off equations and routing algorithms were assembled and processed in a parametric framework based on multi criteria analysis to define the watershed vulnerability. However, parameters had to be adapted because wash-off equations and water quality models have been developed to operate primarily in the urban environment while the vulnerability model is meant to run in rural watersheds. The selected parameters were hillside slope, ground roughness (depending on land use), soil permeability (depending on soil type), distance to water courses and stream density. The vulnerability model is a spatially distributed algorithm that was prepared to run under the IDRISI Selva software, a GIS platform capable of handling spatial and alphanumeric data and execute the necessary terrain model, hydrographic and thematic analyses. For illustrative purposes, the vulnerability model was applied to the legally protected Environmental Protection Area (APA), located in the Uberaba region, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this region, the risk of accidents causing chemical spills is preoccupying because large quantities of dangerous materials are transported in two important distribution highways while the APA is fundamental for the protection of water resources, the riverine ecosystems and remnants of native vegetation. In some tested scenarios, model results show 60% of vulnerable areas within the studied area. The most sensitive parameter to vulnerability is soil type. To prevent soils from contamination, specific measures were proposed involving minimization of land use conflicts that would presumably raise the soil's organic matter and in the sequel restore the soil's structural functions. Additionally, the present study proposed the preservation and reinforcement of riparian forests as one measure to protect the quality of surface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Declines in bird populations in agricultural regions of North America and Europe have been attributed to agricultural industrialization, increases in use of agrochemical application, and increased predation related to habitat modification. Based on count data compiled from Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) from 1974 to 2012, Christmas Bird Count (CBC) collected from 1914 to 2013, and hunter data from Annual Game Take Survey (AGTS) for years 1948–2010, ring‐necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in California have experienced substantial declines in agricultural environments. Using a modeling approach that integrates all three forms of survey data into a joint response abundance index, we found pheasant abundance was related to the amount of harvested and unharvested crop land, types of crops produced, amount of total pesticide applied, minimum temperature, precipitation, and numbers of avian competitors and predators. Specifically, major changes in agricultural practices over the last three decades were associated with declines in pheasant numbers and likely reflected widespread loss of habitat. For example, increases in cropland were associated with increased pheasant abundance during early years of study but this effect decreased through time, such that no association in recent years was evidenced. A post hoc analysis revealed that crops beneficial to pheasant abundance (e.g., barley) have declined substantially in recent decades and were replaced by less advantageous crops (e.g., nut trees). An additional analysis using a restricted data set (1990–2013) indicated recent negative impacts on pheasant numbers associated with land use practices were also associated with relatively high levels of pesticide application. Our results may provide valuable information for management policies aimed at reducing widespread declines in pheasant populations in California and may be applicable to other avian species within agricultural settings. Furthermore, this general analytical approach is not limited to pheasants and could be applied to other taxa for which multiple survey data sources exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial processes currently contribute 40% to global CO2 emissions and therefore substantial increases in industrial energy efficiency are required for reaching the 2 °C target. We assess the macroeconomic effects of deploying low carbon technologies in six energy intensive industrial sectors (Petroleum, Iron and Steel, Non-metallic Minerals, Paper and Pulp, Chemicals, and Electricity) in Europe, China and India in 2030. By combining the GAINS technology model with a macroeconomic computable general equilibrium model, we find that output in energy intensive industries declines in Europe by 6% in total, while output increases in China by 11% and in India by 13%. The opposite output effects emerge because low carbon technologies lead to cost savings in China and India but not in Europe. Consequently, the competitiveness of energy intensive industries is improved in China and India relative to Europe, leading to higher exports to Europe. In all regions, the decarbonization of electricity plays the dominant role for mitigation. We find a rebound effect in China and India, in the size of 42% and 34% CO2 reduction, respectively, but not in Europe. Our results indicate that the range of considered low-carbon technology options is not competitive in the European industrial sectors. To foster breakthrough low carbon technologies and maintain industrial competitiveness, targeted technology policy is therefore needed to supplement carbon pricing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy and Resources use efficiency in industrial sector holds the key in achieving sustainable development. Networking among industries to use by-product and waste product streams as input sources to the other industrial units, which is termed as Eco-industrial Networking holds the key for Eco-industrial development which is a building block of sustainable development of cities. Based on the Korean eco-industrial park (EIP) experience, the present paper reviews the key drivers to such a networking, identifies what are the conditions and strategies required at different levels, and barriers for their implementation. The paper further contextualizes the same to Asian region by linking EIPs to urban systems and that evolves into Eco-city concepts. Ability of such eco-efficiency imbibing network towards decarbonizing the development paths is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind farm development can combat climate change but may also threaten bird populations’ persistence through collision with wind turbine blades if such development is improperly planned strategically and cumulatively. Such improper planning may often occur. Numerous wind farms are planned in a region hosting the only cinereous vulture population in south-eastern Europe. We combined range use modelling and a Collision Risk Model (CRM) to predict the cumulative collision mortality for cinereous vulture under all operating and proposed wind farms. Four different vulture avoidance rates were considered in the CRM. Cumulative collision mortality was expected to be eight to ten times greater in the future (proposed and operating wind farms) than currently (operating wind farms), equivalent to 44% of the current population (103 individuals) if all proposals are authorized (2744 MW). Even under the most optimistic scenario whereby authorized proposals will not collectively exceed the national target for wind harnessing in the study area (960 MW), cumulative collision mortality would still be high (17% of current population) and likely lead to population extinction. Under any wind farm proposal scenario, over 92% of expected deaths would occur in the core area of the population, further implying inadequate spatial planning and implementation of relevant European legislation with scant regard for governmental obligations to protect key species. On the basis of a sensitivity map we derive a spatially explicit solution that could meet the national target of wind harnessing with a minimum conservation cost of less than 1% population loss providing that the population mortality (5.2%) caused by the operating wind farms in the core area would be totally mitigated. Under other scenarios, the vulture population would probably be at serious risk of extinction. Our ‘win-win’ approach is appropriate to other potential conflicts where wind farms may cumulatively threaten wildlife populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid growth of industrialization, transportation, and urbanization has caused increasing emissions of ozone (O3) precursors recently, enhancing the O3 formation in eastern China. We show here that eastern China has experienced widespread and persistent O3 pollution from April to September 2015 based on the O3 observations in 223 cities. The observed maximum 1 h O3 concentrations exceed 200 μgm-3 in almost all the cities, 400 μgm-3 in more than 25%of the cities, and even 800 μgm-3 in six cities in eastern China. The average daily maximum 1 h O3 concentrations are more than 160 μgm-3 in 45% of the cities, and the 1 h O3 concentrations of 200 μgm-3 have been exceeded on over 10% of days from April to September in 129 cities. Analyses of pollutant observations from 2013 to 2015 have shown that the concentrations of CO, SO2, NO2, and PM2.5 from April to September in eastern China have considerably decreased, but the O3 concentrations have increased by 9.9%. A widespread and severe O3 pollution episode from 22 to 28 May 2015 in eastern China has been simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled to chemistry (WRF-CHEM) to evaluate the O3 contribution of biogenic and various anthropogenic sources. The model generally performs reasonably well in simulating the temporal variations and spatial distributions of near-surface O3 concentrations. Using the factor separation approach, sensitivity studies have indicated that the industry source plays the most important role in the O3 formation and constitutes the culprit of the severe O3 pollution in eastern China. The transportation source contributes considerably to the O3 formation, and the O3 contribution of the residential source is not significant generally. The biogenic source provides a background O3 source, and also plays an important role in the south of eastern China. Further model studies are needed to comprehensively investigate O3 formation for supporting the design and implementation of O3 control strategies, considering rapid changes of emission inventories and photolysis caused by the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan released by the Chinese State Council in 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic trend of regional industrial carbon transfer along with industrial transfers in China is currently a hot topic. To explore this problem, the gravity model has been used to study the spatial distribution of industrial transfer and industrial carbon transfer. The results indicate that both barycenters are moving westward. Based on the STIRPAT model, a system-GMM model was then constructed that introduced the industrial transfer factor and its square to explore temporal changes in regional industrial carbon transfer in the course of industrial transfer. The estimated results revealed that the relationship between industrial transfer and industrial carbon transfer displays an inverted U-shaped pattern. For every 1% increase in industrial transfer, there was a 0.327% increase in industrial carbon transfer before the turning point, but industrial carbon transfer decreased by 0.07% when it passed the “peak”. Because no province had surpassed the turning point, carbon transfer during industrial transfer in China is currently in the growth phase. Moreover, real GDP per capita, industrial structure, and industrial carbon emission intensity promoted carbon emissions reduction in the course of industrial transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of this research was to study the rate at which the semi-enclosed bay such as the Kaštela Bay reacts to the coastal processes of industrialization and urbanization, the extent of the influence of human activities on the bay, and the sediment distribution affected by anthropogenic influence. Temporal and spatial sedimentation rate variations were observed between three studied periods: 1954–2005, 1963–2005/2006, and 1986–2005/2006. Sedimentation rates were in the following ranges: 0.29–0.49 cm/yr for the 1954–2005 period, 0.58–0.95 cm/yr for the 1963–2005/2006 period, and 0.50–1.32 cm/yr for the 1986–2005/2006 period. The average total sedimentation rates for three periods were 0.41 cm/yr, 0.81 cm/yr, and 0.61 cm/yr, respectively. Sedimentation rate for the individual 1963–1986 period marked with two 137 Cs marker peaks was in the 0.65–1.30 cm/yr range, while the mean value was 1.06 cm/yr. Long-term sedimentation rate increase in the whole Kaštela Bay was observed and clearly connected to the industrialization and urbanization processes in the coastal area. These processes reflect very quickly, in terms of years, in the sedimentation rates. Intensive anthropogenic activities in the coastal area are reflected in the whole bay depending on the amount of the discharged sediment material, topography of the sea bottom, and water currents. Some localized areas of sediment accumulation may form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwest British Columbia, Canada, a sparsely populated and largely pristine region, is targeted for rapid industrial growth owing to the modernization of an aluminum smelter and multiple proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Consequently, air quality in this region is expected to undergo considerable changes within the next decade. In concert, the increase in LNG capacity driven by gas production from shale resources across North America has prompted environmental concerns and highlighted the need for science-based management decisions regarding the permitting of air emissions. In this study, an effects-based approach widely-used to support transboundary emissions policy negotiations was used to assess industrial air emissions in the Kitimat and Prince Rupert airsheds under permitted and future potential industrial emissions. Critical levels for vegetation of SO 2 and NO 2 and critical loads of acidity and nutrient nitrogen for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems were estimated for both regions and compared with modelled concentration and deposition estimates to identify the potential extent and magnitude of ecosystem impacts. The critical level for SO 2 was predicted to be exceeded in an area ranging from 81 to 251 km 2 in the Kitimat airshed owing to emissions from an existing smelter, compared with <1 km 2 in Prince Rupert under the lowest to highest emissions scenarios. In contrast, the NO 2 critical level was not exceeded in Kitimat, and ranged from 4.5 to 6 km 2 in Prince Rupert owing to proposed LNG related emissions. Predicted areal exceedance of the critical load of acidity for soil ranged from 1 to 28 km 2 in Kitimat and 4–10 km 2 in Prince Rupert, while the areal exceedance of empirical critical load for nutrient N was predicted to be greater in the Prince Rupert airshed (20–94 km 2 ) than in the Kitimat airshed (1–31 km 2 ). The number of lakes that exceeded the critical load of acidity did not vary greatly across emissions scenarios in the Kitimat (21–23 out of 80 sampled lakes) and Prince Rupert (0 out of 35 sampled lakes) airsheds. While critical loads have been widely used to underpin international emissions reductions of transboundary pollutants, it is clear that they can also play an important role in managing regional air emissions. In the current study, exceedance of critical levels and loads suggests that industrial emissions from the nascent LNG export sector may require careful regulation to avoid environmental impacts. Emissions management from LNG export facilities in other regions should consider critical levels and loads analyses to ensure industrial development is synergistic with ecosystem protection. While recognizing uncertainties in dispersion modelling, critical load estimates, and subsequent effects, the critical levels and loads approach is being used to inform regulatory decisions in British Columbia to prevent impacts that have been well documented in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]