现代大伦敦的空气污染成因与治理——基于生态城市视野的历史考察

19世纪以来英国的工业化和城市化进程,既创造了巨大的物质财富,也给人类社会带来沉重的负面效应,其中空气污染就是代价之一,成为生态城市建设的重大障碍。伦敦首先对以烟雾型的空气污染成因进行分析与治理,接着对汽车尾气中的二氧化硫和铅污染进行治理。新世纪以来,则着重开展对二氧化氮和可吸入悬浮颗粒的监测与治理。从空气立法到大伦敦市长的空气质量策略,从拥堵费到低排放区,从以自行车为代表的绿色出行到对工地街道扬尘的治理,表明了伦敦市政府对空气污染的治理越来越深入全面,治理空气污染的手段也在推陈出新。     

Life pattern of urban trees: A growth-modelling approach

Urban afforestation improves life quality in urban centers providing social and environmental benefits. Understanding growth of urban trees exposed to air pollution will support planning, managing and expanding urban areas. This approach intends to determine growth patterns of urban trees to support future urban planning. Non-destructive samples were collected from trees of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze in Araucaria city, Parana State, Brazil. Growth rings were related to pollutant concentrations and meteorological series. Growth reduction was observed except in the border areas of the city. Trees established during or after the period of industrialization incentives were most affected by air pollution, indicating that immature plants are more vulnerable. Sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide significantly affected growth of smaller trees. Those greater than 60 cm dbh did not demonstrate significant correlation with any identified pollutant. As the trees established before accentuated urbanization were less affected by air pollution, it is reinforced the importance of preserving remaining urban trees. We suggest that planning urban afforestation should precede industries placing. When urban planning is impossible, new planted trees should not be expected to grow as in free pollution areas, but they will still present satisfactory diameter increment, contributing to improve local urban environment.     

Air pollution and stock returns in the US

Health related research documents that air pollution has negative mood effects. Experimental works in psychology relate bad mood to increased risk aversion. Studies in financial economics report an observed link between mood effects and stock market returns. This study therefore investigates whether the mood effects caused by air pollution can have economic implications. It examines the relationship between air pollution and stock returns using data from the Air Quality Index, and stock returns from four stock exchanges in the US. We find that air pollution is negatively related to stock returns, even when controlling for other variables. The relationship becomes weaker as the distance of the stock exchange from the polluted area increases. The results also indicate that air pollution may even affect local traders investing in securities exchanges located far from the polluted area. The findings imply that a profitable trading strategy can be constructed.     

珠三角城市空气质量的时空变化特征及影响因素

珠江三角洲是我国人口、经济高度聚集的区域之一,环境问题凸显,城市空气质量备受关注。基于2002~2011年珠三角9城市空气污染指数,运用空间统计分析方法描述珠三角城市空气质量的时空分布特征,采用格兰杰因果检验探究珠三角地区城市间空气质量溢出特征,并结合灰色关联分析珠三角空气质量的影响因素。结果显示:珠三角2002~2011年空气质量有所好转,具有显著的季节性特征,冬季污染较严重,夏季污染较轻;空间上呈现出空气污染以广州为中心向四周递减的分布模式,并且存在城市间空气质量的相互影响效应,位于珠三角中部的广州和佛山的空气质量对东、南部的深圳和珠海空气质量产生影响;工业SO2排放量、人均绿地面积和城镇房屋施工面积是影响珠三角城市空气质量的主要因素。     

Characterizing air pollution patterns on multiple time scales in urban areas: a landscape ecological approach

Quantifying the spatiotemporal patterns of air pollution in urban areas is essential for studying ecological processes, environmental quality, and human health in cities. To adequately characterize or monitor air pollution patterns, one important issue is scale because the concentrations of air pollutants are temporally dynamic and spatially heterogeneous. Our research addresses the scale issue in air quality monitoring and analysis by considering the following research questions: (1) How does the spatial pattern of ozone change with the temporal scale of analysis? (2) How does the spatial pattern of PM₁₀ change with the temporal scale of analysis? (3) What implications do these scale effects have for designing and evaluating air pollution monitoring networks? We systematically examined these questions based on data from official air pollution monitoring networks in the Phoenix metropolitan region, Arizona, USA. Our results showed that spatial patterns of both ozone and PM₁₀ may change substantially with the temporal scale of analysis. Ozone patterns at broader (but not finer) temporal scales were more consistent across years, and exhibited a more uniform, regionalized pattern. PM₁₀ patterns were less consistent across years than ozone, and exhibited a more localized effect. Spatial patterns of PM₁₀ also varied seasonally. Our study demonstrates that it is critically important to consider the temporal and spatial scales in designing or evaluating air monitoring networks in particular and in conducting air pollution research in general.     

Do buyers and sellers evaluate air pollution reduction differently? Experimental evidence from China

This paper is the first study to investigate the good dealness account of the endowment effect in non-market goods. We designed a within-subjects experiment to measure the value of air pollution reduction through the evaluation of a market good, PM 2.5 filters. We divided the subjects into buyers and sellers and asked them to trade four PM 2.5 filters using the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak auction under two treatments: a) a drop in air quality, which served to increase the market price of the filters; and b) the receipt of information on the relationship between death rates and air pollution, which served to increase the intrinsic value of the filters. Our results show that buyers’ willingness to pay for pollution reduction did not increase when air pollution worsened but did increase when informed of the possibility of health damage from air pollution. Sellers’ willingness to accept for air quality deterioration increased when pollution worsened but remained the same upon receiving information about health damage. We conclude that sellers are more sensitive to changes in market price, while buyers are more sensitive to changes in intrinsic value. Our findings support the theory of seeking a good deal in explaining the endowment effect.     

Online amplification of air pollution risk perception: the moderating role of affect in information

This study investigates the amplification effect of the Internet on Chinese people’s air pollution risk perception. Analyses are based on data collected from a sample of Internet users in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou (N?=?328). This study assumes that the characteristics of online information ? availability of information and affect in information ? will significantly contribute to the increase in air pollution risk perception. Results of path analysis indicated marginal significance of the effect of information availability on air pollution risk perception. Regarding the influence of affect in information, results showed that information including appeals to affect significantly increased perceived risk of air pollution; meanwhile, it also functioned as a moderator that significantly increased the strength of the causal relationship between information availability and risk perception. Findings of this study suggest that strategies for appropriately amplifying risk perception such as using heuristics may contribute to promoting public awareness of risks as well as encouraging public participation in the social effort to tackle risks.     

试论进步时代美国的城市空气污染

19世纪90年代至一战前这一美国历史上的进步时代不仅是美国从农业社会迈入工业社会的大转折年代,同时也是城市空气污染问题开始凸显的时期。进步时代美国的城市空气污染主要源自19世纪下半叶工业化进程中的生产活动和人们不尽合理的生活方式。从结果来看,城市空气污染一方面直接影响和损害民众身体健康,另一方面也能成为引发其他问题的导火索,甚至激起剧烈的社会矛盾和冲突。可以说,城市空气污染问题是世纪之交美国社会自身运行状况的真实反映,同时也鲜明体现了美国社会的转型特性,对其进行研究或将助益于省思当下中国的城市空气污染问题。     

Microblogging-Based Civic Participation on Environment in China: A Case Study of the PM 2.5 Campaign

Poor air quality has been affecting the Chinese people for many years due to the country’s speedy industrialization and urbanization. However, very few initiatives had been taken by civil society until 2011. The air pollution campaign between October 2011 and March 2012 initiated on a Chinese microblogging website, mobilized millions of citizens and effected policy change. It is often seen as a milestone in the chronology of public participation in China. Using process tracing, participant observations, framing analysis and in-depth interviews, the article analyses this campaign by revealing its major actors and frames mobilizing issue entrepreneurs and environmental publics. Our analysis generates two findings: first, microblogging platforms can greatly expand the networks of Chinese environmental activists by involving public figures and governmental agencies; second, the frame which links air pollution to health and appreciates governmental efforts is critical to the success of civic participation in China’s environmental governance.     

Estimates of air pollution mitigation with green plants and green roofs using the UFORE model

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of green roofs and green walls on air pollution in urban Toronto. The research looked at the synergistic effects on air pollution mitigation of different combinations of vegetation by manipulating quantities of trees, shrubs, green roofs and green walls in the study area. The effects of these manipulations were simulated with the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model developed by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Regional Station. While UFORE contains several modules, Module—D quantifies the levels of air pollution for contaminants such as NO₂, S0₂, CO, PM₁₀ and ozone as well as hourly pollution removal rates and the economic value of pollutant removal. Six vegetation scenarios were developed within the Toronto study area to compare different subsets of vegetation and their effect on air contaminants. Results of the study indicate that grass on roofs (extensive green roofs) could augment the effect of trees and shrubs in air pollution mitigation, placing shrubs on a roof (intensive green roofs) would have a more significant impact. By extension, a 10–20% increase in the surface area for green roofs on downtown buildings would contribute significantly to the social, financial and environmental health of all citizens.

上海建设全球宜居城市研究

针对城市发展出现的4个重大变因,即人口持续增加、污染排放增加、资源短缺加剧和全球气候变化,为优化和改善上海的城市生态、生活环境,提升城市的宜居水平,应从调结构、控规模、谋布局三大战略思路出发,实现城市大数据全覆盖,提供城市安全保障;分散城市核心功能,降低城市生活成本;优化城市用地布局,提升城市生态品质.     

Poverty–Environment Nexus in the Lao PDR: Analysis of Household Survey Data

The results of the household survey (n=1602) analysis suggest that a poverty–environment nexus exists in the Lao PDR but the nexus depends on the environmental problem. The most explicit relations were those between poverty and using fuelwood for cooking, and poverty and access to safe drinking water, whereas recent negative changes regarding deforestation and land erosion exhibited only a weak connection. Outdoor air pollution was the most common problem experienced, although no connection to poverty was found. The two most common recent improvements were related to indoor air quality and sanitation, and they had been more prevalent for wealthier households.     

Urban vegetation cover correlates with environmental variables in a desert city: insights of mitigation measures to climate change

Urban Ecosystems - Green cover and air quality are important components of life quality and human ecology in arid lands. In the Sonoran Desert of Mexico, Hermosillo is the largest city with a...     

生物检测在给水上的应用

介绍用指示生物检测水污染程度、水的毒性以及水厂空气中的漏氯。同时还介绍了水中致病生物、厌恶生物和生物检测中的几种特殊应用。     

The state of the environment in Iran

This article describes environmental conditions in Iran including air pollution, pesticide pollution, soil depletion and erosion, water pollution, natural resource loss, lack of appropriate waste management, lead poisoning, and desertification. Environmental policy and implementation is described under the Shah and the Islamic Republic. Iran is beset with interrelated problems of environmental degradation, unemployment, poverty, and population growth. Sustainability is being undermined at the cost of future generations. In 1995, Iran had a population of 67 million and a growth rate of 3.6%. Population is expected to exceed 100 million by the year 2000. The country is having difficulty in maintaining its current infrastructure, housing, food, and educational facilities. Competition for admission in higher education discourages women. Women with lower levels of education results in continued supremacy of men over women, more polygamy, and a lower quality of life for women. Iran was food self-sufficient in 1970, and exported its surplus. Today, Iran may be permanently dependent on food imports. Iran has abundant oil reserves, natural gas, copper, lead, and marketable items. Exchanging natural resources for food and technology has time and resource limits. Iran needs monetary assistance from wealthy nations. Population growth leads to increased demand for infrastructure and resources. Iran has signed many international environmental agreements and has enacted detailed environmental policies and regulations, but actual enforcement is lacking.     

Chicago and Water Problems of China

With the rapid development of economy, the water resource of our country faces a lot of problems. For a specific city, those problems are reflected in the shortage and the pollution of water resource mainly. After the coming of the 21 st century, the situation becomes harder to control and acuter to solve. While in Chicago of 19 th century, the local government and people solved the emergent water problems by digging tunnels, enlarging canals, etc. During the fast pace of urbanization today, although there is still long distance between Chicago and some cities in China in terms of economy, stage of city development and other aspects, some experience could be distilled from the solution of Chicago.     

城市经济转型与上海国际航运中心建设

“十二五”时期是上海经济转型的重要时期。上海大力发展航运业,建设国际航运中心有利于促进城市产业规模的提高,带动城市产业升级与经济转型,实现腹地城市之间的互动发展;同时也会带来城市环境污染、交通拥挤和港口非良性竞争等负面效应。因此,上海国际航运中心建设需要借鉴国际经验和惯例,通过先行先试,不断创新体制、机制和政策,必须从过去单纯追求“量”的外延式增长转变为注重“质”的内涵式发展,由传统意义的货物集散中心迈向现代意义的资源配置中心。为此,上海港口与航运服务业必须率先转变发展方式、调整产业结构、创新服务功能、实现错位异构发展。在上述分析基础上,提出上海城市转型时期国际航运中心建设的主要对策。     

完善激励和约束机制,促进上海生态文明建设

生态文明建设是现阶段破解上海城市难题、提升城市地位、增强城市综合竞争力的必然选择,而建构一整套评估与考核指标体系、完善政策法规体系、加快建立和完善激励和约束机制是生态文明建设的根本保障。上海生态文明建设应结合上海市情,结合上海"十二五"规划和环保"三年行动"计划做好顶层设计:加强政府引导,明确生态文明定位;健全政法体系,加大执法监督力度;建立预警系统,完善生态监管制度;做好污染防治,构建应急响应机制;多渠道筹集资金,完善投入保障机制。     

VLT: a sustainable solution to urban mobility, in João Pessoa-PB

The changes happen quickly in today's world, simultaneously interacting with technological advances in the sciences and new paradigms socio-political and economic, in search of a sustainable future and a present with emergency strategies for the preservation of humanity and the planet "Earth ". Currently, the mobility of people in the intra-urban space is being threatened by congestion, pollution resulting from the appreciation of the culture of personal transport and the precariousness of public transportation. In the city of Jo?o Pessoa (PB), the subject of this finding for these disorders. Workers suffer the consequences of daily stress takes to access home-work, difficulty in arriving at the right time to the workplace and adverse reactions caused by pollution. The VLT (Light Rail Vehicle) has been presented as a viable solution to the problems of public transport, with several experiments that can be seen as positive in the world. This work involves the implementation of a public transport system based on VLT Corridor along the Avenue Dom Pedro II, in Jo?o Pessoa (PB), aiming to acquire a good transport network for use of the population, reduce the number of vehicles on process, minimize pollution and optimize urban mobility.