Opportunities to Improve the Quality of Environmental Reports and the Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment: A Case of Electric Power Transmission Systems in Brazil

A good quality Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is key for the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes and consequently to the acceptability of projects subject to EIA. The international literature has contributed to the understanding of the essential aspects to be verified regarding the quality of EIS, offering a wide spectrum of good practice examples related to the content of the studies. Even so, there is a need for empirical studies that allow the identification of specific aspects related to the context of application of the EIS, which could lead to the identification of opportunities to improve both the quality of the reports and also the effectiveness of EIA. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the quality review of a number of EIS submitted to the Brazilian Federal Environmental Agency (Ibama) to instruct the assessment of electric power transmission systems. Based on the application of the EIS quality review package as proposed by Lee and Colley (1992), the outcomes reveal opportunities for improving the scope of EIA, analysis of alternatives, prediction of magnitude and the assessment of impact significance. Finally, the development and/or adaptation of a similar tool for the systematic review of the quality of EIA reports is recommended.

Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-Up of Seismic Survey Offshore Activities in Brazil

Follow-up of environmental impacts is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, closely related to the effectiveness of the instrument. EIA follow-up has been receiving a lot of interest from scientists and practitioners, though it is recognized as one of the weakest points of EIA systems globally. Also, EIA follow-up is influenced by the context, mainly in terms of the types of projects or activities and their related impacts on the environment. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the investigation of the follow-up stage applied to the activity of seismic survey coupled with offshore oil & gas exploitation in Brazil. Research was based on a qualitative approach that included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with analysts involved in EIA processes, and sought to generate evidence of effectiveness of the EIA follow-up as conducted by the Federal Environment Agency (Ibama) in order to situate the practice of follow-up in the broader context of international best practice principles. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, due to the peculiarities of offshore seismic survey, it is necessary to promote adaptations in the procedures for monitoring impacts in order to ensure proper alignment with the principles and conceptual foundations that guide EIA practice. Specifically, the timing of the execution of the activity imposes challenges for its integration into the “conventional” cycle that has guided the monitoring of the impacts in the EIA of projects.

Can environmental sustainability be decoupled from economic growth? Empirical evidence from Eastern Europe using the common correlated effect mean group test

The European Union(EU) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) aim to develop long-term policies for their respective member countries. Having observed increasing dangers to the environment posed by rising economic growth, they are seeking pathways to enable policy action on economic growth and environmental sustainability. Given the facts in theoretical and empirical studies, this study assessed the validity of the decoupling hypothesis by investigating asymmetricity in the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic growth in nine Eastern European countries from 1998 to 2017 using the cross-section augmented Dickey-Fuller(CADF) unit root, panel corrected standard error(PCSE), common correlated effect mean group(CCEMG), and Dumitrescu Hurlin causality approaches. Both population growth and drinking water are used as controlled variables. The outcomes establish strong cointegration among all the variables of interest. According to the results of CCEMG test, economic growth exerts short-term environmental degradation but has long-term environmental benefits in Eastern Europe;and population growth and drinking water exert a positive effect on environmental sustainability in both the short-and long-run. The results of Dumitrescu Hurlin causality test indicate that environmental sustainability is unidirectionally affected by economic growth. Based on these outcomes, we suggest the following policies:(1) the EU and OECD should implement member-targeted policies on economic growth and fossil-fuel use towards regulating industrial pollution, water use, and population control;and(2) the EU and OECD member countries should invest in environmental technologies through green research and development(R&D) to transform their dirty industrial processes and ensure productive energy use.

Side Effects of Gamifying Environmental Education Activities in Chinese Kindergartens

Environmental education is an effective approach to addressing environmental issues,and incorporating environmental education into kindergarten through gamified activities aligns with the concept of gamifying teaching and provides the optimal pathway for implementing environmental education.The purpose of this study is to investigate the specific processes involved in determining the objectives,themes,and content of gamified environmental education activities,as well as the organization,implementation,and evaluation of these activities in kindergarten settings.Five classes from Class G in Xining City Kindergarten were selected as the observational subjects for this study.Interviews were conducted with the teaching staff and the head of the kindergarten.The data obtained from observations and interviews served as the primary data for this research.The results indicate that the activity objectives formulated by teachers lack scientific basis and operability,with limited incorporation of gaming elements.The activity themes and content are narrow in scope and primarily determined by teachers and kindergarten administrators.The organization and implementation of activities often neglect the playful experiences of children,and activity evaluation is not given sufficient attention.

Hospital Stakeholders’ Perception on Environmental Effects Related to Biomedical Waste in Togo’s University Hospitals (UHC) in 2021

Introduction: Given its effects, hospital waste is an environmental concern and a threat to health personnel, users of health services and neighboring populations. Our objective was to assess the perception of health care stakeholders on the environmental effects related to biomedical waste produced in Teaching Hospitals (CHU) in Togo in 2021. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study held from June 24 to August 28, 2021. It targeted three university hospitals, 340 health care providers and services selected by a probabilistic method with a simple random technique in 25 services, 72 directors, deputy directors, supervisors and heads of services, 27 collection and incineration agents selected by a non-probabilistic method with a reasoned choice technique, 44 patients and attendants and 36 householders of neighboring residents selected by a non-probabilistic method with an accidental choice technique. Variables such as the spreading of disease vectors, soil, air and water contamination, the presence of unpleasant odors and unsightly living conditions were assessed. Results: According to the respondents, biomedical waste causes the proliferation of vectors (55.3%), an unsightly environment inside the hospital (47.1%), and unpleasant odors (61.2%). Incineration operations disturb hospital residents (52.8%), according to the householders of the residents. During observation, we note deposits of waste that have not been destroyed and wastewater flowing in some places. Conclusion: Biomedical waste in Togo’s university hospitals generates environmental effects and therefore potentially high risks for human health. Improving their management should be a concern for all hospital actors.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Environmental Effects from Land Change in Hotan Oasis,Xinjiang

[Objective] This study aimed to evaluate the environmental effects coming from land changes in Hotan oasis during 1980-2010. [Method] Based on the Driving Force-State-Response model, expert weight method and entropy method were used to determine weight, and then the composite indexes of environmental effects （CIE for short） were calculated. [Result] During the period from 1980 to 2010, CIE had presented a rising trend whether expert weight method or entropy method in the study area, while the CIE presents downtrend basically in lower reaches. [Conclu- sion] It was the arable land expansion in middle reaches that led to serious land degradation in lower reaches, and may endanger ecosystem safety in Hotan River green corridor. Therefore, it is suggested that the agricultural land use should be restructured, such as reducing the sown areas of some crops with large amount of water consumption. Meanwhile, the effective measures should be taken to distribute water resources and utilize them reasonably. In addition, the oasis-desert ecotone, as well as the groundwater resources, should be also protected.

Effects of Slow Release Fertilizer on the Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Carnation and Its Environmental Protection Effect

[Objective] The aim was to study the effects of slow release fertilizer on the yield,economic benefit and nutrient use efficiency of carnation and environmental pollution.[Method] Taking carnation（Dianthus caryophyllus）as research object,the application effect and environmental protection effect of slow release fertilizer on carnation were discussed through field plot test.[Result] The main agronomic characters of carnation improved after the application of slow release fertilizer;compared with Conv-F treatment,the yield of carnation with slow release fertilizer increased by 18.67%-20.83%,and its economic benefit increased by 105 500 yuan/hm2,while the ratio of output to input improved by 74.29%;under the same NPK ratio and nutrient amount,the yield,economic benefit and ratio of output to input of carnation after the application of slow release fertilizer increased by 2.11%,14 800 yuan and 16.2%,respectively;besides,the application of slow release fertilizer improved the nutrient use efficiency of carnation,and N,P and K nutrient use efficiency in Opt-F-0.7% treatment increased by 13.88%,8.57% and 30.14% compared with Conv-F treatment.[Conclusion] Slow release fertilizer could not only reduce the waste of fertilizer resources and improve fertilizer use efficiency but also decrease the pollution caused by nutrient loss,which had important practical significance for protecting ecological environment and promoting the sustainable development of agriculture.

Environmental Effects of Returning Rice and Wheat Straw to Fields

Based on advances in returning rice and wheat straw to fields at home and abroad, environmental physical, chemical and ecological effects of returning rice and wheat straw to fields were analyzed. The results show that returning straw to fields can enhance soil porosity, reduce soil bulk density, and increase the ca- pacity of soil to preserve water, fertilizer and temperature. Besides, it can improve the content of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soil, of which the increase of potassium content is the most obvious. Meanwhile, it can provide energy and nutrients for microorganisms in soil and change the activity of soil enzymes, of which it affects invertase most greatly and enhances the activity of ure- ase but has no effect on neutral phosphatase. In addition, it can enhance the total quantity of microorganisms in soil obviously, and the increase correlates positively with the quantity of straw returning to fields. Finally, returning straw to fields can promote the sustainable development of agriculture.

The causes and environmental effects of land use conversion during agricultural restructuring in Northeast China

During the last decade of the 20th century, extensive conversion inagricultural land use took place in Northeast China. The goal of this study is to ascertain itsspatial distribution and regional differentiation, determine its causes, and analyze itsenvironmental impact. Especially we attempt to elucidate how institutional constraints havefacilitated the change at a time of agrarian restructuring when newly emerging free market washybridized with the former planned economy. Information on six categories of land use was mappedfrom interpretation of Landsat TM images recorded in 1990, 1995 and 2000. Most of land use changestook place during the first half of the decade, coinciding with abrupt and chaotic changes ingovernment directives. Farmland was changed mainly to woodland, water body and built-up areas whilewoodland and grassland were converted chiefly to farmland. Spatially, the change from farmland towoodland was restricted to the west of the study area. The change from grassland to farmland tookplace in the grazing and farming interlocked west. These chaotic and occasionally conflictingchanges were largely caused by lack of stability and consistency in agricultural land use policiespromulgated. They have exerted adverse impacts on the local environment, including land degradation,increased flooding, and modified climate regime.

Weathering-pedogenesis of Carbonate Rocks and Its Environmental Effects in Subtropical Region

We investigated the weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks and its environmental effects in subtropical regions of China. The investigation demonstrated that the weathering- pedogenesis of carbonate rocks is the process of a joint action of corrosion and illuviation and metasomatism in subtropical region. It is characterized by multi-stage, multi-path and multi-style. With the persisting development of weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks, metasomatic pedogenesis progressively became the main process of the weathering-pedogenesis and the dominant style of formation of minerals. And it proceeds through the whole process of evolution of the weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks. The stage evolution of weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks and the fractionation evolution of newly produced minerals are characterized by obvious vertically zoning structures and the rules of gradation of elements geochemical characteristics in the carbonate rocks weathering profiles. The geochemical process of weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks can be divided into three geochemical evolution stages, i.e., the Ca, Mg-depletion and Si, Al-enrichment stage; the Fe, Mn enrichment stage and the Si-depletion and Al-enrichment stage in the subtropical regions. Consistent with the three geochemical evolution stages, the sequence of formation and evolution of minerals can be divided into the clay mineral stage; the Fe, Mn oxide and the gibbsite stage. The influence of weathering-pedogenesis of carbonate rocks on the chemical forms of heavy elements is mainly affected via newly produced components and minerals in the process of weathering-pedogenesis, e.g., iron oxide minerals and organic matters. The important mechanism for the mobilization, transport and pollution of F and As is affected the selective adsorption and desorption of F and As on the surface of iron oxide minerals in the subtropical karst zones, i.e., the selective adsorption and desorption on mineral surfaces of newly produced minerals in the process of weathering-pedogenesis control the geochemical behavior of elements on the Earth＇s surface and environmental quality in subtropical regions.

Environmental and Health Effects Associated With Harmful Algal Bloom and Marine Algal Toxins in China

The frequency and scale of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and marine algal toxin incidents have been increasing and spreading in the past two decades, causing damages to the marine environment and threatening human life through contaminated seafood. To better understand the effect of HAB and marine algal toxins on marine environment and human health in China, this paper overviews HAB occurrence and marine algal toxin incidents, as well as their environmental and health effects in this country. HAB has been increasing rapidly along the Chinese coast since the 1970s, and at least 512 documented HAB events have occurred from 1952 to 2002 in the Chinese mainland. It has been found that PSP and DSP toxins are distributed widely along both the northern and southern Chinese coasts. The HAB and marine algal toxin events during the 1990s in China were summarized, showing that the HAB and algal toxins resulted in great damages to local fisheries, marine culture, quality of marine environment, and human health. Therefore, to protect the coastal environment and human health, attention to HAB and marine algal toxins is urgently needed from the environmental and epidemiologicalview.

The impact of cropland conversion on environmental effect in the Loess Plateau: a pilot study based on the national experimental bases

Conversion of cropland to forestry and grassland is an important method to reduce soil erosion and improve the biophysical environment in the Loess Plateau. The feasibility, methods, and environmental effects of cropland conversion were studied based on 11 typical watersheds of national experimental bases instead of different geographic areas of the Loess Plateau. Between 1986 and 2000, cropland, sloping cropland and non-agricultural land decreased by 8%, 92.5% and 8% respectively, while forestry increased by 15.7%. The land use change not only decreased annual soil erosion by 74%, but also increased vegetation coverage by 100% and improved the soil condition and biodiversity. This can be achieved by building basic farmland, increasing capital and scientific input, and planting trees and grasses according to the natural biophysical restrictions.

Environmental Effects of Micro- and Ultra-microchannel Structures of Natural Minerals

The micro-channels usually refers to structural channels of minerals with aperture in the range of 0.3 nm to 2.0 nm. Such microchannels include, Mn-O octahedron channel filled by K in cryptomelane, and channel constructed by Si-O and AI-O tetragonal molecular sieve filled by Na and Ca in zeolite, and effectively have the function of molecular sieve. Here we point out that ultramicrochannels of natural minerals have apertures below 0.3 nm with the features of ionic sieves. The ultra-microchannels of mineral feldspar, accounting for half mass of the Earth＇s crust, have been largely ignored because the aperture is too small. In this work, we present that feldspar displays a certain degree of ion exchange and owns a feature of channel structure under both high and low temperatures. At high temperature, Na^＋ can enter the channels of feldspars. The content of Na2O in feldspar increases up to 15.9%. At middle temperature, Pb^2＋ can also enter the channels of feldspar as the result of ion exchange, leading thus to the formation of Pb-feldspar. At room temperature, about 97.94% Cd^2＋ can be removed and Cd-feldspar can be obtained. These phenomena indicate typical effects of ultra-microchannels of feldspar, which may be suggested as a potential for the treatment of heavy metal pollution and nuclear waste. The ultra-microchannels of natural minerals have played special role in migration and exchange of geomaterials. The molecular sieves of microchannels of a few natural minerals have the property of purifying molecular gas pollution. And the ionic sieves of ultramicrochannels of most natural minerals can purify ionic water contaminates.

QTL Mapping for Wheat Flour Color with Additive,Epistatic,and QTL×Environmental Interaction Effects

To investigate genetic factors affecting wheat flour color traits,a linkage map was constructed using a recombinant inbred line （RIL） population derived from Jing 771×Pm 97034.Main,epistatic and QTL×environment （QE） interaction effects of quantitative trait loci （QTLs） controlling wheat flour color were studied by the mixed linear modeling of data collected from wheat RIL plants under three different environmental conditions.13 QTLs with additive effects and 55 pairs of QTLs with epistatic effects were detected for wheat flour color traits.The additive-additive interactions （AA） involved all of the wheat chromosomes except 3D.Epistasis accounted for more of the observed phenotypic variation than did the main effect QTLs （M-QTLs）.Our results suggested that dual-locus interactions are widespread in the wheat genome and play a critical role in determining wheat flour color characteristics.In this study,3 QTLs were identified to have QE interaction effects,one of them showing significant QE interaction in E2 environment.

Dynamic Variation Characteristics of Phosphorus in Paddy Field Runoff in Saline Land and Its Potential Environmental Effect

[Objective] The aim was to study the dynamic variation characteristics of phosphorus in paddy field runoff in saline land and its potential environmental effect. [Method] Taking Qianguo irrigation district in soda-saline land in Songnen Plain as study object, the dynamic variation law of phosphorus in paddy field runoff under different irrigation conditions and its potential environmental effect were discussed. [Result] Surface water in paddy field was alkaline, and scattered soil had poor fertilizer conservation capacity. Phosphorus accumulated in soil surface, which could increase the risk of phosphorus loss. Phosphorus loss in paddy field mainly occurred in irrigation period and runoff period caused by rainstorm. The concentration of total phosphorus (TP), particulate phosphorus (PP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in paddy field runoff decreased with time, especially PP. Phosphorus concentration exceeded critical value and resulted to eutrophication, which threatened the water quality security of Chagan Lake. Phosphorus concentration in water recession canal increased with time, and eutrophication with different degrees appeared under high temperature. TP concentration in surface water of paddy field was highly negatively correlated with that in water recession canal, and the correlation coefficients R2(α=0.05)in three paddy fields were 0.850 9, 0.896 4 and 0.915 3, respectively. The pollution load of phosphorus in paddy field with the best irrigation condition was higher, and its pollution risk was the highest. Thus, such fields should be monitored and controlled mainly as the critical source area of phosphorus loss. [Conclusion] The study could provide theoretical foundations for developing saline land rationally, establishing optimal management measure of phosphorus in saline land and controlling phosphorus loss from farmland to protect local water resources.

Spatial Effect of Environmental Regulation on Carbon Emissions

Based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2003 to 2014,the spatial dependence between the environment regulation and carbon emissions is tested by spatial autocorrelation analysis. Besides,spatial lag model and spatial error model are built to empirically test the marginal effect of environmental regulation on carbon emissions and its spatial effect. The result shows that the influence trajectory of environmental regulation on carbon emissions performances inverted ＂ U＂ type. It is ＂ green paradox effect＂ before the inflection point and ＂ reversed transmission reduction effect＂ after the inflection point. Moreover,the carbon emissions show significant spatial spillover effect. In order to achieve the desired effect of environmental regulation and promote carbon reduction,we should increase the environmental regulation intensity reasonably,select rational environmental regulation policy tools,and sufficiently consider the spatial spillover effect of carbon emissions.

The Environmental Effects of Tourism Architecture on Island Ecosystem in Cayo Guillermo, Cuba

The objective of this study is to determine the main adverse impacts that may be caused by tourism architecture upon island ecosystems consisting of small islands or islets and to propose an architectural and landscape design with a focus on the environmental sustainability of the same. A study of projects was undertaken in Cayo Guillermo, located to the north of Ciego de Avila in Cuba using methods of life-cycle assessment of buildings, matrix methods of the activities that caused severe environmental impact and statistical processing through multivariate analysis. Conclusions were reached on the need for designs that did not harm the ecosystems of islands with high ecological fragility. It has been determined that suitable construction intervention would decrease the negative impact and would allow the natural resources of these valuable ecosystems that are the basis for responsible sun and sand tourism to be preserved.

Research progress on behaviors and environmental effects of mercury in the cryosphere of the Tibetan Plateau:a critical review

The behavior and fates of environmental pollutants within the cryosphere and the associated environmental impacts are of increasing concerns in the context of global warming.The Tibetan Plateau(TP),also known as the"Third Pole",represents one of the most important cryospheric regions in the world.Mercury(Hg)is recognized as a global pollutant.Here,we summarize the current knowledge of Hg concentration levels,pools and spatio-temporal distribution in cryospheric environments(e.g.,glacier,permafrost),and its transfer and potential cycle in the TP cryospheric region.Transboundary transport of anthropogenic Hg from the surrounding heavily-polluted regions,such as South and Southeast Asia,provides significant sources of atmospheric Hg depositions onto the TP cryosphere.We concluded that the melting of the cryosphere on the TP represents an increasing source of Hg and brings a risk to the TP environment.In addition,global warming acts as an important catalyst accelerating the release of legacy Hg from the melting cryosphere,adversely impacting ecosystems and biological health.Furthermore,we emphasize on the remaining gaps and proposed issues needed to be addressed in future work,including enhancing our knowledge on some key release pathways and the related environmental effects of Hg in the cryospheric region,integrated observation and consideration of Hg distribution,migration and cycle processes at a key region,and uses of Hg isotopic technical and Hg models to improve the understanding of Hg cycling in the TP cryospheric region.

Cultivated land quantity niche regulation and its environmental effect

The change in the quantity of cultivated land influences the structure, function and evolvement of ecosystem. The rational change in the quantity of cultivated land will be propitious to ecological security and sustainable development, and irrational change will deteriorate ecological environment. The concept of cultivated land quantity niche regulation was firstly put forward based on niche theory and the action-feedback mechanism between cultivated land quantity niche and cultivated land benefit niche. Then, the regulation measures of cultivated land quantity niche were brought forward in rural-urban area, agro-forest area and consolidation-reclamation-exploitation area. Finally, the ecological environmental effect after regulation was analyzed. The results show that different measures should be taken to regulate cultivated land quantity niche in different areas. The economic and social benefit niche of cultivated land should be promoted to regulate cultivated land quantity niche in rural-urban area and consolidation-reclamation-exploitation area. The social benefit niche of cultivated land should be reduced in agro-forest area. The regulation goal of cultivated land quantity niche will be attained by different measures.

Environmental effects induced by excavation

Based on 3D Biot’s consolidation theory and nonlinear Duncan-Chang’s model, a 3D FEM (finite element method) program is developed considering the coupling of groundwater seepage and soil skeleton deformation during excavation. The comparison between the analysis result considering the variation of water head difference and that without considering it shows that the porewater pressure distribution of the former is distinctly different from that of the latter and that the foundation pit de- formations of the former are larger than those of the latter, so that the result without considering the variation of water head dif- ference is unreliable. The distribution rules of soil horizontal and vertical displacements around the pit and excess porewater pressure are analyzed in detail in time and space, which is very significant for guiding underground engineering construction and ensuring environment safety around the pit.