Integrated Environmental Impact Research Articles

Organic conversion tea farms can have comparable economic benefits and less environmental impacts than conventional ones—A case study in China

Lack of experience concerning the organic conversion period and its associated challenges have made it difficult for conventional farmers to convert to organic farming. In this study, using a combined life cycle assessment (LCA) with data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, we investigated farming management strategies, and environmental, economic, and efficiency impacts of organic conversion tea farms (OCTF, N = 15) compared to conventional (CTF, N = 13) and organic (OTF, N = 14) tea farms in Wuyi County, China for a year-round (2019). We found that the OCTF reduced agricultural inputs (environmental impacts) and applied more manual harvesting (increased added value) to pull through the conversion period. According to the LCA results, OCTF showed a similar integrated environmental impact index compared with OTF but significantly (P < 0.05) lower than CTF at both midpoint and endpoint levels. In terms of economic assessment, OTF showed the significantly highest total revenue (18.7 thousand $ ha−1 yr−1) and profit (13.7 thousand $ ha−1 yr−1) (P < 0.05) among the farm types. In contrast, OCTF and CTF did not show significant differences in relation to these economic indicators (P > 0.05). The total cost and cost-profit ratio did not show significant differences among the three farm types. Considering the DEA analysis, there were no significant differences in the technical efficiency of all farm types. However, the eco-efficiency of OCTF and OTF was significantly higher than that of CTF. Therefore, conventional tea farms can survive the conversion period with competitive economic and environmental benefits. In this regard, policies should promote organic tea cultivation and agroecological practices to enhance the sustainable transformation of tea production systems.

Natural Laboratories for the Study of CO2 Geological Storage in Romania

The study of natural laboratories for CO2 geological storage is still important as it can reveal important aspects related to environmental impacts of a potential CO2 leakage from an anthropic reservoir and can contribute to further understanding of CO2 migration pathways. Furthermore, natural laboratories are a good opportunity for testing innovative monitoring methods. Although not specified in any database of natural laboratories for the study of CO2 geological storage, Romania has many areas with natural CO2 emissions that can be used for this purpose. In the framework of a national project (financed by the Ministry of Education and Research), we have started to inventory, evaluate and make a selection of best candidate sites for further study in two zones, Banat (western part of Romania) and Harghita (eastern part of Romania). The two zones have different geological structures, and the origin of CO2 emissions in the two areas is related to the magmatic activity, the magmatism of the Eastern Carpathians in Harghita and the neogene magmatism of the Apuseni Mountains in Banat. The structural model of Banat is closely correlated with the strong tectonization of the sedimentary cover (with a maximum thickness of 5000 m). The overall picture is that of horsts and grabens. The tectonic blocks are separated by active, deep faults, confirmed by the occurrence of thermal and mineral water springs (Biled, Calacea, Timișoara, Buziaș, Pișchia, Lipova, Ivanda) and mofettes (Buziaș, Seceani), with releases of CO2, radon, helium, argon and other gases of crustal origin. Harghita zone is included in the mofettic aureola of the Eastern Carpathians. The deep geological structure of the zone is dominated by three fault systems comprising crustal, regional and local faults. These fault systems facilitate the migration and distribution of post-volcanic emissions, reaching the surface as mofettes or in mineral water springs. Based on review of existing literature and previous studies on greenhouse gases natural emissions, we made a preliminary inventory of relevant sites that can constitute natural laboratories for the study of CO2 geological storage. In order to confirm sites suitability, we conducted two field campaigns, one for each zone, in September and October 2019. Within these campaigns, apart from localization of the sites, we also made soil gas and high precision GPS measurements for the assessment of CO2 emissions. In Harghita zone, we investigated the following sites with natural CO2 emissions: Harghita Bai, Selters, Sântimbru Bai, Baile Apor, Sulphur Cave, Lazarești and Tușnad. Apart from Baile Apor (Balvanyios) and Lazarești, all the other sites presented covered mofettes, built as dry spas. It is worth mentioning that these mofettes constitute important points of touristic attraction within the spas developed over centuries around them and the carbo-gazeous springs. The CO2 concentration in these mofettes, as measured during the field campaign, exceeds 98% CO2. In Baile Apor (Balvanyios) site, the mofettes are not covered and present high CO2 concentrations, but the site is an important touristic attraction of the area and of the country and is highly frequented by tourists, therefore its use as laboratory can be problematic. The only site that we found suited as natural laboratory in Harghita is Lazarești, in the Cozmeni commune. Within this site we have localized several dry and wet mofettes, with CO2 concentrations exceeding 40%. For Banat zone, we investigated only three sites: Buziaș, Sacoșu Mare and Seceani. For Buziaș, the two mofettes are included in the spa facilities of a hotel and used for therapeutic purposes, under strict medical supervision. At Sacoșu Mare, although preliminary indicated as natural CO2 emission site, we were unable to localize any mofette. South of Seceani village (north of Timișoara city) we have identified as potential natural laboratory a partially marshy area with a large areal extent. On this area we have found several mud volcanoes and dry mofettes. The CO2 emissions are low, mainly due to the seasonal character of mud volcanoes activity which, according to previous findings, has its peak in the spring and a low in autumn, when the field measurement campaign took place. The activity of the mud volcanoes and therefore the mofettic emissions are strongly connected to the hydrological regime. In the selected natural laboratories, Lazarești for Harghita zone and Seceani for Banat zone we intend to make in the next two years a complex geological, geochemical, geophysical and environmental study. The objectives are to define the local geophysical model and improve the geological model, identifying all the migration pathways for the mofettic gases, to make an integrated environmental impact assessment and to identify early indicators for the presence of CO2.

Lumbricides as a bio-indicators of the influence of electrical transmission line in the conditions of Ukrainian Polissia

The complex interaction of a man and the environment requires the creation of algorithms for predict- ing the effects of anthropogenic impact. This requires the creation of the ecosystem models where all their basic elements and relationships are taken into account. One of the most effective methods for choosing the most informative differential elements of a system is the development and the implemen- tation of bio-indication models. Nowadays the important task is the development of the bio-indication methods for various anthropogenic complex effects. The electrical transmission lines carry out a specific integrated environmental impact. It is created on the changes in the environment under the influence of magnetic and electric fields and the long-term consequences of their interaction with ecosystem components. This effect is negative for the most representatives of biota and for earthworms in particular. We observe how the number of species de- creases, the species diversity reduces and the morphological parameters change towards species with a shorter body length under reaching the electrical transmission lines. Some genera of the earthworms are able to survive under the effects of the modern electrical transmis- sion lines, although this reflects their abundance and morphological parameters. These species include Aporrectodea caliginosa and Aporrectodea trapezoides. They can be used as diagnostic genera of impact of the electrical transmission lines on biota. They can be genera indicators for the determination of the effect of the electrical transmission lines. The presence of Lumbricus terrestris shows the low electrical transmission line effects, and the presence of Aporrectodea rose&amp;#1072; or Aporrectodea long&amp;#1072; shows low or moderate effects. We can create bioindication models according to the relations between groups of species of dominant and subdominant specimens formed by the body size. Under the condition of creating a wide data-base and establishing the vitality parameters, it is possible to develop more advanced and efficient algorithms for the synbioindicator analysis of the impact of the electrical transmission lines on the environment.

РАЗРАБОТКА И АПРОБАЦИЯ ТЕХНОЛОГИИИ ПЕРЕРАБОТКИ ПЕСКОВ ДРАЖНОГО ПОЛИГОНА ДЛЯ ИЗВЛЕЧЕНИЯ ЗОЛОТА И ТЯЖЕЛЫХ МИНЕРАЛОВ, СОДЕРЖАЩИХ МАГНИТНЫЕ ЧАСТИЦЫ

The state of mineral resources base of the world and Russia is analyzed. Two variants of the model of Russia’s innovative way of development on the basis of the best available technologies’ introduction (BAT) are considered. The conclusion is made that not only Russian resources, but also Russian technologies, specialists and equipment play an important role in the choice of the model of innovative way of development. The authors’ block-scheme of BAT implementation at a mining enterprise is presented. It consists of four blocks: 1) analytical and research; 2) economic and analytical; 3) implementation project development; 4) obtaining an integrated environmental permit and BAT implementation. Emphasis is made on the fact that new environmental standards are being currently developed for the permissible integrated environmental impact of industrial facilities, which by 01.01.2025 should comply with all mining enterprises in Russia. A specific case of the developed, patented and tested technology of processing sands from the dredge field test side of the Dzharmagatay deposit (Transbaikal region), which includes gravity-magnetic-flocculation-electrical methods of enrichment, combined with cyanide leaching of gold, is considered. The method refers to the best available technology, as it allows to achieve a high level of mineral resources use (integration and rationality), to reduce pollution of atmo-, hydro-, litho- and biosphere by emissions and discharges

Environmental and social impact assessment of cultural heritage restoration and its application to the Uncastillo Fortress

The restoration of cultural heritage, like in other production sectors, requires an innovative approach to integrate the principles of sustainability into processes. The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate that an integrated environmental and social impact assessment of restoration works can be conducted through the use of an operational model, which for the first time is applied to a real case of public private partnership (PPP) in the cultural heritage sector. The evaluation of the proposed strategy is carried out through an approach based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, which takes into account environmental and social aspects. An environmental LCA analysis was conducted on a case study, assessing the effects of an intervention of a historical site that was restored to become a museum. The social effects arising from the intervention were then examined and evaluated with an approach based on the key points of the UNEP/SETAC S-LCA guidelines involving stakeholders, social topics, and performance indicators, thus defining a reference framework that can be adapted to the case study. The environmental LCA analysis identified the phases of the restoration with the most impact as those related to the reconstruction of materials and elements that was necessary when the originals were too damaged to be recovered. The use and periodic replacement of electronic equipment in the museum also had a significant impact in the use phase of the buildings. The evaluation method for the social aspects scored each social theme, outlining the benefits produced by the restoration. The results show that the restoration had several positive effects, particularly in terms of social issues related to the local community. The environmental LCA assessed the advantages and the hotspots in the recovery and reuse of heritage buildings. The framework developed from the guidelines for the S-LCA of products is a suitable tool for the evaluation of social aspects related to cultural heritage interventions, after adapting the methodology of S-LCA to the context and to the reference case study. In some cases, evaluations are based on subjective judgments, but the results provide a reliable overview of the social impact generated.

Estimating chemical footprint: contamination with mercury and its compounds

Abstract Chemical pollution is a problem of global importance. However, there are currently no agreed approaches for integrated environmental impact assessment (EIA) of chemical effects at global scale. We present a new systems-based approach to EIA of chemicals. Our methodology considers propagation of chemical pollutants in the environment, in conjunction with the approach followed in the Russian regulatory system. To estimate chemical footprints related to environmental contamination by potentially toxic substances, measured environmental concentrations were combined with results from the UNEP-SETAC scientific consensus model USEtox, which is recommended for and widely applied in life cycle impact assessment. Our approach was tested using the example of mercury, which has been shown to be a hazardous pollutant at regional and global scales. Results show that the main contribution to the overall chemical footprint of mercury and its compounds is related to releases into aqueous bodies from human activities. Estimations of Maximum Available Concentration overrun show that calculated and experimental data agree to a good extent, particularly for mercury contamination in freshwater bodies. Discrepancies between calculated and actual data are mainly due to extrapolated data used for model validation, averaged data applied to entire Russian Federation districts, the omission of industrial soil as a separate model compartment, and not accounting for cumulative damage from emissions in previous years. These aspects will inform future efforts to refine the methodology. The results of this study were presented to the Ministry of the Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation. It is planned to use these results as one basis for prioritizing action on sources of environmental mercury contamination and as a benchmark for minimizing such impacts.

The Analysis of Maintaining Biodiversity, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Environmental Impact Assessment for Marine Spatial Planning

The Analysis of Maintaining Biodiversity, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Environmental Impact Assessment for Marine Spatial Planning

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF A HEALTH TECHNOLOGY: A SCOPING REVIEW.

The Health Technology Expert Review Panel is an advisory body to Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) that develops recommendations on health technology assessments (HTAs) for nondrug health technologies using a deliberative framework. The framework spans several domains, including the environmental impact of the health technology(ies). Our research objective was to identify articles on frameworks, methods or case studies on the environmental impact assessment of health technologies. A literature search in major databases and a focused gray literature search were conducted. The main search concepts were HTA and environmental impact/sustainability. Eligible articles were those that described a conceptual framework or methods used to conduct an environmental assessment of health technologies, and case studies on the application of an environmental assessment. From the 1,710 citations identified, thirteen publications were included. Two articles presented a framework to incorporate environmental assessment in HTAs. Other approaches described weight of evidence practices and comprehensive and integrated environmental impact assessments. Central themes derived include transparency and repeatability, integration of components in a framework or of evidence into a single outcome, data availability to ensure the accuracy of findings, and familiarity with the approach used. Each framework and methods presented have different foci related to the ecosystem, health economics, or engineering practices. Their descriptions suggested transparency, repeatability, and the integration of components or of evidence into a single outcome as their main strengths. Our review is an initial step of a larger initiative by CADTH to develop the methods and processes to address the environmental impact question in an HTA.

Simplified airport noise models for integrated environmental impact assessment of aviation

With the projected significant increase in air traffic demand over the next few years, to ensure the sustainability of the aviation sector and to avoid further deterioration of quality of life of communities near airports, the various stakeholders, i.e., manufacturers, airlines, airports, and government are required to address projections of future aviation scenarios in an integrated manner, where noise and also air quality and carbon release are considered. Our research group is currently developing simplified airport noise models to overcome the important input data requirements and computation complexity of existing airport noise models for computing precise noise contours (e.g., FAA’s Integrated Noise Model, INM), and also to ensure compatibility against input and output requirements of climate and air quality models. These models are intended to be incorporated into an overall architecture for the strategic environmental assessment of aviation scenarios where different technology and fleet composition options (considering retirements and market penetrations) and growth rates are examined. This paper presents the results of a series of cases studies for illustrating the applicability of simplified airport noise models for analysing strategic aviation noise impact. Both the unavoidable limitations and advantages of simplified models for computing noise outputs under complex scenarios are discussed.

Development of an optimization mathematical model by applying an integrated environmental indicator for selecting alternatives in cleaner production programs

The purpose of this work is to propose an optimized mathematical model to facilitate the selection alternatives in cleaner production (CP) programs. On the basics of goal programming, this study develops an integer-programming model for CP option selection in case of multi-innovation objects and multi-alternative scenarios. With the constraints given, the model defines which objects, and which alternatives can be used for innovation to obtain the optimal objective. The model is tested and proved in a cassava starch factory in Tayninh, Vietnam. Based on production accounting, innovation objects and their CP-alternatives in this factory are identified. Baseline integrated environment impact of the factory is 11,882 person equivalent (PE), in which bulk waste is 52.7%, global warming is 11.9%, photochemical ozone creation is 10.8%, energy is 10%, and the rest is 14.5%. With 135,000 USD for environmental impact reduction, the maximum reduction potentials obtained from solving the model are 8335.2 PE and 878.68 PE in case of minimization of integrated environment indicator and global warming, respectively. The results show that this model works excellently as a support alternative selection tool for CP programs. This study also develops a new cyclic methodology for CP programs based on applying the integer-programming model.

Radioactivity measurements and dose rate calculations using ERICA tool in the terrestrial environment of Greece.

In the present study, the radioactivity levels to which terrestrial non-human biota were exposed are examined. Organisms (grass and herbivore mammals) and abiotic components (soil) were collected during the period of 2010 to 2014 from grasslands where sheep and goats were free-range grazing. Natural background radionuclides ((226)Ra, (228)Ra, (228)Th) and artificial radionuclides ((137)Cs, (134)Cs, (131)I) were detected in the collected samples using gamma spectrometry. The actual measured activity concentrations and site-specific data of the studied organisms were imported in ERICA Assessment Tool (version 1.2.0) in order to provide an insight of the radiological dose rates. The highest activity concentrations were detected in samples collected from Lesvos island and the lowest in samples collected from Attiki and Etoloakarnania prefectures. The highest contribution to the total dose rate was clearly derived from the internal exposure and is closely related to the exposure to alpha emitters of natural background ((226)Ra and (228)Th). The Fukushima-derived traces of (137)Cs, (134)Cs, and (131)I, along with the residual (137)Cs, resulted in quite low contribution to the total dose rate. The obtained results may strengthen the adaptation of software tools to a wider range of ecosystems and may be proved useful in further research regarding the possible impact of protracted low level ionizing radiation on non-human biota. This kind of studies may contribute to the effective incorporation of dosimetry tools in the development of integrated environmental and radiological impact assessment policies.

Costs and benefits of ammonia and particulate matter abatement in German agriculture including interactions with greenhouse gas emissions

The abatement of ammonia (NH3) and particulate matter (PM) emissions in agriculture reduces damages to human health and biodiversity and provides benefits for society, but also imposes costs on farmers. As NH3 and PM emissions partly originate from the same activities as greenhouse gases, interactions may exist between NH3 and PM emission abatement and greenhouse gas emissions. This study is aimed at estimating the costs and benefits of NH3 and PM emission abatement measures, considering interactions with agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. We combined an economic-ecological farm model for estimating emission reductions and abatement costs with an integrated environmental impact assessment model for estimating the benefits for human health and biodiversity, with applications to three Federal States in Germany. We reasoned that benefits exceed costs and that synergies with greenhouse gas reduction exist. All NH3 and PM emission abatement measures affected greenhouse gases. In crop production, conservation tillage increased farmers' gross margins and reduced both PM emissions and, via soil carbon sequestration, also greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits depended on the soil type and its carbon sequestration potential, which differ across regions. The substitution of urea fertiliser for calcium ammonium nitrate reduced both NH3 and greenhouse gas emissions. In livestock production, the measures with the highest net benefits were chemical washers for exhaust-air purification, injection or cultivator manure application and concrete manure storage cover. Low-protein pig feeding increased farmers' gross margins and also achieved high net benefits, with the benefits of greenhouse gas emission reduction exceeding those of NH3 emission reduction. Low-protein poultry feeding and biofilters for air purification yielded negative net benefits and were therefore not recommended for implementation. The results confirm interactions of NH3 and PM emission abatement measures with greenhouse gas emissions and suggest that all relevant emission types be integrated in an analysis. Air pollution abatement and climate change mitigation have mainly been addressed in separate policies. Our results suggest that these policies are better integrated so as to stimulate synergies and to define the appropriate ambition level of emission reduction targets.

Creating a spatial multi-criteria decision support system for energy related integrated environmental impact assessment

By their spatially very distributed nature, profitability and impacts of renewable energy resources are highly correlated with the geographic locations of power plant deployments. A web-based Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) based on a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach has been implemented for identifying preferable locations for solar power plants based on user preferences. The designated areas found serve for the input scenario development for a subsequent integrated Environmental Impact Assessment.The capabilities of the SDSS service get showcased for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants in the region of Andalusia, Spain. The resulting spatial patterns of possible power plant sites are an important input to the procedural chain of assessing impacts of renewable energies in an integrated effort. The applied methodology and the implemented SDSS are applicable for other renewable technologies as well.

Integrated Environment Impact Assessment of Brick Kiln using Environmental Performance Scores

The capital city of Himalayan Country Nepal, Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by consecutive high mountains, which limits the air distribution and mixing effects significantly. It in turn generates steady air flow pattern over a year except in monsoon season. The air shed in the Valley is easily trapped by the surrounded mountains and the inversion layer formulated as the cap. The <TEX>$PM_{10}$</TEX> concentration was noticeably higher than the standard level (120 <TEX>${\mu}g/m^3$</TEX>) in urban and suburban area of Kathmandu valley for all seasons except monsoon period. The Valley area experiences similar wind patterns (W, WWS, and S) for a year but the Easterly wind prevails only during the monsoon period. There was low and calm wind blows during the winter season. Because of this air flow structure, the air emission from various sources is accumulated within the valley air, high level of air pollution is frequently recorded with other air polluted cities over the world. In this Valley area, brick kilns are recognized as the major air pollution source followed by vehicles. Mostly Bull Trench Kiln (BKT), Hoffman Kiln and Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) are in operation for brick firing in Kathmandu valley where the fuels such as crushed coal, saw dust, and natural gas are used for processing bricks in this study. Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) was used for screening and quantifying the potential impacts of air emission from firing fuels. The total Environmental Performance Score (EPS) was estimated and the EPS of coal was approximately 2.5 times higher than those of natural gas and saw dust. It is concluded that the crushed coal has more negative impact to the environment and human health than other fuel sources. Concerning the human health and environment point of view, alternative environment friendly firing fuel need to be used for brick industry in the kiln and the air pollution control devices also need to be applied for minimizing the air emissions from the kilns.

The interspecies educator's cybernetic world

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to interconnect pedagogy and biology via second-order cybernetics.Design/methodology/approach– The approach taken is that of a synthesis.Findings– Biology can better deal with intersubjectivity within and between species by incorporating approaches and theory from education inquiry. Conversely, educators can de-anthropocentrize their discipline by entering into learning relationships with other species. By rallying around the concept of “eduction”, second-order cybernetics plays a role in both syntheses.Practical implications– De-anthropocentrizing education could have practical value in creating ecologically relevant education for children and in developing more integrated environmental impact assessments.Originality/value– Finding convergence between the study of life and forms of practitioner inquiry in education research, and connecting these to the environmental movement.

An integrated environmental impact assessment of corn-based polyols compared with petroleum-based polyols production

Abstract Various aspects of bio-ethanol technology have been studied for decades; however the previous literatures do not have a detailed assessment of a whole corn-based polyols system and its integrated impact on the environment. The evaluation system used to analyze the impact of adopting corn-based polyols from an environmental point of view was the system dynamics innovatively. Consequential models were applied to evaluate the environmental impact in four polyols production stages: raw material planting, corn-based polyols production, corn-based polyols products utilization and disposal process. N 2 O emission from nitrogen fertilizers was important contributor of greenhouse gases produced during agricultural activities. Growing corn was capable of absorbing a lot of CO 2 which showed carbon sink. Pollutants discharged during the conversion of corn into polyols were highly dependent on processing technology alternatives. There also existed some worse impacts such as discharged N 2 O, CO, SO 2 and HCl in waste disposal process. Findings from the systemic simulation might be utilized in identifying environmental pollution bottlenecks within the process. The results demonstrated that multiple scientific and technological improvements in polyols production could reduce 1/3 of the production cost per ton in comparison to petrochemical polyols. Through optimal parameter selection, the corn consumption per ton of polyols production could be controlled from 1.68 to 1.42 tons. These findings could provide impetus for further technological advancement of corn-based polyols by reducing the overall environmental impacts of the bio-polyols process.

A multi-scale metrics approach to forest fragmentation for Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment

Forests are becoming severely fragmented as a result of land development. South Korea has responded to changing community concerns about environmental issues. The nation has developed and is extending a broad range of tools for use in environmental management. Although legally mandated environmental compliance requirements in South Korea have been implemented to predict and evaluate the impacts of land-development projects, these legal instruments are often insufficient to assess the subsequent impact of development on the surrounding forests. It is especially difficult to examine impacts on multiple (e.g., regional and local) scales in detail. Forest configuration and size, including forest fragmentation by land development, are considered on a regional scale. Moreover, forest structure and composition, including biodiversity, are considered on a local scale in the Environmental Impact Assessment process. Recently, the government amended the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, including the SEA, EIA, and small-scale EIA, to require an integrated approach. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish an impact assessment system that minimizes the impacts of land development using an approach that is integrated across multiple scales.This study focused on forest fragmentation due to residential development and road construction sites in selected Congestion Restraint Zones (CRZs) in the Greater Seoul Area of South Korea. Based on a review of multiple-scale impacts, this paper integrates models that assess the impacts of land development on forest ecosystems. The applicability of the integrated model for assessing impacts on forest ecosystems through the SEIA process is considered.On a regional scale, it is possible to evaluate the location and size of a land-development project by considering aspects of forest fragmentation, such as the stability of the forest structure and the degree of fragmentation. On a local scale, land-development projects should consider the distances at which impacts occur in the vicinity of the forest ecosystem, and these considerations should include the impacts on forest vegetation and bird species. Impacts can be mitigated by considering the distances at which these influences occur. In particular, this paper presents an integrated environmental impact assessment system to be applied in the SEIA process. The integrated assessment system permits the assessment of the cumulative impacts of land development on multiple scales.

A framework for assessing and predicting the environmental health impact of infectious diseases: a case study of leptospirosis

This article demonstrates the practical application of an integrated environmental health impact assessment (IEHIA)methodology to investigate an infectious disease (leptospirosis)and the value of using such an approach to estimate future health impact. The assessment described the current health impact (using leptospirosis seroprevalence as a proxy measure)and estimated the future health impact based on scenarios that included indicators of different risk factors. The application of an IEHIA methodology to assess the health impact of an infectious disease was shown to enhance the ability to quantify associations between a disease agent and its health impact by taking into account the environmental drivers of transmission, human behaviour, socio economic factors, and the multiple pathways through which exposure and infection could occur.

Drivers of integrated environmental innovation and impact on company competitiveness: evidence from 18 Chinese firms

This paper examines the drivers of environmental innovation and their respective effects on company competitiveness based on 37 interviews of 18 Chinese firms. The sample innovations are mainly integrated environmental innovations represented by clean process innovations and green product innovations plus a few end-of-pipe technologies. Our study found that environmental innovation is driven by a mixture of factors of environmental regulation, cost pressure, competitive advantages and customer pressure. That would yield proof for the so-called Porter Hypothesis, which assumes that environmental regulation stimulates innovation and leads to 'win-win' opportunities where simultaneously pollution is reduced and competitiveness increased.

Climate change and health: a challenge for epidemiology and public health

This special issue of the Journal will be coming out when the countdown to the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change (CC) in December 2009 will have ended and world policy makers will be deciding about our future and of those of the coming generations. The activity of the World Health Organization (WHO), international and national institutions, NGOs, and different sectors of society has been high in the last months to inform, raise awareness, create solidarity, increase media coverage, bring policy makers up to date on a large portion of the ‘‘inconvenient truth’’: CC is the biggest global health threat of the twentyfirst century. To get an instant idea, just google ‘‘climate change and health’’ on the web. We will see the effectiveness of all these efforts in the post-Copenhagen period. Certainly, epidemiologists and public health professionals will be presented with important future challenges but there will be many opportunities to shift from the comforts of prevailing ideas and intellectual habits to a different approach in research and in prevention. Many of the papers in this issue see the challenges and anticipate the opportunities. Let us mention some of them. As McMichael (2008) has already indicated, the dynamics of factors leading to climate changes and to health effects is extremely complex, involving environmental, ecological and social aspects. Strong economical interests together with individual and community behaviors are also powerful driving forces. All these factors have large, entangled interactions. The challenge for epidemiology is to apply new modes of approaching and studying the issue, while continuously searching for collaboration from other disciplines. Several aspects of the roadmap are well summarized in the comprehensive essay by CampbellLendrum et al. (2009) and by Vineis (2010). First, there is a need for appropriate methods to conceptualize the full chain of events leading to potential health effects. Here, the new principles of integrated environmental impact assessment of systemic risks (Briggs 2008) should be taken with interest as a way to overcome the limitations of traditional risk assessment. Second, there is a continuous need to consider the scale of the epidemiological evaluation. It is not only a matter of applying hierarchical modeling to multivariate analysis (Victora et al. 1997), but also a way should be found to integrate our learning of the risk factors at both the population and the individual level, to give more weight to comparisons between populations without losing the interest to micro level analysis; ‘‘forests’’ should be scrutinized without missing our interest in ‘‘trees’’ (Pearce 1996). Third, the socio-economical conditions and contexts should always be kept in mind, at both the population and individual level, as they have profound health consequences. Poverty makes people more vulnerable to the effect of CC and its greatest impact has been predicted in populations with few resources (Jay and Marmot 2009). Finally, the inventory of potential health effects of CC should be enlarged. We do not yet have a clear idea of the long-term impact on a population’s mental health of ‘‘natural’’ disasters like hurricane Katrina or of the current economic crisis and insecurity (Somasundaram and van de Put 2006). Still, psychological effects of climate change have been well postulated in Kjellstrom’s (2010) paper and they deserve attention and evaluation. This paper belongs to the special issue ‘‘Climate changes health’’.