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Asunto: 'Science for Environment Policy', issue 175: A service from the European Commission De: Science Env Policy <sfep@uwe.ac.uk> Fecha: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:45:57 +0000 Para: Undisclosed recipients: ;
26 November, 2009 Issue 175
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IN THIS ISSUE Better water management could improve global crop production A new global study is the first to quantify the potential of water management strategies to increase crop production. It indicates that a combination of harvesting run-off water and reducing evaporation from soil could increase global crop production by 20 per cent.(more...) Wild insects could take over the pollinating role of honeybees Scientists have identified several wild insects that could undertake the crop pollination function of honeybees. By comparing a range of pollinating insects they found three wild species that appear to be as efficient as the honeybee in pollination but may need management to increase their numbers.(more...) Less energy use in offices can mean more satisfaction Increased energy use in office buildings does not necessarily increase the comfort and satisfaction of its occupants, according to new research into office ventilation systems. Low energy systems with high levels of individual control were found to be most satisfactory for office workers in 12 case study buildings in the UK and India.(more...) Mapping human health risk in urban environments A new study demonstrates how mapping software can be used to analyse data on heavy metal soil pollution in an urban environment. The researchers incorporated land use information to gain realistic estimates of potential risks to human health that could help inform land use planning.(more...) Sustainable management in built environment needs more support Senior management could do more to promote the sustainable design and use of facilities in their organisations. A recent study found that a lack of understanding, focus and commitment by company executives was a significant barrier to the successfully implementing sustainable facilities management.(more...) Sediment pollution should be included in water quality assessments The quality of surface water is best assessed using the status of both the water and underlying sediment. A recent study concluded that water bodies risk being misclassified if sediment assessment is not included, which can lead to unnecessary recovery costs.(more...)
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FULL ARTICLES
Better water management could improve global crop production A new global study is the first to quantify the potential of water management strategies to increase crop production. It indicates that a combination of harvesting run-off water and reducing evaporation from soil could increase global crop production by 20 per cent. The EU has recognised the impact of climate change on water and the subsequent
effects on agriculture in its white paper on adaptation1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts in its A2r scenario that if the global population increases to 10
billion by 2050, then an additional 5000 km3 of water per year will be required to produce enough food. The study numerically examined the current level of crop production and the potential influence of several water management strategies that could be conducted at a farm-level. It was supported by the EU ENSEMBLES project2.
Under present irrigation the model calculated a global crop production figure of 13.3 gigatons (Gt) of crops measured as dry matter for the period 1971-2000. It was estimated that a reduction in evaporation of water by 25 per cent could have increased this figure by about 0.80 Gt. The greatest potential for an increase was in semi-arid regions, such as the mid-west USA and Southern Africa. It was estimated that global crop production could have been increased by 1.52 Gt if 25 per cent of run-off was collected. This was best achieved in tropical and wet regions, such as Central America and parts of Brazil. If both management strategies were combined (reducing evaporation by 25 per cent and harvesting 25 per cent of run-off) the global crop production could have been increased by 2.50 Gt, or about 20 per cent. The study examined the possible impact of future climate change (for the period 2041-2070) and increasing levels of CO2. Climate change alone reduces crop production by 9 per cent, largely through decreased rainfall and higher temperatures. This could be buffered by reducing evaporation by 50 per cent or harvesting 25 per cent of run-off. Rising CO2 levels alone increase global crop production by 28 per cent by the 2050s, which more than offsets the drop caused by climate change. However, the researchers believe this is unlikely in reality as increases in CO2 will cause complex
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interactions that have not been considered in the model, such as limiting crop growth through crop degradation and increased weeds. Lastly, the study estimated the number of people who would be water-stressed by 2050 under a water management strategy that combined a 25 per cent reduction in evaporation with the harvesting of 25 per cent of run-off. Under these conditions water availability would be sufficient to fulfill food demand in most developed countries but not for countries in North Africa, the Middle East and South Africa. The number of those living without enough water to produce a healthy diet is estimated to increase from the current 2.3 billion to 6 billion in 2050. This highlights the need to explore other options, such as more efficient irrigation and plant breeding for these future conditions in addition to water management. 1. See http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/climate_change/index_en.htm 2. ENSEMBLES was supported by the European Commission under the Sixth Framework Programme. See http://ensembles-eu.metoffice.com/index.html Source: Rost, S., Gerten. D., Hoff., H. et al. (2009). Global potential to increase crop production through water management in rainfed agriculture. Environmental Research Letters. Doi: 10/1088/1748-9326/4/4/044002. This article is free to download from: www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1748-9326/4/4/044002 Contact: gerten@pik-potsdam.de Theme(s): Agriculture, Water
Wild insects could take over the pollinating role of honeybees Scientists have identified several wild insects that could undertake the crop pollination function of honeybees. By comparing a range of pollinating insects they found three wild species that appear to be as efficient as the honeybee in pollination but may need management to increase their numbers. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is in rapid decline worldwide. While it is important to understand the reasons behind this decline in order to try and restore populations, the fall in numbers has led to recent and growing interest in the relative value of wild vs. managed insects for pollinating crops. However, surprisingly few studies have directly compared the effectiveness of managed honeybees with wild alternative pollinators on cultivated land. Effects of different pollinators were compared using the crop Brassica rapa var. chinensis or 'pak choi'. Flower-visiting insects were observed in 11 commercial pak choi fields in New Zealand for a three month period. Two components of pollination were assessed: the efficiency of pollen transfer, which describes the effectiveness at which pollinators remove and transport pollen, and visitation frequency, which considers both the abundance of the pollinator and of the flowers. 31 species in total were observed attending the pak choi flowers, but only seven insects other than the honeybee were considered frequent enough visitors to be analysed. These were three other bees and four flies. There was a large variation amongst the species in the amount of pollen deposited on the flower and the number of occasions in which the stigma was contacted. Three species were similar to the honeybee on these measures: the bees Bombus terrestris and Leioproctus sp., and the fly Eristalis tenax. However, results indicated that honeybees visited flowers at a significantly higher rate than all other insects.
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When both efficiency and visitation frequency were combined, the honeybee was the most effective pollinator and deposited an estimated 7879 pollen grains per hour. This rate was three times greater than the next highest pollinator, B. terrestris, which transferred an estimated 2247 pollen grains per hour. E. tenax deposited 968 grains per hour and Leioproctus sp. approximately 300 grains per hour. The results indicate that wild insects are capable of providing pollination services similar to those currently performed by honeybees. Honeybees visit flowers at a significantly higher rate than the wild pollinators, but they do not differ in the number of flowers visited per minute. This suggests that the alternative pollinators are simply not common enough. To make them as effective, the population sizes of wild pollinators needs to increase. This requires a change in land management practices to ensure year round feeding, nesting and other resources are provided. In order to understand how to maintain stable populations of wild pollinators, further research is needed on the biology of the potential pollinators and their current role in the ecosystem. It is also important to carefully consider any negative implications of increasing wild pollinator populations, to ensure that there are no adverse effects on the local ecosystem. Source: Rader, R., Howlett, B.G., Cunningham, S.A. et al. (2009). Alternative pollinator taxa are equally efficient but not as effective as the honeybee in a mass flowering crop. Journal of Applied Ecology. 46(5):1080-1087. Contact: romina.rader@jcu.edu.au Theme(s): Agriculture, Biodiversity
Less energy use in offices can mean more satisfaction Increased energy use in office buildings does not necessarily increase the comfort and satisfaction of its occupants, according to new research into office ventilation systems. Low energy systems with high levels of individual control were found to be most satisfactory for office workers in 12 case study buildings in the UK and India. The energy efficiency of buildings and sustainable construction are part of the EU policy
on sustainable development1. Sustainable design tends to have three main considerations: the planet (environment), people (society) and prosperity (economy). Although we spend about 80 to 90 per cent of our time indoors, the views of occupants are not often considered a priority when designing sustainable buildings. The study explored ventilation systems and the occupants' level of control over the system in 12 case study buildings (six in the UK and six in India). These buildings could be classified into six categories, according to whether they were air-conditioned or ventilated naturally with central or local control. The naturally ventilated buildings typically cause half or less than half of the emissions of the air-conditioned buildings. The building with the lowest energy consumption and emissions was the TRC project in India that had an advanced naturally ventilated system. This used a passive downdraft evaporative system that traps ambient hot-dry air, cools it by the evaporation of water and then introduces it into the building. The highest energy consumer was the BPS building in the UK which is a centrally air-conditioned office with a high density of occupants. Besides ventilation type, there were other building design characteristics that affected
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energy consumption and CO2 emissions. For example, air-conditioned buildings tend to have other high-energy features like lightweight construction, open plan design and high occupant densities. The researchers then questioned occupants about their comfort and health. Results indicated no positive relationship between energy use or CO2 emissions and occupant satisfaction. This was particularly true in the UK but even in India the mixed mode system that combined air conditioning with local ventilation control produced greater satisfaction than the centrally controlled air conditioned system. In terms of health, seasonal ailments were lowest in naturally ventilated buildings in the UK and in mixed mode buildings in India. The authors suggest that occupant comfort and satisfaction in temperate climates does not appear to be tied to energy consumption. Instead, the link between energy consumption and satisfaction/health found in these case studies was the degree of control that the occupants have over their office environment. The buildings with high-energy, centralised air-conditioning systems typically had no individual or direct control. It is encouraging that low energy design was seen to achieve some of the highest levels of occupant satisfaction and the study provides support to owners and designers to consider energy efficient strategies and technologies in buildings. The researchers also suggest that buildings should be designed to be responsive to users in order to create a more comfortable and sustainable environment. 1. See http://ec.europa.eu/environment/urban/links.htm Source: Steemers, K. & Manchanda, S. (2010). Energy efficient design and occupant well-being: Case studies in the UK and India. Building and Environment. 45: 270-278. Contact: kas11@cam.ac.uk Theme(s): Climate change and energy, Sustainable consumption and production
Mapping human health risk in urban environments A new study demonstrates how mapping software can be used to analyse data on heavy metal soil pollution in an urban environment. The researchers incorporated land use information to gain realistic estimates of potential risks to human health that could help inform land use planning. Human activities, including industrial manufacturing and road travel, contaminate the soil with heavy metals such as zinc, chromium, nickel and mercury. However, contamination poses very little or no risk to human health in many situations because the way the land is used does not expose people to the metals. Combining data on heavy metal pollution with information about land use is one way of identifying which areas do pose a significant risk to human health. In the study,
EU-funded researchers, working under the TUSEC-IP project1, used this approach to assess the suitability of land use plans in the Grugliasco region of Torino in northwest Italy.
There are plans in Grugliasco to turn a large area, currently used primarily for agriculture, into an urban park which incorporates a 'naturalistic park', new university spaces and areas for playing sport, as well as small areas for allotment gardens and swamp. The aim of the research was to show how the land use change could have an
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impact on exposure to toxic chemicals. The researchers used Geographic Information System (GIS) software to map soil contamination and estimate human health risk based on land use. GIS is a well-established mapping method which combines different types of information linked to location. The study's results suggest that the planned park will help reduce the health risks posed by heavy metals in Grugliasco. Using a scale of 1-5, where 1 is low risk and 5 is relatively high risk, the maps illustrate how risk varies across the region. Currently, human health risk across most of Grugliasco is in class 3 or higher, but should fall to less than 1 with the construction of the park. However, areas that will remain in agricultural use will still be high risk because heavy metals could enter the food chain through food production. So far, GIS has not been widely used in risk modelling for heavy metals, but the researchers claim it could be a powerful tool for decision making in land use planning and minimising the health risks of pollution faced by citizens. 1. TUSEC-IP (Techniques of Urban Soil Evaluation in City Regions-Implementation in Planning Procedures) was conducted under Project-Interreg IIIB-Alpine Space Programme, supported by the European Commission. See: www.tusec-ip.org Source: Poggio, L. and Vršcaj. (2009). A GIS-based human health risk assessment for urban green space planning - An example from Grugliasco (Italy). Science of the Total Environment. 407: 5961-5970. Contact: l.poggio@macaulay.ac.uk Theme(s): Environment and health, Land use, Soil, Urban environment
Sustainable management in built environment needs more support Senior management could do more to promote the sustainable design and use of facilities in their organisations. A recent study found that a lack of understanding, focus and commitment by company executives was a significant barrier to the successfully implementing sustainable facilities management. Facilities management is a fast-growing discipline responsible for a diverse range of activities that support the core functions of businesses and other services. Traditionally, this covered maintaining infrastructure and buildings, managing equipment and furniture, efficiently supplying resources and removing waste. However, other functions, such as supervising environmental management systems are increasingly becoming part of the role. As the built environment grows to accommodate an expanding population, facilities management can make a significant contribution to the sustainability agenda, for example, by designing and implementing energy saving measures. Facilities managers are in a position to influence behavioural change, not only in their own organisation but also in other businesses, government departments and public services with which they work. In this study, researchers investigated the perceived barriers and commitment to the introduction and practice of sustainable facilities management. Using previous research and a questionnaire survey of 251 facilities management professionals in the UK in 2007, the researchers identified the current commitment and the main barriers to
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developing sustainable measures in response to the issue of climate change. The respondents worked in a wide range of organisations and industries, both private and public sector. The main barriers that were seen to prevent an organisation from effectively managing their sustainability responsibilies were lack of time, knowledge and senior management commitment. Financial constraints were also considered to be a barrier. Other results of the survey were: 69 per cent of facility managers said their organisations had a sustainability policy, and waste and energy management were priorities. 31 per cent of respondents said their organisation did not have a sustainability policy, indicating a lack of focus by senior management. Organisations in the government and healthcare sectors were most likely to have a sustainability policy. 61 per cent of organisations reported to stakeholders on sustainability. 60 per cent of all respondents said their organisation reported on the carbon footprints of their organisation in environmental reports, primarily covering energy and water consumption of buildings and waste disposal. 63 per cent of respondents said that they were responsible for managing the sustainability measures of their organisation. Top priorities were energy management, waste management and health and safety, but areas such as flexible working, sustainable travel and ethical purchasing were the least incorporated in their responsibilities. It is essential for senior managers to have the necessary information, understanding of sustainability issues, skills and commitment, if businesses are to implement sustainable practices throughout their organisation. By including facilities management at the highest executive levels, facilities managers can play a major role in promoting sustainability. Source: Elmualim, A., Shockley, D., Valle, R. et al. (2010). Barriers and commitment of facilities management profession to the sustainability agenda. Building and Environment. 45: 5864. Contact: a.a.elmualim@reading.ac.uk Theme(s): Sustainable consumption and production, Sustainable development and policy analysis
Sediment pollution should be included in water quality assessments The quality of surface water is best assessed using the status of both the water and underlying sediment. A recent study concluded that water bodies risk being misclassified if sediment assessment is not included, which can lead to unnecessary recovery costs. Under the Water Framework Directive1 (WFD), Member States are required to achieve at least 'good water status' for surface water (inland, estuarine and coastal water bodies) in Europe by 2015. Surface water quality is assessed on both its ecological status and chemical status. Ecological status includes the physical and chemical conditions that affect the water's biological quality, such as nutrients and oxygen levels. The chemical status is also determined according to levels (or environmental quality standards (EQS)) of important pollutants, including metals, found in the water, as listed under the EC's Directive2 on priority dangerous substances.
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In this study, Spanish researchers investigated the quality of Basque coastal and estuarine waters in northern Spain. The study focused on the long-term trend (from 1995-2007) of water and sediment contamination by metal pollutants (arsenic, cadmium, copper, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc) and the response of these areas to water treatment programmes. In addition, the chemical status of these water bodies was assessed using two approaches: (1) following the principle of 'one out, all out' under the WFD, whereby any metal in waters over the EQS will result in the whole station failing to achieve the chemical status (and for concentrations below the EQS, the chemical status is met), and (2) Combining the chemical quality of both the surface waters and the underlying sediment, using a methodology proposed by these researchers. The river catchments, estuaries and coastal waters of the study area have been polluted by urban and industrial discharges, particularly from iron ore mining in the region. Additional pollution comes from the construction of ports, dredging, sediment disposal, and land reclamation. Emission control measures and water treatment programmes have been implemented to help tackle these pressures. Using the first approach, few of the water bodies achieved good status, and the percentage of systems meeting this status falls over time. Using the second approach, more than 50 per cent of the water bodies achieved 'good status', with the percentage of systems meeting this status remaining steady over time. The researchers argue that the second approach is more accurate in assessing chemical status as it is better at discriminating between less polluted water, which has less impact on wildlife, and that which is highly polluted. In addition, this approach reflects the drop in pollution of river catchments in recent years, which has improved water quality in many bodies. By considering both water and sediment analysis in determining the status of water quality, resources could better be targeted at those bodies of water where levels of pollution have a greater negative effect on fish and other living organisms in the water. However, the researchers say further research is needed on EQS measurements in water and the interpretation of chemical concentrations of contaminants in sediments. 1. See: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html 2. See: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:348:0084:0097:EN:PDF Source: Tueros, I., Borja, A., Larreta, J. et al. (2009). Integrating long-term water and sediment pollution data, in assessing chemical status within the European Water Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 58:1389-1400. Contact: itueros@azti.es Theme(s): Water
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