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Zircon U-Pb ages, major element and trace element compositions, and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositions for late Mesozoic granites from the southern Jiaodong Peninsula (eastern China) were determined. Ages for the Wulianshan, Xiaozhushan, and Dazhushan plutons are 119.1-122.3, 114.2, and 108.9 Ma, respectively. Major and trace element characteristics show that these granitic rocks belong to alkaline, A-type granites formed in an extensional setting. Trace element compositions show strong, variable negative anomalies in Ba, K, P and Ti, and positive anomalies in Rb, Th, U, Pb, Ce, Zr, and Hf, which are typical characteristics of A-type granites. Variable Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, 87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.70540-0.7071 and εNd(t) = −14.5 to −20.9. Whole-rock Pb isotopic compositions have the following ranges, (206Pb/204Pb)t = 15.707-16.561, (207Pb/204Pb)t = 15.376-16.462, and (208Pb/204Pb)t = 36.324 to 37.064. Isotopic modelling indicates an origin that lies between mantle tapped by Cenozoic basalts around the Tan-Lu megafault and lower continental crust (LCC), and which can be explained by mixing of 11-18% mantle and 82-89% LCC. Based on new and compiled data, we suggest that the southern Jiaodong Peninsula, as well as the Laoshan area, was in a regional extensional setting of an orogenic belt during 106-126 Ma. The granitic rocks may be the result of late Mesozoic lithospheric thinning and decratonization (i.e. late Mesozoic craton destruction event occurring throughout eastern China). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on various factors affecting environment in Bangladesh. Natural resources of Bangladesh include water, land, fisheries, forests and wildlife. The rapidly increasing population of Bangladesh places immense pressure on these natural resources and on the environment. Human health problems related to the environment are primarily due to contaminated ground and surface waters. The various contributory factors to environmental stress and degradation in Bangladesh are intense population pressure, industrial pollution, unsustainable land use and energy consumption, urbanization, agricultural intensification and natural hazards.

This article presents a discussion of labor and environmental issues in South Asia. It is believed that governments in Asian countries, in their drive to be internationally competitive, have downplayed two key areas of labor and environmental standards. The developed countries pressurize them to adopt tighter standards regarding the issues like child labor, health and safety features of the workplace and labor rights. Their real motivation is protectionism, but they are accused of effecting the international market in their own interest. The article also reports on a workshop which debated these issues in the context of Bangladesh, a poor Asian country. It was organized by Australia-University of New England.