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Mercury is a physiological toxin released by spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) and is considered a serious pollutant. As the world’s largest producer of fluorescent lamps, China suffers from SFL pollution because of inefficient recycling and management of SFLs. Drawing upon the most successful practices worldwide, this paper suggests the recycling of SFLs on the basis of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system in China. Manufacturers and importers are the main parties responsible for the take-back, recycling, and disposal of SFLs in the EPR system. In view of the situation in China and to address the objectives of the EPR system, this paper recommends the implementation of a third-party take-back mode for small- and medium-scale enterprises and of a take-back mode for large enterprises to be carried out by original equipment manufacturers. This paper suggests an extended responsibility fund to finance and support the SFL recycling system and discusses in detail the different recycling network systems and fund flows of the two take-back modes. By conducting a case study, the authors determine that the subsidy rate for SFLs that a recycling company can obtain from the extended responsibility fund for recycling and disposing of lamps can be set at $1.35/kg. The authors also predict the levy level that fluorescent lamp manufacturers must submit.Implications:For policymakers, a proper and effective way to manage and recycle spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) is necessary. The recommended system and the predicted number values of the subsidy rate and levy level can be the basis in practice. For people, the proper management measures will reduce exposure from SFLs effectively, especially the risk of exposure to mercury. For society, the measures can help increase resource utilization rate. For manufacturers, an effective extended responsibility fund will motivate them to improve processing technique and green design. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Soil AP increased but ALPA decreased during the freshwater–oligohaline transition. • Soil P became more recalcitrant and immediately available at oligohaline sites. • phoD gene communities were reshaped during the freshwater–oligohaline transition. • Rhizospheres had no significant effect on P availability and phoD gene diversity. Estuarine tidal marshes play a key role in phosphorus (P) retention and cycling; however, they are suffering from small but significant increases in tidal saltwater intrusion. The likely impacts of these low-level saltwater intrusions on P availability and microbial activity are unclear. Here, we investigated soil P speciation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the phoD phosphatase gene community along a freshwater-oligohaline gradient in the Min River estuary, southeast China. The results indicated that with the transition from freshwater to oligohaline water, the levels of soil-water salinity, pH and sulfate content were greater, and ALP activity was lower, which were associated with higher concentrations of organic P, available P, aluminum-bound P, calcium-bound P, and occluded P and lower levels of iron-bound P. There was a strong shift in the phoD phosphatase community composition in response to the freshwater-oligohaline gradient. Our findings showed that with the transition from freshwater to an oligohaline environment, in addition to the associated increases in salinity and soil pH and decreases in general microbial and biological activity and soil organic carbon, there is a shift in soil P toward more recalcitrant and immediately available fractions with less labile forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the mosquito abundance and their relative species composition within and outside the Rare Birds National Nature Reserve of Yancheng, Jiangsu Province., Methods: Sampling was carried out between May and Oct. 2004 at two weeks interval in two foci (the Reserve and nearby residential district) in Sheyang County. Mosquitoes were collected with the modified CDC light trap. Density was calculated, and species were identified. Environmental temperatures, rainfall and relative humidity were monitored during the study., Results: A total of 40,912 mosquitoes were captured in the two foci. The sampled mosquitoes were identified as 4 species belonging to three genera (Anopheles sinensis, Culex pipiens pallens, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, and Armigeres subalbatus). The most abundant mosquito species was An. sinensis and Cx pipiens pallens, which accounted for 97.7% of the whole number. 92% and 8% of the total amount of mosquitoes were collected from the nature reserve and residential district respectively. The most abundant species in the nature reserve and residential district was An. sinensis (60.6%) and Cx. pipiens pallens (76%), respectively. Within the nature reserve, there were two peaks occurred in adult abundance, in mid- and late July and mid-Sept. The abundance of mosquitoes in the area was positively correlated to the temperature (r = 0.765, P = 0.005)., Conclusion: The wetland is an ideal breeding place for An. sinensis and Cx pipiens pallens. The peaks of mosquito abundance are in mid- and late July and mid-Sept. It is of importance to carry out surveillance on mosquito vectors with pathogen-transmitting potential.