ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Online ISSN : 1884-5029
Print ISSN : 0915-0048
ISSN-L : 0915-0048
Volume 26, Issue 5
Displaying 1-5 of 5 articles from this issue
Articles
  • Kazuma MURAKAMI
    2013 Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 401-412
    Published: September 30, 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: October 15, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We design a new model depicting an individual’s power-saving intention-behavior-effect process in consideration of societal influence and societal impact based on previous studies to clarify the determinants of pro-environmental behavior. The validity of the model is verified by structural equation modeling (SEM), using results from a citizens’ survey. By using this model, the difference in the situation according to location (Tokyo, Osaka) and time (summer 2011, winter 2011) clarifies the difference between the influence on individual decision-making and the effect process by multiple group analysis.
    The results show that the understanding of power-saving targets makes for power-saving intention, evokes power-saving behavior, and contributes to the power-saving effect. Further, anxiety of a power failure raises power-saving intention. Finally, there is no significant difference in path coefficients between the understanding of power-saving targets and the anxiety of a power failure in Tokyo.
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  • -The Data Analyses and Consideration Before Fukushima Nuclear Accident -
    Yusuke TAKAURA, Daisuke TAKAGI, Ken’ichi IKEDA
    2013 Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 413-420
    Published: September 30, 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: October 15, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Construction of high level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal facilities is regulated by Japanese law; however, the candidate sites have not been decided. In this research, we examined how trust, risk perception and benefit perception affects the attitude toward the construct of HLW disposal facilities in quantitative approach. In addition, we examined the difference of determinants between the areas whether there are facilities of nuclear power generation or not (NPG-area, No NPG-area). The hypotheses are below.
    1.Trust in government and benefit perception predict the attitude toward construction of HLW disposal facilities positively, while risk perception negatively.
    2.Trust in government predicts risk perception negatively.
    3.The concern about nuclear power generation is higher in NPG-area than No NPG-area.
    4.The effect of risk perception and benefit perception is larger in NPG-area than No NPG-area, while the effect of trust in government is smaller.
    We conducted an online survey in 2011 (N=1120). The results showed that trust and benefit perception predicted the attitude positively, while risk perception predicted negatively. The results also showed that the concern about nuclear power generation is higher and the effect of risk perception is larger in NPG-area than No NPG-area.
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  • Chen LIU
    2013 Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 421-429
    Published: September 30, 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: October 15, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Regional material flows are strongly influenced by human diets. This paper aims to estimate quantitatively the nitrogen and phosphorus (N&P) loads on the water and soil environment contributed by the diet of the citizens in Shanghai, and also to suggest future trends. A questionnaire / interview survey was conducted for 450 adults over 18 years old in 3 representative areas of Shanghai. The lifestyle (eating habits, domestic sanitation, drainage facilities, etc.) patterns with rapid urbanization were determined and the potential N&P loads from human diets on the environment were calculated. The daily potential N&P loads from human diets were 19.36 g-N, 1.80 g-P in the central district, 16.48 g-N, 1.52 g-P in the new district, and 13.04 g-N, 1.20 g-P in the suburban / rural area of Shanghai. Respondents in all three areas, especially those in the suburban / rural area reported a preference for increasing the intake of animal-derived as well as processed foods, which means that the potential N&P load from human diets on the environment will increase further. As the causes of the problems of the water environment are shifting towards urban lifestyle issues, environment-friendly eating habits and improvements in environmental awareness will be required.
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Short Communication
  • Yujiro HIRANO, Rokuta INABA, Kohei SAKAI, Yuriko HAYABUCHI, Masahiro O ...
    2013 Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 430-439
    Published: September 30, 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: October 15, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    To design domestic mid- and long-term countermeasures against global warming, it is important to know fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emission trends while considering the relationship between different lifestyles and the industrial structure. Although the energy consumption of major manufacturing industries has been surveyed for many years, surveys of energy consumption in the commercial sector are not necessarily sufficient. Therefore, this study estimated the detailed energy consumption structure in the commercial sector in Japan. There are many detailed surveys of the energy consumption in commercial buildings, and the data from these surveys are in the form of specific energy consumption, i.e., the amount of energy consumed per standard unit of floor area. However, specific forms of energy consumption are usually aggregated by building use, such as for office buildings, retail stores, etc., while the information on the types of business is not included. Therefore, we first estimated the gross floor area of existing buildings by building use for each type of business. Next, we calculated the energy consumption for each type of business by multiplying the estimated floor areas by the specific energy consumption from demand-side surveys and compared the results with the statistical data. Finally, we showed the energy consumption structure in the commercial sector by business type, energy source, building use, and energy use.
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Editorial
  • -From the Practices of Chemical Risk Assessments -
    Kyoko ONO
    2013 Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 440-445
    Published: September 30, 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: October 15, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This paper discusses a regulatory science, which fills a gap between scientific knowledge and regulatory actions. The author provides examples of the regulatory science employed in chemical risk assessment, such as the linear non-threshold theory. The characteristics and future research needs are also pointed out. In the regulatory science, scientific data as well as scientific reasoning based on scientific knowledge—or regulatory rules—should play an important role. It is important to recognize that the rules facilitate transparent decision making under conditions of uncertainty and time constraints. Furthermore, the development of traditional or pure science results in the validation of regulatory rules, and subsequently, the regulatory science procedure develops more systematically. Further, the political requirements of policy makers, such as the establishment of a risk assessment method for emerging risks, will contribute to the framework of the regulatory science. The concept of this science should be understood by those engaged in governmental decision making.
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