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Table of Contents

S/N	Title		Synopsis
I. Subject Area: General Environmental News
1		US. EPA establishes environmental statistics center	U.S EPA has established a Center for Integrating Statistical and Environmental Science to support research that develops new statistical methods to assess the state of the physical environment and its impact on human and ecological health.
2		U.N. Marks 30^th Anniversary Of Landmark Green Summit	Environmental experts met in Stockholm to mark the 30^th anniversary of the landmark Green Summit in 1972.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Regulations and Policies
3		US EPA delays non-road engine emission standards until 2003	U.S EPA has delayed the proposed non-road engine emission standards until year 2003 to evaluate the need for expensive additional desulfurization of diesel oil.
4		UK May Face Scrap Car Fiasco While EU Funds Uncertain	Britain's scrap metal industry is bracing itself for a fiasco due to uncertainty over the EU's new directive on car recycling which may result in abandoned vehicles littering the streets.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Technology and New Findings
5		Old U.S. Power Plants Emit Twice As Much Pollution	The U.S General Accounting Office has released a report that states that old U.S coal-fired power plants released twice as much sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere than newer plants and that they are required to meet stricter environmental standards.
6		Researchers test membrane filters for large-scale water purification	Researchers at the University of Houston, U.S are currently looking into the possibility of expanding the use of membrane filters in home purification systems to municipal water systems.
IV. Subject Area: Waste Management
7		Discarded refrigerators will cost Britons millions	The new European Union's rules banning the discarding of CFC-containing foams and disposal of old refrigerators, have resulted in a stockpile of discarded refrigerators that would cost Britain 40 million pounds to clear.

S/N			Title		Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Public Health
1		Japan to set chemical tolerance levels to combat sick-building syndrome		The Japanese government plans to regulate chemicals that cause sick building syndrome by April 2003 in response to numerous cases of Legionnaire's disease, respiratory and other ailments.
II. Subject Area: Energy Conservation
2	EU to mandate combined heat/power generation					The European Commission proposes a law to promote combined generation of heat and power - cogeneration, which it says saves energy and combats climate change
III. Subject Area: Waste Management
3		Two-track plan to cut packaging waste gets EU's approval		The EU Environment Committee approved a plan to require manufacturers of products to reduce the amount of packaging and use more recycled materials
4		Researchers find good use for waste tires		Researchers in Arizona State University found that ground tires added to fresh concrete improves its strength and durability.
IV. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
5		Hydrogen refueling station coming to Tokyo		Shell announced that it would build Tokyo's first hydrogen refueling station. The station, which will be completed by 2003, will mark Shell's involvement in fuel cell car demonstration projects.
V. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
6		Japan sets maximum tolerance level for dioxins in sea, lake, river beds		Japan's Ministry of Environment will set the maximum tolerance level of dioxins in mud, sand and water located at the beds of rivers, lakes, ponds and seas at 150 picograms per cubic meter.
7		Denmark to ban three greenhouse gases used by refrigeration companies		Denmark is going ahead to be the first EU state to approve a ban on hydroflourocarbons(HFCs), perfluorocarbons(PFCs), and sulphur hexafluororide(SF6).
8		EU to pull more than 300 pesticides off the market for failure to prove safety		The European Commission announced that more than 300 insecticides, fungicides and herbicides would be withdrawn from the market in the 15 EU member states by 2003 because manufacturers failed to prove their safety when it comes to health and environmental protection.
9		California governor signs landmark auto emissions law		California governor, Gray Davis signed a landmark law that made his state the first in the nation to regulate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to curb global warming.
VI. Subject Area: General Environmental News
10		New antibiotic-resistant superbug found		Doctors in the US have detected the first Staphyloccocus aureus bacteria that are highly resistant to vancomycin, known as the antibiotic of last resort.
11		EU demands proof states are protecting ozone layer		The European Commission reported that none of the 15 member states had shown how they intended to ensure ozone-depleting chemicals in scrapped fridges or old fire extinguishers would be safely removed to stop them worsening the hole in the ozone layer.
12		Call to set higher safety standards for new and existing water projects		Asian nations attending a conference in Bangkok have been urged to safeguard public health and the environment by setting higher safety standards for disinfecting water and wastewater.

S/N		Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Public Health
1		Finnish study links pollution with heart disease	A Finnish study found that air pollution worsens heart disease by cutting off circulation to the heart, thereby helping to explain why polluted environments aggravate not only asthma but also heart conditions.
2		Sewage sludge linked to illnesses	US researchers have linked the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer with a host of health problems, while the US EPA said that it had not considered the synergistic effects of chemicals such as lime and pathogens in sludge when approving sludge to be used as fertilizer.
3		Belgium bans some fluoride supplement products	Belgium intends to ban the sale of chewing gum, tablets, and drops that contain fluoride from late Aug 2002 because of the fear of fluoride poisoning by people who use them excessively.
II. Subject Area: Waste Management
4	Softstone purchase new technology for tyre reuse		Softstone, a US company, is using a new proven technology to recycle used tyres into a paving product used primarily for sidewalks, jogging trails, equine safety surfaces, patios, golf courses, etc.
III. Subject Area: Environment Policy & Regulation
5	Restructuring taxes for environmental protection		European countries use properly constructed tax mechanism to make markets work more effectively to protect the environment.
6	US EPA proposes new emission standards for motorcycles		The US EPA intends to implement emission standards for the motorcycles in 2006 to reduce emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides by 50%.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7	International solar UV Index cuts cancer, cataract risk		The World Health Organisation is promoting a new sun protection program, the Global Solar UV Index (UVI), to raise awareness of the health hazards of UV radiation and to encourage people to take protective measures.
8	New hydrogen tank moves fuel cell vehicles closer to reality		Germany's Technical Inspection Association has certified a new 10,000-psi pressure hydrogen storage tank that is large and safe enough to make fuel cells a viable power source for vehicles.
9	US federal ask for ballast water demonstration project		The US Maritime Administration together with other agencies in US, have jointly asked for proposals for ballast water technology demonstration projects to bring such technology from laboratory to commercial use.
10	The use of polyacrylamides to control water pollution		The US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has found that the use of polyacrylamides in farmland reduce the amount of nutrients and pathogens reaching water bodies.

S/N		Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
1	Ballard, Ford Introduce Hydrogen Genset		Ballard Power Systems and Ford Power Products have jointly introduced and demonstrated Ballard's Ecostar 114 kVA hydrogen generator set ("genset").
2	Solar Power To Challenge Dominance Of Fossil Fuels		Solar power is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources, offering a potentially endless supply of power generation capable of meeting the world's electricity demands.
II. Subject Area: Environment Policy & Regulation
3	Summer Sale Of Low-Volatility Gasoline To Be Mandatory In Sydney By September		The sale of low-volatility gasoline, which evaporates more slowly and therefore reduces emissions of the volatile organic compounds that help to form ozone, will become mandatory in Sydney during summer, according to the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
4	USEPA Water Infrastructure Protection Resources Available		In response to concerns over the safety of water resources, the USEPA and co-operating organizations have developed new tools to assist public and private wastewater and drinking water utilities increase security.
5	UK Adopts Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Targets From Future Vehicles		The UK Department of Transport together with other government agencies has unveiled the "Powering Future Vehicles Strategy", which aims to promote new low-carbon vehicle technologies and fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport.
6	Ontario Proposes New Regulation Requiring Reporting Of Sulphur Levels		A new regulation will require Ontario manufacturers, blenders and importers of gasoline to report to the Ministry of Environment and Energy four times a year on the average sulphur levels in their products.
III. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7	Jet Trails Make Climate Milder		Aeroplane vapour trails buffer the temperatures felt on earth, according to a study made possible by the consequences of the terrorist attacks of 11 Sep 2001.
8	Statoil Wins Prize For Burying Carbon Dioxide Under North Sea		Norwegian state-controlled oil firm, Statoil has won a prize for its pioneering work to curb emissions of gases blamed for global warming by burying them beneath the seabed.
9	Ethanol Produces More Energy Than It Consumes		US researchers reported that corn-based ethanol provides a net energy gain, producing more energy in combustion than it consumes as corn growing in the field.
10	Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase In Japan		Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Japan increased 0.3 percent in fiscal year 2000 from 1999 levels, to 1,334 billion carbon equivalent tons, according to the Ministry of Environment, Japan.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Tax Deduction For The Purchase Of Hybrid Cars	The United States Internal Revenue Service announced that buyers of hybrid cars may claim a one-time income tax deduction for the year the car was first put in use.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
2	Method Developed For Rapid Detection Of E. Coli in Water	Researchers from the School of Public Health, University of Michigan in the US have developed a rapid method for detecting E. Coli in beach water.
III. Subject Area: Recycling and Waste Minimisation
3	Toyota Sets Up Recycling Network In Europe	Toyota Motor Corp. has set up a network in Europe to collect used cars for recycling.
4	New System Uses Mine Waste To Generate Clean Power	The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia and its partners have developed a new system for generating power from coal mining waste.
5	Shenzhen Recycles Plastic Discs	Scientists from the Chemistry Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenzhen have developed a method of recycling audio and video compact discs.
IV. Subject Area: Green Energy
6	First Solar Powered Wastewater Treatment Plant	The Sewerage Commission in Oroville Region has announced that 80% of its wastewater would be treated using solar energy, making it the first predominantly solar powered treatment plant in the United States.
V. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7	Study Details Efficiency Of Hybrid Buses	A study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy showed that diesel hybrid-electric buses operate with lower emissions and greater fuel efficiency than conventional diesel buses.
8	Denver Finally Cleans Up Its Polluted Air	Denver, which was one of the most polluted states in the US, has cleaned up its act to become the first major metropolitan area to fully comply with federal air quality standards.
9	Russia Stops Production Of Ozone Depleting Substances	The World Bank announced that it had paid U$17.3 million to seven Russian enterprises that had stopped the production of chlorofluorocarbons and halons which are the most potent ozone depleting substances.
10	Massachusetts Swelters In Choking Smog	Seventy communities across Massachusetts, United States, suffered from unhealthy air conditions this summer.

S/N		Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environment Policy & Regulation
1	Industrial Facilities Required To Plan For Environmental Emergencies		Canada will require industrial facilities handling dangerous substances to develop accident prevention plans and address emergency preparedness, response and recovery.
2	China To Adopt Climate Change Treaty		China, the world's second largest producer of carbon dioxide, will be adopting the Kyoto Protocol.
3	US Adopts Defensive Strategy For WSSD		The U.S. will be adopting a defensive and conservative strategy at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, resisting changes to international agreements on trade and development finance.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
4	Real Power From Nothing But Hot Air		Australia has approved the building of a one kilometre-high tower capable of producing enough energy for 200,000 homes.
5	South Dakota Power Plant To Become 99.99% Clean		A power plant in South Dakota will be using a new type of pollution control device to remove fly ash emitted from its smokestack
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
6	Australia Generates More Greenhouse Gases Than Wealthy Nation		A Melbourne University study found that Australia generates more greenhouse gases per capita than any other wealthy nation.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7	Salty Sea Spray Cleanses Air		Salty sea spray can cleanse the air of pollution, making rain as it scrubs the sky clean.
8	Honda Plans Release of Fuel Cell Vehicle		The American Honda Motor Company has obtained USEPA's and CARB's approval to release its fuel cell vehicle, the Honda FCX.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Thailand Ratifies Kyoto Emission Reduction Pact	Thailand ratified the Kyoto protocol on global warming. Under the protocol, industrialised nations must cut the emissions of greenhouse gases by an average of five percent over the period 2008 to 2012, compared with 1990 levels.
2	Senate Panel Votes To Restrict Trade Of Methyl Bromide And Other Substances	The United States Foreign Relations Committee approved two amendments to the Montreal Protocol that would tighten trade restrictions on methyl bromide and other substances that deplete the ozone layer.
3	Korean Environment Ministry Seeks To Raise Air Quality By Reducing Automotive Emissions	The South Korea Ministry of Environment announced a new ten-year plan to improve the air quality in and around Seoul by focusing on reducing automotive sources of air pollution.
4	Britain Unveils New Targets for Reducing Air Pollutants	The United Kingdom Government set new targets for air pollutants such as particulate matter, benzene, carbon monoxide and polycyclic hydrocarbons to reduce air pollution.
5	Finland Outlaws POPs Ahead Of EU Schedule	Finland introduced a new legislation to ban the production, import and export of persistent organic pollutants or any goods treated with them, except if used under laboratory conditions for research purposes.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
6	New Power Source To Help Cut Global Warming	Stirling Advantage Inc., the leading designer of commercial and industrial scale Stirling engines, developed a new power system that could produce electricity from the energy in wasted steam with no additional production of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
7	Household Chemicals May Damage Health	A study conducted by the United Kingdom's Consumers' Association showed that many chemicals found in household products are a threat to human health.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
8	Remote Sensing Technology To Measure Tailpipe Emissions In Great Smoky Mountains	The American Lung Association funded a study to measure the tailpipe emissions from vehicles cruising through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
9	Ships Plying EU Waters Contribute 20-30 Percent of SO₂, NO_x Emissions	A study conducted by the European Commission showed that ships travelling in European Union waters contribute 20 to 30 percent of all airborne sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the western European coastal areas.
10	Vehicles Entering Poland to Be Stopped For Emissions Tests	The Polish Environment Minister announced that vehicles transiting Poland would be stopped at the border for emission tests.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Europe to Propose New Recycling Law	Under the proposed new bill, EU states are required to recycle 65% of their packaging waste by weight. It also seeks to broaden the definition of packaging material.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
2	KleanAire Technology Announces Latest Development in Air Pollution Control	KleanAire Technology has developed a new technology, known as "Continuous Dry Flue Gas Scrubbing" that could cut emissions from thermal power facilities by 19 percent.
3	Hydrogen Research Project Delivers	Researchers using biomass from peanut shells have successfully demonstrated hydrogen production from this source.
4	Plant Biotechnology Said to Be a Boon	An analysis from the National Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy in the US concluded that just six of the crops developed through biotechnology can help improve farm income by US$1.5 million per year and reduce pesticide volume by 46 million pounds.
III. Subject Area: Recycling and Green Energy
5	Billions of Wasted Aluminum Beverage Cans	The aluminium can recycling rate in the US dipped to a low of 49.2% in 2001. This figure translates to about 50 billion cans thrown away in landfills, incinerated or littered in the year.
6	New York Utilities Promote Electric Vehicles	New York utilities announced a cooperative effort to promote the use of electric vehicles in New York State.
IV. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
7	Nitrates Affect Arsenic Pollution in Lakes	Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that nitrates could change the behaviour of arsenic and other toxic metals in some lakes.
8	US EPA Says Diesel Fumes Likely to Cause Cancer	A scientific review by the US EPA classified diesel exhaust as a likely human carcinogen at environmental levels of exposure.
V. Subject Area: General Environmental News
9	Matsushita Electric to Eliminate Use of CFCs in Home-Use Refrigerators	Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd announced that the company plans to make all models of home-use refrigerators CFC-free, which will minimise effect on global warming, by end 2003.
10	Rothschild, E3 Launch Carbon Credit Investment Fund	Rothschild Australia and Australia-based environmental group E3 International launched a new fund to allow highly polluting companies to offset their emissions by buying carbon credits from cleaner firms.
11	South Korea's CO₂ Emissions Matches That of Developed Nations	South Korea's industrial emission of carbon dioxide is on par with developed countries and pressure for its early participation in the global greenhouse gas reduction programme under the Kyoto Protocol is likely to grow.
12	Australia Within Striking Distance of Meeting Kyoto Emissions Targets	Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 -2012 are expected to be 111 percent of 1990 levels - just 3 percent above the target it accepted during Kyoto Protocol negotiations.

S/N	Title		Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	USEPA readies first off-road vehicle emission rules		The U.S. Environment Protection Agency was set to issue standards to limit air pollution from snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles.
2	California's implemented water efficiency standards law for washing machine		California will require all residential washing machines to be at least as water efficient as commercial washers starting in January 2007.
3	Britain appoints new committee to boost recycling		The UK has appointed a new Advisory Committee to advise the government on how to boost current recycling rates and how to ensure greater manufacturer responsibilities towards the environment.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
4		New plant turns waste into building blocks	The University of East London is operating a research plant to produce lightweight aggregates from incinerator bottom ash, dredge sludge and sewage.
5		Ionising air conditioners 'zap flu'	Sharp claimed that its air conditioning technology could inactivate viruses as well as potentially deadly bacteria.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
6		Indoor plants improve office air quality	Sydney researchers have found that indoor plants improve the air quality of rooms with little or no airflow.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7		Rich soil good for trapping carbon dioxide	U.S. scientists found that a sticky protein, glomalin, shed by fungi living on plant roots is responsible for absorbing and storing sizable amounts of carbon dioxide.
8		New USEPA conservation program and projects announced	The USEPA announced the "Resource Conservation Challenge" to encourage Americans to take more responsibility for their individual environmental impact.
9		Inject CO₂ emissions into earth's crust	A British Geological Survey scientist said that carbon dioxide sequestration, though costly, is technically feasible and is an interim measure to mitigate greenhouse gas emission while renewable energy sources are developed.

S/N	Title		Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	European Parliament Has Approved A Plan On Recycling Targets For Plastics, Metals, Paper And Glass		The European Parliament has approved a plan to raise overall national recycling targets laid down in Parliament and Council Directive 94/62 on packaging waste to levels between 20% to 50%.
2	Russia And Canada Will Push For Ratification Of Kyoto Protocol		Russia and Canada have indicated their intention to press forward with ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. They will send ratification documents to their respective parliaments for endorsement.
3	New Air Pollution Rules Target Off Road Vehicles		The US EPA has issued new emission standards for the engines of off road vehicles. When fully implemented in 2012, the new standards are expected to prevent the release of more than two million tons of air pollution each year.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
4		Scientist Develops 'Green' Solution To Plastic Composites	A Cornell University scientist is working on fully biodegradable composites that can replace plastics through the use of soybean protein and other plant-based fibers.
5		Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle - New Form Of Power Generation	A new technology known as integrated gasification combined cycle has been used by two power plants in the US to generate more power than conventional power plants. The air emissions from the power plants comply fully with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
6		Global Treaty Mooted To Counter Mercury Dangers	Scientists from around the world have agreed that there was enough evidence on the dangers posed by mercury to human health to justify international action.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7		Chlorine Dioxide Gas Kills Dangerous Biological Contaminants	Scientists in the Purdue University discovered that chlorine dioxide gas, which is used to rid office buildings of anthrax, could effectively eliminate deadly bacteria from fruits and vegetables.
8		New Jersey Announces Plans To End Air Pollution Credit Program	The State Department of Environmental Protection has announced that it would end the clean air pollution credit program in New Jersey because there is no evidence that air pollution was being reduced by the plan. The failure of the program is attributed to the lack of key safeguards and careful monitoring of pollution credit transfers and capping of emission levels.

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