Env11
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Public Health
1	Cancer risk in cleaning French oil slick birds	French National Institute for Risks in the Environment (INERIS) said that volunteers cleaning birds tarred by a massive oil slick off France's western coast risked developing cancer and should stop trying to save the birds.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Agreements
2	UN hazardous wastes protocol opens for signature	The Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage Resulting from the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal has been opened for signature on 6 March in the Swiss capital of Bern.
III. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
3	New sensor could cut weight of cars, increasing fuel efficiency	Researchers at Ames Lab in US have developed a lightweight ceramic-metallic composite sensor to replace the bulky power steering system, which would increase the fuel-efficiency of cars.
4	Recyclable Polymer	Mitsubishi Chemical has developed recyclable polymers to be made commercially available in 2001.
IV. Subject Area : General Environmental News
5	Rate of global warming is accelerating	US researchers have found evidence showing that the rate of global warming is accelerating.
6	New green eco-label for fisheries	The Marine Stewardship Council in London has developed the first global standards and green eco-label for well-managed fisheries.
7	Industry opposes Danish phase out	The European Fluorocarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC, Brussels) has opposed the proposal of the Danish government to phase out use of fluorocarbons in the industry.

Env12
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Public Health
1	U.K. concerned about GM risks	UK government may toughen its policies on genetically modified (GM) foods and crops.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Management
2	New USEPA rules for small engine-powered equipment	The US Environmental Protection Agency has ordered major cuts in emissions from equipment powered by small internal combustion engines. The stricter standards will be fully implemented by 2007.
III. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
3	Oilseed fuel may help mop up French oil spill	A biodegradable fuel produced from rapeseed is being used as a solvent to mop up a huge oil spill along France's Atlantic coast.
4	Researchers develop rapid fingerprinting of bacterial DNA	Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a desktop-sized instrument that identifies the DNA fingerprints of bacteria.
5	New membrane for fuel cells	BWT, Europe's leading manufacturer of water treatment technology, has developed a high-performance membrane for use in fuel cells.
IV. Subject Area : General Environmental News
6	Oil industry asks USEPA to rethink diesel plan	Representatives from the oil industry have asked the US Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider its plan to reduce the sulphur content of diesel from 500 ppm to 15 ppm because it could lead to a supply shortage if implemented in 2006.
7	More chemicals to face export controls	A UN committee recommended ethylene dichloride and ethylene oxide to be added to a list of controlled chemicals which may only be exported with the prior informed consent (PIC) of the importing country's government.
8	Australia to phase out leaded petrol by Jan 2002	Australia will phase out leaded petrol nation-wide by 1 January 2002, which would significantly improve the country's air pollution levels.

Env13
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
1	Tyres cut traffic noise		A road surface containing recycled rubber tyre granules that reduces traffic noise is about to be launched in the UK market.
2	Belt material improves gasoline recovery		An enhanced skimming technology improves removal of gasoline, oil and other hydrocarbons from surface water.
3	Toronto's cool lake water project gets major boost		A plan to use chilly water from deep in Lake Ontario as a natural coolant in downtown Toronto buildings can save electricity.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Policy
4	Diesel under mounting pressure		Studies carried out by German environment agency found the current diesel cars have ten times higher cancer risk potential than petrol models.
5	U.S. to seek phase-out of MTBE in gasoline		The Clinton administration will ask for legislation to require at least 1.2 percent of U.S. gasoline supplies to come from renewable fuels such as ethanol, and to eliminate the controversial fuel additive MTBE in gasoline.
6	Industry attacks Greenpeace call to ban flame retardants		An industry group is opposing Greenpeace's call to the European Commission to ban all brominated flame retardants, starting from 2004.
III. Subject Area : Recycling
7	Plastic recyclate standards for cars		The car manufacturers and plastics industry have agreed to create a portfolio of specifications for recyclates covering the majority of plastics used in vehicles.

Env14
 

S/No	Title		Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Public Health
1	Alert on BCM (bromochloromethane)	The UK Health & Safety Executive has issued a chemical hazard alert notice concerning bromochloromethane (BCM) as its toxicological properties are not accurately reflected in existing occupational health guidelines.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Management
2	Japan upgrades its incineration capacity		A newly commissioned incineration plant in Japan operates a 'high temperature melting furnace system' that reduces the amount of residues to be disposed of at landfills.
3	Updated guidance on landfill gas		The UK Environment Agency is updating technical guidance for the management of landfill gases to assist landfill operators in the interpretation of data with particular emphasis on risk assessment and risk management. It will also cover the management of environmental problems at closed landfill sites and is expected to be completed by Jul 2000.
III. Subject Area : Environmental Policy
4	Tokyo to ban engine idling		A Tokyo metropolitan government special committee is calling for fines against drivers who fail to turn off their engines while their vehicles are parked within the city precinct.
IV. Subject Area : General Environmental News
5	Most energy-efficient buildings in US recognised		One hundred of the most energy-efficient office buildings in the United States received the first Energy Star label for buildings from US EPA & DOE.

Env15
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Public Health
1	Life-saving air bags pack deadly chemicals	A researcher at the University of Arizona had reported the potential harmful effect on human health and environment posed by scraped cars with air bags containing sodium azide.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Policy
2	US is to phase out methyl bromide pesticide	The US' Department of Agriculture has announced a plan to phase out the use of methyl bromide pesticide by 2005.
3	Japan enacts law on mandatory collection and proper disposal of CFCs	In Japan, a new law will be enacted to impose mandatory requirements on the collection of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from disused electric appliance for proper disposal.
III. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
4	Plastic wrap to detect contaminated food	A Canadian company Toxin Alert, is developing a plastic food wrap that will change colour if it comes into contact with food that is contaminated with dangerous bacteria.
IV. Subject Area : General Environmental News
5	Car and oil industries in Japan to meet more stringent diesel emission standards by 2005	In response to a campaign against the exhaust pollution from diesel-powered vehicles, the car and oil industries in Japan have agreed to meet more stringent diesel emission standards by 2005.
6	French government asked to tighten the allowable dioxin intake recommendations	The French Center for Independent Information on Waste has urged its government to tighten the allowable intake recommendations for dioxins following evidence of dioxin contamination in foods.

Env16
 

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
1	Enhanced process tackles mercury, acid gas emissions	A novel technology reduces emissions of mercury and other pollutants in the flue gas of power plants.
2	Inventor taps power of aluminium as renewable clean energy source	An alternative fuel cell called the Revolutionary Power Cell (RPC) has been developed to provide power generated from a piece of aluminium, by a simple process of oxidation.
3	Mapping software recreates landscapes to predict flooding	Environmental planners use sophisticated but easy to use mapping software to create virtual landscapes to predict flooding in a local area during a bad storm.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Management
4	Agency proposes dioxin standard for biosolids	The US EPA proposes a dioxin standard of 300 parts per trillion (ppt) toxic equivalents for biosolids that are applied onto land.
5	Standard methods	The US EPA approves the use of updated versions of 25 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 54 Standard Methods (SM) for Examination of Water and Wastewater and 13 EPA analytical methods for analysing chemical contaminants in drinking water under 40 CFR, Parts 141 and 143.

Env17
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
1	Fish to Clean Up Sewage Effluent	An American biologist has developed a wastewater purification system in which fish nibble away at oxygen-depleting algae in the wastewater before it is discharged.
2	New Catalytic Converter Contains No Precious Metals	A US company, Environmental Solutions Worldwide Inc has successfully produced the first prototype of a new catalytic converter which contains no precious metals, and is therefore cheaper to produce and could last longer.
3	World's First 'Hybrid' Fuel Cell-Turbine Ready for Testing	Siemens Westinghouse is ready to test their new fuel cell power plant which combines fuel cell with a gas turbine.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Policy
4	Ontario to Introduce More Stringent Emission and Reporting Regulations	Ontario's Environment Minister, Mr Dan Newman, announced the implementation of stringent mandatory air emissions monitoring and reporting regulations.
III. Subject Area : General Environmental News
5	EC Takes Legal Action Against Greece, Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg Over Nitrates in Water	The European Commission (EC) has decided to take legal actions against Greece, Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg for not complying with the European Union Nitrates Directive.
6	GM Foods Pose No Health or Environment Threats	In a US National Academy of Sciences report released recently, it was reported that there was no evidence genetically modified foods harmed human health or the environment.

Env18
 

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
1	New technology reduces pesticides to carbon dioxide and water	CerOx Corp in U.S has successfully tested a full-scaled treatment system to convert pesticides into carbon dioxide and water through oxidation processes.
2	Hydrogel to help curb oil pollution	Researchers at the University of Bradford are developing a hydrogel that can absorb oil spill effectively and the absorbed oil can later be recovered.
3	New use of microwave energy cuts down greenhouse gas emissions	The use of low energy microwaves to extract cooking oils from plants instead of conventional fossil fuel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Policy
4	Vehicle manufacturers call for "sulphur-free" fuels	The World-Wide Fuel Charter, first established in 1998, has introduced a more stringent "sulphur-free" fuel specification for petrol and diesel.
III. Subject Area: Waste Minimization and Recycling
5	Recycling of flyash into transmission tower paint	A Californian company has put flyash from power generation to good use as filler in corrosion-resistant coating for transmission towers.

Env19
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area : Environmental Policy
1	Hong Kong unveils new plan to tackle air pollution	HK government introduces new measures and financial incentives to tackle air pollution.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
2	On-site Ammonia Generation System	A US-based company has developed a process to generate ammonia on-site for use in flue gas treatment systems. This process would reduce the cost of flue gas treatment and eliminate the risk associated with storage of large quantity of ammonia gas.
III. Subject Area : General Environmental News
3	Cadmium-free inorganic pigments	Researchers in the Max-Planck Institute (Stuttgart) have developed inorganic yellow-red pigments that do not contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium.
4	Soot emission also cause global warming problem	A study carried out by NASA's Ames Research Center in California found that the haze formed by soot particles over the Indian Ocean during the annual monsoon would cause a serious global warming problem.
5	Scientists step up campaign for Dursban restrictions	Scientific and environmentalists have stepped up pressure on USEPA to issue tight restrictions on the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

Env20
 

S/No	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Public Health
1	Pesticide residues too high in children's food	US Consumers Union says favourite children's foods like apples and grapes have high levels of toxic pesticide residues.
2	Banned pesticide, Chlordane found in foods	According to a report by the American Chemical Society, the banned pesticide, Chlordane that was introduced more than 50 years ago, is showing up in foods.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Technology
3	New process reduces POPs to methane	A waste disposal company in Kwinana, Western Australia developed a new process that effectively reduced persistent organic pollutants to methane, hydrochloric acid and low-weight hydrocarbons.
4	Computer model predicts toxic algal outbreaks	A researcher from the Adelaide University has developed a new computer model that can predict outbreaks of toxic blue-green algae in Australia.
III. Subject Area : Environmental Management
5	Environmental management systems have potential to address critical environmental issues	A study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security, in California, concludes that environmental management systems like ISO14001 can prove to be a force for substantially improving organizations' environmental standards.
IV. Subject Area : General Environmental News
6	Rapid car growth threatens Europe's CO2 plans	Rapid car growth and ownership and transport operations in general are threatening to undermine European efforts to curb CO2 emissions.