Table of Contents
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S/No |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area : Environmental Technology |
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1 |
Researchers work to develop cleaner fuel |
A novel chemical-biological process being developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Petro Star in Alaska, could result in ultra-clean fuels with sulphur contents of less than 30 parts per million (ppm) compared to the 300 ppm of today's fuels. |
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2 |
Solar power: future bright for new system |
An energy system that uses the visible portion of the solar spectrum to light buildings and the non-visible portion to generate electricity has the potential to make solar power a dominant player in the energy marketplace, according to a US study. |
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3 |
2000 Nissan Sentra deemed cleanest gasoline-fuelled car in California |
The 2000 Nissan Sentra sedan was certified recently by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as the only gasoline-fuelled car in California to meet its Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe standards. |
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4 |
Tiny sensors can sniff out toxic gases |
Researchers from the Stanford University have developed tiny carbon nanotube sensors which could be used to detect toxic nitrogen dioxide and ammonia gases. |
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5 |
New chemical-free quarantine treatment for citrus fruit |
Scientists from the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Centre in the United States had developed a new chemical-free, insect quarantine treatment for imported citrus fruit. |
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6 |
Zebrafish may be used as toxin detectors |
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati in the United States are experimenting with the use of zebrafish to detect toxic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls in drinking water. |
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II. Subject Area : Environmental Policies |
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7 |
EU bans phthalates in children's toys |
The European Union (EU) Product Safety Emergencies Committee has approved a ban on the sale of plastic toys made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing phthalates that are aimed at children younger than 3 years. |
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8 |
USEPA has proposed limits for dioxins in treated sewage sludge |
The US Environment Protection Agency has proposed new standards for dioxins concentration in treated sewage sludge that are used as fertilisers. |
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III. Subject Area : General Environmental News |
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9 |
NASA has launched an earth observation satellite that can monitor air pollution in the lower atmosphere. |
NASA launched a $1.3 billion Earth observation satellite, Terra, for investigating how the oceans, continents and atmosphere interact. Among other capabilities, the satellite will be able to monitor air pollution in the troposphere. This instrument on the satellite will be the first to monitor air pollution in the lower atmosphere from space. |
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10 |
Canada releases 2000 Fuel Consumption Guide |
The National Resources Canada (NRCan) has released a guide known as the 2000 Fuel Consumption Guide to help Canadian drivers choose fuel-efficient vehicles in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emission. The guide allows vehicle buyers to compare the fuel consumption ratings for 2000 Model Year vehicles and also contains information on the estimated yearly fuel costs. |
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11 |
UK's energy-intensive industrial sectors to reduce CO2 emission |
UK's ten most energy-intensive industrial sectors have agreed to cut their CO2 emission by 2.5 mil tonnes annually by 2010 in return for tax rebates. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 20 Dec 1999 to 2 Jan 2000
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Item 1 |
Researchers work to develop cleaner fuel |
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Summary |
Increasingly stringent standards for sulphur emissions from vehicles could be met with a new process being developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Petro Star in Alaska. According to ORNL researchers, the novel chemical-biological process could result in ultra-clean fuels with sulphur contents of less than 30 parts per million (ppm) compared to the 300 ppm of today's fuels. The Petro Star/ORNL process involves partially oxidising the sulphur chemically, then extracting the sulphur using a solvent. After that, genetically engineered microbes are used to further reduce the amount of sulphur in the petroleum feed stocks. Researchers are studying the amount of energy the bacteria require and whether the process will be economical compared to existing approaches of sulphur reduction. |
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Reference |
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Item 2 |
Solar power: future bright for new system |
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Summary |
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA say that an energy system that uses the visible portion of the solar spectrum to light buildings and the non-visible portion to generate electricity has the potential to make solar power a dominant player in the energy marketplace. A roof-mounted tracking system separates the visible and non-visible portions of the sun's rays and pipes the visible portion of the spectrum, via cylindrical, large-core optical fibres, to light fixtures inside buildings. The non-visible portion is used to generate electricity. The light fixtures, called hybrid luminaries, use both natural light and electrically generated light to maintain consistent lighting inside a building. Thus, when it is dark outside, lights remain on inside. The new technology also concentrates photovoltaic cells in the near-infrared portion of the spectrum, where they are most efficient at converting sunlight into energy. An analysis indicates that there is a realistic opportunity to achieve simple paybacks in less than five years using this hybrid approach to solar energy. |
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Reference |
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Item 3 |
2000 Nissan Sentra deemed cleanest gasoline-fuelled car in California |
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Summary |
The 2000 Nissan Sentra sedan was certified recently by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as the only gasoline-fuelled car in California to meet its Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe standards. Nissan North America said that the car has reduced tailpipe emissions to one-fourth of the unburned hydrocarbon and one tenth of the nitrogen oxide emissions of the cleanest gasoline-powered car now sold in California. The car also fulfils all On-Board Diagnostic II standards, which enable cars to detect minute changes in emissions and to notify the driver when service is needed to keep the engine working at its cleanest possible state. Lastly, the car has zero evaporative emissions, a state thought nearly impossible to attain a few years ago. Fuel vapours constantly seep from fuel systems whether the car is at rest or in motion but the 2000 Sentra eliminates all of those vapours. In addition, the 2000 Sentra's radiator is coated with Engelhard Corp.'s PremAir® which converts ozone molecules in the air that passes over the radiator into oxygen thereby helping to reduce ground level ozone. |
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Reference |
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Item 4 |
Tiny sensors can sniff out toxic gases |
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Summary |
Researchers at the Stanford University have developed carbon nanotube sensors which could be used to detect toxic nitrogen dioxide and ammonia gases. The sensor consists of a tiny carbon nanotube with metallic leads connected at both ends. When exposed to nitrogen dioxide the flow of electric current through the carbon nanotube increases. The current decreases when the sensor is exposed to ammonia. Unlike existing measurement techniques which are plagued by high cost, lack of portability and high temperature requirement, the new sensors could operate at room temperature and are cheap to produce. They are also tiny enough to be used in a "lab-on-a-chip", a microchip-based tool for performing chemical analyses. One drawback of the sensor is that it has a slow recovery time. However the researchers are exploring ways to alter the sensors physically and chemically to make them respond faster. |
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Reference |
New Scientist, December 1999 |
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Item 5 |
New chemical-free quarantine treatment for citrus fruit |
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Summary |
Scientists from the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Centre in the United States have developed a new chemical-free, insect quarantine treatment for imported citrus fruit. This technique is a replacement for the fumigation process using methyl bromide. The method involved the use of hot air to bring the centre of the fruit quickly to a temperature of 111 degrees Fahrenheit and to keep it at that level long enough to exterminate infesting fruit flies. This hot-air treatment had been shown to protect the citrus from green mold spoilage during transport and it would not harm the quality of the fruit. The USDA's animal and plant health inspection service has approved the use of this hot-air treatment for grapefruit, tangerines and thick-skinned Valencia oranges and naval oranges. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/12/122799/newsbytes.asp |
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Item 6 |
Zebrafish may be used as toxin detectors |
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Summary |
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati in the United States are experimenting with the use of zebrafish to identify toxic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in drinking water. The researchers inserted the glow gene from firefly into the DNA of the zebrafish and the fish would light up when exposed to PCBs. The zebrafishes are much more sensitive than the current water testing systems used to detect concentrations of PCBs. It is also cheaper and takes lesser time than testing the water with equipment or taking samples of mud or fish. One of the researchers said that the zebrafish is not harmed and it can be detoxified and used again. The researchers are currently working with Clermont Country, just east of Cincinnati, to apply their studies at Lake Harsha. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/1999/12/122799/zebfish_8559.asp |
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Item 7 |
EU bans phthalates in children's toys |
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Summary |
The European Union (EU) Product Safety Emergencies Committee has approved a ban on the sale of plastic toys made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing phthalates that were aimed at children younger than 3 years. The decision was taken after studies linked phthalate exposure to liver, kidney and testicular disorders. According to a statement by the European Commission (EC), the decision will ensure that all babies in the EU are immediately protected against the risk posed by these products. |
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Reference |
The Lancet Vol 354, 11 Dec 1999, Page 2060 |
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Item 8 |
USEPA proposed limits for dioxin in treated sewage sludge |
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Summary |
The US Environment Protection Agency has proposed new standards governing the concentration of dioxins in biosolids (treated sewage sludge) that are used as fertilisers. The proposal sets a limit of 300 parts per trillion toxic equivalents for dioxins in biosolids that are recycled and applied to the land as fertilisers. In addition, facilities processing biosolids for land application have to follow a set of monitoring, recording keeping and reporting requirements. |
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Reference |
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Item 9 |
NASA has launched an earth observation satellite that can monitor air pollution in the lower troposphere |
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Summary |
Terra, NASA's $1.3 billion Earth observation satellite, packed with sensors for investigating how the oceans, continents and atmosphere interact, lifted off on 18 Dec1999. Terra is the first of 10 satellites designed to monitor the effects of human activity on the global environment over the next 15 years. Terra, formerly known as EOS AM-1, is a bus-sized satellite that will circle the Earth 16 times a day for the next six years, in a polar orbit. This will allow its sensors to scan the entire planet every one to two days. Its five main instruments include a device called "Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere", which will be the first instrument to analyse air pollution in the lower atmosphere from space. Another, called "Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System", will measure the amount of solar radiation reflecting back from the Earth into space -- a key variable in understanding climate change. |
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Reference |
New Scientist, December 1999 |
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Item 10 |
Canada releases 2000 Fuel Consumption Guide |
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Summary |
The National Resources Canada (NRCan) released a guide known as the 2000 Fuel Consumption Guide to help Canadian drivers choose fuel-efficient vehicles in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emission. The guide allows vehicle buyers to compare the fuel consumption ratings for 2000 Model Year vehicles and also contains information on the estimated yearly fuel costs based on an annual mileage of 20,000 kilometres and the average price of fuel. According to NRCan, there are close to 16 million passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Canada accounting for 15% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions. Every litre of gasoline saved would prevent about 2.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. The fuel consumption data are available electronically on the internet or the consumers could obtain a free copy of the guide from new car dealers, provincial and territorial vehicle-licensing agencies. |
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Reference |
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Item 11 |
UK's energy-intensive industrial sectors to reduce CO2 emission |
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Summary |
The UK's ten most energy-intensive industrial sectors have agreed to reduce their annual CO2 emission by 2.5 million tonnes by 2010. This initiative is coupled by the possibility of substantial rebates on the forthcoming energy tax. Companies in sectors such as cement production, steel manufacturing, chemical production and papermaking would receive a tax rebate of 80% if they adhere to an emission-reduction schedule. They would continue to be eligible for the rebate if they pass half-yearly checks that they are meeting their interim goals. The energy tax is expected to come into force in Apr 2001. The levy per kilowatt-hour to be imposed on all businesses is UK£0.15 for gas and coal, and UK£0.43 for electricity. Industries which use electricity as feedstock (e.g. chlorine manufacturing) would be exempted from the tax. |
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Reference |