Table of Contents
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S/No |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area : Public Health |
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1 |
Study Links El Nino to Diarrhoea |
A study led by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health links El Nino to outbreaks of diarrhoea in children. |
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2 |
New Study Shows Candles May Cause More Harm Than Good |
Scented candles and candles designed to burn for a long period of time, have been found to release lead, mercury and other toxics into the air. |
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II. Subject Area : Waste Management & Recycling |
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3 |
Steel Manufacturers in Japan to Increase Use of Plastic Wastes |
Major Japanese steel manufacturers are gearing up to process up to one million tonnes of plastic wastes by 2010. |
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4 |
US Recycling Market Boost by the Federal Government |
The US Environmental Protection Agency has added 18 new items to the list of recycled products that the US federal agencies are required to buy. |
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III. Subject Area : Environmental Technology |
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5 |
Silver-Impregnated Carbons Inhibit Growth of Bacteria |
A new technology uses silver-impregnated activated carbon in water purification to immobilise the respiratory activity of bacterial cells and causes the cells to die. |
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6 |
New Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technology |
Samsung Heavy Industry has succeeded in developing and commercialising a new industrial wastewater treatment method that uses electron accelerator technology. |
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IV. Subject Area : Environmental Policies |
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7 |
New Cars Sold in EU to Carry Label on Fuel Economy and CO2. |
New passenger cars sold in the EU will be required to carry a label on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions, starting 2001. |
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IV. Subject Area : Environmental Pollution |
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8 |
Brazil Races to Avoid Oil Spill in Amazon River |
Brazilian authorities scrambled to advert an environmental disaster after a barge holding nearly 500,000 gallons of oil sunk to the bottom of the Amazon River. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 7 Feb 2000 to 13 Feb 2000
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Item 1 |
Study Links El Nino to Diarrhoea |
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Summary |
El Nino is a recurring climatic phenomenon affecting most severely the Pacific coast of South America and possibly other parts of the world. It causes drier-than-normal condition in certain parts of the world. After linking El Nino with illnesses such as malaria, cholera and dengue fever, scientists now have connected the climatic phenomenon with an increase in childhood diarrhoea. The research led by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health also suggests for the first time that gradual temperature increases related to global warming could foster outbreaks of diarrhoea in children living in developing nations. Diarrhoea kills as many as 3 million children under the age of 5 world-wide every year and sickens millions more, mostly in developing countries. It normally is more prevalent during the warmer seasons but, until now, experts didn't know whether a change in temperature could play a role. |
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Reference |
http://cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/children/02/03/elnino.diarrhea.ap/ |
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Item 2 |
New Study Shows Candles May Cause More Harm Than Good |
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Summary |
A spokeswoman for the American Lung Association said that candles are becoming one of the most common, unrecognised causes of poor indoor air quality. She added that candles made in China and the United States contain the highest levels of lead. Candles designed to burn for a long period of time or to produce scents often have wicks with metallic cores made of lead or a lead alloy. In addition to releasing lead and mercury into the air, candles also emit dangerously toxic chemicals such as benzene and acetone. Studies at the University of Michigan School of Public Health also showed that slow-burning, scented candles produce large quantities of soot. |
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Reference |
Http://www.earthtimes.org/jan/environmentnewstudyshowsjan30_99.htm |
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Item 3 |
Steel Manufacturers in Japan to Increase Use of Plastic Wastes |
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Summary |
The growing volume of plastic wastes in Japan has prompted the Japan's Environmental Agency to take further measures. Officials from the Environment agency said that major Japanese steel manufacturers would sharply increase the use of plastic waste as fuel and processing agents, and to convert it into oil. The increased use of plastic waste is in response to the full implementation of the Packaging Material Recycling Law, which will take effect on 1 April 2000. The new law requires manufacturers, packaging material makers and distributors to collect and recycle PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, food trays and plastic packaging materials into reuseable products. Steel makers are testing plastic waste processing plants that convert the materials into various processing agents to be used in steel-making and as coke-like pellets to be burned as fuel in boilers. By 2010, Japan wants to increase steel industry processing of plastic waste to 1 million tons. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol. 23, No. 3, p 93-94 |
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Item 4 |
US Recycling Market Boost by the Federal Government |
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Summary |
In the United States, the government helps directly to conserve resources by creating a market for recycled product. This is done by a legislation entitled the "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act" under which authority the Executive Order 13101, "Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition" requires federal agencies to buy recycled products designated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). With the recent addition of 18 new items in the USEPA's list ranging from office equipment to outdoor furniture such as park benches, the market for recycled products in the US would be given a boost by the US' government's considerable buying power. |
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Reference |
http://.www.gnet.org |
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Item 5 |
Silver Impregnated Carbons Inhibit Growth of Bacteria |
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Summary |
Water-borne bacteria can be effectively neutralised using a newly developed technology that makes use of silver-impregnated carbons. Activated carbon is a well-established technology in the purification of water to potable water standards. It adsorbs contaminants from solutions and provides a highly active surface for dechlorination of water. The carbon also remove taste, odours and colour. Waterlink Sutcliffee Carbons has developed a technology to impregnate silver on base carbons. As a bacterial cell is adsorbed into the structure of the activated carbon, it contacts the silver ions on the carbon surface. This immobilises the respiratory activity of the bacterial cell by preventing the transfer of hydrogen and oxidation reactions. The cell is then unable to reproduce and eventually die. The process has been developed to minimise leach of silver. Field trials showed no significant release of silver over a long period and the levels were well within international regulation standards. |
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Reference |
The Chemical Engineer, 20 Jan 2000. |
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Item 6 |
New Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technology |
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Summary |
Samsung Heavy Industry, working in cooperation with the Korean Dyeing Centre and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, has succeeded in developing and commercialising a world-first technology in using electron accelerator for the treatment of industrial wastewater. The new technology is capable of neutralising toxic chemicals and heavy metals in industrial wastewater into harmless molecules by bombardment with rays of high-energy electron beams. This technology is currently undergoing the International Atomic Energy Association's certification process for application to nuclear power plants. |
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Reference |
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/more/cahners/11382/5447600/13 |
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Item 7 |
New Cars Sold in EU to Carry Label on Fuel Economy and CO2. |
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Summary |
Starting in 2001, new passenger cars sold in the European Union (EU) will be required to carry a label on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions, under a new directive of the EU. Directive 1999/94/EC is aimed at influencing manufacturers and consumers to favour cars that consume less fuel. Along with requiring the label on cars, the law also calls on member states to work with manufacturers to develop a consumer's guide on fuel economy and CO2 emissions and produce a poster for their cars. The poster lists vehicles according to the fuel used and rank models in order of increasing CO2 emissions. Member states are required to transpose the directive into national law by 18 Jan 2001. Moreover, they are required by 31 Dec 2003, to submit a report to the Commission on the effectiveness of the directive's provisions, covering the period from 18 Jan 2001 to 31 Dec 2002. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol. 23, No. 3, p 78-79 |
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Item 8 |
Brazil Races to Avoid Oil Spill in Amazon River |
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Summary |
Brazilian authorities scrambled to advert an environmental disaster in the Amazon jungle after a barge holding nearly 500,000 gallons of oil sunk to the bottom of the world's largest river network. Diving teams plunged into the depths of the Rio Para, in the remote jungle state of Para, to remove tanks from the vessel which sank on 4 Feb 2000 while transporting the fuel for the US oil giant Texaco. Texaco and state environmental officials have laid down floating walls to prevent a potential spill from spreading upriver. |
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Reference |
http://ww.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/02/02072000/oilspill_9815.asp |