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 |
U.K. concerned about GM risks |
UK government may toughen its policies on genetically modified (GM) foods and crops. |
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II. Subject Area : Environmental Management |
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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. |
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III. Subject Area : Environmental Technology |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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IV. Subject Area : General Environmental News |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 13 Mar 2000 to 19 Mar 2000
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Item 1 |
U.K. concerned about GM risks |
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Summary |
In a conference at Edinburgh on GM crop and food safety, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government might toughen policies on genetically modified (GM) foods and crops in view of the potential harm they pose, both in terms of human safety and in the diversity of the environment. The Prime Minister's address represents a policy 'U-turn' since the government had previously focused on the benefits of GM foods and crops and urged the public to accept GM foods and crops. The UK government last summer concluded a voluntary agreement with the biotech crop industry to delay planting of biotech crops in the UK for four years, to allow time for the completion of a series of GM crop trials. |
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Reference |
Chemical Week, March 8, 2000, page 19 |
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Item 2 |
New USEPA rules for small engine-powered equipment |
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Summary |
The US Environmental Protection Agency has ordered major cuts in emissions from lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and other equipment with small combustion engines. By 2007, when the new standards are fully in place, the ground-level ozone pollution caused by these engines will be cut by 70 percent or 350,000 tons each year. These engines also produce carbon monoxide, a colourless, odourless and poisonous gas which results from incomplete fuel combustion. Infants and people with heart disease or respiratory problems are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning. These new standards will increase fuel efficiency by 30 percent as well as lower consumer operating costs and the emission of global warming gases. |
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Reference |
http://www.msnbc.com |
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Item 3 |
Oilseed fuel may help mop up French oil spill |
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Summary |
France's pollution research centre CEDRE has approved the use of a vegetable oil-based fuel called diester, produced mostly from rapeseed, to help clean coastal areas still soiled by oil spilt by the wreck of the tanker Erika which sank last December. Diester, introduced in France in 1990s as a clean and renewable fuel to reduce air pollution, can also serve as a solvent to remove viscous products like fuel oil. Diester is deemed to be suitable because it is non-toxic, biodegradable and poses no threat to wildlife. If Diester is found to work well, its use will be expanded to other areas affected by the spill. |
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Reference |
http://www.envirolink.org |
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Item 4 |
Researchers develop rapid fingerprinting of bacterial DNA |
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Summary |
The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) said that its researchers have developed a desktop-sized instrument that identifies the DNA fingerprints of bacteria. The new flow cytometer has applications in the water field for analyzing E. coli and other bacterial threats. LANL claims that the new flow cytometer is 100 times faster and 200,000 times more sensitive than conventional gel electrophoresis at analyzing DNA samples. In addition, the process requires only minute quantities of DNA for a reliable result. The Los Alamos-developed flow cytometer purportedly determines the fingerprint of DNA fragments with 98% or better accuracy in less than seven minutes from a prepared sample, regardless of the length of the fragments. Less than two-trillionths of a gram of DNA is required to perform the analysis. Researchers currently are developing a smaller, portable version of the tool and are seeking an industrial partner to manufacture it. |
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Reference |
http://www.pollutiononline.com |
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Item 5 |
New membrane for fuel cells |
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Summary |
BWT, Europe's leading manufacturer of water treatment technology has developed a high-performance membrane for use in fuel cells, a pollution-free alternative to batteries as a source of power. Fuel cells, which are fuelled by hydrogen, produce electricity by splitting the electrons and protons in the gas and recombining them with oxygen. At the heart of the fuel cell is a diaphanous membrane which acts like an electrolyte. BWT says that its membrane differs from conventional membranes in that it is recyclable. Other advantages of the non-fluorinated polymer membrane are its strong resistance to oxidation and heat, and high efficiency in the generation of electricity with minimal power loss. |
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Reference |
http://www.envirolink.org |
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Item 6 |
Oil industry asks USEPA to rethink diesel plan |
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Summary |
Nine industry associations, including the American Petroleum Institute and the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, asked the US Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider its plan to reduce the cap on sulphur in diesel fuel from 500 parts per million to 15 parts per million by 2006. The oil industry is committed to reducing diesel engine emissions but they are concerned about supply shortage as implementing stricter sulphur limits in the past for diesel and gasoline has strained production capacity. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com |
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Item 7 |
More chemicals to face export controls |
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Summary |
The Scientific Committee of the United Nations Rotterdam Convention recommended that two pesticides, ethylene dichloride (EDC) and ethylene oxide be added to a list of 29 chemicals which may only be exported with the prior informed consent (PIC) of the importing country's government. Adherence to the Rotterdam Convention is voluntary at present but the Convention will become mandatory if at least 50 countries ratify it. The Convention is likely to come into force by 2002. Any chemical severely restricted or banned in two or more countries can be proposed for inclusion in the PIC list. |
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Reference |
Chemical Week, March 8, 2000, page 10 |
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Item 8 |
Australia to phase out leaded petrol by 2002 |
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Summary |
Australia will phase out leaded petrol nation-wide by 1 January 2002. The move would significantly improve the country's air pollution levels. The emissions from motor vehicles contribute about 90 percent of airborne lead in urban areas and there are about 2.5 million cars built before 1996 that were designed to run on leaded petrol in Australia. The Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP) said the oil industry supported the decision and oil companies would introduce lead replacement petrol progressively in each state to meet the phase-out date. |
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Reference |
http://www.planet.ark.com.au |