Most sewage works remove solids and organic matter, but few remove dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen. Phosphorus and nitrogen are plant nutrients and when too much of them get into fresh water, they can trigger explosive growths of algae. All the oxygen in the water is used up when the algae decompose, suffocating aquatic life. Hence the need to remove dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen.

A US company, Environmental Solutions Worldwide Inc, has successfully produced a new catalytic converter "Enviro Cat" for leaded, unleaded and diesel fuels. In preliminary tests conducted by a laboratory recognised by the Environmental Protection Agency, "Enviro Cat" dramatically reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide.

Unlike conventional catalytic converters, "Enviro Cat" contains no precious metals. As a result, it costs substantially less to produce and is expected to have a longer life.

The company plans to supply the catalytic converters to motor vehicle manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers of motor parts.

Siemens Westinghouse has built a revolutionary new type of fuel cell power plant which combines fuel cell with a gas turbine. The new power plant is expected to be 20 percent more efficient than a conventional coal-fired power plant, cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 times and produce no sulphur dioxide.

The technology relies on a solid oxide fuel cell which comprises an assembly of ceramic tubes that each operate like a battery. As long as fuel and air are provided, the fuel cells never run down. The fuel used is natural gas. The new power plant is made up of 1152 individual tubular ceramic cells and will produce enough electricity to power more than 200 homes.

Siemens Westinghouse will transport it to the National Fuel Cell Research Centre for testing in a commercial setting. Another 1-megawatt fuel cell-microturbine power plant will be built by late 2002.

Ontario's Environment Minister, Mr Dan Newman, announced the implementation of a stringent mandatory reporting regulation for air emissions from electric-generating facilities. The new regulation, which will come into effect in May 2000, requires the energy sector to monitor and report emissions of 28 pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO₂), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) and carbon dioxide.

The regulation will be extended to other sectors by 2001. In addition, a capping of NO_x and SO₂ emissions will also be introduced for the energy sector in Jan 2001.

The aims of this public reporting requirement were to reduce emission in the energy sector and to facilitate the development of future air quality protection measures.

The European Commission (EC) has decided to take legal action through the European Court of Justice against Greece and The Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg for failure to comply with the European Union Nitrates Directive. The four members have failed to reflect all the Directive's requirements in relation to national action plans to fight nitrate pollution of waters.

Excessive nitrate levels cause undesirable ecological changes in water and are a factor in harmful algal blooms. They also have adverse public health implications.

In a US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report released recently, it was reported that there was no evidence to suggest that genetically modified (GM) foods harm human health and the environment. This report is a major blow to consumer groups amid their push for mandatory labelling of GM foods.

Professor Perry Adkisson, chairman of a panel of scientist assembled by NAS, said that there were no strict distinction between the health and environmental risks posed by plants modified through the modern genetic engineering techniques and those modified by conventional breeding practices.

The report did not comment on the need for labels for GM foods. It recommended that federal agencies should clearly define their roles in regulating agricultural biotech.