Environment Report 28 Aug 2000 to 2 Sep 2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

S/N	Title			Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
1		Electrolysed water rivals chlorine and heat for destruction of E. Coli, salmonella and listeria	A sterilisation technique using electrolysed water produced by applying an electric current to a dilute saltwater solution is found to be effective against bacteria such as E. Coli, salmonella and listeria on foods and food utensils.
2		Scientists combine chemistry and bioremediation to remove cadmium from soil	Scientists at the U.S Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have devised a way to combine chemical treatment with bacteria culture to remove cadmium from contaminated soil.
II. Subject Area : Environmental Policy and Regulation
3		Korean government to tighten restrictions on dioxin emissions	The Environment Ministry in Korea has tightened its restrictions on the release of dioxin for all existing and new incinerators with a capacity of 0.2 tons and above.
4		UN to develop worldwide auto-emission regulations	The UN has set up an international agreement to develop globally uniform environment regulations for motor vehicles designed to help member nations provide greater environmental protection and pollution reduction from automobiles.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution
5		France finds high pesticide levels in drinking water	The testing of surface and groundwater in France has shown widespread contamination by pesticides.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
6		TBT traces found in children's bathing toys	Greenpeace announced that a range of children's plastic beach toys has tested positive for trace levels of tributyl tin (TBT). Although acute health damage is unlikely at the concentrations detected, Greenpeace is concerned that there may be long-term hazards posed to health and the environment.

SUMMARY REPORT

Period Covered : 28 Aug 2000 to 2 Sep 2000

Item 1	Electrolysed water rivals chlorine and heat for destruction of E. Coli, salmonella and listeria
Summary	A technique of using electrolysed water produced by applying an electric current to a dilute saltwater solution to kill bacteria such as E. Coli, salmonella and listeria on foods and food utensils is found to be effective. According to Dr Yen-Con Hung, a professor in the department of food science and technology at the University of Georgia in Griffin, GA., this method kills bacteria on fresh produce more effectively in some cases than heat or water containing chlorine. Electrolysed water could also be used to sanitise cutting boards, eating and drinking utensils, and food-processing equipment. In addition, by using electrolysed water to kill bacteria instead of heat, the food quality is not affected. The equipment needed to produce and treat food with electrolysed water is compact and already produced by several companies in Japan and costs between US$3,000 and $5,000.
Reference	http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=12034

Item 2

Scientists combine chemistry and bioremediation to remove cadmium from soil

Summary

Scientists at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a cadmium cleanup method that combines chemical treatment and bioremediation. Murthy A. Vairavamurthy, who leads the research at Brookhaven National Laboratory, stated two methods that can be used.

The first method injects thiosulphate into the subsurface soil to form highly soluble complexes with cadmium. The water that is pumped out of the contaminated site will then contain the dissolved cadmium. The extracted water is then treated with a new form of bacteria - the Cd-1 strain of Klebsiella planticola. Through a normal metabolic process, the bacteria convert dissolved cadmium thiosulphate to cadmium sulphide, which is insoluble and precipitates out of solution.

Alternatively, the bacteria could also be injected directly into the soil following thiosulphate injection to complete the process in situ. This would leave insoluble cadmium sulphide in place of the original metal.

Reference

http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=12029&image1=2

Item 3	Korean government to tighten restrictions on dioxin emissions
Summary	The Environment Ministry in Korea has tightened its restrictions on the release of dioxins. The expanded regulations would take effect next year with a grace period of several years for existing facilities. Existing incinerators with a capacity of 0.2 to 2 tons have to reduce dioxin emissions to 40 ng/m³ by the end of 2002 and to 10 ng/m³ by 2006. Existing incinerators with 2 to 4 tons of capacity have to reduce the emissions to 40 ng/m³ by 2002 and to 5 ng/m³ by 2006. Incinerators with a capacity of more than 4 tons should reduce emissions to 20 ng/m³ by 2002 and 1 ng/m³ by 2006. The tougher standards set for new incinerators will take effect next year with no grace period. Large incinerators with a capacity of more than 4 tons have to emit less than 0.1 ng/m³ of dioxin, while facilities with 2 to 4 tons capacity must emit less than 1 ng/m³. Incinerators with a capacity of 0.2 to 5 tons must discharge less than 5 ng/m³. The proposed regulations for new facilities are on par with Japan's regulations and more stringent than Japan's for existing facilities. Ministry officials expect that the new regulations would cut the nation's total dioxin emissions by approximately 80%.
Reference	http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/news/2000/08/_02/20000830_0210.htm

Item 4	UN to develop worldwide auto-emission regulations
Summary	The UN has said that an international agreement to develop globally uniform environment regulations for motor vehicles went into effect on 25 Aug 2000. The regulations are intended to help member nations provide greater environmental protection and pollution reduction from automobiles. The agreement will ensure that regulatory activities will be carried out in an open manner and will consider the best available technology and the cost effectiveness of these technologies as well as the benefits to public health. Participating countries may submit regulations that will be included in a compendium of regulations that other countries can adopt and may also collaborate in the development of new global regulations that they could propose to adopt in their country. The participating countries include USA, Canada, Japan, France, England, the European Union, Germany and Russia. South Africa has also signed the agreement, which is waiting to be ratified.
Reference	http://www.pollutiononline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={B2F74383-7E72-11D4-8C5D-009027DE0829}

Item 5

France finds high pesticide levels in drinking water

Summary

The French Environment and Agriculture Ministries have announced that the testing of the surface and groundwater has shown widespread contamination by pesticides. According to the 1997 and 1998 data, one-third of waters used as sources for drinking water contained pesticide levels high enough to require special treatment to remove the chemicals.

34% of the samples have pesticide levels of 2 microgram per litre (mg/l) or more, while a further 10% have at least 1mg/l of pesticide. The herbicide atrazine, commonly used to protect maize crop was the pesticide most commonly found. Sales of the chemical have been restricted in many EU countries because it contaminates drinking water. The organochlorine insecticide lindane, which will soon be banned across the EU for agricultural use was also frequently found.

Once the European Commission approves the banning of lindane, EU countries will be given 6 months to withdraw approval for plant protection products containing lindane, plus a further 12 months to use up stocks of the products.

Reference

http://www.end-news.com/ens/aug2000/2000L-08-29-01.html

Item 6	TBT traces found in children's bathing toys
Summary	Greenpeace announced that a range of children's plastic beach toys has tested positive for trace levels of tributyl tin (TBT), an organotin with endocrine-disrupting properties. Organotins are used to stabilise about 8% of PVC products produced in Europe. Dibutyl tin (DBT) was used in the tested beach toys and Greenpeace claims that it is usually contaminated with TBT. The test results recorded between 0.9 to 26.2 microgram (mg) of TBT and up to 1470 mg of DBT per kg. Although acute health damage is unlikely at such concentrations, Greenpeace stresses that long-term hazards to health and the environment cannot be ruled out.
Reference	http://wwwends.co.uk/subscribers/envdaily/articles/00083002.htm

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