TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
|
I. Subject Area: Environmental Management |
||
|
1 |
Canada creates International fund to help developing countries eliminate POPs. |
A Canada POPs fund, administered by the World Bank will provide financing to help developing countries reduce or eliminate releases of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). |
|
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
||
|
2 |
US and Canada to build world's largest fuel cell power plant. |
A 250 kW fuel cell power plant will be built in Toronto next year. The plant generates power by electrochemical reaction, avoiding combustion related air pollutants and efficiency losses. |
|
3 |
US researchers working on new technology to collect fine particulate matter (PM). |
A US Research Institute is working with the EPA on a new fine PM control technology- electrostatically stimulated fabric filtration. |
|
4 |
UK firm to turn old tyres into oil. |
Motorists in UK will be able to put to good use their old tyres after a British firm announced it could turn tyres into oil. |
|
5 |
Remote sensing device for vehicle emissions. |
A remote emissions sensing device mounted by the roadside warns drivers of poor vehicle emissions encouraging them to get cars fixed. |
|
III. Subject Area: Environmental Policy |
||
|
6 |
UNEP expands POPs review. |
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to assess the potential environmental and health risks of polybrominated dithenyl ethers, a group of persistent toxic substances. |
|
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
||
|
7 |
Antarctic Ozone Hole -Largest Observed to Date |
The US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) has announced the biggest ever ozone hole over the Antarctic, more than three times the size of the US. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 11 Sep 2000 to 17 Sep 2000
|
Item 1 |
Canada creates International fund to help developing countries eliminate POPs |
|
Summary |
Canada's Environment Minister announced that Canada will establish a US $13 million international fund to help developing countries reduce or eliminate releases of persistent organic pollutants such as DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Canada's POPs Fund will be administered by the World Bank to provide financing for projects tailored to the specific needs of developing countries. Part of the fund will be contributed to the negotiation of a global agreement on controlling and eliminating POPs releases under the auspices of UNEP. Canada has banned or restricted the use of POPs amidst concerns that POPs continue to be transported into the Canadian atmosphere from foreign sources and accumulate in the Canadian food chain. |
|
Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Page 678 |
|
Item 2 |
US and Canada to build world's largest fuel cell power plant. |
|
Summary |
The world's largest solid-oxide fuel cell power plant will be built and operated in Toronto, Canada next year as part of a planned year-long demonstration project to show the commercial potential of the technology. A solid oxide fuel cell generates power by electrochemical reaction, avoiding combustion-related air pollutants and efficiency losses. It can operate continuously as long as fuel for the electrochemical reaction is supplied. Fuel cell technology has been established as one of the most efficient forms of power generation. The 250 kW power plant will be fueled by natural gas and will run continuously for 5,000 hours and be computer monitored from Pittsburgh, US, as well as in Toronto. |
|
Reference |
Environmental News Report, Sep 2000, Page 16 |
|
Item 3 |
US Researchers working on new technology to collect fine particulate matter. |
|
Summary |
Under a cooperative agreement with the USEPA, Southern Research Institute (SRI) is testing an updated version of a fine particulate matter control technology- electrostatically stimulated fabric filtration (ESFF). The technology combines the benefits of filtration and electrostatic precipitation. This results in a cost effective means of controlling fine particles in industrial premises. Preliminary results from the test program are encouraging. The ESFF achieved substantial improvements in both fine and large particle collection efficiencies at an operating pressure drop of only 20% to 30% of that required for a non-ESFF filter. |
|
Reference |
Pollution Engineering, Page 38 |
|
Item 4 |
UK firm to turn old tyres into oil |
|
Summary |
A British company, Coalite Smokeless Fuels said its plant will be able to turn up to 80,000 tons of old tyres into about 150,000 barrels of oil, similar in quality to North Sea Brent crude. The company is currently in an advanced stage of negotiations with tire collectors. Some scrap tyres are burned for their energy value or recycled to produce carpet underlay, but a high percentage is used in landfill. This technology of converting tyres to oil appears very attractive amidst the current fuel shortage. |
|
Reference |
www.gnet.org/news |
|
Item 5 |
Remote sensing device for vehicle emissions |
|
Summary |
Researchers in Colorado, US have monitored the effectiveness of an instant emissions sensing device linked to a road display in making motorists aware of their vehicular emissions. The device senses the vehicular emission from the motor vehicle and displays the emissions as being good, average or poor. The remote sensing smart sign system was tested and found to be effective in raising awareness. The trial conducted in Denver for a one-year period in 1997 involved 3 million measurements from over 250,000 motorists on a busy road with flows over 1,000 vehicles per hour. The device measures gases such as carbon monoxide from vehicle tailpipes. During the investigation, the equipment was housed in special manholes by the side of the road, with special periscopes designed to break off in the event of cars hitting them. |
|
Reference |
Air Quality Management, Sep 2000, Page 10 |
|
Item 6 |
UNEP expands POPs review |
|
Summary |
UNEP plans to assess potential environmental and health risks of polybrominated dithenyl ethers, a group of persistent toxic substances. A two-year assessment will be conducted in conjunction with UNEP's negotiations on potential phase out requirements for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxin and PCBs. The expanded assessment would determine whether future phase-out or use restrictions are warranted for more POPs. The project aims to help countries and regions in developing responses to risks from these pollutants, and in the long term, help identify additional POPs for international action. |
|
Reference |
Chemical Week, Sep 2000, Page 32 |
|
Item 7 |
Antarctic Ozone Hole Largest Observed to Date |
|
Summary |
The US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) announced that the current ozone hole over the Antarctic is the biggest ever observed, covering approximately 10.9 million square miles, or more than three times the size of the US. The last "record" was 10.5 million square miles measured on 19 Sep 98. |
|
Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news |