A chemist at the Ames Laboratory in United States invented an environmentally friendly system that makes use of sunlight or light from a lamp for the photo-oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons. The system used air as the oxidant and an aqueous solution of uranyl ions as a photosensitiser to absorb light to drive the oxidation reactions.

Tests using the system to oxidise chemicals such as benzene to phenol and toluene to benzaldehyde had been successful. The new system was expected to be more economical and environmentally benign than the traditional method of using heat for the oxidation process.

Researchers from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta conducted a study involving 289 people on the presence of seven phthalate metabolites in the human body.

The researchers found that women of childbearing ages have the highest levels of phthalates in their bodies. The phthalates found in highest levels were diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and benzylbutyl phthalates. These phthalates were used in detergents, lubricating oils, and solvents. Phthalates such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate which were used to produce soft toys and intravenous bags were not among those phthalates found in highest concentrations, even though they were also produced in high quantities.

Researchers from the Purdue University in the United States conducted a pilot project at a site near Bedford, Indiana to test the effectiveness of growing grass and trees to clean up soil contaminated by petroleum substances. The roots of grass and tress were believed to promote the growth of microbes that could break down the petroleum substances.

The researchers planted ryegrass and poplar trees on the demonstration site and the site was divided into nine replicating plots for statistical accuracy. The researchers found that the trees and grass complement each other's performance because the grass remediates the upper lever of soil while the roots of the poplar trees go deeper.

Scientists from the NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory analysed predictions from NASA's chemical model and forecasts from models used in the World Meteorological Organisation's 1998 ozone assessment to estimate how much time is needed to detect ozone recovery in mid-latitudes, the most populated areas of the world.

The UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) proposed new recycling targets for packaging waste in England and Wales to meet Britain's compliance with the EU directive on packaging and packaging waste. DETR proposed that the targets should increase from 52 to 58 percent for overall recovery (recycling and energy recovery), and from 16 to 18 per cent for material specific recycling. The EU targets are set as a percentage of packaging flowing into the waste stream. Target levels are 50 percent recovery for total packaging, a minimum 25 per cent recycling for total packaging, and a minimum 15 per cent recycling for each material type such as plastic and paper. The government believed that the increased targets would ensure that UK meets the EU deadline by June 2001.

DaimlerChrysler Corporation is testing new plastics recycling technology that would increase the recyclable contents of its vehicles to 95% by weight. The recycling technology is being tested in a five-month pilot project which forms the second phase of DaimlerChrysler's "Concepts for Advanced Recycling and Environmental" (CARE) Car Program.

At present, automobile recycling is generally limited to the 75% by weight which is the metallic portion of the vehicle, as the cost to recycle the remaining 25%, which is mainly plastics, is very high. If successful, the new recycling technology could reduce by one-third the amount of automobile waste going into landfills.

Amid the recent furore over fuel prices and fuel shortage, the European Commission announced that it would provide funding of half of the required Euro 5.2 million, for a joint initiative with the industry to develop lightweight materials for use in automobiles.

The objective of the project is to produce the lightweight materials by 2004 that would allow a prototype Volkswagen Lupo TDI to achieve a fuel economy of 100 kilometres per litre of diesel. The materials would be made of low-cost carbon composites effectively reducing the weight of the vehicle by 40 percent. The project would also look into reducing the total number of parts needed in a car (currently over 200) by 30 percent.