TABLE OF CONTENTS
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S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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1 |
Super efficient electric plant will power environmental lab |
The most efficient onsite power plant in the world is slated to power a major US Federal Government's environmental laboratory beginning in 2002. The power plant will use a revolutionary fuel cell gas turbine hybrid technology. |
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2 |
Partnership to develop turbine hybrid electric vehicle |
Hyundai Motor Company and Capstone Turbine Corp. will develop a series of hybrid electric drive systems based on microturbine technology for use in vehicles. |
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3 |
New test lights up in presence of dioxin |
A US company has found a firefly gene that makes cells glow in the presence of dioxin. With the gene, cells glow brighter as the level of dioxin increases, providing a quick test for the presence and concentration of the chemical. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Policy |
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4 |
Ozone limits agreed |
EU environment ministers have agreed on new rules that will lead to a major cut in ground-level ozone. |
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5 |
Experts recommend actions to cut dioxin risk |
Scientists at France's National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) have recommended actions to better understand and control potential environmental and health risks from dioxins and related compounds. |
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6 |
Belgium to ban phosphates in detergents |
The Belgium government will ban the use the phosphates in washing powders from July 2002. |
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III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
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7 |
One billion exposed to bad indoor air |
The WHO believes as many as one billion people are exposed to levels of indoor air pollution exceeding guidelines by up to 100 times. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 23 Oct 2000 to 29 Oct 2000
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Item 1 |
Super efficient electric plant will power environmental lab |
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Summary |
The most efficient onsite power plant in the world - a revolutionary fuel cell gas turbine "hybrid" power system - is slated to power one of the US Federal Government's principal environmental laboratories in 2002. The new power generator, to be built by the Siemens-Westinghouse Power Corporation, will be installed at the US Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Science Center at Fort Meade. The new plant, combining a solid state fuel cell and a microturbine, will be the largest of its type in the world. Fueled by fuel gas, it will generate 1000 kilowatts of electricity, at almost double the efficiency of conventional power plants and will have the lowest environmental impact of any power plant using fossil fuel. Traditional power plants convert just 35% of a fuel's energy to useful electricity. For the new plant the conversion efficiency will be almost 60%. |
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Reference |
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/oct2000/2000L-10-27-09.html |
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Item 2 |
Partnership to develop turbine hybrid electric vehicle |
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Summary |
A partnership between Enova Systems, Hyundai Motor Company and Capstone Turbine Corp. will develop a series of hybrid electric drive system for autos based on Capstone's microturbine technology. The microturbine is seen as a rival technology to the fuel cell. The first prototype should be out in the first half of 2001 when Hyundai installs the hybrid drive system in its Santa Fe sport utility vehicle for testing. Hyundai has said that if the test is successful, the application will be expanded to Hyundai's commercial vehicles in 2002. Hybrid electric drive systems are associated with lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency. |
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Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=13029&image1=2 |
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Item 3 |
New test lights up in presence of dioxin |
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Summary |
Capitalizing on a natural system used by fireflies, Xenobiotic Detection Systems Inc. of Durham, North Carolina has added a firefly gene to mammalian cells so they glow in the presence of dioxin. Dioxin is a product of some chemical manufacturing and of combustion. It is highly toxic and has been associated with cancers as well as other health effects. With the gene, cells glow brighter as the level of dioxin increases, providing a quick test for the presence and concentration of the chemical. The system has already been licensed to the Belgium government's Scientific Institute of Public Health and to Hiyoshi Corporation of Japan. According to the researchers, the system is an alternative to gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry, but is more rapid and less expensive, testing up to 50 samples per hour for about $400 per sample, compared to one sample per hour at $1,500 per sample. It can be used for air, water, soil, or biological samples. |
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Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=12975&image1=2 |
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Item 4 |
Ozone limits agreed |
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Summary |
EU environment ministers have agreed on new rules that will lead to a major cut in ground-level ozone. The EU Environment Council accepted the proposed limit on the amount of ozone that should be allowed in the lower atmosphere. This is to be set at 120 ug/m3- a level that is unlikely to cause a threat to human health or vegetation. However, under pressure from southern European countries, ministers increased the number of times this limit can be breached from 20 to 25 times a year. The move is expected to help rid Europe's urban areas of summer smog. |
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Reference |
Environment Business News Briefing, 19 Oct 2000, Page 3 |
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Item 5 |
Experts recommend actions to cut dioxin risk |
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Summary |
Scientists at France's National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) have recommended actions to better understand and control potential environmental and health risks from dioxins and related compounds. Inserm's study emphasises the need for more research into human dioxin burdens and calls for more source monitoring, including not just waste incinerators and the metallurgical industries but also others such as sewage sludge and electrical transformers. The group has said that particular focus should be given to the food chain, since this is the major exposure route for humans. The group has suggested new research into dioxin burden rates in the general population, infants and populations with particular diets as well as a new policy of informing populations with a higher than average exposure. The group has also called for further research into dioxin toxicology and risk assessment. |
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Reference |
http://www.ends.co.uk/subscribers/envdaily/articles/00102609.htm |
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Item 6 |
Belgium to ban phosphates in detergents |
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Summary |
The Belgium government will ban the use of phosphates in washing powders from July 2002. The environment ministry said that the move will have "unquestionable environmental benefits" and is also "wholeheartedly supported" by 90% of Belgian detergent producers and distributors. Phosphates can cause eutrophication of surface waters. Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland all have legal restrictions on their use in domestic detergents. The use of phosphates in detergents was voluntarily phased out in Ireland recently. |
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Reference |
http://www.ends.co.uk/subscribers/envdaily/articles/00102704.htm |
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Item 7 |
One billion exposed to bad indoor air |
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Summary |
The World Health Organisation believes as many as one billion people are exposed to levels of indoor air pollution exceeding guidelines by up to 100 times. WHO says a deadly combination of solid fuels, inefficient stoves and poor ventilation triggers off a complex mixture of unhealthy pollution in homes. WHO is proposing a health effects database on air pollution as a first step towards reducing deaths caused by indoor and outdoor pollution. Parties involved in the exercise will follow a unified methodology for collecting comparable data worldwide to support sound, science-based assessments of health impacts. |
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Reference |
Environment Business News Briefing, 19 Oct 2000, Page 4 |