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 |
New technique speeds decomposition of pesticides in water |
A team of researchers from the University of Maine has found that zeolite, a common volcanic mineral, can speed up the decomposition rate of three pesticides. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution |
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2 |
Europe's move to eradicate mad cow disease poses lethal waste threat |
UK scientists warned Europe that "high-risk" measures to combat mad cow disease could create mountains of lethal waste. |
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III. Subject Area: Environmental Policy |
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3 |
Swedes promote "green" winter tyres |
To reduce the releases of carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from tyres, the Swedish local authorities and businesses have urged consumers to buy passenger car winter tyres without high aromatic oil content. |
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IV. Subject Area: Environmental Management |
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4 |
US and Canada formally sign Clean Air Treaty |
The United States and Canada have signed an agreement to reduce smog-causing pollution emitted mainly by power plants, by 2010. |
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5 |
France tightens buildings energy standards |
From Jun 2001, new French homes and service sector buildings will be subject to tougher energy efficiency regulations. |
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V. Subject Area: Environmental Health |
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6 |
Pesticides levels in UK baby food above new limit |
Tests on baby food carried out by the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC), UK have discovered pesticide residues exceeding the proposed EU limits which would come into force in 2002. |
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7 |
Genetically modified food are "quite safe" |
According to a report by an American Medical Association committee, genetically altered foods do not pose serious risks to people's health and do not require special labeling in grocery stores. |
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VII. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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8 |
California revised its guidelines on zero emission vehicles |
California has decided to reduced the percentage of battery-powered vehicles and allow other alternative clean vehicles such as gas and hybrid vehicles which are seen as commercially promising. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered : 4 Dec 2000 to 10 Dec 2000
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Item 1 |
New technique speeds decomposition of pesticides in water |
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Summary |
A team of researchers from the University of Maine in the US has found that certain pesticides in contaminated water break down faster in the presence of zeolite and natural light. Zeolite is a common volcanic mineral used in products such as shoe deodorizers and ion exchange systems. Among the pesticides tested were malathion, carbofuran and carbaryl. The reaction rates were about 35 to 164 times faster than the rates found when no zeolite was present. Because of the porosity of the zeolites, they can capture the pesticide molecules and enable light to disrupt the chemical bonds. The researchers noted that this finding could be useful in developing technologies for protecting drinking water supplies or improving environmental quality. |
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Reference |
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Item 2 |
Europe's move to eradicate mad cow disease poses lethal waste threat |
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Summary |
Scientists warned that the latest moves in Brussels to deal with the mad cow disease would result in Europe struggling to transport, store and destroy thousands of tonnes of ground-up cattle carcasses. At each stage of the process, infected waste could leak into the water supply, disperse into the air or be eaten by other animals. This increases the chance of spreading bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to the public. BSE first hit cows in the UK herds in 1986 and claimed its first human victim a decade later. So far, there is no evidence to suggest BSE cannot be transmitted through air or water. The scientists said Europe now have to deal with unwanted animal feed, ground-up cattle parts that were most prone to transmitting the disease and possibly hundreds of thousands of animal carcasses. European Union farm ministers agreed during emergency talks to ban the use of meat-based feed for six months and to buy and destroy cattle aged over 30 months that had not been tested for BSE. |
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Reference |
http://www.planet.ark.com.au/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9271&newsDate=8-Dec-2000 |
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Item 3 |
Swedes promote "green" winter tyres |
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Summary |
In order to reduce the releases of carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from tyres containing high-aromatic oils, a coalition of Swedish local authorities and businesses has urged consumers to buy passenger car winter tyres without high aromatic oils content. Vehicle tyres contain about 20% of oils added to plasticise rubber and to give it a good grip and low rolling resistance. High-aromatic oils are used because they are compatible with the synthetic rubber. While low-aromatic oils, containing less than 3% PAHs can be used for winter car tyres, they cannot be used for summer tyres because of their different design and usage. Professor Locati of the EU rubber industry association recognised that high-aromatic oils posed environmental and health risks. He stressed that the industry had defined environmental and health criteria stricter than the EU cancer classification and oil companies had been asked to find substitutes to avoid the problem. |
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Reference |
http://www.ends.co.uk/subscribers/envdaily/articles/00120804.htm |
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Item 4 |
US and Canada formally sign Clean Air Treaty |
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Summary |
The United States and Canada signed an agreement to reduce smog-causing pollution such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted by power plants. The agreement is targeted at lung-damaging ground-level ozone in the eastern half of North America and the industrial heartland of both countries. Air pollution currently accounts for about 5,000 premature deaths in Canada and about 60,000 in United States annually. The cross-border agreement will require power plants and other industrial sources to cut their nitrogen oxides emissions by 50 to 75 percent by 2004. The United States will reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by 35 percent by 2007 and plans to reduce annual emissions by 43 percent by 2010. Both sides also pledged to cut production of volatile organic compounds which produce ground-level ozone when combined with nitrogen oxides in sunlight. In addition, Canada also plans to tighten its vehicle emission standards in line with those in the States. |
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Reference |
http://www.planet.ark.com.au/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9283&newsDate=10-Dec-2000 |
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Item 5 |
France tightens buildings energy standards |
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Summary |
New French homes and service sector buildings such as offices, schools and hospitals will be subject to tougher energy efficiency regulations from Jun 2001. The standards stipulated that the efficiency of new homes must improve by 20% and service sector buildings by 40% compared with current levels. Service sector buildings have been earmarked for a greater improvement because they have so far been largely exempted from the regulations. Energy savings at about 20 to 25% for the service sector, and 5% for housing are expected. |
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Reference |
http://www.ends.co.uk/subscribers/envdaily/articles/00120404.htm |
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Item 6 |
Pesticides levels in UK baby food above new limit |
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Summary |
Tests on baby food made by Heinz and Milupa, carried out by the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) in UK, have discovered presence of pesticide residues such as carbendazim that may disrupt the hormone system. Levels in the Milupa brand for baby food exceeded new limits of 0.01 mg/kg for all pesticides set by the European Committee, which will come into force in 2002. The PRC's survey of bottled, canned and powdered baby food covered 116 pesticides and found low level residues in 10 percent of the samples analysed. The source of the contamination was found to be due to spray drifts of pesticides used on neighbouring non-organic orchards. |
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Reference |
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Item 7 |
Genetically modified food are "quite safe |
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Summary |
According to a report by an American Medical Association committee, genetically altered foods appear to be quite safe, do not pose serious risks to people's health and do not require special labelling. The report states that no ill effects on human health or the environment have been detected since modified foods first hit the market less than 10 years ago. The report also states that the benefits from the genetically altered foods are increased food production and reduced need for pesticides. It recommended that the best way to allay public fears and worries is through education and ongoing studies to ensure safety. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/12/12052000/krt_gmfood_40595.asp |
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Item 8 |
California revised its guidelines on zero emission vehicles |
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Summary |
California Air Resources Board said that it planned to introduce new guidelines on vehicle that dramatically reduced the number of battery-powered "zero emissions vehicles" or ZEVs that the state will mandate in the coming years. Instead, California will allow other technologies such as fuel cells, gas-electric hybrids and natural gas engines that are more commercially promising. The new staff guidelines would amend a 1990 decision requiring 10 percent of vehicles produced for sale in California to be zero emission by 2003 to two percent, roughly 2 percent be hybrid and fuel cell vehicles and another 6 percent be "extremely clean" gas and other vehicles. If approved, the new California guidelines would give automakers incentives to pursue alternative strategies to battery-powered cars as well as save the auto industry as much as $400 million in compliance costs. |
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Reference |
http://www.planet.ark.com.au/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9281&newsDate=10-Dec-2000 |