TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation |
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1 |
EU to force biofuels into petrol |
The European Commission is currently working on a set of proposals to require oil refineries to have a percentage of "bio" fuel in their petrol, to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions. |
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21 |
SUS signs toxic chemical bansenators want more renewable fuels in gasolinewitzerland bans creosote-treated wood |
The Swiss government has imposed a regulation to allow a maximum allowable content of benzopyrene at 50 parts per million (ppm) and soluble phenols at 3% by weight in treated wood products, which leads to the ban in creosote oil as a wood protector. The US signed a global treaty that banned the production and use of 12 persistent organic pollutants or POPs on 25 May 2001In a move to help reduce US dependence on foreign oil imports, legislation was introduced in the Senate that would require gasoline to contain a small portion of renewable fuelsUS joined 127 other countries in Stockholm for a two-day conference to adopt and sign a pact on persistent organic pollutants or POPs. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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343 |
Techniques makes plastics stronger, more environmentally friendlyPlastic products that do notn't cost the earth |
A professor has discovered that by vibrating the feed containing up to 50% of recycled plastics in the manufacturing process, stronger plastic productss containing up to 50% of recyclable content can be producedA United Kingdom company, Environmental Polymers, produces a biodegradable and water-soluble plastic. |
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454 |
Lithium silicate devices could be used as cCarbon dioxide absorption devices in futureClean Cat â diesel catalyst outperforms OEM diesel catalyst combat global warming |
Toshiba Corp and Toshiba Ceramics Co Ltd say that they have jointly developed a lithium silicate that surpasses other ceramics in the speed at which it absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2)Environmental Solutions Worldwide (ESW) announced that the company has completed a test program designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of its Clean Cat â diesel catalytic particulate reactor. |
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5 |
Group promotes use of Dimethyl-ether (DME) as clean fuel source for future needs |
The International Energy Agency (IEA) whose ongoing work on advanced motor fuels, promotes the use of Dimethyl-ether (DME) as a clean fuel source for future needs. |
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675 |
Nokia hopes for biodegradable phones in few yearsScientists monitor global air pollution from space |
Nokia is currently developing a suitable biodegradable material for its handphones to abate the problem of increasing handcellphone waste.A new earth orbitingearth-orbiting monitor is providing the most complete view assembled to date of the world's air pollution as it churns through the atmosphere, crossing continents and oceansto date.
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III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
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876 |
Company has bioremedy Bioremedy for MTBE contaminationHeart attack risk seen in tiny pollution particles |
A US company has developed a technology called BioRemedy that uses microbes to break down MTBEA study has found that exposure for as little as two hours to elevated levels of fine particulate air pollution raises the likelihood of a heart attack. A company in Houston (USA), has developed a technology which uses microbes to break MTBE in subsurface. |
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1087 |
EPA adopts rule to cut haze in national parksRegulatory standards were insufficient to prevent biological effects |
Belgian studyThe Bush administration will not challenge a proposal approved in the last days of the Clinton presidency to clean up hazy skies over national parks and wilderness areasThe USEPA is requiring old industrial facilities to be retrofitted with new pollution-control technology suggested that dioxin ingestion by children who lived near waste incinerators might have affected development of their sexual organs. |
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IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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910 |
New York takes action on greenhouse gases, emissions, energy efficiency |
New York's Governor George E. Pataki has announced that the state would be using an array of initiatives to tackle emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutive gases to the atmosphere |
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101 |
EU sustainable development strategy adopted |
European leaders have adopted the bloc's first ever sustainable development strategy at their summit meeting in Gothenburg whichGothenburg, which would be reviewed at every spring summit from now on, starting next year. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered : 11 Jun 2001 to 17 Jun 2001
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Item 1 |
EU to force biofuels into petrol |
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Summary |
The European Commission plans to present proposals later in 2001 that requires oil refineries to mix a percentage of bio-fuel with petrol to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The plans are currently being drawn up by the European Union (EU) Energy Commission and the final "bio" percentage has not been finalised. The new legislation if eventually adopted by the European Union governments, would not necessarily increase the price of petrol at the pumps. The higher costs of bio-fuels could be off-set by the lower excise duties. |
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Reference |
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Item 2 |
Switzerland bans creosote-treated wood |
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Summary |
The Swiss government has adopted a new regulation limiting levels of carcinogenic substances in treated wood products including garden fencing. The new regulation which takes effect from 1 Oct 2001, imposed a maximum content of benzopyrene at 50 parts per million (ppm) and soluble phenols at 3% by weight in treated wood products. Creosote oil which contains both substances, was thus banned from use as a wood protector. The regulation however does not require immediate removal of existing treated woord products that do not meet the new standards. The railway sector which has a large number of creosote-treated railway sleepers has been granted a further four years for the sleepers to be sold for reuse in applications away from residential areas such as electricity pylons plinths and avalanche defence installations. |
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Reference |
http://www.enviromentallydaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action&ref=10104 |
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Item 343 |
Plastic products that do notn't cost the earthTechniques makes plastics stronger, more environmentally friendly |
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Summary |
A Lehigh University professor, Coulter, has discovered that strongerthat stronger plastic products containingproducts could be produced up to 50% of recyclable content can be produced by adding vibrationg to the mixfeed as it was fed into the mould. He found that the end product made from According to the professor, even with half of the polystyrene starting materials comprising of up to 50% of recycled waste plastic ed of what would once have been waste, when vibrated, the end productwould be is stronger than products made from if 100% new polystyrene was usedwithout vibrationA biodegradable and water-soluble plastic products made from the non-toxic thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), called Depart, has been hailed as one of the best environmentally friendly products in the world. The is process enables manufacturers to recycle what are considered as this once useless and environmentally unfriendly waste plastic. UFurthermore unlike other vibration techniques that require costly machine and/or mould changes, Coulter's process vibrates the feed screw device used to deliver the liquefied plastic material into the mould. Only This requires a rather cheap modification to the hydraulics is neededThese biodegradable plastics could eventually replace some conventional polymers in products as diverse as packaging and protective clothing, bottles and disposable bags, all eventually disposable by dissolving them in hot water at various temperatures, depending on the product's thickness governed by its designed useonly. According to Coulter, plastics are strengthened through vibration because the motion changes their molecular orientation or alignment, mixing them more uniformly and allowing them to stretch out to take advantage of their entire lengthFor example, ordinary and possibly contaminated hospital linen could be safely collected and placed in disposable bags made from Depart with no risk to staff. This could be taken to a laundry unit where the soiled linen would be washed without being taken from the bag that would dissolve in the hot water and drain off in the wastewater without causing any pollution to the environment. |
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Reference |
http://gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=16503&image1=2World Environment, June 2001, page 70 |
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Item 454 |
Clean Cat â diesel catalyst outperforms OEM diesel catalyst Lithium silicate devices could be used as carbon dioxide absorption devices in futureCarbon dioxide absorption devices combat global warming |
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Summary |
Environmental Solutions Worldwide (ESW) announced that the company has completed a test program designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of its Clean Cat â diesel catalytic particulate reactorToshiba Corp and Toshiba Ceramics Co Ltd say they have jointly developed a lithium silicate that surpasses other ceramics in the speed at which it absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) in removing toxic diesel particulate (soot). The tests were conducted at ESW's EPA/CARB accredited test facility (ATS) and were administered on a new 2001 Volkswagen diesel powered vehicle.Toshiba sees the development of the lithium silicate as an important step towards the development of lighter and, cheaper ceramics offering faster CO2 absorption rates, while its room temperature absorption capabilities offers the potential for practical devices for reducing CO2 emissionsESW's Clean Cat â particulate reactor, which is specifically designed to reduce particulate emissions from diesel engines, in in-house testing demonstrated to be twice as effective in reducing particulate as compared to the factory installed original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) diesel oxidation catalyst. The Clean Catâ was able to achieve this milestone without increasing NOx emissions levels. In addition, it also reduced emissions of hydrocarbon and CO to levels below current USA light- duty diesel vehicle standards., such as consumer air cleaners.Commercial versions of the new ceramic could play a central role in reducing CO2 emissions. For example, automobile drivers could exchange full CO2 absorbing ceramic cartridges for new ones at fuel stations. A similar service could be introduced at power plants and industrial facilitiesDiesel particulate contributes to serious public health problems including premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function. Toshiba plans to launch small-scale prototype CO2 collection devices by the end of 2001, followed by large-size devices used to combat global warming in 2003. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=4560Lexis-Nexis, May 31, 2001 |
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Item 755 |
Group promotes use of Dimethyl-ether as clean fuel source for future needsScientists monitor global air pollution from space |
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Summary |
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has promoted the potential use of dimethyl-ether (DME) as the future clean fuel source at a one-day workshop attended by leading experts from oil and energy companies, vehicle and fuel injection system manufacturers and scientists. DME is currently produced for use as a propellant in aerosol spray cans. DME is a clean and safe fuel that can be made from natural gas, coal or biomass. The workshop thus sees the possible potential applications for the fuel inwhich include power generation, domestic heatingfuels, diesel engines and in fuel cells.An new Earth- orbiting monitor mounted on a satellite is providing the most complete view assembled to date of the world's air pollution to date as its churns through the atmosphere, crossing continents and oceans. Launched in December 1999, MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) tracks the air pollutant carbon monoxide from aboard the Terra satellite as it circles the Earth from pole to pole 16 times a day. Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder are blending the new data with output from a computer model of Earth's atmosphere to develop the world's first global maps of long termlong-term lower atmosphere pollution. MOPITT demonstrates a new capability to make global observations of carbon monoxide, which is both a toxin and a representative tracer of other types of pollution. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol 24, No. 12, page 465 |
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Item 6 |
Nokia hopes for biodegradable phones in few years |
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Summary |
Nokia has hoped to develop a phone with biodegradable parts to address the increasing handcellphone waste. The biodegradable polymeric materials must possess essential properties like long storage life, good mechanical and thermal properties and the possibility to blend and decorate the material easily. Another crucial issue would be the ability to use the same machinery to build handcellphones with the biodegradable plastics as it uses for the current ones. At Helsinki, Nokia's mobile phone division has already run tests on biodegradable clip-on covers but the polymer materials developed werecould not to passmeet the thermal test. Thus development work is still continuing to seek out the suitable biodegradable material. |
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Reference |
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Item 786 |
Heart attack risk seen in tiny pollution particlesCompany has Bbioremedy for MTBE contamination |
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Summary |
A US company in Houston (USA), Equilon Enterprise LLC, has developed a technology called BioRemedy whichBioRemedy that uses microbes to break down MTBEResearchers tracked pollution levels in the Boston region and interviewed 722 people about four days after they entered area hospitals with a heart attack in 1995 and 1996. in subsurface. They found that the patients experienced a 48 percent rise in heart attack risk in the two hours after exposure to high levels of this type of invisible air pollutants. Combustion processes in automobile engines, power plants, refineries and smelters produce this type of pollution. With the addition of sufficient oxygen, the proprietary microorganisms naturally biodegrade MTBE to harmless compounds. The specialized microbes are effective in controlling the full range of gasoline oxygenates, including TBA (tertiary butyl alcohol). One application of theThe new technology involves the placement of their proprietary micro-organisms in the ground to form a barrier against MTBE migration in the groundwaterThe pollution particles are called PM-2.5 for particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. The particles, small enough to bypass the body's defenses and get into the lungs and other tissues, cause inflammation and blood clotting. These symptoms may contribute to heart attacks by blocking flow of blood through the heart. With the addition of sufficient oxygen, these microorganisms naturally biodegrade the MTBE to harmless compounds. The specialized microbes are effective in controlling the full range of gasoline oxygenates, including TBA (tertiary butyl alcohol). |
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Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=16450planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11169 |
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Item 8107 |
EPA Regulatory standards were insufficient to prevent biological effects adopts rule to cut haze in national parks |
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Summary |
According to EPA administrator, the Bush administration will not challenge a proposal approved in the last days of the Clinton presidency to clean up hazy skies over national parks and wilderness areas. Haze is caused when light hits tiny particles, such as soot, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide emitted by power plants, refineries or natural pollution sources like forest fires. The USEPA has adopted aproposal rule to clean up hazy skies over national parks and wilderness areas. Haze is caused when light hits tiny particles, such as soot, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide emitted by power plants, refineries or natural pollution sources like forest firesThe study involved 200 17-year olds from a rural control area and from two industrial areas that havecontained a lead smelter, two incinerators and a range of other industries.. The rule would requires coal-fired utilities, industrial boilers, refineries and iron and steel plants built between 1962 and 1977 to be retrofitted with new pollution-control technology by 2013. This would cut sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter and directly improve the air in 156 national parks and wilderness areasIt found elevated levels of lead and cadmium in blood, PCBs and dioxin-like compounds in serum and metabolites of VOCs in urine. Some children in the industrial areas matured later and testicular volume was reduced. Biomarkers of glomerular or tubular renal disfunction correlated with blood lead and of DNA damage with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and VOCs. The researchers conclude that biomarkers can demonstrate exposure to pollutants and measure effects, and that regulatory standards were insufficient to prevent biological effects. Greenpeace immediately called for a complete ban on waste incinerators. . The proposed rule identifies the older industrial facilities which require the installation of "best available retrofit technology". However it also gives the flexibility to consider economic factors, energy impacts and the remaining useful life of the facility. In addition, states affecting the air quality of the Grand Canyon would be given a different time frame to work with. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/05/05302001/ap_hazerule_43779.asp Environment Business News Briefing, 7 June 2001, page 5 |
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Item 910129 |
New York takes action on greenhouse gases, emissions, energy efficiencyUK industries start recycling company for lamps |
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Summary |
New York's Governor, George E. Ptaki announced that New York would be using an array of initiatives to tackle emissions to the atmosphere. Besides forming the Greenhouse Reduction Task Force, he also calls for the federal government to join in the fight to cut emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury. The Governor also issued an executive order that requires state agencies to implement energy efficient practices at state buildings, increase purchases of energy efficient products through the state procurement process, and follow green building standards during new construction or substantial renovation projects. The state agencies must also purchase at least ten percent of their overall energy requirements from green power sources such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal or fuel cells by 2005. This green power mandate will increase to twenty percent by 2010. Lighting companies and waste management firms in the UK have launched a new initiative to dramatically boost the recycling and reuse of lamps. The industries claim it will lead to a fivefold increase in recycling, to 10% by the end of 2002. The industries' two trade organizations, the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and the Lighting Industry Federation (LIF) have set up a non-profit company called SustainaLite to manage the new program. The scheme will cover gas discharge lightbulbs such as fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescents, high-pressure mercury, high-pressure sodium, metal halide and low-pressure sodium lamps. At present about 80 million gas discharge lamps are sold in the UK annually and 12,000 metric tons go into the waste stream annually. The current recycling rate is 2%. SustainaLite expects this to rise to 10% by end of 2002. Under the proposed EU directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment member states will require to recycle lamps and other equipment. |
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Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=16713 Business and the Environment, May 2001, p 14. |
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Item 101 |
EU sustainable development strategy adopted |
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Summary |
European leaders have adopted the bloc's first ever sustainable development strategy at their summit meeting in Gothenburg. This strategy would be reviewed at every spring summit of the EU leaders starting next year. Under this strategy, member states will need to develop national sustainability plans, major EU policy proposals will include sustainability impact assessments, EU institutions will improve internal policy coordination between different sectors and the progress will be reviewed annually. At the summit, the EU leaders also reaffirm EU's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and to "work to ensure" that the protocol enters into force by 2002. They also reaffirm the determination to meet indicative targets for increasing renewable energy generation. |
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Reference |
http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=10111 |