TABLE OF CONTENTS

S/N

Title

Synopsis

I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation

1

Recycling law on cars in Japan

The Japanese Economic, Trade and Industry Ministry plans to submit a bill at the forthcoming cabinet meeting to establish an automobile recycling law designed to boost the recycling of scrapped vehicle components and reduce waste.

2

Shanghai tougher on exhaust fumes

The municipal environmental protection bureau is seeking the approval of the national authorities to use the tougher Euro II standards for measuring exhaust fumes in Shanghai from early next year.

3

Canadian agency proposes residue limits for eight chemicals

Health Canada has proposed new regulations that set maximum residue limits for eight additional pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

4

US EPA proposes pollution credits to clean up rivers

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a pollution trading system that would allow farmers, municipal sewage plants and others to swap federal credits awarded for improving water quality beyond what is required by law.

II. Subject Area: Recycling and Waste Management

5

California playgrounds use recycled materials

The California Integrated and Waste Management Board has awarded grants to help local public agencies upgrade playgrounds with recycled content materials.

6

New electro-scrap recycling technology

Researchers from the Cambridge University have developed a new way of recycling electronic components and valuable metals in printed circuit boards which are used in computers and other electronic products.

III. Subject Area: Environmental Technology

7

Incinerator ash treatment technology

Researchers from the Sheffield University in United Kingdom have developed a new energy-efficient process for treating toxic incinerator fly ash.

IV. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health

8

Smog particles have killer impact in Los Angeles

A national environmental group claimed in a report that an estimated 3,500 people a year die in Los Angles County from the effects of inhaling fine smog particles.

9

Mercury food alert issued for swordfish, shark and marlin

The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency advised that pregnant women, women who intend to become pregnant, infants and children under 16 years of age should avoid eating shark, swordfish and marlin due to high levels of mercury in these fish.

V. Subject Area: General Environmental News

10

Pacific Islands to phase out ozone depleting substances

A project managed by the United Nations Environment Programme would enable the Pacific Islands to completely phase out the use of ozone depleting substances by the end of 2005.

11

Tap water quality improvements needed in two-thirds of Polish cities

A study conducted by Poland's official government watch-dog agency showed that two-thirds of the nation's urban tap water does not meet the Polish drinking water standards and improvement is needed before Poland joins the European Union in 2004.

12

Carbon sinks cannot keep up with emissions

Researchers from the Duke University in United States found that carbon absorption by natural ecosystem may no longer be able to keep up with manmade carbon dioxide emissions.

13

Altered algae soaks up toxic metals

Bio-remediation researchers from the Ohio State University in United States found that genetically altered algae could be used to clean up toxic trace metals in the contaminated sediments of Lake Erie.

 

 

SUMMARY REPORT

 

Period Covered: 13 May to 19 May 2002

 

Item 1

Recycling law on cars in Japan

Summary

The Japanese Economic, Trade and Industry Ministry plans to submit a bill at the forthcoming cabinet meeting to establish an automobile recycling law designed to boost the recycling of scrapped vehicle components and to reduce waste. If the bill is approved, it will be presented at the Diet session in the hope of it becoming law in 2004.

The bill stipulated that purchasers of new vehicles would be required to pay a recycling fee set by automobile makers when buying the motor. The fee would also be imposed on vehicles sold before the law is enforced, with owners of such vehicles obliged to pay the recycling fee before the first inspection of their vehicles after the enactment of the law. The bill also stipulated that vehicles could not be inspected if the owners do not have a certificate to prove that they have paid the recycling fee. Although automobile makers would be allowed to set the amount of the recycling fees for their models, it is expected that the fees would be about 20,000 yen. The government would call on automobile makers to lower their fees if they were too high. Car dealers and garages would have to refuse to scrap vehicles unless the owners can produce the certificate proving payment of the fee.

A planned third-party organisation would manage the collected recycling fees and the automobile makers would be required to apply for money from the corporation when they conduct recycling works.

Reference

Journal for sustainable waste management, May 2002, Page 3

 

 

 

 

Item 2

Shanghai tougher on exhaust fumes

Summary

The municipal environmental protection bureau is seeking the approval of the national authorities to use the tougher Euro II standards for measuring exhaust fumes in Shanghai from early next year. The bureau also plans to tighten the control over existing motors and phase out pollutive old motors.

Most Chinese cities now use Euro I standards, but Shanghai wants to enforce tougher standards because motor vehicle exhaust has become the largest source of air pollution in Shanghai. In 1998, exhaust fumes were responsible for 87 percent of the carbon monoxide in the air in downtown Shanghai, 97 percent of the hydrocarbon and 75 percent of the nitrogen oxides. With tougher controls, the authorities estimated that by 2005, this would reduce to 70 percent of carbon monoxide, 88 percent of hydrocarbon and 24 percent of nitrogen oxides.

According to the officials from the Shanghai Petrochemical Co., the largest local oil producer, all their gasoline products could be upgraded to Euro II standards by early next year if necessary. The new standard is unlikely to have a major impact on auto manufacturers as most brands of vehicles on the Shanghai market already conform to Euro II standards, or even Euro III or Euro IV standards.

Reference

http://www.pollutiononline.com/

 

 

 

Item 3

Canadian agency proposes residue limits for eight chemicals

Summary

Health Canada has proposed new regulations that set maximum residue limits (MRLs) for eight additional pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to ensure the safety of food supply and improve pest management. The proposed regulations would fall under the Food and Drugs Act. The eight chemicals are Glyphosate and trimethylsulfonium cation, imazethapyr, fomasafen, rimsulfuron, fludioxonnil, ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, pyridaben and zoxamide.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, 8 May 2002, Page 488

 

 

 

Item 4

US EPA proposes pollution credits to clean up rivers

Summary

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has proposed a new plan to improve the water quality of rivers. Under the new plan, industrial and municipal facilities would continue to comply with the 1972 Clean Water Act that required a reduction in river pollution such as stormwater, agriculture runoff, or sewer overflow. But in addition, incentives in the form of a credit would be given if pollution loads were reduced beyond the level required by the most stringent technology requirements. Farmers, municipal sewage plants and others would be allowed to swap the federal credits which are awarded for improving water quality beyond what is required by law.

US EPA hoped that the new plan would spur the clean-up of polluted rivers, potentially saving millions of dollars through this trading partnerships between groups. For example, a farmer could gain a federal credit for planting shrubs next to a stream then sell the credit to a municipal wastewater plant that is struggling to meet the water quality standards.

Reference

http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/05/05162002/reu_47230.asp

 

 

Item 5

California playgrounds use recycled materials

Summary

Under the Park Playground Accessibility and Recycling Grant Program, the California Integrated and Waste Management Board, the state's primary recycling agency and a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, awarded fifty-seven grants to help local public agencies upgrade playgrounds with recycled content materials. Safety mats made from old tyres, decks and slides made from recycled plastic, including wheelchair accessible platforms, ladders, rings, and steering wheels, interactive panels, signs are examples of recycled content products used for the upgrading of the parks and playgrounds. The grants amount to a total of more than US$2.5 million.

Reference

Journal for sustainable waste management, May 2002, Page 13

 

 

 

Item 6

New electro-scrap recycling technology

Summary

Researchers from the Cambridge University have developed a new way of recycling electronic components and valuable metals in printed circuit boards which are used in computers and other electronic products. The new recycling technology could help to solve the growing problem in managing obsolete computers and other electronic products.

The researchers used a specially developed chemical leaching agent made up of fluoroboric acid containing a titanium redox couple, to remove the solder from the printed circuit boards so that the electronic components can be removed for recycling. Tests conducted showed that the circuit boards were totally unaffected by the leaching agent. Their identification coding was preserved so it would be possible to sort them by optical means according to type, value of contents or toxicity. Solder was electroplated from the leachant, which was then regenerated. Tin and lead could also be recovered from the leachant with high efficiency.

Printed-circuit board manufacturers could apply the new technology to recycle defective printed-circuit boards instead of scrapping the whole board. Solder and other materials could also be recovered from shredded boards using this recycling technique.

Reference

Journal for sustainable waste management, May 2002, Page 18

Item 7

Incinerator ash treatment technology

Summary

Researchers from the Sheffield University in United Kingdom have developed a new energy-efficient process for treating millions of tonnes of toxic fly ash produced each year at incineration plants across the country. The process was pioneered as part of the government's programme for waste minimisation through recycling, recovery and re-use in industry.

In the new treatment process, energy-efficient regenerative burners which use up to 50 per cent less energy compared to other thermal treatment techniques are used to heat up ash particles to around 850° C. The regenerators are made of closely packed alumina spheres which maximise the area for heat transfer, making it possible to remove virtually all the heat from outgoing flue gases. The particles agglomerated as constituents are heated and softened. The sintered particles are then separated from the flue gas in cyclones designed to achieve maximum efficiency. High temperatures are maintained throughout the cyclones to ensure that there is no re-formation of dioxins and furans. Heavy metals are also converted into an unleachable form in the treatment process. The residual ash can then be made into pellets for use in construction applications such as road foundations, or disposed of in normal landfill sites.

Extensive tests were carried out on samples from the ash-detoxifying pilot plant and the results showed that the concentration of dioxins and furans in the treated ash were reduced to below the detectable limit of 0.1 pg/g. Up to 99.9 percent of some heavy metals are converted into metal oxides, thus reducing the leaching potential by 96 percent, comparable to levels found in normal soil.

Reference

Journal for sustainable waste management, May 2002, Page 7

 

 

 

Item 8

Smog particles have killer impact in Los Angeles

Summary

A national environmental group claimed in a report that an estimated 3,500 people a year die in Los Angles County from the effects of inhaling fine smog particles that come from vehicle exhaust, power plants, factories, refineries, bush fires and even living-room fireplaces. The county's economy also loses 1.7 million sick days a year because of ailments related to particulate smog, which also triggers 217,000 asthma attacks annually in the county. The environmentalists contend that the resulting health costs amount to $500 million a year in the state, in addition to killing thousands. According to the vice president of the environmental organisation, more people die in California by exposure to particulate matter than car accidents, homicides and AIDS.

Reference

http://www.pollutiononline.com/

 

 

 

Item 9

Mercury food alert issued for swordfish, shark and marlin

Summary

The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency has advised that pregnant women, women who intend to become pregnant, infants and children under 16 years of age should avoid eating shark, swordfish and marlin due to high levels of mercury in these fish. The agency found from a survey that shark has the highest levels of mercury, and mercury levels in swordfish were almost as high. Levels of mercury in marlin were found to be somewhat lower, but about twice as high as mercury levels in orange roughy, the next most mercury contaminated species.

According to the agency, all fishes contain some mercury in the form of methylmercury. Large predatory fishes which are higher up the food chain, can build up higher levels of methylmercury in their bodies. Methylmercury is known to be neurotoxic to humans as well as to animals. Methylmercury can harm the nervous system of an unborn child. Infants and children may also be at greater risk of mercury poisoning because they eat more food relative to their body size than adults. Ingesting high levels of methylmercury when pregnant could lead to impaired mental skills in the unborn child and lack of physical coordination in childhood. In adults, first sign of mercury poisoning is most likely to be a creeping or tingling sensation in the skin. These effects are likely to be transient unless the exposures are very high.

Occasionally eating shark, swordfish and marlin as part of a balanced diet is unlikely to cause harm to other adults but as a precaution, the agency is advising people not to eat more than one portion of these fish each week.

Reference

http://www.naturalist.com/eco-news/index.cfm?p=display&id=6502

 

 

Item 10

Pacific Islands to phase out ozone depleting substances

Summary

Pacific island countries currently consume about 50.6 metric tons of CFCs every year. Fiji stopped using the chemicals since 2000, while the Cook Islands and Niue are preparing to ratify the Montreal Protocol with help from New Zealand. A project managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would enable the Pacific Islands to completely phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of 2005. The strategy to phase out ozone depleting substances would include direct support for national monitoring actions, regional facilitation for policy setting, training and public awareness, collaboration with bilateral donors, and advisory from UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics staff based in the Regional Office of Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok.

Reference

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-17-01.html

 

 

Item 11

Tap water quality improvements needed in two-thirds of Polish cities

Summary

The Supreme Chamber of Control (NIK), Poland's official government watch-dog agency, monitored the drinking water of 20 cities in Poland and found that the quality of water in two-thirds of the cities does not comply with the current Polish standards. According to NIK, polluted underground water and surface water in the country is the chief cause of the poor tap water quality. Inadequate processing of industrial waste by industries and sewage by the municipal sewage processing plants were also blamed for the poor water quality. Furthermore, old system of water pipes which are 50 or even 100 years old in many cities, also has an adverse impact on the quality of tap water.

Currently, newer technologies are being installed in many water processing plants to meet the European Union Directive 75/440 on Drinking Water before Poland joins the European Union in 2004.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, 8 May 2002, Page 481

 

 

 

Item 12

Carbon sinks cannot keep up with emissions

Summary

Researchers from Duke University in United States found that carbon absorption by natural ecosystem may no longer be able to keep up with the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) due to fossil fuel burning and loss of forest.

The scientists enclosed a large section of north Texas prairie in two plastic covered chambers and exposed the grassland to varying concentrations of CO2 over several growing seasons. Detailed biochemical and biological analyses of the grasses and soil were conducted, including a study on the changes in the species composition of the plant community. The results showed that plants' physiological processes responded fairly linearly to increases in carbon dioxide and plant production also increased. However, production and soil carbon storage basically saturated above 400ppm, a CO2 concentration very close to the current atmospheric level. In addition, the team found that as CO2 concentration rose, the plants used up much of the soil nitrogen, which limited further growth and further CO2 absorption.

This study emphasised the urgency with which the United States and other nations should adopt strict limits on CO2 emissions, as outlined in the International Kyoto accord on climate change.

Reference

http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-16-09.html

 

 

 

Item 13

Altered algae soaks up toxic metals

Summary

Bio-remediation researchers from the Ohio State University in United States found that genetically altered algae could be used to clean up toxic trace metals in the contaminated sediments of Lake Erie. The algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a common unicellular algae that responds well to genetic engineering and grows fast into large quantities. The researchers found that the most effective way of increasing the algae's ability to attach itself to heavy metals is to attach a protein known as metallothionen that binds heavy metals, to the outside of the algae cell. The genetically modified algae could pick up five times more metal than a regular cell and grew three times faster when surrounded by high concentrations of heavy metals. The researchers would work with engineering firms to test pilot facilities for treatment of contaminated wastes and sites.

Reference

http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-14-09.html

 

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