Environment Report 28 Oct 2002 to 3 Nov 2002

Table of content

S/N		Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environment Policy & Regulation
1	EC Proposed New Air Quality Guidelines		The European Commission has proposed new air quality guidelines for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals.
2	Parliament Approves Building Energy Standards As Part of EU Climate Strategy		The European Parliament has approved a new legislation on the energy performance of buildings as part of the efforts to lower the European Union's carbon dioxide emissions.
3	South Korea To Step Up Regulation Of 'Potentially Hazardous' Substances		The South Korean government has announced a comprehensive plan to review and tighten the regulation of some toxic chemicals, with new restrictions on the release and volume of these substances.
4	Japan Set To Streamline, Strengthen Rules Governing Disposal Of Dangerous Wastes		The Japan Ministry of Environment plans to streamline and strengthen its Waste Disposal Law in 2003.
5	New Zealand Unveils New Policies To Combat Climate Change, Sets Renewable Energy Goal		The New Zealand government has approved a new climate change policy package and has set new targets to increase renewable energy production by 2012.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
6	Researchers Find Microbe That Converts Toxin To Less Hazardous Chemical		Researchers from the Michigan State University in the US have found a microbe that can convert trichloroethane, a hazardous industrial chemical, into a benign compound that other microbes can render harmless.
III. Subject Area: Recycling and Waste Minimisation
7	Dell Offers Recycling Option To Consumers		Dell Computer Corporation has launched a new programme to recycle used desktop and notebook computers.
IV. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
8	Wood Stove Pollution Is A Burning Issue		Burning Issues, a non-profit organisation focusing on wood smoke pollution in the U.S, found that the burning of low-energy materials like wood and charcoal released more pollution than high-energy fuels like propane and natural gas.
9	Californians Alerted to Water Contamination		The US Natural Resources Defence Council found that drinking water in four of California's largest cities might pose health risks to residents.
V. Subject Area: General Environmental News
10	Study Quantifies Reliability, Low Emissions of CNG Trucks		The National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy found that vehicles fuelled by compressed natural gas produced lower emissions of air pollutants compared to their diesel counterparts.
11	Renewable Energies Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Developing Countries		The Pew Centre for Climate Change in the U.S. (a non-profit independent organisation dedicated to providing credible information and innovative solutions to address global climate change) found that the increased use of renewable energy in six developing countries had contributed to significant reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions.
12	Impact Of Aircraft On Global Warming Reduced By Flying At Lower Altitudes		Researchers from the Imperial College, London, found that flying aircraft at lower altitudes could reduce the impact of commercial aviation on global warming.

SUMMARY REPORT

Period covered: 28 Oct 2002 to 3 Nov 2002

Item 1	EC Proposed New Air Quality Guidelines
Summary	The European Commission has proposed new air quality guidelines for a series of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The guideline values stipulated in the new air quality directive are as follows: 6 nanograms per cubic metre (ng/m³) for arsenic; 5 ng/m³ for cadmium; 20 ng/m³ for nickel; and 1 ng/m³ for benzo-a-pyrene (a marker for PAHs) The new targets would be accompanied by tough monitoring and reporting provisions requiring member states to explain any local exceedances. Where these occur, governments have to show that all cost-effective and anti-pollution measures have been taken. Sources of pollution, as well as the number of people exposed above the target levels have to be disclosed. Authorities would also have to ensure that firms responsible for emitting the pollutants are applying the best available techniques to control pollution.
Reference	http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=13191

Item 2	Parliament Approves Building Energy Standards As Part Of EU Climate Strategy
Summary	The European Parliament approved a new legislation on the energy performance of buildings as part of the efforts to lower the European Union's carbon dioxide emissions. The new legislation would establish standard methods of calculating the energy performance of buildings and minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings and large buildings when they undergo major renovation. The legislation would also establish a certification system for both new and existing buildings as a guide to buyers and tenants. Mandatory inspection of boilers and heating or cooling systems would also be implemented under the legislation. Energy savings of about 8 percent of the European Union's annual energy consumption of 930 million metric tons of oil equivalent is expected by 2010 with this legislation.
Reference	International Environment Reporter, Vol. 25, No. 22, Page 1004

Item 3	South Korea To Step Up Regulation Of 'Potentially Hazardous' Substances
Summary	The South Korean government announced a comprehensive plan to review and tighten the regulation of some toxic chemicals that are hazardous but remained loosely regulated, with new restrictions on the release and volume of these substances. The program would target chemicals with high toxic content and high production volumes that are likely to harm human health and the environment. Other than toxicity, the carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of a substance would be examined to determine if it should be designated as "potentially hazardous". The Ministry of Environment together with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development would draw up a list of these hazardous substances in 2003 and conduct risk assessments and set risk-adjusted regulation priorities between 2003 and 2005. The emission limits for these substances would be established between 2004 and 2005.
Reference	International Environment Reporter, Vol. 24, No. 22, Page 1039

Item 4

Japan Set To Streamline, Strengthen Rules Governing Disposal Of Dangerous Wastes

Summary

The Japan Ministry of Environment has plans to streamline and strengthen the Waste Disposal Law in 2003. The proposed amendment to the Waste Disposal Law would require producers and importers to collect and dispose of dangerous waste such as spray cans, syringes, fibre reinforced plastics and fire extinguishers. The amendment would at the same time relax requirements on manufacturers to collect and dispose of household waste for recycling. Under the proposed amendment, manufacturers of personal computers, syringes, and other industrial products that are used both as household and office goods would be allowed to collect these used products as waste instead of having to separate them into industrial and household waste, thereby eliminating the extra paperwork associated with filing the waste separately.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, Vol. 24, No. 22, Page 1042

Item 5

New Zealand Unveils New Policies To Combat Climate Change, Sets Renewable Energy Goal

Summary

The New Zealand government has approved a new climate change policy package that would include a levy for greenhouse gas emissions starting as early as 2007. The new policy package also includes emission charges, financial incentives, negotiated agreements, exemptions for the agricultural sector and management of sink credits. The package would enable New Zealand to meet its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol while protecting the nation's economic interests. The government has also set a new target to increase the production of renewable energy by an additional 30 petajoules per year by the year 2012.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, Vol. 24, No. 22, Page 1043

Item 6	Researchers Find Microbe That Converts Toxin To Less Hazardous Chemical
Summary	Researchers from the Michigan State University in the US have found a anaerobic microbe that can through respiration, reduce trichloroethane, an industrial chemical that is difficult to clear from acquifers and groundwater, to chloroethane. Chloroethane is a benign compound that can be rendered harmless by other microbes. In the laboratory experiment, the researchers tested the response of the microbe in groundwater sediments that were contaminated with trichloroethane. The results showed that the microbe was able to completely convert all the trichloroethane in the sediments to the less hazardous chloroethane within two months.
Reference	http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/11/11012002/ap_48861.asp

Item 7	Dell Offers Recycling Option To Consumers
Summary	Dell Computer Corp. has offered consumers in the U.S. the option to recycle their used computers through the new Dell Exchange recycling programme. Consumers can recycle desktop or notebook computers from any manufacturer. The process is simple, with on-line shipping instructions for consumers who are responsible only for the shipping charges to the nearest recycling centre. According to Dell, the recycled computers will be separated into components, primarily plastics, metals and glass and approximately 98 percent of the materials in the computer will re-enter the raw material stream through the recycling process.
Reference	http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2002/10/10312002/s_48826.asp

Item 8	Wood Stove Pollution Is A Burning Issue
Summary	Burning Issues, a non-profit organisation focusing on wood smoke pollution in the US, found that the burning of low-energy materials like wood and charcoal released more pollution than high-energy fuels like propane and natural gas. The particles produced by the incinerated wood are smaller than 2.5 microns and these tiny particulates once inhaled could elude the body's natural purification mechanisms. The health consequences people commonly experience after being exposed to wood smoke include eye, nose, mouth, and throat irritation, coughing, breathing difficulties, tightness of the chest, or symptoms related to pre-existing respiratory ailments like emphysema. Besides particulates, wood smoke also contains nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and many other organic compounds such as aldehydes. Some of these substances are suspected carcinogens, can irritate the nose and eyes, or damage lung tissue. The USEPA has estimated that the cancer risk from wood smoke is twelve times greater than that from an equal amount of tobacco smoke.
Reference	http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2002/11/11012002/s_48689.asp

Item 9	Californians Alerted to Water Contamination
Summary	The US Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) found that deteriorating water works, pollution and outdated treatment technology combined to deliver drinking water that might pose health risks to residents in four of California's largest cities viz. Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. NRDC reported the following: high nitrates, pesticides and industrial chemicals in the Fresno water supply high trihalomethanes in the San Francisco water supply high chlorine by-products, arsenic, radioactive and cancer causing radon and perchlorate, a thyroid toxin in the Los Angeles water supply. high trihalomethanes, perchlorate, ethylene dibromide, lead and three cancer causing radioactive elements in the San Diego water supply NRDC recommended that the state and cities upgrade their dinking water treatment, invest in water conservation measures, and replace and update pipes and water distribution system components in order to combat the pollution. NDRC also recommended that state and municipal authorities adopt standards to protect watersheds and areas above aquifers draining into California water supplies.
Reference	http://ens-news.com/ens/nov2002/2002-11-01-06.asp

Item 10

Study Quantifies Reliability, Low Emissions of CNG Trucks

Summary

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the US Department of Energy conducted a study to compare compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled trucks with similar diesel-fuelled trucks. The United Parcel Service, which has the nation's largest private CNG fleet volunteered the use of its package trucks for the study. The CNG trucks ran every working day with no major complaints and were used as much or more than the diesel trucks. The study compared the operations, maintenance, performance and emissions characteristics of the CNG and diesel vehicles from 1997 to 2000. The results showed that the carbon monoxide emissions from CNG trucks were 75 percent lower, oxides of nitrogen emissions were 49 percent lower, hydrocarbons and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions were 4 percent lower and carbon dioxide emissions were 7 percent lower compared to the diesel truck emissions.

Reference

http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=22853&image1=2

Item 11	Renewable Energies Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Developing Countries
Summary	A study conducted by the US Pew Centre for Climate Change (a non-profit independent organisation dedicated to providing credible information and innovative solutions to address global climate change) showed that increased use of renewable energy in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey had reduced the growth of their combined greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 300 million tonnes per year. The efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions included the following: energy reforms to promote economic growth; development of alternative fuels to reduce energy imports; aggressive energy efficiency programmes; use of solar and other renewable energy in rural areas; reducing deforestation; slowing population growth; and switching from coal to natural gas. Without these efforts, the greenhouse gas emissions from these six developing countries would be around 19 percent higher than they are today.
Reference	http://www.re-focus.net/latestnews_main.html

Item 12	Impact Of Aircraft On Global Warming Reduced By Flying At Lower Altitudes
Summary	Researchers from the Imperial College, London, found that flying at lower altitudes could reduce the impact of commercial aviation on global warming by eliminating contrails. Contrails could be eliminated if aircrafts reduce their altitude from the current 33,000 feet to between 24,000 and 31,000 feet. Contrails are formed when warm moist exhaust gases from an aircraft's engine mix with the surrounding air. If the air is cold enough, the vapour would reach saturation point and condense to form water droplets that rapidly freeze, leaving a visible trail behind the aircraft. Contrails trap heat in the atmosphere by reflecting infrared radiation emitted from the Earth's surface causing global warming.
Reference	New Scientist, 19 October, Page 6

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