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 Detergent Ecolabel Criteria Revamped |
The revised criteria for laundry detergents to be eligible to carry the EU ecolabel have been published. |
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2 |
California Regulators Mull Shift from Pollution-free Electric Cars to Low-pollution Hybrids |
California plans to soften regulations requiring battery-powered, pollution -free cars in the state. Under the proposal, automakers could produce hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars and low-pollution hybrid vehicles. |
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3 |
New York Passes Nation's Toughest Acid Rain Rules |
New York State Environmental Board has ordered reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide to curb acid rain as well as to help people with asthma and other respiratory ailments. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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4 |
Vegetable Oil Strain Shows Promise in Car Engines |
Researchers in the US have found that altering the chemical structure of soybean oil can make the oil more resistant to temperature change making it possible for use as a supplement to petroleum-based motor oil in automobiles. |
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5 |
New Water Treatment Process Could Help Cities Cut Sludge Disposal Costs |
An innovative technique, called the activated magnetic sludge process has been proposed for treating and purifying wastewater to reduce the amount of leftover sludge. |
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6 |
Six Global Automobile Manufacturers to Work Together on Fuel Cell Technologies |
Six leading global automakers have agreed to jointly undertake research to develop technologies to produce high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks. |
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III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Energy |
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7 |
Company to Use Landfill Gas to Reduce Plant Emissions |
The Dow Chemical Company has signed a contract to capture and use landfill methane at its manufacturing plant in place of natural gas. |
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IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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8 |
U.N. Group Develops Guidance to Control Unintentional Release of Organic Pollutants |
The U.N. group tasked to develop guidelines for controlling unintentional release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) will consider the differing situations and conditions faced by developing and developed nations. |
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9 |
Swiss Sewage Spreading Ban to Enter into Force |
Swiss legislation to phase out use of sewage sludge to fertilize farmland will take effect on 1 May 2003. |
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Period Covered: 24 Mar to 30 Mar 2003
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Item 1 |
EU Detergent Ecolabel Criteria Revamped |
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Summary |
The revised criteria for laundry detergents to be eligible to carry the EU ecolabel, have been published to toughen up EU legislation on laundry detergents. The revised criteria would be valid till 2008. The new specifications stipulate the maximum permitted levels of total chemicals, insoluble organic chemicals and phosphates per wash, replacing a previous, more complicated points system. Detergents are not permitted to contain any ingredients classed as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic. Substances which are considered highly toxic to aquatic organisms or which may cause long-term harm to the marine environment are no longer permitted in any quantity. |
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Reference |
http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=14113 |
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Item 2 |
California Regulators Mull Shift from |
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Summary |
California plans to soften regulations requiring battery-powered, pollution -free cars in the state. Under the new proposal, automakers can produce hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars and low-pollution hybrid vehicles to satisfy the state's clean air requirement. The proposal will eliminate a quota of 10% pollution-free vehicles by 2003 in favor of more low-emission cars and hybrids that run on gas and batteries. The auto industry will look at hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles to replace the internal combustion engine. Fuel cells produce electric power from a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen that emits only clean water from tailpipes. Auto companies have several models on the road as demonstration vehicles and plan to have more by the end of the decade. |
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Reference |
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Item 3 |
New York Passes Nation's Toughest Acid Rain Rules |
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Summary |
New York State Environmental Board has ordered reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide to curb acid rain as well as to help people with asthma and other respiratory ailments. Environmentalists say that acid rain has created more than 500 'dead' lakes and ponds with little plant or animal life. Electric generators statewide will have to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 50 percent below levels allowed under the Federal Clean Air Act - or by 130,000 tons a year. The reduction will be phased in over three years beginning in Jan 2005. Nitrogen oxide emissions will have to be reduced by 20,000 tons a year beginning Oct 2004. |
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Reference |
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Item 4 |
Vegetable Oil Strain Shows Promise in Car Engines |
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Summary |
Researchers in US have increased the temperature durability and shelf life of soybean oil by altering the chemical structure of the vegetable oil. This change could make the oil suitable as a supplement to petroleum-based motor oil used in automobiles. According to the researchers, the altered soybean oil could be used to replace additives in engine oil that are used to prevent corrosion or the buildup of residue that could damage car filters or spark plugs. Unlike existing petroleum-based oils that produce carbon monoxide and harmful hydrocarbons, vegetable oil is cleaner as it yields only carbon dioxide and water. It is also biodegradable and does not harm the topsoil or water supplies. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/dailynews.cfm/newsid/20275/newsDate/26-Mar-2003/story |
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Item 5 |
New Water Treatment Process |
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Summary |
An innovative technique, called the activated magnetic sludge process has been proposed for treating and purifying wastewater to reduce the amount of leftover sludge by researchers from the University of Japan. The technique was presented to scientists gathered at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans. Normal activated sludge treatment involves the use of bacteria that help purify the water by eating harmful organic pollutants. However, this can leave behind tons of decontaminated sludge that must be disposed of, often in landfills. The new technique involves the addition of powdered magnetite, a mineral or iron ore with a strong magnetic force to a tank of activated sludge. As the bacteria eat the pollutants in the sludge, they take up the magnetite and then stick to the magnetic drum where they can be scraped off and used again to treat more wastewater instead of being discarded as excess sludge. Scientists claim that the introduction of magnetic separation results in 'zero emission of excess sludge' and helps to cut sludge disposal costs. |
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Reference |
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030327075453.htm |
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Item 6 |
Six Global Automobile Manufacturers |
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Summary |
Six leading global automakers (Toyota, Nissan, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai and Peugeot-Citroen) have agreed to jointly undertake research to develop technologies to produce high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, an important component of fuel cell automobiles. If such high-pressure tanks can be developed, fuel cell vehicles' driving distance per charge could be extended from 300 kilometers to 500 kilometers, the same distance traveled by gasoline-engine vehicles. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol. 26, No 6, Page 282 |
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Item 7 |
Company to Use Landfill Gas to Reduce Plant Emissions |
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Summary |
The Dow Chemical Company has signed a contract to capture and use landfill methane at its manufacturing plant in place of natural gas. The landfill gas will be used to generate steam for general manufacturing purposes. The use of landfill gas is expected to reduce emissions by more than 27 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year. The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is comparable to keeping 2,300 cars off the road annually. The company is also looking into wind power, fuel cells and other landfill gas projects as it pursues more sustainable energy production and reductions in greenhouse gases. |
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Reference |
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Item 8 |
U.N. Group Develops Guidance to Control |
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Summary |
A group formed by the U.N. Environment Programme to develop guidelines for controlling unintentional release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been asked by U.N representatives to consider the differing situations and conditions faced by developing and developed nations. The guidelines to be provided by the group under an international treaty on controlling releases of POPs have to take into account the economic needs of developing countries. Solutions recommended for controlling toxic releases should be effective, without putting industries in the developing countries out of business. The working group, composed of representatives from 36 countries will focus on developing guidelines for sources of unintentional release of POPs. The recommendations are to be based on the 'best available technology' and 'best environmental practices'. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol. 26, No 6, Pages 260-261 |
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Item 9 |
Swiss Sewage Spreading Ban to Enter into Force |
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Summary |
A Swiss legislation to phase out use of sewage sludge to fertilize farmland will take effect on 1 May 2003. Initially, the spreading of sludge on land for growing vegetables and animal fodder will be banned. The ban will be extended to all land in 2006. Switzerland is the only country in the world to have taken such a step, prompted by fears of long-term chemical contamination. The precautionary ban will guard against irreversible damage to land, health risks and impairment of food quality. |
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Reference |
http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=14136 |