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S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation |
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1 |
Spanish Environmental Noise Rules Proposed |
The Spanish government approved a draft law on environmental noise management to combat noise pollution. |
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2 |
Italy's Industry Minister Wants to Extend Car Eco-incentives |
The Italian Industry Minister is in favour of extending the eco-incentives for auto sector which had expired in March 2003. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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3 |
New Refrigeration Technology Is CFC-Free And Super-efficient |
Scientists from the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina developed a new refrigeration system which is super efficient and does not require the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), an ozone-depleting substance. |
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4 |
Antifouling Paint Makes Life Uncomfortable For Barnacles |
Scientists at Cornell University in United States invented a new antifouling ship paint that does not contain any toxic copper or organotin-based compounds. |
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III. Subject Area: Renewable and Green Energy |
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5 |
Scotland Confirms 40% Target For Renewables |
Ministers in the Scottish Executive adopted a target of 40 percent of power to come from renewable energy (wave and tidal) sources by 2020. |
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6 |
Britain Starts Process to Certify Green Power |
The British government is implementing the Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin Scheme to certify the source of green power. |
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IV. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Public Health |
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7 |
Waste Handlers Suffer Breathing Problem From Rotting Food |
Researchers from the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health found that rubbish collectors exposed to bioaerosols that build up in organic waste could suffer from lung damage. |
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IV. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Public Health |
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8 |
A Study To Establish Pollution Breathed In By Car Commuters |
Researchers from the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development in United Kingdom conducted a study to establish the level of ultra-fine particles that car drivers and passengers are exposed to as they drive through congested urban routes. |
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9 |
Study Links Common Plastic to Birth Defects |
Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University in Ohio found that exposure to low levels of bisphenol A, a common ingredient used to make plastics, caused birth defects in mice that could also occur in humans. |
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V. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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10 |
Britain's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fell Last Year |
Britain's emissions of greenhouse gases fell by 3.5 percent last year through energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy, keeping the country on track to meet its own pollution targets and those set out in the Kyoto Protocol. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 31 Mar to 6 Apr 2003
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Spanish Environmental Noise Rules Proposed |
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Summary |
The Spanish government approved a draft law on environmental noise management to combat noise pollution. Under the new law, acoustic quality targets are set according to land use. Special zones of acoustic rights would be created in areas affected by transport infrastructure within which strict limits would be placed on future buildings. In areas where acoustic quality standards are not met, zones of special noise protection would be established to promote acoustic improvement. Where such improvement is considered unachievable, a special noise situation zone would be declared with obligatory requirements to achieve acceptable interior noise levels. Other measures included the incorporation of acoustic quality considerations into all land and town planning provisions and establishing the right of house buyers to demand that vendors repair any defects in acoustic quality. The law also establishes a scale of fines of up to 300,000 Euro for infractions. (TOC) |
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Reference |
http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=14174 |
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Italy's Industry Minister Wants to Extend Car Eco-incentives |
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Summary |
The Italian Industry Minister said he favoured extending eco-incentives for the auto sector which had expired in March 2003. The decision to prolong the incentives is expected to be made at the next cabinet meeting. The government had introduced the incentives to encourage people to trade in old cars and purchase new eco-friendly models. The eco-incentives were originally due to expire by the end of 2002 but the government had extended the incentives to the end of March 2003. (TOC) |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/20333/story.htm |
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New Refrigeration Technology Is CFC-free And Super-efficient |
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Summary |
Scientists from the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina developed a super-efficient prototype refrigeration system which does not require the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), an ozone-depleting substance. The prototype system consists of a semiconductor chip containing around 1,000 layers of nano-scale films of alternating semiconductors encased between two thin translucent crystals. The system uses electricity to push heat towards one end of the circuit and cooling the other end. Laboratory tests showed that the system could cool a block of solid steel from 79 degrees Fahrenheit to 64 degrees Fahrenheit in around 2 minutes, which was much faster than conventional refrigerator. The researchers were optimistic that ongoing improvements could increase the efficiency by two to three times. (TOC) |
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Reference |
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Antifouling Paint Makes Life Uncomfortable For Barnacles |
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Summary |
Scientists at Cornell University in United States invented a new antifouling ship paint that does not contain any copper or organotin-based compounds. Ships have traditionally used copper and organotin-based paints to protect their hulls from barnacles and bacteria, but both metal paints were being phased out because their byproducts were toxic and would bioaccumulate in marine organisms. The new antifouling paint contains a substance that creates charged surfaces with the water layers to repel unwelcome barnacles and bacteria from the ship hulls. The scientists also revealed that their new rubber paint could enable ship to rid itself of any remaining stubborn plant or sea-life when it reaches a speed of 10 knots, where the turbulence created at this speed would remove seaweed and shells. (TOC) |
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Reference |
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Scotland Confirms 40% Target For Renewables |
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Summary |
Ministers in the Scottish Executive adopted a target of 40 percent of power to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. The announcement on the adoption of the 40 percent target was accompanied by an investment of £2 million in a new Marine Energy Research Centre to look into harnessing energy from wave and tide and the setting up of a group to address barriers that might block the adoption of renewables. A high level Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland would also be established to accelerate the development of the renewables industry. The annual market for wave and tidal turbines is expected to be £1 billion by 2010 and Scotland has four major wave companies. (TOC) |
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Reference |
http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/fp_showdoc.asp?docid=22143191&accnum=1&topics= |
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Britain Starts Process to Certify Green Power |
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Summary |
The British government is implementing the Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) Scheme to certify the source of green power. The REGO scheme is required under the Renewables Directive, which directs EU member states to establish a mechanism to issue guarantees of origin to producers of eligible renewable energy electricity. The REGOs would be issued free of charge. The scheme would complement the existing Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) that are available only to suppliers which generate more than 0.5 megawatt per month from specified renewable sources. In contrast to ROC, REGO would apply to large-scale hydropower facilities and some forms of energy-from-wastes sites. The REGO scheme is expected to be of value to small generators that want to sell green power to the growing market of eco-friendly consumers and it would also guarantee green credentials to overseas customers. (TOC) |
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Reference |
http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/fp_showdoc.asp?docid=79137820&accnum=1&topics= |
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Waste Handlers Suffer Breathing Problem From Rotting Food |
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Summary |
Researchers from the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health found that rubbish collectors exposed to bioaerosols containing endotoxins from bacteria and fungal spores that build up in organic waste could suffer from lung damage. The average level of fungal spores in the air breathed in by the binmen was 100,000 fungal spores per cubic metre which was much higher than the normal air which has less than 1,000 spores per cubic metre. The researchers also analysed the breathing trends and spit of the binmen and discovered a rise in the respiratory tract inflammation over the course of their working week. Although the researchers had only evaluated the effects of short-term exposure to bioaerosols, they suggested that long-term effects could lead to reduced lung function and respiratory disease. (TOC) |
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Reference |
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A Study To Establish Pollution Breathed In By Car Commuters |
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Summary |
Researchers from the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development in United Kingdom conducted a study to establish the level of ultra-fine particles that car computers are exposed to as they drive through congested city streets. The researchers used a portable equipment to measure the level of particles and recorded the particle number, mass concentration and the carbon monoxide levels in the cars being driven. Volunteer drivers also recorded the traffic conditions into a dictaphone. The researchers also monitored the weather to establish patterns of exposure based on outside factors such as wind directions. The researchers had collected the first set of data on second-by-second exposure to small and large particles and are now attempting to establish potential health effects of the ultra-fine particles. The researchers hoped that the results of their study would form the foundation for a strategic tool to help regulators assess typical annual exposure along urban routes. (TOC) |
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Reference |
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Study Links Common Plastic to Birth Defects |
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Summary |
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio found that exposure to low levels of bisphenol A caused birth defects in mice that could also occur in humans. Bisphenol A is one of the most commonly used plastic materials in food and beverage containers. The chemical has long been criticised by environmentalists as being a hormone disruptor that could cause defects in embryos. The researchers exposed the mice to small amounts of bisphenol A for short periods of time and found a higher than normal increase in abnormalities in developing egg cells in the female mice. Although the study did not examine the effects of bisphenol A in humans, the researchers believed that the effects would be similar. Besides advocating more research into the potential effects of bisphenol A, the researchers also urged the chemical industry to manufacture more plastic products that do not contain bisphenol A. (TOC) |
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Reference |
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Britain's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fell Last Year |
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Summary |
Britain's emissions of greenhouse gases fell by 3.5 percent last year, keeping the country on track to meet its own pollution targets as well as those set out in the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. According to the British Department of Trade and Industry, the drop in emissions, the first decrease for two years, was due to the lower energy consumption as a result of the warmer weather. The government's Climate Change Policy and more efficient use of energy also contributed to the decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions. The proportion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar had risen slightly from 2.8 percent in 2001 to 3 percent. Britain sees greater use of renewable power as crucial to curbing carbon dioxide emissions and wants renewables to produce 10 percent of the country's power by 2010. (TOC) |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=20306 |