News Archive
Latest 50 news articles
Mayoral candidates asked to address public health crisis
A campaign group called Clean Air in London has called upon mayoral candidates to address the 'biggest public health crisis for decades'. Clean air is set to be a dominant theme in the run up to the 2012 election for the next mayor of London, with a new manifesto been launched for Clean Air in London. The manifesto highlights several priorities that should be included in the candidate's campaign, including championing the case for air quality with the UK and European governments, cutting traffi...
India revealed to have 'worst air pollution in the world'
The annual Environmental Performance Index has been revealed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, finding that India has overtaken China as having the worst air pollution in the world. China dropped to 125th place out of the 132 countries surveyed, leaving India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh at the back as having the worse air effects on human health. The data is compiled using satellite data from environmental research centres at Yale and Columbia Universities. A New York Times...
15 new chemicals to be monitored in EU water
The directive on priority substances in the field of water quality is to be revised to include 15 more chemicals on the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters. Substances used in biocides, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products will now be closely monitored, as well as industrial chemicals. Plant protection substances Aclonifen, Bifenox, Cypermethrin, Dicofol, Heptachlor, Quinoxyfen will now be monitored as a step to improving the quality of water in...
Increased pollution effort and open awareness in Scotland
The Scottish parliament will require extra efforts in order to achieve emission goals; it has been reported by the Press Association, as the government attempts to improve awareness over air pollution in the area. Legislation passed by Holyrood targeted a 42 per cent drop in emissions from 1990 levels by 2020. However, the ambitious targets will require extra actions, after the independent advisory body the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) declared action on pollution and a tightening up of the...
Intercontinental crop losses caused by pollution
Ozone pollution generated in North America caused Europe to lose 1.2 million tonnes of wheat a year, according to a new study. The research, conducted by the University of Leeds in the UK, found that fossil fuels are damaging crop growths of wheat, maize, soybean, cotton, potato and rice not only locally, but also travelling thousands of miles downwind. The new research reflects the importance of international strategies to curb carbon emissions. The 2009 Copenhagen summit, which fell apart with...
Scotland first UK nation to launch pollution alert system
A pollution alert system has been launched in Scotland in a bid to make information more accessible and improve public health. It is the first UK nation to offer pollution alerts. A report last year found Scotland's major cities are being exposed to "dangerous levels" of air pollution. Know & Respond alerts those who sign up to the system when poor air quality is forecast for the day ahead. Users get alerts via text message or email. Poor air quality can particularly affect people with heart con...
Pollution control products boost in demand
Increased production of vehicles alongside the tightening of global air pollution regulations has led to a significant increase in demand for diesel-engine pollution control products. Corning Inc, a major supplier of the pollution control products, has reported a drastic increase in sales as companies invest more in complying with international pollution law, it has been reported by Democrat and Chronicle. Heavy duty sales are expected to grow from 125,000 in 2010 to about 225,000 this year in t...
Severe health warnings in Delhi
Gastrointestinal diseases, asthma, bronchitis and vitamin D deficiency are all being linked with severe weather conditions and pollution in Delhi, according to the Times of India. The North Indian city is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16.7 million inhabitants in the territory at the 2011 Census. The cramped environment and the excessive air pollution has made life difficult in the city, with 7,525 deaths in 2010 from complications from respiratory diseases, a 41 p...
Pollution-related asthma cost spiralling
The cost of asthma that is being caused by pollution is far higher than past records, according to researchers in the US, who estimated that the cost of asthma caused by traffic-related pollution in certain areas could be over $18 million per year. The study was conducted in Long Beach and Riverside in California, America, which are both areas with high regional air pollution levels and which have large roads near residential neighbourhoods. Researchers used new techniques that allowed them to...
Magnetic surfactants in soap could improve pollution clean up
Scientists in England have created the first soap that can be controlled by magnets, which could revolutionise the cleanup of environmental disasters such as oil spills. The researchers, from the University of Bristol in England, made the soap by dissolving iron in chloride and bromide ions. The soap responded to the magnetic field, opening up the possibility of a detergent that can be used to clean pollution and also be lifted back out of sensitive environments. Peter Dowding, an industrial...
Maintenance projects present real opportunity for rental pumps
Smaller, maintenance-led projects present a real opportunity for pump rental companies. None more so than Pump Supplies, the owner and operator of the largest hire fleet of electric submersible pumps and accessories in the UK. Managing director, Andrew John states: “With their component manufacture and design, submersible pumps can operate at a high level of pumping efficiency using the latest technology N impellers developed by ITT Flygt and variable frequency drives which make pumping duties m...
Waste Management, Recycling, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy South-East European Forum
28–30 March 2012, Sofia, Bulgaria The Early Bird Registration is running till 30 Jan! The European Commission accepted recently an Energy Roadmap 2050 which aims a very high share of RES in gross final energy consumption (75% in 2050) and a share of RES in electricity consumption reaching 97%. The other ambitious target is the landfills to be banned in 9 years - about 3 billion euro per year is the value of materials which can be got from reuse. South-East Europe will be a part of this world gr...
BioStym Reduces the need for co-substrate in Anaerobic Digesters
In a pilot at a mesophilic anaerobic digester it was established that the use of BioStym led to a reduction in the need for co-substrates whilst maintaining the biogas yield. BioStym is a product developed with the purpose to improve the biological process in (co-) digester installations. The effect of BioStym on the digestion process was researched at a location in The Netherlands. For this purpose the biogas production and the quantity of digestion products where monitored during an eight week...
Continuing discrepancies in Beijing data
Beijing has started to record PM2.5 pollutants in the city as the Chinese begin an overhaul of their data collection methods, but early results still show discrepancies with US data, according to the Wall Street Journal. Early measurements from Monday morning showed that pollution levels were at 'moderate' according to Beijing readings, which registered at around 30 micrograms per cubic meter. However, US readings showed readings of 66 micrograms per cubic metre, which is considered an 'unhealt...
Russian Barents region starts to move in the right direction
Three of the 42 'hot spots' (extremely polluted areas) in northwest Russia have been removed from the list as environmental action starts to pay dividends. There are still 39 extremely polluted areas that remain in the Russian Barents region, but it is clear that an appreciation of environmental considerations is coming to the fore in the region. Increased cooperation between Norway, Russia, Sweden and Finland has been crucial in achieving a cooperative effort to tackling pollution levels. Clear...
50 Years of Innovation in Water and Process Industries
WES Dosing Products (UK) offer 9 models of A3 & A4 Series Blue White peristaltic pumps to cover a flow range from 0.003-600 lph at pressures to 8.6 bar using no maintenance variable speed brushless DC motors. With a wide voltage input 96-264V, 1ph, 50/60hz, these pumps have a 2500:1 turndown and rated to IP66 for washdown. From an operators perspective these pumps have a simple user friendly digital touch pad with an easy to use menu driven software and a VGA graphic multi colour backlit LCD whi...
Professional and Comprehensive Trade Fair for Environmental Protection Solutions
Eco Expo Asia, the trade fair for environmental protection products, services and technologies is directly connected to enterprises and governments. Featuring comprehensive range of product categories, the exhibition has become the most effective and valuable hub for green business in Asia. The show is co-organised by the Environment Bureau, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and supported by government authorities from the Chinese mainland as well as international co...
Kruger Wins Anoxkaldnes™ MBBR Contract In Marbleton, USA
Kruger Inc., a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, was awarded a contract from Fischer Construction, Inc. to furnish a 0.82 MGD AnoxKaldnes MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) nitrification system for the Marbleton, WY Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. The MBBR LagoonGuard® process will allow the existing lagoon system to meet strict ammonia limits year round, even at winter temperatures. After performing a detailed review of all bid proposals, The Town selected Kruger’s AnoxKaldnes L...
Innovative car to tackle urban pollution
An innovative car has been designed by manufacturers in Spain to curb inner-city pollution, as well as solve city transport problems and create new jobs. The new eclectic cars, named ‘Hiriko’, have been developed in the Basque country and have the ability to fold up like a child’s collapsible buggy. It is powered by electric, and can run 120 kilometres (75 miles) without a recharge. The speed of the car is also set to city limits to increase the appreciation of road safety in the urban areas. Th...
Salsnes Filter AS joins Trojan Technologies Group of Businesses
Trojan Technologies is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated December 27, 2011, Salsnes Filter AS of Namsos, Norway has joined the Trojan Technologies group of businesses. Following the regulatory review period, the acquisition closed on January 19, 2012. “Salsnes delivers a technology that fits well into our municipal business,” says Marv DeVries, president, Trojan Technologies. “A leader in the market, their product brings added value to our global customers and aligns w...
Better management of e-waste
More of the EU’s broken fridges, phones and gadgets are set to be collected and recycled, following MEPs’ approval on Thursday of new targets agreed with Council. The update to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation offers consumers new possibilities to return small waste items to retailers and will also cut red tape for businesses. "After difficult negotiations I am very satisfied that we have agreed ambitious but achievable collection rates with Council. Europe will now r...
Plastic bag debate resurfaces
The call for an EU response to tackle the use of plastic bags in the region has resurfaced after a public consultation found that 70 per cent of respondents believed an EU ban on plastic carrier bags is needed. 15,000 EU citizens responded to the consultation, which emphasises the support for action over the issue. So far, the absence of a cohesive response has left many countries in limbo, with piecemeal plans adopted in the different nation states. Both France and Italy have attempted to ban t...
Large marine national park at risk from Concordia fuel spill
One of Europe's biggest marine national parks is in danger of pollution that could be potentially caused by cruise ship Concordia, according to the Daily Telegraph. The Italian government has declared a state of emergency over fears that the vessel could slide off a rock ledge and fall to the seabed, spilling half a million gallons of fuel. If the fuel tanks did rapture, the Tuscan archipelago of islands could be endangered by the pollution. The Tuscan archipelago has been recognised as an area...
Odour Solution for Sewage Pump Sites
Fanquip technologies are being used to alleviate noxious odour problems at government and private pump sites in waste transfer applications. Such sites can see megalitres of raw sewage flowing into it each day, operations and maintenance personnel normally find it near impossible to enter the premises due to a high degree of unpleasant odour hydrogen sulphide (HS2). To counter the problem, Australian air movement specialist Fanquip positions a number of its hooded roof fans to channel expulsion...
Existing technologies 'could save millions of lives'
Measurements that are based on existing technologies and that can be implemented immediately could save millions of lives, according to new research by Drew Shindell from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Limiting how much soot and methane reaches the atmosphere using existing technologies alone could save almost five million lives a year, and increase global crop yields significantly, according to the report. It could also slow global warming down by around half a degree by 2050. Coun...
Bio-Microbics System NSF Certified for Water Reuse
Bio-Microbics, a manufacturer of decentralized wastewater treatment technologies, is the first company to earn NSF®/ANSI® 350 certification for the Bio-Barrier® membrane bioreactor (MBR). NSF scientists conducted an evaluation spanning more than six months of continuous operation of the Bio-Microbics Bio-Barrier® MBR treatment system at one of NSF’s approved wastewater testing facilities. NSF/ANSI 350 was developed over a four-year period, in an ANSI-accredited, balanced consensus process involv...
Criegee biradical could have 'cooling effect'
Criegee biradicals could have a 'cooling effect' on the planet by converting pollutants into compounds, leading to cloud formation that will shield the earth from the sun. Scientists from the University of Manchester have found that pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, react with Criegee biradical which then neutralises the pollutants. The 'clean-up' effect has been found to react faster than expected, leading to bigger impact than previously thought. The study shows that th...
PM promises action over worrying report in Czech Republic
The Czech prime minister Petr Necas has promised to take action over pollution in the country, after the 2010 environmental report revealed worrying environmental figures, it has been reported by Prague Daily Monitor. According to the report, which was conducted by the Environmental Ministry, urban areas of the country have seen increased concentrations of arcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It also revealed that 48 per cent of the Czech population live in areas with excessive concentr...
Koch Membrane Systems to Install New Wastewater Recycling System in China
Koch Membrane Systems, Inc. (KMS) has been selected to supply membranes for a large-scale wastewater recycling system for Yingkou Medium Plate Co., Ltd., in Yingkou City, Liaoning Province, China. The project will recycle the plant’s wastewater to meet strict government discharge regulations and to conserve the region’s fresh water supply. KMS will supply 832 TARGA® 10-inch cartridges as well as the necessary engineering support for the Yingkou project, working in cooperation with Capital Engine...
Van Dalen boosts operation in the UK
Leading metals recycler Van Dalen has announced it is boosting its capacity in the UK, having invested over six million pounds and creating up to 25 jobs. The capital has gone towards the installation of a state-of-the art ferrous shredder and a new non-ferrous facility at the company’s Sheffield headquarters, as well as expansion at its facilities in the south east and the creation of new roles in purchasing and operations. Van Dalen, which celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2012, currently ope...
Launch of Xylem's Flygt Experior Delivers Energy Savings of up to 50 Percent, Marking Breakthrough in Wastewater Pumping
Xylem Inc., the global water technology company which spun off from ITT Corporation, has unveiled a revolutionary new wastewater pumping system, called Flygt Experior. By combining advances to its state-of-the-art hydraulics, premium efficiency motors and intelligent controls in a unique concept, the new Flygt Experior offers up to 50 per cent energy savings compared to conventional wastewater pumps in a package that is simple to install and easy to operate. "Flygt Experior builds on the premise...
Mercury to blame for the 'great dying'
Scientists probing ancient chemical deposits on the shores of a High Arctic lake have found that mercury was chiefly responsible for the 'great dying' that wiped out 90 per cent of the planet's species 250 million years ago. Researchers from the University of Calgary and Geological Survey of Canada have discovered that mercury pollution 'overwhelmed' marine ecosystems, which contributed significantly to the global die-off at the end of the Permian age. Steve Grasby, a University of Calgary resea...
AECOM Joint Venture Awarded £18 million Yorkshire Water Project
AECOM along with Joint Venture Partner Galliford Try have secured an £18m contract to upgrade Woodhouse Mill Wastewater Treatment Works in Sheffield for Yorkshire Water. The purpose of the work is to ensure that the treated water discharged back into the environment meets the standards of the revised European Freshwater Fish Directive which comes into force in four years time. Works to the plant, which was originally built in 1930 and serves 122,000 people, include refurbishment of existing inle...
Xergi signs contract with a United States municipal corporation
Xergi has signed a contract with the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) for the establishment of a new biogas plant in the United States. The biogas plant, Hometown BioEnergy, will be built with gas fired CHP engines with a total output of 8 MW electrical power. Hometown BioEnergy will be built in Le Sueur, Minnesota and will produce biogas from agricultural and food processing wastes such as sweet corn silage, potato waste and chicken manure. We are very proud that we will now be working w...
Siltbuster Process Solutions (SPS) comes to aid of UK’s largest paper recycler
Effluent treatment specialist, Siltbuster Process Solutions (SPS), has provided a D100 dissolved air flotation (DAF) treatment system on hire to DS Smith Paper (formerly St Regis) at its Hollins Mill site in Darwen, Lancashire. The unit helped to ensure compliant discharge with no loss of production at the paper mill, and remained on site for five months. Hollins Mill is the only UK mill that manufactures high quality recycled presentation liners – Optima Silk – as well as mottle, brown testline...
Air pollution control at IFAT ENTSORGA 2012 – Great potential in energy-efficiency and resource recovery
The waste-recovery and disposal industry makes use of technologies to reduce air pollution in many different ways. For example in the extraction of harmful substances in biomass combustion processes, in environmentally friendly operation of processing plant and in purifying the emissions resulting from the recycling of electronic waste. As a spin-off, more and more systems are recovering energy or secondary raw materials from the emissions streams. This is an area with great potential therefore...
Fears of shale gas pollution in the UK
Fears of shale gas pollution have been dismissed as 'extremely unlikely' in the UK, after local citizens expressed concern over two earthquakes that had been set off by fracking exploration, it has been reported by the Press Association. Fracking involves drilling deep in the earth (up to 20,000 ft) and high-pressure pumping a mix of water, proppants (such as sand) and chemicals (including highly carcinogenic benzene and formaldehyde) into the bore hole to ease the flow of gas for extraction. I...
Hong Kong pollution is worst ever
Major pollutants, such as respirable suspended particles and nitrogen oxides, were found to be at their worst level ever in Hong Kong, and ten times as bad as they were in 2005, according to the city's Environmental Protection Department. The figures, reported in Reuters, showed that vehicle emissions and industrial pollution from Pearl River Delta, which is one of the most densely urbanised regions in the world, are already forcing large commercial organisations to move elsewhere over health co...
Greece failing to meet EU framework for bodies of water
Recent research conducted by scientists at Thessaloniki University has revealed that none of the 15 large lakes in Greece can be considered healthy, Ansa Med have reported. The researchers have also expressed concerns over the level of cyanobacteria (blue algae) and dangerous cyanotoxins produces by the lakes, pointing to a lack of government attention as being a significant contributor. In accordance to European law, Greece is required to monitor the health of the lakes within the country. Howe...
Polish lawmakers appeal for softening of ETS
The emission trading system (ETS), considered to be the cornerstone of EU law to cut greenhouse gases, has been challenged by a group of Polish lawmakers, who claim the laws are damaging economic growth. The Solidarna Polska group is planning to call on the EU regulator to propose a revision of the 2008 climate package that bolstered the European carbon cap-and-trade program, according to Bloomberg. The group will require the support of one million EU citizens from at least one- quarter of the 2...
Scottish government accused of environment 'u-turn'
Targets made by the Scottish government for cutting traffic growth have been dropped, raising further health concerns after recent results showed larger cities in the country have breached EU safety limits. The government is now planning for up to 20 per cent more journeys on Scotland's roads by 2020, with more rush-hour bottlenecks expected, it has been reported by The Herald. Environmental groups have accused the government of 'watering down' its commitment to reduce harmful greenhouse gasses....
Harmful emissions and air pollution to blame for drought and flooding
A new study by researchers in the US and Israel has found that increases in air pollution and other particulate matter can strongly affect cloud development, it has been reported by Nature Geoscience. Air pollutants, such as those from aerosols, can alter cloud density and the radiative balance of the atmosphere which leads to changes in cloud microphysics and atmospheric stability. The effects on cloud development can reduce precipitation in cool and dry regions; while increasing rain and the i...
Geotech launches new portable gas analysers for landfill gas and AD biogas
The new Geotech GA5000 portable landfill gas analyser and Biogas 5000 arrive in Jan 2012 with colour-screens and a 3-year warranty. Up-to-the-minute as new-generation analysers, the Geotech 5000-range analysers have mobile phone-style intuitive menus, tactile buttons and are fast, small and light. With a clear, full-colour, daylight-readable screen in several language choices, they are about 25 percent smaller and lighter than the GA2000 and Biogas Check which they supersede. Advances include gr...
China's transparency faces reality
Data transparency over air pollutants in China's major cities has led to officials stating it could be 20 years before city dwellers breath healthy air. According to Wu Dui, a haze expert at the Guangdong Meteorological Agency, Europe and the US took 50 years to deal with pollution problems, and even if China were to half this time, it would still be 20 to 30 years before pollution was under control. The sober tone comes as the government plans to publically release data on PM2.5, which account...
Dust suppressants to be used in London
Dust suppressants, made up of a solution of calcium magnesium acetate, are to be used on London's busiest roads in an attempt to control air pollution in the capital. The new scheme is to be implemented after a successful trial showed that using the 'pollution glue' on busy roads can cut the level of particles in the air by ten per cent. By coating the city's busiest roads with the glue, chemicals from the air stick to the tarmac, and are then picked up by car tyres or washed away by the rain. H...
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at 'danger levels' in Scotland
Scottish city pollution is 'at danger levels' in Scotland according to the World Wildlife Foundation, after conducting an analysis on Scottish cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth. The levels of air pollution, which have been said to be in breach of EU targets, are a serious risk to health, with high levels of diesel fumes in the area being linked to heart risks. The Scottish government commented to the BBC that it "was working to improve travel choices and promote a low carb...
Revised Chinese pollution results may not be known until 2016
China will start recording smaller particles, PM 2.5, after seeing its major cities shrouded in acrid smog, forcing people to wear masks or even stay indoors, it has been reported by Reuters. Official reports from Beijing show that air pollution is only 'slight', however, US reports using PM 2.5 have shown air quality so poor it is off the scale. Chinese cities currently do not measure and disclose data on the smaller particles from smokestacks and exhaust pipes that float in the air, disclosing...
Cap-and-trade programme to go ahead
The European Union's cap-and-trade carbon credits programme is set to go ahead, as a legal bid from US airlines failed to deter the legislation. The EU law, that will charge airlines flying into Europe for their carbon pollution, has been hailed by environmentalists who describe the ruling as the first step in controlling carbon emissions in a key area. However, Fitch ratings agency believe the ruling could trigger a global trade dispute. Aviation is the fastest-growing source of carbon pollutio...
CEM Conference proceedings now available on CD
The 10th International Conference on Emissions Monitoring conference proceedings are now available to purchase on CD. Experts from around the world presented to an international audience on the latest legislation, technology, case studies and applications to effect the Emissions Monitoring Industry. Sessions in this informative meeting included: • Legislation and its effects on the industry - are you ready for the industrial emissions directive? • Monitoring of particulates and trace species -...
River Thames polluted beyond rescue
The levels of nitrates in the River Thames are so high they might be beyond rescue, with environmental reporters suggesting a full scale change of land use and management would be required, which could compromise food security and take decades to implement. UK researches have conducted the longest continuous record of river water chemistry in the world to find their results, which show that nitrate levels have trebled since the 1930s. The intensive agriculture, made possible by modern fertiliser...