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Following is the September/October edition of EarthLink, a bi-monthly current awareness newsletter produced by UNEP-Infoterra/USA. EarthLink provides information on international environmental activities, publications and news of interest to EPA staff and other environment professionals.
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Article: Russia Opens U.S.- Funded Nuclear
Waste Facility
INTERNET SITES Related to Radioactive Waste International
Environment News
General
Climate Change
Air Pollution
Groundwater Management
Risk Assessment
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
Conservation
Arid Environment
Particulates
Metals
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
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ARTICLE: Russia Opens U.S.- Funded Nuclear Waste Facility
Thursday, October 19, 2000
REUTERS
Russia and the United States unveiled Wednesday their first joint project
to render harmless Moscow's rusting fleet of disused nuclear submarines,
which has raised serious fears of pollution.
The U.S.-funded facility in the town of Severodvinsk on the White Sea will help Russia reduce the risk of polluting its own and international waters as it takes hundreds of nuclear vessels out of service under disarmament agreements with Washington.
"This project will help make this area safer, the Arctic region safer, in fact, the whole world safer for the work that will be done at this plant," Thomas Kuenning, director of U.S. Common Threat Reduction directorate, said at the opening.
The directorate oversaw the $17 million project, carried out jointly by Russian, British and French companies with U.S. Lockheed Martin Energy Technologies as prime contractor.
The plant is due to help Russia tackle the problem of low-level radioactive waste extracted from nuclear submarines scrapped under START strategic disarmament agreements with the United States.
Some 185 such vessels, 55 of them already cut up, are waiting to be recycled in Russia's North.
Russia has the necessary capacity to deal with nuclear fuel but has little experience with storing low-level waste in the form of reactor cooling liquids, laundry wastewater and radioactive solids.
Moscow simply dumped these into the sea until 1992, when it was forced to stop under intense pressure from international environmental organizations and Nordic countries, whose economies depend heavily on fishing.
The waste has since been stockpiled in unsafe containers along the coastline, raising fears that a natural disaster could unleash massive pollution. The plant in Severodvinsk -- home to Russia's biggest military submarine shipyard that also built the Kursk- which sank in the Barents Sea in August killing all 118 sailors aboard - is expected to process all the waste stored in the area.
It is to be followed later by two similar plants in other parts of Russia which officials say will allow the problem to be eliminated altogether.
Internet Sites Related to Radioactive Waste
1.Global International Waters Assessment, Kalmat, Sweden
http://www.giwa.net/ 
The aim of the UNEP-led, Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA),
is to produce a comprehensive and integrated global assessment of international
waters. The GIWA will encompass the ecological status of and the causes
of environmental problems of shared water areas in the world.
3.The Center For Arms Control, Moscow, Russia
http://www.fas.org/spp/eprint/snf0322.htm
This site contains much information on energy and environmental issues. It provides discussions, arguments and studies on Strategic Nuclear Disarmament.
4.Uranium Information Center, Melbourne, Australia
http://www.uic.com.au/wast.htm
The Uranium Information Center was originally created in 1978 to increase
Australian public understanding of uranium mining and nuclear electricity
generation. The principal aims of the Centre are: To provide information
about the development of the Australian uranium industry, the contribution
it can make to world energy supplies and the benefits it can bring Australia;
To be a broker of information on all aspects of the mining and processing
of uranium, the nuclear fuel cycle, and the role of nuclear energy in
helping to meet world electricity demand; and To promote an understanding
of the role of nuclear energy in relation to other sources of energy.
5.The U.S. Heritage Foundation
http://www.heritage.org/about/searchresults.cfm?pagenotfound=1&srchstring=bg1105
The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies. One of its important functions is the study of the US - Russian relations in the post-cold war reality.
6.The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI).
http://www.meriresearch.org/mission.html
The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to scientific research and education on the impacts of pollution on marine life, and to protecting the health and biodiversity of the marine environment for future generations. MERI accomplishes its goals through multidisciplinary ecotoxicological research, research dissemination, environmental education, and international programs. Through its program initiatives, MERI seeks to address the problems of pollution of the ocean environment, unsustainable coastal development, species and habitat degradation, and environmental emergencies (toxic spills, releases) affecting marine life.
General
Pruzin, Daniel. "Hazardous Waste: Officials Cite Some Progress in Talks On Technical, Legal Issues in Basel Treaty." International Environment Reporter, Volume 23, Number 22 (October 25, 2000):815.
The Technical Working Group of the Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movement of the Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, met
in Geneva from October 9 to 13, 2000. Eighty countries participated; the
United States was represented as an observer. According to the United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the experts have reached some agreements
on guidelines related to biomedical and health care wastes and the management
of plastic wastes. They continue to review the guidelines related to used
lead batteries, and the recycling and reclamation of metals and metal
compounds. They also continue to draft guidelines for the safe dismantling
of ships, a profitable enterprise for some South Asian countries. Two
United Nations Organizations, the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), because of their
concerns about worker exposure to toxic materials in building ships, have
been included in drafting these guidelines. They hope the latter will
be finalized in time for the next Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting,
scheduled for May 2002. In addition, the Legal Working Group made headway
in reaching an agreement on guidelines for governments to prevent and
monitor illegal trade on hazardous wastes. Parties to the convention had
already agreed, in their last December 1999 meeting, that the mechanism
for monitoring compliance to the convention will be "facilitative and
non-confrontational focusing on supporting & helping governments that
are having problems meeting their convention obligations."
Climate Change
Thornton, Peter E., Hubert Hasenauer, and Michael White. "Simultaneous estimation of daily solar radiation and humidity from observed temperature and precipitation: an application over complex terrain in Austria." Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Volume 104, Issue 4 (15 September, 2000): 255-271.
Using daily observations of temperature, precipitation, radiation, and humidity from 24 stations spanning a large elevation gradient in Austria, the authors tested several previously defined algorithms for estimating daily radiation and humidity. The estimation algorithms were first tested independently, and then combined, resulting in a combined algorithm for estimating both radiation and humidity that relies only on temperature and precipitation inputs. Mean absolute errors (MAE) for joint radiation and humidity estimates were 2.52MJm-2 per day and 85.6Pa, respectively, close to values reported for the algorithm development studies. Biases were low: +0.02MJm-2 per day and +28.2Pa for radiation and humidity, respectively. Initial results showed biases in estimated radiation related to horizon obstruction and snowpack. The authors amended the original algorithm, successfully eliminating these effects. Annual prediction MAE was weakly correlated with elevation, and annual bias was not correlated with elevation.
Majumdar, Deepanjan, Sushil Kumar, H. Pathak, M. C. Jain and Upendra Kumar. "Reducing nitrous oxide emission from an irrigated rice field of North India with nitrification inhibitors." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Volume 81, Issue 3 (November 2000): 163-169.
Nitrification inhibitors may be potential management strategy to reduce N20 emissions in irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.). A field experiment was conducted to evaluate chemically synthesized as well as locally available neem plant products on N2O emissions, from an irrigated rice field in New Delhi, India. Emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) was monitored for 70 days by closed chamber method in rice (var. IR-72) grown on a Typic Ustochrept (cambisol) soil. Treatments were control (no nitrogen), urea alone, urea mixed with different nitrification inhibitors, namely, urea plus dicyandiamide (DCD), neem (powdered Azadirachta indica Juss. seeds) coated urea and nimin (commercial derivative of neem) coated urea. Total N2O-N emission was highest with urea (59.9g N2O-N ha-1) and lowest in the control (34.3g N2O-N ha-1). Total N2O emission from both nimin coated urea and neem coated urea were not significantly different from urea alone. Urea treated with DCD significantly reduced N2O emissions from urea alone. (48.9g N2O-N ha-1). The study indicated that some plant products, such as neem seeds and nimin which are more readily available with farmers in India, might be useful in mitigating N2O emissions from rice in addition to DCD, which is a widely used nitrification inhibitor.
Maul, Jonathan D. and Charles M. Cooper. "Water quality of seasonally flooded agricultural fields in Mississippi, USA." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Volume 81, Issue 3 (November 2000): 171-178.
Planned flooding of agricultural fields is performed to prevent erosion (e.g. sheet, gully, and rill) and provide habitat for waterfowl. As a post-harvest field treatment, flooding is becoming more common in the agriculturally dominated landscape of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) in the southeastern United States. Despite this trend, information pertaining to water quality characteristics of water remaining on fields during the winter and subsequent relationships with environmental and biological processes is sparse. Water quality parameters of flooded agricultural fields were assessed from January to March and compared to those observed in impounded wetlands. Temporal variation of parameters among sampling dates was also examined. Mean (±S.E.) suspended solids concentration was greater (p<0.05) in flooded agricultural fields 283.3±98.7mgl-1) than impounded wetlands (79.5±25.3mgl-1) and an interaction of habitat and sampling date was detected on dissolved solids concentration (p<0.05). Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, total phosphorus, enterococci bacteria, and fecal coliform bacterial concentrations exhibited temporal variation among sampling dates (p<0.05). For both flooded fields and wetlands, fecal coliform and enterococci concentrations peaked at 2887.5 and 675.0 colony forming units (CFU) 100ml-1, respectively, during the first sampling date (January) and declined to 133.2 and 33.3 CFU, 100ml-1, respectively, in March. Results of this study indicated that: (1) flooded agricultural fields had greater variability of water quality parameters than wetlands; (2) 53% of measured water quality parameters exhibited temporal variation and (3) impounding water may facilitate decreases in bacterial concentrations. Holding water on agricultural fields and knowledge of temporal water quality trends may provide a means to decrease contaminant concentrations, thus improving quality of potential runoff that may enter adjacent bodies of water.
Air Pollution
Constable, J.V. "Suitability of process-based tree growth models for addressing tree response to climate change." Environmental Pollution, Volume 110, Issue 1 (October 2000): 47-59.
Empirical models of tree growth have been used for many years to predict timber yields and other properties of trees. However, such models rely on measured relationships between tree growth and historic environmental conditions. As anthropogenic actions alter the environment, especially atmospheric composition, empirical models become less reliable and process-based models become more useful. Process-based models are challenged to simulate growth of structurally and physiologically complex organisms using explicit mathematical expressions to capture growth response to environmental conditions. In this review the author summarize the physiological requirements of process-based models and examine the capabilities of six published models (CARBON, ECOPHYS, PGSM, TREE-BGC, TREGRO, W91) for simulating tree response to changes in environmental conditions (elevated temperature, increased CO2 concentration, and enhanced concentrations of tropospheric ozone). These analyses indicate that current models are reliable integrators of environmental effects on individual processes (e.g. photosynthesis), but may be less reliable where physiological acclimation occurs or when extrapolated to growth of specific tree compartments.
Kirwin, Joe. "EU Environment Ministers Agree on Ozone Monitoring Directive, Alert System."International Environment Reporter, Volume 23, Issue 21 (October 11, 2000): 779.
An agreement made by EU Environment Ministers requires member states to identify zones in their territory that exceed voluntary target values of 120 micrograms per cubic meter and to establish an improved alert system designed to help reduce smog in European cities. The agreement states that target values should not be exceeded more than 25 times a year after 2010. The member states must inform the European Commission every time they go above the alert threshold indicating total hours of exceedance and maximum one-hour ozone values, according to Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom.
Lim, James. "Canadian Government Adds C$500 Million to Budget to Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions." International Environment Reporter, Volume 23, Issue 21 (October 11, 2000):792.
This new funding will be directed toward "environmentally progressive and economically intelligent" programs that will bring Canada 65 megatons closer to its target of reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by six percent from 1990 levels in the 2008-2012 period. The plan to reduce GHG emissions is dependent in part on Kyoto Protocol nations agreeing on a system where a developed nation would get credit for reducing emissions in a developing country. The Canadian government believes that it should receive credit for increased exports of natural gas to developing countries to use as an energy source in place of oil, reducing those countries GHG emissions. Some of that benefit should accrue back to Canada. The plan also depends on voluntary cooperation from industry and will continue to do so as long as sufficient progress is being made toward achieving the Kyoto commitment. One of the key elements of the plan is to use fossil fuels to heat buildings. This will account for another 12 percent of Canada's GHG emissions. Direct benefits for the C$500 investments will include cleaner air, cost savings from energy efficiency measures, and expanded use of renewable energy technologies.
Brücher,W., C. Kessler, M. J. Kerschgens and A. Ebel. "Simulation of traffic-induced air pollution on regional to local scales."Atmospheric Environment, Volume 34, Issue 27 (2000): 4675-4681.
The model system CARLOS (Chemistry and Atmospheric transport in Regional and Local Scale) has been developed with the aim to simulate atmospheric transport and air chemistry on local scales taking into account the influence of large-scale transport. The system has been applied to a photochemical smog episode in summer 1997. Multiple nested simulations from the European scale down to a nest containing mainly the city of Wuppertal, Germany were carried out. The emission inventory for Wuppertal is based on microscopic traffic flow simulations. The simulated concentration pattern in Wuppertal is strongly influenced by local properties like terrain and emission structure as well as by specific regional factors such as urban plumes of cities nearby.
Mølhave, L., S. K. Kjærgaard and J. Attermann. "Sensory and other neurogenic effects of exposures to airborne office dust." Atmospheric Environment, Volume 34, Issue 28(2000): 4755-4766.
This Danish Office Dust Experiment investigated the response of 24 healthy non-sensitive adult subjects to exposure to normal office dust in the air (7gm-3 clean air, 136 and 390gm-3 TSP). The dust had no major identifiable specific reactive components. The exposure duration was 51/4h and was arranged in a climate chamber in controlled atmospheric conditions. Measurements were made acutely at exposure onset, subacutely at exposure end and next day (late). As secondary aims the time course and threshold of any observed effect of the exposures, and the characteristics of any hyperresponding subgroup were investigated. In a questionnaire with 36 questions the dust exposures caused increased acute, subacute and late perceptions of reduced air quality, acute and subacute increased odor intensity, acute eye irritation, acute and late heavy head, subacute feeling of perspiration, and subacute general irritation. Cough increased subacutely during exposures. In addition, a performance test showed effects of dust exposures which also affected "Mood Scale" ratings. No effect was seen on an addition test for distraction, and objective measurements of skin humidity. The overall conclusion of the study is that healthy subjects without hypersensitivity reactions seem to respond to airborne house dust. The responses are both subjective sensory reactions and other neurogenic effects even at exposure levels within the range found in normal buildings.
Groundwater Management
Van Ek, Remco, Jan-Philip Witte, Han Runhaar and Frans Klijn."Ecological effects of water management in the Netherlands: the model." Ecological Engineering, Volume 16, Issue 1 (October 2000): 127-141.
In the Netherlands, extensive drainage of agricultural land and extraction of groundwater has caused a structural lowering of the phreatic groundwater level as well as a decreasing influence of upward seepage in the root zone of the soil, with negative consequences for most groundwater-dependent ecosystems. In Dutch, this environmental stress is known as 'verdroging'. The English term most frequently used is desiccation, but here the term is used with a broader interpretation, to include changes in (soil)water quality due to groundwater depletion. Since the late 1980s desiccation has been recognized by the Dutch government as a major environmental problem. As part of the development of abatement strategies various models have been built. These models are used to analyze the consequences of different water management scenarios for separate land use functions, such as agriculture, shipping and public water supply. In order to account for the natural environment in these analyses, the national ecohydrological model DEMNAT (Dose Effect Model Nature Terrestrial) was developed. A brief description is given of the latest model version. Moreover, results are discussed based on recent applications at national, regional, as well as local levels. Some perspectives for future model developments are discussed.
Kühlwein, J. and R. Friedrich. "Uncertainties of modeling emissions from road transport." Atmospheric Environment, Volume 34, Issue 27 (September 2000): 4603-4610 .
To determine emission data from road transport, complex methods and models are applied. Emission data are characterized by a huge variety of source types as well as a high resolution of the spatial allocation and temporal variation. So far, the uncertainties of such calculated emission data have been largely unknown. As emission data is used to aid policy decisions, the accuracy of the data should be known. So, in the following, the determination of uncertainties of emission data is described. Using the IER emission model for generating regional or national emission data, the uncertainties of model input data and the total errors on different aggregation levels are exemplarily investigated for the pollutants NOx and NMHC in 1994 for the area of West Germany. The results of statistical error analysis carried out for annual emissions on road sections show variation coefficients (68.3% confidence interval) of 15-25%. In addition, systematic errors of common input data sets have been identified especially affecting emissions on motorway sections. The statistical errors of urban emissions with warm engine on town level amount to 35%. Therefore they are considerably higher than the errors outside towns. Error ranges of additional cold start emissions determined so far have been found in the same order. Additional uncertainties of temporally highly resolved (hourly) emission data depend strongly on the daytime, the weekday and the road category. Variation coefficients have been determined in the range between 10 and 70% for light-duty vehicles and between 15 and 100% for heavy-duty vehicles. All total errors determined here have to be regarded as lower limits of the real total errors."
Risk Assessment
Lavin, Amy L., Katherine F. Jacobson and John M. DeSesso. "An Assessment of the Carcinogenic Potential of Trichloroethylene in Humans." Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, Volume 6, Issue 4 (September 2000): 575-641.
Controversy surrounds the assessments of carcinogenic potential associated
with human exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE). The American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists states that TCE is "not suspected
to be a human carcinogen." In contrast, the International Agency for Research
on Cancer has classified TCE as a probable human carcinogen, based primarily
on the results of animal toxicity studies. Chronic high-dose TCE exposures
cause hepatic and pulmonary tumors in mice and renal tumors in rats. Human
epidemiology studies, however, do not support a causal association between
exposure to TCE at environmentally relevant levels and cancers of the
lung, liver, or kidney. The apparent discrepancy between the animal data
and the human data can be explained by (1) differences in TCE exposure
levels between laboratory animals and humans, (2) species-specific differences
in TCE metabolism, and (3) other species-specific mechanisms involved
in the development of cancer in rodents. This paper critically assesses
the experimental and epidemiological data relevant to the carcinogenic
potential of TCE. From the analysis, the authors conclude that TCE exposure
at concentrations likely to be encountered in most environmental media
is not likely to cause liver, lung, or kidney cancers in humans.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Rathbun, R.E. "Transport, Behavior, and Fate of Volatile Organic Compounds in Streams." Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Volume 30, Issue 2 (September 2000): 129-295.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds with chemical and physical properties that allow the compounds to move freely between the water and air phases of the environment. VOCs are widespread in the environment because of this mobility. Many VOCs have properties that make them suspected or known hazards to the health of humans and aquatic organisms. Consequently, understanding the processes affecting the concentration and distribution of VOCs in the environment is necessary. The transport, behavior, and fate of VOCs in streams are determined by combinations of chemical, physical, and biological processes. These processes are volatilization, absorption, wet and dry deposition, microbial degradation, sorption, hydrolysis, aquatic photolysis, oxidation, chemical reaction, bioconcentration, advection, and dispersion. The relative importance of each of these processes depends on the characteristics of the VOC and the stream. The U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program selected 55 VOCs for study. This article reviews the characteristics of the various processes that could affect the transport, behavior, and fate of these VOCs in streams.
Conservation
Adams, Katherine Tebbatt, Paul S. Phillips and John R. Morris. "A radical new development for sustainable waste management in the UK: the introduction of local authority Best Value legislation." Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 30, Issue 3 (1 September 2000): 221-244.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents approximately 7% of the total amount of waste produced annually in the UK and the statutory responsibilities for this waste lie with local authorities. The waste services provided by local authorities are mediated via contracts between the authority and service provider under the compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) regime. New regulations are now coming into place under the label of `Best Value', whereby local authorities will be obliged by law to consult local people on their services, review and report on how they have performed against targets, and embrace quality within their services. Best Value will impinge on the waste management industry by demanding the continuous improvement of their services in both quality and cost terms. This research has shown that there are eight key issues identified from a survey of different stakeholders for the management of MSW, arising from the forthcoming Best Value legislation. In overall order, they are working arrangements (most important), investment and resources, performance and benchmarking, consultation, innovation, contractual terms, consolidation and finally diversification (least important): these are analysed from each stakeholder's standpoint. The research illustrates that new working arrangements between the local authority and the contractor will be encouraged with contracts setting demanding targets for the management of MSW within a continuous improvement framework. Innovation and flexibility will be essential for contractors to reach these targets. There will be an increasing trend towards integrated waste management contracts, which will require substantial injections of capital and resources in order for local authorities to meet national and local targets for MSW. Diversification and consolidation will also affect sections of the waste management industry and company mergers will increase. Local authorities consider Best Value as a key driver for reaching targets to reduce the amount of MSW currently landfilled and for the introduction of more sustainable waste management practices in the UK.
Kazunori, Hanyu, Hirohisa Kishino, Hidetoshi Yamashita and Chikio Hayashi. "Linkage between recycling and consumption: a case of toilet paper in Japan." Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 30, Issue 3 (1 September, 2000): 177-199.
This study examines consumer factors of paper recycling in Japan. The study specifically focuses on toilet paper as a paper product and attempts to reveal how individuals evaluate recycled toilet paper, how the evaluation relates to toilet paper consumption, and why people use or do not use recycled toilet paper. The study also examines what factors influence collection recycling behavior, and what people believe as necessary to achieve a society with better recycling. Responses were obtained from 1242 respondents in Japan. Four results were found. (1) People cannot judge the raw material of virgin toilet papers correctly, while people can correctly judge the raw material of recycled toilet paper. Furthermore, the image of recycled toilet paper also had negative impact on the willingness to use recycled toilet paper. (2) The primary criterion for purchasing recycled toilet paper was pro-environmental attitude. For the virgin toilet paper, it was brand. As expected, recycled toilet paper users had a positive evaluation and image of recycled toilet paper, while virgin toilet paper users had a negative evaluation and image of it. (3) Actual recycling behavior might not relate directly to consumption behavior of recycled paper. Rather, it was determined by the knowledge of waste collection systems and payment systems. (4) Most people have not realized that without the consumption of recycled products, the recycling system is not completed.
Arid Environment
Asner, Gregory P., Carol Wessman, Ann A. Bateson and Jeffrey Privett. "Impact of Tissue, Canopy, and Landscape Factors on the Hyperspectral Reflectance Variability of Arid Ecosystoms." Remote Sensing of Environment, Volume 74, Issue 1 (October 2000):69-84.
Changes in vegetation distribution and condition commonly occur in arid
ecosystems due to land use and climate variability. Most arid land remote
sensing efforts have focused on detecting vegetation change using spectral
indices, such as the normalized vegetation index, with limited success.
Less attention has focused on using the continuous shortwave spectrum
(0.4 m to 2.5 m) for studying vegetation in arid environments. Using field
measurements and a photon transport model, the authors quantified the
absolute and relative importance of tissue, canopy, and landscape factors
that drive pixel-level shortwave reflectance variation along a land-cover
gradient in the Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico. Green foliage, wood, standing
litter, and bare soil had distinctive spectral properties, often via specific,
narrow absorption features and through overall differences in the shape
of their shortwave spectra. While the amount of each plant material varied
significantly along the land-cover gradient, foliar optical properties
remained relatively stable, supporting the hypothesis that resource variation
(e.g., water and nutrients) is more strongly resolved at the scale of
whole plant canopies (e.g., via allocation and production) than at the
leaf level. Significant variation in vegetation type and condition along
the gradient resulted in only subtle changes in pixel-level reflectance
variability, which could be determined in high spectral resolution Airborne
Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer data. Most important, the relative
impact of tissue, canopy, and landscape factors on pixel-level reflectance
shifted with plant composition and phenology. The authors compared the
ability to resolve these vegetation and soil factors using Airborne Visible
and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer,
and Landsat Thematic Mapper optical channels and found that few factors
could be accounted for unless most of the spectral range was adequately
sampled.
Particulates
Miller, J. D., A. Kelly and F. W. Milne. "Changes in rainfall chemistry and airborne particulates during a period of major local industrial change." The Science of The Total Environment, Volume 262, Issues 1-2 (30 October 2000):137-145.
Data from a site in central Scotland were used to quantify the changes in rainfall quality from 1989 to 1998. During this period there have been major changes in industrial activities in the area, particularly the decline in local steel-making and steel-processing activities. Many element concentrations in rainfall decreased over time in parallel with the phased reduction in the activity of local pollutant sources. Trend analyses of the rainfall data identified that the most significant responses have been the lower concentrations of Ca, SO4-S and Mn. There was also a dramatic decline in the capture of airborne particulates by the interception rainfall gauges. Particulates were found to contain mainly hematite, magnetite and quartz, that is similar to what would be expected to be derived from the neighboring steel industries. The eventual disappearance of these particulates and the responses in rainfall quality match the timescale for the decline and closure of some of the potential sources of pollution.
Metals
Boulay, Nicolle and Marc Edwards. "Copper in the Urban Water Cycle." Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Volume 30, Issue 3 (September 2000): 297-326.
Increasingly stringent regulation of wastewater effluents has forced environmental engineers to carefully evaluate the role of copper in the urban water cycle on a case by case basis. To aid these efforts and to serve as a source of background information, this work synthesizes the available literature on sources of copper in the urban environment, their benefits and detriments, sinks, and the basis for copper regulations in the U.S. and abroad. It is anticipated that this review supports rational and holistic planning whenever control of copper in the urban water cycle is considered.
Becker, R. Paul. "Concentration of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals in Alaska Arctic Marine Mammals."Marine Environmental Research, Volume 51, Issue 2 (October 2000): 100-115.
Over the last decade, a baseline database on anthropogenic contaminants in Alaska marine mammals has been developing through the efforts of several independent investigations as well as larger research programs. Although still somewhat limited in scope, the largest amount of data exists for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, mercury, and cadmium in walrus, beluga whale, bowhead whale, and ringed seal. Because of their relatively large contribution to the total chlorinated hydrocarbon levels in Arctic species, chlordane and toxaphene are two pesticides that are also gaining attention.
Poulton, Simon W. and Robert Raiswell, "Solid phase associations, oceanic fluxes and the anthropogenic perturbation of transition metals in world river particulates." Marine Chemistry, Volume 72, Issue 1 (September 2000):17-31.
"The solid phase associations of particulate Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr and Zn in eight world rivers (representing 19% of the global sediment flux) have been determined in order to estimate the fluxes and sources of particulate transition metals in different phases on a global scale. A sequential extraction procedure measured the metals progressively dissolved by dithionite, concentrated HCl, and HF-HClO4-HNO3 reflecting decreasing availability in surface environments. The combined evaluation of phase associations, enrichment factors and theoretical and observed flux ratios highlight the differing sources for these elements in river particulates. Zn appears to be significantly affected by pollutant inputs on a global scale, with total fluxes that may have doubled relative to natural background concentrations. By contrast, riverine particulate Mn and Cu appear to be relatively unaffected by anthropogenic perturbations. The Cu contents of river particulates are high relative to the average Cu contents of surficial sediments, and in general, this probably arises due to geochemical fractionation in the soil column or differential weathering processes. However localized pollution may produce exceedingly high Cu levels associated with organic or sulphide phases. Cr and Ni show no clear evidence of significant pollutant contributions, but Co has somewhat enhanced enrichment factors and flux ratios which may be indicative of anthropogenic additions."
Environmental Impact Assessment
Walker, Jennifer L., Bruce Mitchell and S. Wismer. "Impacts during project anticipation in Molas, Indonesia: Implications for Social Impact Assessment." Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Volume 20, Issue 5 (October 2000): 515-535.
Important impacts can emerge regarding biophysical, economic, social, political/legal, cultural, and psychological aspects during the anticipation stage of a project, as confirmed by a study of impacts during anticipation of proposed tourism developments in the village of Molas, in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The main findings were that during the anticipation phase both the quantity and quality of agriculture production on land acquired by speculators and developers decreased, individuals used the income from the sale of their land to build new homes or improve existing ones or to invest in new occupations, exposure to new values and lifestyles made younger people in the village less interested in maintaining traditional values and culture, the local community became marginalized related to planning and development decisions, and considerable fear and anxiety were created for many villagers due to the uncertainty generated by the proposed tourism development. Many of these impacts will not be documented in any environmental impact statement related to the proposed development, because the EIS will be conducted well after the anticipation stage. These findings, and other studies, suggest that Social Impact Assessment is one of the most poorly handled aspects of impact assessment in Indonesia.
El-Fadel, M., M. Zeinati and D. Jamali. "Framework for environmental impact assessment in Lebanon." Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Volume 20, Issue 5 (October 2000): 579-604.
Lebanon, a relatively small Middle Eastern country, has initiated its reconstruction and development drive after nearly two decades of civil unrest. Historically, the majority of planned or implemented projects were evaluated primarily on the basis of technical and economic feasibility, with little to no consideration of potential environmental impacts. However, the country's limited financial resources increased its reliance on external funds from international institutions such as the World Bank and the European Commission. As a result, environmental impact assessments were introduced as an integral part of major projects relying on international financing and assistance. Hence, international donor pressure coupled with increased public awareness led to the establishment of a Ministry of Environment in Lebanon. The newly created ministry, though limited in resources, embarked on the process of drafting an Environmental Framework Law, part of which addresses the development of environmental impact assessment procedures. In this context, the development of country-specific procedures for conducting an environmental impact assessment becomes essential. This paper presents a review and evaluation of the proposed decree for conducting environmental impact assessments in Lebanon. Assessment procedures are described, and recommendations for improving process performance and reliability are presented. Institutional capacity and limitations for efficient environmental management are also addressed.
Wood, Graham. "Is what you see what you get?: Post-development auditing of methods used for predicting the zone of visual influence in EIA." Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Volume 20, Issue 5 (October 2000): 537-556.
Post-development auditing has been widely acknowledged as a means through which EIA could fulfill its potential to "learn from experience." However, there remains a paucity of EIA audit research that focuses on the evaluation of specific predictive methods, and to date advances in the development of audit methodologies have been limited. In this paper a spatial approach to auditing techniques used for predicting the Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) of projects is developed. For a series of four audit case studies, relevant ZVI predictions are tested to evaluate their accuracy and to identify the extent of impact over-prediction, under-prediction, and the occurrence of no-error (i.e., the prediction is correct). Statistical models of the residual errors (over- and under-prediction) and the no-error classification are then developed and interpreted to explore factors that explain the performance of the predictive techniques examined. Drawing on the audit findings, a framework for determining the likely accuracy of ZVI predictions is then developed based on the relationship between the precision of the predictive method and the complexity of the landscape setting. Finally, conclusions are drawn and limitations of the audit approach are highlighted.
Energy and Environment
Ramanathan, R. "A holistic approach to compare energy efficiencies of different transport modes." Energy Policy, Volume 28, Issue 11 (1 September 2000): 743-747.
Energy consumption in the Indian transport sector is growing at an alarming rate. Energy is consumed both by passenger and freight traffic, and it is generally not possible to apportion energy consumption exclusively to passenger or freight traffic, without making some assumptions on the energy consumption norms of vehicles. In this paper, a holistic methodology, called the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), is used to study the energy efficiencies of transport modes in India without any need for such assumptions. The analysis shows a gradual improvement in energy efficiency of rail transport, while road transport in the late eighties was more efficient than in the nineties. Road transport in 1993-94 was only 63% as efficient compared to rail transport in that year.
Böhringer, Christoph. "Cooling down hot air: a global CGE analysis of post-Kyoto carbon abatement strategies." Energy Policy, Volume 28, Issue 11 (1 September 2000): 779-789.
The Kyoto Protocol marks a breakthrough in global warming mitigation policies as it sets legally binding emissions targets for major emitting regions. However, realization of the Protocol depends on the clarification of several issues, one of which is the permissible scope of international emissions trading between signatory countries. Unrestricted trade produces hot air when signatory countries, whose Kyoto targets are well above their business as usual emissions, trade in larger amounts of "abundant" emission rights. Concerns on hot air motivated proposals for caps on emissions trading by the EU. These caps are strictly refused by the USA and other non-European industrialized countries who want to exploit the full efficiency gains from trade. In this paper the authors show that there are "cooling down" strategies which can reconcile both positions. International permit trade provides enough efficiency gains to make all signatory countries better off than they would be without permit trade while mitigating hot air. In other words, part of the efficiency gains from free trade could be used to pay for higher abatement targets of signatory countries which assure the same environmental effectiveness as compared to strictly domestic action or restricted permit trade.
Klevas, Valentinas and Feliksas Zinevicius. "The state significance of energy saving in buildings and principles of support programs in Lithuania." Energy Policy, Volume 28, Issue 11 (1 September 2000): 791-798.
In this paper the authors analyze by Lithuanian example problems in multifamily houses, which exist in most Central and Eastern Europe countries. Demand for heating in these houses is two or more times higher than in those in Western countries. The delays in solving these problems also have serious economic consequences. The problem is complicated by the fact that heat saving potential is closely connected with the necessity for technical, economic and organizational reconstruction of district heating systems. The authors posit that state support for heat saving in buildings should be co-ordinated with programs of technical reconstruction and reorganization of district heating systems. A scenario for preparing district heating reconstruction programmes is proposed in which thermal renovation of buildings plays an integrated part.
Unruh, Gregory C. "Understanding Carbon Lock-in." Energy Policy, Volume 28, Issue 12 (1 October 2000): 817-830.
This paper argues that industrial economies have been locked into fossil fuel-based energy systems through a process of technological and institutional co-evolution driven by path-dependent increasing returns to scale. It is asserted that this condition, termed carbon lock-in, creates persistent market and policy failures that can inhibit the diffusion of carbon-saving technologies despite their apparent environmental and economic advantages. The notion of a Techno-Institutional Complex is introduced to capture the idea that lock-in occurs through combined interactions among technological systems and governing institutions. While carbon lock-in provides a conceptual basis for understanding macro-level barriers to the diffusion of carbon-saving technologies, it also generates questions for standard economic modeling approaches that abstract away technological and institutional evolution in their elaboration. The question of escaping carbon lock-in is left for a future paper.
Chemicals
Haarstad, Kjetil and Marianne Fresvig. "The Influence of Organic Matter and pH on DDT Aqueous Solubility." Journal of Soil Contamination, Volume 9, Issue 4 (2000):347-358.
The authors have studied the concentrations of DDT in ground water samples at field locations with DDT-polluted topsoil and concentrations and solubility in samples prepared from deionized water with different types and concentration of organic acids. The solubility of DDT increased with increasing concentration of humic acid when the pH of the samples was low (adjusted to about 5.5). The effect flutters in the humic acid concentration range from 200 to 300 mg/L, in accordance with humic acid hydrophobicity, operationally measured as liquid surface tension. The findings correspond to trends previously reported in the literature. The trend of increasing solubility was not found using fulvic acid or low-molecular-weight aliphatic acids. No trend was found adding humic acid without adjusting the pH. The mechanism of enhanced solubility due to humic compounds canexplain relatively high levels of DDT in ground water. The ground water samples, however, had a moderately high concentration of maximum 6 ug/L compared with a maximum of about 2300 ug/L in the water samples with humic acid in pure water."
Upcoming International Conferences
1.The 12th Global Warming International Conference & Exposition
Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
April 8 -11, 2001
URL: http://www.globalwarming.net/
The goal of the Conference is to discuss the visions, strategies and concrete actions necessary to curtail problems arising from global warming into the next millennium. industrial development into the next millennium. Contact: C/o The Global Warming International Center, 22W381 - 75th Street, Naperville IL 60565 USA. Tel: +1-630-910-1551, 24 hr FAX: +1-630-910-1561; email: gw12@globalwarming.net.
2. The Third International Conference on Marine Pollution & Ecotoxicology
City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
June 10-14, 2001
URL: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/bch/conf2001/
The Conference will primarily focus on the following 5 areas: (1) Ecotoxicology (2) Pollution Monitoring (3)Eutrophication (4)Hypoxia Trace Organic (5) Management of the Marine Environment (including risk assessment and environmental impact assessment). Contact: The Conference Secretariat, Third International Conference on Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2788 8984/2784 4664; Fax: (852) 2788 7406; Email: bhconf@cityu.edu.hk
3. The Fifth International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational
and Environmental Health
Banff, Alberta, Canada
September 18-21, 2001.
URL: http://www.cme.ucalgary.ca/isbm/
The Symposium will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among colleagues in such high impact areas as analytical chemistry, epidemiology, molecular biology, occupational health and public health. Contact: Office of Continuing Medical Education, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada T2N 4N1; Tel: 1-403-220-8458; Fax:1-403-270-2330; Email: isbm@ucalgary.ca
4. Commercial Greenhouse Gas Technology Solutions
Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, NY
March 14-15, 2001
URL: http://www.sri-rtp.com/
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Technology Verification Center is hosting an international forum that will identify and examine commercial-ready GHG mitigation and monitoring technologies. At the forum, industry and other organizations with active GHG mitigation programs will showcase their accomplishments and future plans, and vendors of commercial and near-commercial GHG mitigation and monitoring technologies will describe and display their products. Updates on current GHG legislative actions, trading, verification, reporting initiatives, and private sector mitigation efforts will be provided by recognized experts from government, industry, and international institutions. Contact: Linda Rothschild, PO Box 13825, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; FAX: 919-806-2306; Email:lrothschild@sri-rtp.com.
