Year: 2000

CHINA: Domestic production of wind turbines on the horizon

Two years of research by the Xinjiang Wind Energy Company has led to the successful domestic manufacture of 600kW wind power generators. Thus far, China has had to import such units.

VIETNAM: Formaldehyde in rice noodles prompts wide-scale food scare

The discovery that many rice noodle producers have been adding formaldehyde to their products in order to lengthen shelf life has prompted government officials to hold an emergency meeting.

Friends of the Earth exposes powerful politician’s anti-environmental agenda

UK industry is wasting air

About ten per cent of UK industry's electricity bill comes from generating compressed air, but many companies don't even know how much air they need, let alone how much they are generating.

Americans give thumbs up to tougher environment and air standards

Americans favour tougher environmental standards, particularly for clean air, according to a Clean Air Trust summary of last year's opinion polls.

UK research shows that even approved use of phosphate fertilisers pollutes watercourses

The amount of phosphate fertiliser residues that leach from grassland into watercourses could be far greater than previously thought, according to UK research.

First local drinking water information website goes online

People in Des Moines, Iowa have access to 'real-time' water quality information via the first website set up under the US EPA's Environmental Monitoring for Public Access to Community Tracking (EMPACT) programme.

Conservatives propose to reduce pollution by lowering taxes on clean fuels and cars

The Conservative Party would reduce taxes on clean fuels and clean fuelled cars if the party was to return to power at the next election.

Leakage targets are realistic because costs are falling, says UK water regulator

UK water companies have been told that a further reduction in the amount of water lost through leakage is compulsory. New Ofwat targets mean the volume of water escaping networks accidentally will have to be cut by 6% for 2000-1.

Record demand for organic farm conversion in 1999

A record number of farmers applied to the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) to convert to organic farming in 1999.

Heavy metal, soft rock

Over the last five years, the Belgian based DEME (Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering) Group has been focusing on the need for more successful removal of heavy metals from soil and groundwater, especially where a variety of contaminants are contained. This effort has resulted in two new technologies, which, although entirely different, are complimentary in application. The first is a mineralogical approach that uses metasorb, Soils¹ new granular adsorbent, while the second is an electrochemical treatment using bipolar electrolysis.

DETR lends an ear to noise nuisance

Nuisance is a high profile issue for the general public, in all its manifestations - from noisy neighbours to malodorous processes and infestations by vermin and pests - where local authorities, and in particular environmental health officers, take the front line role in prevention and regulation. In our annual review of this sensitive subject LAWE looks at recent trends and reports on services and products which are designed to detect and combat nuisance.