Friday, March 17, 2006

[Environmental health] Study: Metabolites Of Pharmaceuticals Identified In Wastewater University at Buffalo (UB) chemists announced on March 15 they have for the first time identified at wastewater treatment plants the metabolites of two antibiotics and a medial imaging agent. The data will allow wastewater treatment plants to begin monitoring for these byproducts, the researchers said. The results also reinforce concerns about excreted pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater systems that may end up in the water supply, potentially resulting in adverse effects for humans and the environment. [Source: Water & Wastewater Products E-News, 3/17/06] Full citation "Structural Characterization of Metabolites of the X-ray Contrast Agent Iopromide in Activated Sludge Using Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry." Perez, S.; Eichhorn, P.; Celiz, M.D.; Aga, D.S. Analytical Chemistry, 78(6), 1866-1874 (2006). 12:08:45 PM Google It!    [Renewable energy] India Moves from Landfill Gas to Clean Energy [Source: U.S. EPA Press Release, 3/17/06] As the third largest methane-emitting country in the world, India is working to develop clean energy sources that can yield substantial economic, environmental and health benefits for its citizens.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry are partnering with stakeholders from India's solid waste industry, finance community, and national government to capture and reuse landfill methane gas under EPA's Methane to Markets Partnership. "President Bush and EPA are delivering global environmental results through innovative international collaborations," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.  "We are excited to work with India and share our experiences in turning landfill trash into environmental and economic treasures." Methane emissions from the solid waste sector in India are projected to increase significantly over the next 15 years.  Reusing landfill methane gas for energy purposes has the potential to mitigate 5.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is equal to the annual emissions from one million vehicles. Currently, there are no operational landfill gas-to-energy projects in India but several large sites in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities could support the clean energy projects. EPA will collaborate with India to advance project development through technical assistance, technology transfer opportunities, pre-feasibility studies, and demonstration projects.  The program will help promote clean energy, energy security, improved public health, and economic opportunities.   Methane to Markets promotes cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, a greenhouse gas, as a valuable clean energy source.  Four major sources of methane are targeted: landfills, underground coal mines, natural gas and oil systems and agriculture.  The partnership is a collaboration between a growing number of developed countries, developing countries, and countries with economies in transition.  The partners work with the private sector, development banks, researchers, and other organizations to develop clean energy projects. In addition to India, countries participating in Methane to Markets include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Methane to Markets projects support the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, of which the United States and India are members. For more information: Collaboration with India http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/activities.htm General Information about Methane to Markets http://www.methanetomarkets.org 12:00:29 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] South Africa Mulls Creative Ways to Boost Fledgling Biofuels Industry The South African government is considering introducing biodiesel as a separate grade of fuel, the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) director for petroleum and gas industry Muzi Mkhize told the Cleaner Fuels Conference. South Africa currently has a policy that allows a 5% voluntary blending of biofuels into the fuel mix, but, while investors were suggesting that it should become mandatory to ensure the promotion of the biofuels industry, Mkhize said that supply constraints would hamper such a policy. However, he revealed that the government might assess it on a regional supply basis. ... Mkhize reported that the DME was also currently reviewing its Petroleum Products Amendment Act of 2003, which would influence the industry's specifications and standards. [Source: Engineering News (South Africa) via RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/16/06] 11:57:14 AM Google It!    [Biofuels] Missouri Town Raising a Stink over Biofuel Plant Residents of Carthage, Mo., were so offended by the nauseating smell coming from a biofuel plant that Missouri's governor closed it down. Now the plant is set to reopen with modifications, and the plant's operators say they're doing everything they can to eliminate the most noxious odors. [Source: NPR via RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/15/06] 11:54:59 AM Google It!    [Biomass] Banking on Biomass When is a tree more than a tree? When it's chopped and chipped into fuel, one Whitefish company has discovered. Since its beginning in 2001, Western Woodfuels has focused solely on fuels reduction. David Russell and a seasonal employee would thin forest stands on private property. Marketable logs were sent to the mill. Slash would be chipped and left on site or hauled off to create compost and topsoil. Finishing projects this way never sat well with Russell. Surely those limbs and small trees could be used for something other than compost. [Source: The Daily Inter Lake via RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/12/06] 11:52:01 AM Google It!    [Biofuels] Biofuels Plant to Benefit Indiana Farmers and Livestock Louis Dreyfus Agriculture Industries, LLC, will build a combined 50-million bushel per year soybean processing plant and biodiesel production facility near Claypool, Indiana in Kosciusko County. Said to be the largest biodiesel plant in Indiana, it will supply biodiesel from soybean oil while soybean meal will feed the state's livestock. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/15/06] 11:49:19 AM Google It!    [Fuel cells] South Carolina University Launches Fuel Cell Initiative The University of South Carolina (USC) challenged fuel cell industry leaders around the country to join a fuel cell initiative that would make Columbia a world leader in fuel cells and other alternative energy applications. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/15/06] 11:47:52 AM Google It!    [Wind power] Report Captures Investing Potential in Wind Power The wind industry has been growing at 28% a year for the past five years, and if growth trends continue at this pace as is expected, wind capacity will double about every three or four years, claims the release for Investing in Wind Energy, a report just released by Progressive Investor. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/16/06] 11:46:10 AM Google It!    [Hydrogen economy] Despite Hype, Hydrogen Moves Ahead This week the hydrogen energy industry convened in Los Angeles for its annual trade show and conference. A wide range of companies were on hand, from small manufacturers offering pressurized tanks all the way up to the world's leading automakers showing their latest hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. There's an unquestionable buzz and optimism surrounding this industry, yet a different one, arguably less hyped-up, than was in play a few years ago when President George W. Bush announced his support for hydrogen in his 2003 state of the Union Address. No, the veritable explosion of interest from companies, investors and entrepreneurs has mellowed out a bit since then. And it just might be a good thing. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 3/16/07] 11:44:39 AM Google It!    [Environmental health] Environmental health links on pesticide exposure from the National Library of Medicine A new web page that addresses the relationship between pesticides and human health has been added to the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Enviro-Health Links. The page provides links to selected web sites on pesticide exposure, as well as on the treatment and prevention of pesticide poisoning. In our everyday lives, we all handle many chemicals (including pesticides) that can be toxic if ingested or inhaled. Acute or chronic exposure to pesticides can cause severe and even life-threatening illnesses.  The risk of potential injury to a chemical is determined by exposure and toxicity. Without both factors there is no risk. If we take care to limit our exposure and handle these substances safely, we reduce our risk. This web page provides selected links to help identify and reduce the risk. NLM also offers other Enviro-Health Links on topics such as: Children's Environmental Health http://phpartners.org/cehir/sampler.html Indoor Air Pollution http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/indoorairpollution.html Outdoor Air Pollution http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/outdoorairpollution.html Lead http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/lead.html Arsenic http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/arsenicandhumanhealth.html NLM Enviro-Health Links http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/envirohealthlinks.html 11:43:00 AM Google It!

© Copyright 2006 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 4/6/2006; 2:30:08 PM.