News Legislation US revises drinking water regs New measures to strengthen drinking water protection were announced by US President Bill Clinton in December. Revisions to public health standards issued under the Safe DrinkingWater Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 will protect against cryptosporidium other disease-causing microbes and potentially harmful byproducts of the water treatment process. The new rules arise because certain microbial pathogens such as cryptosporidium are known to be highly resistant to traditional disinfection practices. Over recent years cryptosporidiosis outbreaks have been reported across the United States resulting in intestinal illnesses and at least 50 deaths. Water suppliers have to provide suYcient protection against microbes but avoid other health risks from disinfection byproducts (DBPs).These are the first of a series of technical regulations being prepared under the SDWA Amendments to be phased in by May 2002. They follow six years’ work by US water industry environmental and public health groups and local state and federal authorities. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline T el +1 800 426 4791 EPA OYce of Ground Water and Drinking Water www.epa.gov/OGWDW/ Germany takes the EU helm Germany has brought a long environmental agenda to its six-month presidency of the European Union which started in January. The high profile being given to environmental aVairs follows the victory of the Social Democrat-Greens coalition in last year’s general election. Pride of place goes to proposals for higher energy taxes as a means of cutting employment charges and achieving climate change objectives.These follow similar measures within Germany itself. Other priorities identified for the German presidency include a framework law on water resources and protection revision of regulations on 8N J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 air emissions from waste incinerators and electric power plants and emission standards for heavy goods vehicles. German environment ministry www.bmu.de EU to cut benzene and CO pollution Plans to clean up Europe’s air by imposing strict limits on emissions of benzene and carbon monoxide have been approved by the European Commission. The plans require benzene levels to be cut by 70% to 5 mg m-3 by 2010 and CO to be reduced by a third to 10 mg m-3 by 2005. Welcoming the new measures EU Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard said the targets were ambitious but attainable.If approved the proposals will force EU Member States to prepare action plans to tackle pollution hot spots. Under the Auto-Oil programme approved last June EU governments are already obliged to cut benzene levels in motor fuels and restrict the amount of CO in vehicle exhausts. The new limits may require further measures such as alternative fuels road use charges traYc abatement schemes and industrial pollution controls. The limits will be reviewed in 2004 and measures against other airborne carcinogens are expected later in the year. Devolution in air toxics legislation Proposals issued by the EPA will allow state and local agencies greater autonomy in implementing air pollution control programmes. Introduced under the Clean Air Act the proposed regulation allows state and local governments to administer and enforce their own regulations for reducing air toxics in place of federal programmes.While states are already allowed to introduce their own toxics regulations the new rules will allow federal and state authorities greater flexibility in meshing their schemes together. This should reduce the administrative burdens on industry and government by eliminating overlapping federal and state regulations. EPA OYce of Air Quality Planning and Standards www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg Phased approach proposed for emissions register The forthcoming European Polluting Emissions Register (EPER) could be introduced in three stages according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Known greenhouse gases sulfur dioxide and ammonia are proposed for inclusion in the first phase.This could be followed by benzene asbestos and some known heavy metals. The final phase could incorporate long-lived organic substances to be phased out within 25 years. EPER is a direct result of the EU’s Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive which aims to strengthen the European framework on industrial pollution controls. The register is to provide a coherent system for reporting from all significant point sources to air water and soil every three years. The information will be available both to decision-makers and the public. Under the Swedish proposals the register would be compiled and maintained by the European Environmental Agency in Copenhagen. Swedish EPA www.environ.se Ireland faces challenge on air quality; finalises IPC system The continuing growth in road traYc threatens to reverse Ireland’s progress in improving air quality according to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency.In its air quality report for 1997 published late last year EPA notes that actions against traditional pollution sources such as industrial stacks have successfully reduced ambient levels of smoke and sulfur dioxide. However, levels of other pollutants such as nitrogen dioxides and particulates (PM10) are close to legal limits and will pose problems in complying with EU legislation. The new pollutants are a consequence of the increases in road traYc arising from Ireland’s rapid economic growth. As part of measures to tackle the problem a major review and restructuring of the country’s air quality monitoring network is to be undertaken.Meanwhile the recent introduction of new licensing requirements for a further 20 types of businesses has completed the introduction of integrated pollution control (IPC) in J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 9N Environmental quality News Ireland. First introduced in 1994 the IPC system is modelled on the British system and covers around 100 sectors and processes. The latest additions include large combustion plants and certain agricultural activities. Irish EPA www.epa.ie Italy toughens air quality standards New measures aim to combat air pollution in Italian cities. Under a decree that came into force on 1st January this year benzene limits are set at 10 mg m-3 for cities with populations greater than 150 000. Smaller towns with large numbers of tourists and areas at high risk of pollution are also covered by the new limits.Under the regulations city mayors are required to report on urban air quality with specific reference to benzene levels and pollution sources by this May. Motor scooters are major contributors to benzene in Italian cities and the new measures allow the authorities to prohibit scooters failing EU emissions standards. Italian Environment Ministry T el +39 06 57221 EPA moves against mercury and toxic chemicals Concerted action against mercury and other priority chemicals such as dioxin and PCBs is planned under a draft strategy released by the US EPA. The strategy targets persistent organic compounds and others such as mercury that can ‘bioaccumulate’ or build up in the food chain. Under the strategy EPA will develop and implement national action plans for persistent chemicals that utilise a mixture of voluntary action regulation enforcement and new research.Further persistent pollutants will be screened with a view to developing reduction plans and mechanisms will be developed for preventing potential new pollutants reaching the marketplace. The progress of all actions will be closely monitored. While public comments are being invited on the current draft strategy EPA is already implementing the first of the initiatives—an action plan for mercury. Action plans for other chemicals will be developed during the course of the year. Under the mercury action plan electricity utilities are to be required to publish information on mercury emissions from coal-fired power stations.These are the largest source of mercury emissions in the US accounting for one third of all manmade emissions. Commenting on the move EPA Administrator Carol Browner said community right-to-know initiatives were ‘one of the most eVective tools to solve tough environmental problems’ allowing people to make ‘informed decisions‘ about how they live and work. The new rules apply to all plants above 25 MW around 1400 in all including random smokestack testing for a sample of 75 plants. EPA began collecting the emissions data on 1st January and will make it available on the Internet from early next year. Air toxics strategy ppic@epa.gov Mercury action plan maxwell.bill@epa.gov Performance reviews highlight water problems France and Belgium both face major challenges in tackling water pollution according to two recent environmental assessments.Reviewing Belgian environmental performance the OECD notes that the country’s high population density strong industrialisation and intensive agriculture place strong pressures on water resources. The report notes that standards of waste water treatment are amongst the lowest in the OECD and that progress in dealing with agricultural pollution has been limited. Consequently Belgium faces ‘a major challenge’ in implementing EU directives on nitrates and urban waste water the report concludes. Water pollution by nitrates is also on the increase in France according to a report from the French environment institute IFEN. Over two-thirds of the country are said to be experiencing increases in nitrate levels with particular hot spots in parts of northern France.Along with other EU states France has already been threatened with legal action by the European Commission unless nitrate levels are reduced. Other common themes in the reports include the concerns expressed regarding urban air quality waste management practices and the destruction of wetlands in the two countries. OECD www.oecd.org IFEN www.ifen.f r Japan sounds alarm on hormone disrupters Recent results from Japanese researchers raise further concerns about the health and environmental eVects of hormone-disrupting chemicals. A team at Yokohama City University led by Taisen Iguchi found evidence that hormone disrupters can enter the brain and be passed onto foetuses. Injecting the plastic additive bisphenol-A into pregnant mice the team measured increases of the chemical in the brains of both adults and foetuses.The findings suggest that the compounds can cross the protective barriers of the placenta and enter the brain liver and other organs. In a separate development the Japanese Environment Agency has found that nine out of ten of the country’s waterways are contaminated with hormone-disrupting chemicals. A survey of 130 rivers lakes and marine locations found up to 11 such chemicals at 93% of the sites sampled. The commonest pollutants were nonyl phenol found in 76% of sites tested bisphenol-A recorded in 68% of waterways and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate found at 55% of sites. Further work is planned to fully assess the results and their implications. More information on endocrine disrupters is given in the Feature Article (p.5N) in this issue. EPA reviews MTBE in gasoline The US EPA has set-up a panel of leading experts to advise it on the use of MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) and other oxygenates in gasoline. While these compounds have brought important clean air benefits EPA says a better understanding is needed of the public health concerns raised by the discovery of MTBE in some water supplies. The panel brings together leading experts from public health petrochemicals water utilities and local and state governments under the chairmanship of Dr. Daniel Greenbaum President of the Health EVects Institute Cambridge MA. They will examine the role of oxygenates in meeting clean air goals and assess evidence on their health and environmental eVects. Production costs of oxygenates and potential alternatives will also be studied.Clean air takes to the web Clean air information will be published daily on the Internet under recent moves by the US EPA to give citizens clearer information about pollution levels in their local communities. The proposal for a new national website on air quality data is part of a package of measures to revise the Agency’s Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) also known as the Air Quality Index. The PSI provides environmental agencies with a uniform system for measuring pollution levels for major air pollutants on a scale from 0 (good) to 500 (hazardous). Under the proposals an additional air quality category of ‘unhealthful for sensitive groups’ will be added just above the health standard 100. The new category will provide a warning for asthmatics and others with respiratory problems.In another right-to-know measure EPA has opened up a database of air emissions and fuel sources for virtually all US power plants. Integrating 12 diVerent federal databases the new Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database or ‘E-GRID’ provides information on emissions per unit of electricity permitting direct comparisons of pollution levels from diVerent power sources. Pollutant data initially covers emissions of carbon dioxide sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide for 1996 but more pollutants will be added in the future. With 18 states already allowing consumers to chose between competing electricity suppliers EPA considers this information an important aspect of the citizen’s ‘right-to-know’. It will also allow regulators to monitor changes within the electricity industry.PSI stone.susan@epa.gov E-GRID www.epa.gov/acidrain/ egrid/egrid.htm Stronger action urged on pesticide residues High levels of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables have been highlighted in the first EU-wide survey. Looking at seven pesticides the survey found the highest residue levels in lettuce followed by grapes strawberries apples and tomatoes. The commonest residues were dithiocarbamate fungicides and pesticides of the benomyl group. Commenting on the data EU Consumer Safety Commissioner Emma Bonino said that Member States should respect maximum residue levels and called for stronger action to ensure this was the case. The Commission says the pesticide residue survey will now be undertaken annually. Agency reports improvement in bathing water The proportion of coastal bathing waters meeting EU standards reached more than 90% for the first time last year according to the UK Environment Agency.The figures are contained in the Agency’s 1998 survey of bathing water in England and Wales. Of 458 coastal bathing waters 413 (90.4%) met the mandatory coliform standards specified in the Bathing Waters Directive compared with 88.8% in 1997. Water quality was also measured at nine inland bathing waters for the first time. EA www.environment-agency.gov.uk Eco-farming increases heavy metals Researchers in the Netherlands have found that some systems of ecological arable farming which use only organic fertilisers contaminate the soils with heavy metals. Levels of cadmium copper and lead were up to twice as high as when a combination of both animal manure and artificial fertiliser is used.The scientists also found that mixed farming combining arable with dairy farming leads to less heavy metal contamination than farming based on only one of these. To avoid discriminating against ecological practices in the future soil quality norms should be based on the total heavy metals load the researchers say. Dr. Simon Moolenaar SWM@rotterdam.iwaco.nl 10N J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 News Chemical hazards Experts prepare for global treaty on POPs The prospect of a global treaty on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) moved a step nearer following a recent meeting of international experts. The UNEP Criteria Expert Group discussed scientific criteria for identifying suspected POPs which pose a risk to human health or the environment.The work of the Group will form the scientific basis for a global treaty on POPs to be adopted by next year. Twelve POPs are already being addressed by the treaty negotiations— aldrin chlordane DDT dieldrin dioxins endrin furans heptachlor hexachlorobenzene mirex PCBs and toxaphene. In addition to toxicity the Group considered factors such as volatility persistence long-range transport and bioaccumulation. Speaking after the meeting in Bangkok late last year Group Co-Chair Fatoumata Jallow Ndoye said ‘We were very pleased by the progress. There are draft proposals for POPs criteria and a process for adding chemicals to the future treaty. We also have a proposal for integrating socioeconomic considerations into the process.’ UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said ‘The attention paid by countries from all parts of the globe attests to the seriousness of the global POPs problem and bodes well for successfully concluding negotiations by the year 2000’.UNEP jwillis@unep.ch http://irptc.unep.ch OECD agrees chemicals criteria Users will have clearer information on the risks from chemicals following international agreement on a harmonised classification system. Meeting in Paris late last year the OECD Chemicals Committee agreed on a common system for classifying chemicals according to their toxic and ecotoxic properties. A chemical’s hazards are to be classified against eight criteria acute toxicity carcinogenicity skin irritation/ corrosion eye irritation/corrosion sensitisation germ cell mutagenicity reproductive toxicity and aquatic environment.OECD says that as well as aiding eVective communication the new system will eliminate barriers to trade from diVerent classification and labelling systems and reduce the need for animal testing. The system grew out of the Rio Conference in 1992 which requested that a global classification and labelling system for chemicals be developed. Work is not finished yet however. The outline scheme is being passed on to the Inter-Organisational Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals a UN body which will work out operational details. Full implementation is expected by 2001. OECD ehscont@oecd.org Millennium bug could lead to chemical accidents Many chemical installations and storage facilities risk accidents as a result of the millennium computer bug a group of international hazards experts has warned.At its meeting in Paris in December the OECD’s Working Group on Chemical Accidents noted that although some chemical companies are already ‘Year 2000 compliant’ many others are still at risk. Small and medium-sized companies which generally have lower awareness are a particular concern. The computers responsible for the maintenance schedules monitoring and control and security systems in modern chemical plants are potentially vulnerable to Y2K failures. Facilities at risk include oil refineries petrochemical plants and hazardous goods transportation. The Group called for greater co-operation between governments and the chemical industry in addressing the problem including in developing countries. For those still struggling with the problem the OECD’s Electronic Information Clearing House on Chemical Emergencies can provide access to relevant information.The system routes all enquiries about the millennium bug and hazardous installations to designated contact points. OECD ehscont@oecd.org EU reviews chemicals controls A major overhaul of EU controls on dangerous chemicals has been recommended by the European Commission. Reviewing the existing regulatory framework on chemicals the Commission says urgent revisions are needed to reflect growing public concern and emerging knowledge. The Commission is particularly keen to address ‘new’ issues such as hormone disrupters and what it calls ‘structural deficiencies’ in chemical risk assessment. As well as new measures based on the precautionary principle the Commission is calling for more rigorous and consistent implementation and enforcement of regulations by Member States.Evaluation procedures and communication with the public also need to be improved. Formal legislative proposals are likely to follow as part of a new strategy for chemicals to be presented later this year. Global action on HFCs Action to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) is being investigated by parties to the Montreal Protocol. Both chemical groups are powerful greenhouse gases but are being used as substitutes for substances that deplete the ozone layer. A meeting convened by the UN Environment Programme in Cairo last November invited a committee of experts to examine ways to minimise the use of HFCs and PFCs. The committee is expected to report before the end of the year.UNEP www.unep.ch/ozone Global ban on TBT The use of organotin antifouling paints will be banned from 2003 under a draft agreement reached by members of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The agreement now has to be incorporated into a legal instrument which is likely to receive formal approval by the end of the year. Other measures confirmed by the IMO include proposals to ban organotin paints from use on any ship by 2008 and procedures for evaluating the environmental eVects of nonorganotin antifouling paints. Organotin paints such as tributyl tin have been shown to damage shellfish and these latest measures are part of a movement to remove them from the marine environment. IMO www.imo.org Australia assesses chemical infrastructure Environment Australia has published what it calls a ‘national profile‘ of the country’s chemicals management infrastructure.Descriptive rather than discursive the report draws together information from government industry community and research bodies to provide the first comprehensive overview of chemical management practices. A number of barriers to accessing information on chemicals use or emissions are identified in the report. Many of these are already being addressed by the recent introduction of the National Pollutant Inventory. Further measures are likely following the emphasis given to environmental issues and especially chemicals in the recent general election. Full report at www.environment.gov.au/epg/pubs/ profile.html J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 11N News Chemicals database will aid emissions scenarios Two new information sources on industrial chemicals have been announced by OECD.The Database on Use and Release of Industrial Chemicals provides chemical information as an input to 12N J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 Directory describes the schemes used to notify and assess the use of new chemicals in OECD countries. The directory is part of work to make the diVerent national schemes more transparent. OECD ehscont@oecd.org environmental exposure analyses. Users can search the database for published information on emission scenarios specific chemicals or specific applications. OECD says the database will help avoid duplication of eVort in developing chemical emission scenarios. A second database the New Industrial Chemicals Information News Research news FP5 gets the green light The European Union’s Fifth Framework Programme has finally received the go-ahead after nearly a year of impasse between the European institutions.The Council of Research Ministers representing the EU member governments gave the final approval for the programme at its meeting in December allowing the start as scheduled at the beginning of the year. The main sticking point had been a dispute between the European Parliament and the European Commission the EU’s executive arm about the budget. The parties agreed on a budget of Euros 15 billion for the four year programme. Under the new arrangements research activities related to environmental monitoring and standards formerly undertaken under the Standards Measurement and Testing Programme will be split across a number of ‘research themes’.The first calls for proposals are expected in February or March this year. For further details on the Fifth EC-Framework Programme see page 16N. EU R&D www.cordis.lu Canada and US focus on hormone disrupters The Canadian federal government is to invest CAN $40 million into research on endocrine disrupters and other toxic substances. The initiative fulfils a commitment under the renewed Canadian Environmental Protection Act for research on hormone disrupting substances. Other health and environmental issues being addressed under the fouryear package include persistent organic pollutants toxic metals cumulative eVects of toxics and air pollutants. The programme will be implemented under Canada’s Toxic Substance Research Initiative (TSRI). Across the US border the National Toxicology Program and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences are setting up a Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR).The new Center will provide a focus for the two organisations’ work on the eVects on chemicals on human reproduction and development. It is being operated under contract by Sciences International Inc. As well as the scientific community NTP says the Center will make a special eVort to reach out to those who are not scientifically trained. Inputs will be solicited from a wide range of interest groups and the Center’s reports will be available on the Internet. Chemicals for potential evaluation are currently being invited together with candidates for the Center’s list of expert reviewers. T SRI www.hc-sc.gc.ca/tsri NT P http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/ EU launches new health institute A new Institute for Health and Consumer Protection has been launched by the EU’s Joint Research Centre.The Institute will support the European Commission in policymaking on health and consumer issues. It will provide a focus for the Centre’s work on standards and quality controls in areas such as food cosmetics drugs and chemicals. Acting Director Herbert Allgeier said the new Institute was part of the EU’s eVorts to ensure that ‘the consumer is not deceived by counterfeit or adulterated products or exposed to unnecessary risks and hazards’. Specific activities will include assessments of the health eVects of environmental contaminants; creating and maintaining databases on chemical risks; and assessing compliance of foodstuVs with quality and product labelling regulations.JRC www.jrc.org Secondment Programme for EU scientists The EU’s Joint Research Centre has launched a new programme of scientific exchanges. The Secondment Programme encourages scientists from industry or other research institutes to work within the JRC on a temporary basis. The JRC helps the European Commission to frame science-based regulations and policies. The secondments are an opportunity for researchers to get an inside track on policy-making and will also aid training and the transfer of know-how. JRC institutes and programmes covered by the scheme include the Centre for Reference Materials and Chemical Reference Measurements the Reference Laboratories for Neutron Data and for Isotopic Measurements and the European Reference Laboratory for Atmospheric Pollution.JRC www.jrc.org Annual date for asthma ‘Help our children breathe’ was the theme of the first World Asthma Day on 11th December. With an estimated 150 million people worldwide facing daily struggles against recurrent asthma attacks World Asthma Day will be an annual event to highlight the plight of asthma suVerers. The theme reflects particular concern over the increasing incidence of asthma in children. Launching the initiative WHO expert Dr Nikolai Khaltaev also emphasised the growing problem in developing countries. ‘India for example has an estimated 15 to 20 million asthmatics’ he said. While factors such as genetic predisposition indoor and outdoor allergens smoking and air pollution are known to be significant risk factors researchers are left struggling to explain J.Environ. Monit. 1999 1 13N Food and tobacco why rates are increasing on average by 50% every decade. WHO rozovi@who.ch www.who.ch Expert group to co-ordinate soil protection A new group to co-ordinate European actions on soil protection was agreed at a meeting in Bonn in December. The European Soil Forum is intended to provide a focus for a policy debate in Europe on a more holistic approach to soil protection. The first meeting of the forum is scheduled for this November following a series of working papers being prepared by the European Commission. These are expected to explore policy options for dealing with contaminated sites and wider soil protection measures. Potential options include a soil framework directive revisions to existing directives on sewage sludge and integrated pollution prevention and control and harmonising soil quality standards.Joint research on soil protection issues is also likely to be discussed. ESF promotes European networking The European Science Foundation has launched eight new programmes aimed at fostering European scientific collaboration. Started in January the programmes cover a variety of fields in the physical life medical and social sciences and will each run for between four and five years. One programme aims to network European research groups studying the genetics ecology pathology and agronomy of genetically modified crops. Another aims to link research traditions in community ecology and ecosystem ecology. A third will study social variations in health expectancy in Europe.ESF asmith@esf.org News Drink and tobacco oYcial carcinogens Alcoholic beverages and environmental tobacco smoke are among six substances being recommended for listing as carcinogens by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP). At its meeting in December a panel of NTP experts reviewed 11 substances or exposure circumstances for potential listing in the NTP’s Ninth Report on Carcinogens due later this year. The other substances accepted for listing as ‘known to be a human carcinogen’ were ethylene oxide nickel compounds crystalline silica and TCDD. Diesel exhaust particulates and isoprene (a constituent in polymers) were recommended as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’. Ethyl acrylate was delisted and the jury is still out on MTBE and boot and shoe manufacture.Preparation of the carcinogens report is mandated by Congress with the final decision on listings being made by the Department of Health and Human Services. NTP is currently consulting over the move. Comments should be addressed to Dr. C. W. Jameson. jameson@niehs.nih.gov http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/ UK to consult on workplace smoking The UK’s Health and Safety Commission is set to seek public consultation on the introduction of oYcial guidance on passive smoking at work. Responding to the UK government’s White Paper ‘Smoking Kills’ Commission Chairman Frank Davies said oYcial guidance ‘was one possibility for a way forward’ but the Commission ‘has not yet come to a final view’. HSC is due to publish a consultative document shortly including outline guidance and a forecast of any economic impact.The introduction of oYcial guidance in the form of an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) would represent a major change in the legal framework. Currently employers have no liability for passive smoking under UK law but if they failed to follow an ACoP a court may consider that the employer has broken the law. Health and Safety Commission Tel +44 541 545500 UK backs food irradiation The UK’s Institute of Food Science & Technology has endorsed the use of irradiation as ‘a safe and eVective food processing method’. In a statement issued in December IFST notes that food irradiation appears to be gaining consumer acceptance in the US but has been slow to gain support within many parts of Europe including the UK. The EU remains split on the issue with countries such as Belgium France the Netherlands Portugal and the UK in favour of a directive on food irradiation whereas Denmark Germany and Luxembourg remain opposed.Within the UK seven categories of foods are cleared for irradiation to specified doses and the regulations require that products be clearly labelled. IFST stresses the need for continuing information on the advantages and limitations of the technology so that consumers can make ‘an informed buying decision’. IFST ifst@easynet.co.uk Publications and events CEFIC guides environmental performance Guidelines for chemical companies in reporting health safety and environmental performance have been prepared by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC). At the heart of the system is a set of 16 core parameters which for the first time cover safety and occupational health as well as environmental protection.CEFIC says the new 14N J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 News framework will make company reporting more consistent and will allow the chemical industry to ‘share the sector’s HSE performance with all stakeholders’. At the moment quantitative data for the sector is only available for two parameters CO2 and energy eYciency but this will be widened to cover all 16 core parameters by 2002. CEFIC www.cefic.be Guidance on use of biological agents Special guidance on the large-scale contained use of biological agents in industry and research has been issued by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive. It is intended to help employers comply with the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH).The guidance covers containment systems and safe working practices where biological agents including GMOs are used in large quantities such as pharmaceuticals food and fine chemicals production academic and research establishments. Areas covered include management systems control measures emergency planning and personal protective equipment. T he large-scale contained use of biological agents ISBN 0-7176-1544-8 price £8.50 COMAH Conference A high profile conference on the new Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations is being organised by the UK Health and Safety Executive. The Conference takes place on 1–2 March 1999 at the Institute of Civil Engineers 1 St George Street London UK. It is the first of a series of special events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act.Further details from June Ellis HSE Tel +44 151 951 4595. The Seventh Symposium on the Chemistry and Fate of Modern Pesticides This conference will be held on 14–16 September 1999 at the University of Kansas Lawrence KS USA. Further details from The University of Kansas Division of Continuing Education 1515 St. Andrews Drive Lawrence KS 66047-1625 USA. Tel +1 785 864 4790; Fax +1 785 864 5074; E-mail bproctor@ukans.edu. Policies for people A recent report from an influential UK body urges a more people-focused approach to environmental policies A new approach to deciding environmental policies that takes greater account of people’s values has been called for by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. Launching the report in London the Commission’s Chairman Sir Tom Blundell said ‘For environmental policies to be successful people must have confidence in the way they are being protected against risks.That is best achieved if they are involved at every stage.’ Referring to the scientific controversies of the last few years he stressed there was a need for ‘a much better understanding of the relationship between policies science and values’. Entitled Setting Environmental Standards the report emphasises that protecting the environment has become much more complex. Increasingly the problems are global in scale and may occur some way in the future. Also commitments to sustainable development mean that protection of the environment has to be reconciled with greater material well-being and social justice. Sir John Houghton one of the report’s main authors said that ‘scientific assessments and analyses of technology economics and risks must inform policy decisions but cannot pre-empt them’.He added that ‘setting a standard or target is not only a scientific or technical matter but a practical judgement which has to be made in the light of all the relevant factors’. As well as numerical and legally enforceable limits the report’s definition of ‘environmental standard’ embraces guidelines codes of practice and other criteria used for measuring environmental performance. New forms of environmental standards are evolving for example the green claims made about products environmental reporting by companies and published targets set by governments for environmental quality. Bodies involved in setting standards should ensure their procedures are transparent and open at every stage.They should also leave an ‘audit trail’ recording what factors have been taken into account in their decisions. While direct regulation will continue to be important it will be only one element in a broader portfolio which will include green taxes and charges and voluntary actions by companies and individuals. These alternative approaches based on partnership rather than confrontation make transparency and openness even more crucial. Noting the shift away from national environmental policy-making the Commission says its conclusions apply equally to standards set at European or international level. However while this trend will continue to take eVective account of people’s views the Commission urges that environmental standards should be set at the lowest sensible level. Established in 1970 the RCEP is an independent body that advises the UK government on environmental policy. While the report is based primarily on the UK’s experience it contains much that is of relevance to scientists and policy-makers elsewhere. Setting the Standard T wenty-first Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution ISBN 0 10 140532 4. Available from the Stationery OYce price £21.40. T he report’s conclusions are available on-line at www.rcep.org.uk Mike Sharpe