Category: News

Source: Science Daily

Dec. 31, 2012 — Infection control experts at The Johns Hopkins Hospital have found that a combination of robot-like devices that disperse a bleaching agent into the air and then detoxify the disinfecting chemical are highly effective at killing and preventing the spread of multiple-drug-resistant bacteria, or so-called hospital superbugs.

A study report on the use of hydrogen peroxide vaporizers — first deployed in several Singapore hospitals during the 2002 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and later stocked by several U.S. government agencies in case of an anthrax attack — is to be published Jan. 1 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

In the study, the Johns Hopkins team placed the devices in single hospital rooms after routine cleaning to disperse a thin film of the bleaching hydrogen peroxide across all exposed hospital equipment surfaces, as well as on room floors and walls. Results showed that the enhanced cleaning reduced by 64 percent the number of patients who later became contaminated with any of the most common drug-resistant organisms. Moreover, researchers found that protection from infection was conferred on patients regardless of whether the previous room occupant was infected with drug-resistant bacteria or not.
Continue reading Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Enhances Hospital Disinfection of Superbugs

Source: Science Daily

Dec. 28, 2012 — Industries across Europe are threatened with shutdown as European Union emission rules for Volatile Organic Compounds are tightened. Now an air cleaning invention from the University of Copenhagen has proven its ability to remove these compounds. And in the process they have helped a business in Danish town Aarhus improve relations to angry neighbors.

Inventor, Copenhagen chemist Matthew Johnson, presented evidence for the air cleaning invention at the conference “First International Education Forum on Environment and Energy Science” held on Hawaii December 14 to 18.

In deepest secrecy the inventor Matthew Johnson from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen has been collaborating with an investor, INFUSER, in mounting and testing a revolutionary air cleaning device at the industrial plant, “Jysk Miljoerens” in Danish town Aarhus. The reason for keeping the testing secret was that they wanted to be absolutely sure that they could in fact remove the pollution before going public. Now their measurements are concluded and the results are in. And the device actually works.

Natural way to remove air pollution

At the department of Chemistry atmospheric chemist Matthew Johnson invented and patented the air cleaning method which is based on the natural ability of the Earth atmosphere to clean itself. In a process triggered by sunlight, polluting gasses rising into the sky start forming particles when they come across naturally occurring compounds such as ozone. The newly formed particles are washed out of the atmosphere by rain. Once the rain hits the ground, the atmosphere is clean again. In other words the whole process is nature’s own purification works, explains Professor Johnson.

“I have investigated the self-cleaning mechanism of the atmosphere for years. Suddenly I realized, that the mechanism is so simple, that we could wrap it in a box and use it to clean indoor air. This makes for a better indoor climate, and in this particular case it also removes smells from this industrial process allowing the company to stay in business and making the neighbors happy,” says Matthew Johnson.

Frutifull collaboration between business and research

For the INFUSER CEO Lars Nannerup the new air cleaning method was a heaven sent. For some time he had wanted to establish a cleantech business delivering green and sustainable solutions to industry.

-For INFUSER, collaborating with the University of Copenhagen has been extremely fruitful. We have been operating in an electrifying field between fundamental research and commercial development. This is an area where pure theory and good ideas are tested outside the very competent walls of the university. And we have been extraordinarily successful. We are excited to be able to bring to market this revolutionary technology. We are proud that it is a Danish invention, and we’re proud that this invention helps making the world a better and a cleaner place,” says Nannerup.

Low energy consumption allows climate friendly air treatment

In scientific terms, Matthew Johnsons patented process is known as an atmospheric photochemical accelerator. The whole process is housed in five aluminum boxes on the roof of the Aarhus business. Compared to traditional methods the new process outshines by removing pollution rather than diluting it, as is the case when we send smoke up a chimney. The method requires no filters, so maintenance is inexpensive. It consumes very little energy, so its climate impact is negligible. Finally it removes the need for a chimney which would have been costly to erect. For all these reason INFUSER and the photochemical air-purification was the right choice for Jysk Miljoerens.

Photochemistry solved pressing problem for environmental business

The company Jysk Miljoerens makes a living separating oil from bilge water in ships, so that the oil may be recycled. For manager Bent Naldal all the parameters were important, but above all he is just happy that the new method has managed to remove the smells from his wastewater treatment plant. Because the smells were threatening to put him out of business.

“It’s no big secret, that we’ve faced challenges in getting rid of the smells originating in our treatment plant. For this reason we were very happy when INFUSER got in touch, saying that they had a solution to our problem. Unlike other solutions that we’ve investigated to combat smells and air pollution we can now see, that INFUSER delivered. They’ve solved a pressing problem for Jysk Miloerens, and for the city of Aarhus,” says CEO Naldal.

Perfect example of collaboration between industry and academia

For the University of Copenhagen it has been an especial pleasure to follow the collaboration between inventor and investor. The university unit for technology transfer has helped Johnson in the patenting process, in getting financing to conduct experiments and in drawing up the licensing agreement with INFUSER. Unit leader Anna Haldrup feels that the air cleaning technology is a perfect example of how universities can help industrial partners.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Copenhagen.

Source: Environmental Leader.com

The quality and availability of drinking water will decrease unless we manage our drinking water supply better.

In certain parts of the world, communities’ sole source of water is water from deep wells, often many thousands of feet down.  Almost half of the United States drinking water is groundwater.  The Ogallala Aquifer is the sole source of water in central western part of the United States.  An estimated 12 billion cubic meters of water is removed from the Ogallala Aquifer each year and 6 percent of the aquifer will dry up every 25 years, which leaves the residents and farmers of the Great Plains unsure about how long their water supply will last.

Water from groundwater sources is usually free of chemical and microbial contamination, but often become contaminated by disposal of liquid waste, mining operations, and agricultural runoff.  By providing protection to the source, either through buffers from the reservoirs or by protecting the wellhead for the deep wells, water is available without much treatment.

There are less uncontaminated water supplies available due to increasing population and increased use of water.   Water is treated before human consumption.  Disinfection is an important step in the water treatment process to destroy pathogenic bacteria and other harmful agents.  Most water is treated with chlorine, which is a very effective and economical method of treatment.  An important advantage of using chlorine is that it has residual properties and continues to provide germ killing potential as the water travels from the distribution point to the end users.  There are concerns about the formation of disinfection by-products from the reaction of the chlorine with humic substances in the water.  Some of the bacteria and viruses we want to treat are becoming resistant to traditional means of disinfection.
Continue reading Water: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

EPA’s Burn Wise Program Offers Helpful Hints to Keep Warm and Reduce Air Pollution

(PHILADELPHIA — December 13, 2012) — Are you burning wood in a wood stove or fireplace this winter? If so, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages you to burn a more efficient and cleaner fire. Wood smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particle pollution that isn’t healthy to breathe indoors or out – especially for children, older adults and those with heart and lung disease, and asthma.

Reducing smoke from your chimney can be easy. Burning dry firewood in a properly installed and operated EPA-certified wood stove should produce little smoke.

Here are a few tips to help produce a more efficient and cleaner fire:

• Upgrade to an EPA-certified wood stove or fireplace insert. These models are more efficient than older models, making your air cleaner, your home safer, and your fuel bill lower, while keeping you warm in the winter. An estimated 12 million Americans heat their homes with wood stoves each winter, and nearly three-quarters of these stoves are not EPA-certified. An EPA-certified wood stove can emit nearly 70 percent less smoke than older uncertified models and is approximately 50 percent more efficient, meaning you get more heat with less wood.
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood. Burning dry firewood can add up to a significant cost savings over the winter. Look for wood that is darker, has cracks in the end grain, and sounds hollow when it is hit against another piece of wood. Use a wood moisture meter, available at wood working stores and online to tell if your wood is ready to burn.  It should have 20 percent moisture or less. Never burn painted or treated wood or trash. Painted wood and trash can release harmful toxins and cause chimney fires.
• Have a certified professional inspect and service your wood stove or fireplace annually. A certified technician can clean dangerous soot from your chimney and keep your wood stove or fireplace working properly, which reduces your risk of a home fire.
• Consider converting your open wood-burning fireplace to a more efficient, less-polluting appliance by installing a wood stove insert or gas appliance. Wood-burning fireplaces do not burn as cleanly as EPA-certified wood stoves. If you continue to use the fireplace, consider having a professional install a gas fireplace insert, a gas log lighter or a catalyst device to reduce pollution and increase efficiency.

To learn more, check out the EPA website for “Burn Wise,” a partnership program that emphasizes the importance of burning the right wood, the right way, in the right wood-burning appliance to protect your home. Visit www.epa.gov/burnwise.

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are collaborating in a worldwide research effort to assess any potential impacts of nanomaterials on people’s health and the environment. Nanomaterials appear in many household products ranging from clothing to building materials. For example, one ongoing study evaluates the potential human and environmental effects from exposure to copper nanomaterials, an ingredient in wood treatment products used on wood for building decks and fences.

The emerging field of nanotechnology has led to substantial advances in energy, medicine, electronics, and clean technologies. The field relies on using materials at the nanoscale level, these nanomaterials are made up of very small particles, which are about 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Because of the unique properties of these materials, it is important to conduct research to identify methods that will allow manufacturers and other stakeholders to ensure that products containing these materials do not harm people or the environment.
Continue reading EPA & Consumer Product Safety Commission Collaborate to Research Health Impacts of Nanomaterials