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The West got rich on the back of abusing the environment. Now they have seen the error of their ways, they sit back in their comfortable homes and through international agencies try to prevent developing Asia from doing the same. The environment remains a middle class and developed world issue, and will do so as long as environmental protection hits the poor the hardest. The rich can afford to attend to conservation issues as they will not be the ones out of a job if the timber industry or agricultural industries are hit. Sustainable Development, of which Environmental Management is a small part, has at it's heart the application of general management principles that apply not just to the private sector but also the public sector - in fact almost all management activity. Some of these principles such as stakeholder involvement, financial transparency, and forward planning are simply management skills that are lacking in most Asian countries. Such a situation has led to poor quality buildings in Taiwan constructed by corrupt businesses that crumble when earthquakes hit, smog over Singapore and Malaysia while Indonesian tycoon Bob Hasan razes his forests to make quick profits, and the rape of previously tranquil resorts such as Koh Samui in Thailand through over-development. This is why articles such as Overview to water recycling in California: success stories by Arlene K. Wong and Peter H. Gleick, whilst not Asia focused, are featured here as emphasizing the importance of applying simple and valid management principles. Lucio Munoz in An overview of some of the policy implications of the eco-economic development market in another useful article posits a new model for Sustainable Development. Environmental awareness is increasing in most Asian countries which can afford the luxury, yet a review of the existing literature on Environmental Management reveals a paucity of content from Asia. However as development projects increasingly involve joint ventures between Western and local companies, pressure to utilise environmental-impact studies and consider sustainability will increase. All costs money, and economic development must move from a middle to long term focus in a region where planning is usuaklly given very short shift. Featured in our review this week are just some articles from Asia, the rest focusing on the topic more broadly. Cellular phone systems and human health - problems with risk
perception and communication Low-level microwave (MW) fields may under certain conditions of exposure cause measurable effects in biological organisms. Exposure of the general public to MWs in the environment is generally below intensities which are considered as responsible for evoking bioeffects. Introduction of cellular phone (CP) systems has increased considerably MW exposure of CP users. Health consequences of long-term use of CPs are not known in detail, but available data indicate that development of non-specific health symptoms is possible, at least in "MW hypersensitive" subjects. In contrast to terminal CPs, transmitting antennas and base stations (BS) contribute to MW environmental contamination only with a small portion of the energy and do not pose any health risks. Health risks of CP use are underestimated and accepted, while risks of BS are generally overestimated by the public. Therefore, an improved risk communication as well as further studies of the risks are required.
Keywords: Cellular communications, Microwaves, Radiation, Health, Risk
Health not wealth as an institutional performance goal The breadth of information that is required for appraising the sustainable development performance of our institutions is far larger than an economic understanding of wealth is capable of capturing. This paper argues that health and not wealth provides a more appropriate goal and measurement framework for sustainable development. The argument considers current industrial practice in which the emphasis has shifted from micro-economic to physical-units measures of performance such as in mass-balancing as well as in environmental management system standards. The ecological aspects of production units are considered as the source of significant information which is beyond the scope and capabilities of economics to represent. A description is then provided of a tool that is being developed to account for the sustainable development achievements of islands tourism enterprises in Greece, Italy and Scotland. The goal of this tool, as well as sustainable development itself, is to measure increases in health and not in wealth.
Keywords: Environment, Environmental management strategy, Sustainable development,
Environmental audit
Toxic encephalopathy Describes a study involving 30 non-smoking, white-collar patients (aged 25-50), 12 male, 18 female, chronically exposed (over 90 days) to non-lethal doses of solvents - formaldehyde and chlorinated pesticides - in their offices. They exhibited short-term memory loss, lack of concentration and balance, odor sensitivity and fatigue. When compared to control individuals, these people had objective brain dysfunction on triple camera brain (SPECT) CAT scan, brain mapping by multiple behavioral analysis, computerized balance testing, computerized Iriscorder for automatic nervous system measuring, inhaled double blind challenge, intradermal challenge and blood toxics. Toxic encephalopathy could then be diagnosed.
Keywords: Pollution, Formaldehyde, Brain
Overview to water recycling in California: success stories Provides a summary of recycled water use in California, illustrating the evolution of its application from individual projects for nearby users, to city-wide and district programs. Presents three detailed case studies of recent water recycling projects: the West Basin Water Recycling project in Los Angeles County, the South Bay Water Recycling project in Santa Clara County, and several projects in Marin County. Barriers to recycled water projects include the cost, institutional barriers that separate water supply and wastewater functions, slow regulatory response in permitting, recognizing new technology and expended uses, and educating stakeholders. From the case studies, common elements to successful implementation demonstrate the importance of working with numerous stakeholders throughout the process and addressing their concerns, creating new institutional partnerships, educating stakeholders to bring actors together, market services, and engender support, acquiring financial assistance and providing incentives and, finally, relying on large volume users to support a more cost-effective design.
Keywords: Water industry, Recycling
An overview of some of the policy implications of the eco-economic
development market The recent economic/environmental discourse on development issues has led to a new paradigm of development, called here the "eco-economic development model", but usually known as sustainable development (including both ecological and economic concerns), which has successfully substituted the traditional model of economic development in general acceptance. However, new models usually imply new rules and perhaps a new type of market, yet policy issues within the eco-economic development paradigm are being addressed with theoretical constructs and a state of mind as if we were still in the old paradigm - perhaps because the nature and the internal structure of the new paradigm are not yet well known and understood, as nobody has apparently looked into this. It should be expected that the two paradigms are not equivalent to each other, and therefore, they should be addressed differently. This paper presents a qualitative approach, from a systematic point of view, which can be used to highlight how different the two paradigms are in terms of structure and policy implications. Then, this information is used to provide an answer to three questions: is the economic development market the same as the eco-economic development market; if not, how many invisible hands are there in the eco-economic development market; and what are the environmental, social, and economic policy implications of this situation?. Shows that new paradigms require a new line of thinking to market policy and planning.
Keywords: Economics, Paradigms, Mergers, Forestry, Land use, Sustainable development
Computer technology for waste management for Chernobyl
remediation The computer technology (CT) for modelling of the ecology-economic situation in the alienation zone (AZ) of Chenobyl is developed. It includes the databases of potentially dangerous objects and program modules (PM) for modelling of the ecology-economic situation in the AZ. The optimal redistribution of means, directed at resource restoration, liquidation of technogenic pollution, the restoration of basis capital, prevention of pollution migration for bounds of the AZ is determined by use of this model. A distinctive feature of the accounts carried out in this work is that they allow the estimation not only of risk value, but also of levels of reserve possiblities of various objects of the AZ. The critical values of measured parameters, at which achievement the emergencies can occur, are also determined. The CT includes the following program modules: geo-information system; PM for risk assessment of emergency occurences in the AZ; PM for dynamic optimisation tasks.
Keywords: Computer technology, Risk assessment, Monitoring, Optimization
An initial control of indoor air biocontamination Indoor biocontamination is recognized as a potential public health problem. The concentration of indoor pollutants is varied, depending on air filtration, air distribution systems and air cleaning devices. One portable air cleaning device, "Ionizer Air clean-er/Air clinic" was investigated. The ability of particles to remain airborne or pass through filters depends on the size and density of particles. Air clinic device removed bacterial and mould contaminants in efficiencies up to 98.7 per cent and 67 per cent respectively, after 30 minutes of operation. After purification, Penicilliumspecies were predominant. Small particles (≤q4um) are passed through filter mates. The negative ions produced by the device are effective for removing suspended particulates in efficiency up to 99 per cent. The disadvantages of this device are: the need to change the filter after short period of operation, and the unpleasant odour emitted from the device during operation due to ionization of particles.
Keywords: Pollution, Contamination, Health
Heavy metal content of newspapers: longitudinal trends Examines whether there are any environmental or health implications associated with the increased use of colour in newspapers, if the newspapers are reused or recycled. New heavy metal analyses of UK daily newspapers from 1992, 1996 and 1998 are reported. Lead, mercury and cadmium were found to be below their measurement detection limits (4ppm, 5ppm and 1ppm respectively) in nearly all samples. Barium and total chromium levels were highest in supplements printed on "glossy" paper. Copper was present at levels around 20-30ppm in the standard newsprint sections and at levels of 80ppm or more in the supplements. Copper concentrations increased by 33-40 per cent between 1992 and 1998 which correlated well with the increased colour content. A scientific appraisal and review showed that the heavy metal contents of newspapers are highly unlikely to pose any environmental risk or to have any health implications.
Keywords: Newspaper, Heavy metals, Copper, Ink, Colour
From green to brown: is brownfields use risk taking? Brownfields are commonly pictured as the hottest real estate property in the USA. Will the European market follow suit? Brownfields are properties long considered lost to re-utilization due to their polluted condition. Federal and state governments in the USA provide incentives to foster redevelopment. But the risks involved still keep potentially interested parties clamoring for more legal protection. It may validly be asked whether recovery schemes may pose subsequent health or other problems. Communities involved may react quite differently; the attitude may be one of apathy, distrust or opposition, or, in sophisticated milieus, of realism. Much will depend on "education" and communication.
Keywords: Redevelopment, Community, Real estate
As always we have only skimmed the surface of relevant articles this week and only those that are particularly relevant for Asia-Pacific managers. Many other articles are available as well including those focusing on other countries and international perspectives.
Property, Buildings and Earthquakes November 1999
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