Article reproduced from: Aug/Sept 2005 Vol 1 No 3 edition of 'Waste Streams' magazine. See also www.WasteStreams.com.au
ANU develops water filter
A handful of clay, yesterday's coffee grounds, and some cow manure are the simple ingredients that could bring clean drinking water to developing countries around the globe.
An innovative new technology, developed by ANU materials scientist Mr Tony Flynn, allows water filters to be made from commonly available materials and fired on the ground using manure, without the need for a kiln. The filters have been shown to remove common pathogens including E.coli. Unlike other water filtering devices, they are simple and inexpensive to make.
"They are very simple to explain and demonstrate and can be made by anyone, anywhere. They don't require any western technology. All you need is terracotta clay, a compliant cow and a match, " said Mr Flynn.
The production of the filters is extremely simple. Take a handful of dry, crushed clay, mix it with a handful of organic material, such as used tea leaves, coffee grounds or rice hulls, add enough water to make a stiff biscuit-like mixture and form a cylindrical pot that has one end closed. Dry the pots in the sun, then surround them with straw, place in a mound of cow manure, light the straw and then top up the burning manure as required. In less than an hour the filters are fininshed.
"A potter's kiln is an expensive item and can take up to four or five hours to heat. It needs expensive or scarce fuel, such as gas or wood, to heat it and experience to run it. With no technology, and no insulation, none of these restrictions apply. We are deliberately not patenting this technology in the hope that it will be used widely around the world. A simple water filter really does have the capacity to save many lives in the developing world."
The filtration process is simple, but effective. the basic principle is that there are passages through the filter that are wide enough for water droplets to pass through, but too narrow for pathogens. Organic materials which are combined with the clay burn away during the firing process, leaving cavities that help produce the structure in which pathogens will become trapped.
The invention was born out of a World Vision project involving the community of Manatuto in East Timor. the charity wanted to help set up a small industry manufacturing water filters, but initial reasearch found the local clay to be too fine - a problem solved by the addition of organic material. Manure firing, with no requirement for a kiln, has made this zero technology approach available anywhere it is needed.
Tests with the deadly E. coli bacterium have seen the filters remove 96.4 to 99.8% of the pathogen - well within safe levels. Using only one filter, a litre of clean water can be produced in just two hours.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
Another study showing Roundup kills frogs
http://www.umc.pitt.edu:591/m/FMPro?-db=ma&-lay=a&-format=d.html&id=2115&-Find
University of Pittsburgh, 3 August 2005
Roundup(r) kills frogs as well as tadpoles, Pitt biologist finds
Product is lethal even at lower concentrations; soil does not lessen its effects
As amphibians continue to mysteriously disappear worldwide, a University of Pittsburgh researcher may have found more pieces of the puzzle. Elaborating on his previous research, Pitt assistant professor of biological sciences Rick Relyea has discovered that Roundup(r), the most commonly used herbicide in the world, is deadly to tadpoles at lower concentrations than previously tested; that the presence of soil does not mitigate the chemical's effects; and that the product kills frogs in addition to tadpoles.
In two articles published in the August 1 issue of the journal Ecological Applications, Relyea and his doctoral students Nancy Schoeppner and Jason Hoverman found that even when applied at concentrations that are one-third of the maximum concentrations expected in nature, Roundup(r) still killed up to 71 percent of tadpoles raised in outdoor tanks.
Relyea also examined whether adding soil to the tanks would absorb the Roundup(r) and make it less deadly to tadpoles. The soil made no difference: After exposure to the maximum concentration expected in nature, nearly all of the tadpoles from three species died.
Although Roundup(r) is not approved for use in water, scientists have found that the herbicide can wind up in small wetlands where tadpoles live due to inadvertent spraying during the application of Roundup(r).
Studying how Roundup(r) affected frogs after metamorphosis, Relyea found that the recommended application of Roundup(r) Weed and Grass Killer, a formulation marketed to homeowners and gardeners, killed up to 86 percent of terrestrial frogs after only one day.
"The most striking result from the experiments was that a chemical designed to kill plants killed 98 percent of all tadpoles within three weeks and 79 percent of all frogs within one day," Relyea wrote.
Previous studies hae determined that it is Roundup(r)'s surfactant (polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, an "inert" ingredient added to make the herbicide penetrate plant leaves) and not the active herbicide (glyphosate) that is lethal to amphibians.
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation, Pitt’s McKinley Fund, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.
University of Pittsburgh, 3 August 2005
Roundup(r) kills frogs as well as tadpoles, Pitt biologist finds
Product is lethal even at lower concentrations; soil does not lessen its effects
As amphibians continue to mysteriously disappear worldwide, a University of Pittsburgh researcher may have found more pieces of the puzzle. Elaborating on his previous research, Pitt assistant professor of biological sciences Rick Relyea has discovered that Roundup(r), the most commonly used herbicide in the world, is deadly to tadpoles at lower concentrations than previously tested; that the presence of soil does not mitigate the chemical's effects; and that the product kills frogs in addition to tadpoles.
In two articles published in the August 1 issue of the journal Ecological Applications, Relyea and his doctoral students Nancy Schoeppner and Jason Hoverman found that even when applied at concentrations that are one-third of the maximum concentrations expected in nature, Roundup(r) still killed up to 71 percent of tadpoles raised in outdoor tanks.
Relyea also examined whether adding soil to the tanks would absorb the Roundup(r) and make it less deadly to tadpoles. The soil made no difference: After exposure to the maximum concentration expected in nature, nearly all of the tadpoles from three species died.
Although Roundup(r) is not approved for use in water, scientists have found that the herbicide can wind up in small wetlands where tadpoles live due to inadvertent spraying during the application of Roundup(r).
Studying how Roundup(r) affected frogs after metamorphosis, Relyea found that the recommended application of Roundup(r) Weed and Grass Killer, a formulation marketed to homeowners and gardeners, killed up to 86 percent of terrestrial frogs after only one day.
"The most striking result from the experiments was that a chemical designed to kill plants killed 98 percent of all tadpoles within three weeks and 79 percent of all frogs within one day," Relyea wrote.
Previous studies hae determined that it is Roundup(r)'s surfactant (polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, an "inert" ingredient added to make the herbicide penetrate plant leaves) and not the active herbicide (glyphosate) that is lethal to amphibians.
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation, Pitt’s McKinley Fund, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
EPA fines Cairns developer for sediment pollution
28 Jul 2005
A Cairns development company has been fined $97,000 in the Cairns Magistrates Court today for allowing an estimated 1100 tonnes of sediment to run off its development site and pollute a waterway.
Red Peak Forest Estate Pty Ltd today pleaded guilty to three charges of causing unlawful environmental nuisance and was fined $97,000 plus $3500 in EPA investigation expenses.
These charges relate to sediment contamination of a waterway downstream from the Red Peak Forest Estate residential development site at Caravonica near Cairns following heavy rain on 5 February 2004.
EPA Northern Region Director of Environment Rob Lawrence said the $97,000 fine delivered by the court sent a clear message to the community that the pollution of Queensland’s waterways would not be tolerated.
“This incident was particularly serious and the EPA was not going to allow the company’s conduct to go unchecked.
“The sediment run-off had a significant ecological impact on Avondale Creek, the Half Moon Creek Fish Habitat Area and the lake at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
“This area also falls within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.”
Developers and builders across the State are required to ensure appropriate sediment and erosion control measures are in place on their development or building sites to protect Queensland’s waterways from incidents of this kind.
“This case should serve as a warning to builders and developers to make sure that their sediment and erosion control measures are up to standard.”
The EPA and Red Peak Forest Estate Pty Ltd will each pay their own legal expenses in this case. No conviction has been recorded against Red Peak.
Released by: Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/media/?release=840
Monday, August 08, 2005
$3.6 million to fight the cane toad
http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2005/mr05aug05.html
The Australian Government has stepped up the fight against the cane toad with a new $3.6 million national package to combat the environmental menace.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, and the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, today announced a $3 million funding injection for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to massively boost vital biological control research, with another $600,000 for the joint Australian Government and Western Australian Government cane toad task force.
Senator Campbell said the Australian Government had already contributed almost $7 million since 1996 on biological control studies and cane toad-trapping trials to combat the pest. The new funding would be made available through the Natural Heritage Trust and the CSIRO.
"The cane toad is a blight on our landscape, having already caused major damage to populations of Northern Territory species like the Northern Quoll," Senator Campbell said.
"Female cane toads lay 8000 to 35,000 eggs at a time and breed at least twice a year. Their large numbers in some States have had a devastating effect on our wildlife - they compete for food with other native animals and are likely to carry disease that can be transmitted to and reduce numbers of our frogs and fish species.
"So while short-term measures like traps are important to slow the toads down, their capacity to breed means we will not stop them for good unless we find a biological solution."
Dr Nelson said the $3 million funding would boost the CSIRO’s research effort into biological control of the invasive pest.
"Though there are a range of activities we can carry out to slow the progression of the cane toad, a key step towards the eradication of this pest will be found through scientific research," Dr Nelson said.
"The aim of this research is to identify a gene critical to toad development and then manipulate the gene to prevent the transition from tadpole to adult toad. The project will then look at ways in which to 'deliver' this gene through the toad population. This type of research could be the long term answer to the detrimental impact cane toads are having on our unique environment.
"The ongoing CSIRO research can now be extended and fast tracked thanks to the Government’s additional funding."
For more information on cane toads visit http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cane-toad/index.html
Media contacts:
Renae Stoikos 02 6277 7640 or 0418 568 434
Yaron Finkelstein 02 9465 3990 or 0414 927 663
The Australian Government has stepped up the fight against the cane toad with a new $3.6 million national package to combat the environmental menace.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, and the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, today announced a $3 million funding injection for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to massively boost vital biological control research, with another $600,000 for the joint Australian Government and Western Australian Government cane toad task force.
Senator Campbell said the Australian Government had already contributed almost $7 million since 1996 on biological control studies and cane toad-trapping trials to combat the pest. The new funding would be made available through the Natural Heritage Trust and the CSIRO.
"The cane toad is a blight on our landscape, having already caused major damage to populations of Northern Territory species like the Northern Quoll," Senator Campbell said.
"Female cane toads lay 8000 to 35,000 eggs at a time and breed at least twice a year. Their large numbers in some States have had a devastating effect on our wildlife - they compete for food with other native animals and are likely to carry disease that can be transmitted to and reduce numbers of our frogs and fish species.
"So while short-term measures like traps are important to slow the toads down, their capacity to breed means we will not stop them for good unless we find a biological solution."
Dr Nelson said the $3 million funding would boost the CSIRO’s research effort into biological control of the invasive pest.
"Though there are a range of activities we can carry out to slow the progression of the cane toad, a key step towards the eradication of this pest will be found through scientific research," Dr Nelson said.
"The aim of this research is to identify a gene critical to toad development and then manipulate the gene to prevent the transition from tadpole to adult toad. The project will then look at ways in which to 'deliver' this gene through the toad population. This type of research could be the long term answer to the detrimental impact cane toads are having on our unique environment.
"The ongoing CSIRO research can now be extended and fast tracked thanks to the Government’s additional funding."
For more information on cane toads visit http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cane-toad/index.html
Media contacts:
Renae Stoikos 02 6277 7640 or 0418 568 434
Yaron Finkelstein 02 9465 3990 or 0414 927 663
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