Chemical Processing - September 2007 - (Page 7)

555 West Pierce Road, Suite 301, Itasca, IL 60143 Phone: (630) 467-1300 Fax: (630) 467-1109 www.chemicalprocessing.com E-mail: cpnews@putman.net Subscriptions/Customer Service: (888) 644-1803 or (847) 559-7360 EdItoRIaL StaFF MaRk RoSEnzWEIg, editor in chief, x478 mrosenzweig@putman.net kEn SChnEPF, managing editor, x442 kschnepf@putman.net JILL RuSSELL, digitaL editor, x455 jrussell@putman.net MIkE SPEaR, editor at Large hertfordshire, U.K. mspear@putman.net ContRIbutIng EdItoRS andREW SLoLEY, troUbLeshooting coLUmnist LYnn L. bERgESon, regULatory coLUmnist ChRIStoPhER RuSSELL, energy coLUmnist dIRk WILLaRd, coLUmnist C. kEnna aMoS, news SEÁn ottEWELL, news dESIgn & PRoduCtIon StEPhEn C. hERnER, groUp art director, x312 sherner@putman.net toM WaItEk, prodUction designer, x413 dchamberlain@putman.net RIta FItzgERaLd, prodUction manager, x468 rfitzgerald@putman.net EdItoRIaL boaRd Vic edwards, aker Kvaerner tim franK, dow chemical ben paterson, eli Lilly roy sanders, ppg industries eLLen tUrner, eastman chemical ben weinstein, procter & gamble Jon worsteLL, shell chemical sheiLa yang, fluor corp. MIkE bREnnER, groUp pUbLisher, x487 mbrenner@putman.net bRIan MaRz, pUbLisher, x411 bmarz@putman.net adMInIStRatIvE StaFF John M. CaPPELLEttI, president/ceo JuLIE CaPPELLEttI-LangE, Vice president RoSE SouthaRd, it director JERRY CLaRk, Vice president of circULation JaCk JonES, circULation director REPRIntS CLaudIa StaChoWIak, marKeting manager claudia@fostereprints.net 1-866-879-9144 x121 fax: 219-561-2019 FoStER REPRIntS 4295 ohio street michigan city, in 46360 FROM THE EDITOR << China teems with harmful exports Problems go well beyond defective and dangerous products EvEry day sEEms to bring nEws about the perils of another product from China. the list grows and grows: tainted petfood ingredients, unsafe additives in juice, toothpaste containing diethylene glycol, faulty tires, children’s toys with lead paint or too small parts… it’s almost getting to the point that we should call some Chinese exports not goods but bads. China also is causing harm that goes far beyond poor products. its environmental performance is taking a heavy toll. recently, the Paris-based organization for Economic Cooperation and development (oECd), which counts countries from australia to the U.s. as members, released its first-ever Environmental Performance review of China (www.oecd.org/document/ 47/0,3343,en_33873108_36016481_ 37809647_1_1_1_1,00.html ) and the conclusions provide somber reading. China has enacted modern environmental legislation, strengthened environmental institutions and given higher priority to environmental and natural-resources management, according to the oECd report. However, inadequate implementation has hobbled the effectiveness and efficiency of its efforts. the biggest obstacles to environmental policy implementation are at the local level, the report stresses. there, authorities needn’t worry much about accountability to people in the area and have placed economic priorities over environmental concerns. Perhaps we should take some comfort that U.s. and European manufacturers building chemical plants in China invariably say that those plants conform to the same environmental standards as their other plants. overall, though, air pollution in some Chinese cites is among the worst in the world. the draft report noted that 750,000 people die prematurely each year in China because of air pollution, says The Financial Times, which adds that the analysis was deleted at the country’s insistence. volatile organic compounds and toxic air pollutants receive insufficient attention, states the report. about one-third of surface waters are severely polluted, and municipal, industrial and hazardous wastes far exceed what can be safely treated and disposed of, it adds. the dire environmental situation in China not only affects the people and landscape there but has an international dimension, the report makes clear. “China… remains the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases, and is still the world’s largest producer and consumer of ozone-depleting substances. its largely coal-fired economy is a major source of acid rain and other transboundary air pollutants in northeast asia, and is a significant contributor to globalscale air pollution, including mercury.” the oECd report offers a number of recommendations but cautions: “to achieve The biggest obstacles are at the local level. success, increased financial efforts from China as well as major technical support and targeted financial assistance to China from oECd countries and international financial institutions will be required.” Clearly, we have a lot more to worry about from China than just dangerous toys, toothpaste and tires. CP Mark Rosenzweig Editor in Chief mrosenzweig@putman.net september 2007 • 7 Folio editorial excellence award winner www.chemicalprocessing.com http://www.chemicalprocessing.com http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,3343,en_33873108_36016481_37809647_1_1_1_1,00.html http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,3343,en_33873108_36016481_37809647_1_1_1_1,00.html http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,3343,en_33873108_36016481_37809647_1_1_1_1,00.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Chemical Processing - September 2007

Contents From the Editor Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor Succeed at Simulation Rethink Your Approach to Process Safety Avoid Blending Blunders Get the Right Cartridge or Bag Filter Wireless Proponents Take HART Membrane Boasts Material Benefits Process Puzzler Plant InSites Chem Show Product Preview ISA Product Preview Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - September 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.