International conference

Resource use by production processes and national economies have been very often investigated under the point of view of their upstream cost (financial, energetic, labor, and land investments). Instead, the direct and indirect effects of resource use on local and global environment are still poorly integrated with process and economic accounting, although a significant literature already exists about large-scale effects such as global warming and acidification and local-scale, eco-toxicological effects of airborne and waterborne dispersal of chemicals and particulate. Integration of NFA (Material Flow Accounting) and LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment) techniques with a detailed classification of emissions as well as of their environmental fate and potential harm to humans and ecosystems is urgently needed and would help choices for environmentally friendly production processes and economic development.

An aluminum foil production process from bauxite ore in the ground is carefully analysed in this case study, via a multi-method and multi-criteria approach. Outputs are classified according to the usual MFA method, and abiotic, biotic, water-use and air-use intensities are calculated. Emissions are also are classified into environmental impact categories with special attention to the localization of the associated impacts, in order to highlight those impacts that occur in sites far from the final process site.

As a consequence of both upstream and downstream analyses, the effects of aluminum production are quantified and assigned to the following impact categories: (a) material and energy resource depletion, (b) global warming potential; (c) acid rain potential; (d) tropospheric ozone and photosmog formation potential; (e) eco-toxicity; (f) decrease of biodiversity; (g) land use and ecological footprint. Other impact categories (such as eutrophication) were found not significantly involved in this study.

Results show that localization of emissions is a crucial point in the environmental impact evaluation of aluminum production. This calls for a careful consideration of the uneven distribution of the economic benefits and the environmental load on the international market, where the environmental burden associated to primary resources is very often not accounted for.

How to measure sustainability? the French integrative experience

Alexandre Borde

Institut français de l’environnement

61, boulevard Alexandre Martin, 45058 Orléans cedex, France

Email: alexandre.borde@ifen.fr, aborde@infonie.fr

The elaboration of a set of sustainable development indicators (SDI) is a long and complex task. As part of the European efforts, it took several years to build a system of SDI in France, from the development of a consistent framework, before deciding of an extensive list of indicators, to the selection of about 40 indicators according to regional or policy priorities (making the French experience redeemable to other regions like the Baltic Sea Region).

First, it is important to adopt a methodology allowing to organize the choice of indicators in a transparent manner and to involve the various stakeholders (through a two years period of consultation with NGOs experts, university researchers as well as decision makers from national and subnational authorities.). In order to do so, the issues of sustainable development have been “disaggregated” in homogenous and manageable modules. These modules are then articulated within an integrative framework, following the Brundtland report definition of sustainable development. At the end, the three dimensions (the environmental, social and economic dimensions) and the various (and sometimes opposite) visions of sustainable development (Dobson, 1996) are taken into account in a way that avoids putting them side-by-side.

The leading concepts characterizing sustainability in this integrative framework can be summarized as follows:

· Balanced economic growth which creates more jobs, greater productivity and fewer externalities (modules 1 and 2);

· Greater attention to maintaining and restoring critical natural capital, including human and institutional capital (modules 3 and 4);

· Strong links between the local and the global levels (modules 5 and 6);

· Meeting the needs of the present generations by reducing inequalities (objective conception) and dissatisfaction (subjective conception) (modules 7 and 8);

· Taking into account future generations by applying the precautionary principle for managing resources and by adapting to unforeseeable circumstances (reducing dependency in the case of risks) (modules 9 and 10).

Sustainable development: approaches and practice in Lithuania

Ruta Bubniene

Vilnius University, Kaunas Faculty of humanities,

Department of Management, Economy and Business Administration,Muitines 8, Kaunas, LT 3000

e-mail: Ruta@aapc.lt

The paper presents the review and analysis of the recent actions at national and local level towards sustainable development. The focus is put on the highlighting the application of sustainable development indicators while developing Local Agenda 21 action plans.

The implementation of the EU Environmental Acquis is a challenge not only for the national institutions, but for all environmental stakeholders as well. While following the headlines of the EU Sixth Environmental Action Program it is of crucial importance to follow the principles of sustainable development and monitor the approaches of the Cardiff process of integration of the environment in the other policy areas.

More than 25 % of Lithuanian local authorities have participated in the Local Agenda 21 activities. The experience and lessons from the Baltic Region has been widely applied to facilitate the progress of LA 21. There were some trials to include sustainable development indicators in the strategic plans of the cities.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 was a strong incentive for the development of the Lithuanian National Sustainable Development Strategy. Thus, it is believed that the gap between local and national level will be diminished and the partnership could be built. The milestones for the promotion of the sustainable development concept are not only the capacity building and awareness rising but the co-operation, partnership and apropos decision making as well.

Thus, the paper will mainstream the obstacles and perspectives of the sustainable development at local level and present the scheme of indicators applied at Vilnius municipality.

The integration of Industrial Ecology approach and Environmental Management Systems within an Italian “tourist farm”

Michele Galatola, Eliana Russo, Nicola Brunetti, Stefano Canese

ENEA – Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment

In this paper we report the preliminary results of a study we are carrying out in a “tourist farm” located in the Basilicata Region. This is not a typical case study, as in this kind of enterprise we can find a deep integration of different aspects connected to the several activities run daily within the farm. There are six main production areas: (i) growing of cereals and other crops, (ii) farming, (iii) production and preserving of meat, (iv) operation of dairies and cheese making, (v) restaurant and (vi) provision of short-stay accommodation.

This complex net of activities and potential impacts makes really tricky and scientifically interesting the implementation of an integrated management system (Quality-Environment-Safety) that could then be registered according to the European EMAS scheme (Environmental MAnagement and Audit Scheme). In some aspects this “tourist farm” represents a simple industrial district with the same problems and opportunities for closing some material and energy cycles.

The methodology used and the identification of the significant environmental aspects is discussed, together with the working approaches experimented in this project. As far as we know in Europe there is no experience of such integration for those “tourist farm” within the framework of the EMAS scheme.

The outputs of our project will be used in order to plan and implement the Environmental Management Program of the farm, and to define reasonable objectives and targets.

The implementation of an EMS and the LCA is helping the management to have a clearer and more systemic view of all the relations existing between their own activities and between the farm and the “rest of the world”.

Evaluation of agriculture system sustainability

Ladislav Hanus

Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, Department of Landscape Ecology

Zemedelska 1, 613 00 BRNO, Czech Republic

e-mail: hanus@mendelu.cz

Sustainability analysis deals with system viability and probability of its survival. The goal of this work was to find sustainable trends, indicators and evaluation method. Sustainable trend means reduction material and energy consumption in ecological dimension. Employment represents agriculture support for regional community and indicates sustainability in social dimension. Profit represents sustainable trend in economical dimension. According to these trends were selected aggregate indicator for each dimension: i) material and energy costs, ii) personal costs, iii) profit. The indicators are at an appropriate level of aggregation, simple in order to make them useful for policy-decisions. Indicator values are in units EUR per hectare per year.

The research evaluated 40 chosen farm systems and used data from Profit / Loss Accounts. The first step was determination of indicator intervals that were considered as intervals of sustainability. The second step was creation of a pyramidal model of agriculture system where dimensions were marked according to their dependency in system: ecological 3, economical 2, social 1. The third step was evaluation of all systems and sequencing of their sustainabilities. Sustainabilities of chosen systems ranged in interval from 27% to 63%. The highest sustainability (63%) was found in system with material and energy costs of 171 EUR/ha, profit 3 EUR/ha and personal costs 135 EUR/ha. The lowest sustainability (27%) embodied farm with material and energy costs of 806 EUR/ha, profit 29 EUR/ha and personal costs 242 EUR/ha. Advantage of proposed sustainability evaluation method is the simplicity of agriculture system model, however, it provides only general results.

Industrial Metabolism and Economic Development - Material Flow Analysis for the Hungarian Economy

Mark Hammer

Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI)

Schwarzspanierstraße 4/8, A-1090 Vienna (Austria)

mark.hammer@seri.at

Within the field of industrial ecology material flow accounting has been developed as a tool for the derivation of indicators for ecological sustainability. The paper will present results of a material flow analysis (MFA) of the Hungarian Economy for the years 1993-1997. Material flow based indicators like Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) and Total Material Consumption (TMC) are used as environmental sustainability indicators. The analysis of the structure of the material flows shows the share of domestic and foreign components and the shares of several material categories. The time series demonstrates that only a relative decoupling of material flows and economic activity has taken place during the last years. Although a decrease of the material flows per unit of GDP during the last years of the analysed period could be observed, both material flows in absolute values and material flows per capita have increased. Material intensity of the Hungarian economy in terms of material requirement or consumption per unit of economic output is higher – and vice versa material efficiency is lower – compared to western industrialised countries. In contrast material inputs per capita are lower than in most western countries. The thesis closes with a methodological discussion and policy and research implications.

European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme – a new opportunity for Latvia

Julija Jeganova,

EuroFaculty

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme is Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of The European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001 allowing voluntary participation by organization in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). The scheme has been open for participation by organizations since April 1995 and its goal is to promote continuous environmental improvements within organization.

The objectives of EMAS are: the establishment and implementation of environmental management systems by organization, the systematic, objective evaluation, the provision of information and an open dialogue with the public, the active involvement of employees.

Today, EMAS is a useful tool for combination of business and environmental interests. EMAS has an economic background. It is a management system which implies that decision-making process and allocation of resources is a management responsibility. EMAS is strongly connected with the economic meaning of auditing. Auditing may be defined as a systematic process of evaluating results without prejudice regarding financial statement and accounting systems about economic actions and events in order to establish the standards and report the results to interested users.

History: EMAS Regulation 1836/93 was first introduced in July 1993 as an environmental policy tool with the goal of sustainable development. From April 1996 EMAS was open for voluntary participation by industrial organizations. In 1996 EN ISO 14001 (the International environmental management system standard) was recognized as a step toward achieving EMAS. In October 1998 EMAS was proposed for revision. And revised EMAS Regulation was adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament in February 2001.

Participation: EMAS Regulation applies to all 15 EU Member States and the 3 European Economic Area Member States i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, but candidate countries are also implementing the scheme in preparation for their accession to the EU.

In my research paper I interpreted EC Regulation on EMAS and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages for Latvia in participating in EMAS. This research paper is a part of an educational book “European Environmental Law” in Latvian which will be published this year. The objective of my paper was also to explain EMAS for Latvian students. The main misunderstanding is with environmental auditors who are used in different context that it is described in the Regulation. The whole system and connection to environment are also misused in a different way. Being an economist by background and environment by specialization, it is rather interesting for me to research the theory of eco-management and check it in practice.

Continious case-study of Estonian Fund for Nature’s environmental impact measured by using ecological footprint methodology

Anu Kõnnusaar

Estonian Fund for Nature

Pk 245, Tartu 50002

E-mail: anu@elfond.ee

Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF) started to measure its environmental impact in 1999. Since then the environmental report is a part of the annual report, but also the employees everyday work. From 2001, ecological footprint (EF) method is used for measuring the organisation’s impact on environment.

The measuring process is getting more accurate and intregeted into the organisations management. ELF have balanced the overuse of resources, but haven’t succesfully deminished the use of resources. Therefore three objectives are set up:

· To measure every project environmental impact separately

· To work out environmental indexes for new projects, where the expected environmental impact should be evaluated and added to the budget of the project proposal

· To identify and analyse those components that are not taken into account by using EF methodology and calculate the share of those components of the total budget.

EF methodology is used for calculation of environmental impact of ELF in total and separately for each project. For working out special environmental indexes for ELF projects, special methodology has been worked out. Components that can not be measured by EF methodology, will be written out, analysed and summarized (their cost and share from the total budget).

Results of EF measured for 2002 are expected in Feburary 2003. Based on experiences, 14 different components, divided into 6 categories (transport of people and goods, electricity, heating, water and waste), will be measured. Targets for 2002 will be analysed and new targets for 2003 will be set up.

This continous case-study is necessary for ELF to balance the overuse of natural resources, to minimize the use of natural resources and to encourage employees to participate actively in the organisation’s environmental management. But it could also be a practical guideline for any other organisation who is willing to measure its environmental impact.

RESEARCHES of air pollution by CO and VOC IN LITHUANIAn towns and roadsides

Andrej Moskvin

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Environmental Protection Department

Now in Lithuania the scientific environmental project “Transport: Technologies, Economy, Environment, Health” is carried out. Project aims: systemic analysis of environmental pollution by chemical and physical elements, contaminants diffusion modeling, transport sector environmental influence evaluation, solutions how to minimize transport environmental impact.

These researches are made: the present situation review (in the Lithuania and in the world), evaluation of transport sectors which are most harmful for environment, Lithuanian hot points and regions selection, research methods choosing and research schedule preparing, natural researchers in the hot points and regions, obtained natural researches results analysis.

All Lithuanian territory was divided in characteristic regions. It was taken samples of the air main contaminants in these regions also samples was taken in the largest Lithuanian cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda), near the most intensive traffic highways and highways nodes. It was taken air quality samples near the railways, railway stations and nodes. All obtained results are described.

In refer to maiden researches atmospheric pollution situation was described.

Is it the sustainable coexistence between aquatic insects and people possible in the city area?

Stanisław Czachorowski, Lech Pietrzak

University of Warmia and Mazury, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection

ul. Żołnierska 14; 10-561 Olsztyn; POLAND

e-mails: lpietrzak@wp.pl, stanislaw.czachorowski@uwm.edu.pl

Aquatic insects are important elements in water and terrestrial ecosystems. They are of great economic importance, e.g. the hematophagic insects. The urbanization process drastically changes the natural ecosystems. Water insects in cities depend on the modifications of the natural water reservoirs and the quality of anthropogenic ones. The development of the city area decides on preserving or destruction of the natural fauna. Therefore, a sustainable development is a chance for the coexistence of the people and the insects.

We would like to establish if natural fauna of water insects is preserved in a city. We have investigated caddis larvae (Insecta: Trichoptera) in the water reservoirs of the two urban areas: Olsztyn and Złocieniec. We have collected materials from 1983 to 2001. The naturality indexes (Wn) for investigated water bodies have been calculated.

We have found 89 species of Trichoptera (including rare and endangered). Fauna of the most water bodies has high value of Wn, which were higher or comparable to the indexes calculated for the natural areas.

The Results show, that vulnerable species and natural fauna of the water insects can be preserved within the urban areas. Natural fauna and rare species have been found in recultivated lakes in Olsztyn. Similar results have been found for large rivers, which can be settled by fauna from the upper section of the river. Some rare species have occurred in the anthropogenic small ponds within the center of the city. We have found more species in the cities than in natural areas. A city may be a temperature- and light-trap for flying insects.

The investigations are continued. We are looking for cooperation and comparative investigations.

Life Cycle and Environmental Impact Assessment of advanced photovoltaic modules – an integrated approach

M. Raugei

Department of Chemistry

University of Siena,

Italy

The subject of the poster is an integrated assessment of the environmental performance of mc-Si, CdTe and CIS photovoltaic modules, using local- and global-scale evaluation approaches: Material Flow Accounting, Energy Analysis, Exergy Analysis and Emergy Synthesis. Results from the individual approaches are compared and integrated, in order to provide the policy maker with a set of reliable indications. Three case studies are presented, relevant data highlighted and the importance of the integrated approach is stressed. Special focus is given to the environmental impact associated to the sites where the individual sub-processes take place.

Soil compaction effect on soil, nutrient cycling and weeds in agroecosystem

Endla Reintam¹, Jaan Kuht²

Estonian Agricultural University,

¹Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry

²Institute of Field Crop Husbandry

Viljandi Road, Eerika, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

E-mail: endla@eau.ee; jkuht@eau.ee

Soil compaction affects all soil properties and functions and trough that plants root system, plant productivity and nutrient cycling.

Data were collected from Estonian Agricultural University research field (58º23´N, 26º44´E) with different levels of soil compaction (4 levels) on sandy loam soil in 1997, 2001 and 2002. Investigated phytocoenosis was spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) field.

Because of the compaction, soil bulk density increased from 1.4 to 1.9 g cm^-3, total porosity decreased more than 70% compared with non-compacted area. In rainy year the aeration porosity of soil may be less than 3,1%, even zero. Penetration resistance of soil increased 60% in plough layer and 64% in subsoil. Increased resistant for a plants roots and anaerobic conditions increased nutrient losses from soil, especially nitrogen, but also potassium and phosphorus. The nutrient uptake by plants (barley and weeds) was almost the same with given fertilizers by normal soil bulk density. But in dense soil the uptake was reduced up to 70% and free elements started to pollute the nature. Soil compaction decreased competiveness of barley and increased share of weeds from 20% up to 53%. Most of weed species has a higher nutrients assimilation possibility as barley and they accumulated more nutrients in shoots and roots. More than half from accumulated nutrients on dense soil (1.9 g cm^-3) was in weeds. From weeds the most rich in nutrients was the corn spurry. With soil compaction increased share of dense soil tolerant weed species in phytocoenosis, as great plantain (Plantago major L.) and corn mayweed (Matricaria inodora L.).

Estimation of Road Transport Air Emissions in Riga City

Edgars Smalins¹, Kristine Zommere², Steen Solvang Jensen³

Latvian Hydrometeorological Agency, Maskavas 165, Riga, LV-1019, Latvia

e-mail: edgars.smalins@meteo.lv

Latvian Environmental Agency, Straumes 25, Jurmala, LV-2025, Latvia

National Environmental Research Institute, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskile, Denmark

To authors’ knowledge, for the first time in Latvia, air emissions from road transport have been estimated at local level. Estimated emission data has been used in AQ (Air Quality) modeling; indicative comparison of modeled and measured AQ data has been performed which provides for an indicative test of the quality of the applied input data.

Traffic data has been obtained for about 100 main traffic links in Riga. Emission factors calculated by COPERT (Computer Programme to estimate Emissions from Road Traffic) have been applied to obtain vehicle emissions. An estimate of the emission from the rest of the road network has been carried out using a bottom up approach. A digital road network with three road classes was used (about 6000 traffic links). It is assumed that all class one roads are covered by the main roads. Class two roads have been assigned traffic levels of 1000 and class three roads of 300 cars per day. Emission factors from the COPERT have been applied. ArcView GIS was used to summaries the emission in each grid cell of 1000 m * 1000 m grid.

With method applied it has been estimated that for the year 2000 in Riga NOx emission from the industry and traffic is at the same level: 1435 and 1683 tons respectively. CO emissions from traffic is about 75% of total CO emission and a similar distribution is expected for benzene although very limited data was available on benzene from stationary sources: 4056 tons of CO from industry and 10947 tons from traffic and 365 tons of benzene from traffic. SO₂ emission is entirely dominated by the industry since traffic only contributes less than 2%: 1166 tons from industry and 18 tons from traffic.

System of indicators for the evaluation of sustainable urban development

M. Burinskiene, R. Uspalyte

Vilnius Gediminas technical University

11 Sauletekio, Vilnius

Rasa.uspalyte@ap.vtu.lt, marbur@ap.vtu.lt

Description of urban development could be explained as common endeavors of society to coordinate economical growth and social progress, to save nonrenewable resources, and to use it without threats to ecological balance. This process consists of four main elements: wholesome environment, lively economics, social welfare and active community of the city. In the last decade cities of Baltic countries undergone many changes from planned economy to market condition. This process created problems: destroyed old fashion technical, social, health care and other infrastructure, debased quality of housing, reduced level of public transport service quality, created large amount of unfinished buildings and territories. On another hand, for the livability of the cities it is necessary to attract investments, create new working places, renovate urban environment. There are many systems of sustainable development indicators in the world, but in this article firstly are presented example of statistical evaluation of factors, which have influenced urban development, their mutual correlation and secondly- determinate groups of Lithuanian towns with the same changes towards sustainability in transition period. The characteristics of cities were used for cluster analysis. The data shows situation in twelve Lithuanian cities depending on many aspects: demographical situation, social structure, health care, education and transportation systems, environment pollution, housing, income, technical infrastructure, tourism, investment, criminal situation and etc. These figures cover period from 1996 to 2002. The main goal of our investigation is to find out common features in the development of Lithuanian cities and to create range system for the evaluation of city’s future development potential. The results of evaluation could be used for target investment program financing.

B: SOCIAL FACTOR

Implementing Sustainable Development in Mezaparks, Riga: An Analysis of the Views of Neighbourhood Residents and Municipal Administration

Kristine Abolina,

Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia;

Andis Zilans,

EU 6th Framework Programme National Contact Point, Latvia

Sustainable development as a relatively new concept has become one of the development goals of the European Union as well as Latvia. Subsidiarity is a fundamental dimension of sustainability. Consequently, it is important that questions dealing with sustainability and governance on the neighbourhood level in Riga be better understood. In this study the views of the residents of the suburban neighbourhood of Mezaparks were compared with the goals of the municipal administration, and an analysis was undertaken of the different actions proposed to further sustainable development in Mezaparks.

The differing view of development in Mezaparks, as seen by residents and administration, indicates a need for the municipality to heed more closely the opinions of local residents. Some development issues could be more effectively addressed at the local neighbourhood level instead of being implemented by the municipal administration. Presently, it is unlikely that the actions recommended by neighbourhood residents will be implemented by the municipal administration . This highlights the importance of on-going active participation of non-governmental organisations, the business sector and residents in issues related to development planning and implementation. Particular attention needs to be directed to facilitating full observance of existing normative acts to ensure uncompromised execution of municipal functions and implementation of approved municipal Development Plans. Development of a set of neighbourhood sustainability indicators by the residents of Mezaparks places them a step ahead of the municipal administration in identifying and addressing the challenges to urban sustainability.

Legislation on coastal zone management in Latvia

Ieva Bērziņa, Elīna Volksone

University of Latvia, Faculty of Law, 19 Raina Blvd., Riga LV-1586, Latvia,

e-mail: ievab@navigator.lv, elina_volksone@hotmail.com

20^th century represents an essential turn in the development of mankind – human rights and environment have been recognised as the basic values. Environmental issues affect any individual: impose not only human health but also economy. The right to live in friendly environment has been recognised the basic right of an individual in Latvia. According to the Article 115 of the Satversme (Constitution) state protects those rights by providing information on the state of the environment and taking care of the conservation and improvement. The Parliament has adopted variety of laws regulating environmental issues. It has also ratified (2002) Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

It is essential to meet the pre-requisites of environmental protection in building enormously expanding now. Construction on coastal zone is regulated by the Building Law (1995) and General Building Rules (1997), but the Law on Protected Belts (1997) designates the limitations.

Local self-government has to adopt regulations on territorial planning stating the territories where new construction is not allowed. The aim of such regulation is to secure that coastal zone is not damaged by constructing new houses – restaurants, hotels and other buildings beneficial for the owners. Lack of environmental awareness in Latvia results in illegalities still going on. The low interest in environmental problems, nescience of legislation and economical problems lead to the imperfect realization of environmental protection policy. Liability for implementation of policy lies on officials sometimes not competent or not willing to involve society in decision-making process.

The aim of this report is to draw attention to the questions that are not enough austere regulated and allow owners to accomplish actions harmful for environment, especially illegal building on coastal zone.

Studies on biodeterioration cases for sustainability of cultural heritage in Latvia

Ilze Irbe, Ingeborga Andersone, Zaiga Chakste

Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV 1006 Riga, Latvia

Historic cultural heritage embraces historic cultural landscape and individual territories, groups of buildings, works of art, furnishings and articles with historic, scientific, artistic or other cultural value. In Latvia, there are 8325 protected heritage sites. The inclusion of the historic center of Riga in the UNESCO world cultural heritage list in 1997 testifies the significance of Latvian heritage. Protection of cultural heritage for future generations is a guarantee for sustainability of Latvian historic cultural environment. Sustainable maintenance of this environment corresponds with the national and international interests.

Nowadays, the owner of a cultural monument in Latvia can be the state, self-government and a physical or juridical person, which are responsible for the monument’s maintenance, repair and restoration. As a result, the restoration of old buildings becomes very common but is often carried out inadequately. At the same time, many buildings are abandoned, while others are bad maintained. The above factors promote spreading of biodeteriorating organisms (fungi and insects) in constructions. Biodeterioration of wooden materials causes considerable decrease in wood mechanical properties to the limits dangerous for safety.

Our inspections of cultural monuments i.e. churches, estates and dwelling houses in Riga and different districts of Latvia, as well as the buildings in Open-Air Museum for wood biological damages have shown that the main biodeteriorating organisms are wood-rotting fungi Serpula lacrymans, Coniophora puteana, Antrodia spp., and wood-boring insects Anobium spp. and Hylotrupes bajulus.

Protection of cultural monuments is an urgent problem in Latvia that claims more attention. More information for society on the dangerousness of biodeterioration, and adequate control measures will play an important role towards the sustainability of our cultural heritage.

Estonian consumers' attitudes towards environmentally friendly products

Katri Kerem, Katrin Kull

Tallinn Technical University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

katri@staff.ttu.ee

The idea of environmental concern surrounding consumption is quite a new one in Estonia. However recently the public opinion has shifted towards environmental consciousness and thus it is time for the first preliminary researches into those areas. First consumers are realizing that their behaviour has also a direct ecological impact.

The idea of green marketing has two main facets - in the one end there are producers and marketers who must be willing to take environmental impact into consideration and in the other end there are consumers who may or may not be willing to pay attention to the environmental impact of the consumption. Both parties must be at least somewhat interested in the environmental side of their actions in order to reach some sort of paradigm shift.

The aim of the current study is to explore the importance of greener products for the consumers. The main issues under exploration are the importance of environmental aspects in everyday consumption, willingness to pay more for the greener products and criteria for product choice. Hopefully this survey will give insight into areas that need deeper exploration in the nearest future.

The empirical data for the survey will be collected via a consumer survey instrument designed specifically for this research project.

Soil pollution by heavy metals from transport systems in Lithuania

P. Baltrenas, E. Kliaugiene

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Department of Environmental Protection

The main objectives of this program are investigations of the environmental impact of pollution caused by the transport sector in Lithuania; evaluation of environmental impact of transport sector on soil; simulation of pollutant dispersion by computer programs, preparation of suggestions and recommendations for the reduction of impact on environment. The object of this research program is the environmental impact of the Transport system (motor and railway transport sectors) on soil. The motor and railway transport sectors are the main sources of pollutants in Lithuania. Therefore these two sectors are under the more detailed research than the other two – air and water transport sectors. The main goals of this program are the environmental impact of motor and railway transport sectors on soil (topsoil). The most important thing in this program is to set the sample net and to choose the right method of collecting the soil samples. The whole territory of Lithuania was divided into the areas where the environmental impact of motor and railway transport sectors on soil is the most intensive. Some other areas were selected where the pollution impact is the lowest, for the purposes to compare polluted and not polluted areas. For evaluation of pollution caused by the motor and railway transport, the soil samples were collected across the road or railway, and each profile of samples contained about 12-14 samples depending on the relief. One sample was composed of five sub-samples collected according to the “envelope” principle. After transportation of the topsoil samples to the laboratory the following analytical method was used AAS-ES. Heavy metals (Zn, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Mn) were analyzed for the purposes to evaluate the composition of contaminants in the topsoil. Following conclusions could be made after the interpretation of the results. Substances emitted are exposed to various aerodynamic and gravitation forces resulting in their separation and, depending on their physical and chemical properties, they settle selectively on the soil surface at different distances from the road surface. The main amount of heavy metals is settling on the soil surface in the narrow limited zone of the highway itself, its slopes and ditches. On the railways, the heavy metals are settling in the narrow zone next to the tracks depending on relief conditions.

ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE LOCAL CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

Agrita Ozola,

University of Latvia

Cultural heritage is rapidly becoming a key factor for economic growth and development of local communities. Buildings, locations and sites, artworks and artefacts of national level is thought to be a key component of identities of people.

UNESCO World heritage Convention concerning the Protection of the world's Cultural and natural Heritage (1972) is contributing to the protection of the culturral and natural diversity and to the international standarts for heritage conservation. New chalenges have emerged with the adoption of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Divercity (31st session of the General Conference 2001).

The new norms in the cultural field respects no only tangible heritage, including underwater heritage, but also intangible heritage. The concept of intangible heritage encompasses complex and diverse forms of living heritage and is intended to pay more attention on the safeguarding and evolutin of Traditional culture and Follore.

One of the key aspects is the integration of new heritage concept and conservation strategies into regional and urban planing as well as sustainable development strategies.

The revitalisation of intangible cultural heritage in all its dimensions: languages, oral traditions, values, beliefs, local traditional skills, know-how for the creation of material culture is another factor to enhance the development of the teritory.

The recognition of local traditional skills and knowledges as well as nonmonumental cultural sites, places with both cultural and natural values and places with spiritual and other associative value for local people is also stategic planning.

Community-based approaches in the ICT: Russian experience

Sergei Stafeev

Centre of Community Networking and Information Policy Studies (CCNS),

St. Petersburg, Russia

This presentation is written in the context of lessons learned in the last three years in the field of community networking in Russia. The author has worked using a community development methodology to support the use of ICT’s (Information and Communication Technologies) in the Northwest of Russia. This model has built on the "Community-based approaches" applied to the development of telecommunications. Versions of the model have been actively pursued for ten years in the USA, UK and Canada. The underpinning definitions and conceptual framework of these ideas and models are used widely in the rest of the world, and in recent years are beginning to be applied in Russia. Leading researchers and practitioners in Russia anticipate that the application of these models to the use of telecommunications for community benefit will lead to positive outcomes rather than exacerbate the poor social and economic situations that exist in many areas of Russia. The crucial question is: ‘How successful are these applications from the western world to date and will they allow Russian communities to move forward in their understanding of effective strategies to introduce new technologies (e.g. the Internet) into the everyday life of Russian citizens?’

During the last 4 years the Autor who was working in several international R&D projects in the field of civil society structures development at the local level in Russia (and also observing the work of similar projects in other Russian regions) saw some cases of very effective using of the ICT tools as social tools for formation of various local (geo)communities, establishing new social links and developing the social partnership.

The paper will overview these experience.

Disintegration through Depopulation

Jaroslaw Szewczyk

Bialystok Polytechnic, Faculty of Architecture

ul.Krakowska 9, 15-875 Bialystok, POLAND

cad.cam@interia.pl

This paper presents results of investigation into spatial consequences of a depopulation of rural areas in northeastern Poland. The research was conducted by Jaroslaw Szewczyk at Studio of Rural Architecture (the Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Bialystok Polytechnic) in 2000 – 2003, supported by a Rector’s grant of Bialystok Polytechnic # W/WA/4/00, funded by the Polish Research Council. The investigation included a comparison of population of 1500 villages separately in 1970, 1978, 1988 and 2002, in order to get geographically dispersed dynamics of depopulation processes in Podlaskie province in Poland. As a result three maps of settlement processes during the periods 1970-88, 1978-88 and 1988-2002 were generated. Areas with strong migrations were described, showing depopulation dynamics in 1970-2002. This analyses were preceded by less detailed investigations by A.Stasiak, R.Horodeński, W.Mirowski, J.Szewczyk and other researchers, who had focused on wider area, but had compared population of communes rather than of villages.

Depopulation processes in Podlaskie province in Poland are summarised, with emphasis on how they affect spatial development of rural areas. There are following conclusions:

Growing depopulation started to affect space, economy and landscape in sixties, and since seventies until now it has been influencing disruptively on the spatial development processes, especially in peripheral regions.

Global-scale depopulation of rural areas still disintegrates spatial development, acting against sustainability.

The paper aims to inspire discussion about a wider problem of depopulation in the Baltic Rim. The needs for further large-scale, integrative investigation into the consequences of depopulation processes, are reasoned.

Computer-Aided Cultural Heritage Management Towards Sustainable, Heritage-Responsible Architecture

Jaroslaw Szewczyk

Bialystok University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture

ul.Krakowska 9, 15-875 Bialystok, POLAND

cad.cam@interia.pl

This presentation is to inspire discussion about computed management of cultural heritage, in order to long-term safeguarding of cultural identity of rural European architecture and for preventing cultural genome for sustainable local architecture.

This issue covers creation of database of architectural heritage, defined by XML syntax, developed in order to describe Polish traditional rural architecture for scientific investigations of architectural, rural and spatial planning fields, with emphasis on architectural heritage management. The primaeval objective of this undertaking was to store digitally the existing rich architectural data, such as over 600 kg (!) of the paper documents collected during the Student Summer Workshops of Bialystok University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, since 1986. Recently we have put this idea into new fields, focusing on challenge of creating and maintaining a digital database of cultural heritage.

The main aspects of the problem are recognised:

1. Conceptual Background - Cultural Genome

The idea of regional cultural genome, which led as a foundation of the project, is presented.

2. Organisational Aspect - Coordination of Efforts

The coordination of European, regional, national or local activities with emphasis on building digital heritage databases is needed. The results can be open scientific databases for integrative research, training and protection of cultural heritage.

3. Technological Aspects

Architectural databases for scientific investigations include a great amount of heterogeneous information, represented by various data structures. This implies problems with defining "open” (not fixed) structures of heterogeneous data, flexible enough to be restructured easily.

Concerning these aspects, relevant analyses are summarised.

Interpretations and acceptance of sustainable development by Estonian rural enterpreneurs

Georg Tamm

Tallinn Pedagogical University

Some environmental movements use narratives of traditional rural lifestyle combined with modern technologies in their sustainability visions of local strategies of sustainability. Politicians and social scientists often neglect such scenarios as too rapid and destructive change for economy and society.

I interviewed 20 rural enterpreneurs and officials of local government from peripheral regions, where economic situation would be unstable and favour short-term management strategies. Target group was choosen mostly to be dependent on natural resources extraction (forestry, fishery, agriculture) and therefore potentially most pessimistic against ideas of sustainable management. People were asked to interpret sustainable development in their field, their personal attitude to such idea, and estimation to presented radical “green” sustainability vision for Estonia.

Respondents revealed unexpected support to sustainability idea despite of presented environmental norms and restrictions for their short-term profits. In interviews two conflicting fields were mostly used to describe sustainable development: 1) current liberal market is perceived to rise antagonism between sustainability in monetary terms as opposed to sustainability of natural (and social) resources - though enterpreneurs itself perceive threat to environment they feel forced for unsustainable management; 2) rural life is often used as example of “true sustainable development” - urbanism and industrialism are perceived as main problems for sustainability on the national level, though current sustainability of rural life is related to lack of resources and “real sustainability” is perceived as expensive technological project.

I propose hypothesis that in Estonian case public perceptions of localised sustainability ideas reveal political cleavage not so much between economic development vs. sustainability as traditionally expected, but also between different (rural and urban?) lifestyles?

C: ECONOMIC + POLITICAL FRAMEWORK

Sustainable development of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga region

Edgars Andersons,

University of Latvia

Prevention and protection of the sea environment from harmful pollution is the main task to ensure sustainable development of the Baltic Sea and Riga Gulf. Only appropriate information and effective actions of continuous monitoring can assure real understanding and adequate measures could be taken.

Remote sensing of oil pollution in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga, including observation of oil slicks from accidents or illegal discharges in the sea is the primary task of an efficient monitoring system. The traffic of dangerous goods in the Baltic Sea is another acute problem.

There is a necessity for prediction and forecast of the movement of oil slicks for the purposes of emergency response. Integration of satellite observations with the existing chemical pollution monitoring system in the Baltic Sea area seems to be reasonable, at least.

Dealing with dangerous goods, such as different sorts of oils is widely developed in the three Latvian ports. Oil terminals are situated in Liepāja, Ventspils and Riga. Intensity of the flow of dangerous goods is rather high and poses potential possibility of pollution as a consequence of accidents or illegal discharges in the sea. To decrease pollution risk it is necessary to realize permanent remote sensing of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga.

Permanent monitoring of the traffic flow of dangerous goods in Baltic Sea could be realized by satellite observation as the first phase and a more precise detection by aircraft in the second phase. Since almost all ships carrying dangerous goods, such as tankers, bulk carriers, and RO-RO ships are being constructed as large-size vessels, so identification should raise no difficulties.

For prediction and forecasting of the movement of oil slicks for efficient and permanent emergency response, constant and real information source is also necessary – satellite observation would minimize the damages to environment as well as recovering costs.

It is very important to verify satellite observations with the existing system of chemical pollution monitoring of the Baltic area to eliminate mistakes of interpreting the information and to distinguish between pollution and natural phenomena.

The importance of agriculture for a sustainable development

Kerstin Doescher

University of Lüneburg, Germany

In the framework of the seminar “Sustainable development in Europe” the focus of this abstract is on the development of a policy for a more sustainable agriculture and the emphasis of the relevance of agriculture in terms of a sustainable development.

Agriculture, properly meaning assurance of food supply, is an issue concerning all human beings as everybody is essentially dependent on food to meet basic needs. The growing human population on a global level stresses the importance of a long-term availability of agricultural production.

Concerning the three spheres of sustainability, all of them are related to agriculture, i.e. jobs in terms of economy, i.e. land use in ecological area and i.e. health in the social dimension.

A lot of problems resulting from agricultural practices and policies are contra-productive to all dimensions of sustainability.

The awareness of cultural identities is a condition for sustainable land use and long-term food supply. Of extreme importance is this in the transformation process from centrally planned to market economy in Central and Eastern European countries where agriculture has a much higher significance (in comparison to Western Europe), i.e. in terms of employment.

By interpreting the EU´s policy the importance of agriculture has been understood, at least for the economical sphere. More than half of the EU budget is spent on agricultural policy annually.

The big challenge would be to integrate the applicant countries in the Union by realizing a sustainable agriculture.

The Role of Energy for a Sustainable Development in Europe

Berit Hayn

University of Lüneburg, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Germany

At the University of Lüneburg, Germany, I am working on the topic “Renewable Energy in Europe” according to “The Role of Sustainable Development in Europe: Issues and Options”, motivated by the importance of sustainability and the enlargement process for Europe. The importance of renewable energy is based on their need for the economic system and activity and also the climatic change.

According to the current situation in the European Union – the enlargement process –, the existing policies in the field of energy are discussed in their possibility to reach the aims under the approach of sustainable development. Regarding to the advancement for renewable energies the policy paper deals with the discussion and reflection of the different EU programs, especially “The Strategy of the European Union for Sustainable Development” and “Intelligent Energy for Europe”. The EU programs ALTENER and SAVE are described as an initial stage for “Intelligent Energy for Europe”. The program “Intelligent Energy for Europe” is inspected under the given aims in the “Green Book” and “White Book” and also in achieving sustainable development.

Furthermore, the now existing energy law – the European Legislation – is discussed on the base of being able to reach the declared aims and also in contributing to the programs. Under this aspect the transformation into national law will be reflected.

The final aim of the policy paper is to give policy recommendations relating to the existing policies and the legislation in the EU. Contributing to sustainability and the enlargement process it should give ideas for concrete measures to approach sustainable development in Europe to modify unsuccessful policies.

Changing European CAP - a step towards sustainability

Jörg Hoffmann

University of Lüneburg, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Germany

e-mail: hoffmann-joerg@web.de

The European Union is currently developing a new approach to policy making, in order to assure that the aims set in different spheres of Community activities follow a more coherent overall guideline. The priority areas, as identified by the European Council in Gothenburg (2001), shall be acknowledged by all future policy setting.

To make the European Union more sustainable, the amendment of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is of paramount importance. The greater part of current EU legislation deals with organising rural development and sets standards for products and markets related to agricultural production. In 2002, nearly 50 % of the total EU budget was spent on Agriculture and the development of rural landscapes. Agriculture not only provides crops for EU’s population, it also offers jobs and creates social nets, which strongly did and still do influence the identity of numerous rural areas in Europe.

The presentation held in the framework of the conference will highlight problematic relations between current CAP and other policy fields, mentioning unwelcomed outcomes of CAP due to existing financial incentives. In a second part, the current outcomes of CAP, with special regards to their impact on the new memberstates, will be contrasted with proposals from the Commission and important environmetal non-governmental stakeholders, in order to develop an idea of how a more sustainable CAP might look like.

The possibilities for marketing environmentally friendly products in Estonia

Katrin Kull

Tallinn Technical University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

katrin@dreamers.ee

The world has become more environmentally conscious. Numerous researches have been made to highlight different angles of the subject. In different countries and in different areas there is a different opinion about environmentalism, too.

One aspect of the environmental economics is greener marketing. On the one side of the issue there are the marketers, who must consider the balance of costs and revenues while adopting the greener strategies. On the other side stands the consumer, whose decisions to buy or not to buy affect the marketers.

The objective of the current study is to measure the importance of the “greener” products for the consumers in Estonia. The study is a preliminary research for a wider study that will discuss the effectiveness of the “greener” scheme as a marketing strategy and its acceptance by the consumers. The current research will describe the existing situation in Estonia in the field of marketing the “green” products, and with the help of the research, further objectives could be set in order to gain deeper insight into the issue of greener marketing in Estonia.

According to the previous researches, made in other countries, it can be assumed that the “green” product could be thought to be of better quality, and that the consumers would be willing to pay more for it. But is it so for Estonian consumers as well? How many of them will actually consider that it is important? The current research will try to answer it.

NUCLEAR POWER IN the EUROPEAN UNION

Beatriz Vidal Legaz

University of Lüneburg, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Germany (host university)

University Miguel Hernández de Elche, Spain

~~NUCLEAR POWER IN theEUROPEAN UNION~~

Energy produced by nuclear power plants makes up for35% of EU’s total electricity production. We give an overview of the current state of nuclear power in a choice of EU memberstates, and also in some of the applicant countries.

The state of nuclear energy production in terms of safety and efficiency is in many states not satisfying, thus it is worth to have a closer look on relevant statistics. The organizations and agencies that take control and advise in terms of nuclear safety (IAEA, WENRA, WPAQ, Euratom…) and the domains of each one will be presented in short.

In a second step, the presentation will take an interest in the most important nuclear power related problems facing the European Union: security and economics of this issue. Principally, the potential hazard from the fission process, the unsolved problem of nuclear waste transport, treatment and storage; the high cost of dismantling of old fission reactors; uranium as an unrenewable fuel; economic viability of the probable new generation of power stations in a global energy market.

After analysing the current nuclear problems, future perspectives will be discussed: the decision of some European countries of phasing out nuclear energy and the need of achieving real nuclear safety in the applicant countries. Next to that, EU’s porposal to rely on this electricity source, to meet the commitments of the Protocol of Kyoto, will also be presented.

European related policies, principally the strategy of the Directorate General of Energy and Transport and the Green Paper about nuclear power into the energy and sustainable development policy will form an additional point of the presentation. At last, we explain the found gaps in european policy about nuclear energy and the necessary enlargement of its little domains in the context of a new Europe. The mechanisms to take control on nuclear sector must be saveand global enough to turn sustainable development into a reality.

Energy Market in the European Union

Isabel Maria Cañamás i Llopis

University Miguel Hernández (Spain)

Lueneburg University (Host University)

~~Abstract~~

~~for the International Conference on “Integrative Approaches Towards Sustainability” (Baltic Sea Region Taking the Lead),~~

~~to be hold on 26-29~~^th ~~March 2003, in Riga-Jūrmala (Latvia)~~

In order to define an own Strategy for the European Union on the matter of Sustainable Development (trying to approach the current one and to point the deficiencies); our international group of students at the University of Lueneburg (Germany) have checked the different positions between the Commission and important NGOs about the way the Enlargement Process will influence Europe’s way to Sustainability

The European Union is going to face one of its most important challenges with the new Enlargement Process. A new market is going to be created, and this would allow millions of people to get better conditions as consumers.

One of the most important economical markets in the European Union is the Energy Market, and its relevance for Europe’s way to Sustainable Development is crucial, because of the influence Energy constitutes in other markets.

For the last years, a new kind of policy-making has arisen in order to protect the environment and to create a global view of the human activities on it; after having participated in the Earth Summit in Rio (1992) and in Johannesburg (2002), the European Union created a new strategy for Sustainable Development in order to attend the global purposes.

Relating to the energy matter, one of the main points for the European Union is to get an internal liberalised market, able to both supply the demand and guarantee a competitive service, in order not to be dependent on external critic political situations. The Green Paper brings an important study on the matter, and other Strategies like the White Paper, contribute to create the exiting linkages between energy and another fields like transport. The relevance of this global strategy deals with the fact of assembling each one of the Sectorial Strategies in a common strategy for the Sustainable Development, based on the role of energy efficiency and low consumption.

About Conventional Energy Sources, Kyoto constitutes the main priority, and the increasing use of natural gas in front of oil and white coal to get lower contamination ratios are two of the most desirable options.

All this policy and decision-making influences on the regional Planning, and this is the most important handicap the Candidate Countries may face in order to join the European Union, but in the same way, it constitutes an opportunity for them in order to get better infrastructures and to generate new paths to Sustainable Development.

Tourism like a system

Aida Macerinskiene

Vilnius Gediminas technical University

11 Sauletekio, Vilnius

aida.macerinskiene@ap.vtu.lt

Lithuania is one of the countries that is undistinguished by exclusive natural resources (as Italy and Australia). Current Lithuanian industrial depression increases unemployment (in some regions it is up to 20 percent). The governmental budget deficit grows. The development of tourism, as economical branch, would create conditions to replenish country budget, create new working places that is very significant for countryside. Tourism is an activity that do not object to sustainable development principals, encourage to recognize and conserve Lithuanian natural and cultural heritage, secure permanent Lithuanian Republic economical welfare growth, positively influence social, natural and ecological conditions.

One of the most important tourism development conditions are subjects of accommodation system. There are hotels, motels, tourism bases, guesthouses, camping, rest houses and rural tourism houses. Tourism accommodation buildings places selection, the most suitable type identification, building and renovation affect tourism market and are one of the most important market formulating elements. Technical construction rules outline the requirements set for such type of buildings, the amount and quality of services, the necessary infrastructure.

Research target is tourist’s accommodations buildings analysis and development from planning perspective. During research social, economical. Infrastructure, nature and cultural elements affecting tourist’s accommodation building system development are analyzed. According to geographical information systems, digital tourism services and resources database that are used determining tourism development in suitable territory is created.

Sustainable Land Use on the Undulating Landscape of Western Lithuania and Baltic Sea Environment

Benediktas Jankauskas, Genovaite Jankauskiene and Jurgita Stankute

Kaltinenai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture (KRS of LIA), Varniu 17 LT-5926 Kaltinenai, Silale District, Lithuania

E-mail: kaltbs@kaltbs.lzi.lt

The research data, presented in this paper, were obtained on the undulating landscape of the Zemaiciai upland (Western Lithuania), where loamy sand and clay loam Albeluvisols prevail. The thickness of the lost soil layer differed due to common effects of water, wind and tillage erosion and varied from 0.12 to 1.07 m according to the slope gradient and degree of soil erosion. The degree of soil erosion on investigated hilly-rolling areas was determined by comparison of the thickness of lost soil layer, slope gradient and different thickness of present genetic soil horizons. Among 155 investigated soil profiles or borecoles even 116 eroded plots were established (74.8%). Very severely and severely eroded soils were on 49 plots (31.6%), 29 plots (18.7%) were moderately eroded, 18 plots (11.6%) were slightly eroded and 20 plots (12.9%) contained eroded-deposit soil.

The fertility of soil measured by productivity of spring barley on slopes of 2-5⁰, 5-10⁰ and 10-14⁰ decreased by 21.7-22.1%, 38.9-39.7% and 62.4%, respectively. The soil was eroded slightly, moderately and severely on the mentioned slopes. According to 18 years of field experiments, the different annual losses of soil due to water erosion on slopes of 2-5⁰, 5-10⁰ and 10-14⁰ were as follows: 4.9-13.5 t ha^-1 under winter ryes, 13.9-42.5 t ha^-1 under spring barley, and 37.3-136.8 t ha^-1 under potatoes. The perennial grasses for long-term use stopped soil erosion completely. The losses of soil were 6.4-20.5 t ha^-1 under the field crop rotation, and they decreased by 74.8-79.5% under erosion-preventive grass-grain crop rotations or by 22.5-24.1 % under grain-grass crop rotation in comparison with the field crop rotation. The losses of N, P and K nutrients were in close correlation with soil losses.

The erosion-preventive crop rotations are only part of antierosion ago-phytocenoses useably on the arable undulating terrain. We find however, that grassing on slopes of 10⁰ and over are especially important. Grass stands of high fertility for early, medium and late haymaking or grassing were recommended and erosion-preventive tillage with antierosion liming-fertilising must be practised on slopes of 2-10⁰.

D: SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Investigation of heavy metals migration from soil to the tree

D. Butkus, Edita Baltrėnaitė

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

Large amounts of various contaminants are transported via natural processes from the technogenic pollution sources. Heavy metals (HM) are very hazardous and with long-lasting impact to the forest ecosystems. HM enter forest ecosystems in wet and dry form from local and further sources of atmosphere contamination, carried from seas with biogens and sea salts or washed out from soil materials, which are brought by wind or water. HM may enter tree from soil, with nutrients and water soaked by the roots.

HM concentrations determined in tree rings could give information about forest ecosystem contamination with HM, soil contamination with HM in the past. This helps to analyze the main ways HM enter a tree and migration characteristics.

The tree samples were prepared according to methodology requirements: the tree cylinders were chopped, burned until ashes remain. Then the concentrations of HM in the aches' extracts were measured using atomic absorption spectrometer.

The results showed that HM concentrations in the tree rings change along the years. It was determined that concentrations of Cu in birch bark are 7 times as much as in pine bark. The amount of Ni and Pb was found to be 1,8 times greater in birch bark than in pine bark. The concentrations of Pb are larger (2,5 times) in upper soil layers (0-5 cm) than in the depth of 10-20cm. In the pine tree trunk the concentration of heavy metals is growing from the root up to the top.

Biomodification of lignocelluloses under composting environment and transformation to humic matter

O. Bikovens¹^,2, J. Gravitis², K. Iiyama¹

1 - The Asian Environmental Sciences Center, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

2 - Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Riga, Latvia

Plant materials provide the primary resources of organic matter in soil. Biomodification of lignocelluloses under composting environment is relatively shorter period process than the transformation to humic matter in soil. It was clearly showed that not only polysaccharides, but also lignin macromolecules were modified certainly during short time composting. Björkman lignins were isolated from extract-free grass composts. It was shown by chemical and instrumental analyses that Björkman lignin had only small oxidative changes. However, water and alkaline extractable fractions of composted grasses gave products containing methoxyl groups, which are the same with alkaline permanganate oxidation, nitrobenzene oxidation and ozonation of lignin, suggesting water and alkaline extractable fractions of compost are composed of significantly modified lignins. Lignins in water and alkaline extractable fractions of compost were characterized with highly condensed structure and low aryl glycerol-b-aryl ether linkage.

These results suggest that some portions of lignin macromolecules were biologically modified significantly by introduction of hydrophilic groups such as carboxyl groups to be dissolved in water or alkaline medium. Such biologically modified soluble lignin would play the same role as soil humic matters and take part to chelating of metal ions.

Science for Sustainable Development as a Case of System Stability

Jānis Blahins,

University of Latvia, Riga

e-mail: janis.blahins@vvi.gov.lv

Sustainable life as a global system comprises a large number of self-regulating constituents, cross-bound with a lot of partially inaccessible positive and negative feedbacks most of which are characterized by considerable delay or relaxation times measured by centuries. All that makes the diagraming and modelling of sustainability nearly hopeless, since we have to deal with endless numbers of "black boxes" systemic response times of which are decades long. The natural self-regulating systems with a delayed response are prone to becoming “wild”, oscillating or, at least, exhibiting enormous over-regulative waves, so the only possibility to calm down the wildness is making the system insensitive, robust. To avoid the "shock therapies" in mega-systems, such as the social and economic organisations and environment, parameters characteristic for sustainability ought to be defined and optimized. The ultimate task of science is to find some way to predict the behaviour of a complex system to keep stability of it on the one hand and make it sensitive enough to the "will of small people" and the "mind of smooth earthworms " – on the other hand.

USE OF TOXKIT MICROBIOTESTS IN THE DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDES TOXICITY IN SOIL AND COMPOST

Laila Dubova*, Dzidra Zarina

* Latvia University of Agriculture, Department of Plant Biology and Protection,

Strazdu str. 1, Jelgava, Latvia, LV – 3004, e- mail : lailad@cs.llu.lv

University of Latvia, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology,

Kronvalda boulv.4, Riga, Latvia, LV-1586,

e- mail: dz@lanet.lv

Standardised Toxkit microbiotests were used in this work for toxocity assessment in agricultural soil and for monitoring of toxicity during composting process. For microbiotesting analyses we have used micro algae (Selenastrum capricornutum), protozoa (Tetrahymena thermophila), crustaceans (Daphnia magna, Thamnocephalus platyurus and heterocypris incongruens) and rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus).

Until now, bioassays are still rarely used for environmental toxicity screening and monitoring. However, microbioassays are useful tools for ecotoxicological assessment of contaminated soils and water (Persoone and De Pauw 1991). In contrast to chemical analysis, which mainly focuses on the quantitative and qualitative determination of defined contaminants in environmental samples, biological test systems can detect the combined effects of different pollutants, the mobility and the bioavailability of contaminants (Persoone and De Pauw, 1991; Bierkens et. al.1998).

The results point to a different sensitivity of the microbioindicators to the soil and compost water extract. The most sensitive bioindicators were Tetrahymena thermophila and direct contact - heterocypris incongruens. Selected test batteries are indispensable not only for agricultural soil pollution assessment, but also for monitoring compost toxicity changes during composting, because, the biotests battery represented differences in sensitivity of test organisms from various trophic levels. For soil fertility not only the presence of main microorganisms, but also of microalgae, protozoa and invertebrate are important.

MILITARY ACTIVITIES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN LITHUANIAS FIRING GROUNDS

Kristina Greičiūtė, Saulius Vasarevičius

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Environment Protection Department

Soil is important component of biosphere. One of the main functions in soil is carried out by Soil Organic Matter (SOM). Physical, chemical and biological features of soil depends on the SOM, and causes the ability of plant growing. Each of given features can be different according to the conditions like climate, land using, etc.

Structure and features of soil can be caused by different factors, natural and not. The main natural factors, influencing the quantity of SOM in soils, are climate conditions (temperature, rain, etc.), aeration, pH level, microorganisms population. The quantity of SOM can decrease because of the agricultural, also military activities. Intensive land using for crops, or military activities (bombing in particular) causes decrease of SOM in soils. Entire areas are disturbed when proceeding bombing trainings, and it leads even to the fertile lands turning into desert.

A lot of lands with destroyed plant cover are in the Lithuanian firing grounds. A wide scale of activities are taking place in these lands, and bombing trainings too. Ussualy bombing trainings takes place in the same areas, so called tactical fields. Because of regular disturbation, the plant cover in such fields is poor, sometimes is missing, waste grounds are predominating. As it was mentioned before, the plenty of plants is caused by the SOM, so it is important to find out how quantity of SOM depends on explosions materials, what is the main tendencies and dependencies. After it will be possible to realise the negative factors of military activities for soil features, and SOM in particular.

Occupacy of Rhizobia inoculate in the roots of garden beans

Ilze Januska, Valdis Klasens

Latvia University of Agriculture, Department of Plantbiology and Plantpatology

Nodule bacteria of inoculate occupancy in the roots of garden beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) is determined in pot (Hortic Anthrosol, loamy sand, Terric Anthrosol, sandy loam, compost) and in field trials (Hortic Anthrosol, loamy sand). Rhizobium phaseoli Dengeard. and Rhizobium leguminosarum Frank. streptomycinresistent forms were used. Nodules were analysed in the stage of budding – flowering of the host-plants.

Nodule bacteria of inoculate occupied themselves in the roots of garden beans rather well, 17-80 per cent, but in the roots of peas under the same conditions only 0-15 per cent. It testifies, that freely living Rhizobium phaseoli, met in the soils of Latvia are not suitable for effective atmosphere nitrogen fixation in the nodules of garden bean roots and the rhizobia of inoculate can compete and form comparatively many nodules.

Occupancy in the roots of garden beans is also dependent on the qualities of sorts. Occupancy of the rhizobia of inoculate in the roots of the host-plant in pot trials is considerably better than in field trials.

DISSOLVED ORGANOCHLORINE AND PAH POLLUTION PROFILES IN LITHUANIAN AND SWEDISH WATERS

Audronė Žaliauskienė, PhD. Ilona Jegorova, Per-Anders Bergqvist

River water has the possibility to change pollutant concentration very rapidly depending on occasional releases and rain events. It is thus important to assess the time weighted average concentration of potentially toxic compounds in order to describe the exposure to organisms living in the watercourse. During this study we examined two Lithuanian rivers and two Swedish streams consisting mainly of storm water. Nemunas river in Lithuania were sampled with semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) during 24 days in October 2000 thus allowing the calculation of time weighted average (TWA) values of dissolved concentrations of most of the analysed compounds. On the other hand, the Lithuanian river Neris was sampled with SPMD during 4 month in autumn 2000 and then only approximately half of the studied compounds could be used for TWA calculation. The other reached steady state concentration during the sampling period. The Swedish streams were sampled above and below industrial activities as well as large parking lots.

BARK AS A FILTER FOR STORM WATER POLLUTION REMOVAL

Assoc. prof, Dr. Viktoras Račys, phD. Daina Kliaugaitė, Assoc. prof, Dr. Per-Anders Bergqvist

Kaunas University of Technology, Department for Environmental Engineering

Radvilėnų pl 19Kaunas, LT-3028

daiklia@stud.ktu.lt

Storm water is produced in all corners of the world and is usually released to lakes and rivers without any cleaning. Leakage of gasoline and other petroleum-derived hydrocarbons is quite common in urban area runoff. Pollutants often exceed the solubility concentration in water as can be seen on the surface. The handling of this water in conventional wastewater treatment plants is not desirable because of expensive treatment and high content of oil, metals and other toxic products.

Agricultural and forestry products and wastes have gained increased interest as new sorbents for sorption of oil in water. One such is bark chips from coniferous trees. In this study the capacity of natural bark and commercial bark products for reducing the aromatic hydrocarbons content are measured.

After trapping the oil, which is done in laboratory scale columns, a simplified analytical method for analyzing the efficiency was developed. The aim of this study was to examine adsorption properties of slash pine bark.

ALTERNATIVES OF REFORESTING OIL SHALE QUARRIES IN ESTONIA

Aarne Luud and Margus Pensa

Institute of Ecology, Department of Northeast Estonia, Pargi 15, 41537 Jõhvi, Estonia.

e-mail: aarne@ut.ee

In Estonia, the reforestation of lands damaged by oil shale mining has been considered as the most sustainable way to restore land productivity. However, distinct reforestation alternatives give different results depending on surface planing, planting material, etc. In this paper we compare three alternative ways of reforesting oil shale quarries: (1) natural succession; (2) planting seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.); and (3) planting seedlings of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.)). For evaluating of these alternatives we applied the emergy conception developed by Howard T. Odum. This allowed us to estimate, on a comparable basis, the environmental work and economical inputs required for developing (1) total aboveground plant biomass and (2) stocks of commercial wood in 30 years-old forest stands.

The cost of total biomass, expressed by economical equivalent of emergy, emdollars (em$), was highest for Scots pine stands: it required 1.3 em$ per year to produce 1 t biomass in 1 ha. The biomass cost was 0.8 em$ yr^-1 in black alder stands and 0.6 em$ yr^-1 in natural stands. The economical load on environment was nearly similar for black alder and Scots pine stands, the share of economical inputs in total costs was 75 and 69%, respectively. For naturally recovered stands, the same value was 0.07%. The costs of producing commercial wood were highest in Scots pine stands (1.8 em$ yr^-1) followed by black alder (1.2 em$ yr^-1) and natural stands (1.0 em$ yr^-1). All alternatives generated net public benefit, emdollar yield ratios ranged from 1.2 to 1.5. Highest public benefit per dollar cost came from naturally recovered stands (1584 em$ $^-1).

The most sustainable way of reforesting oil shale quarries is the using of unassisted natural succession. It gives greater net benefits then other two evaluated alternatives and causes the slightest economical load on environment.

INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND EXCESS AIR FACTOR ON NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSIONS IN CIRCULATING FLUIDISED BED BOILERS

Agnese Meijere, Daniels Turlajs

Riga Technical University

Nitrogen is involved in the combustion as a compound of combustion air and also as a part of fuel composition. The amount of nitrogen in the air is much more compared to the amount of nitrogen bound in the fuel. The latter, however, is significantly more reactive. Due to that the nitrogen content in the fuel forms the basis of the nitrogen oxide emission formation during the combustion process and should be considered more carefully.

The formation of two types of nitrogen oxide emissions – nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) - is observed under the combustion parameters in the circulating fluidised bed boiler. The formation of nitrous oxide is promoted by the comparatively low temperature in CFBC, i.e. below 900 ⁰C. However, it should be mentioned that the correlation on combustion parameters is often contradictory for both types of nitrogen oxide emissions.

The work has been carried out to find the correlation between the process parameters and nitrogen oxide emissions. The intention of the investigation is to describe the formation of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide by the mathematical expressions by means of fuel properties, temperature and excess air level.

The fuel used in fluidised bed combustion varies a lot from the different types of coal until biomass. Besides the varying fuel properties of different fuels under the same combustion parameters, there is a strong correlation between process parameters and gaseous emissions. Moreover, the process should be adjusted to the specific features of various fuels. The investigation so far includes different types of coal and wood fuels.

Research of Pleistocene deposits within North Vidzeme Biosphere reserve and South Estonia

Dainis Ozols,

North Vidzeme Biosphere reserve;

ozolsdainis@hotmail.com

North Latvia and South Estonia lies on the belt of prevailing processes of glacial erosion during the Pleistocene glaciations (Straume, 82).

The territory is a bit unique within the whole world due to best-preserved traces of erosion activity of Pleistocene glaciers.

Large-scale negative forms of the relief testify of erosion processes. Such forms are depressions of Gulf of Riga, lake Burtnieku, lake Vurtsjarv and lake Peipsi as well as wide range of medial scale forms within the depressions and on ice divides between the depressions.

Glaciers were spreading as surging ice tongues. That means ice movement on thin pillow of sheetflow. Subglacial waters were under very high hydrostatic pressure (10-100 atm). Thanks to the glacier movement regimes of water flows were highly variable with great resulting erosional influence.

Landforms of glacial erosion determine the mode of landscape within the territory. In total landscape has mosaic type pattern with orientation of elementary landscapes and linear units of the landscape along the glacier movement.

Study of Pleistocene deposits and landforms helps to understand the nature and regularities of distribution of landscape and biotopes.

Air Pollution Monitoring Aspects from Satellites in Latvia

Janis Pukite

University of Latvia

Along with the fast development of satellite technologies and their use in science and economic different sectors, the possibilities of the use of space-borne instruments in research and monitoring of chemical composition of atmosphere are increasing. Data acquired from satellites cannot replace the data from ground stations but, integrated with each other, they make complementary parts of information improving concepts of the atmosphere and the processes affecting it.

Measurements of boundary layer air pollution in Latvia are made since the end of the sixties by SHMA (State Hydrometeorological Agency). There are in Latvia and in Baltic region monitoring stations of air pollution providing measurements within the framework of the WMO Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory and the NOAA network. These series of measurements of trace gases in the boundary layer of troposphere can be used to compare with satellite data.

To extend resources for interpretation and to compare the ground and space-borne data, it is planned to develop a DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) station in Riga. The measurements of the station will contribute to validation of the space-borne data and acquiring the measurements of total columns of the trace gases. The station will be practically the only one in the Baltic States and a notable supplement for world’s network of DOAS stations for satellite.

The ground-based stations are important because of the point character of measurements. In opposite, the satellite instruments measure data average over some area. For instance, the largest nominal resolution of SCIAMACHY (an instrument on the ESA satellite ENVISAT) is 30*60 km. But the space-borne measurements can cover areas where the ground-based measurements are not available.

Therefore, the satellites cannot monitor pollution extremes but comparison of the two kinds of data sets may improve the quality of information about concentrations of trace gases in the atmosphere. Most of all this relates to the boundary layer of troposphere, significantly affected by economical activity, where major part of ground-based measurements (in Latvia all of them) are made. Therefore, the sources of pollution have the point characteristic or very local emission.

The economical activity (industry, transport) in Latvia is relatively higher in Riga. Therefore, it is interesting to compare the data of the air quality in Riga with the side of background level in the country, measured by space-borne and ground instruments.

Investigation of orimulsion ash properties

E. Petraitis

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Environmental Engineering Faculty

Environmental Protection Department

Saulėtekio al. 11, 2 211, LT-2040 Vilnius, Lithuania,

E-mail: egipet@ap.vtu.lt

The novelty and importance of the work lies in the investigation of orimulsion as a new research object. Orimulsion is currently incinerated only for experiments. A special block for experiments with orimulsion is now under construction. That is why determination of the main orimulsion characteristics is needed. The aim of the investigation is to find out dispersion and electrical characteristics as the main characteristics of the new fuel ashes. As a rule, the efficiency of electrostatic filters depends on many characteristics of a treated air stream, but dispersion and electrical characteristics are the main ones which are mostly affected by environmental conditions, and changes of humidity and temperature.

Orimulsion ashes contain mostly small particles: 66.8% of them are smaller than 0.6mm and only 15% are larger than 2.5 mm (such a fraction forms when orimulsion is incinerated in a special boiler-house). Experiments with ashes caught by an electrostatic filter show that orimulsion ashes contain 80% of particles smaller than 1.0mm. This lets draw a conclusion that orimulsion ashes are small dispersed, and it is necessary to use more efficient air - cleaning plants, for example, electrostatic filters. Other kind of cleaning plants could be lack of efficiency to remove such small particles from the air. The experimental data also prove that change of an electric charge depends directly on meteorological air conditions. Charge change is directly proportional to temperature changes. An especially distinct difference can be seen with humidity changes.

PRINCIPAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS AND ACTIVATED CARBON FROM HARDWOOD RESIDUES

Maris Puke and Janis Ryzhikovs

Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

27 Dzerbenes Str., LV 1006, Riga, Latvia

Woodworking industry residues often do not find proper utilisation and are heaping up or used as a fuel at best. One of the feasibilities of the appropriate use of this out-of-demand but yet valuable raw material is to produce furfural, acetic acid and activated carbon by implementing an energetically self-sufficient unified hydrolytic and thermal process of hardwood processing. Furfural and acetic acid are obtained by catalytic prehydrolysis of hardwood residues and 50% of the left-over lignocellulose is used as a fuel in a boiler house and the rest as a raw material for carbon production. Since such a unified processing scheme is almost unexplored, our intention was to study the main parameters of the process.

Birch wood veneer shorts were chosen as a starting raw material. It contained 72.2% polysaccharides, including 29.9% of easy-hydrolysable polysaccharides; the potential fufural yield was 15.3% on the o.d. wood basis. Since the lignocellulose would be used for production of activated carbon, its yield and properties were also of interest. Therefore, the impact of the catalyst (concentrated sulphuric acid) was studied to elucidate the optimum conditions to ensure a high yield of furfural and lignocellulose with appropriate properties. Changing the amount of the catalyst, the furfural and lignocellulose yields varied from 6.3 to 8.9% and from 65.9 to 59.3% on the o.d. wood basis, respectively.

The left-over lignocellulose possessing good self-binding properties was studied as a potential raw material for production of a high-density sorbent in the granular or palletised form characteristic of a sufficient crushing strength for industrial use. The experimental specimens were shaped in the form of panels in a hot press at 150-170^oC, carbonised at temperatures up to 600 ^oC (charcoal yield up to 50% on the o.d. lignocellulose basis) and activated by superheated steam at 850 to 950 ^oC. The apparent density of the carbonised panels was 0.950 – 0.980 g/cm³. All activated carbon specimens were microporous ones, since 69.5 to 86.8% of the total pore is made up by micropores.

Thus, the activated carbon prepared by short-term activation has properties of high-density microporous sorbents appropriate for purifying the gaseous medium. The novel technology of processing fine-grained hardwood residues is pro-environmental and energetically self-sufficient.

A small-angle x-ray scattering study on the morphology of kraft lignin

Ulla Vainio¹, Natalia Maximova², Janne Laine², Per Stenius², Janis Gravitis³, and Ritva Serimaa¹

¹Division of X-ray Physics, Department of Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 64, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, e-mail: ulla.vainio@helsinki.fi

²Laboratory of Forest Products Chemistry, Department of Forest Products Technology, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 6300, FIN-02015 HUT

³Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes Str., Riga LV1006 Latvia

Kraft pulping is one of the major pulping processes and tens of millions of tons of kraft lignin is produced every year from the spent pulping liquor. For the efficient use of this by-product the understanding of the morphology of lignin is necessary. Furthermore, the control of the redeposition of lignin onto cellulose fibres during all stages of pulping process has become an important issue for the overall pulping process efficiency and the papermaking quality of the fibres, in particular, with the introduction of the displacement batch cooking and the water circle closure.

In this study the morphology of kraft lignin in aqueous solutions and in the solid state were determined. The lignin solutions were prepared by dissolving dry pure kraft lignin in 0.1 M NaOH. Ionic strength and pH were adjusted to levels of 0.1 M NaCl and 7 correspondingly, by adding NaCl and HCl. The shape of the kraft lignin particles in the solution was determined to be more prolate than oblate in contradiction to previous studies with pulsed field gradient NMR. The study of dry lignin aggregates reinforces the studies according to which fractionated kraft lignin in aqueous solution tends to aggregate as a fractal network up to 1 – 2 mm scale.

Cationic starches (CS) are widely used in papermaking to improve the dry strength, retention and dewatering. To gain a more fundamental understanding of lignin/CS complexes’ adsorption onto cellulose fibres, we studied the morphology of lignin/CS complexes in solution and isolated as fugates.

Investigation of Oil Spill Biosorbents from natural resources

P. Baltrėnas, V. Vaišis

Vilnius Gedeminas Technical University, Environmental Protection Department,

Saulėtekio al. 11, 2040 Vilnius, Lithuania

e-mail: vaisisv@takas.lt, aak@ap.vtu.lt.

The main pollutants contaminating soil are organic compounds (oil and its products, fats etc.), metals, household waste. Comparing to oil and its products, household waste and fats are contaminating soil not so heavily. Additionally, these pollutants are released mostly from domestic sewage, which are usually purified.

Human industrial activities is more and more intensive, and actuality of pollution issues is increasing. Solving of these issues is closely related to economy, because in view of growing production more and more funds is required for solving ecological problems in order to avoid damages to and maintain balance existing in the nature.

In these latter years here in Lithuania, as in other countries, one of substances heavily polluting Earth’s depths is oil and its products. Most of contaminated territories are located in sanitary areas of watering places, where subsurface pollution necessarily diminishes water resources and reduces their quality.

Soil is contaminated with oil when various oil products (mazut, mineral oils and greases, kerosine) get into it. This happens in cases of various accidents, incidents, railway tanks rolling off the ways, defects in containers with oil products. Oil products spilled in cases of accidents make the heaviest damage to the environment.

Having made assessment of damage extent, riskiness and measures for and costs of decontamination, it is possible to state that soil pollution with oil products is live ecological problem.

Rational dislocation of sources of raw materials and energy in relation to the technological equipment under operation and rational use of materials and energy diminish total factual environment pollution. Necessity of such actions is forcing to look for new materials among natural resources, required for technologies of environment pollution prevention, enabling at that same time to investigate physical-chemical properties of these materials.

Surface peculiarities of biosorbents determine their hydrophobic properties. This enable to use them when collecting oil and its products from both soil and water surfaces.

Growing requirements to environment risk prevention are forcing to have and use sorbents. There shall be their supplies in potential places of pollution with oil products. In order to evaluate sufficiency of their amount, detailed investigation of oil-product sorption is required. Additionally, sorbents shall meet environmental requirements: easily collected, residual sorbents have no harmful impact to nature, biodegradable, with prospective disposal possibilities.

Experimental investigation of four sorbents Qualisorb gold 628, Sphag sorb, USVR-VIP, Belneftesorb-extra was carried out. Qualisorb gold 628 is produced from natural mineral diatomite and crystal quartz. This sorbent is intended for oil-product sorption from soil surface; it may be used also by interspersing it into soil. Sphag sorb is produced from peat-moss (sphagnum). This is ecoproduct intended to absorb large amounts of different chemical substances from water and soil surfaces. Its residues in the nature are biodegradable. USVR-VIP is a sorbent of activated carbon. This material is very fine and is intended to sorb substances from both water and soil surfaces. Belneftesorb-extra is a sorbent produced from peat. Because of its hydrophobic properties, it is well-suited to collect pollutants from water surface. Since it is absolutely natural product, it may be used for pollutant collection from soil surface.

Biofiltration for the removal of a volatile organic compounds in a biofilter

P. Baltrėnas, Rasa Vaiškūnaitė

Vilnius Gedeminas Technical University, Environmental Engineering Faculty, Department of Environment Protection

Saulėtekio al. 11, LT-2040 Vilnius, Lithuania

E-mail: rasava@takas.lt rasava@hotmail.com

In last years, the most frequently considered environmental issue among all others in both developed and developing industrial countries is air pollution in residential and working environment, and its reduction. Therefore, when removing volatile compounds of organic nature from air, it is very important to choose and apply at the given industrial object the proper, efficient, affordable air-purification method. These requirements are met by unsophisticated, commonly used technologies of biological air purification, where microorganisms use organic substances as carbon and energy sources, by oxidising harmful substances to harmless ones.

With this aim in mind was developed the experimental biofilter with activated charge of pine bark at the Department of Environment Protection of the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. biologically activa-ted pine bark has good sorbic properties. Cell walls in bark and their cavities make porosity of 75% in the biomedium. In time of air purification the biomedium being a porous material arrests pollutants passing the filter, and they are later decomposed by cultiving associations of natural microorganisms living in the bark.

Work objective is to carry out a quantitative analysis of the associations of microorganisms naturally living in the biological medium (before and after the air cleaning) and, when changing the equipment operation mode (flow of polluted air injected, charge height etc.) to measure the efficiency of the biological filter and to evaluate the sorption and the decomposition of organic compounds in the activated charge of pine bark), injecting single selected compounds (butylacetate, butanol, xylene) of organic nature in different concentrations (up to 100 mg/m³) and their mixtures at different time.

It was determined in time of investigations, that among natural microorganisms found in the biofilter charge, the bacteria, not micromicetes. Taking total amount of natural microorganisms, it was determined, the longer microorganisms are in contact with organic pollutants, the more intensively they are growing and more efficiently oxidising organic pollutants.

Filter efficiency, when purifying air from volatile organic compounds, depends in great extent on nature and concentrations of pollutants injected. Experimental investigation of filter efficiency has shown that, among substances investigated, natural microorganisms more easily decompose compounds, which are more easily dissolved in water: butanol and butyl acetate. And biological decomposition of xylene, a hydrocarbon of benzene family, in the same time period is substantially slower For example, when initial concentrations of butyl acetate and butanol are below 30 mg/m³ and that of xylene is below 19 mg/m³, pollutants are removed with efficiency of 80-98%, when concentrations are increased (from 30 to 97 mg/m³), efficiency of purification drops down from 70 to 52.8%. The sorption and the decomposition of organic compounds in the activated pine bark charge also depends on nature and concentrations of pollutants injected. Quality of biological air purification improves (e.g. for butyl acetate from 77 to 92%), when reducing flow (from 2.0 down to 0.8 m/s) and volume (from 144.69 down to 57.6 m³/h) of air being processed, increasing charge height (from 0.15 to 0.75 m), charge amount (from 0.036 to 0.18 m³) and number of layers (from 1 to 5) correspondingly.

The investigation results could be useful in applying biofilters as an inexpensive and efficient means of air treatment in food, chemical, motor transport and agricultural industries.

ADVANCED LIGNOSULPHONATE BASED ADDITIVES FOR PAPER AND BOARD PRODUCTION

Volperts, A., Dizhbite, T., Telysheva, G.

27 Dzerbenes st., Riga, LV-1006, Latvia,

e-mail: ligno@edi.lv

Two applications of binary systems, consisting of lignosulphonates or modified lignosluphonates and polymeric paper additives are offered for paper and board production. We offer to use the above-mentioned system as an agent for for the strength demanding specialty papers, such as corrugated mediums, since they are usually made from the brittle secondary fibers. The application of lignosulphonate-starch system showed increased surface and corrugation groove strength on the background of considerably increased pick-up. The use of lignosulphonate - starch mixtures offers improvements in the production efficiency, since paper production can be increased on the expense of drying time decrease. Thus, not only quality, but also economy can be positively affected.

The usage of binary additives consisting of silicon-modified lignosulphonate and polyacrylamide for paper production provides the increase of the flocculating action of polyacrylamide due to advanced adsorption of the lignin component on the fiber. The benefits of silicon-modified lignosulphonate – polyacrylamide addition are: decrease of polyacrylamide consumption and increase of paper mechanical properties on the background increased retention of fines and filler. The latter improves significantly sustainability of papermaking technologies.

The miscibility of lignosulphonate and silicon-modified lignosulphonate with starch and polyacrylamide was investigated and experimental results were compared with values calculated according to the Fox equation and with the data obtained by ESR, X-ray, IR spectroscopy. Mixtures lignosulphonate - starch showed complete miscibility in good accordance with theoretical data in the whole concentration range investigated. Mixtures lignosulphonate - polyacrylamide revealed partial miscibility whereas silicon-modified lignosulphonate - polyacrylamide exhibited a complete miscibility.

APPLICATION OF SCRUB RUBBER OF USED CAR TYRES TO ROAD ASPHALT MODIFICATION

Robert Ziolkowski

Technical University of Bialystok

Poland

Used car tires and scrap rubber waste materials have become a very serious ecological and economical problem in Poland since the European Union had issued a directive against collecting that type of materials. This directive is to be in force from July of 2003 in regard to used car tires and from July of 2006 it is going to concern the scrap rubber materials as well. The directive will concern both the European Union’s countries and countries which are willing to join the EU – including Poland. There is a need to create conditions for putting in working order about 150000-180000 tones of used car tires that are produced each year. Definitely, one of the solutions of developing of scrap rubber of used car tires is their application as a bitumen modifier.

Asphalt blended together with the scrap rubber at elevated temperature creates new asphalt-rubber binder which viscoelastic properties depend on amount of additive of scrap rubber.

The paper presents the research results of the rubber-asphalt viscoelastic properties. The influence of amount of the scrap rubber addition on the rubber-asphalt viscoelastic properties was established by conducting laboratory tests on bitumen with 10%, 15% and 20% of scrap rubber addition.

Based on research results of softening point TR&B, penetration, force ductility test and dynamic viscosity, the improvement of modified bitumens’ technical characteristics in range of estimated parameters was proved.