Integrated Pollution Prevention And Control Directive Research Articles

The industrial emissions trend and the problem of the implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)

The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) came into force in 1996. In 2010, the EU Parliament approves the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) that abrogates the IPPC directive. This directive lays down measures designed to regulate emissions arising from the activities of large European industries which recorded a constant decrease from 1990 to 2011. This trend refers especially to SOx/SO2 partly because of some technical changes such as the use of natural gas in the 1990s instead of coal and lignite. We can state that the 2008–2009 crisis is the most serious, affecting not only production but also other key economic sectors such as energy consumption. The aim of this work is to discuss relevant topics such as the current situation of industrial emissions in Europe and the trend of the industrial emissions since the promulgation of the directive. We also discuss the directive’s main application tools which are the best available techniques reference documents and the best available techniques that show some weakness. For instance, the “concentration approach” for measuring emissions does not comply with the environment and health problems, because it sets no limit to the production. We absolutely need to improve above mentioned tools if we want to reduce the emission of pollutants to acceptable levels, in spite of the European financial condition. The IPPC aimed at accelerating the reduction trend of the industrial emissions especially between 2000 and 2011. In conclusion, we still haven’t found evidences of significant results of its implementation as the emissions behaviour is also strongly influenced by the economy.

Analysis of the slaughterhouses in Galicia (NW Spain)

In the last five years, slaughterhouses in Galicia have been producing more than 350,000tonnes of carcass per year (Ministry of Environmental and Marine and Rural Media (MARM), 2013). The main environmental problems derived from this economic activity are the high consumption of water, the generation of waste water with a high organic load and the intensive use of energy (electricity and fuel) (European Commission, 2005). In this region of Spain, there are seventy-one slaughterhouses but only 10 to 15% of them have a carcass production capacity exceeding 50tonnes per day (Casares et al., 2006), consequently needing an environmental permit according to the requirements set by the IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive (European Commission, 2008).The slaughterhouses can be specialized in one livestock type, such as pigs, cattle, sheep, goats or rabbits, or they can be polyvalent. In 2009, the most important meat productions were from porcine, poultry and bovine, as they represented 96% of total production in Spain (AICE, 2011).This paper presents a general view of this important sub-sector (according to the Spanish CNAE, National Classification of Economical Activities) of the food and drinking industry in Galicia. The work considers general information about the activity, an exhaustive description of the industrial process (including preliminary operations, processing, final and auxiliary operations), environmental aspects about consumption and emission levels, and finally a proposal of technique candidates to be BAT (best available techniques) for each process stage. This structure has permitted to obtain an inventory of pollution prevention and control techniques, as well as qualitative data of incomes and outcomes of consumptions and emissions respectively. The methodology, which has already been used in previous works (Barros et al., 2008), has been proved to be appropriate to optimize the process considering environmental factors as well as the pollution prevention and control philosophy.

Transferring the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Approach and Best Available Techniques (BAT) Concepts to Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco

The principles introduced by the Directive Concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) (currently known as the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU)) are innovative and have raised interests in the framework of the literature debate on environmental regulation. Many articles describe and analyze the application of the Directive in European countries, but only a few articles focus on how the interest for the Directive’s principles, including the integrated approach, have reached countries outside the European Union. This paper aims to contribute to this topic, describing the experience of the authors in carrying out an EU-funded project on transferring the IPPC approach and Best Available Techniques (BAT) concepts to three Arab countries, i.e., Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. The paper presents the experience referring to two sectors falling within the scope of the IPPC Directive: the textile and dairy sector. The objectives, methodologies, activities and experiences are described and can be used and valorized to integrate the IPPC approach and BAT concepts in the current environmental legislation of the three countries.

Integrated environmental permit through Best Available Techniques: evaluation of the fish and seafood canning industry

Abstract Fish and seafood canning industry constitutes a fundamental sector for the economy of Galicia (NW Spain), where these companies represent more than 50% of the total number of installations of this sector in Spain, and they account for 80% of the national production. So, highlighting their essential role in the economy of the region, it is important to foster the sustainability through the responsible consumption of raw materials, the prevention and reduction of waste generation and the use of green technologies. This is a desirable goal at the European Union (EU) which can be undertaken with the philosophy proposed in 1996 by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive and updated in 2010 by Directive 2010/75/EU. The IPPC policy lays down a framework requiring EU Member States to issue operating permits for industrial installations carrying out certain activities described in Annex 1 of the Directive, including fish and seafood canning industry in epigraph 6.4.b. The main points of these laws are prevention, multimedia licencing, reporting, freedom of access of information, use of Best Available Techniques (BAT), and setting of Emission Limit Values (ELVs). Moreover, the Directive takes into account emissions to the air, water and soil, as well as waste management, resource efficiency and energy efficiency aspects. In brief, the purpose of the IPPC is to achieve a high level of protection for the total environment and the health of people. This paper analyses the degree of implementation of the IPPC Directive in the fish and seafood canning industry of Galicia, in the North–West (NW) of Spain. A methodology is proposed to compare emissions on the basis of emission factors, considering the implemented BAT and their influence on the overall environmental performance of the installation.

Colorectal cancer mortality and industrial pollution in Spain

BackgroundRecords kept as a result of the implementation of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) constitute a public inventory of industries, created by the European Commission, which is a valuable resource for monitoring industrial pollution. Our objective is to ascertain whether there might be excess colorectal cancer mortality among populations residing in the vicinity of Spanish industrial installations that are governed by the IPPC Directive and E-PRTR Regulation and report their emissions to air.MethodsAn ecological study was designed to examine colorectal cancer mortality at a municipal level (8098 Spanish towns), over the period 1997–2006. We conducted an exploratory "near vs. far" analysis to estimate the relative risks (RR) of towns situated at a distance of less than 2 km from industrial installations. The analysis was repeated for each of the 24 industrial groups. RR and their 95% credible/confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated on the basis of Poisson regression models, using two types of modelling: a) the conditional autoregressive Bayesian model proposed by Besag, York and Mollié, with explanatory variables; and b) a mixed regression model. Integrated nested Laplace approximations were used as a Bayesian inference tool.ResultsStatistically significant RRs were detected in the vicinity of mining industry (RR 1.258; 95%CI 1.082 - 1.463), paper and wood production (RR 1.071; 95%CI 1.007 – 1.140), food and beverage sector (RR 1.069; 95%CI 1.029 - 1.111), metal production and processing installations (RR 1.065; 95% CI 1.011 – 1.123) and ceramics (RR 1.050 ; 95%CI 1.004 – 1.099).ConclusionsGiven the exploratory nature of this study, it would seem advisable to check in other countries or with other designs, if the proximity of industries that emit pollutants into the air could be an added risk factor for colorectal cancer mortality. Nevertheless, some of the differences between men and women observed in the analyses of the industrial groups suggest that there may be a component of occupational exposure, little-studied in the case of cancers of the digestive system.

Whole effluent assessment of industrial wastewater for determination of BAT compliance. Part 2: metal surface treatment industry

Toxicity testing has become a suitable tool for wastewater evaluation included in several reference documents on best available techniques of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. The IPPC Directive requires that for direct dischargers as well as for indirect dischargers, the same best available techniques should be applied. Within the study, the whole effluent assessment approach of OSPAR has been applied for determining persistent toxicity of indirectly discharged wastewater from the metal surface treatment industry. Twenty wastewater samples from the printed circuit board and electroplating industries which indirectly discharged their wastewater to municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have been considered in the study. In all factories, the wastewater partial flows were separated in collecting tanks and physicochemically treated in-house. For assessing the behaviour of the wastewater samples in WWTPs, all samples were biologically pretreated for 7 days in the Zahn-Wellens test before ecotoxicity testing. Thus, persistent toxicity could be discriminated from non-persistent toxicity caused, e.g. by ammonium or readily biodegradable compounds. The fish egg test with Danio rerio, the Daphnia magna acute toxicity test, the algae test with Desmodesmus subspicatus, the Vibrio fischeri assay and the plant growth test with Lemna minor have been applied. All tests have been carried out according to well-established DIN or ISO standards and the lowest ineffective dilution (LID) concept. Additionally, genotoxicity was tested in the umu assay. The potential bioaccumulating substances (PBS) were determined by solid-phase micro-extraction and referred to the reference compound 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) values of the effluents were in the range of 30-2,850 mg L(-1) (COD) and 2-614 mg L(-1) (TOC). With respect to the metal concentrations, all samples were not heavily polluted. The maximum conductivity of the samples was 43,700 microS cm(-1) and indicates that salts might contribute to the overall toxicity. Half of the wastewater samples proved to be biologically well treatable in the Zahn-Wellens test with COD elimination above 80%, whilst the others were insufficiently biodegraded (COD elimination 28-74%). After the pretreatment in the Zahn-Wellens test, wastewater samples from four (out of ten) companies were extremely ecotoxic especially to algae (maximum LID(A) = 16,384). Three wastewater samples were genotoxic in the umu test. Applying the rules for salt correction of test results as allowed in the German Wastewater Ordinance, only a small part of toxicity could be attributed to salts. Considering the PBS, wastewater from the metal surface treatment industry exhibited very low levels of PBS. In one factory, the origin of ecotoxicity has been attributed to the organosulphide dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDTC) used as a water treatment chemical for metal precipitation. The assumption based on rough calculation of input of the organosulphide into the wastewater was confirmed in practice by testing its ecotoxicity at the corresponding dilution ratio after pretreatment in the Zahn-Wellens test. Whilst the COD elimination of DMDTC was only 32% in 7 days, the pretreated sample exhibited a high ecotoxicity to algae (LID(A) = 1,536) and luminescent bacteria (LID(lb) = 256). Comparative data from wastewater surveillance by authorities (data from 1993 to 2007) confirmed the range of ecotoxicity observed in the study. Whilst wastewater from the metal surface treatment industry usually did not exhibit ecotoxicity (median LID 1-2), the maximum LID values reported for the algae, daphnia and luminescent bacteria tests were very high (LID(A) up to 3,072, LID(D) up to 512 and LID(lb) up to 2,048). DMDTC was found to be one important source of ecotoxicity in galvanic wastewater. DMDTC is added in surplus, and according to the supplier, the amount in excess should be detoxified with ferric chloride or iron sulphate. The operator of one electroplating company had not envisaged a separate treatment of the organosulphide wastewater but was assuming that excess organosulphide would be bound by other heavy metals in the sewer. DMDTC degrades via hydrolysis to carbon disulfide (which is also toxic to animals and aquatic organisms), carbonyl sulphide, hydrogen sulphide and dimethylamine, but forms complexes with metals which stabilise the compound with respect to transformation. Although no impact on the WWTP is expected, the question arises whether the organosulphide is completely degraded during the passage of the WWTP. The results show that the organic load of wastewater from the electroplating industry has been underestimated by focussing on inorganic parameters such heavy metals, sulphide, cyanide, etc. Bioassays are a suitable tool for assessing the ecotoxicological relevance of these complex organic mixtures. The proof of biodegradability of the organic load (and its toxicity) can be provided by the Zahn-Wellens test. The environmental safety of water treatment chemicals should be better considered. The combination of the Zahn-Wellens test followed by the performance of ecotoxicity tests turned out to be a cost-efficient suitable instrument for the evaluation of indirect dischargers and considers the requirements of the IPPC Directive.

The pressure membrane techniques as BAT in dairy industry

Progress of industrial development since years has been causing problems with increasing amount of environmental pollution as well as the levels of sources and energy consumption. Finally the environmental problems where considered as the prior value in the European Union (EU) law regulations. In 1996, common rules for permitting and controlling industrial installations were adopted by the European Council as the Integrated pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. In essence, the IPPC Directive is about minimizing pollution from various industrial sources. According to the Annex I of the IPPC Directive operators of industrial installations are required to obtain an environmental permit. The conditions of the authorisation are mainly based on Best Available Techniques (BAT), the second principle of the IPPC Directive. The main environmental impacts related to the dairy industry are: the high consumption of water and energy, the discharge of effluent with a high organic load like whey in the waste...

Implementation of the IPPC Directive and its economic impacts: evidence from the EU steel and glass industry

AbstractThis paper aims at assessing the likely economic impacts of different approaches to implementation of Directive 96/61/EC on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) by establishing a conceptual framework and by providing empirical evidence from case studies in the EU electric steel and domestic glass industry. The potential economic implications of the IPPC permitting process are analysed from the point of view of individual plants. Both plant‐ and sector‐specific factors and the institutional and regulatory context of IPPC implementation in different member states are taken into account. The paper finds only limited evidence of any adverse competitiveness impacts arising from IPPC implementation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Cleaner technology transfer in the Italian galvanic industry: economic and know-how issues

The paper, providing a technical and economic assessment of the available technologies in the Italian galvanic industry, highlights critical factors influencing strategic decisions on the adoption of BATs (Best Available Technologies) in the light of IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive. A broad-based survey of the galvanic industry is presented revealing a considerable gap between the proposed BATs and the technological solutions currently installed. Then, BATs included in the EC Reference Report [BREF – reference document on best available techniques surface treatment of metals and plastic materials using electrolytic or chemical process (volume of treatment vats > 30 m 3). In: Surface treatment of metals and plastic materials using electrolytic or chemical process. European Committee for Surface Treatment; 2001] are analyzed and classified according to their documented economic performance and the complexity of implementation. Even if the analysis confirms the potential of BATs to generate significant cost savings with a short pay-back time, it is difficult for Italian small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to access the know-how needed to make strategic decisions regarding the implementation of BATs.

Cost-effective means of reducing ammonia emissions from UK agriculture using the NARSES model

To comply with International agreements to improve air quality, signatory states need to reduce emissions of ammonia (NH 3). Since the majority of NH 3 emissions come from agriculture, measures may need to be implemented by the farming industry. Member states of the EU will, by 2010, require large pig and poultry production units to reduce NH 3 emissions to comply with the integrated pollution prevention and control directive (IPPC). The NARSES model uses a mass-flow method to estimate NH 3 emission from UK agriculture and to identify the most cost-effective means of reducing NH 3 emissions. Model runs were carried out to assess the likely impact of the IPPC Directive on UK NH 3 emissions and the sensitivity of model output to input data on the costs and abatement efficiencies of proposed abatement measures. The impact of the IPPC Directive is likely to be small, offering a reduction of c. 8700 t, 3.5% of total UK agricultural NH 3 emissions. Even large (30%) changes in our estimates of cost or changes of 10% in our estimates of abatement efficiency will make little difference to the ranking of abatement techniques according to cost-effectiveness. The most cost-effective reductions may be achieved by replacing urea fertilizer with ammonium nitrate, immediate incorporation of manures and slurries to tillage land by discs, storing all FYM and poultry manures before spreading to land and applying slurries to grassland by trailing shoe.

Ammonia abatement strategies in livestock production: A case study of a poultry installation

This study uses a linear programming approach to compare the potential effectiveness of uniform rules (under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive) and a landscape-scale (a scale that includes different land-uses) based policy for reducing ammonia (NH 3) emissions and their related impacts from an operating case-study poultry installation. The model incorporates a variety of potential NH 3 abatement techniques. It also incorporates the first application of a spatial model of the diffusion of environmental impacts from NH 3 emissions. This models N deposition at a nearby nature reserve. The model finds that the uniform rules proposed under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) are likely to be ineffective in certain contexts and that a landscape-scale approach is more suitable for reducing N deposition from livestock production units in environmentally sensitive locations. However, the adjustments required are associated with large reductions in net margin. This reflects the limited range of cost-effective NH 3 abatement techniques available. An alternative cost-effective abatement technique could be to maintain a spatial buffer between livestock production and sensitive receptors.

Effects of the integrated prevention and pollution control on environmental protection

The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) published in the EU in 1996 is presented within an approach based on source-targeted measures. The Directive implementation is based on the granting of permits and it introduces new concepts like Best Available Technique (BAT), Best Reference Document (BREF) and Level Playing Field (LPF). The consequences for the EU steel industry are discussed.

The setting of standards for agricultural nitrogen emissions: a case study of the Delphi technique

The Delphi technique is a means of aggregating the judgement of a panel of experts in order to improve the quality of decision-making. This paper provides a case study of the technique by undertaking a three-round Delphi study to determine a package of best available techniques to reduce nitrogen emissions from a poultry unit under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC). Forms of nitrogen addressed included ammonia (NH 3), nitrous oxide (N 2O) nitrogen oxides (NO x ), dusts and nitrate (NO 3 −), with the study providing a means to prioritise the pollution concerns on different spatial scales. The priority pollutant issues were the contribution of NH 3 to eutrophication, the global cooling effect of NH 4 + aerosol, the role of NH 4 + as a vector for atmospheric transport of NO x and SO 2, the contribution of N 2O to global warming, and NO 3 − leaching. Reduced nitrogen (NH x ) was rated as a priority on all scales, while N 2O and NO 3 − were rated as priorities only on global and local scales, respectively. The study indicated the need for abatement techniques at each stage of poultry rearing and waste management, with particular attention to reduce NH 3 emissions, reflecting the priority pollutant concerns. Measures identified by the panel include maintenance of dry litter, low emission removal of litter from housing and storage of litter under cover. Once the litter has left the farm, this should either be used as a biofuel for electricity generation or rapidly incorporated into agricultural soils. The amounts and timing of manure application should be tuned to crop needs. Uncertainties in the Delphi technique limit its suitability as a stand-alone decision making tool. However, the Delphi technique proved useful in identifying priority pollutant issues, areas of agreement, disagreement and where information is lacking. This demonstrates its use when dealing with the complex issues of prioritising pollution issues and abatement approaches.

Development of guidelines on best practices for the slaughter of animals in Cyprus

Cyprus is one of the candidate countries to become a full member of the European Union. In order to access formally to the EU, Cyprus has to follow an implementation process and take into account all the obligations that the fifteen Member States have to respect. A large number of obligations derive from the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive 96/61/EC, which intends to result in the protection of the environment as a whole and the public health as well. This will be the outcome of determining ways of pollution prevention and control for several industrial sectors, which are covered by the IPPC Directive and then taking action so that all operators act according to the Directive's demands. In this framework, the National Technical University of Athens, after thorough examination of a large number of documents relevant to the Best Available Techniques (BATs), developed guidelines for the application of BATs for 14 categories of the industry of Cyprus. This paper concerns the developed guidelines for slaughterhouses.

Implementation of the European IPPC Directive—BAT guidelines for the cement industry in Cyprus

The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive 96/61/EC aims to introduce a European-wide system of integrated prevention and control of pollution in order to secure a high level of protection to the environment as a whole. It places obligations on the Member States (MS) to introduce controls that ensure operators comply with the Directive. In this framework, as a part of the implementation process leading to formal accession of Cyprus to the European Union, the National Technical University of Athens has examined all documents related to the Best Available Techniques (BATs) published by Institutes and Organisations, such as the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies in Spain, the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland, the World Bank Group and the Ministry for the Environment, Planning and Public Works in Greece. A series of guidelines were developed for the application of BATs for 14 categories of the Cypriot industry that fall into the IPPC Directive. The concept of BATs plays a central role in the Directive because it provides a basis for setting Emission Limit Values (ELVs) as well as the principal benchmark for determining the obligations of industrial operators in respect of pollution prevention and control. This paper presents the guidelines for cement manufacture in Cyprus.