The article presents a comprehensive study of the implementation process of the environmental component of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which constitutes a key element in the country’s system of European integration reforms. Since September 1, 2017, after the Agreement entered into full force, Ukraine has assumed clear obligations to harmonize national legislation with EU law, particularly in the field of environmental protection. The study analyzes the legal and regulatory framework for the implementation of 26 EU directives and 3 regulations concerning air and water quality, waste management, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and industrial pollution prevention. Special attention is paid to the implementation of Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial Emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) and the introduction of an integrated permitting system, which serves as the primary tool for controlling industrial emissions in EU countries. The content and significance of the Law of Ukraine “On Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control,” adopted on July 16, 2024, are examined; this law established a new model of state environmental governance focused on the application of Best Available Techniques and Methods (BAT/BEP). The main stages of reform implementation, its advantages, and associated risks are identified, particularly in the context of military actions, economic instability, and the need for industrial sector modernization. A separate section is devoted to analyzing the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, which introduces a river basin–based approach to water management. The creation of basin councils, development of river basin management plans, and implementation of a national water monitoring system in line with EU standards are highlighted. The adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to other water-related directives is also considered, including urban wastewater treatment, nitrate pollution, flood risk management, and the assurance of drinking water quality. The conclusions emphasize that fulfilling environmental obligations is not only a requirement of the Association Agreement but also a fundamental condition for Ukraine’s transition to a sustainable economy and for enhancing environmental security. The need to strengthen institutional capacity, provide financial support for eco-modernization of enterprises, and continue regulatory convergence with EU law is underscored.

Environmental pollution remains a pressing challenge in Nigeria, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and inadequate waste management systems. The study aimed at assessing environmental pollution and integrated mitigation strategies in Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to provide a comprehensive outlook on the sources, causes, and impacts of pollution across air, water, and soil environments in Nigeria, highlighting major pollutants, their sources, and impacts on ecosystems and public health. The study synthesizes data from peer-reviewed literature, governmental reports, and international databases to provide a comprehensive outlook on Environmental contamination. The findings identify industrial effluents, vehicular emissions, agricultural runoff, oil exploration activities, and improper waste disposal as the predominant sources of pollution in Nigeria. Notably, over five decades, oil exploration in the Niger Delta has resulted in the spillage of more than 13 million barrels of crude oil, leading to severe contamination of water, air, and soil. Additionally, urban centers like Lagos have witnessed a 20% increase in respiratory illnesses due to vehicular emissions, with particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds by over 300%. Moreover, only 30% of the urban population in Nigeria has access to formal waste collection services, leaving the majority dependent on informal and unsafe practices that significantly contribute to air and soil pollution. The study identifies contributing factors such as inadequate enforcement of environmental regulations, limited public awareness, and a lack of infrastructure for effective waste management and pollution control. The resultant impacts include biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water contamination, respiratory disorders, and heightened incidences of cancer and neurological conditions. For example, agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers has been linked to water pollution and disruptions in aquatic ecosystems, further intensifying biodiversity loss. To address these challenges, the study advocates for the adoption of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) strategies, emphasizing a holistic approach to sustainable environmental management. By integrating advanced technologies, stringent regulations, and stakeholder participation, the proposed IPPC framework aims to mitigate pollution levels, enhance environmental resilience, and promote sustainable development in Nigeria. Implementing such strategies could potentially reduce pollution levels by up to 40% within five years, as observed in similar interventions in other developing countries. The study recommends the need for strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing monitoring systems, and fostering community engagement to ensure effective implementation of pollution prevention policies.

Effects of legacy mining on mercury concentrations in conifer needles and mushrooms in northern Palatinate, Germany

This article presents the results of a critical review of Bulgarian legislation in the field of circular economy. It also defines recommendations and guidelines on creating favourable conditions for transition from linear to circular models based on all life cycle stages of processes, products and services. The main analysed policy document, directly addressing circular economy, is the Strategy and Action Plan for the transition to a circular economy of the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2022-2027. It lays down the strategic framework towards achieving resource efficiency by applying waste management hierarchy, i.e. waste prevention, reuse and recovery through recycling, reducing landfilling and limiting harmful impact on the environment and human health. The main pieces of legislation relevant to circular economy are the Waste Management Act and by-laws implementing Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive), Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (Packaging Waste Directive), Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste (Landfill Directive), Directives 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment, etc. The review of provisions in the Waste Management Act and Local Taxes and Fees Act on implementing the ‘Waste Management Hierarchy’ and ‘Polluter Pays’ principles shows the need to promote economic incentives. Bulgarian municipalities should revise their ordinances and calculate local waste fees based on the quantity of waste generated (also requested by the current EC infringement procedure for failure to implement the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle at municipal level). ‘Eco design’ provisions are in place, and provisions protecting customers’ right to repair are expected. In addition to implementing EU acquis, it is possible to promote further measures to reduce environmental impact of products throughout their entire life cycle. The critical review also overs the main documents tackling climate challenges, i.e., the Climate Change Mitigation Act and by-laws, and the National Strategy and Action Plan by 2030 for adaptation to climate change of the Republic of Bulgaria, defining the framework for actions for adaptation to climate change and priority directions. The review of ‘horizontal’ environmental legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria, i.e., provisions of the Environmental Protection Act and by-laws on strategic environmental assessment (SEA), environmental impact assessment (EIA) and integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC), reveals the potential to address circular economy aspects in the recommendations issued as part of the relevant competent authorities’ permits. Other potential areas are the environmental protection standards and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) as a framework for environmental and social impact. Last but not least, the review considers circular economy financing opportunities.

The June 25, 2024 Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union is based on the Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive 2010/75/EU and confirms its applicability to the Taranto steel plant, reiterating that the concept of pollution includes damage to the environment and human health; the health impact assessment of polluting industrial activities, such as the Ilva steelworks in Southern Italy, must constitute an internal act in the procedures for granting and reviewing the operating permission; all pollutants attributable to the plant that are scientifically recognized as harmful to health must be considered in the assessment procedures. In the case of serious and significant danger to the integrity of the environment and human health, the operation of the installation must be suspended. The Judgment highlights important elements on the level of principle and application, which are extraordinarily useful for environment and health personnel, for open-minded and aware local, regional, and national administrators, and above all for the citizens and communities most exposed to pollutants recognized as harmful to health. Preventive environmental health impact assessments gain renewed strength as tools for evaluative and authorized decision-making on production activities, in a sense of full integration between environment and health. The right to environmental and health protection and prevention is an integral part of the defence of human rights, especially in sacrifice zones such as Taranto and many other sites to be reclaimed, considered by the UN as "places where residents suffer devastating physical and mental health consequences and human rights violations".

Wastewater discharge is one of the sources of environmental pollution. Wastewater pollution originates, inter alia, in industrial wastewater. After treatment, industrial wastewater can be discharged directly into the receiving water body or indirectly into a sewerage network terminated by the concluding stage of wastewater treatment. In the Czech Republic, indirect wastewater discharges are obeyed by the contractual relationship between the wastewater producer and the sewerage network operator. General limits for indirectly discharged wastewater are not set by any national legislation. The aim of this paper is a description of industrial wastewater discharged into the municipal sewerage system in Prague and possibilities of setting limits for installations undertaking the industrial activities listed in Annex I of the Integrated Prevention Act. The study showed that 72% of installations discharge industrial wastewater indirectly. The majority are energy plants that produce boiler blowdown wastewater. More than 80% of wastewater from studied installations is treated by one central wastewater treatment plant. The studied installations are equipped with a wastewater neutralization unit. However, despite the existence of the legislative framework to propose limits for studied installations, only two installations covered by BAT conclusions with relevant BAT-AELs for indirect discharges to the receiving water body were determined. Generally, a small percentage of installations can be limited by an integrated permit due to an inconsistent approach to the issue of indirect discharges from installations under the scope of the Integrated Prevention Act.

The article summarizes some aspects of the current state of wind energy and outlines possible development prospects. Attention is focused on the requirements of Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU "On integrated pollution prevention and control" and Directive 2010/75/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on industrial emissions (integrated prevention and control of pollution) and compliance with these conditions of the industrial policy of Ukraine . The current state of wind energy is considered, as a significant factor in countering global climate changes and improving the general state of energy security in the world, Europe and Ukraine. Prospects for the further development of wind energy are summarized. Territories of Ukraine, which are characterized by the highest wind energy potential and have favorable conditions for the production of electricity by wind power plants, are highlighted. It was noted that the use of RES is one of the main priorities of energy development for most developed countries. Wind energy is widely available and one of the cheapest sources among RES for the production of electricity in the world. Wind energy occupies the second place in the structure of RES after solar and is characterized by the fastest development of technologies and intensive growth of installed capacities due to the constant development of science and technology, which leads to increased availability, development of a wide range of equipment, as well as a decrease in costs for their production and exploitation. The world experience of implementing low-power wind and solar energy technologies, which can be used to increase the energy autonomy of enterprises, shows that the main advantages of their use, first of all, are the reduction of the ecological burden on the environment compared to traditional methods of obtaining electrical energy, due to the avoidance of emissions of harmful substances (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dust, greenhouse gases), as well as the almost complete absence of waste.

This study compares three approaches in the monitoring of ammonia (NH3) emissions from intensive breeding of fattening pigs in relation to compliance with the standards arising from the requirements of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) used in the Czech Republic. The first approach was based on the determination of NH3 emissions calculation by measurement using reduced sampling days focused on the final fattening phase. The second approach was based on the determination of NH3 emissions calculation by measurement respecting the Best Reference Document for Intensive Rearing of Poultry or Pig (BREF IRPP) and relevant best available techniques (BAT) conclusions under Directive 2010/75/EU. The third approach was based on estimation by using emission factors respecting BREF IRPP and Methodological Instruction of the Air Protection Department of the Czech Republic. The results show that the determined emission factors in the Czech Republic may not always reflect the actual production of NH3 emissions even when reduced by the applied BAT. Determination of NH3 emissions calculation by measurement respecting BREF IRPP represents the predominant phases of fattening (refinement) and microclimatic conditions; however, it is time and money-consuming.

Ammonia (NH3) emissions have a negative impact on the welfare of breeding animals, human health, and the environment. These influences of modern intensive agriculture have led to numerous protocols, national regulations, and European Directives. Following previous regulatory measures, the Commission Implementing Decision European Union (EU) 2017/302 on 15 February 2017 has established best available technique (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and the Council, for the intensive rearing of poultry and pigs. This applies to intensive poultry and pig producers with a capacity of over 40,000 poultry, 750 sows, or 2000 fattening pigs. Due to the application of this directive, air emissions have been reduced by between 40% and 75% over the last 15 years. The integrated permit monitors the entire environmental burden of the farm on its surroundings (air pollution, water, soil pollution, waste production, energy use). This review aims to provide a critical overview of how member states (including the United Kingdom) are approaching the implementation of IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) and the conclusions of BAT in their legislation and related documents, and how they monitor NH3 emissions from intensive livestock farming. The data for this review were obtained from 2019 to 2020.

The South African environmental governance, particularly the pollution regulation regime, is fragmented. Fragmentation ultimately leads to an unsustainable governance effort which negatively impacts on the environment and development in general. In 2000, Finland comprehensively revised the legal structure on which its pollution regulation regime is based. This new regime provides for an integrated environmental authorisation for polluting activities, integrated authorisation procedures and institutions, which result in a more integrated and efficient governance regime. The integrated Finnish approach is based on an European Union framework directive that provides for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). The Finnish reforms may suggest strategies to integrate the fragmented South African regime. This article commences by investigating the nature and extent of fragmentation in South Africa. It then proceeds to analyse the European framework directive on IPPC, and then to reflect in detail on the new Finnish approach. It concludes by providing some comparative suggestions to achieve integration in South Africa.

Zero-pollution goals and the reduction in environmental pressures related to production and consumption have become a priority in recent environmental policies such as the 8th European Environment Action Program proposal. Adapting current industrial processes is essential to this transition towards a regenerative economy. This work presents a redesign plan for an industrial system that includes mechanical workshops and a hazardous waste intermediate management plant, covering all management activities (both off-site and on-site), such as collection, transport, and treatment. The waste management hierarchy is modified/amplified considering the original definition and the circular economy focus. This includes the improvement of existing processes and/or the design of new sustainable processes from waste to energy and useful materials, with different foci (integrated pollution prevention and control, industrial ecology, the circular economy, system dynamics, and life-cycle thinking (LCT)) and different tools employed (Best Available Techniques inventory (BAT), process simulation, BAT analysis, industrial symbiosis, dynamic material and energy flow analysis, and LCT tools). These tools help us to improve the sustainability of waste to energy and useful materials processes and improve symbiotic behaviour in the industrial system. This study shows the real possibility of achieving the circularity of products, transforming the waste sector into a productive one. Meanwhile, it contributes to the extinction of the traditional concept of waste.

In the context of marine environmental protection and ecological protection, the article discusses the operating conditions of ship’s main pollution prevention equipment such as marine sewage discharge, oil-water separators and other equipment and the disadvantages of difficult monitoring of ship exhaust emissions. This paper designs an ocean-going ship based on Beidou Integrated pollution prevention and monitoring system for environmental protection vessels and ports. The system can continuously send information on the operating conditions of marine sewage discharge, oil-water separators and other equipment and ship exhaust emissions to shore-based ship management companies and maritime regulatory agencies through Beidou satellites in real time, providing technical support and information support for remote monitoring. At the same time, it effectively prevents the occurrence of marine pollution by ships and creates a new model of marine environmental protection.

The effect of the European Industrial Emissions Directive on the air emission limit values set by competent authorities in the permitting procedure: The case of the Spanish cement industry

Human health risk associated with emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the ship-loading of hydrocarbons in refineries

Raw coconut jelly is a popular byproduct of the coconut processing industry in the Asia Pacific which can enhance the added economic value for the local families in the rural area. However, the coconut jelly production has resulted in significant environmental impacts, particularly to the aquatic environment due to its heavily polluted wastewater e.g. very high values of COD (up to 120,000 mg/l), of total nitrogen (up to 1,740 mg/l), and of total phosphorus (up to 64 mg/l). The available wastewater treatment technology for such type of wastewater is likely to be not economically efficient due to the small-scale production at craft villages in the developing countries. This study developed and demonstrated an integrated eco-model for small (family) scale production of raw coconut jelly in craft villages which applied Cleaner Production sollutions for pollution prevention on the basis of available conditions at the local family. The system demonstration showed a win-win solution for family with major benefits by reduction of 90% of pollutants (i.e 27 kg COD, 21.4 kg BOD5, approx. 7 kg N, 113 g P and 28 kg SO42−for one production batch), as well as the other benefit by major reduction of 90 % of investment and operating costs of the wastewater treatment plant.

This study aimed to decrease chemical costs and increase productivity and environmental performance by applying various practices for chemical minimization and substitution in an integrated textile mill producing woolen textile fabric. Detailed on-site process investigations and data collection studies were carried out in the mill. Process-based specific auxiliary chemical and dyestuff consumptions were calculated. Process and composite wastewater samples were collected at different periods and analyzed. The chemical loads of wastewaters were also calculated. The specific dyestuff and auxiliary chemical consumptions of the mill were compared with the data of a similar textile mill in the literature and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), Textile Best Available Techniques Reference (BREF) document. Thus, the chemical saving potential of the mill was evaluated. A detailed chemical inventory study was also carried out in the mill. The material safety data sheets (MSDSs) of 371 chemicals were examined in terms of biodegradation ratio, toxicity, and micropollutant content. As a result, 23 chemicals were proposed to be replaced with environmentally friendly substitutes. A total of 10 minimization and substitution practices were identified for the mill according to the investigation and analysis results. After the implementation of the suggested practices, reductions of 15-32 and 13-37% are estimated to be achieved in total chemical consumption and chemical oxygen demand (COD) load of wastewater, respectively. The potential payback periods of the suggested practices were calculated to range between 4 and 36 months. The employed methodology and the findings of this study may be useful for similar textile mills, stakeholders, and regulators. This study may also provide a road map to the textile industry for their sustainable and green production applications.

State of art control of dioxins/unintentional POPs in the secondary copper industry: A review to assist policy making with the implementation of the Stockholm Convention

This paper analyses the best available techniques norm through its main exponent in European and domestic law: techniques for integrated pollution prevention and control, currently governed by Directive 2010/75 on industrial emissions, and by the Consolidated Text of the 2016 Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Law. The first part focuses on the origin and development of this regulatory approach.The second part examines its current significance in relation to its legal structure and progress made in the standardisation of best available techniques at the European level (European Commission statutory measures that establish the techniques and associated standards in each industrial sector). Lastly, the paper discusses European and internal case law on the matter with the ultimate aim of assessing the degree to which it is applied in practice and legal issues presented by the new regulatory system.

Implementing the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) and environmental policies in Central Asia

Long-term emission sampling validation for PCDD/Fs control of compliance to permitted Emission Limit Values at a large sinter plant