Institutions in Italy
Overview
Overview
Institutions Active in Environmental Science, Research and Technology in Italy Sergio Facchetti Commission of the European Communities - Joint Research Centre - Environment Institute - 1-21020 Ispra (VA) Italy
1
Introduction
Protection of the environment has been of public concern for many years in Italy and many institutions here are involved in this field. However, the advantages offered by the improvement of the quality of the environment are not always considered in economic terms, even though a rigorous evaluation of the relationships between economy and environment should help us to better understand how protection of the environment is related to economic development and social benefits. In fact, perhaps no other market is developing as rapidly as that of environmental protection. According to recent estimates in Italy by the UEDA (Union of Environmental Defence Companies) in 1992, there was a turnover on the order of 6 thousand billion lire (about 4 billion dollars) which should reach 140 thousand billion lire (about 90 billion dollars) by 2007. It follows that many groups of interest will be involved, each of which will require information about professional capabilities, for example: Public administration (environmental control and monitoring, environmental planning, clean-up actions, etc.), industry (environmental management, monitoring of production processes, treatment and disposal of emissions/discharges/wastes, etc.), agriculture (biological production, use of innovative techniques and tools in production, etc.), the environmental industry (processes and services for the purification of discharges, treatment and disposal of wastes, the clean up of contaminated areas, etc.), the tertiary environmental sector (evaluation of environmental impact, tourism, environmental law, etc.), and research (study of the noxious factors of innovative products and processes, analysis of the environmental system, etc.). To fulfill such diversified needs, many large companies have set up a specific structure for the environment, while medium and smaller sized companies rely on outside consulting experts. Environmental problems are not only concerned with aspects of research and technology but also involve such other company departments as production, marketing and external relationships, so that the coordination of environmental initiatives is often seen at top company levels. This gives rise to the problem of training which is presently done by requalification and updating.
280
In this context, the numerous environmental training courses planned in the Italian regions are justified; according to the Environment Ministry report of October 1991 they number 375 (32 courses at optional school level, 13 as scholastic experience, 80 as post diploma, 20 post graduate and 230 as updating and requalification).
2
University Training
University training includes basic professional training and advanced training. 2.1
Basic Professional Training
- Intermediate diplomas - Specific environmentally related degree courses - Environmental topics in traditional degree courses - Post-graduate specialisation The intermediate diplomas can be differentiated into: - Territorial information system analyst (University of Venice) - Environmental and work hygiene technician (University of Rome) - Naturalist (at four different universities) - Environmental sciences (at eight different universities). Graduate courses in chemistry and industrial chemistry with
environmental qualification, i.e. subspecialized qualifications, are activated at the Universities of Alessandria-Turin, Bologna, Camerino, Florence, Pavia, Pisa and Siena. Degrees in Environmental Sciences Five specific courses (degrees in environmental sciences) have already been set up at the Universities of Venice, Bologna, Bari, Milan, Parma and will even soon be set up at the Universities of Genoa, Molise, L'Aquila, Lecce, Naples, Sassari and Viterbo (-o Fig. 1). An environmental faculty is also active at the University of Naples. Finally, there are 32 post-graduate specialisation courses managed by various universities, 25 of which are directed for specialists and 7 aimed at management.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (4) 280-283 (1994) 9 ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg, Germany
Overview
Institutions in Italy
although an increase in the number of local reference sites is expected in the future. A maximum of 100 students can attend the courses. The training cycle is carried out over 12 months with a preparatory, a specialisation and a final phase dedicated to the development of a research project.
Mastom In Envlronmontal $ e l o n e ~
3
Inter-University-Unions
New initiatives of great interest are being set up in the university field, in particular with the establishment of InterUniversity Unions such as: 1. the Union of Biological and Environmental PhysicalChemistry and 2. the Union of Environmental Chemistry. They hope to encourage a collaboration between the universities in the union and both research organisations and industry. The second union is expected to be open to non-Italian universities as well and aims at promoting fundamental research on:
- the mechanism of formation and transformation of chemical compounds under natural conditions - the development and experimental testing of biochemical physical models - the study of reactions and processes to exploit resources - t h e development of analytical methods for environmental monitoring. Fig. 1
2.2
Advanced Training
Advanced training includes environmental master's degrees: 1. The Master in Energy and Environment Economics at the Enrico Mattei School of Higher Education at San Donato Milanese where 45 Italian and foreign graduates were admitted for the first year; a limited number of them have the chance to attend a second year of specialisation to obtain an advanced master's degree. 2. The European Master in Environmental Engineering organised by the Union for University-Industry Training of Turin Polytechnical University, together with the Universities of Barcelona, Bremen, Chamb~ry, Lausanne and Offenburg, with the support of the European Economic Community and the European Polytechnical Environmental Association (EPEA). 35 graduates are admitted to the one-year master's course. They are required to attend a basic 6-month teaching cycle, and receive 3 months each of specialised teaching and of industrial experience. The courses are provided at the Universities which form part of the Union. 3. The European Master in Environmental Management lasts I year. It is organised by the Ispra Environment Institute of the Joint Research Centre of the Commission of the European Communities in collaboration with 16 European Universities. The teaching activity in the first year of activity took place at the Universities of Arlon (Belgium), Archamps (France) and Athens (Greece), ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut.Res. 1 (4) 1994
4
University Institutes and Departments
Many institutes and departments of various universities are active in the environmental field. Since 1970, for instance, the Pharmacy Department of the University of Genoa has been engaged in the study of biogeochemicaI cycles of the elements in the marine ecosystem.
5
Italian Chemical Society: Interdivisional Group for the Environment
A coordination activity aimed at encouraging meetings, information exchange and the scientific collaboration between different research groups has been organised for almost 5 years by the Interdivisional Group for the Environment of the Italian Chemical Society. The group numbers about 450 members from universities, research organisations, industry and public administration. This activity should grow in importance and impact with the transformation of the group into a Division for the Environment.
6
Research Organisations
Intensive and wide-ranging environmental research work is also performed by the large research organisations.
281
Institutions
in I t a l y
ENEA (National Organisation for Energy, Environment and Industrial Innovation), for example, is a public research organisation previously devoted to nuclear and energy research and, since 1991, active in the environmental area and industrial innovation. In the environmental field, the activities are mainly focussed on urban and industrial waste, global change, interactions between atmosphere and water bodies, activities requiring expertise in modelling and monitoring, the availability of different data banks. ENEA is also involved in environmental auditing, clean-up technologies, the certification of processes and materials, and, in the future, in setting up the Italian Agency for the Environment. There are many research centres run by ENEA: The most important are located at Casaccia and Frascati near Rome (site of the headquarters), in Bologna, Portici-Naples, Santa Teresa-La Spezia in the Tuscany, Trisaia in the Lucania, Saluggia in the Piedmont, and Ispra in the Lombardy. Another important institution is the CNR (National Research Council) that has set up a wide-spread network of institutes and research centres specialised in five main areas: air, water, soil and subsoil, ecotoxicology and effects on bealth, and
country planning. Ten institutes are working on air in Rome (2), Milan, Bologna, Florence, Naples, Padua, Modena, Turin, and Ferrara. Fifteen institutes are working on water in Rome (2), Venice (2), Trieste, Taranto, Messina, Bologna, Ancona, Pisa, Genoa, Pavia, Pallanza-Novara, Mazara del ValloTrapani, and Lesina-Foggia. There are thirteen CNR institutes mainly interested in soil and sub soil located in Rome, Florence (5), Pisa (3), Bologna, Perugia, Padua, and Porano-Terni. Eight institutes are working in the field of ecotoxicology and its effects on health in Rome (2), Milan, Genoa, Pisa (3), and Peschiera BorromeoMilan. Finally, eight CNR institutes are mainly interested in country planning; they are located in Rome, Milan, Turin, Perugia, Bari, Naples, Padua, and Roges di Rende-Cosenza. The Institute of Health of Rome, a technical arm of the Health Ministry, includes among its tasks: 1. evaluation of the effects of environmental pollutants on health 2. monitoring of the environment where there are events or situations of particular risk. The Environmental monitoring of Italy is entrusted to the Multizonal Offices of Environmental Hygiene. Many large companies are becoming more and more committed to the environmental field with high technological investment; for example, the environmental safe guarding activities carried out by ENEL (National Electricity Company) and ENI (National Hydrocarbons Organisation). ENEL's environmental research covers, among others: - the environmental capability of power stations - reuse of waste products as raw material (particularly coal ash) - environmental analysis to understand the environmental effects connected with the production of electricity
282
Overview
- the dynamics of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems - geognostic investigations. The Ash Research Centre (CRC) of Brindisi, the Studies and Experiments Research Centre (CISE) of Milan, the Thermal and Nuclear Research Centre (CRTN) of Milan, and the Experimental Models and Structures Institute (ISMES) of Bergamo coordinated by the Studies and Research Directorate are mainly involved in these activities. As part of the ENI group, Eniricerche and Enichem should be mentioned, which perform research for the monitoring and control of waters, for air, water and waste-treatment technologies and for products related to the environment. Through its subsidiary companies Geos-Ambiente, Biotechnologica, Nucleco, Soris, Enerbeton and Akebia, the Ambiente Company also works in the field of industrial waste, including the management of waste-incineration plants and industrial water-purification plants, as well as in the area of solid urban waste and environmental clean-up. There are many institutions, although much smaller, which are active in the environmental field and have a diversity of aims and a varying availability of human and financial resources. The Istituto per l'Ambiente of Milan was established in 1990 by an association of industrialists being convinced that environmental protection cannot ignore the contribution of industry. The institute promotes studies and research by developing a synergy between the world of research and that of production. It also carries out information projects for the promotion of environmental awareness. The short-term operating lines envisage the following main research activities: - effects of market forces such as incentives and tariffs on the behaviour of companies, environmental regulations and jurisprudence - a study of the relationship between Italian regulations and ECC directives - t e c h n i c a l regulations to which manufacturers must comply - evaluation of new technologies seen from their design and application aspects - social dimensions of behaviour which affect the environment. The Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan also has branches at Bergamo and Santa Maria in Baro-Chieti. Its main environmental research topics are: - the development of analytical methods for the measurement of pollutants in environmental and biological samples - the evaluation of chemical composition and toxicity of urban-waste incinerator emissions (with particular attention to dioxins) - the survey of chemical pollution (pesticides, micropollutants) in environmental and biological samples and for the identification of transformation products of pesticides.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (4) 1994
New Institutions L'Istituto di Ricerche Ambiente Italia is p r o m o t e d by Lega A m b i e n t e . T h e institute, established in 1990, is a nongovernmental organisation. Its m a i n objectives are the improvement: 1. o f t h e quality of the e n v i r o n m e n t 2. o f the environmental policy on a local and global scale. T h e Italian Association f o r t h e W W F (World W i d e Fund for N a t u r e ) , which has w o r k e d in Italy since 1966, functions t h r o u g h the collection o f funds intended to finance important conservation and environmental education projects, but also plays a scientific role in conservation and a cultural and educational role in p r o m o t i n g a b e t t e r environmental conscience. T h e Joint Research Centre (JRC) o f the C o m m i s s i o n o f t h e European Communities is a multinational scientific and technical research organisation with h e a d q u a r t e r in Brussels and four l a b o r a t o r y sites housing eight institutes in Belgium, Germ a n y , Italy a n d the Netherlands. All environmental activities are carried o u t at Ispra (Italy) b y the Institute for Envir o n m e n t , the Institute for Remote Sensing Applications, and the Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics. The m a i n areas o f activity are: -
-
-
-
air m o n i t o r i n g air chemistry and physics in the f r a m e w o r k of the Global Change Research the chemistry of aerosols biogenic a n d anthropogenic emissions the p o l l u t i o n of water bodies a n d their recovery research on soil p o l l u t i o n in relation to chemical wastes i m p a c t o f i n d o o r - a i r p o l l u t i o n on h u m a n health r e m o t e sensing resource m a p p i n g on local, regional, national and continental scales
Institutions in Italy - global climate change measurement a n d m o n i t o r i n g environmental monitoring across land and ocean areas disaster monitoring - decision-support systems for environmental management and physical planning - geographical information systems and remote-sensing application. To conclude, the remarkable contribution to Italian research in the environmental field presently carried out by the "Environmental Impact - Chemical Methodologies" group within the N a t i o n a l P r o g r a m m e Research in Antarctica should be mentioned. Starting in 1966 with the settlement of a summer base at Terra N o v a Bay - Ross Sea, the research has initially included an assessment of the environmental conditions of the area occupied. Scientific p r o g r a m m e s presently in progress and closely in agreement with the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s suggested by the SCAR (international committee m a n a g i n g scientific research in Antarctica) will concern studies on the evaluation of the local environmental impact both in the historical and paleoclimatologicai f r a m e w o r k , and in connection with transport processes to remote areas. Practical operations consist of: - an interpretation of chemical and radiochemical profiles in ice and sediment cores - the study of the physicochemical interactions between ice and seawater - studies on atmospheric chemistry in connection with ozone depletion, greenhouse effect and global change topics.
N e w Institutions ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH is an independent private institute providing services that qualify products for registration and notification in the field of ecotoxicology. Studies with aquatic and terrestrial organisms as well as studies on the environmental fate of chemicals are conducted under laboratory and semi-field conditions according to OECD, BBA, EPA and FDA guidelines in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice standards.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH is highly competent in evaluating ecotoxicological and ecological data. These data can be derived from experimental research or from literature. The main areas of concern are fate and effects of chemicals and genetically modified organisms in ecosystems, impact of anthropogenic influence on the structure and function of ecosystems, development of ecotoxicological test strategies for existing chemicals and waste.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH performs research projects that develop new ecotoxicological testing methods under laboratory and field conditions. Currently running are projects on terrestrial model ecosystems (microcosms), bioaccumulation in sediment organisms and biodegradation in surface water.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH was founded in 1993 as a spin-off company of Battelle-Institute e.V. at Frankfurt a.M., Germany. The institute contains modern offices and laboratories including an isotope laboratory comprising 500 m 2 in total. The facilities are conveniently located 6 km outside of Frankfurt a.M., Germany, providing easy access for clients within 20 Minutes of the international airport of Frankfurt a.M.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH is experienced in planning and conducting longterm field studies over many years. The determination of the species inventory, abundancy and physiological activity for almost all groups of the soil fauna, including microorganisms, are frequently applied experimental methods. The main focus of the field research is the structure and function of the soil fauna as well as the impact of the soil fauna onto litter decomposition processes in terrestrial ecosystems.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (4) 283 (1994) 9 ecomed publishers,D-86899 Landsberg,Germany
For
further
information
contact:
Thomas Knacker Sulzbacher Str. 15 - 21 D-65812 Bad Soden, Germany Phone: + 49-6196-64731 Fax: + 49-6196-641832
283
Overview
Overview
Institutions Active in Environmental Science, Research and Technology in Italy Sergio Facchetti Commission of the European Communities - Joint Research Centre - Environment Institute - 1-21020 Ispra (VA) Italy
1
Introduction
Protection of the environment has been of public concern for many years in Italy and many institutions here are involved in this field. However, the advantages offered by the improvement of the quality of the environment are not always considered in economic terms, even though a rigorous evaluation of the relationships between economy and environment should help us to better understand how protection of the environment is related to economic development and social benefits. In fact, perhaps no other market is developing as rapidly as that of environmental protection. According to recent estimates in Italy by the UEDA (Union of Environmental Defence Companies) in 1992, there was a turnover on the order of 6 thousand billion lire (about 4 billion dollars) which should reach 140 thousand billion lire (about 90 billion dollars) by 2007. It follows that many groups of interest will be involved, each of which will require information about professional capabilities, for example: Public administration (environmental control and monitoring, environmental planning, clean-up actions, etc.), industry (environmental management, monitoring of production processes, treatment and disposal of emissions/discharges/wastes, etc.), agriculture (biological production, use of innovative techniques and tools in production, etc.), the environmental industry (processes and services for the purification of discharges, treatment and disposal of wastes, the clean up of contaminated areas, etc.), the tertiary environmental sector (evaluation of environmental impact, tourism, environmental law, etc.), and research (study of the noxious factors of innovative products and processes, analysis of the environmental system, etc.). To fulfill such diversified needs, many large companies have set up a specific structure for the environment, while medium and smaller sized companies rely on outside consulting experts. Environmental problems are not only concerned with aspects of research and technology but also involve such other company departments as production, marketing and external relationships, so that the coordination of environmental initiatives is often seen at top company levels. This gives rise to the problem of training which is presently done by requalification and updating.
280
In this context, the numerous environmental training courses planned in the Italian regions are justified; according to the Environment Ministry report of October 1991 they number 375 (32 courses at optional school level, 13 as scholastic experience, 80 as post diploma, 20 post graduate and 230 as updating and requalification).
2
University Training
University training includes basic professional training and advanced training. 2.1
Basic Professional Training
- Intermediate diplomas - Specific environmentally related degree courses - Environmental topics in traditional degree courses - Post-graduate specialisation The intermediate diplomas can be differentiated into: - Territorial information system analyst (University of Venice) - Environmental and work hygiene technician (University of Rome) - Naturalist (at four different universities) - Environmental sciences (at eight different universities). Graduate courses in chemistry and industrial chemistry with
environmental qualification, i.e. subspecialized qualifications, are activated at the Universities of Alessandria-Turin, Bologna, Camerino, Florence, Pavia, Pisa and Siena. Degrees in Environmental Sciences Five specific courses (degrees in environmental sciences) have already been set up at the Universities of Venice, Bologna, Bari, Milan, Parma and will even soon be set up at the Universities of Genoa, Molise, L'Aquila, Lecce, Naples, Sassari and Viterbo (-o Fig. 1). An environmental faculty is also active at the University of Naples. Finally, there are 32 post-graduate specialisation courses managed by various universities, 25 of which are directed for specialists and 7 aimed at management.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (4) 280-283 (1994) 9 ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg, Germany
Overview
Institutions in Italy
although an increase in the number of local reference sites is expected in the future. A maximum of 100 students can attend the courses. The training cycle is carried out over 12 months with a preparatory, a specialisation and a final phase dedicated to the development of a research project.
Mastom In Envlronmontal $ e l o n e ~
3
Inter-University-Unions
New initiatives of great interest are being set up in the university field, in particular with the establishment of InterUniversity Unions such as: 1. the Union of Biological and Environmental PhysicalChemistry and 2. the Union of Environmental Chemistry. They hope to encourage a collaboration between the universities in the union and both research organisations and industry. The second union is expected to be open to non-Italian universities as well and aims at promoting fundamental research on:
- the mechanism of formation and transformation of chemical compounds under natural conditions - the development and experimental testing of biochemical physical models - the study of reactions and processes to exploit resources - t h e development of analytical methods for environmental monitoring. Fig. 1
2.2
Advanced Training
Advanced training includes environmental master's degrees: 1. The Master in Energy and Environment Economics at the Enrico Mattei School of Higher Education at San Donato Milanese where 45 Italian and foreign graduates were admitted for the first year; a limited number of them have the chance to attend a second year of specialisation to obtain an advanced master's degree. 2. The European Master in Environmental Engineering organised by the Union for University-Industry Training of Turin Polytechnical University, together with the Universities of Barcelona, Bremen, Chamb~ry, Lausanne and Offenburg, with the support of the European Economic Community and the European Polytechnical Environmental Association (EPEA). 35 graduates are admitted to the one-year master's course. They are required to attend a basic 6-month teaching cycle, and receive 3 months each of specialised teaching and of industrial experience. The courses are provided at the Universities which form part of the Union. 3. The European Master in Environmental Management lasts I year. It is organised by the Ispra Environment Institute of the Joint Research Centre of the Commission of the European Communities in collaboration with 16 European Universities. The teaching activity in the first year of activity took place at the Universities of Arlon (Belgium), Archamps (France) and Athens (Greece), ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut.Res. 1 (4) 1994
4
University Institutes and Departments
Many institutes and departments of various universities are active in the environmental field. Since 1970, for instance, the Pharmacy Department of the University of Genoa has been engaged in the study of biogeochemicaI cycles of the elements in the marine ecosystem.
5
Italian Chemical Society: Interdivisional Group for the Environment
A coordination activity aimed at encouraging meetings, information exchange and the scientific collaboration between different research groups has been organised for almost 5 years by the Interdivisional Group for the Environment of the Italian Chemical Society. The group numbers about 450 members from universities, research organisations, industry and public administration. This activity should grow in importance and impact with the transformation of the group into a Division for the Environment.
6
Research Organisations
Intensive and wide-ranging environmental research work is also performed by the large research organisations.
281
Institutions
in I t a l y
ENEA (National Organisation for Energy, Environment and Industrial Innovation), for example, is a public research organisation previously devoted to nuclear and energy research and, since 1991, active in the environmental area and industrial innovation. In the environmental field, the activities are mainly focussed on urban and industrial waste, global change, interactions between atmosphere and water bodies, activities requiring expertise in modelling and monitoring, the availability of different data banks. ENEA is also involved in environmental auditing, clean-up technologies, the certification of processes and materials, and, in the future, in setting up the Italian Agency for the Environment. There are many research centres run by ENEA: The most important are located at Casaccia and Frascati near Rome (site of the headquarters), in Bologna, Portici-Naples, Santa Teresa-La Spezia in the Tuscany, Trisaia in the Lucania, Saluggia in the Piedmont, and Ispra in the Lombardy. Another important institution is the CNR (National Research Council) that has set up a wide-spread network of institutes and research centres specialised in five main areas: air, water, soil and subsoil, ecotoxicology and effects on bealth, and
country planning. Ten institutes are working on air in Rome (2), Milan, Bologna, Florence, Naples, Padua, Modena, Turin, and Ferrara. Fifteen institutes are working on water in Rome (2), Venice (2), Trieste, Taranto, Messina, Bologna, Ancona, Pisa, Genoa, Pavia, Pallanza-Novara, Mazara del ValloTrapani, and Lesina-Foggia. There are thirteen CNR institutes mainly interested in soil and sub soil located in Rome, Florence (5), Pisa (3), Bologna, Perugia, Padua, and Porano-Terni. Eight institutes are working in the field of ecotoxicology and its effects on health in Rome (2), Milan, Genoa, Pisa (3), and Peschiera BorromeoMilan. Finally, eight CNR institutes are mainly interested in country planning; they are located in Rome, Milan, Turin, Perugia, Bari, Naples, Padua, and Roges di Rende-Cosenza. The Institute of Health of Rome, a technical arm of the Health Ministry, includes among its tasks: 1. evaluation of the effects of environmental pollutants on health 2. monitoring of the environment where there are events or situations of particular risk. The Environmental monitoring of Italy is entrusted to the Multizonal Offices of Environmental Hygiene. Many large companies are becoming more and more committed to the environmental field with high technological investment; for example, the environmental safe guarding activities carried out by ENEL (National Electricity Company) and ENI (National Hydrocarbons Organisation). ENEL's environmental research covers, among others: - the environmental capability of power stations - reuse of waste products as raw material (particularly coal ash) - environmental analysis to understand the environmental effects connected with the production of electricity
282
Overview
- the dynamics of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems - geognostic investigations. The Ash Research Centre (CRC) of Brindisi, the Studies and Experiments Research Centre (CISE) of Milan, the Thermal and Nuclear Research Centre (CRTN) of Milan, and the Experimental Models and Structures Institute (ISMES) of Bergamo coordinated by the Studies and Research Directorate are mainly involved in these activities. As part of the ENI group, Eniricerche and Enichem should be mentioned, which perform research for the monitoring and control of waters, for air, water and waste-treatment technologies and for products related to the environment. Through its subsidiary companies Geos-Ambiente, Biotechnologica, Nucleco, Soris, Enerbeton and Akebia, the Ambiente Company also works in the field of industrial waste, including the management of waste-incineration plants and industrial water-purification plants, as well as in the area of solid urban waste and environmental clean-up. There are many institutions, although much smaller, which are active in the environmental field and have a diversity of aims and a varying availability of human and financial resources. The Istituto per l'Ambiente of Milan was established in 1990 by an association of industrialists being convinced that environmental protection cannot ignore the contribution of industry. The institute promotes studies and research by developing a synergy between the world of research and that of production. It also carries out information projects for the promotion of environmental awareness. The short-term operating lines envisage the following main research activities: - effects of market forces such as incentives and tariffs on the behaviour of companies, environmental regulations and jurisprudence - a study of the relationship between Italian regulations and ECC directives - t e c h n i c a l regulations to which manufacturers must comply - evaluation of new technologies seen from their design and application aspects - social dimensions of behaviour which affect the environment. The Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan also has branches at Bergamo and Santa Maria in Baro-Chieti. Its main environmental research topics are: - the development of analytical methods for the measurement of pollutants in environmental and biological samples - the evaluation of chemical composition and toxicity of urban-waste incinerator emissions (with particular attention to dioxins) - the survey of chemical pollution (pesticides, micropollutants) in environmental and biological samples and for the identification of transformation products of pesticides.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (4) 1994
New Institutions L'Istituto di Ricerche Ambiente Italia is p r o m o t e d by Lega A m b i e n t e . T h e institute, established in 1990, is a nongovernmental organisation. Its m a i n objectives are the improvement: 1. o f t h e quality of the e n v i r o n m e n t 2. o f the environmental policy on a local and global scale. T h e Italian Association f o r t h e W W F (World W i d e Fund for N a t u r e ) , which has w o r k e d in Italy since 1966, functions t h r o u g h the collection o f funds intended to finance important conservation and environmental education projects, but also plays a scientific role in conservation and a cultural and educational role in p r o m o t i n g a b e t t e r environmental conscience. T h e Joint Research Centre (JRC) o f the C o m m i s s i o n o f t h e European Communities is a multinational scientific and technical research organisation with h e a d q u a r t e r in Brussels and four l a b o r a t o r y sites housing eight institutes in Belgium, Germ a n y , Italy a n d the Netherlands. All environmental activities are carried o u t at Ispra (Italy) b y the Institute for Envir o n m e n t , the Institute for Remote Sensing Applications, and the Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics. The m a i n areas o f activity are: -
-
-
-
air m o n i t o r i n g air chemistry and physics in the f r a m e w o r k of the Global Change Research the chemistry of aerosols biogenic a n d anthropogenic emissions the p o l l u t i o n of water bodies a n d their recovery research on soil p o l l u t i o n in relation to chemical wastes i m p a c t o f i n d o o r - a i r p o l l u t i o n on h u m a n health r e m o t e sensing resource m a p p i n g on local, regional, national and continental scales
Institutions in Italy - global climate change measurement a n d m o n i t o r i n g environmental monitoring across land and ocean areas disaster monitoring - decision-support systems for environmental management and physical planning - geographical information systems and remote-sensing application. To conclude, the remarkable contribution to Italian research in the environmental field presently carried out by the "Environmental Impact - Chemical Methodologies" group within the N a t i o n a l P r o g r a m m e Research in Antarctica should be mentioned. Starting in 1966 with the settlement of a summer base at Terra N o v a Bay - Ross Sea, the research has initially included an assessment of the environmental conditions of the area occupied. Scientific p r o g r a m m e s presently in progress and closely in agreement with the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s suggested by the SCAR (international committee m a n a g i n g scientific research in Antarctica) will concern studies on the evaluation of the local environmental impact both in the historical and paleoclimatologicai f r a m e w o r k , and in connection with transport processes to remote areas. Practical operations consist of: - an interpretation of chemical and radiochemical profiles in ice and sediment cores - the study of the physicochemical interactions between ice and seawater - studies on atmospheric chemistry in connection with ozone depletion, greenhouse effect and global change topics.
N e w Institutions ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH is an independent private institute providing services that qualify products for registration and notification in the field of ecotoxicology. Studies with aquatic and terrestrial organisms as well as studies on the environmental fate of chemicals are conducted under laboratory and semi-field conditions according to OECD, BBA, EPA and FDA guidelines in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice standards.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH is highly competent in evaluating ecotoxicological and ecological data. These data can be derived from experimental research or from literature. The main areas of concern are fate and effects of chemicals and genetically modified organisms in ecosystems, impact of anthropogenic influence on the structure and function of ecosystems, development of ecotoxicological test strategies for existing chemicals and waste.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH performs research projects that develop new ecotoxicological testing methods under laboratory and field conditions. Currently running are projects on terrestrial model ecosystems (microcosms), bioaccumulation in sediment organisms and biodegradation in surface water.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH was founded in 1993 as a spin-off company of Battelle-Institute e.V. at Frankfurt a.M., Germany. The institute contains modern offices and laboratories including an isotope laboratory comprising 500 m 2 in total. The facilities are conveniently located 6 km outside of Frankfurt a.M., Germany, providing easy access for clients within 20 Minutes of the international airport of Frankfurt a.M.
ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH is experienced in planning and conducting longterm field studies over many years. The determination of the species inventory, abundancy and physiological activity for almost all groups of the soil fauna, including microorganisms, are frequently applied experimental methods. The main focus of the field research is the structure and function of the soil fauna as well as the impact of the soil fauna onto litter decomposition processes in terrestrial ecosystems.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (4) 283 (1994) 9 ecomed publishers,D-86899 Landsberg,Germany
For
further
information
contact:
Thomas Knacker Sulzbacher Str. 15 - 21 D-65812 Bad Soden, Germany Phone: + 49-6196-64731 Fax: + 49-6196-641832
283
