The 2010 Toxic Threat Report Highlights the Worst Pollution Problems and Identifies the Top Six Toxic Threats to Global Health


Green Cross Switzerland, the Swiss national organisation of Green Cross International (GCI), and US-based Blacksmith Institute, two independent environmental organisations, present their first ranking of the world’s top six toxic threats. The ranking is included in the jointly issued 2010 Toxic Threat Report.


The health impacts from the top six toxic threats include physical and mental disabilities, organ dysfunction, neurological disorders, cancer and in some cases death. The report also asserts that these pollutants


exacerbate other health concerns by weakening the body’s immune system, rendering it more susceptible to disease. According to the report, an initial exposure to toxic pollution can be the undocumented cause of later illnesses, such as respiratory infections, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal disorders, and maternal health problems.


“The global health impact of toxic pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides and radionuclides is much worse than previously thought. The world community has taken significant steps to fight some of the most serious


health threats, such as Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Given the connection between human health and environmental pollution the time has come to take measures and address toxic pollutants that can cause neurological disorders, cancer and death” says Adam Koniuszewski, Green Cross International Chief Operating Officer.


Despite the significant threats and the proven effectiveness of remediation measures, only a fraction of international aid is provided for the clean-ups, the authors of the 2010 Toxic Threat Report argue. “The health of roughly 100 million people is at risk from pollution in developing countries,“ says Richard Fuller, founder of Blacksmith Institute. “The six pollutants in this report came up again and again at the sites we


looked at around the world.” These toxic substances cause serious health risks for up to 100 million people around the world, especially children. This year’s toxic threat report ranks the pollutants according to the number of people estimated to be at risk from each toxin. It describes their physical nature and the industries that typically cause the release of the


toxic substances. The report provides examples from around the world on how human health can be affected by each pollutant. The 2010 environmental report is based on over 1,000 risk assessments at 600 polluted sites in more than 40 countries, which have been recorded in Blacksmith’s database with the support of Green Cross Switzerland.


More than 150 experts have been contracted and trained to carry out the assessment work so far. The top six toxic threats worldwide in 2010 are (ranked according to the size of the population affected):


Lead (18 to 22 million people affected worldwide), Mercury (15 to 19 million people affected worldwide), Chromium (13 to 17 million people affected worldwide), Arsenic (5 to 9 million people affected worldwide), Pesticides (5 to 8 million people affected worldwide) and Radionuclides (5 to 8 million people affected worldwide).


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GEA Westfalia Separator Group Plans New


Production Plant in China


In response to the increasing globalisation of its sales markets, GEA Westfalia Separator Group (Germany) is planning to build a separator production plant in the city of Wuqing / China. "The city is located to the southeast of Beijing in the administrative region of Tianjin. The location offers a perfect infrastructure and well trained workers. We have also already found several additional leading mechanical engineers in the region, indicating that Tianjin has a positive investment climate", states Markus Hüllmann, responsible CEO at GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH, the holding organisation of GEA Westfalia Separator Group.


A contract has been signed for the land usage


rights and production is planned to start in 2011. "We initially signed a usage agreement with the Chinese authorities for 80,000m², but were able to negotiate an additional option for a further 80,000m²", explained Bernd Huber, member of the management team at GEA Westfalia Separator Group and responsible for the global production activities of the company.


Global production activities form part of the


company’s production strategy with the goal of reducing process and production costs, minimising


procurement times within the "supply chain" and achieving market proximity to major international partners. Production in Wuqing will therefore focus mainly on products which are in demand in the Asian markets. "The implementation of this project will create the perfect basis for the future sustainability of our company", added Jürg Oleas, Chairman of the Executive Board of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.


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Majority Interest in Aeromix Systems Acquired


RWL announce that it has acquired a majority interest in Aeromix Systems (USA), manufacturer of water and wastewater treatment systems. RWL, a company controlled by Ronald S. Lauder, is focused on creating a global water treatment business that will meet the growing need for clean water through the utilisation of advanced water purification and recycling technologies.


Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aeromix is an established player in the wastewater business with an installed base of more than 2,500 systems in the United States, Central and


South America, and the Middle East. Winner of Frost and Sullivan’s Best Practices Award in 2010,


Aeromix uses its patented technologies and significant expertise in water aeration and mixing systems to treat wastewater including the use of solar powered units.


Earlier this year, Mr. Lauder acquired the remainder of Nirosoft Industries Ltd. (Nirosoft), an Israeli-


based water systems integrator. Nirosoft has installed over 500 water purification systems worldwide, including emergency relief mobile water purification equipment for the provision of drinking water after the Maldives tsunami and for Sudanese refugee camps. RWL focuses on small to medium-sized markets where its packaged water purification systems can provide clean water at an affordable price to municipal authorities, industrial companies, and military forces.


Following the completion of the Aeromix transaction, RWL will have, through its portfolio companies, an installed base in excess of 3,000 water systems in more than 60 countries. Based on proprietary engineering and know-how, the fixed and mobile water treatment units utilise state-of-the-art technology and are specifically customised for each client. “Our services are based on the rapid delivery of superbly engineered, highly reliable systems at an affordable price to any customer worldwide,” said Ronald S. Lauder, RWL’s Chairman.


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Paques Expands Portfolio for Water Treatment with Elektrolyse Project b.v. Takeover


Paques (The Netherlands), a developer and supplier of installations for biological purification of water and gas and recovery of valuable raw materials, has recently taken over the activities of Elektrolyse Project b.v.


Elektrolyse Project b.v. develops and


produces complete installations for electro dialysis, membrane electrolysis, salt electrolysis, diffusion dialysis and mem- brane filtration applications.


This acquisition allows Paques to Major Sludge Treatment Order Won in USA


Alfa Laval (UK) has received an order to supply decanter centrifuges to the largest waste water treatment plant in the world which serves a population of around 2.5 million people.


One of the largest individual orders ever received by Alfa Laval, valued at 250 million Swedish Krona ( approximately £24million) , the order


covers the supply of decanter centrifuges to thicken sludge generated in the biological treatment process at the plant which is located in Chicago, USA.


Alfa Laval’s presence in the water and waste industry is constantly growing. Every day around the world, Alfa Laval dewatering equipment treats waste volumes equivalent to those produced in the whole of the USA.


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expand its water and raw materials recovery portfolio. With the same dedication and professionalism, Paques will continue the present activities of Elektrolyse Project b.v., both in wastewater treatment and in more upstream applications within it’s customers’ production processes. In addition, Paques sees particular added value for customers combining biological processes with electrolysis-related applications.


Applications include, amongst others,


the desalination of product flows such as protein streams, the recovery and production of acids and bases with very limited use of chemicals, and the selective removal and/or reuse of salts and metals from process water.


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