Case Studies

Air pollution remains the main environmental factor in human ill-health, with about 400,000 premature deaths attributed to ambient air pollution annually in the EU. Industrial processes account for a sizeable share of polluting emissions, including sulfur dioxide (SO2 ), produced by burning fuels containing sulfur compounds an...

Air pollution remains the main environmental factor in human ill-health, with about 400,000 premature deaths attributed to ambient air pollution annually in the EU. Industrial processes account for a sizeable share of polluting emissions, including sulfur dioxide (SO2 ), produced by burning fuels containing sulfur compounds an...

The 2008 Air Quality Directive and related legislation measurably improved Europe’s air quality. For example, a 2018 analysis noted a 54 % reduction in early deaths due to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution. Nonetheless, almost all Europeans remained exposed to polluted air, at the cost of 400,000 premature deaths a year in the E...

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems by limiting underwater noise from man-made activity, such as shipping or construction work, which can adversely affect marine wildlife. The sources of greatest environmental concern radiate most of their sound energy in the low frequ...

Land reclaimation and redevelpment is converting old industrial sites for new uses such as housing. Ensuring that no lingering contamination remains and that any found is not redistributed to other locations is becoming increasingly important. Construction companies are required to conduct detailed soil analyses to identify pol...

Following a major nuclear incident, fast decisions are needed on issues from protecting the public to prevention of contaminated food entering the supply chain. Different radioactive isotopes, or radionuclides, present different risks. For example, radioactive iodine can accumulate in the thyroid gland, whilst caesium on grass ...