| 1. |
- Yeshanew, Fitsum Girum, 1984-, et al.
(author)
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Magmatic evolution of the southernmost Arabian shield inferred from integrated zircon U-Pb ages, whole-rock geochemistry, and Nd isotopes
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U-Pb zircon dating of plutonic rocks from the southernmost Arabian Shield identifies the earliest diorite–trondhjemite batholith emplacement at ca. 810 Ma and a second phase of plutonism of similar composition at ca. 685–665 Ma. A major shift in plutonic composition is marked by the emplacement of gneiss domes dated at ca. 770 Ma. Trace element ratios such as high Ba/La, Ba/Nb and Pb/Ce suggest a sub-arc mantle metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. The Th/Ce ratios are also higher than global subducting sediment (GLOSS) and suggesting an incompatible element-enriched mantle source. The distribution in Ta/Nb of the arc related samples beyond the field of mantle-derived magmas suggests a continental influence. From these geochemical characteristics, we conclude that a subducted slab/sediment component, rather than an OIB-like source, is likely. A slab component for the island-arc samples is also corroborated by their typical adakite-like geochemical traits, such as ≥ 60 wt.% SiO2, high Mg# (34–77), high Sr (450–2240 ppm), low HREE and HFSE (0.2–1.1 ppm Yb and 2.6–15.6 ppm Y) and consequently elevated Sr/Y of 117–285, high Ni and Cr contents and negligible Eu-anomalies. All samples gave εNd(t) values of +3.9 to +6.9, overlapping with the western arc terranes of the Arabian Shield, indicating the juvenile nature of the crust in the southernmost Arabian Shield. However, there is a subtle secular variation in εNd(t) with the younger post–tectonic samples being slightly less juvenile. This suggests that the younger plutons were contaminated by minor evolved material.
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| 2. |
- Wilhelmsson, Mats
(author)
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How Does the Presentation of Energy Performance Affect the Price of Houses? A Case Study of Detached Houses in Stockholm, Sweden
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Our study aims to analyse whether the capitalisation of a property's energy performance is affected by how it is presented. Since 2002, an EU directive has been in place mandating the introduction of an energy performance certificate (EPC) when selling detached houses. This directive was implemented in Sweden in 2009. We analyse how EPC capitalised on housing prices during 2012-2018 for detached houses in Stockholm. This has been done before, but our contribution is to analyse both the effect of energy rating or labelling (A-G) and energy consumption (kWh/m²). How energy performance is communicated or displayed to potential buyers conveys that the format, style, and content of energy performance information may influence how buyers perceive its value and impact on the property's market price. We have information on energy rating, consumption, or both for selected properties. This allows us to test the hypothesis that how energy performance is presented affects pricing. We have also tested whether information affects different age cohorts differently. The results indicate that how energy performance is presented and visualised is important and that information about rating and consumption might be considered as a substitute for each other. It is also clear that the capitalisation effect differs depending on the age of the building.
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| 3. |
- Wesolowski, Katharina, et al.
(author)
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Family policies in Ukraine and Russia in comparative perspective
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study compares the institutional setting of family policies in Ukraine and Russia with 31 countries, including post-communist countries and other EU and OECD countries. Large-scale systematic comparisons of family policies in Ukraine and Russia with longstanding welfare states and other post-communist European countries have so far been lacking. The analyses are based on a comparative institutional approach, which captures the content of legislation multidimensionally instead of focusing only on social expenditure. This enables an evaluation of the structure of Ukrainian and Russian family policies in relation to other countries in 2005. Analyses show that Ukraine and Russia differ considerably in terms of family policy, as do other post-communist countries. Ukraine more actively supports traditional family patterns, while Russia leaves greater room for market forces. The policies in Ukraine and Russia are likely to be insufficient when it comes to addressing work-family conflicts and increasing long-term fertility.
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| 4. |
- Wesolowski, Katharina, et al.
(author)
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Family policies in Ukraine and Russia in comparative perspective
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study compares the institutional setting of family policies in Ukraine and Russia with 31 countries, including post-communist countries and other EU and OECD countries. Large-scale systematic comparisons of family policies in Ukraine and Russia with longstanding welfare states and other post-communist European countries have so far been lacking. The analyses are based on a comparative institutional approach, which captures the content of legislation multidimensionally instead of focusing only on social expenditure. This enables an evaluation of the structure of Ukrainian and Russian family policies in relation to other countries in 2005. Analyses show that Ukraine and Russia differ considerably in terms of family policy, as do other post-communist countries. Ukraine more actively supports traditional family patterns, while Russia leaves greater room for market forces. The policies in Ukraine and Russia are likely to be insufficient when it comes to addressing work-family conflicts and increasing long-term fertility.
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| 5. |
- Wachtmeister, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Quantity restrictions and price discounts on Russian oil
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have looked for ways to limit Russia’s oil income. This paper considers, theoretically and quantitatively, two such options: 1) an export-quantity restriction and 2) a forced discount on Russian oil. We build a parsimonious quantifiable model of the global oil market and analyze how each of these policies affect: which Russian oil fields fall out of production; the global oil supply; and the global oil price. By these statics we derive the effects of the policies on Russian oil profits and oil-importers' surplus. The potential effects on Russian oil profits are massive. In the short run (within the first year), a quantity restriction of 20% yields Russian losses of 62 million USD per day, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP and 35% of military spending. In the long run (beyond a year) new investments become unprofitable and losses rise to 100 million USD/day, 2% of GDP and 56% of military spending. A price discount of 20% yields losses of 152 million USD per day, equivalent to 3.1% of GDP and 85% of military spending in the short run. In the long run, results are largely the same in terms of Russian profit losses, with the addition that investment in the oil sector will be harmed. A price discount puts generally more burden on Russia and less on importers compared to a quantity restriction. In fact, a price discount implies net gains for oil importers as it essentially redistributes oil rents from Russia to importers. If the restrictions are expected to last for long, the burden on oil importers decreases. Overall, both policies at all levels imply larger relative losses for Russia than for oil importers (in shares of their GDP). The case for a price discount on Russian oil is thus very strong, should oil importers want to escalate the economic warfare with Russia.
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| 6. |
- van Well, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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Towards a macro-regional climate change adaptation strategy in the Baltic Sea Region?
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Climate change adaptation strategies have become priorities for most of the countries of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). While adaptation to a changing climate requires specific local and regional planning interventions based on the risk, vulnerability and climate scenarios of a specific territory, guidance for adaptation has mainly come from above – the national and EU levels. This article problematizes the potentials and challenges associated with calls for a new macro-regional climate change adaptation strategy in the BSR. From the analytical lens of institutional theory it examines the local, national and transnational climate change adaptation actions undertaken and ponders certain questions: Is there a need for an EU Baltic Sea Region Strategy for climate change adaptation? What types of governance and institutional arrangements would be needed to establish a macro-regional climate change adaptation strategy? How can the transnational cooperation efforts already underway help to encourage coordination and learning about institutional complexity associated with climate change adaptation?
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Söderberg, Charlotta, 1978-
(author)
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Sub-national environmental policy integration : learning across levels?
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Environmental policy integration, EPI, refers to the integration of environmental aspects and policy objectivesinto non‐environmental sector policies. EPI can be viewed as an environmental learning process, but whathappens when EPI is to travel across political levels? This article explores EPI in a previously neglected policyarena; the sub‐national level, where Biofuel Region (BFR) in the north Swedish counties Västerbotten andVästernorrland is studied in depth. According to previous studies, an environmental perspective is integratedinto bioenergy policy on the EU level and Swedish level, but is an environmental perspective present also onthe sub‐national level, within BFR? Furthermore, can the development in BFR be explained by cross‐levellearning? In a discussion of the impact of EU and Swedish bioenergy policy on the sub‐national bioenergydevelopment, the concluding discussion revolves around the overarching question of this study: what are thesub‐national implications of higher‐level EPI in a policy area?
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| 9. |
- Söderberg, Charlotta, 1978-
(author)
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Integrating environment into European bioenergy policy : comparing the energy and agricultural sectors
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Environmental policy integration (EPI) has long been a key part of EU environmental work. Recognising that some policy fields involve a multi-sector perspective, this article focuses on EPI in EU bioenergy policy, more specifically how bioenergy has been framed within EU energy policy and agricultural policy from 1995 to 2009. Three questions are posed. First, is there EPI in EU bioenergy policy? Second, is EU bioenergy policy coherent across sectors? Third, to what extent has EPI occurred? The analysis shows that EPI in EU bioenergy policy has increased over time, and that this has stimulated policy coherency between sectors. Climate change is the focal environmental issue in bioenergy policy, although the focus has broadened recently, and the environment is placed on a par with other issues, rather than prioritised. Future research needs to analyse post-Lisbon Treaty EPI, multi-sector EPI, and explore which environmental aspects are integrated (and which are not?).
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| 10. |
- Söderasp, Johanna, 1982-
(author)
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The Water Framework Directive and Spatial Planning in Sweden - Time for Legal Integration!
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Spatial planning activities plays a crucial role in the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (‘WFD’) and the achievement of its environmental objectives. In Sweden, spatial planning is regulated foremost through the Planning and Building Act (2010:900) (‘PBA’). In this article, the lack of external integration of the integrated planning and adaptive water management system of the WFD into Swedish spatial planning law is addressed, and necessary legislative changes are discussed. The obligations for the municipalities in this regard are analysed in the light of our general legal obligations under EU law, particularly as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘CJEU’). In Weser, the WFD’s environmental objectives, including the obligation to prevent deterioration, were declared as legally binding in each stage of implementation. This entails that in each decision-making situation, including spatial planning decisions or local building permits that might have adverse impact on the aquatic environment, the WFD environmental objectives must be complied with. However, the result reveals a clear lack of legal integration between the freshwater governance system and the legal framework for spatial planning in Sweden. As a consequence, water quality aspects are at great risk of being ignored in planning activities at the local or regional level, making the WFD’s environmental objectives significantly more difficult to achieve under the current legal framework.
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| 11. |
- Svenfelt, Åsa, et al.
(author)
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Social justice perspectives on energy and climate targets
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This paper aims to explore what kind of justice principles are discussed and applied on energy and climate targets in different contexts and on different scales. We achieve the aim by reviewing a selection of energy and climate targets as well as allocation principles that are in use or could be considered in energy and climate policy and planning. We include examples of targets in official documents at different geographical and institutional levels, as well as targets promoted by NGOs and research publications. On local and regional levels the focus is on Sweden. Examples of justice principles were sought for in the same literature and documents, and additional perspectives were found in scientific literature. The justice approaches were analysed and categorised in accordance with theoretical perspectives of justice, regarding who is the receiver, what is distributed and according to what principle. Based on our review, we found that the official climate and energy targets did not to any great extent include or consider justice perspectives, particularly not on sub EU levels. Besides, when justice is addressed, it is often vaguely formulated. There are however more concrete suggestions in the scientific literature. We conclude that justice perspectives need to be applied to climate targets, and that the chosen perspectives should be formulated in a concrete and explicit manner. This way they can be scrutinised and discussed, and eventually implemented in order to achieve transformation towards halted climate change that is also just.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Stoll, Pia, et al.
(author)
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Designing Household Demand Response System Supporting the EU Energy Policy
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- For reasons of achieving energy security, reducing global warming and promoting the vision of a common electricity market, the European Union (EU) is transforming the EU electricity grid from a large set of independent hierarchical national grids into one meshed EU-wide grid. For the first time in the electric power industry’s history,residential consumers are being integrated into the grid as active consumers as well as micro-generators of electricity. The needs and envisioned actions of end-consumers form part of a set of EU directives targeting increased energy effciency and improved energy performance in buildings, e.g. through technical advances such as residentialdemand response programmes. To fulfil the EU energy policy, technical systems mustbe revised and extended. However, this poses a challenge for developers, since the EUdirectives are not formulated as system requirements. Another issue is whether EU en-ergy policy stipulates system capabilities that contradict development project-specific capabilities. This paper attempts to elicit and implement household demand response system capabilities from EU directives and from project-specific capabilities for the case of the Stockholm Royal Seaport urban smart grid project. We also examined whether EU energy policy capabilities are sufficiently generic to include the project-specific Stockholm Royal Seaport capabilities or whether there are major omissions and what they comprise. We found that the capabilities we extracted from the EU energy policy directives are generally applicable (with the addition of a social acceptance capability) and can be used as the foundation for development work on project-specific household demand response systems.
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| 14. |
- Stoll, Pia, et al.
(author)
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Analysing Policy Texts for System Capabilities
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Other publication (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- This paper presents a resource-efficient method for identifying system capabilities from policy content using a coding agenda. The method incorporates the influencing factors method for eliciting only those system capabilities with a positive impact on developers’ business goals. The applicability of the method is illustrated using the case of development of a household demand response system for Stockholm RoyalSeaport. In the case study, texts extracted from EU energy policy directives were used to identify household demand response system capabilities. The results showed that the system capabilities extracted were sufficiently generic to host project-specific system capabilities. This would eliminate much of the effort in tailoring system development to every individual project. For the specific case study, it also ensured that demand response system development was aligned with EU energy policy.
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| 15. |
- Sjöberg, Niklas B., et al.
(author)
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Migration of eels tagged in the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Eels (Anguilla spp) are in decline worldwide and the signs of a reduced recruitment have been observed in continental Europe ever since the early 1970s. In order to protect and recover the European eel, EU (the European Union) decided in 2007 to establish a recovery plan, aiming at protection and restoration. Stocking is, together with reduced fisheries and higher survival when passing hydro-electrical power plants, a measure accepted by the EU, and is today used by many European countries, according to their management plans. In the early 20th century eel stocking programs started in Sweden and in other countries around the Baltic Sea, and in Sweden the responsible authorities encouraged stocking activities already at the end of 19th century.In this study, tagging experiments were conducted to follow eel migration from Lake Mälaren and from four sites along the Swedish east coast in the Baltic Sea. Recaptured tagged eels were retrieved from the fishermen, allowing for the opportunity to investigate origin by otolith microchemistry and to discover morphological differences after tagging. Several changes took place; e.g. eye index increased while weight and condition decreased with migrated distance and time until recapture.A majority of the tagged eels in Lake Mälaren did not migrate out of any of the outlets in the eastern part of the lake, irrespective of their origin. Most of them were caught in the opposite direction and continued to be caught in the lake 1-3 years after tagging, with significant weight losses. Overwintering is suggested to be a poorly chosen option, but it is uncertain whether this is a natural behaviour or a result of translocation and restocking.Concerning coastal eels, origin had no effect on the migration behaviour; a majority of the tagged eels migrated towards the outlet of the Baltic Sea. Interestingly, a minority of the recaptured eels originated from stocked fish. Instead, they were dominated of natural immigrants who had spent most of their lives in brackish waters.
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| 16. |
- Shivakumar, Abhishek, et al.
(author)
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Redefining electricity storage for a redesigned market in the EU
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In: Energy Policy. - 0301-4215 .- 1873-6777.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Storage technologies have the potential to significantly support the EU’s electricity system, bringing a number of flexibility services. There are numerous electric energy storage (EES) technologies, tackling different magnitudes in terms of quantity of energy, ramp-up time, duration of discharge, costs, and lifetime. However, legislation around storage raises a number of challenges if analysed under the current unbundling rules involving a mix of regulated operators and market-based mechanisms. This stems partially from a non-inclusive definition of storage. The study provides an alternative definition which aims to capture the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. Furthermore, we discuss the need to value EES technologies such as batteries, pumped hydropower, flywheels, power-to-X, etc. based on their ability to provide different services. This is based on a techno-economic comparison of different EES technologies, given in additional tables. Finally, the study looks at how storage fits into the current regulatory system and proposes options for future systems so that EES are not discriminated against other flexibility options. A set of policy recommendations is provided that relates to the definition of storage, broadening ownership models, avoiding double grid fees, and valuing EES’ potential for supporting the EU’s 2030 energy and climate targets.
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| 17. |
- Shivakumar, Abhishek, et al.
(author)
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DRIVERS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY DEPLOYMENT IN THE EU: AN ANALYSIS OF PAST TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS
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In: Energy Strategy Reviews. - 2211-467X .- 2211-4688.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Energy policy in the European Union (EU) is driven by the objective to transition to an affordable, reliable, and low carbon energy system. To achieve this objective, the EU has explicitly stated targets for greenhouse reduction, shares of renewable energy sources (RES), and energy efficiency improvements for 2020 and 2030. In this paper, we focus on the drivers, barriers and enablers to achieving the EU’s RES targets (20% by 2020 and 27% by 2030). Effective energy policies play a key role in the deployment of RES technologies. In order to design effective policies, a clear understanding of past trends and projections for future deployment is required. In this paper, we first analyse the past deployment of RES technologies for electricity supply (RES-E) in selected EU Member States. This highlights the key drivers, barriers, and enablers for deployment of RES in the past. In a second step, we conduct a meta-analysis of projections for RES-E shares from multiple well-established studies. Such an analysis will help in supporting the design of more effective energy policies and successfully achieving the EU’s energy targets.
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| 18. |
- Roth, Felix, et al.
(author)
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COVID-19 and public support for the Euro
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In: Empirica. - 1573-6911.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic had disastrous effects on health and economic activity worldwide, including in the Euro Area. The application of mandatory lockdowns contributed to a sharp fall in production and a rise in unemployment, inducing an expansionary fiscal and monetary response. Using a uniquely large macro database, this paper examines the effects of the pandemic and the ensuing economic policies on public support for the common currency, the euro, as measured by the Eurobarometer survey. It finds that public support for the euro increased in a majority of the 19 Euro Area member states and reached historically high levels in the midst of the pandemic. This finding suggests that the expansionary fiscal policies initiated at the EU level significantly contributed to this outcome, while the monetary measures taken by the European Central Bank did not have a similar effect.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Rosati, Eleonora, 1984-
(author)
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Italian Supreme Court applies CJEU Cofemel decision to makeup store layout
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In: Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice. - 1747-1532 .- 1747-1540.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Applying the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Cofemel, C-683/17, EU:C:2019:721 for the first time in a case concerning copyright in a store layout, the Italian Supreme Court held that protection only arises upon the work being original, without it also necessarily producing a visually relevant effect.
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| 21. |
- Rosati, Eleonora, 1984-
(author)
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Five considerations for the transposition and application of Article 17 of the DSM Directive
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In: Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice. - 1747-1532 .- 1747-1540.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Directive 2019/790 on copyright in the Digital Single Market was adopted in 2019. Member States have until 7 June 2021 to transpose its provisions into their own national laws. Of the various provisions which are part of the directive, Article 17 has been and remains one of the most intensively and intensely discussed ones.This brief commentary takes position in respect of five key points concerning the transposition and application of Article 17: (1) the nature of its right of communication to the public; (2) the possibility for Member States to envisage de minimis exclusions; (3) the nature of exceptions or limitations in paragraph 7; (4) ex ante blocking of content and the role of the complaint and redress mechanism in paragraph 9; and (5) the position of users whose content has been unduly blocked.It maintains that: (1) the right of communication to the public in Article 17 is the same right as found in the rest of the acquis; (2) Member States cannot introduce statutory de minimis exclusions; (3) the exceptions and limitations under Article 17(7) have mandatory character, require adopting a minimalistic transposition method, and should interpreted uniformly across the EU; (4) ex ante blocking is allowed and the complaint and redress mechanism serves inter alia to reinstate unduly blocked content; and (5) users are entitled to invoke protection under available exceptions and limitations, although those cannot be characterized as user rights.
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| 22. |
- Ringenson, Tina, et al.
(author)
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Digitalization and Environmental Aims in Municipalities
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Many municipalities express a wish to use digital technologies to reach environmental aims. However, there is still a need for better understandings of how this should practically be done, both among municipalities and among ICT developers. We have used workshops and literature studies to formulate technological abilities of digitalization. We use two EU directives that are relevant for municipal environmental goals, and combine the activities that these directives indicate, in order to formulate practical implementations of digital technology to help these activities and reach the directives’ goals. We suggest that this method can be used for any municipal goal, as follows: 1. Identify the objective (in our case set by the EU-directives); 2. Identify what activities these points will require or generate; 3a. From a municipal viewpoint: Based on the results of 1 and 2, formulate and structure ideas of how digitalization can support the objectives, and how those ideas can be implemented; 3b. From a provider´s viewpoint: Investigate what digital solutions supporting 1 and 2 exist, or how existing services can be tweaked to support the objectives, and explore how new digital solutions supporting 1 and 2 can be developed.
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| 23. |
- Ridderstedt, Ivan, 1990-
(author)
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The Wild West of Public Procurement : A Review of Award Mechanisms used for Swedish Public Bus Services
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Awarding public contracts to the best combination of price and quality has become a standard and promoted policy in the EU. Still, there is little evidence on how well public agencies implement this policy, here termed scoring rules. This study reviews how Sweden’s public transport authorities (PTAs) implemented scoring rules, using a sample of 560 contracts for public bus services. The review shows large differences in whether and how different PTAs implemented scoring rules. Several PTAs used non-monetary scales for their scoring rules and many quality criteria, linked to the suppliers’ plans and internal processes. This variant is found to present issues regarding transaction costs, as well as heightened risk of moral hazard and adverse selection. The paper concludes that public procurers need better guidance on when and how to use scoring rules for achieving a good price-quality trade-off.
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| 24. |
- Ridderstedt, Ivan
(author)
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The Wild West of Public Procurement : A Review of Award Mechanisms used for Swedish Public Bus Services
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Awarding public contracts to the best combination of price and quality has become a standardand promoted policy in the EU. Still, there is little evidence on how well public agenciesimplement this policy, here termed scoring rules. This study reviews how Sweden’s publictransport authorities (PTAs) implemented scoring rules, using a sample of 560 contracts forpublic bus services. The review shows large differences in whether and how different PTAsimplemented scoring rules. Several PTAs used non-monetary scales for their scoring rules andmany quality criteria, linked to the suppliers’ plans and internal processes. This variant is foundto present issues regarding transaction costs, as well as heightened risk of moral hazard andadverse selection. The paper concludes that public procurers need better guidance on when andhow to use scoring rules for achieving a good price-quality trade-off.
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| 25. |
- Ribé, Veronica, et al.
(author)
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FIVE FILTER TYPES FOR STORMWATER TREATMENT : USING A WHOLE EFFLUENT ASSESSMENT APPROACH TO EVALUATE FILTER PERFORMANCE
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The release of hazardous substances to the environment from industrial activities in Sweden is heavily restricted due to pieces of legislation such as the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU). In the directive, the whole effluent assessment (WEA) methodology is included as a suitable approach to characterization of effluent waters. The use of WEA methods in the evaluation of treatments for complex effluent waters has great advantages when comparing to using chemical analysis of individual substances alone. In this comparative study the WEA methodology of combining toxicity testing with chemical analysis was applied to evaluate the performance, stability and safety of four stormwater filter types in comparison with the conventional filter material active carbon. The filter materials were the two sorbent filter materials pine bark and polonite; and the two combination filters pine bark/polonite (filtration through pine bark followed by filtration through polonite) and polonite/pine bark (filtration through polonite followed by filtration through pine bark). The stormwater treated in the study was sampled from two points at a metals manufacturing site in mid-Sweden. A preliminary analysis of the water showed high concentrations of heavy metals and in particular of Zn, with concentrations exceeding 36 mg/L. The stormwater pH was neutral (7.5) and suspended solids content was approximately 130 mg/l. Samples of the stormwater, corresponding to ten filter bed volumes, were filtered through a pilot-scale 250 ml filter columns with the four filters or activated carbon. The filtered water samples were analysed for Zn and pH. An aquatic ecotoxicity test battery was used to measure acute and chronic toxic effects of the untreated and treated stormwater samples. The test battery assessed luminescent bacteria acute toxicity (30-min Microtox® ISO 11348-3 using Vibrio fischeri), growth inhibition of the green unicellular algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and genotoxicity with the bacterial umu assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 (ISO 13829). The pine bark sorbent showed the highest average Zn removal efficiency of the single filter materials after activated carbon. The results from the stormwater filtration with combination materials were difficult to interpret. All filter types, except pine bark, increased pH of the treated waters > 9. Pine bark lowered the pH of the treated water below 5 even after filtration of 10 bed volumes of stormwater. Although pH of the treated waters was only adjusted for the Microtox test, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the response of this test and the algal assay. Activated carbon showed the highest reduction of Zn contamination and toxicity of the treated waters. There was no significant correlation between the level of zinc contamination and toxic response of the treated waters. Although pine bark lowered pH significantly, in comparison to the other filter types, there was no significant correlation between the pH and the toxic response of the filtered waters.
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