Black carbon harms health, and traps heat, melts snow and disturbs rain patterns for as long as it is airborne. While long-lived carbon dioxide (CO2 ) needs fast-tracked action to stabilize global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius, black carbon needs elimination to contain short-term warming spikes and to …
Doctors who have been monitoring air quality data for the last month suggest that the best time to take a stroll for those vulnerable to pollution-related diseases is around 2pm. This is because PM 10 (coarse) and PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particles) levels stabilize briefly around that time. However, they …
Though Delhi faces the same challenge in cleaning up its air as Beijing, the Indian Capital lacks the aggressive approach needed to protect public health, according to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment. After comparing air quality data from the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, the Delhi Pollution …
Delhi is fast replacing Beijing in notoriety as the iconic face of the Asian growth story and its pollution aftermath. A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) assessment of the available air quality data for Delhi and Beijing and the review of air pollution control measures in the two capital …
Five Indian think tanks have made it to the list of top 150 worldwide. At rank 50 is Centre for Civil Society (CCS), at 102 is Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), at 107 is The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) followed by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) at 114 …
Way back in 1986, Rajiv Gandhi launched the Ganga Action Plan. But years later, after much water (sewage) and money have flowed down the river, it is as bad as it could get. Why are we failing, and what needs to be done differently to clean this and many other …
India has the world's highest death rate because of chronic respiratory diseases, and it has more deaths from asthma than any other nation, according to WHO In mid-January, air pollution in Beijing was so bad that the government issued urgent health warnings and closed four major highways, prompting the panicked …
With only months to go for the general elections, the new environment minister has gone into overdrive to clear projects. "The contrast is almost like shifting from Test cricket to T-20 within three days," says an officer when asked about the change of guard at the Union environment ministry at …
Puducherry citizens inspired to reclaim its beaches: Chief Secretary. In the environment movement, more time is being spent on identifying the problems and not enough on governance and improving the decision making, said Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (India). Now, everyone whether they are …
After being slammed by the Gujarat High Court for a poor scrutiny of the Adani Group’s special economic zone at Mundra SEZ, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) is unlikely to extend the environment clearance (EC) given to the project as it violated conditions like cutting mangroves, blocking creeks …
Court asks ministry to look into APSEZ clearance issue within 30 days Monday’s order by the Gujarat High Court directing 12 units in the Mundra SEZ of the Adani Group to temporarily stop operations till the SEZ receives an environmental clearance is yet another indictment of the environment and forest …
A new study has found mercury in fairness creams and chromium and nickel in lipsticks. Centre for Science and Environment's director general Sunita Narain said that Mercury is not supposed to be present in cosmetic products and their presence in these products is completely illegal and unlawful. CSE's Pollution Monitoring …
New CSE study finds mercury in fairness creams and chromium and nickel in lipsticks. Mercury is not permitted to be used in cosmetics in India – their mere presence in these products is illegal. India has very weak regulations and almost no enforcement, which is why some companies are getting …
Use of cosmetic products is increasing rapidly in India and various chemicals including the heavy metals are used in the cosmetics which pose health risk to consumers. The present study was conducted to determine heavy metals - lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel in lipsticks, lip-balm and anti-ageing creams and mercury …
Acceptable daily intake (ADI) is commonly defined as the amount of a chemical to which a person can be exposed on a daily basis over an extended period of time (usually a lifetime) without suffering any deleterious effect. The ADI concept has often been used as a tool in reaching …
“Trace” refers to very low levels of impurities/contaminants in a finished cosmetic product. Trace presence is likely to stem from impurities of natural or synthetic ingredients, the manufacturing process, storage and migration from packaging. Due to the ubiquitous nature of certain heavy metals that are otherwise prohibited, several countries such …
Both organic and inorganic colourants may contain heavy metals as impurity. Colourants are used to impart colour to almost all cosmetic products. Primarily they are of two types: Organic colourants such as dyes and organic pigments which are fairly soluble and lakes which are fairly insoluble. Inorganic colourants lack a …
Mercury (Hg) is considered one of the top ten chemicals or group of chemicals of major public health concern by WHO. Mercury is found in both inorganic and organic forms in cosmetics. Intentional use of mercury salts is prohibited in non eye care cosmetics in several countries such as the …
Chromium is found naturally in rocks, plants, soil and volcanic dust, and animals. The most common forms of chromium that occur in natural water in the environment are trivalent chromium (chromium III) and hexavalent chromium (chromium VI). Chromium III is far less toxic than chromium VI. Chromium VI occurs naturally …
Nickel (Ni) is a natural element of the earth's crust and, therefore, small amounts of it are found in food, water, soil, and air. Individuals also may be exposed to nickel in occupations involved in its production, processing, and use, or through contact with everyday items such as nickel-containing jewellery …
A variety of chemicals are used in cosmetics as ingredients and some are used as preservatives. These chemicals have different health effects. Hexavallent Chromium (Cr+6) is corrosive and allergic to the skin. Cr+6 compounds are enlisted as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Adverse effects of …
