The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
Report of the Expert Committee (EC-II) to review findings of large scale trials and the related biosafety studies on Bt brinjal submitted to GEAC on Oct 8, 2009. Concludes that that development and safety assessment of Bt brinjal is fully compliant with the conditions stipulated by GEAC. M/s Maharashtra Hybrid …
Migration of bisphenol-A (BPA), the principal monomer of polycarbonate (PC) baby bottles, was investigated using an aqueous migration simulant. BPA was determined in 200 mL water samples using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) after in situ derivatization with acetic acid anhydride followed by thermal desorption (TD)-capillary GC-MS. The concentration of …
Modern houses are suffused with harmful chemicals. One of them is lead, present in paints. It is banned in several countries but not in India. The Centre for Science and Environment tested popular paints in India for lead content. It found 72 per cent of the samples had lead much …
Jalandhar: Setting up of a large number of thermal plants can prove to be a curse for Punjab. Asserting this, Dr HS Virk, a nuclear physicist and director of a research centre in a local institute, on Friday said the latest scientific studies made in leading international institutions had proved …
The government on Wednesday confirmed the presence of deadly chemical diethylene glycol in the paracetamol syrup produced by Rid Pharma, but said the probe body did not investigate the death of 24 children apparently caused by the toxic syrup. It will file cases against the company and its owners on …
The testing of substances for adverse effects on humans and the environment needs a radical overhaul if we are to meet the challenges of ensuring health and safety.
Despite the reports of the occurrence of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in industrialized nations, information on PFCs in less industrialized countries is meager. In the present study, concentrations and profiles of PFCs were investigated in surface waters (rivers, lakes, coastal seas and untreated sewage; n = 42) including the Ganges River water, …
Perchlorate (View the MathML source), which is used as an oxidizer in jet and rocket fuels, pyrotechnic devices and explosives, is a widespread contaminant in surface waters and groundwater of many countries. Perchlorate is known to affect thyroid function. Despite the compound
India is on the verge of clearing its first genetically modified food crop, Bt brinjal, with several others in the pipeline. Does India need GM crops? Are they safe? How much does the consumer know?
Savvy Soumya Misra And Kirtiman Awasthi India is on the verge of clearing its first genetically modified food crop, Bt brinjal, with several others in the pipeline. Does India need GM crops? Are they safe? How much does the consumer know? On January 14, a meeting happened in room 23 …
Mixtures of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides are commonly detected in freshwater habitats that support threatened and endangered species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.) . These pesticides inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thus have potential to interfere with behaviors that may be essential for salmon survival. Although the effects …
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) was forced to review its proposal for large-scale field trials of Bt Brinjal on January 14. Pushpa M Bhargava, molecular biologist and Supreme Court appointee to GEAC, spoke to Down To Earth on what transpired at the meeting. Excerpts: On why trials were deferred: …
Records of hazardous waste generated by the unit were not maintained Hazardous waste was being produced during several steps in production of aluminium. Waste from pots, or vessels in which final chemical reaction to produce aluminium takes place, was found containing cyanide and fluoride beyond permissible limits Waste produced by …
Watch out for toxic toys! They could cause serious harm to your children Sudhakar Pai from Mangalore had severe abdominal pain at the age of seven. Tests revealed he was anaemic. The doctor prescribed medicines for intestinal worms and anaemia. But the pain persisted. After about four months, he was …
