Bhopal: Way Ahead

DURING 1969-84, Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) mainly produced three pesticides namely sevin (carbaryl), temik (aldicarb) and sevidol, which is a formulation of carbaryl and gammahexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH).

Material and Methods

In the absence of comprehensive studies in India, Delhi non-profit Centre for Science and Environment analysed lipsticks and fairness creams for heavy metals. Here are the details of the methodology adopted for the study Sampling Methodology Thirty samples of lipsticks, 32 samples of fairness creams, 8 samples of lip-balm and 3 samples of anti-ageing creams were purchased from local market of Delhi. The details of the samples are presented in Table 2 Table and 3.

Pesticide regulations

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture without paying much heed to the consequences of its unregulated and indiscriminate use. 

Senior Scientist for Pollution Monitoring Laboratory

The Centre for Science and Environment, an established institution known for its rigorous and scientific policy research and advocacy on environmental issues is looking for a Senior Scientist for its state of the art laboratory for monitoring pollution and toxins.

Top Down To Earth stories

Centre favours manufacture of endosulfan Says disposal will cost Rs 210 crore while using existing raw material stock to manufacture the pesticide will increase crop production MORE STORIES • Salt assault • Novartis loses patent   appeal in landmark suit • Beyond a flailing state

FSSAI Watch

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.

Contaminated Honey reaches Rajya Sabha

Minister of state for agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Prof K V Thomas in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on CSE’s report also stated that the European Union had banned the export of honey from India, on account of positive detection of heavy metals and other contaminants, reported in the Residual Monitoring Plan.

Invitation : CSE ROUND TABLE

Should junk food be junked? November 1, 2011 Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) invites you to a Stakeholders’ Round Table in Delhi to understand and discuss the subject of junk foods and their impacts on our health.

The venom is spreading...

Endosulfan is claiming new victims, though a state government survey puts the total number of affected at just a little over 2,000 people in 11 gram panchayats of Kasaragod. Years after the pesticide was banned in Kerala, it is creeping into newer areas – a Down To Earth investigation has tracked down more cases in Muthalamada panchayat in Palakkad district, while reports are coming in of endosulfan-affected people from villages and hamlets located far away from regions where the pesticide was sprayed.

Pesticides in bottled water

One often finds unsuspecting people buying bottled water or packaged drinking water thinking its safe. Well think again. As the Centre for Science and Environment laboratory report found after analysing bottled water samples from Mumbai and Delhi these products can be far more lethal than one can imagine. The samples contained a deadly cocktail of pesticide residues.

Let there be CFL

When the kerosene supply went down sharply in Nagpur four years ago, Bharat Parihar's business of renting out Petromax lamps to vegetable vendors began to look fragile.

Mercury

Mercury is a very toxic and dangerous substance. It is  poisonous in all forms - inorganic, organic or elemental. Mercury is a proven neurotoxin. Inhaling mercury vapours can severely damage the respiratory tract. Sore throat, coughing, pain or tightness in the chest, headache, muscle weakness, anorexia, gastrointestinal disturbance, fever, bronchitis and pneumonitis are symptoms of mercury toxicity. Health concerns should be reason enough for us to properly manage its imports and disposal.