| HEALTH NEWS | |
| September 16, 2004. The New Indian Express Hazards from paints Paints containing lead is hazardous to the exposed population. It has been found that people working in paint manufacturing units, living in close vicinity to the factories and those who are directly handling paints are particularly vulnerable. Recent study shows that children are significantly vulnerable to lead poisoning when they come into direct contact with hazardous paints at home, park or school building. They are exposed when they put mouth on painted materials, like iron bar, wooden materials. Ninety percent of paints found in Indian market are lead containing because it is 10 times cheaper than lead free paints. National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning conducted study in Karnataka and Gujarat and found the hazards on account of use of lead containing paints. According WHO 15-18 million children worldwide suffer from permanent brain damage due to lead poisoning. Just one gram of lead can ruin life of 1000 children. Yellow colour has abnormally high lead level (4mg per square cm) followed by green (1mg). Brown, orange and red also has high lead level. In USA and Australia lead containing paints are banned for years but due lack of regulation, the hazardous paints are rampantly manufactured and sold in India.
To focus on this growing burden of disease, the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office for Europe in 1989 started the environmental health process - an effort build bridges between the health and environment sectors, to deal with the effects of environmental problems on human health at national and international levels. The Budapest Conference is the fourth in the series of the conferences (the earlier three were held in Frankfurt, Helsinki and London), bringing together ministers of health and of the environment as well as major stakeholders of the 52 countries that make up Europe. The recently concluded fourth Ministerial Conference held at Budapest, Hungary, from June 23-25 2004, under the theme 'The Future for our Children' has come in for severe criticism. European ministers were expected to reach consensus and make political commitments to ensure safer environments for children. Friends of the Earth, The European Environmental Bureau and Greenpeace have criticised the European Union's (EU) weak stance at the conference. The organisations says that despite the focus being ' ensuring a healtheir environment for children," no clear measurable targets were set by the EU, thus defeating the very purpose of the conference. Under the proposed European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010, two policy documents were prepared for adoption in this conference - the Ministerial Declaration and the Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE, which defines priority actions to reduce exposure, prevent injuries and achieve substantial public health gains). Protestors claim that both of these fall short of ambitious aims to protect this vulnerable group in society. Recent evidence from The Environmental Burden of Disease study, supported by WHO and carried out by the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Udine and the Burlo Garofalo Institute for Child Health in Trieste show that one in three child deaths in Europe is due to environmental factors: 100,000 deaths and 6 million years of healthy life are lost (or DALYs) ever year, in children and adolescents from birth to 19 years of age, caused by outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries. This accounts for 34 per cent of deaths from all causes and 25 per cent of DALYs from all causes in this age group. The proposed policy measures does not mention any
legislative action and regulation against the use of hazardous chemicals, one of the major
environmental threats that children face today. According to Karine Pellaumail, Friends of
the Earth chemicals campaigner, "European children need firm action to protect heir
health, not more research. These proposals will do little to tackle continued exposure to
hazardous chemicals in everyday products, despite mounting concerns about the effect they
may have on the most vulnerable members of society. " |
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| June 21, 2004. International News Arsenic in water affects children’s intellectual function Since 1983, when arsenic was first detected in the groundwater of West Bengal and Bangladesh, scientists around the world have reported several health implications of the element. Study done by Gail Wasserman of the Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York has revealed the effects of the element on the brain of children for the first time. Two hundred and one ten-year-old children of Araihazar in Bangladesh were selected for the study. Urine samples from the children and the source of drinking water were analysed for measurement of arsenic concentration. Water arsenic concentrations were found to range from 0.094 to 790 mg/L, WHO permissible limit being 0.01 mg/L. The children were subjected to psychiatric tests like verbal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Performance IQ and Full Scale IQ to assess their intelligence levels. The educational status of the mothers of the children was also recorded along with their head circumference were recorded. Statistical analysis of the psychiatric test results revealed that children of more educated mothers and larger head circumference had better scores. Also the test scores were found to be negatively associated with arsenic concentration in water. This implies that lesser the score, the more the concentration of arsenic in water. Children consuming greater than 0.05 mg/L arsenic containing water reported much lower scores. The limitations of the study include lack of measures of intelligence that are standardized for application specifically to Bangladesh. But the findings of the study add urgency to the need for effective remediation of the widespread contamination of water with arsenic in Bangladesh and other regions of South Asia. |
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| June 2, 2004. Vector borne diseases Trapping mosquitoes Oviposition traps or OV traps has they are commonly known as, are devices used to detect the presence of female mosquitoes where the population density is low and larval surveys are largely unproductive, as well as under normal conditions. They are particularly useful for the early detection of new infestations in areas from which the mosquitoes have been previously eliminated. The standard ovitrap is a wide-mouthed, pint-sized glass jar, painted black on the outside. It is equipped with a hardboard or wooden paddle clipped vertically to the inside with its rough side facing inwards. The jar is partially filled with water and is placed appropriately in a suspected habitat, generally in or around homes in the environment. The jar contains olfactory chemicals which attract the female mosquito, who visits the trap and lays eggs inside it. The eggs are then counted and stored. The percentage of positive ovitraps provides a simple index of infestation levels, or if the eggs are counted, it can provide an estimate of the adult female population. The mosquitoes are then killed. The MCD has so far identified 195 areas in Delhi wherein
20 containers would be kept in each area. MCD health officials would be visiting the sites
and collecting data on the breeding of mosquitoes. fifty per cent of the OV traps would be
fixed at certain points, and the rest would be rotated, to ensure coverage of a wider area
of the city. The results would however be visible only next year, by viewing the trend of
the diseases. |
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| May 25, 2004. National News A disappearing act Where does 80 percent of Mumbai’s biomedical waste disappear? The Bombay Corporation is clueless about what happens to the waste generated from the 5600 medical outlets, which they "miss out". BMC Health Committee chairman, Ramesh Naik says, "In this era when infections are fast spreading, it is surprising that BMC is neglecting the disposal of biomedical wastes." There are incinerators available with the BMC to take care of more than five tonnes of biomedical wastes but hardly three tonnes waste goes in to these incinerators. The BMC officials blame it on the hospitals and clinics. According to them, the hospitals do not hand over all the biomedical waste generated. This is because BMC charges them Rs19 to Rs 22 for each kilogramme of waste generated. Obviously, hospitals, which generate the most waste, also have to pay the most. The wastes discharged from these hospitals pose as major health hazards. The discarded syringes, bandages, swabs, plasters, and other types of wastes are both infectious and genotoxic. These wastes also contain sharp edge objects like needles, which can cause cuts which aid in the easy entry of pathogens in the body. Viral Hepatitis, anthrax, skin and ocular infections are among the many diseases caused from biomedical wastes. Naik says, "The need of the hour is to increase the number of vehicles engaged in garbage collection and to start incinerators at about six places near crematoriums." |
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| May 1, 2004. Pesticides Beware of these red chillies Dung and organic manures are unknown to chilly farmers 16 kilometres from Bellary. Farmers here do not spray but pour chemicals on to heaps of chilly. These farmers are migrants from nearby Andhra Pradesh and they do not follow the conventional method of chilly cultivation. Following July rains they begin sowing seeds in rows and when they are two weeks old they are transplanted. After mixing manure and water, the spray of chemicals begins. For one peak crop, 15 to 16 sacks of chemical manure are sprayed in every acre. Uninhibited spraying is carried out irrespective of whether there is pest attack on crops or not. Varieties of pesticides like chloropyriphos, monocrotophos are mixed together and sprayed. With such excessive use of chemicals, farmers are making a profit of Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 from every acre. But it is uncertain as to how long this profit making business will bear fruit. There will be fertility losses to the soil and the plants will become less resistant to pests eventually. Byadagi, a highly priced variety of chilly has high number of wrinkles and greater the number of wrinkles, greater the chances of chemical being retained in the chilly. This is the reason why this high quality variety was rejected from Germany. Foreign buyers have detected high
chemical content in the chillies and the rejected chillies find way in to our kitchens.
Horticulture officers are supposed to examine the pharmaceutical shops for chemicals and
regulate their use on the crops. But the shop owners manage to dupe the officials. What is
needed is for the farmers to be convinced to stop using chemicals indiscriminately and
switch to environment-friendly cultivation methods. |
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| April 03,
2004. National News Final push for polio eradication Polio recurred in 2003 in Tamil Nadu with one case each in Tiruchi and Chennai. The third case occurred in 2004 in Tirunelveli. But the origin of the virus has been traced to Uttar Pradesh. Genetic analysis proved that the source of the virus is a direct descendant of the one active in Karnataka, which in turn came from Uttar Pradesh in mid-2003. Although Tamil Nadu boasts of 95 per cent coverage, the children affected were not given appropriate doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). This shows the gaps in vaccine coverage especially in inner cities. The Government Health Departments, the city corporations and the private sector health care must work together to achieve 100 percent coverage. Importation of the virus from areas still under the grip of polio is a deterrent to its eradication. Pre existing robust immunisation level is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. No amount of effort can prevent spread of the virus once it goes in to circulation. If 100 per cent coverage is achieved during the fourth round of immunisation in 2004, it will be possible to break all poliovirus transmission chains at least in South India. Eradication of polio leading to a halt in the immunization programmes, would result in an annual savings of Rs 100 crores. Polio eradication in India has been undertaken mainly for its feasibility and to free everyone from the dreaded disease. To ensure prevention of transmission, nearly all children must be given 15 doses of the OPV. The virus still persistent in states like Bihar can also be eradicated by “target-zero” mop up immunization. Hence just a slight push is needed before India declares itself a polio free country.
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| March 22, 2004. International News WHO lacks strategy to check polio Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which comprises of seven tribal areas belonging to Pakistan, geographically situated outside the provinces of its border still continues to reel under the impact of polio, despite a polio eradication initiative (PEI) started by WHO in 1994. The basic objective was to coordinate the activities with the directorate of health and Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) and provide technical support to its activities in the Pakistan and FATA and to do away with the ailment by December 2004. Ground realities however show that the people continue to suffer from polio. "Lack of coordination between the WHO/PEI and EPI's provincial chapter has been the basic cause of the failure. We have infrastructure, but need finances," said an EPI official. He suggested that the health department had more
than 1,000 staffers to reach in all parts of the province and FATA to administer the polio
drops. "We need transportation and other facilities to reach the children in the
remotest regions," he said. According to him, the WHO/PEI had all the funds but it
was doing things itself, which was why the results weren't forthcoming. The WHO
officials meanwhile say that they continue to face resistance from the FATA because of
misguided myths that the polio vaccine is an "intrusion" by "foreign
medicines". |
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| March 11, 2004. International News. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)- a double indemnity Diethyldimethyltrichloromethane (DDT), one of the most widely used chemical insecticides in the world has banned by many countries including the US and Sweden. A persistent pesticide, DDT is known to survive in the fatty tissue of animals and humans for up to 20 years. Recent evidence shows that it causes irreparable harm to reproductive health. In a study conducted by Tiaan de Jager professor, Department of Health science and Urology, University of Pretoria, men who were exposed to DDT that was used to control malaria, were found to have lower semen volumes. The debate whether it is justified to
ban DDT or not continues irrespective of it being a known hazard. This insecticide has
worked well in controlling malaria and other insect-borne diseases since the World War II
in developing countries. While the industrialised nations can afford alternatives to DDT,
the less developed world will reel under mosquito borne plagues like malaria due to lack
of access to the expensive pesticides. Roger Bate from American Express Institute says,
"Nobody has calculated how much it would cost to comply with the ban on DDT."
The poorest nations will be left with fewer weapons for fighting diseases and growing
pest-free crops. Richard Tren of ‘Africa Fighting Malaria’ says that the
industrialised world should leave it on the developing nations to make their own choices. |
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| February 19, 2004. International
News Late effects Ezra Susser and colleagues of Columbia University, New York tested stored blood samples collected from expectant California mothers between 1959 and 1966. Comparison of the blood lead levels of 44 women whose children went on to develop schizophrenia with 75 others whose children did not, revealed the relationship between lead exposure and schizophrenia. Offspring of mothers with blood lead levels greater than 150 microgrammes of lead per litre were found to be two times more likely to develop schizophrenia than those whose blood levels were below this threshold. Lead is known to cause harmful effects to an unborn child and later cause developmental problems. This new study is one of its kinds that show how an in utero damage can result in disorders that strike decades later. Brain cells are thought to be particularly vulnerable from mid-pregnancy through the first two or three years of a baby's life, whereas diagnosis of schizophrenia is usually done in the late teens or early twenties. Though most petrol is unleaded today, lead finds its way in the environment from industrial smelters and paint. Ezra suspects that lead may kill nerve cells in a fetus's growing brain. For every microgramme increase in lead concentration in air there is 0.56 microgramme (mg) increase in the blood lead (dl) concentration in children. Infants can absorb and retain approximately 40 per cent of the lead inhaled or ingested. Transplacental transfer of lead and its ability to affect foetus development have also been recorded at concentrations below 10mg/dl. Lead can cross the placental barrier, induce damages
to the developing brain of and cause persistent damages. Miscarriages, premature births
and low birth weight have also been attributed to lead. |
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| February 9, 2004. National
News Dying Ludhiana Polluted air and water in Ludhiana is taking its toll. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 3,000 workers in the dyeing units are suffering with tuberculosis. The actual number may be well above 10,000 since industrialists do not allow proper diagnosis of the workers. The concerned officials have resorted to taking "commission" to keep their eyes closed! Those who do not shill out money, work in wee hours of the day when the officers are resting in their homes. Pawan Mehta, president, Anti-Pollution Society, Ludhiana, claims, " The units are discharging
industrial waste, which include sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, potassium, potassium,
other acids and chemical colours, without any treatment." Pollutants from dyeing
units can cause skin allergies and rashes. Some dyeing units discharge p-Dichlorobenzene,
which can cause liver and kidney damage along with blood disorders. |
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| December 26, 2003.
Air pollution Air pollution linked to lung cancer Urban air pollution may increase the risk of lung cancer, according to a study conducted in Oslo, Norway. The authors, P Nafstad and colleagues from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway linked the information available on ambient air pollution from 1974 to 1988, to the information on cancer development from the Norwegian cancer register. In a follow up period from 1972-1973 upto 1998, 418 men developed lung cancer, even after controlling for age, smoking habits and length of education. These figures corresponded to an increase in exposure levels to nitrogen oxide (NOx). The study found that a five year NOx exposure in 1974 to 1978 of above 30 µg/m3 increased the risk of developing lung cancer compared with exposure of less than 10 µg/m3. The main source of NOx in Oslo was emissions from vehicles, showing that traffic related air pollution increases the risk of developing lung cancer. November
25, 2003. National News Sept 11, 2003 National
News Polychlorinated biphenyls are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds (known as congeners). There are no known natural sources of PCBs. PCBs are used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment because they do not burn easily and are good insulators. PCBs enter the air, water, and soil during their manufacture, use, and disposal; from accidental spills and leaks during their transport; and from leaks or fires in products containing PCBs. Once released in the environment, PCBs do not readily break down and remain there for many years. PCBs have been linked to causing cancer and are known to accumulate in the fatty tissues of fish, animals and people. Despite growing evidence about the health hazards of PCBs, the EPA feels that with the ban now being reversed, buyer groups will also inherit the responsibility for cleaning up the site. Environmental groups are however sceptical about this and claim that the EPA is actually backing off its responsibility of monitoring these contaminated sites. At present, there are at least 500 PCB
contaminated sites in the US. Sunscreens though applied to generally ward off skin cancer due to over exposure to the sun, actually contains carcinogens like padimate-o, and titanium dioxide. Sunscreens also contain suspected endocrine disruptors like: benzophenone (oxybenzone), homosalate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), and the parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, propyl-). Chemicals, which cause skin irritation and rashes, such as, avobenzone benzophenone, octyl- methoxycinnamate, and PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) are also found in sunscreens. Besides being bad for the health, these chemicals are bad for the environment also since they are found in surface water and groundwater and in soil and air too. A better way to protect oneself from the scorching heat
and mosquitoes would be to wear light coloured full sleeve clothes and use a hat or wear
sunglasses. Global Health Council meet The recently
concluded 30th annual conference of the Global Health Council meet held at Washington
attributed climate change to be the biggest environmental threat to the population today.
Linkages have been found between food shortages and HIV/AIDS in Africa, and an
interconnection has also been found with destructive weather patterns that may be linked
to climate change. Climate change besides resulting in decreasing polar ice, warming ocean
waters, and increased rain at higher latitudes as well as decreased salinity in the North
Atlantic also has serious implications on the spread of infectious diseases. School results of 167 children who weighed less than 1,500 grammes at birth, when compared with students who had higher weight at birth showed that they scored on average, half a grade lower on each subject. As they grew, low birth babies also had a higher tendency to develop hypertension. Discounting educational and social factors, the
researchers have zeroed on to low birth weight to being the reason behind the low
performance in schools. Low birth would be either due to premature delivery or slow growth
of the baby in the womb due to various reasons. Exposure of pregnant women to
environmental toxins like DDT and other pesticides could lead to intra uterine growth
retardation of the babies. Worried nutritionists say that it is time that the
country redesigns its nutrition policies to improve dietary health. According to Dilip Biswas, chairman, CPCB, the CPCB has been granted legal powers by the environment ministry, which has now authorised them to take legal action against those violating pollution control norms anywhere in the country. The top five hospitals which pose a serious health hazard to Delhi in terms of non-compliance with bio-medical waste disposal standards are the Hindu Rao Hospital, Army Research and Referral Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre and Tirathram Shah Hospital. Dec 21, 2002 Miscellaneous A total of Rs. 7578 crores was paid as a bribe in the health sector by 25 per cent of the surveyed population. Bribing for getting admission to hospitals lead with non-proper care by doctors and nurses and also in terms of non proper supply of medicine, food etc. Dec 19, 2002
International News Studies on rice show a decline in nitrogen levels by 14 per cent, phosphorous 5 per cent, iron 17 per cent and zinc 17 per cent. With micronutrient deficiency already a serious problem the world over, there is a serious problem ahead. Iron deficiency today affects almost 3.5 billion people – over half the world's population and causes mental and physical impairment. Pregnancy complications resulting in poor growth and health in childhood can be attributed to zinc deficiency in the diet of the pregnant mother. The solution to prevent this epidemic from happening would lie in "biofortification," wherein micronutrient levels could be boosted through plant breeding and genetic engineering. These are however time consuming and it may well take 7-10 years for the new breed of crops to be made available. Today we have no choice. Sums up Irakli Loladze,
biologist with the Princeton University, New Jersey, USA, "To avoid malnutrition you
have to consume more calories. To keep the same calorie intake, you have to accept a diet
low in essential elements. In either case, not a healthy choice." Results from blood and sputum samples will be correlated with pollution levels data of that particular area. Health camps in various parts of the city are to be held wherein the samples will be collected. Pollution is known to affect the alveolar macrophage (AM) count in the blood. A similar study done in Kolkata has shown that people staying in polluted areas had almost seven times the mean AM value than that of rural people. The study besides looking into the occupational and residential exposures of the people and the travel route that they take, is also paying attention to the socio-economic background of the respondents. Dec 2, 2002 Miscellaneous Obesity in children is a phenomenon causing concern the
world over. According to Jennifer Zebrack, assistant professor of medicine at the Medical
College of Wisconsin, USA, 13 per cent of all children and adolescents in the US are now
seriously overweight. Lifetime exposure to natural estrogens increases the risk
of breast cancer. There is thus concern over exposure to natural and synthetic estrogens
like diethylstilbestrol (DES), plastic additives like bisphenol-a (BPA), polyvinyl choride
(PVC), dieldrin and some pesticides. The drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) carries no reference to its potential side effects on its packaging. On the contrary, its campaign once boasted of "nothing's safer" but the reality is something different. Over dose of acetaminophen in itself is responsible for
more than 56,000 emergency room visits every year in the USA, with more than 100 being
fatal. According to William Lee of the university of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre,
acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure. It was only later that , J & J
included a warning with each adult Tylenol package noting that the liver damage could be
due to the mixing of the drug with alcohol and the drug by itself was safe. Doubts however
continue to persist over this drug-is it really safe now? Breathing smoggy air is dangerous for health. Smog
contains ozone, which is formed when pollutants released by vehicles react chemically in
the presence of sunlight. Ozone is known to irritate the respiratory tract and reduce lung
function. High levels of ozone cause asthma aggravation. An excellent conductor of heat, mercury is widely used in lamps, batteries and electrical equipment, thermometers and is even used in dental fillings. There is increasing concern over its presence in the atmosphere, as mercury is known to cause permanent damage to the brain, nervous system and kidneys. Almost indestructible, mercury when put along with other waste into landfill sites, can easily seep through the groundwater and from there into rivers, lakes and finally into the sea. The toxin can also evaporate and enter the air, especially if the waste is incinerated. Although mercury occurs naturally in rocks, soil and volcanoes, industrialisation has boosted the production of this heavy metal by almost three times. Human activities account for almost 50 to 70 per cent of the 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes of mercury found in the atmosphere. In its evaporated form, mercury can travel for thousands of miles. Since it is known to accumulate in cold places, high contamination levels of mercury are found in the Arctic regions, especially in fish and wildlife that inhabit the colder regions. In water, mercury transforms naturally into methyl mercury, a highly toxic compound that is easily absorbed by humans and animals. As it accumulates up the food chain, large quantities of mercury soon accumulate in the tissue of fish in the sea. Among humans, pregnant mothers and their fetuses are
particularly sensitive to the effects of mercury. According to the Centers for Disease
Control in Atlanta, USA, one-in-ten women of childbearing age have mercury levels in their
bodies above what is considered protective for a developing fetus. According to a latest study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists R J Pollack and A Spielman from the Harvard School of Public Health say that bug sprays using the pesiticide DEET are more effective in repelling mosquitoes. The resurgence of vector-borne diseases like Malaria in
several parts of the world, has added to the growing concern for the usage of a most
effective and least harmful mosquito repellant. Though most mosquito repellants protect
transiently or not at all, products containing DEET have been found to offer longer hours
protection than other repellants. Burning candles with lead-treated wicks releases lead into the air. Lead is known to retard neurological development in children. Lead is added to candles to stiffen the wick so that it burns evenly. Burning a leaded-wick candle raises the lead level not just near the candle but throughout the house, points out researchers Shirley Wasson and colleagues at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Durham, North Carolina. Burning of just one average leaded-wick candle for four hours will raise the lead levels to 6.2 microgrammes per cubic metre in the room where the candle is burnt and to 2 microgrammes per cubic metre throughout the house.The US National Air Quality Standard for lead is 1.5 microgrammes per cubic metre. Adding zinc to the wicks instead of lead is a safer
though an expensive option. A complete ban on the sale of leaded candles may be the only
solution. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who conducted the study found that the younger group became obese while in their late 20s and their vulnerability to obesity was more because of changes in diet and exercise habits. There is a growing concern about the prospects of this
obese population developing weight-related problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart
disease, cancer and depression. Contaminated and unsafe drinking water is today
responsible for four billion cases of diarrhoea and 2.2 million deaths every year. The
worst hit are people of the developing world. More than 10 per cent suffer from worm
infections, six million are blind from trachoma, and schistosoma affects 200 million
people. Water shortage will affect almost 95 per cent of the people residing in the Middle
East. Evidence now exists on the risks of brain cancer and leukemia in children who consume nitrite-dyed hot dogs. Nitrites, used in the form of a colouring agent reacts with natural chemicals present in meat (amines) to from nitrosamine-which is a potent carcinogenic. Baby food has been found to be contaminated with high concentrations of multiple residues of carcinogenic pesticides, which besides posing as a major risk factor for childhood cancer, can also result in delayed cancers in adult life. Lindane, used in shampoos for treating lice and scabies has been found to be associated with major risks of brain cancer. Ritalin, used in the treatment of children suffering from "Attention Deficit Disorders" has now been linked with inducing rare liver cancers in rodents at doses comparable to those prescribed to children. Exposure of pregnant women to ionizing radiation is being associated with excess risks of childhood leukemia. What is of concern is that majority of carcinogens
besides causing harm to feutses, infants and children, also bring about endocrine,
reproductive, hematological, immunological and genetic changes for which no data is
available as of today. Chocolates contain trace elements such as lead and cadmimum. Lead is known to threaten the normal development of children and affect their mental faculties. Cadmimum can cause kidney failure and inflammation in the lungs. Chocolate manufacturers however say that the amount of lead and cadmium in chocolates is in so minute amounts that they would have to be consumed in hundreds of kilos every day to cause health problems. The lawsuit calls for chocolate manufacturers to reduce
the levels of lead and cadmium and to also notify consumers of the health risks associated
with chocolate eating. Rising pollution levels could be one of the reasons for the increasing trend in asthma in school chilren. Children between the age of seven and 15 are most vulnerable to asthma, with 11.9 per cent actually suffering from the disease. Speaking on the occassion of "World Asthma Day" today, Navin Kishore, consulting pulmonologist, Max Healthcare, says that, "many children have asthma before the age of five." According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India
has a population of 15-20 million asthmatics. Concerned with the increase in pediatric
asthma, journals published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Publishing Group and the
American Academy of Pediatrics, have launched the first "virtual" journal
dedicated to children's asthma. Called "Pediatric Asthma", the magazine can be
viewed from the website www.pediatricasthma.org
A white, odourless, flake-like substance, acrylamide is often used in drinking water treatment and also in the making of chemicals and dyes, ore processing and in the construction of foundations and tunnels. "An ordinary bag of potato chips may contain up to 500 times more of the substance than the top level allowed in drinking water by the World Health Organization (WHO)", says Leif Busk, head of the Swedish administration's research department. A crystalline solid, acrylamide is classified as a medium
hazard probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). It is
known to bring about gene mutations and has been found in animal tests to cause benign and
malignant stomach tumors. It is also known to cause damage to the central and peripheral
nervous systems. Computers contain a lot of toxic components like
plastics, lead, cadmium. chromium and mercury. The 500 million computers in use today
contain about 287,000 kilogrammes of deadly mercury, besides tonnes of other heavy metals
and hazardous chemicals mentioned above. The transmission of signals from this waste is
also a cause of great concern for public health. The girls including the 14-month-old baby developed breasts or pubic hair months after the beginning of such products. The symptoms slowly started disappearing after the stoppage of the shampoos. The hormones may have probably been absorbed into the bloodstream via the scalp. The regular usage of the shampoo may cause a girl to go through premature puberty. Since it may not be just one chemical but a mix of many
that a person may be exposed to, the evidence that estrogen-containing hair products
causing early puberty is limited and calls for more studies and research to be done. Plastic toys made of polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) contain dangerous toxic additves which could leak out of the toy and be ingested by the child. Phthalates, the plasticizers added to PVC to make it more soft and elastic, when leached out of the toy could pose potential health risk. Children who weigh less than eight kg are more prone to these health risks if they chew or suck soft PVC teethers or rattles for more than three hours a day on a daily basis. Described as the "most abundant man-made environmental pollutants", Diisononyl phthalate, or DINP, the phthalate most commonly found in toys, is a known toxic hazard. Toys manufactured in India are mainly made from virgin
and recycled plastics and PVC. A Greenpeace investigation of 71 soft PVC toys from all
over the world, including five from India revealed that two of the Indian toys contained
11.4 and 13.9 per cent diethly hexly phthalate of the weight of the toys and this was
amongst the highest amounts found in all the toys sampled. Feb 20, 2002 Miscellaneous Feb 13, 2002 International News |
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A three-year project has been
initiated by the Central Pollution Control Board and the Chittrajan National Cancer
Institute, Kolkata to study the damage that pollution is doing to the health of Delhiites.