Out of breath

The shanties in Yamuna Pushta are packed tight. A dusty and torn curtain hangs over the entrance to Sabina's house. Trunks and cupboards leave little space for Sabina and her family. A kabadiwala has spread his polythene bags and plastic ware at their doorstep. A neighbour's goats roam nearby.

Lungs, beware

People suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been taking help from cfcs (chlorofluorocarbons), an ozone-depleting chemical, to breathe easier. cfc is used as a delivery agent, or propellant, in inhalers. But an international agreement signed in 1987 makes it mandatory to stop using cfc after

Science

PLANT SCIENCES Never too late Flowers are more resilient than they appear. They shoot up against all odds. The credit goes to genetic matter called microRNA that inhibit protein formation crucial to flowering in

Fluorescent signature

A solution that detects minute presence of ozone, even in cells ozone in the stratosphere protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. But when in the troposphere, near the ground level, it acts as a pollutant. Though it is not emitted directly, emissions from car engines or industrial operations react to form ozone. Inhaling it can irritate the respiratory system, worsen bronchitis and asthma, and harm heart and lung functions.

WHO guide on clean indoor air

First of its kind advisory on making buildings damp and mould-free

The dawn of pollution

A walk in pre-sunrise hours may increase chances of asthma health enthusiasts living near freeways should minimize their outdoor exercise timings during the early morning hours; they should also keep their windows closed through the night. A team of environmental health scientists found the levels of air pollution to

Transport costs

Traffic pollution is known to cause chronic bronchitis and asthma, killing thousands every year. But that is not all. Simply living beside a busy road has its consequences. Particles in vehicular exhaust can stick to lungs for longer than was known, endanger the health of an unborn child, lead to joint pains and even trigger male infertility Stickier than glue Smoke from a chulha or a wood fire can never cause as much damage as emissions resulting

Human factor in swine flu

People infected with the virus show symptoms similar to common cold such as runny nose, cough and fever, but there is no vaccine for it. No serious effort has been made to search for one till now as there have been very few cases so far. Only 50 cases of human swine flu have been reported since 1958, said Christopher Olsen, a virologist with University of Wisconsin, the US, in his 2007 study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Alert in India

Sindhudurg on road to conflict

Anti-mining stir leads to a row, death and persecution ON THE morning of March 19, people of Kalane village in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra were roused by the sound of heavy machinery. Workers hired by mining company Minerals and Metals were building a road at 4 am leading up to the mine in Survey Number 57. "They were

Air to lung to DNA

Air pollutants damage genes, affect human behaviour THE air you breathe in may affect your health in more ways than you think. Besides causing respiratory disorders and hypertension, pollution may be damaging genes and changing human behaviour, revealed a study on health of urban population in Delhi and rural population West Bengal and Uttarakhand.