We found to our horror
By regulation, the soft drink industry must use "potable" water. But what's that? Who ensures municipalities meet standards? What …
Why environmental degradation is a big health risk
Down To Earth and Centre for Science and Environment jointly release Body Burden 2015, an annual health report
Prominent Indian tea brands contain pesticides: Greenpeace
Study finds 67 per cent of tested samples of packed tea leaves contained banned pesticide DDT; some samples had acutely poisonous monocrotophos
Keeping cancer alive
Punjab has been in the grip of cancer for over a decade but the government has ignored the threat. Sonal Matharu reports with photographer …
Into the ginger trap
Farmers from Kerala make big bucks by growing ginger in Karnataka but leave behind a trail of pollution
Supreme Court reminder to FSSAI on monitoring pesticides in food commodities
Non-profit Centre for Science and Environment says food regulatory body should also periodically test packaged and processed food, including soft …
Contaminating millets
There is disquiet over government scheme to wean traditional millet farmers on chemical inputs
GE cotton: Three states refuse NOC for field trials
GEAC demands Telangana, Gujarat state reasons for declining, will take decision if Maharashtra doesn't reply on time
Kidney conundrum
A mysterious chronic kidney disease is afflicting a large number of people in India and Sri Lanka. Despite decades of studies, scientists are …
International journal vindicates endosulfan study
The strong case against endosulfan just got stronger. Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed scientific journal of international …
Drained India's inland wetlands
During the last ten years, India has lost about 38 per cent of its inland wetlands; in some districts, as much as 88 per cent of the wetlands …
Investment terror
Since the 1990s developing nations have been on a treaty spree, signing a vast number of bilateral and regional investment treaties to attract …
Pesticide residues in bottled water
Packaged drinking water or natural mineral water is everywhere. It is now available in pouches, cups, bottles and bulky transparent jars. It is …
Pollution pays
Whenever the issue of how to end pollution is raised, it hits a block: technology. Take the case of air pollution: among other things, the issue …
Pure myth
When was the last time you drank water straight from the tap at your house to slake thirst on a hot summer day, without hesitation. Chances are …
Secretive tribunals, hidden damages
Canadian academic Gus Van Harten is well known for his efforts to reform the global investment treaty regime through his research papers, …
India’s many investment treaties make it vulnerable
Senior international lawyer Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder, who heads the investment programme of the International Institute on Sustainable …
What's in your honey?
Ayurveda prescribes it for a range of ailments. People eat it for rejuvenation and boosting immunity. An Indian homemaker’s kitchen shelf …
Made it
Enabavi, a village of 52 families, is abuzz. It is hosting farmers from the nearby Kallem village who have come here for tips on profitable …
‘Stopping GM trials is anti-farmer’
Genetically modified (GM) mustard hybrid DMH-11 developed by Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants ran into …
Lost in plantation
Millions of growers and workers are in distress in Kerala, the plantation capital of India, as domestic and international prices of cash crops …