about 250 million people in urban India drink municipal water, which is treated and disinfected before being supplied. A recent study shows the chemicals used for treatment methods might give the

France has announced a ban on the sale of 1,500 pesticides from February 1, 2008. The move is part of the country's plan to phase out the use of 53 phytosanitary substances, used in pesticides,

the Government of India is preparing a report to show the hazard to workers' health from white asbestos is manageable. This came out in a response of the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

with each puff of cigarette smoke, one may add on a few virtual years. Scientists have discovered that the smoke suppresses a gene that prevents premature aging. The gene, called sirutin or sirt

About 300 people in Japan's Hyogo and Chiba prefectures sought medical treatment, with one girl in serious condition, in the last week of January after consuming frozen meat dumplings produced by

Philippines recently ordered Novartis to pull out its anti-arthritis painkiller from the country. It is feared that the drug lumiracoxib, also sold as prexige, causes liver damage. The Bureau of Food

>> Mali's government has ordered the closure of 104 refined cooking oil factories across the country after an investigation revealed most of them don't have necessary equipment to produce