• China refuted a recent US National Academy of Sciences report, which notes that a new strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus has emerged in southern China. • Argentine President Nestor

The European Commission has banned 22 chemicals used in hair dyes, following research by its scientific committee that links long-term use of certain products to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

sterilising produce: A new method to sterilise fruits and vegetables has been developed, which literally sucks life out of germs. It could replace ozone-depleting chemicals, like methyl bromide,

Food safety authorities in South Korea called on beverage makers to withdraw vitamin- c enriched drinks that were found to contain the carcinogen benzene. The Korea Food and Drug Administration

toxic pool: The Local Area Environment Committee (LAEC) recently termed the Eloor and Edayar indus