Feature Article

In this retrospective cohort study the authors examined whether PCE (Prenatal Exposure to Tetrachloroethylene) contamination of public drinking-water supplies in Massachusetts influenced the birth weight and gestational duration of children whose mothers were exposed before the child's delivery.

Losses caused due to different insect pests under field conditions on four transgenic cotton hybrids (RCH 134, RCH 317, MRC 6301 and MRC 6304) were estimated in three districts of Punjab viz. Mansa, Ferozepur and Bathinda.

The study was conducted in three districts of Punjab to find out the indigenous techniques for management of insect-pests and their scientific background. It was revealed that several indigenous practices are useful for pest management and are relevant even in modern agriculture.

Soil is often viewed as a physical substrate that performs a wide range of functions that also go beyond agriculture. It regulates water, sustains plant and animal life, recycles organic wastes, cycles nutrients, filters out pollutants, and serves as a physical support for structures. Yet, soil is also a living entity in itself, containing an enormous number of organisms, and vast biodiversity. One gram of good soil contains millions of organisms, including several thousand different species.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relations between bone mineral density (BMD) and lead in blood, tibia, and patella and to investigate how BMD modifies these lead biomarkers in older women.

The aim of this work was to develop an analytical method for simultaneous assay of residues of two families of antibiotics, and three pesticides, in honey. The assays involved a mixture of five tetracyclines, four sulfamides, and the pesticides coumaphos, carbendazim, and amitraz (two metabolites).

Studies on the population of key pests and natural enemies in RCH 134 Bt and non-Bt cotton hybrid under sprayed and unsprayed conditions were carried out under intercropped conditions. The cotton crop was intercropped with okra, pigeon pea, castor and cowpea to enhance the population build up of cotton jasid, whitefly, spotted bollworm and coccinellids.

The high biological diversity and rich genetic forest resources of the state of Sikkim are to be conserved due to their sensitiveness to environmental degradation through continued human interference. The conservation of bioprospecting zones in natural forests as well as in protected areas is considered important for up keeping genetic resources and their germplasm.

Today, climate change is the most potentially dangerous
environmental threat facing human beings and other life forms. The impact of climate change will be particularly severe in the tropical areas such as South Asia. South Asian countries already face tremendous pressure due to increased population growth, urbanization, industrialization and other economic developments.

Environmental exposure to cadmium decreases bone density indirectly through hypercalciuria resulting from renal tubular dysfunction. The researchers sought evidence for a direct osteotoxic effect of cadmium in women.