Feature Article

Two-wheelers are the latest victim of the fight to get a better brand image for low-cost cars. Industry says cars typically provide a higher level of emissions control than two-wheelers. The limited data churned out by ARAI show that while hydrocarbon and CO emissions from two-wheelers can be as high or surpass those of petrol cars, NOx and particulate matter levels that pose a serious health challenge are several times lower than diesel cars. Moreover, on a per passenger basis, a car emits two times more compared to a two-wheeler and four times more compared to a bus.

Regulations ignore key technical parameters While new norms are adopted, durability requirements and in-use compliance measures are not strengthened to ensure that vehicles remain low emitting

India has planted a million Jatropha curcas seedlings on unused land along its tracks and elsewhere. It

Zea mays has become the very emblem of plenty, with rich golden

There's a beautiful wetland in Nepal that's being destroyed-yet it's no ones fault. Seb Buckton reports on an innovative WWT (Wildlife & Wetlands Trust) project aimed at bringing the balance back to a pristine land.

Zinc supplementation can reduce subsequent morbidity in children recovering from diarrhoea and respiratory illness in developing countries. However, whether routine supplementation would decrease morbidity and mortality in populations with zinc defi ciency is unclear. The researchers assessed the eff ect of daily zinc supplementation on children in southern Nepal. Oct 6-12, 2007

On Sept 21, WHO released a long overdue and thorough report, Safety of medicines for children, that ighlights the unacceptable state of monitoring medicine-related problems in children worldwide. Many issues make safety of paediatric medicines an extremely difficult area to study. Medicines are often used in an off-label or unlicensed way

"There is no good reason why a switch from tobacco products to less harmful nicotine delivery systems should not be encouraged.' So stated a 1991 Lancet Editorial, yet 16 years later cigarettes continue to dominate the nicotine-delivery system market, despite their clear health risks. (Editorial) Oct 6-12, 2007

In the present study drinking water samples of different ground water sources had been analyzed for the estimation of a problematic chemical parameter nitrate. Analysis of drinking water samples of different sources in different zones in Alwar revealed that the concentration of nitrate had been recorded highest in drinking water samples of North-West Zone.

The relocation and resettlement of people from nature reserves is a controversial issue in the conservation community. The perceived poor success rate of resettlement efforts, combined with availability of few well-documented studies, warrants a detailed examination of this issue. The authors has analyzed a relocation and resettlement project in India