Feature Article

Passengers on an unusual train journeying the through the thick of Punjab polls discuss their ailments afflicting an entire generation. Strangely, for the state's politics, which is as much blinded by materialism as the people there, these problems just don't exist.

High prevalence and poor control of asthma make its management a major public health issue worldwide, especially in developing countries. Optimum review of asthma management in the community is essential to improve asthma control. This study was conducted to investigate the quality of asthma management, knowledge about asthma and quality of life of asthma patients referred to a public tertiary care chest hospital in Delhi.

A large numbers of subjects were exposed to the aerosol of methyl isocyanate (MIC) during Bhopal gas disaster and lung was one of the most commonly affected organs. The aim of the present study was to analyze retrospectively the lung function abnormalities among the surviving MIC exposed population (gas victims) and to compare it with the non-MIC exposed (non gas exposed) population.

This study presents emissions of different pollutants from transport sector in Delhi. Results show that emissions of pollutants have increased during 2001-2009 as follows: CO2, 4395-6423; CH4, 1.03-3.32; N2O, 0.04-0.05; CO, 238-329; NOx, 44-64; and NMVOC, 44-60 Gg. However, CO2 emissions per unit of vehicle types for gasoline driven vehicles show a decrease as follows: two wheelers, 2.7; and cars, 4.3%; while in case of diesel driven vehicles, this reduction is 1.6%, indicating impact of better vehicle technologies introduced.

The impact of children’s fast food meals on their daily nutritional requirements has not been assessed in Australia. Analysis of the nutritional composition of children’s meals from six fast food chains was conducted. The energy, saturated fat, sugar and sodium content of all children’s meals from the chains were assessed against the fast food industry-defined nutrient criteria for healthy meals and children’s recommended daily nutritional requirements, as defined by the Nutrient Reference Values and the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia.

Mountain springs emanating naturally from unconfined aquifers are the primary source of water for rural households in the
Himalayan region. Due to the impacts of climate change on precipitation patterns such as rise in rainfall intensity, reduction in its temporal spread, and a marked decline in winter rain, coupled with other anthropogenic causes, the problem of dying springs is being increasingly felt across this region. This study was taken up in the Sikkim Himalaya, which has received limited attention

Climate change is not a problem of present deeds but of past contributions. The world has run out of atmospheric space - and time. Will the rich, who contributed to emissions in the past and still take up an unfair share of this space, reduce emissions? Or will emerging countries be told to take over the burden? Sunita Narain throws light on this big question, in the light of the recently concluded climate change conference in Durban.

Agriculture sector contributes a major portion in gross production of India. In spite of this, agriculture today is finding itself in increasing difficulties. The adverse impact of agriculture based on synthetic fertilizers and herbicides is visible in the degradation of soil fertility, quality of food, taste of food and so on. Organic agriculture may prove to be a boon to curb these adverse effects. There is dearth of information on organic farming in India in general and in Uttarakhand in particular.

Human pesticide poisoning has become major public health issue these days. Throughout the world highest levels of pesticide exposure are found in the farm workers, applicators and people living adjacent to heavily treated agricultural land. Pesticides are linked to various chronic diseases like cancers, infertility, kidney failure, repr oductive problems and nervous disorders.