Lead in toys sold in India

Lead in toys sold in India

The Indian toy industry has a turnover of Rs 2,400 crore rupees a year but seems tight-fisted when it comes to spending on safety. When all the major toy companies are recalling their toys having lead content especially manufactured in China, India has no safety standards for toys. The Bureau of Indian Standards does have voluntary guidelines but they are seldom followed. Parents have to be aware that over 70 percent of all toys sold in this country are of Chinese make.

Even Low lead exposure for a long time can create lead-related problems, so even if some toys have lower concentration of 600 ppm (particles per million) they can pose problems for children. An investigation done by cnn-ibn revealed that a rubber duck bought at a Lifestyle store contained as much as 631 ppm of lead, well above the international safety standards. (Lead level above 90 ppm in toys is considered dangerous.)

Why is lead used?

Because it's bright, durable, flexible, fast-drying, and cheap. Paint manufacturers mix in different lead compounds depending on the color of the paint. Lead chromates, for example, can enhance a yellow or orange hue. Paint manufacturers also add lead and other heavy metals to make paint stick better instead of flaking off. Price is also a factor: China mass-produces the stuff, and coloring agents like lead chromate are generally cheaper than organic pigments.

Global Warming

WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?

Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil, and cutting down forests, we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising. The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our (people’s) activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable. We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing. The signs are most obvious in delicate ecosystems and at risk areas such as the arctic, the Antarctic and small islands. Some examples of the effects of climate change already affecting our brothers and sisters around the world:

The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years

Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.

The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.

At least 279 species of plants and animals are already moving closer to the poles as a response to global warming

The 10 hottest years ever recorded have ALL occurred within the last 14 years. 2005 was the hottest.

The Arctic is melting so fast it may now be past the point of no return. If the warming continues, we can expect catastrophic consequences.

Deaths from global warming are expected to double in just 25 years -- to 300,000 people a year.

Sea levels worldwide could rise by more than 6 meters (20 feet) with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas globally.

Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.

Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.

The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050

More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.

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Its time to ACT.

Energy Efficient Offices

Make offices energy efficient, follow these simple tips

Ensure that all office equipment is switched off overnight and at weekends.

Switch off your computer monitor at lunchtime or for breaks longer than 30 minutes.

Monitor: If you are not using your personal computer for three hours or more – switch it off!

Use a time switch for the heating – make sure that it is set for the right time.

Switch lights off when a room is not in use – even for short periods.

Monitor: Keep the coffee in a thermo instead of leaving the coffee machine on stand-by.

Buy energy efficient office equipment. Energy-saving models of office appliances and equipment are available. Not only will this help save energy, but it will save money too. Check for the Energy Efficiency Label!

Think differently: Encourage staff to commit to taking alternative modes of transportation for their daily commute at least once a month. This can include options such as car-pooling, cycling, taking public transit or walking where possible. Create a recycling program and decrease paper use.

Incandescent bulbs vs CFL's

CFL's better!Why? Less than 10 percent of the energy used by an incandescent lightbulb generates visible light; more than 90 percent is wasted as heat. Most of this energy is generated by fossil fuels, which causes CO2 emissions leading to climate change. CFLs use 5 times less energy than incandescents, which means far less CO2 pollution. So CFLs are better for the climate, and at the same time better for your wallet as well.

In India, One Man Creates a Forest

Standing in a sun-scorched arid stretch of land he had newly bought, Abdul Karim made himself a promise, "I will turn this ochre expanse green." The land where he stood is on India's westcoast near the Arabian Sea, in the Kasargod district of Kerala State. Nineteen years later as he walks through that land, there is the twitter of birds in the air scented with the fragrance of wild flowers. Karim has kept his promise, creating a whole forest out of nothing. Kareem has transformed a 32-acre barren hilly terrain in the panchayat into a natural forest. He began work on the project in 1978. Five years ago, a forest officer gave him the application forms for the Vrikshamitra award, instituted by the environment ministry. The forms are yet to be filled out. "Living happily in this forest is a reward in itself. So why seek others," Karim says, his face breaking into a smile.