Climate change deaths

Any delay in actions for controlling climate change is likely to cause over 100 million deaths by 2030 says a report commissioned 20 governments on climate change (Montreal gazette). Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by burning of fossil fuel like coal contributes maximum to the climate change.  The all-visible effects of the climate change are: melting of ice caps, extreme weather, water shortage, crop failure, rising sea levels, etc. More than 90 per cent of those deaths will occur in developing countries, said the report that calculated the human and economic impact of climate change on 184 countries in 2010 and 2030.

The world average temperature is rising and the countries have agreed in 2010 to restrict the temperature rise below 2 degree Centigrade to avoid dangerous impacts of the climate change. Temperatures have already risen by about 0.8 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial times.

The developing countries like China and India continue to burn fossil fuel for their much needed industrial development. Every country, developed and developing, should ensure that the GHG emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, are controlled in equitable-basis to avoid watery grave for every one of us. United efforts are called for.

Ban on gutka

The Mumbai High Court upheld the ban imposed on the sale of the gutka in the state of Maharashtra by the Commissioner, Foods and drugs Administration (FDA) under the Food Safety and Standards Act. It is reported that close to 30% of the state’s population is consuming gutka and related tobacco products before the ban. Even in schools, teachers, non-teaching staff and students consume gutka and the percentage is only increasing by the day.

The essential ingredients used in gutka are betal nuts, catechu, tobacco, lime and “permitted flavours”. Chemical analyses reveal that gutkha contains both nicotine (1.6–4.5 mg/gm) and arecoline (1.4-2.5 mg/gm). Significant levels of trace metals such as phosphorus, calcium, copper, magnesium, zinc and iron have been detected in these products. Some of the organics in tobacco and betal nuts are well known carcinogens.

Cancer index quantifies potency of a particular product to cause cancer and some gutkhas had a potency of 13.75, which is enough to ban the product in Europe and America.

It is high time that everyone cooperates and supports this legal sanction fully. Let us kick out this habit of mass public health concern.