Over 90% of bottled water contains microplastics; WHO issues alarm

coastaldigest.com news network
March 15, 2018

A new analysis by a group of scientists has found that more than 90% of the world’s most popular bottled water brands contained tiny pieces of plastic. The shocking revelation has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to announce a review into the potential risks of plastic in drinking water.

Analysis of 259 bottles from 19 locations in nine countries including India across 11 different brands found an average of 325 plastic particles for every litre of water being sold. Concentrations were as high as 10,000 plastic pieces for every litre of water. Of the 259 bottles tested, only 17 were free of plastics, according to the study.

Scientists based at the State University of New York in Fredonia were commissioned by journalism project Orb Media to analyse the bottled water. The scientists wrote they had “found roughly twice as many plastic particles within bottled water” compared with their previous study of tap water.

According to the new study, the most common type of plastic fragment found was polypropylene – the same type of plastic used to make bottle caps. The bottles analysed were bought in the US, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Lebanon, Kenya and Thailand.

Scientists used Nile red dye to fluoresce particles in the water – the dye tends to stick to the surface of plastics but not most natural materials.

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News Network
April 24,2020

Riyadh, Apr 24: As many as eleven Indian nationals have died due to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

"As per information available with the Embassy as of April 22, eleven Indian nationals (four in Madinah, three in Makkah, two in Jeddah, one in Riyadh and one in Dammam) have passed away due to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia," the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia said in a press release on Wednesday.

It urged the Indian community to remain calm and avoid spreading of rumours amid the COVID-19 crisis.

"The Embassy also reiterates the need for the community to remain calm and avoid spreading of rumours that may create panic. It is important that social media is not used to disseminate false messages and spread hatred along communal lines that can vitiate the atmosphere," the Embassy said.

"As stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking, and our response and conduct should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood," it said.

Moreover, several measures on the supply of food, medicines and other emergency assistance to Indians in need are being implemented across the Kingdom.

Earlier, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ausaf Sayeed on April 22 had interacted with Indian community volunteers from the smaller towns all across the Kingdom to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 situation, and evaluate the implementation of various measures to ensure the welfare of Indian nationals.

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News Network
June 15,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 15: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan''s daughter Veena married top DYFI All India president Mohammed Riaz at the chief minister''s official residence in the presence of selected guests.

Riaz and Veena became husband and wife at a solemn function held under Covid protocols with not more than 50 people present.

This was the second marriage for both, as their first ones ended in divorce.

Riaz has two children, while Veena has a son from their respective previous marriages.

Riaz is a lawyer by profession and had contested the Kozhikode Lok Sabha seat in 2009 but lost to the Congress'' M.K.Raghavan.

Veena runs her own software company in Bengaluru.

While the marriage has already been registered recently, the wedding event was a closed door affair, with just very close relatives of the couple besides a few senior party colleagues of Vijayan.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 19,2020

Mangaluru/ Udupi, June 19: As many as 13 fresh coronavirus positive cases were reported in Dakshina Kannada on June 19, taking the total number of cases in the coastal district to 414. In Udupi, the total number of covid cases mounted to 1,050 with 11 new cases.

Four among the 13 patients in Dakshina Kannada had returned from Saudi Arabia and seven had returned from Sharjah recently. Two others were suffering from an influenza-like illness (ILI). All the 13 patients have been shifted to the designated COVID hospital in Mangaluru.

In Udupi, three among the 11 new covid patients are children. Four are Maharashtra returnees and two had come from Tamil Nadu. Five others have contracted infection from other positive patients. 

Only 98 cases are currently active in Udupi among 1,050. As many as 950 patients have been discharged from hospital. Two deaths have occurred in the district including one on Friday.

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