Aug. 17: ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in August
Flush toilets are not sanitation solution
The invention of flush toilets has increased the volume of waste created when humans urinate or defecate by almost 20-fold. Plants that treat waste water consume large amounts of energy and produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, says theconversation.com.
Also, flush toilets consume a lot of water. For instance, in Africa, most people manage with 20 litres of water per day – less than what developed nations use for daily toilet flushing. By using more dry toilets, not only do you save water, you can use the waste for fertilisation purpose.
Centre told to test cosmetics with microbeads
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Centre to test cosmetics containing microbeads – plastic substances that are harmful to marine life and the environment. According to news reports, the decision follows a plea seeking a total ban on the manufacture, import and sale of cosmetics containing microbeads. In the US, a consensus has emerged about banning microbeads in cosmetics.
Microbeads act as exfoliators (they remove dead cells from skin and teeth) when used in soap, toothpaste and other personal care products. They escape the filtration and treatment processes for waste water and pollute rivers and oceans. When they are ingested by marine animals, the plastics break down and toxic substances are released.
Air pollution kills 2 Indians every minute
The air that Indians breathe is turning more toxic by the day. Every minute two lives are lost in India due to air pollution, according to a study published in The Lancet. Over a million Indians die every year due to air pollution and some of the worst polluted cities of the world are in India.
The Lancet says coal fired power plants contribute to 50% of the ambient air pollution. The study says that the causes of air pollution and climate change are intricately linked and need to be tackled together.
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