Eight thousand people a day die from air pollution but some simple preventative steps and increased monitoring could lessen the toll, according to a recently released report by Australia's Commonwealth Science Council. Of the 3 million annual deaths, 2.8 million are from indoor air pollution. Ninety per cent of the deaths occur in developing countries, according to World Health Organization estimates. Over 500,000 people a year die in China alone due to air pollution, said Peter Manins, a scientist at Australia's federal science agency, CSIRO. The report is the result of a conference held between July 19-23 in Brisbane, Australia, which examined the links between air pollution and health. The meeting was attended by experts from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Brunei, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

Population growth and its aftermath

It took from the beginning of mankind to the early 19th century for the population to reach1 billion people. This October, less than 200 years later, the count is expected to hit 6 billion. Marking the historic moment, an hour-long documentary, Six Billion and Beyond, will explore the global impact of population growth. Produced by Linda Harrar, the documentary, which premiers on PBS in October, serves as an education tool for all and is accompanied by a study guide.

Six Billion and Beyond examines the issues of reproductive health, population and environment in six nations: Mexico, Kenya, India, China, Italy and the United States. Through visual images and stories of young people in these countries, the documentary explores what young people are deciding about families and their future. Viewers will meet young people dealing with a very basic issue of life--reproduction and its implications in their lives--and view the differences between the developed and developing nations and hear their realities.

Project hooks kids on ecology and ethics

A sportfishing project being field tested by4-H Clubs in Idaho is hooking kids on ecology and conservation along with the joys of casting. In addition to angling skills and tackle crafting, the 4-H Sportfishing Project is teaching practical lessons in aquatic ecology and ethics, says Jeff Goodwin, program developer at the University of Idaho.

Surveying stream habitat is a major component of the programme. Participants look at physical, chemical and biological characteristics of streams to see if they are healthy. During one class, the students sample bugs as indicators of water quality. "There are many bugs you would not find in unhealthy streams," Goodwin explains.

Dental experts call for banning cigarette ads on radio and TV

Dental experts have recommended a ban on tobacco advertisements on radio and television, sponsorship of sports or entertainment events by tobacco firms, and sale of tobacco products to people below 18 years to check the high incidence of oral cancer in India.

Oral cancer is the third most common cancer in India,accounting for 35 per cent of all cancers. The high prevalence is due to extensive tobacco habits such as smoking cigars, cigarettes, and hukka (traditional pipe); chewing betel quid, pan masala, gutka and mawa; poor oral hygiene and nutritional deficiencies and infections.

Adolescents and adults should be informed about the harmful effects of tobacco and taught about self-examination of the mouth to detect warning signs of oral cancer, experts recommended at a two-day workshop on National Oral Health Care Programme last week. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Warning signs of oral cancer include any white or red patch in the mouth, non-healing ulcer lasting more than two weeks, abnormal loosening of teeth or excessive bleeding from mouth or any lump or swelling.

The list of recommendations issued at the end of the workshop include restriction on amounts of sweets, carbohydrate-rich foods, frequent snacks between meals and sweet aerated drinks, all of which causetooth decay.

Snacks should be chosen wisely. Instead of eating sandwiches and pastries, snacks containing cheese, nuts, corn, fruits and salads should be encouraged, the experts recommended.