A scientific expedition sent by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany (BSIP) found that air in the virgin land, thousands of miles away from human habitation, has traces of pollens, fungal spores, soil particles, remains of plants and barks as well as insects' wings. Some of the pollens or spores were also found to be toxic, one of them being Parthenium — Congress grass in common parlance — which is said to lead to reactions ranging from skin allergy to asthma. The findings bust the myth of pure air quality of the coldest, windiest and driest (drier than Sahara) continent which has more than 98 per cent of its surface covered with a 2,000 - 3,000 metre thick ice sheet.

Environment Groups Launch Climate Change Website

A coalition of 16 environmentlal organisation has launched a website that people around the world can use to e-mail world leaders expressing their concern about global warming. The website — www.climatevoice.org is the first such international web-based initiative and is being sponsored by such leading non-governmental organisations as the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace International and Friends of the Earth. The site is being launched in English, with French, Spanish and German versions to follow. The goal of the website is to send 120 million messages from the public to world political leaders demanding that they use the upcoming November climate treaty talks at the Hague, Netherlands, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Visitors to the Web site can also download a petition that can be signed and sent off-line.

Noise norm for 2.5 KVA gensets

The government of India informed the Delhi High Court that it would not permit sound levels more than 90 decibel in petrol and kerosene operated generators up to 2.5 KVA capacity. The 90 decibel level of sound in all such generator sets had been permitted from September 1, the Union ministry of wenvironment and forest in an affidavit told a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and justice D.K. Jain. The permitted level of sound would come down to 86 decibel from September 1, 2002, the ministry said.

• Worldwatch Institute reports that development of a more environmentally sustainable economy builds job growth, and has the potential to continue to do so in the decades ahead. The research organisation reports that recycling, remanufacturing of goods, and the development of new sources of energy are all identified as emerging industries helping to fuel job growth.