Product: Savlon bathing soap with glycerin marketed by Johnson & Johnson, Mumbai, India
My family has been using the above soap for a long time now. It started off well. For the first time, lower middleclass in India got an opportunity to use “Pears”-like soap, of course, a little less transparent than Pears, for the cost of an ordinary bathing soap and freedom from germs as advertised by the company. Over time, the cost of the soap cake steadily went up by about 40%, only the packing has changed each time.
The major issue of concern with the soap is it has not improved over time. It still looses it’s transparency within a day or two of opening the wrapper/pack, probably due to hydrolysis of sodium compounds present as ingredients. Amount of frothing reduces, it becomes soggy, too soft and breaks down even when only 50% of the cake is consumed. This is very much evident during rainy season or when the humidity is very high. With other soaps, this breakdown occurs with the last 10-20% of soap cake remaining.
The company should ensure that the bathing soap should not loose its properties during its full use. The product Savlon needs to be tested in all seasons and rectify this undesirable and avoidable problem.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM MOBILES
It is true that mobile phones have brought in revolution in telecommunications industry. The expected mobile phone usage in India is projected to be 500 million (half of the population) within a short period of time. As per the recent reports, of the service providers are planning to erect over 90,000 base stations all over India to meet the ever increasing demand from rural areas! The scenario is not different in other countries.
Communication between a mobile phone and the nearest base station is achieved by the microwave emissions from the transmitters connected to the antennas mounted at the base stations. These base stations are erected on top of buildings or specially built towers. There is much apprehension worldwide about the long-term health effects due to the exposure of people residing near the base stations and the mobile phone users to the radiofrequency emissions. Health effects such as heating of the exposed tissues, increased risk of malignant tumors (cancers) in the head and ears, genetic effects due to exposure of body cells to the radiofrequency (RF) radiations, etc. are reported in the literature. Indirect effect, which is more visible, is increase in the road accidents due to mobile usage during driving. In all probability, this is more dangerous than drunken driving.
Keeping in mind of the above uncertainties, scanty nature of the studies and the gaps in our knowledge about the health effects, it is advised to keep the exposures to RF radiations much below the prescribed international guidelines. Since children are more sensitive to the radiation, mobiles should be kept away from children. Mobiles are often given to children to play by the ever obliging parents.
There is a need for strict regulation to ensure that the manufacturers of the mobile phones maintain the radiation emission levels of the mobiles much lower than the standards. The base stations should be shared among the service providers to minimize the required number of base stations. Base stations near schools and crowded areas should be avoided. There should be a dedicated regulatory body for strict regulation of the mobile phone usage. The regulators should periodically monitor the ambient RF levels near the base stations for checking compliance with the set limits.
Communication between a mobile phone and the nearest base station is achieved by the microwave emissions from the transmitters connected to the antennas mounted at the base stations. These base stations are erected on top of buildings or specially built towers. There is much apprehension worldwide about the long-term health effects due to the exposure of people residing near the base stations and the mobile phone users to the radiofrequency emissions. Health effects such as heating of the exposed tissues, increased risk of malignant tumors (cancers) in the head and ears, genetic effects due to exposure of body cells to the radiofrequency (RF) radiations, etc. are reported in the literature. Indirect effect, which is more visible, is increase in the road accidents due to mobile usage during driving. In all probability, this is more dangerous than drunken driving.
Keeping in mind of the above uncertainties, scanty nature of the studies and the gaps in our knowledge about the health effects, it is advised to keep the exposures to RF radiations much below the prescribed international guidelines. Since children are more sensitive to the radiation, mobiles should be kept away from children. Mobiles are often given to children to play by the ever obliging parents.
There is a need for strict regulation to ensure that the manufacturers of the mobile phones maintain the radiation emission levels of the mobiles much lower than the standards. The base stations should be shared among the service providers to minimize the required number of base stations. Base stations near schools and crowded areas should be avoided. There should be a dedicated regulatory body for strict regulation of the mobile phone usage. The regulators should periodically monitor the ambient RF levels near the base stations for checking compliance with the set limits.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Unfair selling practice by LG, India
LG Electronics (Greater Noida, India) is yet to comply with its obligation of sending the promised items (October, 2006) while purchasing LG-XDT PC – N14CRP1 (610NLCP001539) through their dealer “PC Solutions”, Indraprastha Shopping Complex, Sector 29, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400 703 (invoice no. 846, dated 13 Oct. 2006). The so called Hungama items are: Sunglasses, My class teacher CD pack, special extended Festive warranty, Free Holiday Package and 10 Infotainment CDs Pack. Only item I received from the dealer is a cheap T-shirt, which was not there in the list of promised items. Many reminders were sent to the company. No reply. The government consumer body at Delhi, CORE Centre also tried to intervene without any success. If the Indian Govt. organization can not get a reply, what sort of support consumers can expect in fighting this type of unfair trade gimmick? Similar ads are continuously appears in the news papers. Promises remain as promises.
NUKES FOR PEACEFUL APPLICATIONS
India is now an emerging as an important develop(ed) nation to reckon with, topping with an impressive growth rate in GDP of over 9%. However, the growth rate likely to be hampered due to the acute likely shortfall of power to meet the projected growth. From the considerations of global warming, any augmentation to the power grid should be from a source which is environmental friendly. Nuclear power has a bright future as a proved clean energy source. No significant greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the nuclear power contribution to meet the total requirements. Existing reactors urgently need uranium fuel to work in full steam. Indian reactors are standardized PHWR reactors, which use natural uranium as the fuel.
In view of the Indian three stage nuclear power development program, the major part of the plutonium from the commercial power reactor spent-fuel reprocessing needs to be deployed for nuclear fuel manufacture for use in the forthcoming more efficient type of reactors like Fast Breeder Reactors for power generation. Use of plutonium in weapons is only one of the many applications of the fissile material.
What about safety? Similar to X-rays, nuclear radiations are also invisible but can be detected by simple electronic instruments. Everybody is aware of the fact that radiations like X-rays and gamma rays are extensively used for medical applications to diagnose diseases of various types and to treat cancer patients. Under such situations, the exposure is given under highly controlled manner, and the procedures are regulated by a separate national regulatory body. In high exposure situations, like accidents, there is a likelihood of health of the exposed persons being affected. By any count, one can never identify nuclear power as a hazardous and accident prone energy source. Actual data also shows that the nuclear power is much safer than other energy sources.
Everyone knows that coal-based power plants are highly polluting and one should be aware of the alarming global warming effects already felt and seen worldwide. Yes, the management of radioactive waste continues to be an emotional subject. It is proved beyond any doubt technically or otherwise that the waste can now be safely managed. One can see that it is definitely managed far better and safely than the much more hazardous chemical and biological hospital wastes.
To meet the power requirement of the next few years, the government should provide full support to private industries to develop the clean renewable sources such as wind, geothermal, solar power and even nuclear power. Public Private Partnership should work wonderfully well. There is also an urgent need for arranging more and more awareness programs to sensitize the public with regard to the benefits and risks of radiation applications in a focused manner. It is a fact that even the educated lot is ignorant about the benefits and risks of radiation and hence there is a need to make them aware of the facts so that policy decisions are taken purely on the basis of merits, keeping environmental safety in mind.
In view of the Indian three stage nuclear power development program, the major part of the plutonium from the commercial power reactor spent-fuel reprocessing needs to be deployed for nuclear fuel manufacture for use in the forthcoming more efficient type of reactors like Fast Breeder Reactors for power generation. Use of plutonium in weapons is only one of the many applications of the fissile material.
What about safety? Similar to X-rays, nuclear radiations are also invisible but can be detected by simple electronic instruments. Everybody is aware of the fact that radiations like X-rays and gamma rays are extensively used for medical applications to diagnose diseases of various types and to treat cancer patients. Under such situations, the exposure is given under highly controlled manner, and the procedures are regulated by a separate national regulatory body. In high exposure situations, like accidents, there is a likelihood of health of the exposed persons being affected. By any count, one can never identify nuclear power as a hazardous and accident prone energy source. Actual data also shows that the nuclear power is much safer than other energy sources.
Everyone knows that coal-based power plants are highly polluting and one should be aware of the alarming global warming effects already felt and seen worldwide. Yes, the management of radioactive waste continues to be an emotional subject. It is proved beyond any doubt technically or otherwise that the waste can now be safely managed. One can see that it is definitely managed far better and safely than the much more hazardous chemical and biological hospital wastes.
To meet the power requirement of the next few years, the government should provide full support to private industries to develop the clean renewable sources such as wind, geothermal, solar power and even nuclear power. Public Private Partnership should work wonderfully well. There is also an urgent need for arranging more and more awareness programs to sensitize the public with regard to the benefits and risks of radiation applications in a focused manner. It is a fact that even the educated lot is ignorant about the benefits and risks of radiation and hence there is a need to make them aware of the facts so that policy decisions are taken purely on the basis of merits, keeping environmental safety in mind.
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