Air pollution can be bad for the heart. Similar to the hazards of second hand smoke, nanoparticles in air pollution may promote hardening of the arteries and cause heart disease, according to researchers.

Nano, or ultrafine, particles are the size of a virus or molecule, about one-thousandth the size of a human hair. The Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate particles in the nano or ultrafine range

Two different studies on the quality of drinking water in Nepal revealed that 90 percent of the samples were found to be contaminated, exceeding guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A team of bacteriologists from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Central Department of Microbiology (CDM) tested 114 water samples from stone spouts, taps and tube wells which revealed the coliform in 90.35 percent

Exposure to air pollution in major cities along the northern and southern U.S. borders may increase respiratory problems and reduce lung volumes in children with asthma, according to a study.

"Close proximity to vehicular traffic-related emissions, either at home or at school, can lead to chronic effects in the respiratory health of children with asthma," said Fernando Holguin, M.D., assistant professor of pulmonary medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, and lead author of the study

Beginning January 1, 2008, Minnesota will implement a law banning mercury in cosmetics particularly in mascara, eye liners, and skin-lightening creams.

Sen. John Marty who sponsored the bill, said mercury, even in tiny quantities, can cause neurological damage to people, MSNBC reported. "Every source of mercury adds to it. We wanted to make sure it wasn't here," he added

The state of Minnesota will ban the use of mercury in makeup and skin lightening creams starting 2008.

Minnesota is the first U.S. state to prohibit the deliberate inclusion of mercury in beauty cosmetics such as mascara, eye liners and beauty balms, according to The Associated Press