Medicine and Health
Further evidence that chemical crop sprays cause adverse health effects
By Paul Mitchell, April 17, 1999
Recent scientific research has pointed again to the far-reaching health effects of chemicals such as pesticides and weed killers. The results are published in New Scientist magazine. In an article, "I...
Human BSE, nvCJD
Statistics point to increased incidence of brain-wasting disease in Britain
By Barry Mason, March 23, 1999
A research letter published in the Lancet medical journal points to a possible increase in the rate of people dying from new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD), a fatal brain-wasting disease al...
On the origins of HIV
March 5, 1999
Dear Editor,
In row over genetically modified food
Blair defends billionaire cabinet member
By Richard Tyler, February 24, 1999
Labour's close ties to big business are central to the ongoing row over genetically modified food. The storm that unfolded last week focussed on the role of Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science.
Origins of HIV virus identified
Impact of the pandemic continues to worsen
By Barry Mason, February 19, 1999
A recent article in the scientific magazine Nature explains that the main type of human immunodificiency virus, HIV-1, which causes AIDS, originates in a subspecies of chimpanzees from equatorial West...
International scientists raise concerns over genetically modified food
British Labour government rushes to defend biotech industry
By Keith Lee and Richard Tyler, February 17, 1999
The Labour government has been rocked by a dispute over the possible health dangers posed by genetically modified food. Last week 20 scientists from 13 countries issued a memorandum supporting their c...
Wollongong steelworks pumps out dangerous dioxins
Report confirms Workers Inquiry findings
By Peter Stavropoulos, February 10, 1999
BHP's Wollongong steelworks has been identified as Australia's largest source of emissions of dioxins--highly toxic chemicals that have been linked to birth defects and cancer, including lymphoma and ...
Britain: new Food Standards Agency no occasion for restored confidence
By Jean Shaoul, February 5, 1999
The government has announced legislation setting up a Food Standards Agency to "protect public health and rebuild the public's trust in the machinery for handling food issues". Frank Dobson, the Secre...
