
BREAKING NEWS Urgent warning issued as drug chiefs recall common eye drops due to risk they could cause BLINDNESS
UK medicines watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) slapped an alert on one batch of Zaditen 0.25mg/ml eye drops, used to treat seasonal allergies such as hay fever.
It is feared the drug may have been contaminated during manufacturing, causing side effects including conjunctivitis and inflammation of the cornea and eyelid.
Left untreated, these conditions can cause permanent eye damage and even blindness.
But the MHRA, which published the alert today, said it had not yet received any complication or reports of harm from patients who had taken the commonly-prescribed eye drops.
The recall only impacts one batch of the 5ml eye drop solution, manufactured by Laboratoires Théa, with the batch number 4V64 and an expiry date of September 30 2026.

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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Millions of tonnes of toxic sewage sludge spread on UK farmland every year
Millions of tonnes of treated sewage sludge is spread on farmland across the UK every year despite containing forever chemicals, microplastics and toxic waste, and experts say the outdated current regulations are not fit for purpose. An investigation by the Guardian and Watershed has identified England's sludge-spreading hotspots and shown where the practice could be damaging rivers. Sludge – the solid matter left over after sewage treatment – is laden with Pfas 'forever chemicals', flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and toxic waste from homes and industry. Water companies rebrand it as biosolids and give or sell it to farmers as a nutrient-rich fertiliser. It is spread over vast areas under light-touch regulation and minimal scrutiny, unmonitored for toxic substances. 'On the outside it appears to be 'black gold' – containing nitrogen and phosphates valuable for soil,' a water industry expert said. 'But hidden within it are microplastics, Pfas forever chemicals, endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals and heavy metals.' About 87% of the UK's 3.6m tonnes of sewage sludge is applied to farmland. An Environment Agency (EA) officer, speaking anonymously, said: 'People have seen the sewage in rivers … they need to know about the sludge, where it goes and what's in it.' The water industry's own chemicals investigation programme found hormone-damaging nonylphenols and phthalates, the banned carcinogen PFOS, antibiotics, antimicrobials and anti-corrosion chemicals in every sample tested from 11 treatment works. Scientists from Cardiff and Manchester universities estimate that 31,000 to 42,000 tonnes of microplastics are spread on European farmland annually via sludge, with the UK possibly facing the worst contamination. Rules set in 1989 require testing only for a few heavy metals, and EA insiders say they are 'not fit for purpose'. The investigation identified about 34,000 registered sites in England where sludge is stored, usually before being spread at the same site or on a field nearby, although it can sometimes be transported long distances. Of these, about 33,000 sites are defined as being agricultural land. In 2023 alone, more than 768,000 tonnes of dry solids were spread across 152,000 hectares. Figures from the past decade consistently fall between 715,000 and 800,000 tonnes. Some counties are more affected than others: Hampshire, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and Essex have the highest number of sites, with 6,371 between them. Sludge-spreading is governed by waste exemptions, allowing companies to store or apply waste on land without an environmental permit, provided certain conditions are met such as avoiding significant risk to water, soil, air or wildlife. But enforcement is weak. 'No one checks. No one cares,' said one EA insider. An EA officer explained that sludge toxicity depends on local sources: 'Anywhere with an industrial estate will likely produce more contaminated sludge than a rural area.' Industrial waste, such as landfill leachate, is often tankered into sewage works, mixed with domestic waste, and the resulting sludge is spread under the same rules as any biosolid. Contaminated fields become silent sources of pollution. Even uncontaminated sludge can be a problem if mismanaged. When too many nutrients reach rivers, they fuel algal blooms that block sunlight and starve aquatic life of oxygen – a process called eutrophication. The investigation found that one in 20 sludge storage sites in England are within 100 metres of a river, and 1,277 sites are within 500 metres of waters already classed as eutrophic by the EA. The investigation found that 73% of all sludge sites – 23,844 – are within nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs), where strict rules apply due to pollution risks. In England, no rivers meet chemical standards and just 14% meet ecological ones. Sludge-spreading occurs in Wales and Scotland, too. Almost a quarter of sludge storage sites in Scottish locations that could be identified are within NVZs. A study from the James Hutton Institute found microplastic levels rose by 1,450% after four years of sludge-spreading in North Lanarkshire and remained elevated 22 years later. In Northern Ireland, most sludge is incinerated. Richard Benwell, Wildlife and Countryside Link's chief executive, said: 'Though sludge could be a beneficial fertiliser, it is mixed with the dregs of chemical pollutants. Damaging Pfas, BPA and glyphosate are prevalent in sludge. Regulation must be strengthened to protect public health and the environment.' Prof Rupert Hough, of the James Hutton Institute, said: 'At the moment, sludge will only be checked for metals and the receiving environment is checked for metals but I don't think it gets checked rigorously. 'We all put chemicals down the drain, take medicines – these end up in the sludge and on land, and can enter the food chain.' He said the alternative options – landfilling and incineration – had capacity limits and high costs. 'The cost of removing chemicals from sludge is also prohibitively expensive … the industry has few options,' he said. A water industry source said: 'Colleagues in the industry are not out to commit evil in their public service of water management. They're just constrained by a lack of research and development.' A spokesperson for Water UK said water companies were backing research and trialling new uses for bioresources, including as aviation fuel. 'The UK has banned some products with microplastics – we need the same for Pfas, plus a national cleanup plan funded by polluting manufacturers. Contaminants cross borders, which is why we're calling for coordinated action across Europe.' Shubhi Sharma, of the charity Chem Trust, said the government used lack of funding as an excuse for 'failing to prevent our farmlands from being poisoned'. She called for tighter chemical restrictions and a 'polluter pays' model. 'France has already introduced taxes for Pfas polluters. The UK should follow,' she said. The EA said sludge must not harm soil or water, and that it enforced strict rules, including through more than 4,500 farm inspections last year, resulting in more than 6,000 pollution-reducing actions. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it wanted safe, sustainable sludge use and it has launched an independent water commission to review the regulatory framework in collaboration with the EA, farmers and water companies.


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE From pancreatitis to hair loss and premature ageing... top doctors reveal all the startling health risks of Mounjaro and other weight loss jabs - and the precautions you must take
More than 1.5 million people in the UK now use the new weight-loss jabs, according to latest estimates – with benefits for their physical and mental wellbeing. Indeed, people with diabetes who took the drugs (known as GLP-1 agonists) had a lower risk of developing 42 diseases including a 22 per cent lower risk of a cardiac arrest, according a recent study in Nature Medicine.


The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘They're holding me up and helping me get through': why campus welfare is there whenever you need it
University can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be challenging in different ways. When Becca Tenney began her occupational therapy degree at the University of Salford in 2024, she wasn't sure she'd make it through the year. A history of hospital admissions for an eating disorder and depression had left her apprehensive. 'Things had got really bad,' she says. 'But I approached Salford, and they were amazing from the get-go. They put me in touch with my head of year, I've got extra time and extensions in place if I need them and if I'm having a bad day my lecturers check in on me.' Now, at the end of her first year at Salford, she is feeling optimistic. She loves her course and has made lots of friends in her cohort. 'It's like I've got a whole team behind me. They're holding me up and helping me get through.' Looking after the wellbeing of students has never been more important. Today, student welfare is no longer treated as an add-on, it is baked into the university experience. From managing mental health to coping with disability, flatmate fallouts or financial pressures, dedicated support is increasingly accessible and visible. 'Universities take the welfare of students very seriously,' says Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute. There is growing demand for these services among young people and the sector is adapting. 'It is no longer a taboo subject,' he says. Manuel Souto-Otero, a professor at the University of Bristol's school of education, says: 'This is not an easy time to be a student.' Pressures are stacking up – part-time jobs, the cost-of-living crisis, long commutes and caring responsibilities. 'There are a lot of demands on young people in higher education.' Support often starts before freshers even set foot on campus. Prospective students can flag existing needs on their Ucas application or disclose them ahead of enrolment. Once on campus, personal tutors are often the first port of call. University websites typically offer plenty of guidance, and campuses are dotted with posters and social media campaigns signposting students towards help. At Northumbria University, a 24/7 team is in place to triage and respond to wellbeing queries. 'We've got a physical help desk, students can raise concerns via the portal or just pick up the phone,' says Vashti Hutton, director of student life and wellbeing. The University of Derby has a similar setup. 'Whether students are after a quick chat or in-depth support, we direct students to the help they need,' says Sarah Richardson, head of student services. These include drop-ins, workshops, apps, digital tools and one-to-one appointments. At Falmouth University, all staff are trained and expected to help students spot when they might be in need of support and to guide them to the right place. Group workshops are common on campuses and cover everything from study skills and time-management to dealing with low moods or digital burnout. Many of the workshops are recorded, so students can access them online. One-to-one counselling is widely available, as are group therapy sessions. 'Students are not alone. We want everyone to have a good time, and we're here to support that,' says Northumbria's Hutton. At Sheffield Hallam University, sessions are themed around common challenges such as managing emotions, low self-esteem and feeling overwhelmed. They're run in six groups of about 10 students, led by a psychotherapist or counsellor. It helps normalise experiences and enables students to realise they are not alone. Supportive WhatsApp groups often form out of these sessions, offering informal peer support that lasts beyond the final meeting. For those less inclined to talk, there are other options – art therapy, yoga for wellbeing, and more. Student-led initiatives are playing a growing role, too. Cameron Swann, a final-year building surveying student and member of the students' union at Sheffield Hallam, says one-to-one peer support can be a powerful first step. 'A lot of students feel their problems aren't serious enough for formal help. This gives you a chance to talk with someone who is on the same wavelength and it gets you out of the house. It can be a stepping stone to talking to a professional at a later stage.' At Northumbria, peer-to-peer services are backed by university infrastructure but run by students. 'We've got bookable rooms and drop-ins,' says Hutton. 'Peer advisers are trained to help refer you on if they have concerns.' The message from professionals is clear: don't wait for a crisis. Support services can get busy, and reaching out early can make all the difference. John Rimington Wilson, 18, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and was anxious about starting his graphic design degree at Sheffield Hallam last year. But early conversations with staff were reassuring. 'Before I started, I met with my lecturer, and they talked me through everything,' he says. 'They made me feel really comfortable. The university is clued-up and I feel like I'm in good hands.' You can contact the mental health charity Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or visiting For more guidance on the right course for you, check out the Guardian university league tables for 2025. The Guardian league tables for 2026 will be out on 13 September in print and online