Latest news with #Benzene
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chemical companies to post 5-10% revenue growth in Q1 amid tariff concerns, weaker rupee
ET Intelligence Group: Chemical companies are expected to post 5-10% year-on-year revenue growth for the June 2025 quarter driven by order intake ahead of potential US tariffs and a weaker rupee that boosts export realisations. Decline in the prices of raw materials will help in shielding margins. "While the chemicals sector fundamentals remain soft, some companies should benefit from front-loading of orders by customers ahead of the threat of US tariffs, ramp-up in specific growth projects, and firm prices of HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants," noted Kotak Securities in a preview report. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence MBA Data Science Leadership Healthcare Data Analytics MCA Degree healthcare Finance Technology PGDM Cybersecurity Management others CXO Design Thinking Operations Management Digital Marketing Project Management Public Policy Others Product Management Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Lower input costs will help profitability of companies. Crude oil price averaged at $67 per barrel in the June quarter, reflecting a drop of nearly 20% year-on-year and 11% quarter-on-quarter. Prices of Butadiene, Toluene, Benzene and Propylene, major raw materials, decreased 4-9% from the year ago, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services . The broking firm expects operating margin before depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda margin) to expand 20 basis points (bps) on an annual basis and a sales growth of 10% for companies under its coverage. Agencies "In the first two months of the June quarter, nine out of 13 companies within our coverage universe reported an uptick in total exports," Motilal Oswal Financial Services mentioned in a report. The rupee depreciated nearly 3% in the quarter, making export revenue appear optically higher, it added. Refrigerant gas players are expected to report strong results, supported by favourable global prices and solid export demand. Within agrochemicals, Axis Securities expects companies with a domestic focus to perform better. "Growth in the domestic market is expected to be supported by new product launches, strong volume growth ahead of the kharif season, and healthy demand driven by a normal monsoon outlook," the broking firm said in a report. "Most of the companies under our coverage are likely to witness a pickup in volumes, also reflected in recent export data," noted PL Capital in a report. However, it expects margins to remain under pressure for agrochemical companies due to subdued demand and weak realisations. Chinese competition, volatile input costs, and geopolitical risks impacting logistics and demand present a complex operating environment for the chemical sector. Uncertainty surrounding long-term tariffs continues to affect company decisions. Also, overcapacity in China poses a risk of heightened pressure on pricing. Investors will be closely watching management commentary on volume sustainability, pricing power recovery, and the impact of potential tariff shifts for clear signals on the sector's trajectory beyond the quarter.
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Health
- Gulf Today
Why are there so many allergies?
I was reading an international paper the other day and noticed, with alarm, how in recent weeks, the UK and the US have been recalling so many food items from their supermarket shelves. The reasons are related to either the risk of allergens or of choking on plastic fragments from the containers breaking and accidentally getting mixed in with the contents of the packaging. For example a brand of ice cream was recalled due to the risk it could cause a severe allergic reaction because it didn't list the ingredients properly and could contain milk, soya and nuts (specifically pistachio and peanuts). A certain brand of crisps was also being recalled over a potential allergy to milk. A brand of deodorant sticks was recalled in the US because they contained trace amounts of Benzene, which was causing children to get high, and because Benzene is a potential cancer risk. But to be clear, Benzene is not an ingredient found in deodorants. It is, however, produced during the pressurisation process of the cans in which they are sold, but in this case, something went wrong during the process. Pieces of plastic were also found in some packages of a brand of precooked chicken resulting in a potential choking hazard. Also recalled for a similar reason in the US was a brand of pre-cooked sausages after several customers said they found pieces of white plastic in them. The particles were such that there was a risk of laceration to the throat. A brand of yoghurt was also recalled for the same reason: pieces of plastic from the packaging. I absolutely understand the need to recall food items because of the risk of foreign particles in them, or because the ingredients in the packaging are incomplete and may contain allergens. But I do have a hard time understanding recalling certain items, or not serving items to other people, because they contain a certain ingredient that someone in the vicinity may be allergic to it even though he or she is not being served that item. There've been instances of passengers on planes demanding that the airline not serve any types of nuts because they were allergic. Or of schools not serving certain dishes due to the risk of cross contamination of ingredients during the cooking process because a teeny tiny percentage of kids are allergic. One wonders why there are so many allergies to milk, nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanuts and eggs. The milk allergy especially baffles me. Surely a baby's first taste of food is milk? The most likely culprit for rampant allergies appears to be improved hygiene over the decades leading to fewer infections. Another is the lack of Vitamin D in the diet and lack of proper exposure to the sun. If children aren't fully covered up they are covered in sunscreen which prevents the formation of vitamin D. Parents are also not giving their babies trigger foods during the weaning process. Doing so would help the child's body get used to that food. It's important to note that our ancestors didn't have food allergies or, if they did, they were extremely rare. Many adults will vouch for the fact, just as I do, that when they were at school, they didn't know a single classmate with an allergy. An allergy to pollen was around but it wasn't very common. According to food experts, something clearly has gone wrong with people's bodies. In the old days, even an allergy to pollen or dust was extremely rare even though the air was of poorer quality then than it is today. Even though the air we breathe is cleaner now, allergies to airborne particles are higher. One possible cause of most allergies is delaying the introduction to allergies into the body. The earlier in life an allergen is introduced to a child, the more chance there is of the child's body learning to tolerate it. Instead, for some reason parents are overprotective of their children's eating habits. Allergies also appear to be more prevalent in urban societies where children spend more time indoors and are not exposed to the sun or the environment, as opposed to those living in the country.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Cancer: Toxic air in the kitchen: Gas stoves found to emit "cancer-causing" benzene indoors
Our kitchen, the heart of our homes, might have been harboring a toxic secret all these years. For decades, gas stoves have been a staple in our lives, praised for their performance and precision. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But beneath those glowy blue and orange flames lies a growing public health concern. A New study published, titled ,' reveals that these everyday appliances release Benzene, a well-documented carcinogen, directly into household air during use. As indoor air pollution gains urgent attention, the latest research uncovers just how dangerous this can be. The suspect in question Benzene is a volatile organic compound that is listed as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the World Health Organization. It is an aromatic, colorless, or light-yellow liquid chemical at room temperature and is mainly used as a solvent in chemical and pharmaceutical applications. How are individuals exposed to benzene? Employees in manufacturing industries that handle benzene are exposed to its highest concentrations, even though exposure has been decreased by federal and state laws over the last few decades. If you smoke, be careful! 90% of benzene exposure results from cigarette smoking. It is present in common products like glues, adhesives, and cleaning agents. How was the study conducted Researchers used the National Institute of Standards and Technology's CONTAM model to recreate how benzene emitted from gas and propane stoves disperses in a variety of typical U.S homes, ranging from smaller apartments to larger houses. The team further applied the U.S EPA's health risk assessment framework to estimate incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and other health impacts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And they particularly found that leukemia is associated with benzene exposure. What were the key findings Benzene travels to bedrooms and living rooms Due to high intake relative to body weight, kids face nearly double the cancer risk compared to adults. Ventilation helps but is not enough. Even with good ventilation, modelled benzene levels sometimes remained above safe limits Among 6.3 million U.S residents exposed to the highest-emitting stoves, the study estimates 16-69 additional leukemia cases per year could occur under high-use conditions. Further, this study is the first to quantify these long-term cancer risks using a full risk assessment approach. It highlights that gas stoves emit not only carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides but also carcinogens that can silently accumulate over time. The bigger problem is: What about the people who live in disadvantaged communities where residents may live in small, poorly ventilated spaces with older gas stoves? For decades, gas stoves have been marketed as superior for culinary performance, but the cost may be far steeper than anyone has ever realized. With alternatives now widely available, it may be the time to reconsider what we bring into our kitchen; after all, safety begins at home. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Two teachers arrested for allegedly running drug factory in Rajasthan city
Two school teachers were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly operating a clandestine laboratory manufacturing the synthetic drug Mephedrone, also known as MD, in Rajashan's Sri Ganganagar city, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Jodhpur Zonal Unit said. The operation led to the recovery of 780 grams of Mephedrone, along with a large cache of precursor chemicals. (HT photo sourced) 'The accused had rented a flat in Dream Homes Apartments about two months ago and had set up a full-fledged lab for producing Mephedrone. One of them is a government school science teacher, and the other teaches chemistry at a private school,' Ghanshyam Soni, Regional Director of NCB Jodhpur said. He added that the two had sourced chemicals and equipment from Delhi and were arrested from the flat during a raid conducted in the early hours of Tuesday. Also Read: Cops seize over 2kg heroin, pistols in Ferozepur The operation led to the recovery of 780 grams of Mephedrone, along with a large cache of precursor chemicals, including Acetone, Benzene, Methylamine, Bromine, and Isopropyl Alcohol, as well as lab equipment typically used for synthetic drug manufacturing. Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone) is a synthetic stimulant known for inducing short-term euphoria but is highly addictive and can cause serious psychological and physical harm with continued use. 'This seizure highlights our focus on identifying and dismantling clandestine facilities engaged in synthetic drug production,' Soni said, adding that investigations are underway to identify others connected to the network. 'The fact that both accused are schoolteachers makes the case even more shocking', he said. Soni further said that the NCB had recently shared 'red flag indicators' with directors general of state police to help spot such illegal units.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Cambridge Isotope Laboratories Launches ISOLED-D: Revolutionary Deuterated Reagents for OLED Manufacturing
New ISOLED-D™ line delivers premium, scalable deuterated reagents for OLED synthesis, supporting the industry from R&D through commercial production with CIL's global manufacturing and expertise. TEWKSBURY, MASSACHUSETTS / ACCESS Newswire / May 20, 2025 / Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. (CIL), the global leader in stable isotope-labeled products, announces the launch of ISOLED-D™, a groundbreaking line of deuterated reagents specifically designed for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) synthesis. ISOLED-D represents a significant advancement in OLED manufacturing technology, offering high-quality deuterated reagents with manufacturing in state-of-the-art, strategically located worldwide facilities. The product line caters to various production scales, from gram quantities for research and development to metric-ton volumes for full-scale commercial manufacturing. "ISOLED-D demonstrates our commitment to advancing OLED technology through innovative isotope-labeled solutions," said Tasha Agreste, Business Development Manager for Deuterated Reagents at CIL. "Our ability to scale production from laboratory to industrial quantities positions us as a crucial partner in the OLED manufacturing ecosystem." The company's flexible approach enables seamless collaboration with research and development teams through to commercial production, ensuring consistent quality and reliable supply chains for manufacturers in the rapidly growing OLED market. Key features of ISOLED-D: Premium-grade deuterated reagents for OLED synthesisScalable production capabilities from grams to metric tonsManufacturing in state-of-the-art facilitiesComplete R&D to commercialization supportBacked by CIL's industry-leading expertise in stable isotope-labeled productsDeuterated Benzene Recovery program For more information about ISOLED-D and CIL's complete range of isotope-labeled products, visit Contact Information Crissy Krisko crissyk@ SOURCE: Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. Related Images press release
