Passage 1
The Environment Ministry has introduced rules that make it harder for makers of disposable plastic ware to label such products as ’biodegradable’, introducing a stipulation that they must not leave any microplastics behind.
Biodegradable plastic and compostable plastic are projected as the two broad kinds of technological fixes to India’s burgeoning problem of plastic waste pollution.
Biodegradable plastic involves plastic goods being treated before they are sold. When discarded, the material is expected to decompose naturally over time though there are no tests yet to determine if such plastics completely degrade. Compostable plastics, on the other hand, do degrade, but require industrial or large municipal waste management facilities to do so.
Source – https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/n
Get CLAT Online Coaching!
Passage 2
Thailand ordered a close watch on livestock on Thursday after an outbreak of anthrax in neighbouring nation, where more than 50 suspected human cases have been reported.
Anthrax, which spreads in soil, commonly infects grazing livestock and wild animals but can infect humans and be deadly in some cases.
Thai Prime Minister has ordered officials to closely monitor the disease and to “protect the public”.
Humans can become infected by breathing in the spores, eating contaminated food or touching agent with broken skin, for instance when handling diseased animals.
A Thai government statement referred to 54 cases reported this month.
“The PM has ordered the public health minister to closely monitor, especially near the borders,” spokesman Chai Watcharong said in the statement.
Source- https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/t
