Down to Earth (magazine)
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| Editor | Sunita Narain |
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| Categories | Environment, science, nature |
| Frequency | Fortnightly |
| First issue | May 1992 |
| Company | Centre for Science and Environment |
| Country | India |
| Based in | New Delhi |
| Language | English |
| Website | Down to Earth |
Down to Earth is an Indian science and environment fortnightly, established by the Society for Environmental Communications in May 1992. The magazine informs people about environmental threats facing India and the world.
Down to Earth has become a reading habit in 400 of about 500 districts of the country — more than any other Indian newspaper or magazine. The magazine's sphere of influence is not limited to India, readers across the world rely on Down to Earth for a view from South Asia on the critical issues of human existence. Its founder editor Anil Agarwal said: "Ideas are like time-bombs. You never know when someone will read it and make change. The idea will then explode."
Down to Earth has undertaken initiatives to bring awareness among people on common issues:
Tested endosulfan traces in environmental and human samples from Padre village in Kasaragod district of Kerala. An unusually large number of health anomalies reported from a single village. These ranged from cancer to physical deformities and mental to neurological disorders. Endosulfan was aerially sprayed in the cashew plantations in the area.
High traces of endosulfan was found in every sample
After the test results were released the Union government ordered its own scientific institutions to study the health problems. The National Institute of Occupational Health in Ahmedabad confirmed endosulfan was the cause of poisoning. Union agriculture ministry banned use of endosulfan in Kerala in 2005.
Analysed pesticide residues in bottled water that was being sold in Indian markets at a premium and without regulations.
Samples tested contained a cocktail of pesticide residues. Most of the samples contained as many as five different pesticide residues, in levels far exceeding the standards specified as safe for drinking water.
Health ministry proposed mandatory regulations. India's first ever bottled water standard promulgated. Every bottle of water sold in the market must meet the standards. The norms state that pesticide residues considered individually should not be more than 0.0001 mg/litre, while total pesticide residues were capped at not more than 0.0005 mg/litre.
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