Tuesday, February 6th, 2007
Vitamin doses can reduce ill-effects of scuba diving on divers' circulation, a study suggests.
The scientists from Croatia and Norway gave vitamins C and E, which work as antioxidants, to divers, the Journal of Physiology reported.
The vitamins stopped ill-effects of the dive on the cells lining blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure and other associated diving problems.
But diving experts said the vitamins would have a limited impact.
The team found that antioxidant treatment prevented endothelial dysfunction, which stops the cells lining blood vessels working properly, causing high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is relatively common in divers and can lead to conditions such as pulmonary oedema - fluid on the lungs which can be found in divers.
A spokesman for the London Diving Chamber, which offers medical advice and treatment to divers, said the use of antioxidants such as vitamins C and E would have a limited effect.
"Antioxidants basically remove excess by-products form the blood system. But the impact on diving-related illnesses would be pretty insignificant."
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Monday, February 5th, 2007
Governments and environmental groups the world over have greeted the new UN report on the science of climate change with words of praise and determination.
"It is another nail in the coffin of the climate change deniers and represents the most authoritative picture to date, showing that the debate over the science of climate change is well and truly over," said David Miliband, UK environment minister.
Despite past scepticism by the US administration, the White House backed the report.
With the report being acknowledged as having clearly demonstrated the link between human activities and climate change, it has prompted strong calls for action. North America has 5 percent of the global population yet produce 25 percent of the fossil fuel emissions.
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Thursday, February 1st, 2007
The USA made modest progress in 2006 on ocean policy reform, but the progress that has been made is jeopardized by a lack of funding at all levels of government.
The US's overall grade rose very modestly to a C-, up from a D+ average in 2005, according a report from the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative. They were judged very poor in international leadership, research, science, education and new funding for ocean policy and programs.
"Addressing climate change is a high priority for most Americans, and although the climate and oceans are inexorably intertwined, the critical role oceans play in climate change is seldom addressed," said Admiral James D. Watkins, co?chair of the Joint Initiative. "Our failure to increase ocean science investments to learn more about this link and how to manage its impacts means we are trying to fight climate change with one arm tied behind our back."
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