News: The Union Health Ministry recently confirmed that cough syrups linked to the recent deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan did not contain contaminants.
About Diethylene Glycol (DEG)
- It is an organic chemical that is mainly used as a chemical intermediate.
- Appearance: It is a clear, colourless, odourless and stable oily liquid.
- Group: It belongs to the ether and alcohol group.
- Chemical Formula: C₄H₁₀O₃
- Production Methods: Diethylene glycol is produced commercially as a by-product of ethylene glycol production.
- It can also be produced directly through a reaction between ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide.
- Characteristics: It is slightly viscous, noncorrosive and nonvolatile.
- Diethylene glycol is miscible with water, ethers, lower aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes and ketones.
- It is partially soluble in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, monobenzene, orthodichlorobenzene and toluene.
- It dissolves many dyes, resins, oils, nitrocellulose and many organic substances.
- Uses: It is used in textile lubricants, cutting oils, dry cleaning soap, printing inks, steam-set inks, and nongrain wood stains.
- Solvent: In the textile industry diethylene glycol is used as a conditioning agent for wool, rayon, and cotton. As a solvent for dyes it makes a valuable assistant in dyeing and printing.
- Humectant: The high hygroscopicity of diethylene glycol makes it an efficient softening agent for tobacco, paper, synthetic sponges, glues and casein.
- Diethylene glycol is especially useful in the dehydration of natural gas.
About Leptospirosis
| About |
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| Caused by | Leptospira interrogans, a spiral-shaped bacterium. |
| Mode of Transmission |
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| Incubation Period | Usually 2 to 30 days, most commonly around 7–14 days. |
| Symptoms |
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| Treatment |
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| Prevention |
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