Apparently domestic use of hydrogen peroxide may be restricted in order to combat terrorism, as the chemical has been found in home-made explosives.
In plans published by the Home Office other common household chemicals used as herbicides could also be banned along with nitromethane, which is used as a fuel in model aeroplanes. Retailers could also face restrictions on the sale of chemicals including nail varnish remover and types of drain cleaner. The plans are in response to EU regulations published last year which aim to restrict the availability of substances which have potential in DIY bomb making.
Of course we should take such threats seriously but while none of us wants to be blown up I can’t help feeling that if we are not any longer able to have a white smile then the terrorists have definitely won.
Pink in demand
Meanwhile in another EU coup, a famous ‘pink’ toothpaste has been temporarily removed from the shelves while it undergoes reformulation. Euthymol has been taken away due to European Cosmetics Regulations, according to the manufacturers, but it has started a stampede from loyal users to try and amass stockpiles for the interim siege.
More than 500 of them have taken to a Facebook page dedicated to swapping tips and advice on how to stock up on the distinctive coloured and ‘fluoride-free’ toothpaste. One wonders if this is a taste thing – as in taste in the mouth rather than taste in matching the bathroom décor colour, or if there is a deeper meaning. The colour pink was unknown until Tudor times when the advent of the flower named the ‘pink’ due to its frilly cut edges rather than its hue came to these shores. This is turning into the TV programme QI isn’t it?
We know where you live
Not only does what you eat affect your longevity nowadays but also where you live. In Scotland you are likely to die younger from drinking more alcohol, whereas in Wales your years on the planet (well, in Wales) are likely to be curtailed due to obesity.
Now, latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show the average length of time someone can expect to live a healthy life without suffering life-limiting illness. These reveal a strong regional North and South divide. Richmond tops the list of places in which residents can expect to live a healthy life with men experiencing an average of 70.3 years of healthy living, and women 72.1 years. In contrast men in Manchester can expect an average of only 55 years of healthy living. The exception to the divide is Tower Hamlets, London where men and women can expect only 55.7 and 54.1 years of healthy living respectively. Moral: eat five a day and move!