Scientific societies occupy a distinct place in developing countries and have greater potential to succeed, if harnessed with sincerity of purpose, dedication and proper orientation. The facilities and freedom to work are two major factors in the attainment of scientific distinctions. The culture of independent science, as largely enshrined in the society, is relatively unknown in the developing countries in contrast to the developed. The stupendous task of generating resource to create R&D facilities in the non-commercial & non governmental sector often dithers the strong determination of scientific persons to opt for chanellizing their energies through scientific societies. Nevertheless, the seed of cultivating a neutral scientific temper in the emerging field of environment was allowed to sprout in February 1986 at Lucknow  by a group of scientists through the formation of this society. The journey was long & arduous but the generous support, cooperation & sympathies of the planners, policy makers and distinguished friends, inside & outside the government, have made our task easy. The appreciation, from time to time, have served as a stimulating factor to attain the hall mark of scientific glory- a cherished desire of every scientist. In persuit of the mission, citizens action programme were undertaken to unravel the scientific mystries in the food chain.  Drinking water contamination and remedial technologies are under focus and shall remain in future as an important area of activity for simple reason  that by focussing alone on the twin subjects of sanitation and drinking water, India could make a quantum jump in the index of global development 

The organisation has created various facilities to accomplish the task assigned to the society. The first in its wings is the creation of Environmental Research Laboratory at Lucknow.

 The Environmental Research Laboratory, Lucknow (ERL), a non-profit making research organization has been established in 1987 by the Society for the Advancement of Environmental Sciences, India to fulfill public aspirations in science. It is a maiden non governmental R & D institution in the country which is free from the governmental control and does not function for the interest of any corporate world or a socio-political outfit  and is totally committed to harness the emerging science of environment & pollution. ERL is a  recognized Institution of the Ministry of Science and Technology (DSIR), an approved certification agency under the Indian Drug Act . Academically, ERL is a recognised  centre for doctoral research in Chemistry  of the famous Agra University.  ERL undertake research & developmental work and extension services in the field of environment covering air/water pollution, industrial effluents, pesticides, heavy metals, toxicology, ecology, environmental impact assessment, occupational hazard evaluation and management, agro-environment, pest management etc.It's mandate is as follows:

Aims and objectives :

1. To undertake R & D work on potentially toxic chemicals, gases, hazardous materials etc.
2. To design investigations for monitoring environmental factors and develop remedial measures. 
3. To design, optimize, fabricate and commission the industrial/sewage effluent treatment plants on turn key basis and provide monitoring facility.
4. To evaluate environmental impact assessment of existing or proposed projects .
5. To undertake occupational, toxicological and ergonomical investigations.
6. To undertake R & D work on utilization of waste material and ecological regeneration.
7. To build a scientific temper for co-ordinated researches on the multidisciplinary science of environment by conducting collaborative studies, leading to the award of Ph.D/M.D/D.Sc.
8. To interact with national and international agencies in the field of environmental research and technology. 
9. To disseminate accurate and useful information about environment and promote environment literacy.

Experts on Board:
Internationally renowned experts in the area of affluent treatment, toxicology, occupation health, ergonomics, agro-environment, pesticides, social sciences, pharmacology etc. are on the board of ERL to provide guidance on environment and ecology.

Capabilities:
        ERL has got capabilities to conduct

• Air pollution monitoring-stack and ambient.
• Monitoring of vehicular emission.
• Water quality assessment of potable and industrial effluents.
• Monitoring of pesticides, heavy metals, PCB, CFC in biological & non biological systems and development of detoxification technology.
• Designing, fabrication and commissioning of primary and secondary Effluent Treatment Plant on turnkey basis for sugar, distillery, tannery, textile, paper, cement, coal fertilizers, petro-chemicals and dairy etc.
• Utilization of biomass waste for energy generation.
• Toxicological evaluations including foeto-toxic potential of chemicals.
• Environmental impact assessment.
• Occupation hazard and Ergonomical assessment.
• Preparation and formulation of computerized project.
• Ecological regeneration and development of agro-environment by massive plantations, eco-development camps etc.
• Environmental literacy and dissemination of environmental technology by conducting training courses, work-shops, seminars, symposia etc.
• Legal and scientific information about environmental laws and toxicological potential of chemicals.

 ERL has developed a cost effective water purification technology which is simple, economical and  handy to provide safe water. It is capable of  checking the microbial and heavy metal contaminants and can last  for 12,000 litres of raw water. The technology is particularly effective aganist water born E.Coli and Schigella vis-a-vis iron, cadmium, nickel , copper, zinc and lead. The technology has been successfully tried in rural and urban conglomerates of Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Bhuvneshwar and Cuttak (Orissa) and Gauwhati(Assam). The technology has been recommended by the Planning Commission, GOI, New Delhi to be adopted for rural drinking water mission. The Cost of such device is Rs.125/- (US $ 3 only). No harmful chemical or substance is being used in the water purification system and is non-iodine based water purification technology.

ERL has also developed a herbal preparation which is based on essential oil therapy and is particularly effective as a mosquito repellant, muscular pain and joint lubrication for chronic artheritis.

Scientific discoveries of ERL related to the dietary exposure of nickel through chocolates and hydrogenated vegetable oils have led to create a national debate inside and outside the Indian Parliament and excessive  media coverage of the issue, compelling the government to fix the maximum permissible limits of nickel in hydrogenated vegetable oils (1.5 ppm) which is being used as  a catalyst in the process of hydrogenation. Some unscruplous chocolate manufacturers taking advantage of the flexible food laws enforced in the country, resorted to using HVO as a cheaper substitute for expensive cocoa butter! The omni presence of toxic nickel in HVO, contaminated the chocolates in a big way. It helped the manufacturers to earn huge profits on one hand and prevention of their product from melting in summer even at temperature of 40-45 degree celsius on the other hand. This was being  done at the cost of the health of the Indian consumers, mainly the children and would have continued to pose health hazards indefinitely, if  ERL would not have disclosed the malpractice and drew the attention of the media, government and the law makers.  The scientific discovery came into lime light following the notification in the American Embassy at New Delhi  issuing warning to the staff members to desist from consumption of Indian chocolates, especially those having hypersensitivity to nickel. The social organisations in Delhi  took up the matter in a big way to attract the national attention for placing the Indian consumers to the dietary hazards of toxic nickel through chocolates.  In the process, to calm down the press and refurbish its image from the exposure of nickel in chocolate, a leading manufacturer,  M/S Cadbury (India) Ltd. preferred to file a  selective defamation suit against  ERL  seeking damages to the tune of Rs.2,00,00,000/-. The case is pending in the Delhi High Court. 

LINKAGE OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES:
IDF:International Dairy Federation, Belgium, UNEP:United Nations Environmental Programme, UNESCO:United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization, IRPTC:International Registry of Potentially Toxic Chemicals, ICOH:International Commission on Occupational Health; DST:Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, CGA:Central Ganga Authority, Govt. of India, MOE:Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, PCB:Pollution Control Board, U.P., DWCD:Deptt. of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India, IT:Income Tax, IDA:Indian Dairy Association, CST:Council of Science & Technology, U.P., RD:Rural Development Commissionery, U.P., AU:Agra University, DSIR:Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Res., ICAR:Indian Council of Agr. Res., SAES:Society for the Advancement of Environmental Sciences, India,UGA:University Grants Commission, CSIR:Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, ICMR:Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

Funding:
ERL sustains its activity through research grants, industrial testing, consultancy, publications and donations. SAES, the main body is registered under FCRA.

PROJECTS UDERTAKEN BY SAES/ERL  AND  THEIR STATUS:- 

2. SUDA Lucknow               Cost effective approach in providing        Competed
                                                  safe drinking water to the inhabitants 
                                                  of urban slum (Unauthorised slum 
                                                  dwellers) -A pilot study.

3. U.P. D.E.S.C.O.,               Ground water quality monitoring                 Completed
    Lucknow                          of  villages in U.P.

4. D.S.T., New Delhi          Cost-effective eco-friendly technology to   Completed
                                                protect workers of  electroplating, welding
                                                and lead-acid battery units. 

5. C.A.P.A.R.T.                  Cost effective water purification                     Completed
    New Delhi                       technology for rural house hold in 
                                               regions affected by iron  lead & 
                                               other heavy metal contamination-
                                               A pilot scale demonstration.

6.   N.C..S.T.C,                   Quick studies on blood donor status            Completed
     New Delhi                     in Lucknow.

7.   C.A.P.A.R.T.,               Environmentally safe and economically       Completed
      New Delhi                     feasible water purification technology
                                               for rural house holds-A pilot  study.

8.   R.G.F., New Delhi          Project on environmental literacy for            Completed 
                                   School students of Lucknow.
9.  D.S.T., New Delhi         Environmentally safe economical                 Completed
                                               approaches in water treatment.

10.  N.D.D.B.,                     Occurrence of pesticides in market               Completed
      New Delhi                     milk & milk powders.

11. I.C.A.R.,                        Biological monitoring of pesticides              Completed
      New Delhi                       in meat and meat products.

12. D.S.T., New Delhi      Review of schedule caste status and              Completed
                                              activity of  S&T agencies in block 
                                              Tanda, Faizabad.

13. D.O.E., New Delhi      Vivek Darpan experiment for rural                    Completed
                                              masses of  Lucknow  district.

14.  C.F.L., New Delhi     Quantification of Nickel in hydrogenated      Completed
                                             vegetable oils supplied to the defence.

15.  N.D.D.B., Anand       Detection of pesticide residues in                  Completed
                                              skimmed milk powders.

16. UNICEF, Lucknow    Awareness to check cholera epidemic            Completed
                                             in  Lucknow.

17. D.S.T., New Delhi        The screening of edible vegetable oils        Completed
                                                for heavy metal contamination.

18. D.S.T., New Delhi        Occupational and environmental                  Completed
                                               hazards of pesticides in farmers 
                                               engaged in pesticidal spray.

19. I.C.A.R., New Delhi    Detoxification of pesticides in                       Completed
                                              milk & milk products.

20. D.O.En., New Delhi     Eco-development of village                           Completed
                                                Tarsi, Mathura.

21. D.S.T., New Delhi        Technological utilisation of rural                  Completed
                                                biomass waste.

22. D.O.En., New Delhi     Ecological regeneration of village                 Completed
                                               Usfar, Mathura.

23. D.S.T., New Delhi        Occupational hazards of women                   Completed
                                                employed in brassware industries 
                                                of Aligarh and Moradabad.

24. I.C.M.R., New Delhi      Placental incorporation of heavy metals.   Completed

25. I.C.M.R., New Delhi     Foetotoxic evaluations of                               Completed
                                                environmental agents.