• In the article “‘Scientists not to blame’ for arsenic error” (28 February, p 4), we reported the British High Court’s dismissal of legal claims brought by Bangledeshi villagers against the British Geological Survey. The article stated that the BGS and its scientists made mistakes in their 1992 report which delayed the discovery of naturally occurring arsenic in drinking water and cost the lives of many villagers.
We now accept that no mistake was made. The BGS was not instructed to test for arsenic in the water and had no reason to believe that arsenic might be present. Nor did the BGS mistakenly pronounce the well water “safe” for drinking. We apologise to the BGS and its scientists for any distress caused by the article.
• In the article “Hush hour on the highway” (21 February, p 26) we wrongly stated that the Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute is part of Chalmers University of Technology. Also, the European Commission introduced the noise directive in 2001, not 2007, and Ulf Sandberg’s research into quiet tyres is sponsored by the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA), not by an international consortium of universities and companies.
• David L. Chandler’s comment on Brian Wall’s letter (6 March, p 33) wrongly gave Hubble’s inclinaton as 22.5 degrees instead of 28.5.
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