The Centre has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR, to find out if plastic bottles pollute medicines. ICMR has to conduct a detailed study to assess if there is any leaching from plastic bottles into liquid medicine formulations stored in them. <br/>The ICMR has now asked the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, to plan and conduct the study. Last year, a government study detected toxic materials, including lead, in plastic bottles of cough syrups and other liquid medicines. It concluded harmful substances are released from such bottles and suggested banning the use of such containers to keep drugs.