Under scientific lens since 1989
HENCE, THE PRIME SUSPECTS WERE THE VEGETABLES SHE BOUGHT AND TREATMENT WAS DONE KEEPING THIS IN VIEW.
LUCKNOW: The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture first came under scientific lens in 1989 with research at Aligarh Muslim University showing that they induce alterations in the neurochemical metabolism. Dimecron (Phosphamidon), an organophosphate insecticide first reported in 1960, induces neurotoxicity by penetrating the blood-brain barrier if it reaches the central nervous system.
“The use of organophosphate pesticide has been found to improve agricultural output, besides controlling vectors of various parasitic diseases. However, indiscriminate and everincreasing use of pesticide has been reported to induce toxicity in man and other non-targeted organisms with the brain being the most susceptible and vulnerable,” stated the research conducted under guidance of Prof Mahdi Hasan, an anatomist and the first in UP to do research upon human brains. He established the interdisciplinary brain research centre in 1970 and was its director.
“In India, we have till now been concentrating on increasing food production to feed people but the idea that quality of food is important to sustain human life took a back seat,” said Prof AA Mahdi, vice chancellor of Era University and an expert in lead toxicity.
Prof Mahdi, the founder of UP’s first lead toxicity study centre, had in 2008 reported the first case of lead toxicity in a woman. While treating the woman, prof Mahdi discovered she was not exposed to industrial toxicity as she was a housewife. Hence, the prime suspects were the vegetables she bought and treatment was done keeping this in view.
“Vegetables can be the prime suspect in case of pesticide toxicity among humans who eat them as they (vegetables) come fresh from the farm and carry almost all the properties of the soil they are grown upon,” he said.
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