‘High level of pesticides caused buffalo deaths’
LUCKNOW: The death of 25 buffaloes in Chinhat industrial area after consuming water from a nullah was caused due to high level of pesticides, the CSIR-IITR report has revealed .
A team of CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research visited the site and collected water samples for analysis. Samples from four sites near the discharge from the pesticide factory were tested for pesticides, heavy metals and for presence of pathogenic bacteria.
A press release by the head of research planning and business development Dr KC Khulbe read, “While testing, it was found that pesticides such as acetamiprid, monochrotophos, imidacloprid, carbendazim were present in all the four samples. Imidacloprid pesticide was found in the range of 99-299 µg/L. However, the permissible limit is only upto 1.5 µg/L. Furthermore, total hexaclorocyclohexane pesticide was found higher in samples as compared to the Bureau of Indian Standard limit. Among all the four sites, the second sample site had the highest concentration of most of the pesticides.”
In the analysis of heavy metals, concentration of lead, manganese and nickel was found to be higher than the permissible limit in the river.
The report further said, “In the bacteriological analysis, the total microbial count was found in the range of 0.29 to 1.4 million per 100 ml. As per standard, the total coliform should be 500 mpn (most probable number) per 100 ml in the samples but it was found much beyond permissible limits (i.e. 68000 to 93000 per 100 ml). The permissible limit of dissolved oxygen (DO) is more than 5 mg per litres. The samples analysed contained DO ranging from 0.00-1.74 mg per litres. The biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values were also beyond permissible limits in all the four samples.”
The report has been sent to the district administration for further action against the pollution spreading unit.
District magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma said strict action would be taken based on the report of IITR.
SAMPLES FROM 4 SITES WERE TESTED FOR PESTICIDES, HEAVY METALS AND PRESENCE OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA