Indian Environmental Advisor: Nation On Brink Of Becoming World Leader In Lead Poisoning
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The survey took about 589 households from different parts of Bengaluru into account. Ground water samples were collected and examined by the Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment. The tests revealed that the levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), hardness, chlorides, nitrates responsible for water contamination had exceeded permissible limits in certain parts of Bengaluru, mainly K.R. Circle, Kalasipalyam, Malleshwaram, Ulsoor, Hebbal, and Electronics City.
Toxic chemicals like arsenic, lead and disease-causing bacteria also contributed to the alarming increase in the city’s water contamination. About 80% of the households revealed that water contamination has become one the most pressing issues. Five out of every 10 respondents said they had someone in their family or friend circle falling victim to water-borne diseases and infections in the last one year . Water borne diseases (cholera, jaundice, typhoid, diarrhoea as well as the common cold, cough and fever) have accounted for nearly 90% of all diseases severely affecting people’s health.
The study echoed a serious concern among 61% of the respondents who agreed that their drinking water is unfit for consumption. A large chunk of the respondents – 58% - say they use water purifiers as their primary mode of drinking water purification, followed by 13% who boil the water water and 19% who use packaged drinking water for daily consumption.
Surprisingly, even today, about 11% of Bengaluru households drink water directly from taps. Sharing his concern over the findings, Dr Thuppil Venkatesh, Advisor to The Quality Council of India (QCI), Director for National Referral Center for Lead Poisoning (NRCLP) in India said, “There has been growing concern over the increasing water contamination and its impact on the lives of Indians, which is evident from the water audit. Some of the key issues like water contamination, hardness and a rise in incidences of water borne diseases are shocking and alarming. He said India is on the verge of becoming the “world capital of lead poisoning”.
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http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130826/news-current-affairs/article/india-verge-becoming-lead-poisoning-capital-expert
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