Nickel and lead detected in the blood samples of lots of patients appear to be the most likely result in of the mystery illness afflicting more than 600 people today in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district physicians at AIIMS listed symptoms of lead and nickel poisoning, some of which have been reported for the Eluru patients. It had been earlier recommended that compounds present in typical pesticides/fumigants, or even excessive use of bleach and chlorine for Covid-19 sanitation, could have led to the ailment. While the part of contaminated water and milk was also suspected, the state government is now exploring feasible of contamination of fruit and vegetables by heavy metals as a supply, as well. Improper battery disposal has also been talked about. The state government has now set up a multi-disciplinary committee to probe for the supply the outbreak and recommend measures to stop the occurrence of such incidents. The Eluru episode—the second big incident in Andhra this year, just after May’s gas leaks in Visakhapatnam, that killed 11 and triggered more than 1,000 to fall ill—underscores not just the lack of appropriate enforcement of handling and disposal regulations, but also possibly an inadequacy of the regulatory framework itself, particularly with regards to specific ubiquitous chemical compounds that we assume to be benign.
In the present instance, whilst organochlorides from pesticides/fumigants have now been discarded as the toxic agent, overall health officials, as per some media reports, didn’t dismiss this outright early on. Increased cancer prevalence in specific districts of Punjab have been tied to use of specific pesticides and other agro-chemical compounds. India, as per Down to Earth, had recorded practically 4 big chemical accidents a month in the 3 years to 2019 authorities, although, say this is an understatement given that lots of instances go unregistered. Internationally, as well, there are lots of examples. For instance, Roundup, Monsanto’s most well-liked weedicide, has been alleged to result in cancer. Bayer, which purchased Monsanto, announced earlier this year that it will devote $10 billion to settle tens of thousands claims of the weedicide causing cancer.
India requirements to tighten its regulation of chemical compounds. The National Chemical Policy has been hanging fire from 2012—a new draft was released in 2018, but there has been tiny progress given that. The National Chemical Management Profile, released in 2005-06, says that the nation requirements standardised procedures and personnel for inspection and vigilance, which, authorities say is nonetheless a challenge plaguing regulation of the chemical compounds business in India. Indeed, this one particular of the purpose India continues to use a number of chemical compounds that have been banned in created nations. As per the Interim Report of Monitoring Committee on Management of Hazardous Waste, submitted January 2019, the quantity of industries making hazardous waste grew from 36,165 in 2008 to 56,350 in 2016-17, whilst the quantity of annual hazardous waste made rose from 6.2 million tonnes to 7.7 mt. Close to 1 million tonne failed to get disposed—and as per CPCB information from March, there are 128 confirmed contaminated websites with hazardous substances whilst a further 196 had been awaiting confirmation. Unless regional, state and the Union governments take a stricter, more coordinated strategy to regulating chemical compounds, anticipate more Eluru/Visakhapatnam/Bhopals.