Lead in turmeric more than 200 times the limit in parts of India: Study

Lead in turmeric more than 200 times the limit in parts of India: Study

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

• Lead levels in turmeric sold in India, Nepal and Pakistan were several times higher than the regulatory limit, according to a new study.
• Samples from India’s Patna, and Pakistan’s Karachi and Peshawar had lead levels in turmeric exceeding 1,000 microgram/gram (μg/g), the study published in found. Guwahati and Chennai also saw levels exceeding the regulatory limit set by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• The regulatory limit for lead in turmeric whole and powder is 10 μg / g, states FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
• FSSAI’s rules require turmeric to be free from lead chromate, added starch and any other extraneous colouring matter.
• Lead is a heavy metal known to mimic calcium, which is stored in bone. It interrupts metabolic processes in humans, impacting intelligence, and increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney failure and premature death.
• Children having blood lead level of 10 µg / L is associated with a loss of 1 intelligence quotient point.
• Globally, 815 million children are estimated to have blood lead levels greater than 50 µg / L and 413 million children have blood lead levels over 100 µg / L.
• While there is no known safe blood lead concentration, even blood lead concentrations as low as 3.5 µg / dL (decilitre, a tenth of a litre) may be associated with decreased intelligence in children, behavioural difficulties and learning problems.

Lead:

• Lead is a naturally occurring element and is found in the earth’s crust.
• It is usually found in combination with other elements, such as sulfur and oxygen, in the form of lead sulfide or lead oxide.
• Lead is also found in small amounts in the air, soil, and water.
• It is highly malleable and ductile, meaning it can be easily shaped and stretched into thin wires.
• It is also highly resistant to corrosion, making it useful in plumbing and other applications where it may be exposed to water or other corrosive substances.
• However, lead is highly toxic and can cause a range of health effects, particularly in children and pregnant women.

Source of Lead Pollution:

Effects of Lead Pollution

• Health effects: Lead exposure can cause a range of health effects, including damage to the central nervous system, developmental delays, cognitive impairment, and anemia. Lead exposure can also affect the cardiovascular, renal, and reproductive systems. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of lead exposure.
• Environmental effects: Lead pollution can harm plants, animals, and ecosystems. Lead can accumulate in soil and water, and can be toxic to plants and animals. Lead pollution can also affect the quality of aquatic ecosystems, and can contribute to the decline of fish and other aquatic species.
• Economic impacts: Lead pollution can have economic impacts, including costs associated with healthcare and lost productivity due to lead-related illnesses. The costs of cleaning up lead-contaminated sites and replacing lead-based products can also be significant.
• Social impacts: Lead pollution can disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities, who may be more likely to live near sources of lead pollution, such as industrial sites or highways. Children in these communities may be at higher risk of lead exposure and the associated health effects.

Global initiatives to end Lead Pollution

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint: This initiative aims to eliminate lead paint in all countries by 2020. The initiative provides technical and financial support to countries to help them phase out lead paint.
• World Health Organization (WHO) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programme: This initiative focuses on preventing childhood lead exposure and improving the diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning. The WHO also works to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure and promote the use of lead-free products.
• The Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA): The PCIA is a global alliance of public, private, and non-governmental organizations that work to reduce indoor air pollution. The PCIA provides technical assistance, training, and resources to help countries and organizations transition to cleaner, safer energy sources.
• The Global Battery Alliance: This initiative aims to promote sustainable battery production and use, including the responsible recycling of batteries to prevent lead pollution. The alliance brings together stakeholders from across the battery value chain to collaborate on sustainable solutions.
• The Basel Convention: The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is a global treaty that aims to minimize the generation of hazardous waste and prevent its transboundary movement. The convention includes provisions for the environmentally sound management of lead waste and the prevention of lead pollution.

India’s initiatives to end Lead Pollution

• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis and National Programme for Prevention and Control of Lead Poisoning: These programs were launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prevent and control fluorosis and lead poisoning in high-risk areas. The programs focus on providing safe drinking water, promoting hygiene and sanitation, and conducting health education campaigns to raise awareness of the health effects of lead exposure.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) lead-free certification mark: In 2017, BIS introduced a new certification mark to indicate that products are lead-free. The mark is intended to help consumers identify lead-free products and promote the use of safer alternatives.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework: India has implemented an EPR framework for e-waste management, which requires producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products. This framework helps to prevent lead pollution from electronic waste, which is a significant source of lead exposure in India.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has passed a notification as “Regulation on Lead contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016″ and has prohibited manufacture, trade, import as well as export of household and decorative paints containing lead or lead compounds in excess of 90 Parts Per Million (PPM).
• In 2022, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. The new rules aim at reducing share of battery recycling in the informal sector and stress on extended producer responsibility.