Vegetables contain harmful chemicals, say experts

Nellore: Now, vegetables in city main market were found to be highly contaminated with harmful residues of fertilisers and pesticides and there has been no mechanism to find the toxic nature in it.

Not only the most-sought-after and king of vegetables brinjal, many others were also having chemical odour giving terrible experience to the city residents. The only food laboratory at Nacharam in Hyderabad caters to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The condition of the testing facilities is no better as there is no equipment for vegetables. There are many laboratories under private managements but government prefers only its own testing facilities.

Water facilities are scanty and farmers have to grow crops for livelihood and there is no supervision on use of fertilisers and pesticides. “Agriculture and Horticulture departments were confining to suggestions and there was no mechanism to prevent or take action against violators,” said Dr Venkateswara Rao, a retired agricultural scientist.

In fact, not only Nellore, many places were witnessing excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides in the State. The State government has not put efforts for a separate laboratory after bifurcation, he added.

Similarly, Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) found that detectable levels of residues of commonly used in pesticides were noticed in tomato (33.3 pc), brinjal (73.3 pc), okra (14.3 pc), cabbage (88.9 pc) and 100 pc in cauliflower samples.

Normally, farmers of brinjal and ladies finger use more pesticides for protecting their crops from Shoot & Fruit borer disease. Food Inspector V Ananda Rao said contamination of vegetables with fertilisers and pesticides come under food security but they are having only one laboratory in Hyderabad for both Telugu States.

He said there was no facility for testing vegetables. He said they would check with responsible departments too and take appropriate action.

“The immediate effect is the obstruction for important food nutrients for normal and healthy growth among children.

When the excretory system of the child is not fully grown and yet they consume fruits or vegetables with pesticides, their body may not be able to totally get rid of the pesticides, said leading physician Dr CV Subrahmanyam. When a pregnant woman eats vegetables contaminated with pesticides, the fetus can be exposed to the harmful chemical and cause birth defects, he added.