BSS, Rajshahi :
People should refrain from chemically contaminated summer fruits especially mango which could be identified through their dry stems, experts have suggested.
They feared toxicity in fruits caused deaths to many children in the region.
“Whenever you see the stalk (stem) of mango or other such summer fruit is dry, be confirmed it is contaminated with chemicals,” Dr Shafiqul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Mango Research Center of Chapai Nawabganj, said.
He said extremely harmful calcium carbide was being administered alongside ethephon in summer fruits for overnight ripening with attractive colours while formalin was used to preserve them.
“Mangoes mixed with deadly chemicals such as carbide are extremely hazardous for human health. The chemical has a long-term effect on human body,” Islam said. Officials of the institute said only 100 gram of calcium carbide can ripen nearly 100 kg of mangoes while the chemicals could cause deadly diseases like cancer, kidney and liver complications.
The greedy traders and others concerned were frequently found contaminating mangoes and litchis with various harmful chemicals in two phases. He said off-season fruits are generally treated with this chemical.
“The traders are found to be using three types of chemicals at different phases at traders’ level,” says Dr Alim Uddin, Senior Scientific Officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Center.
He suggests launching more campaign to stop the indiscriminate use of chemicals to rip and preserve the fruits for extra profit motivating the traders alongside staging mobile courts as punitive actions.
Importance should be given on preferring to build awareness among common people as well as mango growers and traders against the impact of chemicals.
About use of chemicals on mangoes Dr Alim said conducting vigorous drives against the chemical and its use on mangoes and other summer fruits can be the short-term solution of the problem. “But long term solution is building awareness among producers and traders,” he added.
To get rid from the nuisance, the traders and growers needed knowledge about chemical and its bad impact on human body.
Motiur Rahman, a seasonal mango trader at Rajshahi Shaheb Bazar, told BSS that they were not aware about exact quantum of ‘permissible chemicals’ like ehephon for ripening fruits and its impact on public health.
“We are using calcium carbide as it ripens mangoes fast and adds attractive colour to the fruits,” another mango trader told BSS.
