Like the use of formalin and some harmful chemicals in fish, fruits and many other food stuff; application of toxic substances in paints and dental amalgam have become a major threat to the public health and safety, according to recent studies.
The studies, carried out by some environment organisations in different countries including Bangladesh, rang the alarm for this country as the current regulations here are not foolproof to safeguard public from toxic exposure.
The studies acknowledged the pro-active activities and the measures of the government to check thoughtless use of toxic substances in various foodstuffs, but recommended that the regulations should be made stricter to ensure toxic-free food, goods and other highly used materials.
“With strict regulations in place, creating mass awareness against the injudicious use of toxic chemicals and other materials in food, paints, dental treatment and many other items would be more effective to protect people from toxic exposure,” eminent environmentalist Dr Marghub Murshed said.
Dr Murshed, a former bureaucrat, is now associated with the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) as its chairman to create awareness about protecting environment. ESDO along with Asian Centre, IPEN and European Union carried out the
studies to reveal dangerous use of lead in paints and mercury in dental amalgam and rapid rising of electronic wastes
One of the studies show application of lead in paints available in the local market is 2300 percent higher than the maximum level, stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The study referred that the government made a breakthrough with banning lead-contained fuel oil, but there was no headway in taking the similar stand against lead-based paints though the paints are more harmful for public health because of their extensive household and commercial use.
Against this backdrop, the study suggested phasing out of lead-based paints by 2015, establishing independent institutions for certifying lead-free paints, providing incentive to small and medium enterprise for producing lead-free paints and reducing duty on importing toxic-free raw materials for producing lead-free paints.
Already, the United States and European Union banned lead-based paints for public use when China, the Philippines and Sri Lanka limited the use of lead in paints to the lowest level on safety and health grounds.
Another study of the organisation found that high level of mercury in dental amalgam is causing serious health hazards in the country. The amalgam used in the country contains 50 percent of mercury, which is silently damaging kidneys, reducing immunity and causing skin cancer, oral cavity, vision and hearing problem and hair loss.
Sharing his experience, Dr Shahriar Hossain, Secretary General of ESDO, said he had been given treatment for a health problem at home for long and went to doctor overseas only to know that his epilepsy type problem was the impacts of dental amalgam filling.
The study also found that most of the doctors and healthcare staff are unaware of the danger of mercury.
Bangladesh along with 140 countries this year signed an agreement at the Minatama Convention on mercury in Geneva, Switzerland to eliminate anthropogenic emission of mercury. The study suggested the government that it should ratify the agreement soon for effective implementation.
Besides the toxic threat from lead-based paints and mercury-based dental amalgam, ESDO in another study found rapid increase in electronic waste.
According to the study, electronic waste or e-waste disposal increased to 10.25 million tons in 2013, which was 5.18 million tons only two years back in 2011. More concerning factor is that over fifty thousand children are involved in the informal e-waste collection and recycling process, the study said.