ISSN No.: 0972-1266 EE NN VV II SS Newsletter Vol. 15 No. 2 May 2008

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TOXICOLOGY RESEARCH (Formerly Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow) IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL

ODDS & ENDS...... 1 About 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by Pesticide residues in river and its water, the most precious natural resource that exists canals in Haryana and Delhi, India ...... 1 on our planet. Even the fact that water is an essential life sustaining commodity, does not faze or deter Enrichment and fractionation of heavy metals human beings from exploiting it—this resource is in bed sediments of River Narmada, India . . 1 being depleted at an alarming rate. Perfluorooctane surfactants in waste waters, the major source of river pollution ...... 1 India is a country of religion and rituals. Rivers play an important role in performing these activities. A dip The use of an electronic nose to characterize in the holy during the Maha Kumbh Mela emissions from a highly polluted river . . . . . 1 festival will cleanse their souls of sin; the banks are The use of fish community struc-ture as a also used for routine work (washing of clothes, measure of ecological degradation: A case bathing, etc) and for cremation. Many partially burnt study in two tropical rivers of India ...... 2 bodies are pushed into the waters, ashes of the dead Assessment of bacterial indicators and are scattered in the Ganges. physicochemical parameters to investigate In many regions of India, river water is the main pollution status of Gangetic river system of source of drinking water. India's 14 major, 55 minor Uttara-khand (India) ...... 2 and several hundred smaller rivers receive millions Water quality management in the lower of litres of sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural stretch of the river Ganges, east coast of runoffs. Most of these rivers have been degraded to India: an approach through environmental sewage drains with free flowing obnoxious effluents education ...... 2 containing heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, As, Hg, Persistent organochlorine pesti-cide residues Cd, and Pb) and pesticides (organochlorine: HCH in soil and surface water of northern Indo- and DDT) residues. Even though larger industries gangetic alluvial plains ...... 3 are using effluent treatment plants (ETF) however India's rivers are drowning in pollution . . . . . 3 hundreds of smaller industrial units release untreated wastes directly into the municipal drains -- Madras develops nanoparticles to fight are a cause of grave concern. Populations in the pesticide residues...... 3 towns and villages using these rivers as a source of Water quality assessment of an untreated water are facing serious health problems. effluent impacted urban stream: the Bharalu tributary of the , India. . . . 4 An assessment of plankton popu-lation of Cauvery river with refe-rence to pollution . . 5 Editor : Water pollution has become an accidental Dr. Farhat N. Jaffery weapon against tribal peoples: Dongria Kond of Niyam-giri hills, India ...... 5 Sub Editor : DID YOU KNOW ? ...... 5 Dr. Anvita Shaw RIVER POLLUTION CAUSES AND Dr. Abha Sharma CONSEQUENCES ...... 5 CURRENT CONCERNS ...... 9 Published by : Distributed Information Centre on Toxic Chemicals REGULATORY TRENDS ...... 9 Environmental Information System (ENVIS) ON THE LIGHTER SIDE...... 11 at IITR, Lucknow ON THE WEB ...... 11 BOOK STOP ...... 11 MINI PROFILE OF ENDOSULFAN . . . . . 12 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2 ODDS & ENDS Pesticide residues in river Yamuna A metal fractionation study on bed plants (WWTPs) into surface waters. and its canals in Haryana and sediments of river Narmada in central Samples were collected at different Delhi, India India has been carried out to examine stages of treatment of four WWTPs in the enrichment and partitioning of Northern Bavaria, Germany, and from different metal species between five the rivers receiving the treated waste geochemical phases (exchangeable waters (WW). The outflow of PFOA fraction, carbonate fraction, Fe/Mn from the WWTPs to the rivers was 20- oxide fraction, organic fraction and fold higher than the inflow to the residual fraction). The river receives plants; about a tenth was removed toxic substances through a large with the sludge. For PFOS, the number of tributaries and drains increase from inlet to outlet was about flowing in the catchment of the river. 3-fold; almost half of it was retained in Organochlorine pesticides like HCH The toxic substances of particular the sludge. Both surfactants were and DDT are ubiquitously found in all interest are heavy metals derived released into river water from the the components of the environment. from urban runoff as well as municipal WWTP of a medium-sized city with Water of rivers and canals is used for sewage and industrial effluents. domestic, industrial and commercial drinking purposes in India, it becomes Heavy metals entering the river get waste waters; in domestic waste imperative to study the extent and adsorbed onto the suspended waters the surfactants were found at magnitude of these restricted or sediments, which in due course of much lower levels. time settle down in the bottom of the banned pesticides in these water Chemosphere, May 2008. bodies. river. In this study fractionation of metal ions has been carried out with The use of an electronic nose to Residues of organochlorine pesti- the objective to determine the eco- characterize emissions from a cides (OCPs) namely, isomers of toxic potential of metal ions. highly polluted river HCH and endosulfan, DDT and its Although, in most cases (except iron) metabolites, (aldrin and dieldrin), the average trace/heavy metal The Riachuelo–Matanza basin area were analysed in the river Yamuna. concentrations in sediments were (2.240 km2) is located in Buenos This glacier river, flowing through six higher than the standard shale Aires province, Argentina. This area Indian states has a 346 km stretch. values, the risk assessment code as is affected by intensive and extensive Samples were colleted form Haryana applied to the present study reveals agricultural activities, and bears –Delhi and the canals originating from that only about 1–3% of manganese, almost 3,000,000 inhabitants and it. â-HCH, p.p?-DDT, p.p?-DDE and <1% of copper, 16–19% of nickel, more than 10,000 industries, that p.p?-DDD had maximum traceability 4–20% of chromium, 1–4% of lead, release their effluents to the main in test samples (95–100%) followed 8–13% of cadmium and 1–3% of zinc collector of the basin, the Riachuelo by +- HCH, á-HCH and o.p?-DDD exist in exchangeable fraction and river. It is a highly polluted area and (60–84%) and o.p?-DDT, ä-HCH and therefore falls under low to medium the quality of water, soil and air is o.p?-DDE (7–30%) while aldrin, risk category. According to the Geo- severely impaired causing chronic dieldrin, á and â endosulfan remained accumulation Index (GAI), cadmium health problems. As part of an below detection limits (BDL). The shows high accumulation in the river interdisciplinary study undertaken by concentration of ÓHCH and ÓDDT at sediments, rest of other metals are local institutions to reach an environ- different sites of the river ranged under unpolluted to moderately mental quality diagnosis and analysis between 12.76–593.49 ng/l (with a polluted class. of the pollutants dynamics in the m e a n o f 3 1 0 . 2 5 n g / l ) a n d basin system, the air immediately 66.17–722.94 ng/l (with a mean of Environ Monit Assess, June, 2008 above the water in several points at 387.9 ng/l), respectively. In canals the Perfluorooctane surfactants in the Riachuelo river mouth was values were found between 12.38– waste waters, the major source of measured, with an electronic nose. 571.98 ng/l and 109.12–1572.22 ng/l river pollution Water quality parameters simulta- for ÓHCH and ÓDDT, respectively. neously collected at the same sites Water of Gurgaon canal and Western Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and were analyzed and correlated with Yamuna canal contained maximum perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) the electronic nose response. This and minimum concentration, respec- are persistent and widely distributed study is only exploratory and focuses tively both of ÓHCH and ÓDDT in the environment. Recently, the on the viability of using an electronic residues. discharge of municipal waste water nose to locate conflictive emissions has been shown to be an important throughout a given zone. Environ Monit Assess, Nov. 28 route of such perfluoroalkyl surfac- 2007(online) tants into the aquatic environment. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, April 2008 Enrichment and fractionation of The aim of this study was to assess heavy metals in bed sediments of the mass flow of PFOA and PFOS River Narmada, India from typical waste water treatment

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 1 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

The use of fish community struc- every stretch of Gangetic river values (2.20–5.95 mg/l) was recor- ture as a measure of ecological system. The results of bacteriological ded in Babughat whereas correspon- degradation: A case study in two analysis of water revealed that the dingly low values (0.75–2.82 mg/l) tropical rivers of India situation is alarming. The lower were noticed at Gangasagar. This regions of Gangetic river system of can be attributed mainly due to huge Fish community structure and water Uttarakhand facing severe anthropo- organic load of untreated sewage chemistry of two tropical rivers of logical activities, mostly due to from the twin city Howrah and West , an eastern province of religious belief were heavily polluted. Calcutta situated in the east and west India, were studied for two annual A huge bacterial gene pool was of the river. Spatiotemporal distri- cycles (January 2003–December obtained after this study which was bution of heavy metals reveals a wide 2004) and a higher degree of indicative of immense bacterial range of variations reflecting input of pollution was found in one river (the diversity in the region. huge anthropogenic inputs associa- Churni) than in the other river (the ted with a number of physical and Jalangi). This was reflected in the Ecological Indicators, September chemical processes. Levels of metals water quality as well as in fish 2008. registered a seasonal pattern, with an community structure of the rivers. We Water quality management in the increase during late monsoon months observed that 63.6% of fish species lower stretch of the river Ganges, (September–October), a period appeared to have been eliminated east coast of India: an approach characterized by low salinity and from the polluted since through environmental education relatively low pH of the water. 1983 in 20 years. For the protection of Elevated levels of dissolved Hg and fish biodiversity and enhancement of The lower tidal stretch of the river Pb were also recorded in Babughat, fish production, a rational manage- Ganges, known as Hugli (ca. 280 with values ranging from 0.16 to 0.95 ment program should be implemen- km), flows southward before entering ìg/ml and 0.017 to 0.076 ìg/ml, ted for the Churni river. the Bay of Bengal forming a vast respectively, this high values for Hg mangrove-enriched estuarine delta Biosystems, July-August 2007. can be attributed to the discharge called Sunderbans. Hugli estuary is a from pulp and paper manufacturing Assessment of bacterial indicators typical example of tide-dominated units and to atmospheric input and and physicochemical parameters sink for contaminants from multi- runoff of automobile emission for Pb. to investigate pollution status of farious sources. This major important Gangetic river system of Uttara- river is subjected to anthropogenic It was revealed that the socio- khand (India) stress due to the socio-economic economic development of Calcutta, importance of these areas based on the most potential economic zone in River Ganga is the largest river of growth of industry, agriculture, aqua- India situated on the east bank of Indian subcontinent and it originates culture, port activities, fishing and Hugli river, has had a significant in the state of Uttarakhand. Because tourism. The living resources have impact on the water quality of this of its importance in Indian culture and been degraded recently due to major river. The deterioration of water dense population residing at banks, it increases in population pressure, quality is directly related to non- faces several forced and unforced pollution and natural resource con- functioning and malfunctioning of human activities. In the present study, sumption to the extent of overexploi- wastewater treatment plants and lack Gangetic river system of Uttarakhand tation. The present paper critically of environmental planning and coor- (India) was studied in detail for quality examines the physicochemical char- dination. To restore the ecological of water. Samples were collected acteristics and level of dissolved stability and economic vitality of this from 32 different sites and physico- heavy metals at three ecologically river, the following measures have chemical and microbiological analy- distinct zones along the course of the been suggested: (i) strong vigilance sis was performed during summer, river – Babughat located in the programme is to be undertaken rainy and winter seasons. These eastern part of the metropolitan towards installation and maintenance samples were subjected to bacterio- megacity Calcutta (140 km upstream of the wastewater treatment plants to logical analysis, i.e. total viable count, from seaface), Diamond Harbor (70 check the flow of persistent con- total coliform count and faecal km upstream from sea face) and taminants in the river water and (ii) streptococcal count. The physico- Gangasagar positioned at the mouth execution of legislation and mass chemical analysis of the water of the Ganges estuary. awareness programmes are to be samples includes pH, temperature, enacted to restore the sound health of specific conductance, total dissolved Physicochemical characteristics of the river. The authors urge that solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), this partially mixed estuary are largely environmental education should be biological oxygen demand (BOD) and influenced by the interaction of used as an effective tool for water chemical oxygen demand (COD). seawater and discharge of riverine resource management dealing with The bacterial genera were identified freshwater, annual precipitation and intricate and complex problems in the on the basis of their morphological surface runoff. The levels of salinity, interaction between nature, techno- and physiological characteristics. total dissolved solids, hardness and logy and human beings. The present study confirmed the conductivity showed an increasing presence of bacterial indicators of downward trend. Marked increase in Journal of Cleaner Production, faecal origin at various altitudes in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) November 2007.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 2 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

Persistent organochlorine pesti- head of the Delhi Jal Board, the reaches a boiling point. Shreekant cide residues in soil and surface government agency responsible for Gupta argues that a clean river is a water of northern Indo-gangetic the city's water supply. public good for which people should alluvial plains have to pay. But New Delhi's citizens The Centre for Science and Environ- aren't charged sufficiently for the This study reports the concentration ment says that nearly 80 percent of millions of gallons of waste they flush levels and distribution pattern of the the river's pollution is the result of raw daily. "Our municipal finances are in a organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) sewage. Combined with industrial run mess," he says, "because we residues in the soil and surface water off, that comes to more than three essentially don't raise money from samples collected from the northern billion liters of waste per day, a Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. A total property taxes and user charges, the of 31 soil and 23 surface water two sustainable sources of revenue." samples were collected from the http://money.cnn.com/magazines/for study region in Unnao district tune/fortune_archive/2007 covering an area of 2150 km2 and analyzed for aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, Madras develops nanoparticles to HCB, HCH isomers, DDT isomers/ fight pesticide residues metabolites, endosulfan isomers (á and â), endosulfan sulfate, heptach- lor and its metabolites, á-chlordane, ã-chlordane and methoxychlor. In both the soil and surface water quantity well beyond the river's samples â- and ä-isomers of HCH assimilative capacity. The Yamuna, were detected most frequently, which flows 855 miles from the whereas, methoxychlor was the least Himalayas into the Ganges, isn't detected pesticide. The results India's only polluted river. Eighty showed contamination of soil and percent of the country's urban waste surface water of the region with goes directly into rivers, many of several persistent organic pesticides. which are so polluted they exceed The total OCPs level ranged from permissible levels for safe bathing. 0.36–104.50 ng g–1 and 2.63–3.72 ìg L–1 in soil and surface water samples, Waterborne diseases are India's India is one of the largest pesticide respectively. leading cause of childhood mortality. Shreekant Gupta, a professor at the producers in Asia, India has made Environ Monit and Assess, 2007, Delhi School of Economics who spe- some mark in controlling pests, but in 125/ (1-3), 147-155. cializes in the environment, estimates return has ruined its water resources. Even though nationwide data does India's rivers are drowning in that lost productivity from death and not exist, isolated studies have pollution disease resulting from river pollution and other environmental damage is started showing how groundwater Half of the city (New Delhi) receives equivalent to about 4 percent of gross and river systems are contaminated raw sewage flows into Yamuna river, domestic product. "Some of this with pesticide residues, not remo- makes it polluted. The government feeling of euphoria," he says of India's vable by standard water filters. Now, a has spent nearly $500 million trying to 9 percent growth rate, "gets a bit team of researchers from IIT-Madras clean up the river, most of it going to dampened thinking of environmental has developed nanoparticles that can waste-treatment stations, yet pollu- degradation." Sheila Dikshit, New eliminate one of the most difficult-to- tion levels more than doubled from Delhi's chief minister, says the remove class of chemicals in pesti- 1993 to 2005. And they continue to government simply followed the cides called organochlorine. Almost rise. The problem is that 11 of the recommendations of outside consul- every organochlorine studied has city's 17 sewage-treatment plants are tants who encouraged the building of been seen to cause some environ- underutilized; a quarter of them run at expensive sewage-treatment plants mental or human health hazard and less than 30 percent capacity. That's but didn't anticipate the surge in includes notorious pesticides like because the city's sewer system is so migration of rural poor to New Delhi. DDT, endosulfan, dioxin, HCH corroded and clogged it can't deliver But not everything can be blamed on (hexachlorocyclohexane) and aldrin. to the treatment plants the waste of consultants. An obfuscating web of “Even though some of these pesti- the 55 percent of New Delhi's 15 political appointees, civil servants cides have been banned, they are million inhabitants who are connec- and weak elected officials has made very much present in the environ- ted to the sewage system. And even if accountability almost impossible. At ment. For instance, endosulfan has the plants were fully utilized, there least eight city, state and federal an environmental lifetime of 100 would still be the waste from 1,500 agencies oversee various aspects of years,” says T. Pradeep, professor of unplanned neighborhoods, where the Yamuna's cleanup, alternately chemistry at IIT Madras. His sewage "finds its way into the drains competing for funds and sometimes nanoparticles, mostly from gold, and the river," says Arun Mathur, passing the buck when public anger silver, copper and several oxides, are

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 3 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2 effective on endosulfan even at very high cost of manufacturing could water from heavy metals like lead and low concentration. “Efficient che- hinder the outreach for some time. mercury and other OCPs. But his mistry at low concentration is “We intend to take this up as a no- worry is: How do we develop a important so that even if one molecule loss, no-profit venture but that will mechanism to take such technologies of the pesticide passes by, it gets have to wait until production goes up to the masses? removed by the nanoparticle,” adds (and cost comes down),” says Abhay http://www.livemint.com/2008/01/07 Pradeep. With an Indian and US Kumar, general manager of water 133544/IIT-Madras-develops- patent in hand, Pradeep has licensed technologies division at Eureka in nanopartic.html part of his work to Eureka Forbes Ltd, Bangalore. A community water puri- makers of vacuum cleaners and fier prototype, using nanotechnology Water quality assessment of an water purifiers, which in June 2007 filter, is under construction. It is untreated effluent impacted urban introduced a novel nanosilver filter in scheduled to be installed in Kasargod stream: the Bharalu tributary of the some brands. “We wanted to pro- district, one of the endosulfan- Brahmaputra river, India ductize and demonstrate our techno- affected areas in Kerala, by March. Guwahati, the lone city on the bank of logy and create some excitement. So “This effort has to multiply, through all the entire midstream of the Brahma- we took up initial industrial develop- possible channels – industry, non- putra river, is facing acute civic ment at IIT,” notes Pradeep. But any governmental organization and most problem due to severe depletion of technology of this kind, he believes, importantly, government machinery,” water quality of its natural water needs to go the “real sufferers in rural says Pradeep, whose interaction with bodies. This work is an attempt areas”. His current nanoparticl es are the Central water resources ministry towards water quality assessment of effective on four most common turned out to be a one-way affair. a relatively small tributary of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) – Under the US Clean Water Act of Brahmaputra called the Bharalu river DDT, endosulfan, malathion, and 1972, the extent of contaminants in a flowing through the city that has been chlorpyrifos. glass of water is decreasing, but the transformed today into a city drainage number of contaminants entering More than 40% pesticides used in channel. By analyzing the key potable water is increasing, says India belong to the organochlorine physical, chemical and biological Pradeep. Experts believe eventually category, known for their resistance parameters for samples drawn from nanomaterial is the way to purify not to environmental degradation. There different locations, an assessment of only water but even ambient air has been no national study yet but the dissolved load and pollution indoors. “Many of these organics are some patchy studies are being levels at different segments in the extremely stable in the environment. undertaken. For instance, a study by river was made. Locations where the Hence, chemistry of novel materials the Industrial Toxicological Research contaminants exceeded the permi- is the need,” argues Pradeep. Given Centre (ITRC) in Lucknow published ssible limits during different seasons India's poor global ranking in drinking in the international journal Bulletin of were identified by examining spatial water quality (a 2003 UN report Environmental Contamination and and temporal variations. A GIS ranked India 120 among 122 nations Toxicology in May 2007 shows high developed for the watershed with four in quality of water), the international level residues of OCPs in fish from the layers of data was used for evaluating aid agency World Vision India (WVI), Gomti river. Another Council of the influence of catchment land use headquartered in Hyderabad, is Scientific and Industrial Research- characteristics. BOD, DO and total involved in some water purification commissioned study on groundwater phosphorus were found to be the progammes. “We are keen to find out sources by ITRC in Kanpur shows sensitive parameters that adversely how we can adapt this nanotechno- beyond permissible levels of DDT, affected the water quality of Bharalu. logy for rural masses,” says Franklin HCH and endosulfan, according to Relationship among different para- Joseph, director, Humanitarian and Kunwar P. Singh, one of the lead meters revealed that the causes and Emergency Affairs. WVI, which has a researchers. A 2005-study on Ludhi- sources of water quality degradation collaboration with Eureka, is now ana and Muktsar districts of Punjab, in the study area were due to catch- entering into an agreement with the now expanded to other neighbouring ments input, anthropogenic activities Water and Process Technologies regions, by the National Geophysical and poor waste management. Eleva- division of General Electric Company Research Institute (NGRI) in Hydera- ted levels of total phosphorus, BOD to use their reverse osmosis techno- bad showed WHO-exceeding levels and depleted DO level in the logy, suitable for removing salt and of OCPs like endosulfan, DDT, downstream were used to develop an fluoride from water. Pradeep's group malathion and others. “We do not ANN model by taking total phos- has also developed a pesticide test have national data; it's only recently phorus and BOD as inputs and dissol- kit, slated to enter the market this that the Department of Science and ved oxygen as output, which indica- year. One of the early proponents of Tehcnology has initiated such stu- ted that an ANN based predictive tool nanotechnology for water purification dies,” said Gurunadha Rao, a scien- can be utilized for monitoring water when he came to IIT Madras 14 years tist at NGRI. quality in the future. ago from Purdue University in Eureka is interested in taking this Indiana, US, Pradeep now has a slew Environ Monit and Assess, 2007, technology to rural population but the of new nano materials that could free 130/ (1-3), 221-236.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 4 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

An assessment of plankton have no other supply, will be forced to sampling locations. The highest population of Cauvery river with bath in pollution and to drink con- mean concentrations (mg/L) of Fe reference to pollution. taminated water. (1.485), Zn (0.085) and Cu (0.006) were observed at Palta, those for Mn Studies on plankton of river Cauvery http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFe (0.420) and Ni (0.054) at Berham- water, Mettur, Salem district, Tamil ature8.cfm?REF=178 pore, whereas the maximum of Pb Nadu was made to assess the Assessment of heavy metal pollu- (0.024 mg/L) and Cr (0.018 mg/L) pollution of water from January 2003 tion in surface water was obtained at the downstream to December 2003. The qualitative station, Uluberia. All in all, the and quantitative evaluation of the Ganga, the most sacred and impor- dominance of various heavy metals in variation in river water showed high tant river of India, is regarded as the the surface water of the river Ganga quantity of phytoplankton and zoop- cradle of Indian civilization. About followed the sequence: Fe > Mn > Ni lankton population throughout the 2506 km of the river stream gives life > Cr > Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd. A significant study period and rotifers formed to twenty-nine cities, seven towns positive correlation was exhibited for dominated group over other groups of and thousands of villages which are conductivity with Cd and Cr of water organisms. The present study contaminating the river by over 1.3 but Mn exhibited a negative revealed that the water of river billion L waste water per day. Among correlation with conductivity. Cauvery is highly polluted by direct the inorganic contaminants of the contamination of sewage and other river water, heavy metals are getting Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 5 (1), 119- industrial effluents. importance for their non-degradable 124 nature and often accumulate through J Environ Biol. 2007, 28(2):523-6. Estuarine capacity in removal of tropic level causing a deleterious trace metals from contaminated Water pollution has become an biological effect. Anthropogenic acti- river water, Southern Caspian Sea accidental weapon against tribal vities like mining, ultimate disposal of peoples: Dongria Kond of Niyam- treated and untreated waste effluents Flocculation of dissolved Cd, Cu, Ni, giri hills, India containing toxic metals as well as Pb, Mn and Zn with initial concentra- metal chelates from different indus- tions of 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/L in Tadjan The Dongria Kond have farmed the tries, e.g. tannery, steel plants, River water during mixing with the Niyamgiri hills for centuries. It is their battery industries, thermal power Caspian Sea water has been studied only home. About thirty rivers have plants etc. and also the indiscriminate in order to determine estuarine their springs in the Niyamgiri hills, use of heavy metal containing capacity to remove dissolved metals which supply hundreds of thousands fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture in the accidental contamination of the of people, including the Dongria resulted in deterioration of water river. The flocculation process was Kond, with drinking water and quality rendering serious environ- investigated on a series of mixtures irrigation. This precious water, and mental problems posing threat on with salinities ranging from 0.1 to 11 the people it sustains, is under threat human beings. A total of 96 surface p.p.t. The flocculation rates were from a British company with aspira- water samples collected from river indicative of the nonconservative tions to mine the hills for bauxite. The Ganga in during 2004- behaviour of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn and company, Vedanta, has already built 05 was analyzed for pH, EC, Fe, Mn, Zn during estuarine mixing. The order an aluminum refinement plant at the Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni. The pH was of the final flocculation rate of base of the hills. Already, 25,000 found in the alkaline range (7.21- dissolved metals at 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/L people living around the refinery have 8.32), while conductance was of initial metal concentrations in the been affected by water and air obtained in the range of 0.225-0.615 river water is as follows:Cu (99%)>Cd pollution. When the plant is fully mmhos/cm. Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr and Pb (95%)>Zn (88%)>Mn (85%)>Pb operational, the problems will inten- were detected in more than 92% of (83%)>Ni (73%), Cu(95.6%)>Pb sify. The refinery will extract and the samples in the range of 0.025- (92.4%)>Cd (90%)>Zn(88.4%)>Mn consume vast volumes of water from 5.49, 0.025-2.72, 0.012-0.370, ( 8 1 . 6 % ) > N i ( 7 8 . 8 % ) a n d C d the nearby rivers. Heavy metals and 0.012-0.375, 0.001-0.044 and 0.001- (100%)>Cu(88%)>Ni (85.2%)>Pb chemicals will seep into the ground- 0.250 mg/L, respectively, whereas Cd (84%)>Zn (83.2%)>Mn (81.2%), water and devastate the water quality and Cu were detected only in 20 and respectively. The results also revea- across huge areas, threa-tening the 36 samples (0.001-0.003 and 0.003- led that removal of dissolved metals is health, and the harvest, of the 0.032 mg/L). Overall seasonal not influenced by pH changes and Dongria Kond. The Indian govern- variation was significant for Fe, Mn, precipitation processes. The floccula- ment has not issued a mining licence Cd and Cr. The maximum mean tion rates revealed that the overall for Vedanta to operate in the concentration of Fe (1.520 mg/L) was dissolved metal pollution loads may Niyamgiri hills, and so activity has observed in summer, Mn (0.423 be reduced to about 70% up to about slowed for now. But Vedanta's mg/L) in monsoon but Cd (0.003 more than 90% during estuarine subsidiary company, Sterlite Indus- mg/L) and Cr (0.020 mg/L) exhibited mixing of Tadjan River with the tries, has been invited to apply. If it is their maximum during the winter Caspian Sea water. granted a licence and work begins, season. Fe, Mn and Cd concentration the water quality in the Niyamgiri hills Water and Environment Journal 22 also varied with the change of will plummet. The Dongria Kond, who (2008) 193–198

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 5 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

Pollution, Indifference Taint India's years ago, the Indian government operate and maintain them. Myriad Sacred River began a massive program to clean up problems — from inconsistent the river, but for many, Kanpur is proof electricity to indifferent local authori- The Indian city of Kanpur is an that those efforts failed. In 1986, ties and residents — stunted the plan. anomaly — an industrial city that lies Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi annou- Today, the Ganges at Kanpur is on the banks of a river that is revered nced a massive Ganga Action Plan to besieged by pollution, including toxic as a goddess. Kanpur is the largest clean up the river. The basic idea chromium, from local tanneries. The city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and made sense: Intercept and treat local sewage treatment plant sits idle, it sits on the higher, southern bank of pollution before it is discharged into and residents suffer from various skin the Ganges River. But Kanpur's the Ganges. Politicians and engin- ailments, among other health burgeoning industry pours pollution eers in Delhi designed sewage treat- problems. into the sacred river, making it dirty, ment plants, but they then expected unappetizing and synonymous with http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st states and cities to find the money to pollution in residents' eyes. Twenty ory.php?storyId=16709008 DID YOU KNOW ?

! World Water Day - 22 March hepatitis, amoebic dysentery, are leading cause of mortality. typhoid, cholera and cancer ! Water born diseases like

RIVER POLLUTION CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES Namrata Nath Tripathi and Krishna Gopal Aquatic Toxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg, Post Box No. 80, Lucknow.

The word pollution is adaptation of been reported to cause diarrhoea, conductivity, alkalinity, nitrate, phos- the Latin word ``Pollutionem'' mea- gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid, phate and Free CO2 and low dissol- ning contamination. A flexible defin- tuberculosis, meningitis, polimylitis, ved oxygen and pH. The impact was ition of the word aquatic pollution can encephalitis, hepatitis, amoebiasis however localized and water retains be “any effect of human activity which giardiasis, schistosomiasis, skin its original characters after passing alters the natural conditions of the rashes and many other diseases. few hundred meters which recover aquatic environment”. About 97% of Pollution in Indian rivers from high stress of organic pollution. the earth's water supply is in the They have also reported that higher ocean, which is unfit for human India has 14 major rivers each having values of BOD and COD were consumption and other uses because catchment area of 20,000 sq. km and observed at the outfall region of of its high salt content. The remaining above while it has 44 medium rivers effluents. Minimum BOD and COD 2% is locked in the polar ice-caps and with a catchment area between 2000- were found near Kanpur. only 1% is available as fresh water in 20,000 sq. kms. It also has 53 small rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs and rivers each with 2000 sq. km or fewer Dhanapkiam et al., (1999) have sta- ground water which is suitable for catchment areas (Nath, 1999) which ted that the waters in Cauvery river human consumption. generally originates from coastal having low oxygen and relatively high mountains. With the rapid industriali- values of alkalinities, hardness, River are the major source of water, zations and urbanizations during past chlorides, nitrates, phosphates, BOD and water is essential for the 50 years most of our rivers are and sodium potassium were the ecosystem and has been termed as subjected to indiscriminate discharge indication of polluted water and the ``Elixir of life''. Even since the civiliza- of effluents affecting water quality and river was not fit for industrial use and tion man has used water for his aquatic life. Fig. 1 to 6 and Table 1 drinking purpose are suggested that economic gains and sustenance. The represent the sources of river the industrial effluents should be rivers sustained domestic dischar- pollution, whereas Table 2 shows the treated fully and diluted before drai- ges, agricultural runoffs and industrial major Physico - Chemical character- ning into the Cauvery river. Pandey, releases. Variety of pathogens, istics of untreated wastes of some 1999; Tyagi 2001 has been reported chemicals such as heavy metals, industries releases in river. Singh et that Chaliyar river (Calicut), the Mahi pesticides, disinfectants and their by al., (1999 a, b) have shown tremen- river Vardodrra the Ganga at Kanpur products, dyes etc. contaminate the dous impact of pollution on Ganga the Yamuna near Delhi and the Son is water bodies directly or indirectly river water as reflected by high BOD, Bihar have all been the main target of through anthropogenic activities, COD, chloride, hardness, specific water pollution during the recent past. Exposure of them through water has

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 6 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

Major rivers in India.

Table 1 Source of Pollutants in Indian River. Name of River Source of Pollution 1. Yamuna New Delhi DDT Factory, sewage, Indraprastha power 2. Kalil at Meerut (U.P.) Sugar Mills, Distilleries, paint soap, silk, yarn, tin, and glycerin industries. 3. Bajora at Bareilly (U.P.) Synthetic rubber factories. 4. Ganga at Kanpur (U.P.) Jute, chemical, metal and surgical Industries, tanneries, mills and great bulk of domestic sewage of highly organic nature. 5. Gomti of Lucknow (U.P.) Paper and pulp mills sewage. 6. Siwan (Bihar) Paper, sulphur, cement, sugar mills. 7. Damodar between Bakare and Panchet and thermal Fertilizers, fly ash from steel mills, suspended coal particles from power station. washeries 8. Sone at Dalmianagar (Bihar) Cement, pulp and paper mills. 9. Hooghly near Calcutta Power stateion, paper pulp, jute, testile,chemical mills, paint, varnishes, metal, steel hydrogenated vegetable oils rayon and soap, match shellac and polythene industries and sewage. 10. Bhadra (Karnataka) Pulp, paper and steel industries.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 7 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

11. Cooum, Adyar and Buckingham Domestic sewage and automobiles 12. Canvery (Tamil Nadu) Sewage, tanneries, distilleries, paper and rayon mills. 13. Godavari Paper mills. 14. Kulu (between Bombay and Kalyan) Chemical factories, rayon mills and tanneries. 15. Suvaon (in Balrampur in U.P.) Sugar Industries. 16. Cooum (Channai) Automobile work shop and domestic sewage. 17. Ami (Basti) (U.P.) Paper pulp mills.

1 2

3 4

5 6

Figure 1 industrial effluent, 2 funeral process, 3 Socio – cultural activities, 4 disposal of carcass, 5 washing activities, 6 sewage disposal, and 10 pesticide application.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 8 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2 Table 2 Major physico-Chemical characteristics of untreated wastes of some industries releases in river. Industry Physico-Chemical Characteristics 1. Thermal power plants Heat, heavy metals, dissolved solids, and inorganic compounds. 2. Pesticides Aromatic compounds, acidity and high organic matter. 3. Pickles High suspended solids, colour and organic matter. 4. Synthetic mills Zinc, toxic substances, sulphides and high pH. 5. Organic chemical Industry Toxic compounds, phenols, high alkalinity. 6. Explosives Alcohols, metals-TNT and organic acids. 7. Distilleries Very high COD, Low pH, high organic matter, high suspended and dissolved solids Containing nitrogen, high potassium. 8. Tanneries Calcium Chromium, high salt content, Colour, dissolved and suspended matter. 9. Photographic products Organic and inorganic reducing agents, silver and alkalies. 10. Rubber Industry Chlorides, suspended and dissolved solids high BOD and variable pH. 11. Steel mills Acids, phenols, Cyanogen, Low pH, alkali, Lime stone, oils, fine suspended solids, cyanides, Iron, salts, sulphides, oxides of Cu, Hg and Cd. 12. Cotton Industry Sodium, Organic matter, colour, high pH and fibries. 13. Oil refineries Acids, alkalies, phenols tarury or resinous materials and petrolium oils. 14. Metal Plating Metallics toxic cyanides, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, Al and low, pH.

15. Fertilizers High pH, high NH3, high Fluoridies, nitrogen, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, and oxides of sulphur.

16. Mining Chlorides, Ferrous sulphate, suspended solids, heavy metals, H2S, etc. 17. Soap and detergents Tertiary ammonium compounds, alkalies, rise in pH, fatty acids. 18. Pulp & paper Suspended solids, low pH, high BOD, dissolved substances, sulphides, sulphites, bleaching, liquors, organic acids.

Management of river water quality References Mishra, J.P. (1999a). Observation on biochemical and chemical oxygen It is essential in the proper manage- 1. Dhanapakiam, P., Sampoo- demands of certain polluted stretch of ment of river that their area under rani, V. and Kavitha, R. (1999). Asse- river Ganga. J. Environ. Biol. 20: 111 control includes the whole of drain- ssment of water quality of river Cau- – 114. age area of one or more rivers and very. J. Environ. Biol. 20: 347 – 352. their tributaries. Without this, it is 6. Singh, H.P., Mahaver, L.R. and 2. Ellis, M.M. (1937). Detection impossible to fully control river water Mishra, J.P. (1999b). Impact of and measurement of stream pollu- quality (Toms, 1975). To avoid deple- industrial and sewage wastes on tion. Bull U.S. Burm. Fish. 48: 365 – tion or degradation of riverine enviro- water qualities in middle stretch of 370. nment, careful planning and desig- river Ganga from Kanpur to Varanasi. ning ecologically sound management 3. Nath, D. (1999). Chemical Ibid. 20: 279 - 285. plan is the only answer. For conser- characteristics of reverine Ecosys- 7. Toms, R.G. (1975). Manage- ving river water resources, a positive tem: An overview. In :Ecology, Fishe- ment of river water quality. In : River and meaningful approach must be ries and Fish Stock Assessment in Ecology (Ed. B.A. Whitton). Pp. 538 – followed pertaining to quality and Indian rivers (Eds.Sinha, M. Khan, 564. Blackwell Scientific Publication, quantity evaluations of all the rivers M.A., and Jha, B.C.), pp. 9 – 17. CIC- Oxford, London. minor as well as major. The survey FRI Bulletin No. 90. should also be a scientific assess- 8. Tyagi, S.K. (2001). Study on 4. Pandey, K.C. (1999). Con- ment of the needs of various interests water quality and pollution load in cepts of Indian Fisheries. 2nd Edition. like irrigation, navigation, fish culture, river Hindan, U.P. Ph.D. Thesis. Lucknow, U.P., 364p. industrial, recreational, power gene- C.C.S. university, Merut, U.P. ration and domestic needs. 5. Singh, H.P., Mahaver, L.R. and

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 9 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2 CURRENT CONCERNS

All the major rivers of India are facing there is a great concern, due to the protecting our most precious acute water pollution problem. There improper implementation, lack of natural water resources, single step are regulations sets by agencies like awareness among peoples. There is of ourselves can help to overcome CPCB, BIS for the measure and a demand of the today is that each from water pollution. control of water pollution. Even than and every person must contributes for REGULATORY TRENDS

The national Water Policy of 1987 resources of the Sate shall be Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recognizes that water is a prime directed to improve in the quality of regulates water quality in India has natural resource and a basic need of life as well as contributions to classified water standards based on human life. The planning and deve- environmental quality. The Central five broad categories of use. lopment of water and related land

Sl. Designated-Best-Use Class of Criteria Some Examples from No. water Indian River 1. Drinking Water Source A Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml Beas at Manali Himachal without conventional shall be 50 or less pH between 6.5 and Ravi at Madhopur, treatment but after 8.5 Dissolved Oxygen 6mg/l or more Himachal disinfection Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20°C 2mg/l or less 2. Outdoor bathing B Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml Ganges at Rishikesh, (Organised) shall be 500 or less pH between 6.5 Uttar Pradesh Tapi at and 8.5 Dissolved Oxygen 5mg/l or Nepanagar, Madhya more Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 Pradesh days 20°C 3mg/l or less 3. Drinking water source C Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml Achankoli at after conventional shall be 5000 or less pH between 6 to 9 Thumpaman Kerala treatment and Dissolved Oxygen 4mg/l or more Cauvery at Napokulu disinfection Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days Barrage, Karnataka 20°C 3mg/l or less 4. Propagation of Wild D pH between 6.5 to 8.5 Dissolved Brahmani at Panposh, life and Fisheries Oxygen 4mg/l or more Free Ammonia Orissa Brahmaputra at (as N) 1.2 mg/l or less Dibrugarh 5. Irrigation, Industrial E pH betwwn 6.0 to 8.5 Electrical Mahi at the Confluence Cooling, Controlled Conductivity at 25°C micro mhos/cm of River Chap, Gujurat Waste disposal Max.2250 Sodium absorption Ratio Sabarmati at Miroli Max. 26 Boron Max. 2mg/l Village Gujurat

BIS 10500 STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER WATER PURIFIERS Sl. No. Standard Specification & salient features 1. IS 10500:1991 2. IS 14724:1999 Water purifiers with UV disinfect systems th at rid water of water born pathogens and suspended matter for drinking water purposes. 3. IS 7402:1986 Filters system that remove bacteria and suspended matter but not dissolved solids or chemicals E.g. ceramic candle filters. 4. IS 9310:1979 Specification for water purifier (electrically heated). Covers potable water purifier used for consumption in dispensaries hospitals and preparation of medicines. Labels should contain instructions to boil water for 30 min. 5. IS 14543:2004 Packaged drinking water standard. There should not be any pesticides and heavy metals. TDS & salts should be within prescribed limits. No microbial contaminants.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 10 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2 Essential Characteristics Sl. Characteristic Requirement.(desirable) Permissible limit in the absence No. of an alternative source 1. Color-Hazen units, maximum 5 25 2. Odor Unobjectionable Unobjectionable 3. Taste Agreeable Agreeable 4. Turbidity,Ntu,Max 5 10 5. pH value 6.5 to 8.5 No relaxation 6. Total Hardness as CaCo3,max mg/l 300 600 7. Iron as Fe,max mg/l 0.3 1.0 8. Chlorides as Cl,max mg/l 250 1000 9. Residual free Chlorine as Cl, min 0.2 - - Desirable Characteristics 10. Dissolved Solids, mg/l, max 500 2000 11. Calcium as Ca, mg/l,max 75 200 12. Copper as Cu, mg/l,max 0.05 1.5 13. Manganese as Mn, mg/l,max 0.10 0.3 14. Sulphate as So4,mg/l,max 200 400 15. Nitrate as No3,mg/l,max 45 100 16. Fluoride as F, mg/l,max 1.5 1.9 17. Phenolic compounds, mg/lit, max 0.001 0.002 18. Mercury as Hg, mg/lit max 0.001 No relaxation 19. Cadmium as Cd, mg/lit , max 0.01 No relaxation 20. Selenium as Se, mg/lit, max 0.01 No relaxation 21. Arsenic as As, mg/lit, max 0.01 No relaxation 22. Cyanide as Cn, mg/lit, max 0.05 No relaxation 23. Lead as Pb, mg/lit, max 0.05 No relaxation 24. Zinc as Zn, mg/lit, max 5.0 No relaxation 25. Anionic detergents, mg/lit, max 0.2 1.0 26. Chromium as Cr, mg/lit, max 0.05 No relaxation 27. Polynuclear Hydro carbons -- -- 28. Mineral oil, mg/lit ,max 0.01 0.03 29. Pesticides, mg/lit, max Absent 0.001 30. Alkalinity, mg/lit ,max 200 600 31. Aluminum as Al, mg/lit, max 0.03 0.2 32. Boron as B, mg/lit, max 1.0 5.0

Bacteriological Standards: must be zero (0). (ii) Coliform present in 100 ml of any two organisms should not be more than consecutive samples or more than For water in a distribution system – (i) 10 per 100 ml in any sample. (iii) 5% of the samples collected for the E Coli count in 100 ml of any sample Coliform organisms should not be year.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 11 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2 ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Cold Water them, so go on and finish your meal". ask me about it anymore!" A man went to visit his 90 year old That afternoon, while eating the ham- Later that afternoon, he was on his grandfather in a very secluded rural burgers his grandfather made for way out to get dinner in a nearby area of the state he lived in. lunch, he noticed tiny specks around town. As he was leaving, his grand- the edge of his plate and a substance father's dog started to growl and After spending the night, his grand- that looked like dried egg yokes, so wouldn't let him pass so he said, father prepared breakfast for him he ask again, "Are you sure these "Grandfather, your dog won't let me consisting of eggs and bacon. He plates are clean"? out". noticed a film like substance on his plate and he questioned his grand- Without looking up from his ham- Without diverting his attention from father, "are these plates clean?" burger, the grandfather says, "I told the football game he was watching on you before; those dishes are as clean TV his grandfather shouted, "Cold His grandfather replied, "Those pla- as cold water can get them. Now don't Water, Go lay down!" tes are as clean as cold water can get ON THE WEB http://www.indiawaterportal.org/ www.csshome.com/WaterMarine www.indiastat.com/ This website gives information Help protect our oceans and rivers. Environment and Pollution Related regarding water quality, policies, etc. Funding projects worldwide. News.

BOOK STOP

River Pollution in India and Its contains research papers and review Management Editors: Krishna articles describing scientific as well as Gopal and Anil Kumar Agarwal developmental aspects of conserva- tion and management of aquatic res- ources. With emphasizing the multi- disciplinary approach of the knowle- dge on ecosystem, the enormous wealth of variety of life and their associations, application of techno- logy and implications in practice, the book will be of immense use to everyone associated with biodiversity and resource management. It will also serve as reference book for researcher, policy makers and regu- latory agencies. Pollution and Biomonitoring of Indian Rivers Editor: R.K. Trivedy Publisher: ABD, 2000 are prominent rivers covered in the volume. Studies on major rivers are ISBN: 81-85771-12-X. reported from different states. A The present volume is a compendium number of rivers have been studied of recent research on ecological on different locations in different studies on Indian rivers with empha- states. Publisher: A P H Pub., 2003 sis on pollution and biological The book shall be highly useful to monitoring. A large number of rivers researchers of this field, Pollution ISBN: 81-7648-445-8. like Ganga, Damodar, Purma, Control Boards, Environmental Engi- The book depicts the most important Kuttiadi, Narmada, Saraswati, Khan, neers, Students and Teachers of aspects of pollution, conservation Satlaj, Chambal, Yanuna, Bhadra, Environmental Sciences and NGO's and management of riverine environ- Mayurakshi, Sabarmati, Shankha, working in this field ment/resources with particular refere- Panchganga, Krishna, Shivnath, nce to biotic and abiotic factors. It Koyana and Dikhow. River of Assam

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 12 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

River of Love in an Age of Pollu- Press, 2006 western counterpart. River of Love in an Age of Pollution concludes with a tion: The Yamuna River of Nor- ISBN: 978-0-520-24789-5 thern India consideration of the broader implica- Celebrated as an aquatic form of tions of the Yamuna's plight and its divinity for thousands of years, the effect on worldwide efforts to pre- Yamuna is one of India's most sacred serve our environment. rivers. A prominent feature of north Water Contamination and Health Indian culture, the Yamuna is concep- (Environmental Science and Pollu- tualized as a goddess flowing with tion Control liquid love—yet today it is severely polluted, the victim of fast-paced Editor: Rhoda G.M. Wang industrial development. This fascina- Publisher: CRC, 1994 ting and beautifully written book investigates the stories, theology, and ISBN-10: 0824789229 religious practices connected with This volume examines every poten- this river goddess collected from texts tial means of exposure to water written over several millennia, as well contaminants, provides in-depth as from talks with pilgrims, priests, discussions on toxicology, and and worshippers who frequent the explains up-to-date techniques for pilgrimage sites and temples located evaluating human health risk. It on her banks. David L. Haberman develops a methodology for asse- offers a detailed analysis of the ssing the cumulative absorbed dose environmental condition of the river of contaminants through all routes of and examines how religious practices exposure, including ingestion, inhala- are affected by its current pollution. tion and dermal. Federal and state He introduces Indian river environ- efforts to monitor and treat water are mentalism, a form of activism that is Author: David L. Haberman examined. different in many ways from its Publisher: University of California MINI PROFILE OF ENDOSULFAN

Synonyms: Endosol, Thiosulfan, 0 C, Sol in Xylene, Kerosene, Recommended Exposure Limit: TWA Devisulphan, Cyclodan Chloroform, Acetone, & Alcohol, (10 hr): 0.1 mg/m3 Vapor Pressure: 6.2X10-6 mm Hg @ CASRN: 115-29-7 Toxicity Data: 20 0C. Molecular Formula: C -H -C -O -S LD Rat oral 18 mg/kg 9 6 l6 3 Uses: Non-systemic insecticide and 50

Molecular Weight: 406.93 acaricide. LD50 Mouse oral 7360 ug/kg Properties: Color/Form: Brown Environmental Quality Standard: LD50 Dog oral 76,700 ug/kg crystals, Odour: Similar to terpene, 0 Permissible Exposure Limit: TWA: Boiling Point: 106 C at 0.7 mm Hg, 3 LD50 Cat oral 2 mg/kg 0 0.1 mg/m Melting Point: 106 C, Corrosive to LD Rabbit oral 28 mg/kg iron, Octanol/Water Partition Coeffi- Threshold Limit Values: TWA (8 hr): 50 3 cient: log Kow = 3.83 (alpha), 0.1 mg/m LD50 Hamster oral 118 mg/kg Density/Specific Gravity: 1.745 @ 20

Route Symptoms First Aid Target Organ Inh & Headache, giddiness, Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, give Ing nervousness, blurred artificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth, if vision, weakness, nausea, possible. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by cramps, diarrhea, and a poison control center or doctor. Do not give anything by discomfort in the chest mouth to an unconscious person Cont May cause irritation to Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for Skin & Eyes eyes and skin. 15 to 20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15 to 20 minutes.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 13 May 2008 Vol. 15, No. 2

Irritancy & Sensitization: Skin, Eye drug may be used only if complete used. Keep away from humidity and and Respiratory Irritations. control of respiration can be main- heat. Do not handle/store near food, tained. Epinephrine derivatives are drink and feedstuff. Keep out of reach Treatment & Antidotes: There is no absolutely contraindicated. of children. specific antidote. Diazepam I.V. is the drug of choice. Barbituric acid Handling and Storage: Wear pro- Warning: Endosulfan is a central derivatives such as Phenobarbital tective clothing, rubber gloves, nervous system stimulant absorbable may be used additionally. A neuro- pesticide approved respirator and by mouth, inhalation or through con- muscular blocking agent may be used eye protection when handling this tact with skin. It may cause con- if convulsions persist. This type of product. Keep containers closed if not vulsions.

ENVIS NEWSLETTER 14 ENVIS QUERY FOR

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