Environmentalists and health experts have expressed their serious concern over issuance of tender notice by the Punjab Food Department to purchase 15,000 bales (15 million bags) polypropylene bags for packing and storage of wheat.
The environmental experts said many scientific studies conducted in the country have proved that polypropylene bags are harmful for the human health, and they contaminate the grains particularly when wheat is stored in these bags.
Ignoring the health warnings against the use of polypropylene bags for keeping the food grains, the chief purchase officer of the Punjab food department on December 12, 2003 issued a tender notice for supply of new polypropylene woven bags of 50-kg capacity within 45 days, and opening of the tender on December 18, 2003.
It may be pointed out that Punjab government's public analyst had earlier suggested the food department to use only bags which are made from natural fibre instead of harmful polypropylene woven bags.
He, in a letter to the food department had strongly opposed the use of polypropylene bags for storage of wheat.
"The government spends huge amount on the purchase of wheat, therefore, safe and adequate arrangements for the storage are required in the interest of the consumers' health," the letter stated.
Moreover, Director of Research at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, in its research had warned health hazards associated with the use of polypropylene bags.
It stated in a letter: "Polypropylene used for packing of edibles have toxic nature-very minute amounts result in food toxicity if kept for a longer time. Such toxicity enters the food chain and finally causing serious diseases in human being."
The main attraction for the government to use polypropylene bags is their low cost as compared to higher cost of the bags, which are produced from natural fibre.
The environmentalists believe the natural fibre bags are reusable and used many times for years, whereas polypropylene bags are used for one time. If procured and used for many times, the natural fibre bags cost the same as polypropylene bags, they said.
"The obvious reason for the officials deciding to go for PP bags may be the price factor, as PP bags are much cheaper as compared to other bags but at the cost of the health," said a statement issued by National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH).
The NFEH urged the Punjab government to avoid using polypropylene bags in transportation and storage of wheat, as they are harmful to human health and instead use other options.
Since the PP bags contain toxic and carcinogenic substances released into the environment their use for storage of wheat has been strictly opposed by the scientists of PCSIR laboratories also, it added.
The Pakistan Council of Scientific, Industrial Research (PCSIR) in a Technical Report, issued in 2000-01 observed that Woven Polypropylene (WPP) bags show a rapid deterioration in the tensile strength as these bags get punctured on slight mechanical jerk.
This is also observed that these bags are susceptible to heat and light, which causes their degradation.
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