The lethal and poisonous compound arsenic has been found in soil water in eight Punjab districts, causing harmful diseases especially cancer, skin diseases due to unabated use of agriculture pesticides, industrial chemicals and wastage of petroleum products in these areas, said officials.
Four major causes of arsenic spread have been identified include continuous changes in bottom of rocks, assimilation of agriculture pesticides in soils, release of chemical water from leather tanneries and wastage of petroleum products.
Officials said various national and international agencies have initiated study tours in Punjab districts from 1999 to 2003 which revealed rapid penetration of deadly compound arsenic in soil water in eight districts of the province.
The soil water standard in these districts has been observed critically lower as compared to World Health Organisation water standards. The WHO water standard is 10-PPB but in Pakistan it stand at 50-PPB while it is observed in effected districts between 100 to 200 PPB.
Assistant Director Local Government Mohiuddin Siyal told this scribe that the arsenic has poisoned the sub-soil water in eight districts including Multan, Bahawal-pur, Rahimyar Khan, Jhang, Sargo-dha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffar-garh and Rajanpur.
The Unicef has commissioned an NGO for detailed survey in Multan, RY Khan and Bahawalpur to assess the concentration of arsenic in soil water while the survey in the rest of five districts would be conducted later, he said.
Siyal said when arsenic was found in BD, Nepal and S Lanka the study tours were organised in Pakistan to check arsenic in soil water.
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