Vegetables and agriculture crops grown in Peshawar city are three times more contaminated than the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and are extremely toxic, resultantly causing severe nervous breakdown, lethargy besides being a causative factor of cancer, pre mature baby deliveries etc.
This was stated by Professor Dr Ikhtiar while presenting his latest research on the vegetables and crops grown in and around Peshawar. The lecture was a part of the series of informative seminars and symposiums in light of the United Nations decisions of celebrating 2011 as International Year of Chemistry, at the Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar.
He said that in order to create awareness among the people of Peshawar, he conducted the study and was amazed that much of the irrigation for farming inside Peshawar is being done through city sewerage water and much of this municipal water comes from hospitals and industries.
In the study they took three areas, two were those which were being irrigated by the sewerage water and one control group which was irrigated with canals located in the peripheries of Peshawar. He said that although the canal irrigation crops were also not up to the WHO standards but the level of toxicity in the sewerage water needs to be rectified immediately otherwise they would be facing many different viral and bacterial diseases and infections in the provincial metropolis.
Dr Ikhtiar said that if the irrigation department has no other option but to offer sewerage water for agriculture in Peshawar, then it must be treated properly to eradicate its pollutant and harmful effects. About the use of pesticides he said that a proper Integrated Pest Management technique must be adopted.
Director Institute of Chemical Sciences Professor Dr Imdad praised the work done by Dr Ikhtiar and said that the resolve of United Nations to declare 2011 as year of chemistry was to bring awareness among the masses about chemistry, chemicals and its effects on life of an individual. He said that the environmental Protection Agency and other concerned organisation must take note of the issue and take possible corrective measures.