Poison in plenty
A survey conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, in December 1998 confirms the presence of high levels of pesticides such as HCH and DDT in cattle and pig carcasses collected from areas surrounding the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur : Vulture cuisine). Eight samples were collected, of which three were from Saidpur and Dharapur villages, close to Bharatpur. The other samples were collected from Azadpur, Nangloi, Alipur and Najafgarh areas in Delhi and from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.
Analysis of eight samples was completed at the Facility for Ecological and Analytical Testing at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The results are alarming.
• The levels of DDT found in the samples varied from 0.011 ppm to 0.632 ppm. The mere presence of DDT is of great concern as its use in agriculture has been banned in India.
• HCH levels were higher than DDT in all samples. Average HCH levels in Delhi samples were twice higher than in samples from Bharatpur. One pig sample from Mathura had twice as much HCH as the samples from Delhi.
• Among the various forms of HCH, the most toxic forms, alpha-HCH and beta-HCH, were found to be higher than the other forms. These forms initiate physiological and biochemical malfunctions in animals and birds, including the vultures that feed on carcasses.
• Dieldrin was found in three out of four sample collected from Delhi. It could not be detected in the samples from Bharatpur. Dieldrin is a very potent poison for birds. It can cause severe brain damage resulting in death.
| VULTURE CUISINE Leg-muscle samples of carcasses collected by CSE and analysed by Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, show high levels of pesticides
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