The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently sought responses from the Union Agriculture and Environment Ministries and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) regarding the presence of arsenic in food, particularly rice. .A Coram of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel initiated the case suo motu based on a Times Now news article titled 'Arsenic in Food: Should you wash rice before cooking it?'."The matter relates to the presence of arsenic in rice as warned by experts that can be poisonous for human body. As per the article, arsenic found naturally in soil and water is considered toxic and can be easily washed away by soaking and washing the rice properly," the order dated May 16 recorded..As per the article, arsenic found in different levels in different areas, naturally occurs in water, soil and rocks and easily enters the food chain. It said that arsenic pollution has been rising as a result of human activities including pesticides and herbicides, wood preservatives, phosphate fertilizers, industrial waste, mining activities, coal burning and smelting. Rice is particularly susceptible to arsenic contamination given that it is grown in flooded fields and absorbs more water compared to other crops.The NGT recorded that as per World Health Organisation (WHO), long term symptoms of arsenic poisoning tend to occur in the skin first and can show up within five years of exposure and cases of extreme poisoning can even lead to death. This raises a substantial issue relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of laws, the NGT opined.Therefore, it sought responses from the CPCB as well as the Ministries and listed the matter for further hearing on September 2..[Read Order]
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently sought responses from the Union Agriculture and Environment Ministries and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) regarding the presence of arsenic in food, particularly rice. .A Coram of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel initiated the case suo motu based on a Times Now news article titled 'Arsenic in Food: Should you wash rice before cooking it?'."The matter relates to the presence of arsenic in rice as warned by experts that can be poisonous for human body. As per the article, arsenic found naturally in soil and water is considered toxic and can be easily washed away by soaking and washing the rice properly," the order dated May 16 recorded..As per the article, arsenic found in different levels in different areas, naturally occurs in water, soil and rocks and easily enters the food chain. It said that arsenic pollution has been rising as a result of human activities including pesticides and herbicides, wood preservatives, phosphate fertilizers, industrial waste, mining activities, coal burning and smelting. Rice is particularly susceptible to arsenic contamination given that it is grown in flooded fields and absorbs more water compared to other crops.The NGT recorded that as per World Health Organisation (WHO), long term symptoms of arsenic poisoning tend to occur in the skin first and can show up within five years of exposure and cases of extreme poisoning can even lead to death. This raises a substantial issue relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of laws, the NGT opined.Therefore, it sought responses from the CPCB as well as the Ministries and listed the matter for further hearing on September 2..[Read Order]