Sources of Food Contamination in Vehari

(najma bibi, rajanpur)

The name Vehari means low lying settlement by a flood water channel. The district lies along the right bank of the river Satluj which forms its southern boundary.
The district consists of plain area with fertile land. It is a part of Indus plain. It has the best cultivated land which is suitable for cotton, wheat and other agricultural crops. Vehari district lies Nili Bar which is between Ravi and Bias and Sutlej rivers. Its land is irrigated with the fertile water of Chenab and Ravi rivers.

The Bias River is locally known as the Viyah. The old bed of the river is known as Sukh Bias. The stream enters Vehari district near Sheikh Fazal and joins Satluj River via Pakhi More and Pul. The path of the nullah has changed over the years; it currently joins Satluj River via Burewala.

Vehari District has a big canal system with two canals namely Pakpatan and Mailsi canal. The total numbers of canals including their minors in the district are 19 with a total length of about 1,380. These canals are basically the main source of contamination.

Actually Food contaminants are those substances which get mixed with foods indirectly and cause harm to the food eaters. Contamination can occur at every step on the way from raw material i.e. growing or sowing stage to harvesting or eating stage.

Food contamination is the transfer of biological or chemical contaminants to food products from raw foods, food handlers, or the food handling environment.

Food contamination
Food contamination can occur through Air, water, Soil, Packaging materials; Processing/cooking equipment and naturally occurring toxins etc.There are mainly three ways which are contaminating food in Vehari:
• Physical
• Chemical
• Bacterial

Physical
Majority of the population is poor to middle class. Poverty is the main cause of pollution and this pollution leads to food contamination. There are numerous heaps and waste piles present everywhere in Vehari. These are temporary dumping sites of waste for local people. These includes food and kitchen waste, green waste, paper, glass, bottles, cans, metals, certain plastics, fabrics, clothes, batteries, electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) - electrical appliances, TVs, computers, screens, waste clothing, Tetra Packs, waste plastics such as toys, paints, chemicals, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, spray cans, fertilizer and containers pesticide, herbicides, fungicides, medical waste. The leachate from these piles contains harmful chemicals, heavy metal, pathogens, foul smells etc, and contaminates ground water. Unfortunately these are along the banks of main and link canal, also contaminating surface water. This water is used for irrigation of crops, in turn causing food contamination.

Chemical
Chemical sources of contamination are of most concern in Vehari. Pesticides ware houses which are in the suburbs of Vehari. But their smell can be felt from half km. They contaminate the soil during handling, storage and transport. There are several open sewage holes in the city. The old sewage lines are broken and waste water of these sewage lines mixed with ground water and makes this water polluted. Some sewage pipes lines are directly emptied into main canal. Local people living near the link canal also dump their wastes, wash cloths, wash kitchen wares. Cattles are also given bath in these canals. Seeds are washed with acids before sowing. This acidic water is directly dumped into main canal. Pesticide & fertilizers are applied in fields during spring without proper information about the needs of crops. Result is the leaching of chemicals to ground water. Soil and ground water are already containing arsenic and lead which is carcinogenic.

Almost whole city uses distilled water for drinking, but for cooking and washing purposes this contaminated water is used. There are several agro-based industrial units and cotton ginning factories due to the superior quality of cotton produced in the area. A total of 115 cotton factories exist in district Vehari. Besides these industrial units; 300 oil mills, 30 Flour Mills, 60 Rice Mills, 100 poultry sheds and one of the largest egg processing unit is also working for the industrial uplift of the area. Also contaminate soil and water with their harmful wastes.

Bacterial
Bacterial contamination occurs through water medium. Leafy greens vegetables, like spinach, lettuce etc rank at the top list of riskiest foods. These greens are grown on large fields, which are susceptible to E. coli contamination from grazing animals that are tracking manure, or from contaminated irrigation water which contains human and animal faeces. The climate of Vehari is hot and humid, which is best suited for the growth of algae even at slight shade and moisture. Due to agricultural activities, large number of pollen and dust spread during harvesting which settle to ground and on water, not good for asthma patient. Vehari Wildlife Park is also a source of pathogenic bacteria from wild animals which contaminate the soil and water. Genetically engineered chicken such as broiler contains salmonella bacteria, which is eagerly consumed by the citizens.

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