40pc fertilisers adulterated
Says SRDI survey
About 40 per cent urea and non-urea fertilisers available in the market is adulterated and contains highest level of heavy metal that can cause serious health hazards to the people and affect food production and soil fertility in the long run.
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) revealed this in a recent sample analysis of different kinds of fertiliser.
The SRDI analysed 3780 samples received from different sources like the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Corporation (BARC), private importers and entrepreneurs, dealers, law enforcement agencies and NGOs. Of the samples, 1516 were found adulterated.
The samples, received from July 2009 to May 2010, also contain highest 72 percent adulteration in mixed fertiliser like NPKS and zinc sulfate, said the SRDI survey report.
Adulteration at the rate of 64 percent has been detected in other fertilisers while in Single Super Phosphate (SSP) it is at 55 percent, Organic fertiliser at 51 percent, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) at 39 percent, Gypsum at 36 percent, Boron fertiliser at 35 percent, Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at 20 percent, Muriate of Potash (MOP) at 19 percent and magnesium sulfate at 9 per cent, the survey said.
The nature and degree of adulteration of fertiliser were different and deficit of nutrient contents than the approved specific limit were found to be used in adulteration, it said, adding that some organic fertilisers are made from soil mixing with a little bit urea and granulated with burned mobile for black color.
Besides, locally produced zinc fertiliser sulfate available in the local market are highly contaminated with cadmium or lead, said the report, adding that 40,258 ppm (parts per million) cadmium has been found in zinc fertiliser which is 4024 times greater than allowable limit like 10 ppm maximum approved by the government.
The use of highly heavy metal contaminated zinc sulfate fertilisers may cause health hazard through food chain, the report mentioned.
Application of such adulterated fertilisers because of their low nutrient contents may induce rapid depletion of nutrients from the soil and thereby reduces crop yields, said Dr Zainal Abedin, senior scientific officer of the central laboratory of the SRDI.
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