'Dry stems' help identify chemical in fruits: Experts
Experts have advised people to stay away from chemically treated summer fruits which they said could be identified through their “dry stems” as reports feared toxicity in fruits caused deaths of 13 children in the country's northwestern region.
“Whenever you see the stalk (stem) of mango or other such summer fruit is dry, be confirmed it is contaminated with chemicals,” said Dr M Shafiqul Islam, chief scientific officer at Mango Research Institute in Chapai Nawabganj.
He said harmful calcium carbide and ethephon are being used in summer fruits for overnight ripening with attractive colours while formalin was used to preserve them.
“Mangoes mixed with the chemicals are extremely hazardous for human health as those have a long-term affect on human body,” Shafiqul said.
Officials of the institute said only 100 gram of calcium carbide can ripen nearly 100 kilogram of mangoes. The chemicals could cause diseases like cancer, kidney and liver complications.
Investigations by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) found that chemicals are being used in mango and lichee in two phases at traders' level.
“The traders were found to be using three types of chemicals at different phases,” said Lt Col Mohammad Quamrul Hasan, commander at RAB-5 in Rajshahi.
Health officials and reports said contaminated lichees alone had caused deaths of at least 13 children in Dinajpur during this month while samples of the victims' blood, saliva and stool and urine samples were sent to the United States for detailed confirmation.
About use of chemicals on mangoes, Executive Magistrate of RAB AHM Anwar Pasha said, alongside punitive steps “we prefer to raise awareness among people as well as mango growers and traders.”
“The RAB also conduct drives against the use of chemical on mangoes and other summer fruits. But it is not long term solution,” Pasha said.
Senior Scientific Officer of Fruits Research Centre in Rajshahi Dr Alim Uddin said awarness should be raised among the traders and growers about bad impact of chemical on human body.
Abdur Rahim, a mango trader in Chapainawabganj, said they were not aware about exact amount of “permissible chemicals” like ehephon” for ripening fruits and its impact on human body.
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