Small farmers who irrigate crops with wastewater in peri-urban areas of Varanasi, India, show higher levels of contamination in soils and crops than those using cleaner water.

Researchers from the University of Sussex, UK, found that soils and crops have high levels of heavy metal contamination such as zinc, lead, copper, cadmium, chromium, manganese and nickel.

The farmers eat their vegetables and sell them at urban markets, raising a serious health concern. The report [1] says that local communities and authorities need to consider the costs and learn how to reduce risks.

The team says that there are neither quality standards for irrigation water in India nor quality monitoring. Standards established by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act for vegetables and other crops are much more lenient than standards established by the European Union and Codex Alimentarius.

The project is comparing sites in India (Varanasi) and Zambia (Lusaka, Kafue and Mufulira) with University of Sussex and King's College London as lead partners. This report deals only with Varanasi.

[1] Marshall, F. ... [et al.] (2006). Contaminated irrigation water and food safety for the urban and peri-urban poor : appropriate measures for monitoring and control from field research in India. (Briefing paper). Brighton, UK, University of Sussex.

Web site:University of Sussex - SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research

Contact: Dr Fiona Marshall (Project Leader) Deputy Director SPRU (Science and Technology Policy Research) The Freeman Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QE Email: F.Marshall@sussex.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)1273 877130

Related news: Wastewater irrigation: sewage waters a tenth of world’s crops, Source, 17 Nov 2005; Wastewater reuse in Latin America: quality issues need attention, Source, 18 Nov 2005

Source:Toxics Link, 18 July 2007

Tags: information and communication, policies & legislation, water resources management, water-related diseases