by Business Recorder

Toxic chemicals particularly high levels of DDT were found in eggs near a dumpsite on the outskirts of Peshawar, reveals a study on "The Egg Report" presented at a seminar on "contamination of food due to chemicals (POPs) exposure" at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SPDI) on Monday.

Dr Mehmood A. Khwaja of SDPI, speaking on the occasion, said chicken eggs were chosen for the study because it was common food item and their fat contents make them appropriate for monitoring fat-soluble chemical pollutants.

He, however, added the data of the study was indicative and should not be generalised. He said Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are long-lasting and can travel long distances on air and water currents.

Professor Ishtiaq A. Qazi, principal, IESE, Nust, Rawalpindi, Professor M Rasool Jan, chairman, Chemistry Department, University of Peshawar, and Dr S. Touqeer Abbas from NARC, Islamabad, reviewed the report, while Asif Shuja Khan, director-general, Pakistan Environmental Agency, chaired the seminar.

The study of free-range chicken eggs from 20 locations in 17 countries found high levels of contamination with POPs such as dioxins and PCBs.

In Pakistan, Dr Khwaja said the study was carried out by SDPI, Arnika Association of Czech Republic and International POPs Elimination Network in collaboration with Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency at a dumpsite in Peshawar. Egg samples were analysed in the Axys Varilab Laboratory in Czech Republic.

He said it was the first reported study of POPs contamination in chicken eggs in Pakistan. Though, presence of POPs likes dioxins, furans, PCBs, HCB was not very high. Dr Khwaja demanded early ratification of Stockholm Convention on POPs by Pakistan, which it had signed in December 2001.

He also called for strict enforcement of ban on sale and use of DDT, especially in rural areas, besides launching awareness efforts and launching POPs monitoring projects and study on health impacts.

He said Pakistan needed comprehensive waste management strategy to avoid waste dumping and open burning, especially plastic shopping bags and indiscriminate use of incinerators. Dr Khwaja said Pakistan needed a collective effort to combat POPs.

However, he added the study in Pakistan should have some data on eggs from a place distant from the dumpsite in Peshawar.

Professor Rasool Jan said Pakistan, being agriculture and over-populated country, was using excessive pesticides and producing more and more waste. He stressed the need for conducting more studies on the subject and feared that excessive use of pesticides would soon find its way to every kind of food web.

Dr S. Touqeer Abbas said the egg sample for the study in Pakistan was too small, adding it may lead to delusion of generalisation.

Asif Shuja Khan said DDT was banned in Pakistan in 1992, but unfortunately it is still available freely and easily. He said the DDT is smuggled into Pakistan from neighbouring countries. He said awareness was needed on POPs on a large-scale in Pakistan.