Pollution control board officials collect samples from Sewree mudflats to check toxicity

Following the case of a flamingo’s collapse in the swamps of the highly polluted suburb of Sewri last week “due to toxicity in the water”, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has collected water samples from the mudflats for thorough chemical analysis.
BD Wadde, MPCB regional officer in Mumbai, said that on May 19, immediately after the incident, his officials visited the spot where the migratory bird was found, and collected about two-and-a half litre of water to carry out detailed tests. The samples have now been forwarded to the MPCB labs and results will be out in a month.
“We have to ensure that dissolved oxygen (DO) has not fallen below 5 mg per litre. If that happens, the aquatic animals may die due to suffocation,” Wadde said.
The pH level, DO levels, turbidity, total dissolved solid, ammonical nitrogen content, nitrate, phosphate, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) as well as the total and faecal coliform contents in the water will also be checked.
A separate micro pollutant test will also be carried out to rule out pesticide content in the water. This test will check for DDT, endosulphan, aldrin, diedrin, methyl parathion, chloropyriphos etc in the water. Existence of toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, zinc, chromium, lead, nickel and iron will also be checked.
However, pollution control board officials suspected that high effluent contents in the water may not have caused the bird’s collapse. “There are very few industries within the city and there is a stringent check on waste disposal. It is not possible that the mudflats are so polluted. This seems like a one off case and it is possible that the bird could have had a bad health condition,” he explained.
Flamingo still not wellThe flamingo found at the mudflats two weeks ago is still battling to recover at the SPCA Hospital. The bird, which had diarrhea and was vomiting blood, when it was hospitalised, is now finding it difficult to walk or fly. “The flamingo has been put on a treatment of vitamin tonics and supplements. The toxins seem to have damaged its nerves. It is lying prostrate and not standing up, said Dr Y Kaginkar of the SPCA Hospital. The toxins in the bird’s system cannot be checked as the veins of the bird are delicate now. “When the bird becomes strong, I shall conduct further tests,” adds Kaginkar