RTI reveals presence of harmful chemicals in GHMC's anti-mosquito spray
14 Oct, 2013An application was filed with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details about the chemicals used in the anti-mosquito spray used by the corporation.
The reply from the municipal corporation stated that the anti-mosquito spray contains organo-phosphate chemicals such as temephos, fenthion, malathion, and DDT which can be extremely harmful for the human beings. The medical specialists believe that organo-phosphate chemicals, if sprayed directly, can affect the enzymes that are released from the nervous system and thus their spray must be done in such a cautious manner that the humans don’t come in contact with them.
The doctors also said that all the chemicals used in anti-mosquito spray are actually pesticides and their use in public can do more harm than good. Also, out of these chemicals DDT is even banned in most of the countries. Moreover, the RTI reply also showed that no kind of studies have been conducted by the GHMC to check the effects of the chemicals used in mosquito control operations. However, the chief entomologist of GHMC claimed that all the chemicals used in the spray are in accordance with the guidelines issued by the central government and the director of health of the state.