National seminar on ‘Ecotoxicology and Human Health' held in Berhampur University

Toxins have become a major threat to human health, say experts

Toxins also affect reproductive, nervous and cardiovascular systems of humans

Toxins also affect seed germination and growth in plants

200 delegates from different universities participated in this seminar

Rising toxicity in environment has started to become a major threat to human health, opined experts at a national seminar on ‘Ecotoxicology and human health' being held in the Berhampur University, Odisha. This two-day seminar being organised by the Department of Zoology of the university in collaboration with its Botany Department was inaugurated on Sunday. Inaugural session of the seminar was presided by Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University, Jayant Kumar Mohapatra. The VC of Bikrama Singhapuri University, Nellore G.Rami Reddy was the chief guest.

The Indian Society of Biotechnology & Pharmacy conferred a Fellowship to Prof. N.K. Tripathy for his contributions to Science during this seminar. Around 200 delegates from different universities of the country are participating in this seminar.

Ecotoxicology is a multidisciplinary discipline that studies effect of toxic chemicals in the environment on flora and fauna including human populace. It can be said to be integration of ecology and toxicology.

During the seminar there was discussion on different types of toxic materials whose stresses are on the rise in the environment. These toxic materials include polycholorinated biphenyls found mostly in coolants, pesticides, volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde, asbestos, heavy metals including arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium as well as commonly found chlorine.

Experts said these toxins have become part of food chain and through it they are affecting the human populace.

People who are in continuous contact with these environmental toxins are also at risk of genetic abnormalities. These toxins also affect reproductive, nervous and cardiovascular systems of humans. These toxins also affect seed germination and growth in plants. As plants are the primary producers in any food chain in this world these changes have their long term effect on the human race.

They advocated for regular ecotoxicity tests in all areas and strict measures to check the rise of this menace which would prove lethal for the human life in long run.

Source: The Hindu