CHENNAI: PMK founder S Ramadoss has urged the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to take steps to remove microplastics from drinking water.
Reacting to the Deccan Chronicle report on Sunday about microplastic contamination in Red Hills Lake, Dr. Ramadoss said, “It is shocking to know about the microplastic contamination in one of the main drinking water sources of Chennai.”
He pointed out that if preventive measures were not taken immediately it could cause a major health problem for the residents of Chennai. “The microplastics would enter as a foreign particle in the human body if we drink the normal water. But, when the water is heated, at 100 degrees Celsius, it would release toxic substance 'dioxin' which could weaken the immune system and would likely to be carcinogenic to humans,” he said.
The CMWSSB supplies drinking water to more than one crore people in the city. “Most of the poor people drink the metro water after boiling it. Dioxin could affect their health. Due to insufficient information about the magnitude of the issue, the CMWSSB may not have taken any action until now. Following the recent study of researchers from Anna University, now, the metro water board should take immediate steps to study the other three reservoirs which are supplying water to the city,” he demanded.
He also called for restrictions on dumping plastic waste such as Thermocol near the lakes and using fishing nets in these reservoirs. “After joining hands with institutions like Anna University, the water board needs to develop filters and other ways to remove microplastics and other toxicants from drinking water,” he urged.
