City residents exposed to health hazards
Dhaka residents are being exposed to serious health hazards by consuming vegetables contaminated with chemicals, said speakers yesterday during a seminar organised by Save the Environment Movement (POBA) in the capital.
Approximately 1.5 crore residents consume 50 tonnes of vegetables daily and around 30 MT is contaminated with hazardous pesticides.
Speakers said that pesticide residues, microbiological hazards, chemical contaminants and the misuse of artificial additives are responsible for alarmingly low standards of food safety in Bangladesh.
Prof Khurshid Jahan, former director and Prof Khaleda Islam of Institution of Nutrition Food Sciences presented the keynote papers.
Speakers urged the government to take immediate steps to promote greater awareness of the risks posed by contaminated food.
Other speakers at the seminar at BIRDEM hospital auditorium included Chairman of POBA Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Cancer Society Dr Molla Obaidullah Baki, Director of BIRDEM Laboratory Service Prof Shuvagata Chowdhury, President of Communist Party of Bangladesh Manjurul Ahsan Khan and the Chairman of Manash, the anti-drug organistion, Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury.
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