In lots of villages alongside the Cauvery River, often known as the lifeblood of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, freshwater fish is a staple meals, making it reasonably priced, domestically out there, and an essential supply of protein for households.
Nonetheless, growing proof of river air pollution has raised issues that this on a regular basis meals could pose long-term well being dangers, significantly for the communities that devour it every day, and might also contribute to dietary insecurity.
long run publicity
A current research by scientists from Varathidasan College in Tamil Nadu confirmed elevated ranges of heavy metals in fish caught from a number of elements of the Cauvery river. The research notes that occasional fish consumption could not trigger instant hurt, however warns that long-term publicity, significantly to metals equivalent to cadmium and lead, can have cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic results, relying on frequency of consumption and the age of the person.
This researchearth environmental scienceanalyzed sediment from 18 websites and fish samples from 10 websites alongside the Cauvery River between August 2023 and February 2024. They investigated the presence of chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc and located that metallic accumulation different extensively by species and placement. In some circumstances, concentrations of cadmium and lead particularly exceeded internationally acknowledged well being danger thresholds.
These findings add to the rising physique of proof pointing to continual air pollution within the Cauvery basin. A 2014 research revealed in Environmental Nanotechnology Journal An investigation into the affect of chemical industrial effluent close to Mettur dam discovered that each the Cauvery river and close by groundwater have been severely contaminated, making the water unfit for ingesting and home use.
A newer evaluation of the Noyyal River basin, a tributary of the Cauvery River within the western districts of Tamil Nadu, discovered widespread heavy metallic contamination in floor waters. The air pollution was primarily associated to industrial wastewater and seasonal runoff.
contaminated meals chain
In a state the place many households already battle to get sufficient protein of their typical eating regimen, contamination of an reasonably priced and important meals supply poses severe public well being issues. For low-income households with restricted entry to costly options equivalent to meat, eggs, and even legumes, river fish typically fills an essential hole in grain-based diets.
Seen by way of the lens of One Well being, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of human well being, animal well being, and environmental well being, contamination of Cauvery fish by untreated industrial waste and municipal sewage has penalties down the meals chain, in the end surfacing on family plates.
Consultants say the chance lies in repeated meals, not one meal. Many fishing villages and low-income households devour fish a number of instances per week, generally as their fundamental supply of animal protein. Suggestions recommending “moderation” or limiting consumption could also be unrealistic for households whose meals selections are pushed by worth quite than style.
However it’s essential to seek out options, says Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, a dietitian at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. “Excessive-protein greens equivalent to eggs, milk and dairy merchandise, pulses, mushrooms and beans are good choices. It’s also extra economical to purchase greens in season quite than out of season,” she added.
There are at present no public advisories focused at communities that depend on river fish, and no help mechanisms to offset potential dietary modifications.
well being dangers
Heavy metals equivalent to lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and chromium can hurt the physique in some ways. Sai Krishna Chaitanya, marketing consultant endocrinologist at Narvi Hospital, stated lead impacts the mind and studying in youngsters and may trigger anemia and kidney issues in adults. Cadmium can harm kidneys and weaken bones, and mercury, which is excessive in fish, can have an effect on the nervous system and hurt growing infants.
Arsenic could cause pores and skin issues, enhance the chance of most cancers, and have an effect on the guts and mind, and sure chromium can hurt the pores and skin, lungs, liver, and kidneys and enhance the chance of most cancers.
The necessity for security measures
Whereas the results of heavy metals on neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity are well-documented, their results on the endocrine system are much less studied, he says. These heavy metals can act as endocrine disruptors and may trigger early or late onset of puberty. “Whereas some results can’t be immediately linked to heavy metallic publicity, they’re nonetheless a priority,” Dr. Chaitanya says.
Improvement economist Dipa Sinha factors out {that a} important proportion of households can’t afford wholesome meals that meet nationwide dietary pointers, based on the State of the World Meals Safety and Diet report. Protein-rich meals equivalent to fish, eggs, and meat are significantly costly, making it troublesome for a lot of households to acquire ample vitamin.
Sinha added that domestically out there meals, equivalent to seafood from ponds and neighborhood tanks, performs an essential function in filling this hole. “We discover that the supply and high quality of those meals is more and more threatened by contaminated water and forest decline,” she says.
To attenuate publicity to heavy metals in meals, Dr. Chaitanya recommends common water testing to make sure that industrial wastewater remedy crops are functioning correctly in order that solely handled wastewater is launched.
issued – December 21, 2025, 3:00 PM IST
