BENGALURU: Bengaluru Mayor Sampath Raj has directed Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike health officials to conduct random tests on fish in the city’s fish markets to check whether they too are laced with formalin. A nationwide scare following the recent discovery of formalin-laced fish destined for fish markets in Kerala and Nagaland, has led to this decision here.
On Saturday last, a whopping six tonnes of fish being transported in Kerala was found laced with formalin, a toxic chemical used to preserve mortal remains and organs and which is known to be a cancer-causing chemical. Formalin is also commonly used in labs and hospitals. The discovery was made at a checkpoint in Palakkad, and the stock which was on its way to Kochi, was seized. Sampath Raj said he was aware that chemicals were being used in preserving fish, especially those that were being transported over long distances by road.
Bengaluru, being centrally located in the southern Indian peninsula, normally receives saltwater fish from both coasts as well as freshwater fish from various rivers and lakes across the state as well as neighbouring states.
“I have directed our health officials to pick fish from fish markets as well as fish stalls across Bengaluru and give them for testing in the labs. If found laced with formalin or any hazardous chemicals, their (the fish sellers’) trade licences will be cancelled and we will even file criminal cases against them,” the Mayor said.
Interestingly, a little earlier when The New Indian Express spoke to officials from the food safety division of the BBMP, they said they were aware of the formalin lacing incident in Kerala but appeared to be in the dark about the action they had to take. One senior official even hurriedly said he would get back with more information and then remained unreachable.
Their counterparts in Mangaluru on Tuesday launched random raids on various fish markets in that city to test the fish to check whether they were laced with formalin. Inspections showed no signs of formalin, but results of tests conducted on fish samples sent to labs in Bengaluru and Mysuru were awaited.
FORMALIN USAGE
Used in hospitals to preserve tissue
Embalming in autopsy
In pathology department
In kidney dialysis units
As a sterilising agent
As disinfectant in operation theatres
DANGEROUS FORMALIN
Formalin, or formaldehyde, is a toxic systemic poison that is absorbed well even by inhalation. The vapour is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant and may cause dizziness or suffocation. Contact with formaldehyde solution may cause severe burns to the eyes and skin.
CANCER CAUSING
The US’ Environmental Protection Agency has classified formaldehyde as a “probable human carcinogen”. Researchers from National Cancer Institute say exposure to formaldehyde may cause leukemia, particularly myeloid leukaemia, in humans.