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Medical drugs found in groundwater of pharma hub: Hyderabad

September 2, 2023

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Last Updated on October 17, 2024 by The Health Master

Medical drugs in groundwater

Hyderabad: In a startling revelation, soil tests conducted by the Environment Protection Training & Research Institute (EPTRI) in Dothigudem and its surroundings, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, have uncovered medical drugs in the groundwater of the pharma hub.

Groundwater in this area, located near the city’s pharmaceutical hub, is contaminated with significant traces of medical drugs.

These drugs include antacids, antifungal medications, antiemetics, anti-allergy drugs, and anti-cholesterol medications.

This alarming discovery has raised serious environmental and health concerns in the region. This article delves into the details of this issue and the actions taken in response.

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Contaminated Groundwater with medical drugs

The investigation into this environmental issue was initiated in response to a complaint by Ravula Linga Swamy, a resident of Anthammagudem village in Pochampally, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Telangana.

The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) promptly submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) based on this complaint.

On January 17, the NGT directed the pollution control board to provide a compliance report on water and soil analysis.

The Study by EPTRI

In response to the NGT’s directive, the TSPCB engaged the Environment Protection Training & Research Institute (EPTRI) to conduct a comprehensive study in the Dothigudem (Anthammagudem) industrial cluster.

EPTRI collected samples from a total of 19 wells in the vicinity, primarily used for agricultural purposes.

The results were intriguing:

Irrigation Standards Met: Out of the 19 samples collected, 10 met the irrigation standards, signifying that some wells remained unaffected by contamination.
Moderately High Levels of Dissolved Solids: Four samples exhibited moderately high levels of dissolved solids and electrical conductivity, indicating some degree of pollution.
Contaminated with Organic Material: Alarmingly, five samples were found to be contaminated with organic material, suggesting a more significant problem.

Identifying the Source of Contamination

To pinpoint the source of contamination, EPTRI took an additional step.

They collected 10 additional samples from both groundwater and effluents originating from eight different industries operating in the area.

Through fingerprint analysis, the contaminated groundwater cluster was successfully traced back to the products and activities of these industries.

Types of Detected Drug Compounds

Among the alarming findings was the presence of various drug compounds in the contaminated groundwater.

These included:

Omeprazole
Pantoprazole
Flucanozole/Itraconazole
Domperidone
Cinnerazine
Quinoline derivatives
Pyridine derivatives

Environmental Compensation and Legal Developments

In response to these revelations, the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) took swift action.

They imposed substantial environmental compensation on several pharmaceutical companies:

Hazelo Lab Private Limited: Rs 77 lakh
Ravoos Lab: Rs 50 lakh
V Sai Chem: Rs 22 lakh
SVR Labs: Rs 44 lakh
Chemic Life Sciences: Rs 44 lakh
Archimedis: Rs 51 lakh
Optimus Drugs: Rs 77 lakh
Brunadavan Labs: Rs 45 lakh

It is crucial to remember that on August 8, the Telangana High Court reversed these punishments.

Respondents were given a chance to provide their responses to these charges.

Conclusion

The contamination of groundwater with pharmaceutical compounds in the vicinity of Hyderabad’s industrial hub raises significant concerns about both environmental protection and public health.

The identification of the source and the subsequent legal actions taken are important steps toward addressing this issue.

However, a comprehensive and sustained effort will be required to mitigate the impact and prevent further pollution in the region.

Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.