{"id":110321,"date":"2021-01-02T14:46:36","date_gmt":"2021-01-02T21:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=110321"},"modified":"2021-01-02T14:46:36","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T21:46:36","slug":"covid-19-experts-raise-alarm-about-soil-and-water-contamination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2021\/01\/02\/covid-19-experts-raise-alarm-about-soil-and-water-contamination\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: Experts Raise Alarm About Soil And Water Contamination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vinod Kumar Menon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Mumbai<\/a> Courtesy mid-day.com<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

They say the use of polythene sheets\/body bags for burial of bodies of COVID-19 victims and sodium hypochlorite to spray them, could impact the environment; point the need for analysis of the same<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

WHO guidelines emphasise usage of cloth for burial\nwithout using any chemical sprayed as disinfectant<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WHO<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Research scientist and health experts including\nenvironmentalists are concerned about the usage of sodium hypochlorite on\npolythene sheets\/body bags and dead bodies of covid 19<\/strong><\/a> victims, before wrapping\nthem for burial, as these plastic bags and chemical may have adverse impact on\nboth the soil and microorganisms beneath, which cannot be ruled out, until a\nregular soil sampling for research and analysis is done, to prevent any adverse\nlong-run impact on the environment and the ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a known fact that polythene would\ntake decades and centuries for degrading, and any chemical like sodium\nhypochlorite sprayed may increase the soil pH level, which needs to be studied\nregularly to understand if it has any short term or long-term impact in future\non microorganism and even plants. Instead, experts are of the view that we must\nfollow WHO guidelines, as they emphasize the usage of cloth for burial without\nusing any chemical spayed for disinfectants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior scientist working in this area,\nrequesting anonymity said, “It is a known fact that polythene and\npolythene sheets will remain in the soil for decades together before it gets\ndegraded and it will surely have an adverse impact. However, the immediate\nconcern would be using sodium hypochlorite on dead bodies and polythene\nsheet\/body bags, which might increase the pH level of the soil, and will have a\ndirect impact on earthworms and even the plants within the initial few years.\nAnd such an impact may or may not be favorable for the ecosystems of the\nsurrounding areas, which can be monitored only through appropriate periodical\nanalysis by soil scientists.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scientist added, “We are\ndealing with such a pandemic for the first time, and if such analysis, are not\ndone from now, we may miss on crucial data, for analysis, in future. Hence it\nis important for maintaining regular records, of all such burial areas, where\nCOVID 19 bodies have been laid to rest, and if analysis findings are showing\nadverse impact, then, either way, the polythene sheets can be removed, and scientifically\ndisposed off, instead of keeping them inside, for decades together, causing\nfurther ecological damage.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The pandemic has also shown, how\npolymer can be used for making a face mask, face shield, and even the PPE kits\nfor better health care system, thereby preventing the spread of the COVID 19\nvirus. And the very polymer was earlier looked as an environmental health\nhazard,” the scientist concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ashok Patra, Director – ICAR \u2013\nIndian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal, whose department carry out\nsoil analysis, for the agricultural sector in the country said, “The\nconcern raised about the ecological impact of using a chemical like sodium\nhypochlorite on plastic sheets and dead bodies, need to be looked into, but the\nfact remains polythene sheets\/body bags may take years and years for degrading\ninside the soil.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When informed about the pH level of\nsoil, likely to get impacted due to Sodium hypochlorite chemical, Dr. Patra,\nsaid, “Though we also conducted Environmental studies related to agriculture,\nthis is a new area of concern, which may be looked into.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Jiyalal Jaiswar, former Scientist,\nCSIR- National Institute of oceanography said, “Though the plastic used\nfor wrapping the dead bodies due to Corona Virus, is nondegradable and may take\n1000 years to degrade, still we must know scientifically what would be the\nfuture impact on soil, groundwater adjacent marine water. It is therefore\nimportant scientific analysis and research of the grave and nearby soils should\nbe done immediately, and documented to know the future impact, and can use for\nfuture reference, as and when it happens decades or century later, as this\npractice will have long term repercussion on the soil and the\nenvironment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr T Jacob John, 84, known globally for\nhis extensive work in the fields of virology and paediatrics, who headed the\nICMR Centre of Advanced Research in Virology and the National HIV\/AIDS\nReference Centre, at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, where he set up\nthe country’s first diagnostic virology laboratory, tells why he feels so,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am not an expert on the\nenvironmental issues raised in your question. But let me ask why even one\nplastic sheet or bag is necessary to wrap a dead body of a person who died of\nCovid? Neither WHO nor other concerned agencies have recommended body to be\nbagged,” said Dr John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Excessive fear among people,\ndriving them to behave in great anxiety of virus transmission by physical\ncloseness to a dead body even when properly dressed in culturally accepted\nnorms, is the result of lack of public education by the Government. We humans have\ncertain values that dictate that dead bodies be treated with dignity, bereaved\nfamily members be given opportunity to see the face of the deceased, and be\npresent for last rites and cremation\/burial. Let not a virus rob us humans of\nour humanity. Crowding must be avoided as part of prevention of transmission\nbetween the living, and is not a part of dignified last rites,” Dr John\nadded,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for adding non-biodegradable plastic\nand unnecessary chemicals in the earth — commonsense dictates that it is overkill\nby the under-informed and must be avoided, concluded Dr John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, Dr Wiqar Shaikh, Senior\nallergy and Asthma specilalist, “A scientific research needs to be done,\nto analyise the extend of soil contamination, if any happen to the grave where\nbodies sprayed with sodium hypochlorite, with multi-layer plastic sheets\nsprayed with disinfectants, and its impact on the microorganisms s and insects\nwhich is otherwise known for playing a pivotal role in degrading the\ncorpse.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stages\nThat Body Go Through Once Buried<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“Also we have to wait to watch, the\nlevel of soil contamination, if any, especially during the monsoon time, when\nthe groundwater level is always high and usually body takes a longer time for\ndecomposition. Also, we have to monitor, the impact of the flowing groundwater,\nfrom these graves to the other water bodies, and under groundwater pipes, as if\nunmonitored, this can lead to not only water contamination but also have\nadverse impacts on the natural water reservoirs,” Dr. Shaikh concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Ketan Vagholkar, Professor of\nSurgery, DY Patil Medical College, said, “Decomposing, a human corpse,\nproduces, 0.4 to 0.6 litres of Leachate, per kilogram body weight, this\ncontains, all sorts of bacteria, and viruses. The survival strength of COVID 19,\nis different under a variety of physical and chemical environment, if the\ncorpse is not buried with care, it can happen that, pathogens, in addition to\nCOVID, which are present in the dead body, could contaminate aquifers by\nnegatively impacting, the quality of groundwater. In addition to this, toxic\nchemicals like sodium hypochlorite and the polyethylene sheets, which are used\nto decontaminate, the dead body before burial, could also release into the\ngroundwater, adding to the contamination. Even medical waste, from the\ntreatment of COVID 19 patients are usually shrouded in secrecy, this can also\npose, challenges through the purity of groundwater, depending on the level of\naquifer depth. These three factors, need to taken into consideration and\nstudied in a scientific perspective of environmental protection, before\ndeciding areas for mass burial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Vagholkar added, “In the current\nunprecedented time, the quantum of these toxic waste can easily overwhelm\nnormal mechanisms of environmental protection, this can eventually lead to\nanother very dangerous, environmental catastrophe. Therefore enough timely\nresearch and scientific studies need to be done, in the field of hydrogeology,\nto understand the effect of such burials, soil contamination, if any, and impact\nof the same on microorganisms and the environment as a whole.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There are so many unknowns about\nthe effects of universal use of sodium hypochlorite used as Viricidal chemical\nand plastic bags on our ecosystems. The soil scientists should participate in control\nprograms of this pandemic so that soil research Is undertaken by them\nsimultaneously. With over 81,000 reported COVID-19 deaths in India, and Mumbai\ncity alone has lost over 11,000 of these numbers, the debate is raging about\nthe dignity of final rites of dead ones,” said, Dr Subhash Hira, Professor\nof Global Health at the University of Washington-Seattle, USA and health\nadvisor to several UN, Indian and African health agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent lessons learned from 11,300-odd\nEbola deaths that occurred in six African countries between March 2014 and\nOctober 2016 should guide the world rather than reinventing the wheel. During\nthat focused epidemic of Ebola in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Lione, Nigeria, and\nDR Congo, last rites of dead bodies were ordered to be done by cremation due to\nseveral reasons, namely, opposition by local communities against opening up of\nnew burial grounds near their villages because of fear that it will cause Ebola\nsoil contamination of their farmlands and ground-water filling up the water\nsupply in community wells, lack of trained persons who could handle the\ninfectious burial process using set protocols and yet maintaining the dignity\nof the departed soul, and the time is taken for burial process was too long\nthat lead to large queues lasting several days of delay in burying their loved\nones, etc, said Dr Hira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Subsequently in 2019 when Ebola\ndeaths reduced to occasional sporadic deaths, countries decided to return to\nburial policy after having trained burial staff in infection control techniques\nand revisiting coffin designs,” Dr. Hira concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicholas Almeida, trustee of Watch Dog\nFoundation said, “In Sahar Village, itself over a hundred plus people have\ndied due to COVID, and final rites were done according to their religious\nbelief. As per norms, the bodies were wrapped in polythene sheets and sprayed\nwith sodium hypochlorite and final rites, done, without getting the bodies to\nvillage.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of\nwatchdog foundation, said, “We must understand that we will have to\nsurvive with Covid 19, hereafter, moreover death will remain inevitable, but\nthe practice of using polythene and chemical for disinfecting the body, should\nbe done away with, to prevent any adverse impact of these hazardous chemcials\non the soil and microorganisms, moreover there is a need to be soil study from\nthese burial areas, to check if there is any adverse reaction, of the polythene\nand corrective measures should be taken, before it is too late. And authorities\nshould now come up with biodegradable materials and should also be sensitive\ntowards protecting environment, amdist covid pandemic.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sages\nOf Decomposition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dr<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


\nDr Wiqar Shaikh, senior allergy and asthma\nspecialist<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Wiqar Shaikh, when a human being die,\nthe body undergoes, four stages of decomposition, after it is buried \u2013 stage 1\nis autolysis, which begin immediately after death, the body contain carbon di\noxide (Co2) in its various tissues this Co2 ruptures the body cells, thus\nreleasing enzymes, which destroy the cells within 24 to 72 hours after death (1\nto 3 days).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second stage is the stage of\nbloating, in which the enzymes leaked by the cells, in stage 1, produce gases,\nthis enables bacteria to enter the dead body and due to the bacterial\ncontamination and gases, the body doubles in size, which takes (3 to 5 days)\nafter death. In the stage of bloating insect activity begin and the skin starts\npeeling off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third stage is the stage of active\ndecay, in which fluid released by the body, begins active decay, soft tissues\ndecompose, hair, bones, cartilage also begin to decompose, and the cadaver\nloses most of its mass. It takes anything from eight to ten days after death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 4 is skeletonization, in this\nstage soft tissues, and organs are all lost and only the skeleton remain, this\nstage happens a month after death and end almost one and half year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From stage 2 onwards the following\ninsects present in the soil are known to consume the mortal remain \u2013 maggots,\nwhich are of two varieties \u2013 blowflies, and flesh flies, and their larvae. Both\nthese maggots, lay eggs in the body orifices and in open wounds, each maggot\ndeposit 250 eggs, which hatch, within24 hours and this gives rise to further\nmaggots, they feed on rotting flesh and these maggots transform to adult flies.\nMaggots can consume up to sixty percent of a human body, within seven days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second insect that is known to\nconsume the human body, are beetles, which are of two varieties in the grave\nAmerican Carrion beetles and brown bettle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third variety of insects, which can\nconsume human remains are mites, moths, wasps, and crickets, of these the most\naggressive insects in consuming human remains in the grave maggots and it has\nbeen scientifically proved, that maggots can eat plastic. A hundred maggots can\neat up to 92 milligrams of plastic in one night, besides, bacteria present in\nthe grave can also degrade plastic. Those COVID dead bodies, which are wrapped\nin black coloured plastic sheets, or in body bags, can be degraded by these\nmaggots and bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, Dr Shaikh pointed out\nthat the above scenario, is standard practice, however, scientific research\nneeds to be done, to analyse the extend of soil contamination, if any happen to\nthe grave where bodies sprayed with sodium hypochlorite, with multi-layer\nplastic sheets sprayed with disinfectants, and its impact on the microorganisms\ns and insects which is otherwise known for playing a pivotal role in degrading\nthe corpse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Also we have to wait to watch, the\nlevel of soil contamination, if any, especially during the monsoon time when\nthe groundwater level is always high and usually body takes a longer time for\ndecomposition. Also, we have to monitor, the impact of the flowing groundwater,\nfrom these graves to the other water bodies, and under groundwater pipes, as if\nunmonitored, this can lead to not only water contamination but also have\nadverse impacts on the natural water reservoirs,” Dr. Shaikh concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expert\nAsk Why Body Should Be Wrapped In Polythene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dr<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Dr T Jacob John, noted virologist<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr T Jacob John, 84, known globally for\nhis extensive work in the fields of virology and paediatrics, who headed the\nICMR Centre of Advanced Research in Virology and the National HIV\/AIDS\nReference Centre, at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, where he set up\nthe country’s first diagnostic virology laboratory, tells why he feels so,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am not an expert on the\nenvironmental issues raised in your question. But let me ask why even one\nplastic sheet or bag is necessary to wrap a dead body of a person who died of\nCOVID?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither WHO nor other concerned agencies\nhave recommended the body to be bagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\nIs Wrong With Regular Cloth Cover?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The SARS-CoV-2 infection is transmitted\neither by inhalation of droplets shed while breathing, talking, cough, or\nsneeze or by “fomites”. As the dead body does not shed any droplets\nat all, droplet transmission by inhalation cannot occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fomite transmission is a virus picked by\ntouch from contaminated surfaces and by self-inoculation in the eye or nose. As\nthe face of the dead person is very likely to have a residual virus from when\nthe person was alive, kissing is too risky and must be avoided. Preparing of\nthe dead body should use minimum handling, but there may be unavoidable\nprocedures as cultural or religious norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When washing, attendants must wear\nprotective equipment, including apron, mask, and gloves, and avoid splashing of\nwater. Disinfectants on the body are not necessary. The body can be placed in a\ncoffin, face exposed. Anyone touching the body or covering cloth, or combing or\ntidying hair, must observe strict hand-hygiene. Burial is safe as also\ncremation. The virus in the body also dies as body cells die. Organ transplants\nhave taught us that body organs\/tissues\/cells do continue to be ‘somatically\nviable’ for some hours. After that, no live cells, no live viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The precautions appropriate for\nhemorrhagic fevers like Crimean-Congo fever or Ebola are not necessary for\nCOVID, as it is essentially respiratory transmitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excessive fear among people, driving them\nto behave in great anxiety of virus transmission by physical closeness to a\ndead body even when properly dressed in culturally accepted norms, is the\nresult of lack of public education by the Government. We, humans, have certain\nvalues that dictate that dead bodies be treated with dignity, bereaved family\nmembers are given the opportunity to see the face of the deceased, and be\npresent for last rites and cremation\/burial. Let not a virus rob us humans of\nour humanity. Crowding must be avoided as part of the prevention of\ntransmission between the living and is not a part of dignified last rites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for adding non-biodegradable plastic\nand unnecessary chemicals in the earth — commonsense dictates that it is\noverkill by the under-informed and must be avoided, concluded Dr. John.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vinod Kumar Menon\u00a0|\u00a0Mumbai Courtesy mid-day.com They say the use of polythene sheets\/body bags for burial of bodies of COVID-19 victims and sodium hypochlorite to spray them, could impact the environment; point the need for analysis of the same WHO guidelines emphasise usage of cloth for burial without using any chemical sprayed as disinfectant Research scientist […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,174],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category--19-"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110321\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}