"Significant majority of industrial units functional in the city, making use of some 2000 different chemicals are doing little to treat and neutralise their chemical waste," he said. The environmentalist maintained that while on one hand chemical laced solid waste was being dumped on empty plots, with absolute impunity, on the other untreated liquid waste was drained either directly into sewage line or released in an open space.
Contaminated and toxic water flown into rain drains had factually turned these into chemical drains paving their way fast towards sea, the waste water released directly on soil permeates deep inside and contaminates the water cycle. "This must not be therefore any surprise to register surge in the instances of skin diseases," said Dr Akram Sadiq, a dermatologist.
Dr Said, with significant research to his credit said samples of ground water collected from different parts had shown these to be arsenic with considerably high levels of mercury and lead. Many of the Karachiites have dug wells and use pumps to procure ground water, an essential commodity for drinking, bathing and washing purposes.
The chemical drains flowing into sea has also turned our coasts highly polluted up to no less than 50 Km radius, destroying our mangroves and exposing sea resources to contamination. As for dumping of solid toxic waste in open spaces, an EPA-Sindh official said clear rules exist and the Sindh government had also designated a land-fill site for safe disposal of industrial waste as well as solid waste in general.
He admitted that the agency had largely failed to address the issue and consequently people were exposed to serious situations including instances of "chemical burns." An official, on condition of anonymity, said provision exists under Environmental Protection Act to take stern action against violators of the law, however, influential sections manage to prevail upon.
Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Civil Hospital, Dr Ashraf Ganatra said 10 percent of all cases brought to his department comprise chemical burns and those include mishaps that appear even at home environs due to accidental spills of acids and other hazardous chemicals used as cleaning and washing purposes at home.
Professor Ganatra said there also had been cases of children being brought with chemical burns after coming into direct contact with toxic waste near their homes or schools. Environmentalists said such instances were often reported from residential blocks located around designated industrial estates of the city.