Fumigation by Sodium Hypochlorite can be harmful: Experts

In a statement issued on Monday, Dr Salunkhe said it has been observed that in certain parts, for example in localities like Kothrud in Pune, municipal workers have carried out fumigation in housing colonies to prevent spread of COVID-19.

novel coronavirus pandemic, fumigation harmful, pune news, maharashtra news, indian exress news

Fumigation is advised in certain circumstances and inside certain rooms, aeroplane, buses etc, which were occupied by confirmed cases of COVID-19. (File photo)

Public health expert and chairman of the Maharashtra Communicable Diseases Prevention Control Technical Committee, Dr Subhash Salunkhe, on Monday said fumigation around housing colonies was not only useless in efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic, but the chemical used in fumigation, Sodium Hypochlorite, could have harmful effects.

In a statement issued on Monday, Dr Salunkhe said it has been observed that in certain parts, for example in localities like Kothrud in Pune, municipal workers have carried out fumigation in housing colonies to prevent spread of COVID-19.

“Perhaps this has been done…. by overenthusiastic social workers or elected representatives. However, neither WHO nor any responsible health agency or the Indian Health Ministry have advised such fumigation around houses. This is because such fumigation, spray has no role whatsoever in control of COVID-19,” read the statement.

Story continues below this ad

Fumigation is advised in certain circumstances and inside certain rooms, aeroplane, buses etc, which were occupied by confirmed cases of COVID-19. But Sodium Hypochlorite is toxic and corrosive and it releases nascent chlorine, which is a very powerful oxidising agent and can damage eyes and the respiratory tract, including lungs, said Dr Salunkhe.

“Hence, we request you to instruct the authorities concerned to strictly abstain from any fumigation aound houses in any locality,” said Dr Anant Phadke from Jan Swasthya Abhiyan.

Incidentally, the Pune Municipal Corporation staff responsible for disinfecting and fumigation have been complaining of pressure from corporators who demand fumigation of their respective wards on priority basis. “We have been telling corporators that fumigation of a locality with Sodium Hypochlorite has to be done only in infected areas, but no one is paying heed to it,” said a PMC worker.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
Coronavirus