HYDERABAD, April 3: Dr M. Y. Khuhawar, dean of the faculty of natural sciences of the University of Sindh, has observed that underground water in Sindh is saline and toxic for human consumption but there are pockets adjacent to the River Indus and canals where fresh water is available.

He said preliminary analysis of fresh water samples taken from nine districts of the province indicated that 10 per cent of the samples had arsenic concentration of 100 ppb (parts per billion) or above.

In a statement faxed to Dawn here on Monday, he said the WHO permissible limit for arsenic contamination of drinking water was 10 ppb and added that to identify specific sites of arsenic contamination for awareness of people, 49 samples from the Matiari district and 30 from the Jamshoro district had been collected and analysed for total dissolved salts (TDS) and arsenic contamination.

He said 38 of the samples taken from the Matiari district’s Old Hala, New Hala, Khando Stop, Saikhat and Matiari town areas had arsenic concentration in the range of 250 ppb. He said old Hala and new Hala areas were the most affected with concentration of 250 ppb.

Similarly, he said, 13 of the samples obtained from the Jamshoro district had arsenic within the concentration range of 250 ppb. The Amiri Union Council was the more affected. Four samples taken from the Bacha village in the union council indicated concentration of 250 ppb and underground water supplied to the Amiri village contained 100 ppb arsenic, he added.

He said arsenic was a highly toxic substance and regular intake of two litres of drinking water daily with 100 ppb could lead to signs of arsenic toxicity and ultimately, in some cases, might result in skin cancer.

Dr Khuhawar said the first symptom of the disease was skin pigmentation and continuous use of water for 15-30 years might develop lungs, kidney or bladder cancer.

He said water samples of the River Indus at the Kotri Barrage were also analysed for arsenic contents but these were below the detection limit. Trace metals copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, lead, cadmium and zinc in the Indus were also within the WHO permissible limits.

He advised people to use water of the river after necessary treatment to remove pathogens and turbidity.

LAWYERS’ APPEAL: The Pakistan chapter of the South Asia Lawyers Forum has appealed to the British prime minister and the British High Commissioner in Pakistan to simplify the procedure for grant of visa to lawyers who wanted to go to England for higher education in law.