Experts have raised serious health concerns about the widespread use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits, warning that prolonged exposure to its toxic by-products could lead to respiratory issues and even infertility. Harmful impurities such as arsenic and phosphorus found in calcium carbide are known to cause damage to the liver and kidneys.
As summer arrives, mangoes flood the markets, and with them, an increase in the use of calcium carbide for ripening. Experts warn that using chemicals like calcium carbide can lead to hormonal imbalances and a range of health problems. These include dizziness, frequent thirst, skin irritation, weakness, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcers, and even neurological disorders.
Dr. Kiran Madala, convenor of the scientific committee at the Indian Medical Association (IMA), explained that calcium carbide’s impurities, such as arsenic and phosphorus, pose long-term health risks. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals has been linked to respiratory problems and infertility, he noted.
Dr. Madala emphasized that ethephon, a safer alternative, is a plant hormone that releases ethylene, which naturally aids in ripening. When used properly, ethephon has no known toxic effects. In contrast, calcium carbide generates acetylene gas, which mimics ethylene but is toxic and unsafe for consumption.
In response to these concerns, the food safety wing of Telangana’s health department has launched an awareness campaign to reduce the use of calcium carbide. The government is also encouraging mango traders and vendors to adopt traditional, non-toxic methods of fruit ripening.
One such method is the use of ethephon, a plant growth regulator. A 500 mg sachet of ethephon can be used to ripen a 10 kg box of mangoes. Ethephon works by releasing ethylene, a natural hormone that promotes fruit ripening and other plant processes. While it is a phosphorus-based compound, experts assure that it is safer for consumption compared to calcium carbide.
However, some health professionals, like senior pediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, caution against the use of ethephon. Dr. Santosh argues that phosphorus-based compounds, like those in ethephon, can still pose risks to health, as they are essentially poisonous.
The growing concerns around calcium carbide highlight the need for safer, natural ripening methods to protect public health.
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