The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Study planned on plastics’ impact on cow milk

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Thursday, Aug 06, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Study planned on plastics’ impact on cow milk

S. Aishwarya

“The awareness level among cattle owners is very low”

— Photo: M.Vedhan

TANUVAS has come out with posters cautioning about the health hazards of cows consuming plastics. One such poster on the university campus in Vepery.

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) is planning to conduct a study about the impact of hazardous materials in plastics on cow milk.

According to S. Prathaban, professor and head of the Centre of Advanced Studies in Clinical Medicine Ethics and Jurisprudence, Madras Veterinary College, “There is a possibility that the hazardous components in plastics, which has a large amount of carcinogenic agents, get mixed with the milk. It can prove harmful to human beings who consume it.”

On an average every month, 10 per cent cases of cows are diagnosed with excessive plastic consumption at TANUVAS centres. “Usually, plastics in the stomach of the cow cause ‘recurrent bloat’ and are normally not reported.”

In an attempt to contain the increasing cases of cows consuming plastics, TANUVAS has put up posters that read ‘Plastics could be fatal to cows. Don’t let the cows stray near dust bins.’

The awareness posters have been placed at its training and research centres spread across the State. “It is important to create awareness among the public in rural areas, where there are large numbers of stray cattle. Recently, a farmer brought a cow that had swallowed as much as 50 kg of plastic waste. Such huge amounts can prove fatal to the animals,” he said.

However, the number of such cases in the city is not alarming, said B. Nagarajan, a professor of Clinics Department.

The sensitisation programmes by TANUVAS and the Chennai Corporation drive against stray cattle have restricted plastic consumption by cows.

“But the awareness level among cattle owners is very low. Few feed the cattle with rice, which can prove poisonous to them. We seek to sensitise them to the right way of nourishing cows,” he said.

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