Mystery in Maharajganj: 111 Newborns Die within 10 Months Allegedly due to Pesticides in Breast Milk
A horrifying catastrophe has occurred as 111 newborn babies have died due to mysterious reasons within the last ten months in UP.
The researchers haven't been able to pinpoint the exact cause of these deaths. However, a study carried out by the Queen Mary College of Lucknow claims that the pesticides found in the breast milk of pregnant women could be the probable cause.
Chemical Farming is Likely to be the Cause, and Non-Vegetarians are Likely to be More Susceptible
The study was carried out by Professor Sujata Dev, Dr. Naina Dwivedi, and Dr. Abbas Ali Mehndi. The sample population included 130 vegetarian and non-vegetarian pregnant women. Tests were carried out, which proved that there were harmful levels of pesticides in breast milk.
Normally, we associate pesticides with plants and expect that vegetarians would be affected more. However, that was not the case here. The pesticides found in the breast milk of a non-vegetarian pregnant woman were triple that of a vegetarian woman.
Chemical farming is likely to be the leading cause. Vegetables and other crops are subjected to various types of insecticides and pesticides.
Animals, on the other hand, are injected with steroids, supplements, and chemicals. The fodder given to the animals also might have some pesticide residue. This infects their milk and the pesticides enter the human body when that milk is consumed.
A newborn gets nutrition only from breast milk. Infected breast milk can have many harmful effects on the newborn.
A 3-Member Committee has been formed by the District Magistrate (DM) under the chairmanship of the Chief Development Officer (CDO).
(Input from various media sources)
