Bhubaneswar, July 13: Experts have raised concerns over the increasing use of anti-termite chemicals in high-rise structures coming up in the city, which is witnessing a real estate boom.
Multi-storey structures are built from a depth of 40 to 60 feet and chemicals are being sprayed to make them termite-resistant. But these chemicals stay on in the soil and may seep into groundwater sources.
“The toxicity caused by pre-construction termite management practices is an alarming trend. Its ill effects are already showing in states such as Kerala, where urban development is high and anti-termite treatment practices are on the rise. We have to learn from their mistakes and be prepared for the worst as the toxic materials could pollute groundwater,” said B.K. Mishra, a professor in the department of entomology, College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT).
Talking to The Telegraph on the sidelines of a meet on termite management a few days ago, Mishra said: “All the stakeholders are aware of the effect of toxicity. There are ways to minimise the ill-effects of using toxic chemicals by using other technology so that the percolation of the chemicals into soil can be checked.”
He said research was needed to adopt non-toxic anti-termite measures. Alternative methods include anti-termite building designs, preservative-treated timber products, creating physical barriers, use of termite-repellents, bait for subterranean termites, proper fumigation and thermal control.
Biological tools such as use of fungi, nematodes and anti-termite ants (Argentine ants) are also available to control termites. “Research is also on to introduce predators, parasites and other pathogens to restrict termites by killing them or inhibiting their reproductive cycle,” Mishra said.
Though a scientist of the Central Ground Water Board said that so far there was no report on such toxic effect from any city-based groundwater sources, he agreed that in case there was sandy soil beneath the basement of a high-rise and pre-construction termite management procedures were being followed, there was a chance of percolation into the groundwater.
P.K. Sarangi, another entomologist at the College of Agriculture, said: “The annual loss due to termites is over $2 million dollars in the world, but in India there is no study so far to calculate the loss. However, in agriculture, the loss caused by pests is enormous and termites contribute 25 to 70 per cent to this loss.”
Loss caused by termites in Bhubaneswar is seen in case of plantation programmes, which are suffering from termite attacks. “Horticultural crops, lawns, kitchen gardens and potted plants are also getting destroyed by the white ants,” said Sarangi.
Shib Kumar, an industrialist and member of the Indian Pest Control Association, said: “Many digital and scientific ways have come up to restrict termites. People should also be made aware about soil toxicity. Research is on to find alternate ways to lessen the chemical burden.”
