It’s no holy dip: Dermatologists

Visakhapatnam: Those who wish to take a bath in the sea should be more careful now as the sea waters of Bay of Bengal are contaminated with   industrial effluents. If any visitor took the bath in the sea waters, he must also take a bath with normal water immediately to prevent skin diseases. Such is the pollution level in the ocean.
 
After the ‘Maha Shivaratri’ celebrations, a large number of devotees, who took a holy dip in the blue waters, are now suffering from skin disorders and rushing to the hospitals and clinics.

The dermatologists advised the beach lovers to avoid head baths, especially during mass gatherings near the sea or rivers. According to reports, the sea waters have been contaminated with industrial and sewage pollutants up to a stretch of four nautical miles from the shores from Visakhapatnam harbour to Bheemili. 

However, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) authorities said that all the industrial wastes and pollutants have been releasing into the Bay of Bengal after cent per cent treatment only. At some places, some polluted waters like agriculture effluents and sewage pollutants are being merged directly into the sea, the APPCB authorities added.

“There is a common feeling among the people that there are no problems when having a bath in the sea water as the waters are salty.  Some of the people who suffer with scabies and other fungal infections have strong opinion that the salt water will cure the disease, but it is wrong. Even if the waters are salty due to the contamination, it will create more skin diseases,” Professor of Dermatology, KGHS, Guruprasad warned. 

The people, who are already suffering from skin diseases, are now facing severe issues after the beach baths on account of ‘Maha Sivaratri’ and consulting doctors. The doctors are prescribing medicated soaps and other liquids besides anti-biotic medicines to control the itching.

“The polluted wastes from industries and pharma houses are being treated 100 per cent using internationally accepted methods and released into the sea. The wastes of the industries are being directly released into the sea. 

The APPCB is covering the pipelines with seals to ensure that no industry directly releases the outfalls directly into the sea. The industrial effluents  will be collected in concrete tanks and after examining them for a week, the seals will be removed and the waters will be released into the lower layers of the blue waters.  

The GVMC has been constructing mega STPs to treat the sewage waters. However, at a few places, the sewage water is merging into the sea,” Visakhapatnam Zonal Officer of APPCB NV Bhaskara Rao said, while speaking to The Hans India.