It is a nature conservation initiative founded by Dr.Antony P.U,head Dep.of Zoology,Christ University Bangalore to spread the message of environmental conservation and adventure among the youth through various activities like seminars, workshops, padayatras, adventure treks, nature camps, ecology week celebrations, house-to-house campaigns -‘Pulse water Campaign’ to prevent wastage misuse and overuse of water at households in the residential layouts etc. The group has already organized several such programmes in association with various government departments like Pollution Control Board, Lake Development Authority, Bangalore Development Authority, Karnataka State Biodiversity Board, BWSSB and NGOs like Green Peace, Teri, Project Agastya etc. Over the years, various residents’ associations in Bangalore also joined students to address issues in Urban Ecology, such as, Water pollution and Conservation, Civic Hygiene and Sanitation.
Lead detection drive by Green Army
Lead is a metal with no known biological benefit to humans. Too much lead can damage various systems of the body including the nervous and reproductive systems and the kidneys, and it can cause high blood pressure and anemia. Lead interferes with the metabolism of calcium and Vitamin D. High blood lead levels in children can cause consequences which may be irreversible including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and mental retardation. At very high levels, lead can cause convulsions, coma and death. The main source of lead in drinking water is (old) lead piping and lead-combining solders. The amount of lead that may dissolve in water depends on acidity (pH), temperature, water hardness and standing time of the water. Secondary pollution from industry can contaminate water through the effluents produced. The water in the residential areas near the drainage systems is expected to have a higher lead content than the areas away from the drainage systems due to the effluents from various fabric and other industrial effluents.
Lead is a metal with no known biological benefit to humans. Too much lead can damage various systems of the body including the nervous and reproductive systems and the kidneys, and it can cause high blood pressure and anemia. Lead interferes with the metabolism of calcium and Vitamin D. High blood lead levels in children can cause consequences which may be irreversible including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and mental retardation. At very high levels, lead can cause convulsions, coma and death. The main source of lead in drinking water is (old) lead piping and lead-combining solders. The amount of lead that may dissolve in water depends on acidity (pH), temperature, water hardness and standing time of the water. Secondary pollution from industry can contaminate water through the effluents produced. The water in the residential areas near the drainage systems is expected to have a higher lead content than the areas away from the drainage systems due to the effluents from various fabric and other industrial effluents.Volunteers of Green Army will collect Water samples from the drainage systems as well as from the bore wells and ordinary wells of houses situated near these drainage system of Ejipura, koramangala, Bannerghatta Road, Silk Board and surrounding areas and test them in the lab for the lead content in them. Random blood samples of the residents of these areas also will be tested for the lead content and asses the impact of lead poisoning on the population of these areas. Green Army volunteers Juneeja Varghese & Anitha Jerry (II BCZ) were awarded a project for the above study by the Quality Council of India and National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India on the occasion of World water day in Bangalore. Dr. Antony. P.U, Head of the Department of Zoology and founder of Green Army will guide the study.
