Georgetown : In recognition of the fact that toxic anions in surface water could prove detrimental to human livelihood, a research project was spearheaded by local University of Guyana lecturer, Dr Raymond Jagessar.
The lecturer during an interview with this newspaper revealed that he was spurred to propose the project after reading an article in an international magazine which highlighted the effects of nitrate anion in the waterway in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea within the Middle East. Based on the article, the water tested revealed that the level of nitrate anion was well below the internationally accepted value. In fact it was eight times greater resulting in infants exposed to the water being diagnosed with the ‘Blue Baby Syndrome’. The syndrome is characterised by babies skins becoming blue, a condition which has been known to even cause death.
The revealing evidence presented in the article was disturbing enough to force Dr Jagessar to conduct his own tests to determine toxic metal anion in waste water in Guyana. “Toxic anions are dangerous to humans and we don’t know what is there in our waste water so I saw the need for our water to be tested and monitored.”
Although the research project, which was undertaken over a six months period commencing 2009 and concluding in 2010, has already been published and accepted internationally, Dr Jagessar was able to amplify his findings when the University of Guyana continued its Research Day on the Arts and Sciences yesterday. Focusing on nitrates, which is recognised as one of the most toxic anions, Dr Jagessar explained that the nitrate anion was measured using standard internationally accepted peer review procedure and was determined using a spectrophotmetric method (an instrument used to determine the intensity of various wavelengths in a spectrum of light).
The water source tested, according to Dr Jagessar, were trenches and canals that were in proximity to industries and residential areas “…It was basically surface water because this method is more applicable for surface water and not for going down deep to the mud matrix,” he explained.
“We found that the level of nitrates from selected areas, including Number 58 Village, GuySuCo, Skeldon, Good Hope, Ogle, Stabroek Market and Supenaan, the level of nitrates in the Demerara area was greater than that in Essequibo followed by Berbice.” However, since other waterways in the country have not been tested, Dr Jagessar has asserted that “we cannot fully come to a conclusion that Demerara has the highest level of nitrates followed by Essequibo and Berbice. In order for us to make a comparison we would have to compare all the areas but what we have found so far is that the level of nitrates is very low.”
Dr Jagessar was able to deduce that the nitrates level in the waterways tested was between 0.5 to two milligrams per litre which is well within the internationally accepted threshold value of 45 milligram per litre.
However, he is convinced that there is a need to monitor the waterways since “we are involved in mining and other such activities and we don’t want the effects of contaminated water…We have to guard agsint possible pollutants so the university has a role to play in education the public and protecting our environment,” he asserted.
Dr Jagessar has been a chemistry lecturer attached to the local University since 2001 and has a strong research profile. He has also exercised his researching skills by looking at local plant extracts as medicinal agents. “I like a challenge and I would like to help to make our country a better place and make citizens better aware,” he insisted.
However since the lack of sponsorship has restricted the extent to which his research projects are conducted, Dr Jagessar is hopeful that greater awareness will lend to greater support. “I hope it will intensify and it will once there is funding. Water safety is important; we need water for like and if we don’t have it we don’t have life so we need pure and unpolluted water.”
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