Synthetic Holi colours can cause cancer

Lucknow, Mar 2 (UNI) Ahead of Holi with the festive spirit soaring, scientists have cautioned Holi revellers against the use of synthetic dye-based, colours saying their prolonged application can even cause cancer.

Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC) Deputy Director Dr Mukul Das told UNI here that a majority of colours used in Holi are simply synthetic dyes of non-food commodities such as textile, paper and leather.

The markets are already flooded with synthetic Holi colours, which are very harmful to skin and hair.

''Taking advantage of the huge demand for powdered and grained varieties of colours during Holi, unscrupulous elements mix chemical dyes to fillers (base material ) such as starch, wheat flour and mica dust to prepare cheap quality fragrant dyes,'' he informed.

They also contain traces of lead and cadmium, ''Scientific tests have verified these cause skin abrasions, skin and eye irritation, allergy and can even trigger asthma,'' he cautioned.

Dr Das claimed long term application of such synthetic colours can have carcinogenic effect (cause cancer). ''These dyes can also cause temporary blindness, since eyes are the most delicate body organ.'' Several studies have found, that industrial dyes have the propensity to cause cancer in animals. ''The same may hold true for humans,'' he remarked.

Meanwhile, National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow has developed herbal gulal and has so far transferred its technology to two firms based in Hathras (Uttar Pradesh) and Sakti (Chhattisgarh) for commercial production.

The Sakti-based firm has set up an outlet at the NBRI precincts selling herbal gulal, which is eco-friendly, non-toxic, soft and natural. It is perfumed with selected natural aroma to lift mood, besides improving texture and lustre of skin.

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