A team of experts investigating the mystery illness in Eluru have identified a high presence of dichloromethane in drinking water. The results were obtained after 20 contaminated water samples from the affected localities in Eluru were sent to a Hyderabad based lab for analysis. Usually, there is 5 mg of dichloromethane present in water, however, the samples which were sent for analysis contained 200 mg to 900 mg of dichloromethane. Experts opine that the high presence of DCM or methylene chloride (CH₂Cl₂) might’ve led to the illness.
Number of those affected increasing daily
The list of patients affected by the illness in Eluru has been increasing on a daily basis. On Thursday alone, 16 fresh new cases were reported. With this, the total number of people affected by the mystery illness has risen to 606. Around 534 patients have been discharged from the hospital, while 34 others have been shifted to hospitals in Guntur and Vijayawada for better medical treatment, as others are being treated at the Eluru Government Hospital. In the aftermath of this outbreak, people in the city are worried about the drinking water being supplied to them by the Municipal Corporation. Many others are purchasing RO water for drinking purposes, even as experts are warning about the presence of dichloromethane.
How did dichloromethane mix in the water?
According to experts, the chemical dichloromethane is present in chemicals used to thin paints or remove them, hair dyes, paint thinners and in paints. These chemicals leaked from industries or discharged through sewers permeate into the underground water thereby contaminating it.