What is Silicone Defoamer? Alleged toxic chemical that is being used in Yamuna for Chhath Puja

There is no testing of this chemical on human skin so far and the chemical also needs to be used while wearing gloves

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Foam-in-Yamuna Silicone-Defoamer-in-Yamuna-River Impact-of-Silicone-defoamer-in-Yamuna

To get rid of foam in the Yamuna, Delhi government has ordered the spraying of Silicone Defoamer in the river before Chhath Puja. Devotees take a spiritual dip in the same Yamuna every year during the Chhath Puja rituals. In recent years, pictures of worshipers taking a dip in the Yamuna River while hazardous foam floated around them have painted a bleak picture of the Kejriwal government's failed promises.

So, this year, the Kejriwal government in Delhi has ordered using Silicon Defoamer in Yamuna to get rid of foam caused by the industrial waste dumped in it.

But, soon after this decision, there are discussions regarding the impact of the use of this chemical in the Yamuna. Reportedly, this chemical does not clean the river, it will make it more polluted. The chemical being used could lead to itching, irritation in the eyes, nausea and so on to anyone who comes in contact with it.

This chemical is also not approved by the US-based agency EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). If this chemical gets mixed in the water body, there is a guideline to inform the related authorities immediately. Also, there is no testing of this chemical on human skin so far and the chemical also needs to be used while wearing gloves. This indicates that the human body should not be exposed to this chemical.

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This chemical will only hide the foam present in the Yamuna but will not ends its impact. The use of Silicone Defoamer will also put an impact on the vegetation to be grown on the bank of Yamuna.

The opposition is also opposing this decision of the Delhi government. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa in this regard tweeted, "Calling Yamuna as mother @ArvindKejriwal is spraying Silicone Defoamer in Yamuna so that poisonous foam is hidden, but people are at risk of getting cancer due to this chemical. What a big sin the CM of Delhi is committing to hide his incompetence!"

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