Alligator weed a health hazard: Seema Thotakura or Ponneganti

By U Sudhakar Reddy
A popular green leafy vegetable in the city, the alligator weed, vernacularly known as Seema thotakura or Seema ponneganti widely sold in vegetable markets is a serious health hazard warns scientists of Forestry and Ecology Division of National Remote Sensing Agency.
Scientists say there is no record of the cultivation of alligator as vegetable crop in the State. It is an alien species of weed picked up from Hussain Sagar, Musi River and other polluted bodies in the city and outskirts by vegetable sellers.Accumulated heavy metals like Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Chromium and Copper cause serious health problem to those who consume vegetables says Dr Chintala Sudhakar
Reddy of NRSA.
Following the finding scientists are now asking the State government to ban the consumption of alligator weed immediately.Dr Reddy said ,"It is predominantly found growing in polluted waters in urban waterways,
drainage, margins of lakes and sewage sludge of rivers. Alligator weed is collected from these water bodies and sold in the vegetables mandis and Monda Market. As it tastes delicious the consumption is increasing in Hyderabad and other urban areas. It was native to South America and alien to India. Alligator absorbs heavy metals from water. It can cause serious health problems to people who consume it as vegetable. These
plants accumulate pollutants in their roots, stems and leaves,"
Bio-accumulation factors of heavy metals were significantly higher for leafy than for non- leafy vegetable. Though the Alligator is useful to clean up the polluted waters it is dangerous for human consumption.
"the leafy vegetable suck up pollution, people eating them may ingest the metals which can be harmful," said Dr Sudhakar Reddy.
He added ,"this should be banned like Cat fish sale and consumption was banned and government should take up steps for its control in natural and aquatic habitats,"
Government earlier banned Cat Fish a weed fish that resembles murrel as it's consumption spreads diseases.
Indian Medical Association State president Dr N Kishore said ,"heavy metals when ingested cause serious health hazards and is poisons to human body. It affects lungs, cerebral system including brain and intestine and stomach and other body organs. So people should not consume such leafy vegetable like Alligator weed as suggested by the scientists,"