As we have been discussing the
importance of safe drinking water in class this week, I stumbled across an
article in the Journal and Courier that addresses this issue and a potential
solution (for some drinking water problems) that is coming right from our
community. There is currently ongoing research at Ivy Tech (here in Lafayette,
IN) that is examining the ability of cilantro to purify drinking water.
According to the research cilantro is a “biosorbent’ substance that can absorb
lead and other toxic heavy metals from water. The research team went to Mexico
and experimented with various local plants and flowers to see if any had purifying
effects and cilantro did! Other plants related to cilantro, such as parsley and
cilantro, also seem to have some purifying capabilities.
Usually the only ways to remove
these potentially harmful metals from the water is through extensive and
expensive filtration systems, such as activated carbon filters, cation exchange
softeners, distillers, and reverse osmosis ranging anywhere is price from about
$40-$1200. These are often not an option for those communities who struggle
with poor drinking water due to heavy metals. However, if cilantro (which is
quite abundant in areas such as Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle
East and Asia where people struggle with heavy metals in their water) could be
used to purify water by simply placing cilantro into tea bags or reusable water
filters that would be a much simpler and more feasible solution for many people
than an expensive water filtration system. Another benefit is that cilantro is
a renewable, fairly inexpensive resource that people could grow in their own
backyard or even inside their households.
If the research truly proves that
cilantro can effectively and safely remove heavy metals to a level where they
are no longer toxic to humans, just imagine the health implications this could
have for many people worldwide. For example, if the amount of lead and arsenic
found in some drinking water could be lowered; fewer people would suffer from
the life-long disabling effects of these metals.
I definitely believe that research,
such as this project, are critical to solving some of the world’s health
issues. This research team went to where the problem existed and searched for affordable,
simple solutions within that area. It just so happens that what they found in
Mexico can also be applied elsewhere in the world. One downfall, however, is
that cilantro only treats heavy metals in the water. This solution does not
address other causes of contamination, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites,
which are major sources of disease and illness around the world. However,
perhaps a combination of solutions such as cilantro treatment, cloth filtering
and boiling of water could resolve many of these health issues. Although these
solutions seem simple, and they are compared to some other solutions, they
would still require a good amount of education and resources to get people to
understand and be able to effectively use some of these methods.
Sources:
Colombo, Hayleigh. Cleaner water, thanks to cilantro?
Journal & Courier. Wednesday September 25, 2013.
I think this article and research is very interesting. Although the EPA has come a long way with reducing lead and other heavy metals in water and paint, the EPA rules do not apply for well water, and there are still areas in the United States that have lead issues. I think this could be a promising intervention for those who live in low economic areas and rural communities. As you mentioned this still doesn’t address the bacteria, viruses and other contaminates found in water in third world countries but could spark new ideas and research to find similar agents.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.in.gov/isdh/19155.htm
Using cilantro for water purification sounds easy enough and would be great if this method can become a reliable procedure for producing clean water. However, I see some issues that might arise and might make this what seems like a simple solution much more complicated. First, I would think there needs to be a steady source of clean water and rich soil for mass amounts of cilantro to grow in. Next, researchers would have to account for people with allergic reactions to the cilantro and if this is an issue to outcome for. Lastly, since cilantro only accounts for the heavy metals maybe there is another method that is just as easy as adding cilantro that has not been discovered yet. We are definitely on the right track to helping our world become a cleaner and healthier place for all.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and comments. Cilantro (Coriander - Coriandrum Sativum L.) has been a part of Indian cuisine since time immemorial. I grow it at home. We regularly use it to garnish our curries, fries and make a delicious paste of it with lime juice or tamarind juice and Indian green hot pepper. The fact that it might have anti-toxic effects was a great news to me. I did a search on pubmed and there are numerous research in it. One review attracted my attention and it is: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23281145.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have never seen it to have anti-microbial properties.
The other thing is, Nicole, your statement about bacteria, virus and other contaminants in water in third world countries bothers me a bit. Now, let me pose the question back to all....How is Nicole's statement problematic in public health?