Toxic chemicals in Cameron Highland’s major rivers

Dirty water: This river in Ulu Ringlet turns very muddy during heavy rain. — AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Two toxic and illegal pesticides known to cause serious health problems to humans are poisoning Cameron Highland's major rivers.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) researchers who conducted numerous tests found concentrations of the banned pesticides DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and lindane (gamma hexachlorocyclohexane or HCH) in Sungai Bertam and Sungai Telom.

The United States' Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had classified the pesticides as a probable human carcinogen.

Both DDT and lindane have been completely banned in Malaysia. They are among the list of toxic chemicals identified in the Stockholm Convention of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which Malaysia signed in 2002 but has yet to be ratified.

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