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Activities of Public Health LabsActivities of Public Health Laboratories are divided in three main sections:
- Food Sections
- Water Section (Chemical Analysis)
- Bacteriology Section
Following are the functions carried out by food section of the 11 food testing public health laboratories in the state.
- Analysis of various kinds of food samples under the provisions of Prevention of Food Adultration Act, 1954 and Rules 1955, as per their Analysis of food samples collected in connection with food poisoning incidences for chemical toxicants like heavy metals, alkaloids, pesticide residues, cannabis constituents etc.
- To give thorough knowledge – technical as well as practical – about food analysis and food adulteration to visitors like Medical Officers Local Self Govt. people, College Students, Nursing Students, Medical Students from Govt. Medical College and Private Medical College, AFMC, School children etc. Analysis of food samples collected by the food Inspectors of Food and Drug Administration of the State at the time of VIP/VVIP visits.
- Analysis of Iodized salt samples under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme.
- Analysis of Urine samples of the patients collected by Primary Health Centers at the village level to locate the deficiency of iodine under the above–mentioned program. In near future, all District Public Health Laboratories will be strengthened to carry out the analysis of urine samples.
- Analysis of food samples, also from private organization/individual person etc. is carried out – as per desired/required parameters and fees are charged Samples received from private bodies is carried out by respective food standards specified in Appendix B of Rule 5 of the P.F.A. Rules 1955. The food articles having no specific standards under Appendix B are analyzed as per the general PFA Rules applicable to them.
- Analysis of various kinds of food samples received from Government bodies like Civil Supply, Govt. Hospitals, Social Welfare Dept., Tribal Welfare Dept., Police Dept. etc.
- To organize exhibitions related with “Food Adultration” as and when required.
- To organize Training Programs regarding Food Analysis, Methods in food analysis, Modification in methodology etc. to the technical staff engaged in food analysis at various Public Health Labs., and also to the Consumer Organization, NGO’s etc.
Since long period, food adulteration is well known aspect, The Central Govt. has passed the PFA Act in 1954. Earlier the PFA Act was enforced within Municipal Corporation and Council Areas only. Accordingly PFA Rules were framed in the year 1955 to carry out the provisions of this Act. To bring the rural areas within the purview of implementation of this Act, in 1970 the implementation was handed over to independent department – Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra State. The Commissioner – an IAS Officer – of the FDA is notified as the “Food (Health) Authority” for the entire State of Maharashtra. Apart from Food and Drug Administration, Municipal Corporations, Councils and Cantonment Boards in their respective areas also implement the Act.
The Aim and Objects of the PFA Act
- To prevent Food Adultration.
- To protect Consumer’s Interest.
- Food Inspectors of FDA, Municipal Corporations, Councils and Cantonments, Railways.
- Local (Health) Authority of FDA, Municipal Corporations, Councils and Cantonments, Railways.
- Public Analyst.
- Licensing Authorities.
- Consenting Authority.
- Consumer Councils
- Courts of Law
Following are the functions carried out in the Water Section of Public Health Labs. In the State under Water quality monitoring.
- Chemical Analysis of water to ascertain its potability by performing various chemical parameters as per BIS specifications IS 10500: 1991.
- Chemical analysis of Effluents, Trade waste, Domestic effluents as per the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.
- Analysis of water samples collected in connection with Food Poisoning incidents for chemical toxicants including pesticide residue, metals etc.
- Chemical analysis of water disinfectants like Bleaching Powder (IS 1065:1989), Liquid Chlorine (IS 11673:1992), Chlorine tablets etc. as per BIS Specifications mentioned.
- Chemical Analysis of Alum (Solid/Liquid){IS 299:1989}, Poly Aluminium Chloride (IS 15573:2005) as per BIS specifications mentioned.
- Dose determination of chemical disinfectants mentioned above.
- Analysis of water for construction purposes (IS 456:1978), Swimming pool (IS 3328:1993) as per BIS specifications mentioned.
- Examination of various Kits made available in the market for the determination of various chemical constituents of water for assessing their quality, usefulness, durability and economic feasibility.
- To give thorough Knowledge – theoretical as well as practical – about water analysis – water potability, water pollution, dose determination etc. to the visitors like Medical students, Medical Officers Local Self Govt. people, College Students, Nursing Students, School children etc.
- To organize training programs regarding water analysis, methods in water analysis, modification in methodology etc. to the technical staff related to the water analysis, consumer organizations and NGO’s etc.
- Collect the water sample in a plastic container.
- Ideally a new container should be used, but if it is unavailable, wash the used containers with detergent, carefully rinse thoroughly with water.
- Sample should be representative of the supply.
- Avoid surface scum.
- Before filling, rinse sample container two or three times with the water being collected. Collect at least 2.5 liters sample.
- Sample shall not be exposed to atmosphere for longer time than necessary and sampling shall be done as rapidly and thoroughly as possible.
- Sampling instrument should be clean and dry when used.
- To draw, a representative sample content of each container selected for sampling shall be mixed as thoroughly as possible by rolling, shaking or stirring by suitable means.
- Sample shall be placed in clean, dry and airtight glass or polythene bag on which the material has no action.
- Sample containers shall be of such a size that they are nearly filled by sample.
- Each sample container so filled shall be sealed airtight after filling and marked with the full details of sampling, the date of sampling, the month and year of manufacture of material and its grade.
- Precautions shall be taken to protect the sample, the material being sampled the sampling instrument and containers of the sample from adventitious contamination.
- Care should be taken to avoid direct contact of bleaching powder with skin. Face should be kept at a safe distance from the container when it is opened.
- Instruction for the storage of bleaching powder. Bleaching Powder must be stored in a cool and dry place and away from Sunlight.
- Implementation of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.
- An Act provides for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water.
- Central/State Board – To exercise the powers conferred on and perform the functions assigned – e.g. to collect the samples of Water/Waste water/Effluents/Trade waste etc. for the purpose of chemical analysis.
- Government Analyst – An Officer appointed by the concerned State Board for analysis of sample is responsible for the analysis and submission of report in a prescribed form in triplicate to the State Board.
- Appellate Authorities – It is constituted by the State Govt. for deciding the reasonability of the conditions imposed or the variation of any conditions imposed by the State Board.
- Court of Law – To restrain the person/company who is likely to cause pollution by reason of disposal of any matter in any stream or well, which is likely to be polluted.
