Toxic Metals Found in Offerings at Vaishno Devi Temple Raise Health Concerns
Vaishno Devi offerings case exposes toxic metal in silver: How this adulterant, if present in your jewellery, can damage lungs, kidneys & raise cancer risk
The Economic Times
Image: The Economic Times
Investigations at the Vaishno Devi Temple in India reveal that offerings believed to be silver contain toxic metals like cadmium. This poses serious health risks, including lung and kidney damage, and raises concerns about consumer deception and public health safety.
- 01Offerings at Vaishno Devi Temple contain only 5-6% actual silver, with cadmium as a major component.
- 02Cadmium exposure can lead to severe health issues, including respiratory problems and increased cancer risk.
- 03The financial value of the silver offerings has drastically dropped from an estimated ₹500 crore to about ₹30 crore.
- 04Safety concerns arose during processing due to the toxic fumes emitted from cadmium.
- 05Stricter monitoring and public awareness are needed to combat counterfeit silver products.
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Recent investigations have uncovered alarming levels of toxic metals, particularly cadmium, in offerings made at the Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, India. When nearly 20 tonnes of donated 'silver' were sent for processing, it was found that only 5-6% was actual silver, with the rest composed of cadmium and iron, significantly reducing the expected value from ₹500-550 crore to around ₹30 crore. Cadmium, a highly toxic metal, poses serious health risks, including lung damage and increased cancer risk, especially during the melting process where harmful fumes are released. The shrine board and authorities are now under pressure to investigate the source of this adulteration, which appears to be localized to vendors near the temple. This situation highlights the need for stricter vendor monitoring and greater public awareness regarding the authenticity of silver offerings.
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The discovery of toxic metals in temple offerings poses health risks to devotees and the surrounding community, as improper disposal could lead to air and water pollution.
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