Name : D. RAJATHI

B.T. Assistant

School : C.S.I MIDDLE SCHOOL,

KULLAKAMBY.

Topic : Creating PARTHENIUM

AWARENESS among students and

the public.

ABOUT PARTHENIUM

HYSTEROPHORUS:

It is a weed with no economical value. Within the

past century, it has found its way to Africa,

Australia, Asia and Pacific Islands. And now it

has become one of the world”s sevenmost vast

developing and hazardous weeds.

ORIGIN OF PARTHENIUM

HYSTEROPHORUS:

This alien weed is believed to have been

introduced into India as contaminants in PL 480

wheat imported from the U.S.A in the 1950’s.

WHERE IS PARTHENIUM HYSTEROPHORUS

USUALLY FOUND:

1.Railway track

2. Roads

3. Drainage

4. Developing residential colonies around the

towns etc.

Presently………….

This invasive weed is widely prevalent in

India and approximately 2 million hectares of

land in India have been infested with this

herbaceous weed.

A single plant can produce………..

10,000 to 15,000 seeds and these seeds can disperse

and germinate to cover large areas.

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF PARTHENIUM

HYSTEROPHORUS:

Chemical analysis of Parthenium

hysterophorus has indicated that all its parts

including trichones and pollen contain toxins

called bitter glycoside parthenin a major

sesquiterpene lactone.

Parthenin, hymenin and ambrosin are found

to be the culprits behind the menacing role of

this weed in provoking health hazards.

HEALTH HAZARDS TO HUMANS:

-Affects food and fodder crops, since the

pollen and dust of this weed elicit allergic

contact DERMATITIS [ is a T – cell mediated

immune injury and the disease manifests as

itchy erithematous papules and

papulovesicular lesions on exposed areas of

the body] and respiratory malfunction in

humans.

HEALTH HAZARDS TO LIVESTOCK :

-Exposure to Parthenium hysterophorus causes

systemic toxicity in livestock Alopecia , loss of

skin pigmentatlion, dermatitis and diarrhoea in

animals.

- Buffalo Degenerative changes in both the liver

and kidneys and inhibition of liver hydrogenasis

in and sheep

-the presence of parthenin pollen grains is

responsible for bitter milk disease in livestock fed

on grass mixed with its leaves

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON IS

EXPOSED TO THIS PLANT FOR A PROLONGED

PERIOD?

He / She

Manifests

the symptoms of

1. Skin inflammation

2. Eczema

3. Asthma

4. Allergic bronchitis

ENTERING INTO OUR PROBLEM--------

TEAM FORMED……

1. K. Arul kumar[VIII Std]---KULLAKAMBY ESTATE

2. S. Sutheesh[VII Std]—PALLANIAPPA ESTATE

3. C.Rahul [VIII Std]—MANAR

4. T.Pradeep [VII Std]—LOUISIANA

5. S. Dhinesh [VII Std]—WOODLANDS ESTATE

PROBLEM IDENTIFIED:-

Ignorance of the public about the

health hazards rendered by Parthenium

hysterophorus to humans and livestock.

AREA WHERE WE FOUND PARTHENIUM

HYSTEROPHORUS:

Around school and on the way [ which is

often used by the public and our school

children] to the Kullakamby bazaar.

HOW PARTHENIUM TRIGGERED ALLERGY

ON A STUDENT!!!!!!

DISCUSSION WITH THE TEAM MEMBERS:

-----they shared their experience [ how they

played with the parthenium hysterophorus

plants without knowing their illeffects]

-----they were explained about the health

hazards rendered by these plants

----- they were explained about the health

benefits of these plants

-----they were advised to give awareness to

their parents, neighbours and babies

-----they were asked to convey the message

to their parents and their co-workers and

seek their help to dispose by using some

pesticide like tic20

-----the team was taken to the spot and

explained the way how they should clear off

the plants with the help of scissors by

wearing mask and gloves.

When the team met public-----------

Suggestions given to students,

parents and the public:

- They were asked to discover some uses of

the weed so that we can indirectly eradicate

parthenium hysterophorus slowly.

-They are asked to use the parthenium

biomass as energysource, manure and

pesticide.

- They are asked to destroy the plant when

it is too small

- They were asked to use tic-20 pesticide

with the help of the estate management.

-They were asked to use Eucalyptus oil

sometimes

-They are advised to grow Mary Gold in

order to suppress the growth of Parthenium

hysterophorus

CONCLUSION:-

Though parthenium hysterophorus has so

many health benefits , it renders too many

health hazards to humans. So it is advisable

to eradicate this weed from our

surroundings some way or the other.