Guide Teacher: D.Rajathi

1. Name : D. RAJATHI
B.T. Assistant
School : C.S.I MIDDLE SCHOOL,
KULLAKAMBY.
Topic : Creating PARTHENIUM
AWARENESS among students and
the public.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 3. Drainage
4. Developing residential colonies around the
towns etc.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. HOW PARTHENIUM TRIGGERED ALLERGY ON A STUDENT!!!!!!

11. 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

12. -----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.

13. 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

14. - 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.