The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Air toxins above normal levels in Manali, says new study

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 29, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Air toxins above normal levels in Manali, says new study

Staff Reporter

Residents seek plan to reduce pollutants, better access to clean water and healthcare Residents seek plan to reduce pollutants, better access to clean water and health care

CHENNAI: Manali has been exposed to industrial flares, fly ash, effluent discharges, raw disposable garbage, contaminated water and polluted air for the past 35 years, according to its residents.

A survey done by the Manali Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), a wing of the Manali Consumer Awareness Welfare Association, appears to confirm this claim.

The air sample taken near an industry with a Tedlar bag kept in a closed bucket and connected to the air outside through a vent tube revealed that benzene was found 25 times higher than the safe levels. "The sample is the first of its kind in Manali and reveals the presence of 12 chemicals," Nityanand Jayaraman, environmental activist, said.

The chemicals, which include acetone, hydrogen sulphide, benzene, carbon disulphide and toluene, could harm vital functions of the human body, the report said. The committee named industries — government and private — that operated flare stacks to dispose of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere throughout the day and at night.

A.P. Ramalingam, a committee member, said residents of Manali had demanded the implementation of a time-bound plan to reduce air toxins in the area under the supervision of community organisations and representatives. They also sought access to clean water and better health care facilities. He pointed out that the recommendation of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee to develop standards for discharging toxic gases remained unimplemented.

The other gases found in the area were ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, 2-butanone, n-hexane, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylenes and o-xylene. The common ailments caused by the presence of these chemicals in the air were irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and throat; dizziness; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; headache; insomnia; and coma.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu