Chennai: air quality throughout the city is consistently poor with a high particle level, a study released by the Chennai-based environment and health advocacy groups on Monday.
More worrying is the detection of high levels of silica, manganese and nickel levels, which can cause neurological disorders, cancer and respiratory disorders.
Samples were taken by Indian healthy energy initiatives, teams of public health experts, and coastal resource centers, which worked on environmental issues, in February and March from all cities, most of the industrial areas close to North Chennai, and sent for testing.
For Chester Labnet in Oregon, USA.
The group has released a similar study once a year since 2016.
This study shows 17 of the 20 samples having 2.5 (PM 2.5) particle levels (PM 2.5) higher than the standard quality of the 24-hour national ambient air (NAAQ) of 60 micro grams per cubic meter of 1.1 up to 3.8 times.
The highest score of PM2.5 was reported in the sample taken from Tirusulam, Vyasarpadi and Parry.
As far as other pollutants, their acceptable level benchmarks in the air have not been determined by India, requires comparisons with international standards.
Similarly, 19 of the 20 samples reported the level of silica higher than the limits set by the California Office of the Hazard Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), US Government Agency.
Oehha recommends an annual average exposure of 3 micro grams per cubic meter.
Tirusulam reports the highest score.
Silica is present in coal ash and sand construction and acute exposure causes silicosis, lung disease.
Twelve of 20 samples reported the manganese level exceeding the reference concentration of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 0.05 Micro GM / Meter Cubic.
Two samples even have a higher manganese value, neurotoxy, rather than recommended by WHO annual health-based guidelines of WHO 0.15 micro GM per cubic meter.
Nickel levels, carcinogens affect respiratory response and immune in the body, in 19 of the 20 samples exceed the WHO annual health guideline value of 0.0025 micro GM per cubic meter, the report said.
Samples were taken from residential roof housing, roof of child care centers, roof temples and commercial buildings.
Vishvaja Sambath, one of three researchers who worked on the project, said they were compiling data to document the existence of this metal in the air around Chennai.
“Research has shown that they with respiratory diseases are more susceptible to Covid-19.
Greater Chennai Corporation must take action to ensure cleaner air,” he said.
G Sundarrajan Poovulagin Nanbargal, an environmental organization, said lung disease caused by such pollutants affected community economic activities.
“TNPCB must improve the air monitoring system,” he said.
The corporation is reducing plans to work on air pollution problems in the North Chennai industry, said an official.