Thiruvananthapuram Industrial Pollution

Location:

Kerela, India

Region:

South Asia,

Pollutants:

Chemicals

Source:

Chemical Manufacturing

Transmission:

air, water

Potentially affected people:

23,234,707 in district

The problem

Since 1946 Travancore Titanium Products Ltd. (TTP) has been producing titanium dioxide and has become the leading manufacturer of anatase grade titanium dioxide in recent years. It has been operating close to a beach for several years without an effluent treatment plant. The factory has its own sulfuric acid plants and generates around 120 tons of concentrated sulfuric acid everyday which is dumped into the Arabian Sea directly without any prior treatment. pH of the effluent generated by TTP is always around 1 indicating very high acidity.

Health Impact

According to a study undertaken by the National Institute of Environmental Health, Thiruvananthapuram, people living near the industrial zone showed respiratory problems, watery discharge from eyes, skin problems and increased incidence of oral cancer compared to other areas under the study. An 8.3% increase in respiratory diseases like tuberculosis, wheezing, coughing and hyperactivity of the respiratory canal was observed in residents in the vicinity of the TTP industrial unit when compared to other areas.

The prevalence of diseases in the industrial zone were as follows: 29% Respiratory diseases 11% Gastric problems 10% Skin problems 20% Eye problems 18% Cardiac problems 12% Others