Air in Mangaluru high in lead content, reveals study; report submitted to Rai


Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Media Release

Mangaluru, Mar 4: The air in Mangaluru city is high in lead content and also contains other pollutants above the standard limits, a study has found.

A detailed study on air quality in Mangaluru was carried out under the 'Shudda Gaali' project by Anti-Pollution Drive Foundation (APD) in association with St George’s Homeopathy.

The report reveals high lead content in air and bears borderline indications of approaching danger on other parameters. Six outdoor air pollutants were measured in the drive. They were particulate matter (PM); PM10 (inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometres and smaller) and PM2.5 (fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller). Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. The other pollutants are nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and lead.

Of the six parameters measured, PM2.5, PM10 and lead have been observed to exceed the permissible limits in a few locations. PM2.5 and PM10 were found to be high in three of the 12 locations (Bunts Hostel, Pumpwell and Baikampady), and PM2.5 alone in six of the 12 junctions (PVS junction, Bunts Hostel, Bunder, MCC, Pumpwell and Baikampady).

APD Foundation conducted the independent investigation of air quality of Mangalore in the month of December. The study was undertaken by technical experts from OneEarthEnviro Labs (OEL), Baikampady and samples were collected from 12 key locations of the city for an 8 hour period from December 1 to 8, 2016. The study was sponsored by St Georges Homeopathy, Mangaluru and coordinated by Neil Zacharias.

The APD Foundation has submitted the technical report and assessment of air quality levels to B Ramanath Rai, minister for ecology, forests and environment and DK district in-charge.

A delegation comprising APD Foundation founder Abdullah A Rehman and state coordinator Arjun Rai called on B Ramanath Rai at his residence on January 28 and handed over the report to him. They explained to him the long term implications of the results obtained from the study and urged him to initiate remedial measures to curb air pollution.

Though the study found the overall air quality to be good in most locations in the city, there are indications that it could worsen in the long run. Only timely action can prevent the city from sinking into adverse and irreversible condition in air quality. Hence APD Foundation has requested the authorities to take immediate action and ensure a complete check on air pollution. Such proactive measures will also go in tandem with the successful implementation of Swachh Mangaluru initiatives of the city corporation.

"It is very essential that CNG is made available in the city and public transport vehicles adopt CNG/LPG at this juncture. While it is compulsory to have BS-IV vehicles across the country, Mangaluru still sees BS-III vehicles plying on the road. We are hoping the administration will take immediate action to prevent any further damage to the environment and the citizens," said Rehman of APD Foundation.

"Smoke emitting vehicles are visibly the largest contributing factor seen all around the city polluting the air. We have also requested the authorities to enforce Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rule 115 /116 of Central Motor Vehicle Rule 1989s effectively in order to encourage better maintenance of the vehicles," added Arjun Rai, state coordinator of APD Foundation.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • dev, mangalore

    Tue, Mar 07 2017

    very sad to know this bitter truth. At least now stop chopping down fully grown trees in the name of development. Mangaluru city has already lost major of its shady trees. esp in pandeshwar and lots in valencia road.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • satish, kudla

    Tue, Mar 07 2017

    Industries.., Power plant of ancient antique technology are the main cause. Along with them the heavy vehicles especially all lorries and almost all govt buses (excluding few new buses) ---> just drive behind a govt bus you can feel the smoke. (Sadly police search pollution certificates mostly only with two wheeler's ...:)

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  • Deemanth Suvarna, Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 06 2017

    Main reason for bad air quality due to city bus and heavy veichle. Which is polluting much wort than industrial pollution. We should ban these vehicle as soon as possible, before we suffer from cancer and lung disease. Fact of the matter as far as my knowledge at least I have seen in my own eyes 4 people died in recent past due to cancer and lung disease. Government officers and politicians are mute spectators, they turn blind eye on these issues, they do not understand serious of the matter.
    What can government do to prevent this and people from dieing is: Ban city diesel vehicles and heavy vehicles, issue a notice to them to use electric veichle in next 5 years, until then they can make alternative plan on desposing their diesel veichle.
    Dust pollution is also another main polluter in the city. MCC must introduce a rule of landscape work mandatory in the all open area like footpaths, open pavements and in private property, where dust must not pollute the human habitat.
    MCC must introduce heavy fine system, so polluter must know the cost of life.
    I recently read in the news, In Beijing, china govt is replacing all petrol, diesel taxi to replace with electric car in one year. That's what we call policy of change and govts care for citizens health.
    MANGALORE can be model city. It can only happen, if we change our mind sets. Thank you.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • C.A. Cardoza, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    It is the quality of fuel available for vehicles, which causes air pollution. First let the concern authorities check the quality of fuel we are getting in our country.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • SS Ahmed, USA/Mumbai

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    It is high time that the authorities should do some thing before it goes out of control. Can you pin point why is the lead contents are above normal This is very dangerous situation and should be taken care immediately.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Karkala

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Submit Report to those who can act within no time, but not to those who have no time to public....

    DisAgree [3] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amigo, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Don't blame only the politicians and government, what is our contribution? Do we stop or control the firecrackers during our festivals? Isn't it we are burning the money to produce the toxic and increase the pollution level? Do we maintain our vehicles if it is vomiting the smoke? For silly reasons, we call for Bandh and unnecessarily burn the tyres for fun, by which how much pollution we spread around us. If we improve, pollution will automatically come under control. For that we need quality education neither Religion based nor Party based.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil Dsouza, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Quite surprised the govt has pointed the vehicular pollution as the main source of Lead. Lead is no longer added to fuel as an anti knock agent in the form of tetra ethyl lead.

    The Main source should be local Lead acid battery manufacturers, printing press, Tyre repair industry, galvanizing industry and paint manufacturers.

    In my opinion, Good findings on pollution levels by the govt. but poor root cause analysis. More needs to be done in finding the source of lead contamination.

    Note that above mentioned industries are present in almost all the areas pointed out especially the battery recycling, printing and the Tyre recycling or repair industry.

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald, Canada/Kinnigoli

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Collateral damage of haphazard development!

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Manglore is full with unnecessary vehicles.Just count how many rickshas are there.Over that private buses,state owned,all running with diesel.One cant breath properly.Vehicles dont have catalisatore.Authoritys are sleeping.They allow all vehicles without thinking really they are needed,such as private buses.No place to walk,but buses is a must!wake up muncipality.take steps and think of our future generation,and present . no greenary,lung and kidney problems are increasing.what is the use of a smart city with sick people and sick city.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • hindu, Kudla

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Lead (Pb) is an elemental heavy metal found naturally in the environment as well as in manufactured products. Lead can be released directly into the air, as suspended particles.

    Historic major sources of lead air emissions were motor vehicles and industrial sources. Motor-vehicle emissions have been reduced by the phasing out of leaded gasoline, but lead is still used in general-aviation gasoline for piston-engine aircraft. Lead that is emitted into the air can be inhaled or can be ingested, primarily through contact with contaminated soils or other surfaces.

    Primary stationary sources of lead today include:
    lead smelters
    waste incinerators
    utilities
    lead-acid battery manufacturers and recyclers
    Other industrial sources of lead emissions can include:
    metals processing
    iron and steel foundries
    copper smelters
    industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers
    glass manufacturers
    cement manufacturers
    Humans may be exposed to lead from air pollution directly, through inhalation, or through the incidental ingestion of lead that has settled out from the air onto soil or dust. Ingestion of lead settled onto surfaces is the main route of human exposure to lead originally released into the air.

    Once taken into the body, lead distributes throughout the body in the blood and accumulates in the bones. Depending on the level of exposure, lead can adversely affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems, and the cardiovascular system. Lead exposure also affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

    The lead effects most commonly encountered in current populations are neurological effects in children and cardiovascular effects (e.g., high blood pressure and heart disease) in adults. Infants and young children are especially sensitive to even low levels of lead, which may contribute to behavioral problems, learning deficits, and lowered IQ.

    THIS IS BAD NEWS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND FOR THE CURRENT

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • prajnesh vijay kumar, Surathkal

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    The patern is concentrated on major traffic areas.. it could be because of lead in petrol??

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rems, Mangaluru

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    The report is not surprising considering the rapid rate of increase in vehicles in Mangaluru. What the report has not considered is the air quality around places like Bajpe, Kalavar, jokatte, Permude, katipalla where companies like MRPL, BP are letting out thick pollutants into the atmosphere. Also to be checked, ground water around all these places and sea water in the coastal area. For sure there will be another surprise as the water around these places is also highly polluted.

    The credit for this situation goes to some politicians of 1990 sitting in Bengaluru who welcomed these polluting industries to Mangaluru, obviously in return for some kappa kaanike. In the absence of strong opposition from people, these industries which were not allowed in other places, flourished in Mangaluru and expanding without any hindrance. The forest cover that has been destroyed to accommodate these companies is simply irreplaceable. It is high time people of DK realize the damage done by these industries and make authorities accountable for the spread of pollution in the district.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • jerome, Kinnigoli

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    Please shut down Udupi Power plant.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    All Buses & Trucks should run on CNG ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Maxim, Kukude

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    SMART CITY. Cancer cases will go up in future

    DisAgree [3] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shah, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    Check in dictionary. Alternative word for smart city is most polluted city.
    As per Ramanath Rai; BJP is responsible for air pollution.
    As per Jossy; Modi is responsible for air pollution.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abu mohammed, KSA, Mangaluru

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Mangaluru is infamous for a greater pollution called "Mind Pollution" , which is more dangerous than the air pollution, definitely Feku Modi, and his bhakts are responsible for that... we need to clean the minds of our next generation from hatred...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shetty, Kudla

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    Report submitted to Rai.
    Rai will throw the report back into the air.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • LANCY D COSTA, Kavoor, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    I think the Mangalore Pollution control board is sleeping and taking permanent rest.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Edward R. Monteiro, Kulshekar, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    Mr Ramesh: Congress Government does not listen to the woes of the people of DK. If they can drop the controversial Steel flyover bridge in Bangalore, they will not do drop the controversial Yettinahole project.
    All he politicians who supported the money spindling Yettinahole project should be shown the Gate Pass by the ballot in the next Assembly elections in 2018 and they should get washed out in ithe Yettinahole. The people who supported the Yettinahole project, are beyond redemption. May Congress Rest in Peace. Jai Hind

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    ..what RAI will do..He dont have any idea how many hectares of forest land & trees wil be culled for YETTINAHOLE..He has no idea how WESTERTN GHATS bio diversity will be ruined by this project..Congis say Bangalore steel flyover dropped due to public pressure but they dont care about DK people protest..

    DisAgree [6] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    How competent are our politicians to understand this report?

    DisAgree [7] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    Let us first find who are the culprits ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aam aadmi, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    Breathing is not optional, so air pollution matters. Please understand this bubble, the “carbon bubble”, has to be neutralised. We’re already in a bad shape. Unless we strongly act from now, the worst accidents are only 20, 30, 40 years away.

    And please don't expect any improvement from BJP/Congress. They have already done enough damage. Change in governance and leadership is the only answer. And change means AAP(Aam Aadmi Party). Lot of good things are happening in Delhi but media never shows it.

    Jai Hind!

    DisAgree [6] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sat, Mar 04 2017

    @admi- plz do not contest any election. You will lose your deposit. Issued in aam admi interest!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • C.A. Cardoza, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 05 2017

    It is the quality of fuel available for vehicles, which causes air pollution. First let the concern authorities check the quality of fuel we are getting in our country.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Air in Mangaluru high in lead content, reveals study; report submitted to Rai



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