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Unchecked industrial pollution harming Eloor : Greenpeace
Kochi, Sept 10: Greenpeace, an international organisation fighting against environmental pollution, today said that unchecked industrial pollution of Eloor, industrial belt in Kochi, had resulted in increased rates of disease and death amongst the human population.
Kochi, Sept 10: Greenpeace, an international organisation fighting against environmental pollution, today said that unchecked industrial pollution of Eloor, industrial belt in Kochi, had resulted in increased rates of disease and death amongst the human population.
Diseases like cancer, congenital birth-defects, bronchitis, asthma, allergic dermatitis and stomach ulcers were found to be extremely common in Eloor, according to a cross sectional epidemiological study conducted by Greepeace and medical teams from occupational health and safety centre, Mumbai, Manu Gopalan, Toxics campaigner of Greepeace India, told reporters.
The teams were also supported in the study by community health cell, Bangalore, Nimhans, Bangalore, and St John's Medical College, Bangalore, he added. According to the first level findings of the study 'status of human health at Eloor Industrial Estate, Kerala', in comparison to the lesser polluted Pindimana in the same district, the chances that Eloor citizens would contract cancer were 2.85 times higher, he said.
Children were 2.63 times at higher risk of malformation due to congenital and chromosomal aberrations and chances of children's death due to birth defects had increased 3.8 times, he said, adding death due to bronchitis at Eloor was up by 3.4 times and due to asthma was up by 2.2 times.
In the light of the findings of the study, the government should take immediate actions including zero discharge in the river, clean production at Eloor and Edayar, he said.
Bureau Report
The teams were also supported in the study by community health cell, Bangalore, Nimhans, Bangalore, and St John's Medical College, Bangalore, he added. According to the first level findings of the study 'status of human health at Eloor Industrial Estate, Kerala', in comparison to the lesser polluted Pindimana in the same district, the chances that Eloor citizens would contract cancer were 2.85 times higher, he said.
Children were 2.63 times at higher risk of malformation due to congenital and chromosomal aberrations and chances of children's death due to birth defects had increased 3.8 times, he said, adding death due to bronchitis at Eloor was up by 3.4 times and due to asthma was up by 2.2 times.
In the light of the findings of the study, the government should take immediate actions including zero discharge in the river, clean production at Eloor and Edayar, he said.
Bureau Report