14.11.2024
‘Thick White Froth’ Blankets Yamuna River In Delhi
Over the years, Yamuna River has been severely polluted due to untreated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and solid waste dumping. Yamuna river is covered with a thick layer of white froth and toxic pollutants. A sighting that has become an annual affair, continues to be a cause of concern among doctors and health experts. Tens of thousands of Hindu devotees flocked to rivers and bodies of water across India to pray to the sun god as part of the Chhath festival this week. In Noida, on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi, families gathered at the Yamuna river despite being covered with white toxic foam as a result of pollutants discharged from nearby industries. The foam contains high levels of harmful chemicals like phosphates and surfactants, which are toxic to the skin and eyes. Prolonged skin contact with the froth can lead to severe dermatological conditions such as rashes, itching, and eczema. It can also aggravate existing skin conditions like psoriasis. Eye exposure to these chemicals may cause irritation, redness, and long-term damage. Respiratory issues are another concern, as inhaling the fine mist of chemicals can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract. This is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis. The presence of high ammonia levels and heavy metals like lead and mercury in the river water further contributes to the toxic environment, potentially causing severe health complications such as kidney damage, neurological disorders, and even cancer if exposure is prolonged.
Credit: Global NEWS
Credit: Global NEWS
Poverty deprives people of adequate education, health care and of life's most basic necessities- safe living conditions (including clean air and clean drinking water) and an adequate food supply. The developed (industrialized) countries today account for roughly 20 percent of the world's population but control about 80 percent of the world's wealth.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
