The 10,000 tonnes of garbage that piled up across the city over the past couple of days have been cleared but the burning of garbage at collection sites has added to yet another environmental hazard, polluting the environment with various toxic gases. The city is already reeling under dangerous smog and high incidence of particulate matter. The burning of garbage adds dioxins, further increasing the pollution level. Says noted environmentalist Dr Yellapa Reddy, “While the solid waste are being burnt, the un-burnt particles left behind emit hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide. These, when exposed to bright sunlight, generate secondary pollutants that are highly poisonous.”
Poisonous gases can have a direct effect on one’s heart, can cause headache, eye irritation, and affect the embryo, besides affecting some fruiting plants. Mr Reddy said we are yet to get automatic sensors that automatically raise an alarm if the level of pollutant gases in the environment goes up beyond permissible limits. “It is essential that the municipal corporation and the Pollution Control Board should act accordingly and come out with immediate solutions,” he said. Mr A.S. Sadashiviah, chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, agrees that “solid wastes and burning of plastic emits toxic gases like dioxins that will not only hamper the environment but also has a very bad impact on the health of people. It leads to various forms of cancer and other respiratory diseases.”