Study finds high prevalence of respiratory illnesses among children below five living around Chennai thermal power plant

According to data from the National Family Health Survey, prevalence of acute RI symptoms of 1 per cent from Chennai and 3.9 per cent in Thiruvallur were recorded among the children.

It was noted that respiratory infections were highest in Arunodhaya Nagar and Kattukuppam. “All the 13 children surveyed in Arunodhaya Nagar reported one or more symptoms of respiratory infection in the 30 days preceding the survey while 92 per cent of the children from Kattukuppam had been sick with one or more respiratory symptoms in the preceding month,” the report said.

Sivanpadaiveethi Kuppam and AIR Nagar too recorded a high prevalence (61 per cent and 49 per cent respectively) of respiratory distress among the children. “Running nose was the most common reported symptom, with 48 per cent of the children complaining about it, followed by 40 per cent having suffered nasal congestion, 35 per cent reporting dry cough and 5 per cent reporting wheezing,” the report added.

The study also confirmed reports by committees set up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in various cases. In the study, it was mentioned that in November 2021, a joint committee of the Central Pollution Control Board and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board found that the “carrying capacity of the Ennore area for particulate (dust) pollution exceeded due to emissions from just one source – namely, TANGEDCO’s North Chennai’s thermal power station”.

Last week, another high-level joint expert committee set by the NGT reported that the high levels of pollution, particularly of cadmium, chromium, lead and copper, in the Ennore area had considerably increased the risk of cancer and non-cancer diseases among children in the area.