Residents staging a protest on Friday over dust emission allegedly from an industrial unit.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B.
Residents of Sathiyavani Muthunagar in Ennore have demanded immediate action from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) after a dust sample collected from a home in the area revealed high levels of fluoride and toxic metals, including lead, uranium, and cadmium.
The sample was taken during an episode of heavy dust emissions, reportedly from a nearby fertilizer plant, in the last week of May, and tested at a private lab by the residents.
G. Sobiya, a resident, said the emissions began after a new chimney was installed around six months ago at the Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited, currently leased to Coromandel International Limited.
“Thick black smoke is often released. The dust settles everywhere, and causes headache, throat irritation, and other health issues,” she said, adding: “At one time, over just 24 hours, I collected as much dust as one would normally see in 40 days from the terrace.”
Following complaints from residents, TNPCB officials visited the area and collected samples on May 29.
The Board said the unit was manufacturing granulated single superphosphate using rock phosphate, sulphuric acid, gypsum, and other nutrients, and described the emissions as “fugitive.”
Residents, especially women, said they had been forced to keep their windows shut due to the dust, making homes poorly ventilated and unbearable in the heat. P. Vijayashanthi, a mother of a two-year-old, said her cough had worsened in recent weeks. “My husband, who grew up here, has yellowed teeth, which a doctor attributed to fluoride exposure,” she said.
The community commissioned a private lab to analyse the dust. The lab results revealed extremely high calcium content — 171,553 mg/kg in a 100g sample — indicating an industrial source. Toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, uranium, and fluoride were also found at elevated levels.
The fluoride level in the dust, at 15,312 mg/kg, is five times higher than the safe threshold of 3,100 mg/kg recommended for residential soil by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Children are especially vulnerable due to the time spent playing on the ground, locals said.
Lead levels in the dust were also alarmingly high. According to USEPA guidelines, floor dust in homes where children live should not contain more than 10 micrograms of lead per square foot. Residents said that assuming that 1 gram of dust collects per square foot, this translates to a maximum of 10 mg/kg of lead in dust. However, the sample from Ennore showed 111 mg/kg — over ten times the safe limit.
Environmental engineer Prabhakaran Veerarasu of Poovulagin Nanbargal said the presence of uranium was particularly alarming, and must be thoroughly investigated.
Resident S. Mythili said the community was not against industrial activity, but was concerned about the lack of safeguards. “Our children are falling sick. They have throat and eye irritation, and cannot play outside. We just want the government to take action to protect our health,” she said.
A TNPCB official said that analysis of the collected samples was still under way, and the results would be released soon.
Firm denies charges
Meanwhile, Coromandel denied the allegations in a statement saying “It is important to note that the dust sample collected and submitted for testing could have originated from a range of industrial sources in the vicinity, and not necessarily from Coromandel. Drawing conclusions without a comprehensive and scientifically verified source attribution is both premature and misleading. Coromandel operates with strict adherence to environmental norms and regulatory frameworks.”
Published – June 14, 2025 12:58 am IST