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Wadala Towers Breathe Toxic Air: Study Reveals Gas Dangers
24 Feb
Summary
- Toxic gas levels exceed permissible limits in Wadala residential towers.
- Citizen study monitors air quality inside high-rises for the first time.
- Research expands focus beyond particulate matter to industrial gases.
Levels of hazardous industrial gases have been found to be significantly elevated in Mumbai's Wadala residential towers, according to a recent citizen-led air quality study. Researchers recorded carbon monoxide levels 50% above the permissible limit and hydrogen sulphide concentrations nearly 15 times the allowed threshold.
This pioneering study, conducted by the Mumbai Ecological Research and Analysis Group (MERAG), marks one of the first systematic efforts to monitor air quality at higher elevations within residential buildings. Sensors were placed on the 26th and 13th floors of two towers over an eight-day period.
The monitoring captured fluctuations in fine and coarse particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulphide. Data analysis is ongoing, with researchers correlating air quality readings with wind patterns to understand emission sources and transport.
While most air quality monitoring focuses on particulate matter, this research highlights the critical need to assess industrial gases like ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, which were also found to be periodically or consistently above safe limits in the surveyed residential areas.
