Air Pollution From Bleaching and Dyeing Industries Creating Severe Health Hazards in Maheshtala Textile Cluster, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Hazardous bleaching and dyeing units are rapidly increasing in developing countries due to growing global demand of textile products. The aim of the study is to assess long-term respiratory effect of air pollution generated from textile bleaching and dyeing industries on the residents living in such industrial setting. Such types of long-term (2012-2016) studies have been conducted first time in this area. The control area of Chatta and Kalikapur under Maheshtala textile cluster (10.45°N latitude to 75.90°E longitude) has been identified for the study. Ambient air monitoring with particulate matters (PMs; PM2.5 and PM10), NO2, and SO2 of 72 air samples has been done with air sampler machine during different seasons. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 have been found higher than Central Pollution Control Board (India) and World Health Organization norms. Using data on 73 respondents on age, education, occupation, and income, impact on different causes of respiratory ailments has been examined. The survey shows that 67% of total population are having different respiratory complaints. The regression analysis (R2 = 0.9998) and correlation matrix show that cold, cough, bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a strongly significant positive correlation with fever (r = 0.98, P < 0.05); breathing trouble has a significant strong positive correlation with cold, cough, bronchitis, asthma, COPD, and fever (r = 0.877, P < 0.05); high blood pressure has a negative correlation with cold and fever (r = −0.655, P < 0.05); cardiovascular problem has a strong positive correlation with high blood pressure (r = 0.989, P < 0.05) and strong negative correlation with cold, cough, asthma, bronchitis, and cold-related fever (r = −0.54, P < 0.05) due to PM2.5 and PM10 concentration. About 56% of villagers who have opted for this occupation have school-level education (class I-IV) with annual income of Rs 60 000 ($870) only. Studies express present scenario of air pollution in the subject area which is still unnoticed and propose to take control of air pollution