Howrah, West Bengal, India
Site
Description Human
Exposure & Health Impact Site
Progress
Site Description
Location & Size of Site
Howrah foundry cluster is one of the oldest and largest cast iron foundry centers in the country, accounting for around 20% of the total castings produced in the country. A number of these units were closed down by the State Pollution Control Board. Though the industry is trying to clean up its own act by sponsoring research into cleaner technologies, 80% are small-scale operations and may find it difficult to do so without outside assistance, both technical and financial.
Contaminant Type, Source & Quantity
Air
• Particulate matter
Water
• Heavy metals viz lead, cadmium, chromium, iron & manganese were very high. EC, thorium, Cl, TDS were some time very high. Pesticides were also on high side. chloroacetophenone & Phenolic compounds in traces.
Solid
• Discard slag may contain lead.
Human Exposure & Health Impact
No official study found on line. These are the types of disorders expected from the types of pollution seen here:
• High levels of particulate matter in the air means asthma and other respiratory disease;
• Based on the kinds of heavy metals present, expect to see damage to nervous system, kidneys, lungs, liver. Nausea, diarrhea. Developmental damage to children.
Number of Potentially Affected People
1 million in Howrah City, 4 million in Howrah District
September 2004: Site reviewed by the Technical Advisory Board. Blacksmtih Institute will visit this site.
