Major Health and Environmental Hazards Caused by Fly Ash
- Toxic compounds and heavy metals present in the fly ash can serious health issues like lung cancer, and neurological damage, and can even lead to premature mortality.
- When fly ash is disposed of in lakes, ponds, or rivers it can cause serious illness to the people living in the nearby villages and can even turn fatal for some of the aquatic creatures.
- The flash released from the coal-fired power plants is one of the primary reasons for the air pollution in India.
- Also if the untreated fly ash is directly disposed of underground then, it can make soil infertile and can soil pollution.
- Higher disposal of fly ash on the grounds retards the recharging of groundwater.
Environmental and Health Impact of Fly ash
Air pollution has increased significantly in almost all the regions of India in the past few years, and most of it is accounted for by industries and power plants. Power plants and many industries release their byproduct into the atmosphere which may constitute harmful gases, fly ash, etc. In recent times many cases have been reported in India where fly ash from the thermal power plants is getting carried out by air in the nearby villages and causing air and water pollution also leading to the death of many aquatic creatures. Recently a case was reported in Kosasthalaiyar where ash carrying pipeline of the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) leaked and resulted in severe water pollution.
According to a report in 2018-19 only 78% of the total fly ash produced in India has been utilized.