Cuddalore July 8, 2005: SACEM monitors conducted two pollution patrols on the evening of 5th and 6th of July. The patrol documented a series of chemical odours ranking from 2 to 8. The various chemical odours documented were of Chikoo odour, roasted powder odour, hospital odour, and rotten smell.
The patrol conducted in SIPCOT area were also to document the existing pollution in the area, despite the fact that the SCMC had ordered the TNPCB and industries to initiate the process of cleaning up the SIPCOT air and bring down the levels of VOCs in September 2004. The deadline for implementing the SCMC recommendation expired on June 30, 2005.
SACEM has already established that the chemical odours in the air also indicate the presence of VOCs in the air. The bucket samples taken during similar chemicals odours proved the presence of VOCs in the extremely high levels in the air.
So far SACEM has identified the presence of 24 chemicals in the air through a series of bucket sampling exercises.
Also read Air Quality Reports of SACEM
- Gas Trouble II: Air Quality Status and Assessment of TNPCB’s Compliance to Supreme Court Monitoring Committee Order. Download report May 2005 (Adobe pdf format)
- 22 toxic chemicals found in SIPCOT air, in quantities even 20000 times above the USEPA levels! GAS TROUBLE Air Quality in SIPCOT, Cuddalore India (Adobe pdf file) Sept. 2004
- Chemical odours in SIPCOT industrial complex, the community environmental map down the variety and the pattern in an indicative study. New Report on Chemical Odours and Health Effects by Community Monitors, Tamil Nadu India Adobe pdf file
Pollution Patrol Report
Date: 05.07.2005
Time: 6:15 pm to 7:35 pm
| Company | Time | Wind direction | Chemical odour | Rank | Health effects | Location of monitors | Other comments |
| Arkema Peroxides and Bayer
|
6:15 pm | South East to North West | No Smell | — | — | North side of Bayer | —
|
| Pioneer Miyagi Ltd.
|
6:25 pm | South East to North West | No Smell | — | — | East Coast Road | — |
| SPIC | 6:30 pm | South East to North West | ETP Smell and Rotten Smell | 5 | Stomach rumbling and breathing trouble
|
Eachangadu village | — |
| Asian Paints | 6:35 pm | South East to North West
|
Chikoo Smell | 3 | — | Riverside service road | Steam sound noticed from the unit |
| CUSECS 5 | 6:40 pm | South East to North West
|
Mixed smell | 5 | Suffocation and headache | Near CUSECS 5 | — |
| Aurobindo Pharma | 6:40 pm | South East to North West
|
Unidentified smell | 2 | — | 4th Service Road | — |
| Shasun Drugs and Chemicals Ltd.
|
6:40 pm | South East to North West | Acid and toilet smell | 7 | Suffocation and headache | Kudikadu Road | Motor sound and steam sound |
| Guru Enterprises | 6:50 pm | South East to North West
|
Acetic acid smell | 7 | Breathing problems | East Coast Road | — |
| TANFAC | 6:55 pm | South East to North West
|
Powder mixed acid smell | 3 | — | 3rd service road | — |
| Victory Chemicals | 7:00 pm | South East to North West
|
Spices smell | 8 | Eye burning and suffocation | Near the industry riverside | — |
| Tagros | 7:10 pm | South East to North West
|
Unidentified smell | 4 | — | 1st service road | Steam sound and white smoke noticed from the chimney |
| Tantech Agro Chemicals | 7:35 pm | South East to North West
|
Smoke mixed acid smell | 4 | Eye burning sensation | 5th service road | — |
Monitors present:
S. Ramanathan; S. Pugazendhi; S. Shivashankar
Pollution Patrol Report
Date: 06.07.2005
Time: 5:20 pm to 7:30 pm
| Company | Time | Wind direction | Chemical odour | Rank | Health effects | Location of monitors | Other comments |
| Pioneer Miyagi Ltd.
|
5:20 pm | South East to North West | Roasted powder smell | 2 | — | East coast road | —
|
| SPIC | 5:30 pm | South East to North West
|
Rotten material smell and penicillin and glucose smell
|
5 | Stomach rumbling and vomiting sensation | East Coast Road | — |
| Tantech Agro Chemicals | 5:35 pm | South East to North West | Acid mixed smell | 7 | Eye burning, suffocation and throat burning
|
5th cross road | High white smoke |
| Asian Paints | 5:40 pm | South East to North West
|
Chikoo Smell | 4 | Headache | Service road | — |
| Aurobindo Pharma | 5:50 pm | South East to North West
|
— | — | — | 4th cross road | — |
| CUSECS 5 | 5:55 pm | South East to North West
|
Rotten mixed smell | 7 | — | Close to CUSECS no 5 | — |
| Shasun Drugs and Chemicals Ltd.
|
6:00 pm | South East to North West | Spirit and toilet smell | 6 | Stomach rumbling and headache | Service road | — |
| Vanavil | 6:05 pm | South East to North West
|
— | — | — | East Coast Road | — |
| TANFAC | 6:15 pm | South East to North West
|
Powder mixed acid smell and DDHF smell | 8 | Suffocating, eye burning and throat burning | Service road | Light smoke |
| Victory Chemicals | 6:20 pm | South East to North West
|
Unidentified smell | 4 | Eye burning and suffocation | Service road | — |
| Tagros | 6:30 pm | South East to North West
|
Hospital smell | 4 | — | Service road | Steam releasing sound |
| Arkema Peroxide | 7:30 pm | South East to North West
|
Neem cake smell | 5 | Headache | East coast road | — |
Note: Incoming effluent water to CUSECS from Loyal Super Fabrics was of the colour of red mud.
Monitors present: T. Arulselvam; S. Pugazendhi; S. Ramanathan; S. Shivashankar; J. Parsuraman