Jesse Ramdeo
Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Residents of Irois Forest, Chatham, are worried about the effects of the almost daily burning of a sulphur vein in the area on their health and safety. For nearly two months, the gaseous substance has been emitting a strong sulphur scent.
One of the affected residents, 69-year-old Sumintra Manohar said discharges of sulphur gas from the site have been occurring for nearly 20 years and have been worsening, recently.
“I am a lupus patient and I am allergic to sulphur so it is affecting me, my family and everyone here in the village. It have so many little children and babies. As a result of the sulphur my throat burning, my eyes burning my chest hurting,” she said.
“It is such a pungent smell, it stifling. You feeling nauseous and your head hurting.”
Aruna Roopchan said the recent emissions affected the air quality in neighbouring communities and more than 50 residents have signed a petition calling for action to address the problem.
“My son had to be hospitalised with breathing issues this time around. When he went to the hospital and the doctors conducted their tests, they said there was a pus-like substance in his throat. My ailing mother has also been having a hard time,” Roopchan said.
Mitra Manohar, who operates a food establishment in the area, said his business has been taking a hit because of the high smell of sulphur.
“It’s very serious in terms of customers being affected because as they come out of their vehicle they are hit with this smell and they ask what it is and it is my duty to tell them to alleviate some of their fears,” he said.
“Personally for me, I worked in the refinery for a number of years and I know how dangerous sulphur dioxide is. Anything above two parts per million is dangerous to your health. I am a heart patient, I recently got a massive heart attack and I am scared.”
Cedros Councillor Shankar Teelucksingh is concerned about the authorities’ response to the situation.
He said: “We don’t know the air quality and its impact on human health and I’m calling on the Chief Fire Officer together with the EMA to respond quickly. We are ready to respond but we don’t have the technical ability to deal with a situation like this.”
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) said in a statement that it was alerted to sulphur like odour in the area in February and collaborated with the Fire Service, to deal with the problem.
The EMA added that it is liaising with the ODPM and the Siparia Borough Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit (SBC-DMU) and an initial assessment and joint site visit was conducted on March 7.
“SBC-DMU is the lead agency to assess and determine the risk to the residents.”
The EMA said steps are being taken to control the burning and the situation is being assessed to ensure that it is brought under control “in the soonest possible time.”