In todays Trinidad Guardian Toxic fumes sicken citizens CITY STIFLED: Students and workers fled Port-of-Spain yesterday as toxic smoke from the Beetham landfill overwhelmed the capital city for the third day. The toxic smoke has been confirmed to be in some cases 13 times over the limit set out in the Draft Air Pollution Rules. The Health Ministry said in a release that the air pollution from the landfill site might be hazardous to health, especially to people who are “predisposed through hypersensitivity conditions such as bronchial asthma and dermatitis.” In an interview, Health Minister Fuad Khan said he had asked the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) to make preparations, including ensuring that clinics remained open late to treat people affected by the smoke. The release from the ministry advised affected people to go to the nearest hospital or health centre if they developed severe shortness of breath, skin or eye irritation. The Woodbrook and El Socorro Health Centres were designated to remain open until 9 pm. “There have been reports of people complaining of throat irritation,” Khan said. There were concerns about smoke reaching the hospitals, but he said as most of the hospital rooms were air-conditioned they would not be greatly affected. The acrid smoke spread as far as the Mucurapo Foreshore, and forced 16 schools to send home students before noon yesterday and businesses in the city to close their doors. Click the link for the full story < guardian.co.tt/news/2014-01-30/city-stifled >
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 14:56:44 +0000
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