The renowned Marina Beach in Chennai has once again been overtaken by thick layers of poisonous white foam, which now blankets about 1.5 kilometers of the city’s coastline between Pattinapakkam and Srinivasapuram. Residents and environmentalists alike have been frightened by the unsettling images, which went viral on social media and depict frothy white layers floating on the waves. The New Indian Express reports that heavy rains across the Adyar basin led to increased river discharge into the sea. The toxic foam blankets Chennai’s Marina Beach was created by this surge, in conjunction with untreated sewage containing phosphates.
Causes Behind the Toxic Foam Formation
The long-standing pollution problems in Chennai’s waterways are the cause of toxic foam that blankets Chennai’s Marina Beach. Untreated sewage continues to enter rivers and canals, polluting coastal ecosystems despite numerous cleanup campaigns and infrastructure improvements.
Key reasons behind the foam formation include:
- Untreated Sewage Discharge: Detergents and chemical residues are carried by the massive amounts of untreated sewage dumped into waterways, including the Adyar, Cooum, and Buckingham Canal.
- High Phosphate Levels: The thick foam is produced by the reaction of phosphates, mostly from detergents and industrial effluents, with organic matter and sea turbulence.
- Adyar Estuary Churning Effect: When freshwater discharge and saltwater interact in a stormy environment, frothy layers form on the surface.
- Heavy Rainfall and Runoff: The monsoon rains exacerbate the chemical load entering the ocean by washing contaminants from cities into rivers.
This confluence of circumstances turns what would usually be natural foam into a poisonous, pollutant-filled cover that spreads down the coast, posing a threat to both human and marine health.
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Poses Public Health Risks, Especially for Children
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When it comes to exposure to the foam, experts have expressed grave health concerns. Despite its seemingly innocuous appearance, the foamy blanket contains chemical irritants that can cause respiratory and skin issues, especially among kids who frequently play on the beach.
Among the crucial public health alerts are:
- Skin and Eye Irritation: Due to chemical residues, direct contact with the foam may cause burning, rashes, and itching.
- Respiratory Problems: Allergies or respiratory discomfort may arise from inhaling aerosolized contaminants from the foam.
- Risk to Beachgoers and Fishermen: People who spend a lot of time close to the coast, such as fishermen, are more likely to be exposed.
- Advisory for Locals: Residents are advised to stay away from beaches, including Marina, Thiruvanmiyur, and Besant Nagar, till the situation improves, according to environmental experts and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
Although the pH and dissolved oxygen levels in coastal waters remain below safe standards, tests conducted by the TNPCB showed elevated phosphate levels. This suggests that chemical pollutants, not an oxygen imbalance, are the cause of the foam’s toxicity. To help prevent potential skin or health issues, locals have been advised to stay away from the shoreline until the waters have stabilized.
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