Carbon Masters’ Post

This brilliant researched article by The New York Times examines the devastating impact of a waste-to-energy plant in Delhi that was supposed to provide an environmentally friendly solution to the city’s growing waste problem. Instead, it has introduced new dangers, spewing toxic ash and pollutants into nearby neighborhoods. Despite promises of safe, regulated incineration, residents close to the Timarpur-Okhla plant now face serious health issues, from respiratory diseases to miscarriages and birth defects. Testing by The Times reveals alarmingly high levels of heavy metals in the air and soil, which experts link to the plant’s emissions and illegal ash dumping. As the government plans to expand this so called “green” initiative across other major cities, this article stresses on the severe risks faced by millions in urban India, questioning the real cost of this “clean energy” revolution. When asked why Delhi is so polluted, one major source mostly overlooked is this massive incinerator in the city’s heart. Despite spewing toxic ash, it runs unchecked, even under strict #GRAP controls; like a ‘holy cow,’ shielded from scrutiny. Article reveals a systemic oversight⬇️ #wasteofenergy #cleanairforall #wte

🚨 MASSIVE EXPOSE 🚨 The New York Times has published a groundbreaking investigation into the Okhla incinerator, revealing alarming health impacts and toxic exposures for nearby communities 🏭💨 Key findings: High levels of air and ash toxins impacting residents’ health 🧬 Clear breakdown of carbon credits and expansion plans 🏢 Over 150 air and soil samples collected from 2019-2023 from surrounding neighborhoods and illegal ash dump sites 🌱🌆 Partnering with top experts from IIT Delhi and Johns Hopkins University, the Times' research team found dangerous levels of heavy metals in affected areas—potentially impacting up to one million people in contamination zones 🚨These findings are critical, bringing transparency and awareness to environmental health risks that urgently need addressing 🌍 https://lnkd.in/ePZ7senb

Anyone who has lived in or even visited #Delhi knows the infamous trash mountains—looming testaments to neglect. The first time I saw them, I couldn’t help but think of #Mordor, the mountain of doom. Pair that with Delhi’s hazardous air, and you have a city struggling to breathe. For too long, the focus has been on #stubbleburning, but this #NewYorkTimes piece exposes a deeper, more insidious issue: the stench of government and corporate apathy that no mask can hide. If you don’t have time to read the whole article, let this horrifying fact sink in, “internal government reports reveal that a waste-to-energy plant in Delhi emits up to 10 times the legal limit of dioxins.” These are the same toxic compounds found in Agent Orange, the chemical weapon used during the Vietnam War. And now, they’re being pumped into the skies of a city already choking on its own air. If you do read the article pinned below, don't miss the #Jindal involvement in running this plant without the necessary safety measures in place - "current and former workers at the plant in Delhi say that some of the basic steps needed to operate safely have been skipped from the very beginning for a simple reason — to cut costs." I used to joke about being a climate refugee—forced to leave the city I love after becoming a mother. I was privileged to have that choice. Most people can’t leave, and some simply won’t. My own parents, for instance, refuse to leave Delhi, staying alongside millions of others who endure toxic air as though it’s their fate. Two years ago, a thought provoking #Caravan article asked whether Delhi’s air crisis was a sign of a failing democracy. It’s not. If anything, it’s proof that democracy is functioning. It's we, the people of Delhi, that have failed. We are operating under the delusion that this problem will somehow fix itself. The truth is, we haven’t made clean air a political priority. Until we do, nothing will change. This fight can’t be an annual ritual. It needs to be a daily commitment—thinking, engaging, writing, questioning, and agitating. Clean air isn’t a privilege. It’s a fundamental right, and it’s time we start treating it that way. #Delhi #Air #AQI #Pollution #Cronycaptalism https://lnkd.in/ed3GBCF3

#HighlyCitedPaper in MDPI Environments 📖 "A Pilot Study to Quantify #VolatileOrganicCompounds and Their Sources Inside and Outside Homes in #Urban India in Summer and Winter during Normal Daily Activities" by Christina L. Norris, Ross Edwards, Chinmay Ghoroi, James J. Schauer, Marilyn Black and Michael H. Bergin 👉Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dthtqYUK #openaccess  #indoorair #pollutantsource

Hurray, one of my research articles reached 400 reads on @researchgate! The #research #publication: "Assessment of Microplastic Degrading Potential of Fungal Isolates from an Estuary in Rivers State, Nigeria." which was put together with supervision from janet williams, delved into the vital role of #fungal isolates in combating #microplastic #pollution, shedding light on #innovative #solutions for a #cleaner, #greener #future. Join us on this #journey as we #explore the #transformative #potential of #nature in #tackling #plastic #waste. 🌱💡 Read the full research paper here: [https://lnkd.in/ds_8V4za] Together, let's pave the way for a more #sustainable tomorrow! 💚🌏 #MicroplasticResearch #EnvironmentalScience #Sustainability #ResearchPublication

Excited to share our recent publication on groundwater fluoride (F−) contamination in West Bengal, India. Along with the insights from meta-analysis this study provides a detailed assessment of F− contamination at the block level across six districts. Key findings from over 3000 datasets reveal significant exceedances of safe F− limits in several districts, with notable toxicity levels in West Bardhaman. Additionally, our research identifies nine newly contaminated blocks and underscores the elevated non-cancerous health risks, particularly among infants. These insights emphasize the urgent need for tailored health policies to address the acute and evolving human health concerns in affected areas. Tarit Roychowdhury Dr. Bilash Chandra Das #EnvironmentalResearch #GroundwaterContamination #PublicHealth #WestBengal #EnvironmentalScience #ResearchPublication

Soil and vegetation have the potential to absorb and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to the level it was before the Industrial Era began in 1850. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 2021 #SaveSoil savesoil.org 🌍 Nourish the soil, nurture life. #Sustainability #ClimateChange #CircularEconomy #OrganicFarming #SaveSoil #sadhguru #organic #sustainable #regenerativeagriculture 

This is a quick follow-up post to the one with the IDR article on "Scale" - https://shorturl.at/Q2n5a And what better follow-up than with another piece from the India Development Review (IDR) itself? Sameer Shisodia's article, https://shorturl.at/n5TWt, is eye-opening in several ways. One part of it was quite pertinent to the scale-growth argument from the previous post. "There are nonprofits that work closely with communities who are essentially the owners of the place and dependent on the place. Such organisations represent the place. There are others who have robust solutions—the science around improving groundwater, approaches around livestock management, or strong pedagogy for primary school education. These nonprofits represent solutions." This formulation of organisations as "place representations" or "solution representations" provides an interesting angle on the scale vs. growth debate. Seen this way, one set of organisations will need to grow where they are, while another set will need to scale out/up. There are more thoughts from Sameer's article. That is for another Saturday.

This marks mother earths faliure ~ No government in power no department or individual will be able to replace this massive loss. But #noonecares. I want more for myself, my family , my loved ones, more money, more comforts, more gadgets, more cars, more diamonds , more food but why don’t I want more trees .. why can’t I get more Earths .. why am I not able to even stand up for more plantation despite facing this horrendous summer, erratic rain and extreme winter - everything points at Climate Change but not one bell rings Ask yourself .. amidst all this politics of the offender, the opposition and the government and above all the environment only 1 person is loosing it ALL - I , ME , MYSELF .. read YOU, U , YOOO It’s not just shameful what they have done - regardless of who ever has done this. This should be made a punishable offence - while there are laws in place it’s not being put to action since I want MoRE na ! - the whole department who undertook this is to be made responsible. #fellingoftreespunishable 🫤😓 will they ever talk of planting tress. This though erks me to see why the government is not pro active in plantation .. forget reactive or responsive. BMC plans to cut 316 trees, transplant 66 for Eastern Freeway improvement in South Mumbai – Details inside https://lnkd.in/ddiSMY6i