UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1st June 2025
Airborne health risks near river mouths in coastal areas
Why in News?
A recent study published in Science Advances (May 28, 2025) has found that pollutants discharged by rivers into the sea can aerosolize and drift back inland, posing potential airborne health risks near river mouths and coastal zones.
Key Highlights of the Study:
- Location: Tijuana River, U.S.-Mexico border, flowing into the Pacific Ocean.
- Study Period: January to March 2020.
- Methodology: Seawater and air sampling over 35 km of coastline using quartz-fibre filters and liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry.
- Key Findings:
- 10 of 12 pollutants were more concentrated near river mouths.
- Detected substances included octinoxate (sunscreen), dibenzylamine (tire additive), methamphetamine, agricultural biocides, and benzoylecgonine (a cocaine metabolite).
- Pollutants aerosolized from seawater spray could drift inland and be inhaled by humans.
- Global Estimate: Approximately 40,000 tonnes of octinoxate and 50 tonnes of dibenzylamine may be released annually from polluted coastlines worldwide.
Concepts:
- Aerosolization: The process by which particles from seawater become suspended in the air and travel inland.
- Benzoylecgonine: A stable metabolite of cocaine, used as a marker for raw sewage contamination in water.
- Octinoxate: A UV filter commonly found in sunscreens; linked to environmental persistence and potential hormonal disruption.
Relevant Policies and Organizations:
In the Indian context:
- National Water Policy (2012): Stresses prevention of pollution and treatment of wastewater before discharge.
- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011: Seeks to protect the coastal environment by restricting certain activities.
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Responsible for setting environmental standards and monitoring water and air quality.
In the international context:
- MARPOL Convention: Regulates pollution from ships and marine sources.
- UNEP Global Programme of Action (GPA): Focuses on marine environment protection from land-based pollution.
Constitutional Provisions (India):
- Article 21: Ensures the right to life, which includes the right to a clean environment.
- Article 48A: Directs the State to protect and improve the environment.
- Article 51A(g): Imposes a duty on citizens to safeguard the natural environment.
Challenges Identified:
- Lack of integrated regulation of coastal air and water pollution.
- Absence of systematic air quality monitoring at beaches and river mouths.
- Limited research on long-term health impacts of aerosolized pollutant exposure.
- Disproportionate exposure risks for coastal and fishing communities.
- Weak enforcement of industrial and urban wastewater discharge norms.
Way Forward:
- Strengthen Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) with focus on air-sea pollution interface.
- Incorporate aerosol pollutant monitoring into environmental surveillance frameworks.
- Conduct health impact assessments for populations living near polluted coasts.
- Apply the Polluter Pays Principle to enforce accountability for untreated discharges.
- Promote community participation and coastal awareness campaigns.
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