NEUROTOXINS

11 people died due to a gas leak in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana, Punjab, while four people fell ill and were hospitalised.

Neurotoxins

  • Neurotoxins are poisonous substances which can directly affect the nervous system.
  • Neurotoxicity occurs when exposure to natural or man-made toxic substances alters the normal activity of the nervous system.
  • These substances can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons or nerve cells, which are important for transmitting and processing signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
  • They directly attack the respiratory tract of the body, thereby overpowering the oxygen concentration of the body and then the nervous system as well.

Neurotoxic gases

  • Methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are common neurotoxic gases.
  • While methane and carbon monoxide are odourless gases, hydrogen sulphide has a pungent odour and in higher concentration it can be fatal for humans.

How these gases are removed?

To remove gases such as hydrogen sulphide from wastewater, chemical oxidation is done, where oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide are added to the wastewater.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

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