Source: IE
Context: 11 people died due to a gas leak in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana, Punjab.
The reason behind the deaths: According to the air quality sensors used by NDRF, high levels of Hydrogen Sulphide gas, a kind of neurotoxin, have been detected.
What are neurotoxins?
Neurotoxins are poisonous substances which can directly affect 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.
What are 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 concentrations, it can be fatal for humans.
How to remove these gases? To remove gases such as hydrogen sulphide from wastewater, chemical oxidation is done, where oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide are added to the wastewater.
