Dr. Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Doctors' Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, said harmful substances released from coal thermal power plants, including fly ash and bottom ash, can cause respiratory illnesses such as asthma, while long-term exposure to heavy metals increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
He stressed that ash content from coal combustion should generally be maintained below 10 percent, cautioning that serious health crises may arise when levels exceed 20 percent. He claimed that recently imported coal reportedly contains ash levels of around 25 percent and urged health authorities to pay close attention to the issue.
He further noted that pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable, with risks including miscarriages, low birth weight, premature births, lung complications and eye diseases. Dr. Sanjeewa called for immediate health screening programmes at the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) division level for affected communities.
