Mozambique: 15 killed by wild animals in Mágoè National Park
Air pollution in Matola: Unidentified particles rattle Tchumene residents
12:12 CAT | 27 May 2021
Image: Noticias
A multi-sectoral team has been created to collect samples of the unidentified particles settling on surfaces in Tchumene neighbourhood, Maptola municipality, Maputo province, over the weekend.
The main task is to assess the toxicity, if any, of the whitish particles which descended on Tchumene last Saturday and Sunday.
Their appearance caused unrest among residents, fearful of health risks, although no particular disease spike was observed in the following days.
The particles suspended in the air ended up sticking to as walls, vehicles, tree leaves and even vegetables in beds. Astonished residents sought reassurance from the Tchumene Residents’ Association, which in turn brought the matter to the attention of Matola municipality.
Some residents told ‘Noticias’ that it would perhaps be impossible to identify the origin of the particles, given Matola’s intense industrial activity and multitude of factories, both large and small.
“The ideal is to calmly await the results of tests the competent entities should already be carrying out, in the hope of the operation being as swift as possible,” one of the residents said.
‘Noticias’ got in touch with the National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA), which confirmed that samples had been collected. As for the results of the analysis, Baptista Bina, a technician at the Ministry of Land and Environment, said that everything depended on the laboratory in charge of the investigation.
“We have already collected the samples, and are sending them to an internal laboratory. That is why we cannot advance forecasts regarding release dates for the results,” she said.
Source: Noticias
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.