Jaipur: Rajasthan’s marble capital, Kishangarh, is grappling with mounting environmental and public health challenges linked to its thriving marble industry, according to a study by researchers from the Central University of Rajasthan. The study found that marble processing and slurry dumping have contributed to hazardous air pollution, groundwater contamination, soil degradation and respiratory health concerns in and around the city’s marble-processing hub.The findings come from a study authored by Basant Bijarniya and Laxmi Kant Sharma of the Dept of Environmental Science, Central University of Rajasthan, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances.The study found fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations ranging from 280.46 to 744.32 micrograms per cubic metre, while the average concentration in the core industrial zone was 465.3 micrograms per cubic metre—about eight times India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards and up to 50 times higher than the World Health Organization guideline. Researchers found that the high PM2.5 levels corresponded with a high incidence of respiratory illnesses reported by industrial workers and nearby residents.Groundwater samples showed total dissolved solids of 3,573.33 mg/L, salinity of 5,353 mg/L and chloride concentrations of 1,199.63 mg/L, all exceeding permissible limits. The study attributed the deterioration to carbonate-rich marble slurry leaching from open dumping sites into groundwater.Satellite analysis showed that cropland in the study area declined by 2.58% between 2017 and 2022, indicating gradual industrial expansion. Soil samples collected near marble slurry dumping sites revealed increased alkalinity, high electrical conductivity, reduced organic carbon and elevated concentrations of copper, zinc and nickel, suggesting declining soil fertility due to prolonged slurry deposition.Mineralogical analysis identified lead silicate and copper sulphate in marble waste, raising concerns about long-term contamination of soil and groundwater and the potential for heavy metals to enter the food chain. Researchers have also warned that inadequate pollution control and unregulated marble slurry disposal are imposing significant public health costs on surrounding communities.A survey of 95 workers and residents found widespread self-reported respiratory symptoms associated with prolonged exposure to marble dust. The researchers cautioned that continued exposure could increase the burden of chronic respiratory diseases and other health problems if corrective measures are delayed.The study recommended stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, scientific containment of marble slurry, dust-suppression technologies, continuous environmental monitoring and stronger occupational health safeguards for workers.
