Leaders Poisoning Us, KTTB Head Warns
KTTB’s Ceyhun Dalkan reveals Teknecik Power Plant’s harmful emissions, highlighting severe health risks including cancer and heart disease.
“Our Leaders Are Poisoning Us”
Ceyhun Dalkan, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Medical Association (KTTB), has raised serious concerns about the Teknecik Power Plant. He stated that the plant is releasing pollutants harmful to both people and the environment, causing a range of serious health issues including heart and lung diseases, cancer, stroke, heart attack, and developmental disorders in children.
In a written statement, Dalkan noted that the emissions from Teknecik have been significantly poisoning Cyprus and the surrounding region. “We are being poisoned by our administrators through the use of cheap, high-sulfur, low-quality fuel,” Dalkan asserted.
Health Impacts
Dalkan detailed the health effects of the polluted smoke, particulate matter, and chemical pollutants released from power plants:
- Irritation of the airways, leading to asthma and chronic bronchitis.
- Decreased lung function and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Increased risk of heart attack and stroke due to blood clotting and vascular occlusion.
- Long-term exposure can raise blood pressure and cause hypertension.
- Increased risk of lung cancer from particulate exposure.
- Damage to the nervous system from heavy metals like mercury and lead, resulting in neurological disorders and cognitive function loss.
- Adverse effects on children’s brain development, potentially causing learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other issues.
- Increased risk of complications in pregnant women, including low birth weight, premature birth, and birth defects.
Call for Action
Dalkan emphasized the urgent need for filters to be installed at Teknecik Power Plant to mitigate these health and environmental problems. He also stressed the importance of using high-quality fuel until such filters are in place.
“We urge the Prime Minister, government officials, and Kib-Tek executives to take immediate action to supply clean fuel,” Dalkan stated. “We will pursue necessary legal actions to ensure this.” He also pointed out the importance of investing in environmentally friendly renewable energy sources.
