Two health professionals from Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, and Alva’s Health Centre, Moodbidri, conducted a study on the deaths of fishermen after entering fish storage tanks in fishing vessels, concluding that it could be due to the release and presence of harmful substances or gases.
The study was conducted by Dr Haroon H of the department of internal medicine, KMC and Dr Sadananda B Naik, senior physician from Alva’s Health Centre. Their study is published in the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, a specialty periodical published monthly, under the auspices of the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine.
The doctors told TOI that in an incident that took place in Sep, 2023, four fishermen were found unconscious in the fish storage tank, and the person who went to save them also met the same fate. Fortunately, there were no causalities, and the victims recovered following hospitalization.
“This incident draws our attention to conducting a study to know the reasons behind it is. In a few incidents reported not just in coastal districts, but across the world, there have been the deaths of fishermen,” they stressed.
Confined areas potential threat
According to the study, confined areas have the potential to create hazardous environments and can result in severe harm or even death.
The four primary atmospheric dangers being insufficient oxygen levels due to biological or chemical reactions, excessive oxygen levels due to leaks in oxygen tanks and lines; explosive atmosphere due to presence of flammable gases and lastly, toxic atmospheres from the presence of harmful gases or leaked refrigerant gas. Fish spoilage inside the vessel also generates toxic gas.
“It is caused by enzymatic autolysis, oxidation, and microbial growth. When fish is stored in wet conditions without proper ventilation, it can quickly spoil and release harmful gases,” the study pointed out.