Kothamangalam: A new study has revealed that Thattekad offers the cleanest and most pollution-free air among all peripheral forest regions in Kerala. The study, commissioned by the Forest Department, was conducted by the National Safety Council Kerala Chapter to assess air quality in areas adjacent to forest zones. It concluded that Thattekad enjoys an identical microclimate to that experienced deep within the forest.

The findings were confirmed after a comprehensive analysis of air quality across approximately 30 forest and environmental tourism locations spanning from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary spans an area of just 25.16 square kilometres. According to the State Pollution Control Board's Air Quality Index (AQI), an AQI score between 0 and 50 represents 'good' or the cleanest air quality, 51-100 is 'moderate', 101-150 is 'poor' and 151-200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. Thattekad falls squarely into the premium 0-50 range, offering the purest air in the state, with Silent Valley ranking just below it.

The research was conducted and the report submitted by Dr Stephy James, an auditor for the National Safety Council Kerala Chapter, Associate Professor in the Department of Safety and Fire Engineering at Toc H Institute of Science and Technology, Arakkunnam, and an Executive Committee Member of the National Safety Council Kerala Chapter, alongside A L Jackson, retired Chief Safety Officer of Cochin Shipyard and Honorary Secretary of the National Safety Council Kerala Chapter.