Monday, June 14, 2010

Is the breadbasket of India becoming its cancer basket?

There is increasing evidence that the pesticide fueled agricultural growth has had a serious impact on the health of the farmers, especially the incidence of cancer, the Government is taking action by starting a program for registering cancer patients. Several studies have shown the damage to the DNA caused by exposure to pesticides. Bathinda district seems to be the worst affected. Bathinda, the worst affected district, is a major cotton growing area and the cotton crop requires heavy pesticide use.
The studies that point to this include:
A 2005 study by the Center for Science and Environment, a well reputed Delhi-based environment advocacy group, found high levels of pesticides in the blood samples taken from farmers' from villages Bathinda and Muktsar districts.
A study titled "Assessment of genetic damage in workers occupationally exposed to pesticides in various districts of Punjab' conducted by Punjabi University, Patiala, points to the high rate of DNA damage among farmers due to pesticide use.

This study was conducted by Raminderjeet Kaur of the Department of Human Biology under the guidance of Prof. Satbir Kaur. The study found significant DNA damage in the blood samples of 36 % of farmers tested. In addition to cotton, farmers growing paddy and wheat were also badly affected. According to Prof Satbir Kaur, "Pesticides cause damage to the DNA and eventually its fragmentation. This increases the chances of cancer and chromosome mutation.' "Banned pesticides are also in use and the worst affected were those who used herbicides and organophosphates,' Satbir Kaur added. (Incidentally, organophosphates are supposedly the new generation safe chemicals).
According to another study, funded by the Government and conducted by a committee headed by J S Bajaj, vice-chairperson of the Punjab State Planning Board found that heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers had contaminated the drinking water with pesticides and heavy metals. It also found that that drinking water was one of the major causes of death in Punjab. The study was conducted in 17 villages in south-west Punjab's Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa and Muktsar districts, all of them in the cotton-growing belt known for high pesticide use with Bathinda and Muktsar being the worst affected. According to the study, contaminated water had led to a rise in the cases of cancer, asthma, joint pain, premature graying of hair, skin diseases and mental impairment.

In acknowledgment of the above, the Government has started a cancer registration program, initially starting with Muktsar district.