Children living near Ghaggar more prone to cancer: Study

Chandigarh: The presence of heavy metals in the water of the Ghaggar poses a significant health hazard to people residing in the vicinity of the river in Punjab, with the children facing a higher risk of developing diseases such as cancer compared to the adults.

This worrying fact has come to fore in a study conducted by the experts from Punjabi University and Thapar University, Patiala. The study involved the collection of water samples from three monitoring stations at Sirhind Choe, Badi Nadi, and Dhakanshu Nullah, which receive wastewater from various sources like agriculture, households, and industries. The samples were gathered during post-monsoon, winter, post-winter transitional, summer and monsoon seasons.

The analysis of heavy metal revealed alarming levels of contamination in the samples from Sirhind Choe, Badi Nadi, and Dhakanshu Nullah. The samples were found to contain lead (Pb), iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) beyond the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) permissible limits. Badi Nadi was highly contaminated compared to other sites.

The extent of pollution can be gauged from the removal requirements for Pb (90 per cent), AI (90per cent), and Cd (70per cent) to render the water harmless and suitable for use, the study pointed out.

The analysis of health risk assessment data revealed that the levels of cancer risk varied among different pollutants in the study areas. Cadmium exhibited the highest cancer risk, followed by nickel and lead. In all three study areas, the cancer index among children exceeded that of adults.

For cadmium, the cancer index was recorded at 6.200 for children in comparison to 4.820 for adults at all the sites while for nickel, the cancer index was found to be at 5.070 for children and 3.882 for adults in Dhakanshu Nallah and Badi Nadi and 4.345 for children and 3.328 for adults in Sirhind choe. The heavy presence of lead in Badi Nadi pushed the cancer index for children to 0.054 against 0.041 for adults, as per the study.

The study titled “Risk Assessment of Metal Contamination in Wastewater Drains of River Ghaggar in Punjab” has been conducted by Harneet Kaur and Amritpal Singh Kaleka of Punjabi University Patiala and Anita Rajor of Thapar University, Patiala.

The experts have strongly recommended consistent evaluation of water bodies for management plans to investigate the groundwater quality around these sites and removal of heavy metals from these water bodies as these are hazardous to human health.

“The data compiled in the present study will be helpful for local government/ planning authorities in the implementation of better management plans,” suggested the study conducted by the researchers from the two universities.