Bhubaneswar: Odisha is witnessing a rise in gallstone disease, and gall bladder cancer over the years. The big reality is gall bladder cancer is triggered by lifestyle and exposure to heavy metal pollutants.
The denizens of Odisha Capital Bhubaneswar, silver city Cuttack, steel city Rourkela and silk city Bramhapur have been acutely exposed to heavy metal pollutants courtesy the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents to the city river life lines like Mahanadi, Kathajodi, Kuakhai, Daya, Bramhani and Rushikuliya.
BIG REVELATION
The MoS in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jhadhav, in a written reply to a query by nominated Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu revealed that people residing/dependent on river drains are highly prone to cancer disease.
As per the statement:
“Indian Council of medical Research (ICMR) has informed that a study conducted in 2024 revealed that people dwelling near river drains are highly prone to cancer disease and hazard quotients were observed above the threshold limit that poses high non-carcinogenic risks. The results of the study revealed that lead, iron, and aluminium exceeded the permissible limit of the Central Pollution ControlBoard.”
The above conclusions were drawn by an ICMR study titled Risk assessment of metal contamination in wastewater drains in River Ghaggar in Punjab (India).
It has found following heavy metals:
- Lead (Pb)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Iron (Fe)
- Aluminium (Al)
- Nickel
ICMR REPORT BIG CONCLUSION
The ICMR study on heavy metal pollutants in river Ghaggar published in journal of Indian Academy of Sciences has the following BIG conclusion.
- Overall results revealed that the studied wastewater drains are critically contaminated in terms of metal toxicity.
- People dwelling in the vicinity of these drains are at high risk of prevalence of cancer.
- A consistent evaluation ofwater bodies is required for management plans.
- It is also necessary to investigate the groundwater quality around these sites.
HOW ODISHA DENIZENS IMPACTED?
The ICMR study has clearly concluded that “people dwelling in the vicinity of river drains are at high risk of prevalence of cancer,” the citizens residing in the State Capital Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela and Bramhapur are prone to high heavy metal cancer risk.
The big REASON is all the denizens of the cities are dependent on water of Mahanadi, Kathajodi, Daya, Kuakhai, Brahamani and Rushikuliya.
- Mahanadi, Kathjodi – Cuttack
- Daya, Kuakhai – Bhubaneswar
- Brahmani – Rourkela
- Rushikuliya - Bramhapur
A study by Synergy Institute of Technology published in Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research documented the following.
- Bhubaneswar discharges minimum 10 lakh litres of sewage into Kuakhai and Daya
- Cuttack – 7.5lakh litres into Mahanadi and Kathojodi
- Rourkela – 6 lakh litres into Brahmani
- Bramhapur – 5 lakh litres into Rushikuliya
CAG RPEORT 2024
The CAG report tabled in State Assembly recently has flagged the high water pollution.
- The Kathajodi river was being polluted by Pettanallah, Cuttack and Cuttack city sewerage water, at Khan nagar and Matagajpur
- The Daya and Gangua rivers were being polluted by the Bhubaneswar city wastewater and industrial wastewater.
- The Brahmani River and Guradih nallah were being polluted by wastewater of the Rourkela city and industrial wastewater of SAIL.
WATER POLLUTION CAUSES CANCER?
According to study published in International Journal of Cancer and Clinical Research, titled “Cancer Patterns in Odisha – An Important Mining State of India” hints big.
The study co-authors include Dr Dipti Rani Samanta and Pinaki Panigrahi from AHRCC, Cuttack and Surendra Nath Senapati of Asian Institute of Public Health.
Study Conclusion:
“Higher concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, and lead) have been reported among gall bladder cancer patients in India and this is probably due to the presence of dangerously high concentrations of such metals in drinking water.”
In order to ascertain so in Odisha, The Asian Institute of Public Health (AIPH) has partnered with the Acharya Harihara Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) to study link between heavy metal pollutant and cancer rise in Odisha.
CANCER SCENARIO IN ODISHA
As per data available in National Cancer Registry, the total cancer incidence in Odisha is given below.
- 2019 – 49,604
- 2024 – 55,335
The above incidence data shows the cancer incidence in the State has increased by a high of 11.5% during the last 5-year period.
AIPH – AHRCC REPORT
- Studies show that incidence of gallbladder cancer parallels prevalence of gall stone disease with large and long-standing gall stones being associated with a higher risk of gallbladder cancer.
- Gall stone disease has also been implicated as one of the most important risk factors for gall bladder cancer in northern India
- Environmental pollutants may also be implicated as important factor for gall bladder cancer in Odisha.
- Significant association of gall bladder cancer has been reported with the levels of heavy metals i.e. nickel, chromium and cadmium in the water.
- Gall bladder cancer is found more in females than males in Odisha
- AHRCC data shows 4% of total female cancers are gall bladder cancer.
- The domicile status shows they belong to following districts, predominantly.
- Cuttack
- Khordha
The BOTTOMLINE is the AIPH and AHRCC study has said the following.
- Proximity to coal industries and mining exposuresmay be factors that need to be explored as possible causes associated with gall bladder cancer in Odisha.
- Better designed case-control studies or cohort studies looking at various heavy metals are required to establish them as causal factors for gall bladder cancer in Odisha.
The above conclusions clearly highlight the need to conduct a study on the pattern of ICMR Ghaggar River in Punjab, right here in Odisha and take remedial action at the earliest.
