DEVASTATING COST OF GROUDWATER POLLUTION: URANIUM REACHING BREAST MILK, CANCER RISK IS ALSO A CONCERN

DEVASTATING COST OF GROUDWATER POLLUTION: URANIUM REACHING BREAST MILK, CANCER RISK IS ALSO A CONCERN

27-NOV-ENG 32

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Shashikant Kumar, manager of Ara Sadar Hospital, stated that arsenic is found in high concentrations in the Ganges River basin, leading to a higher incidence of such cases in these areas. The main reason for this is attributed to the use of fertilizers in agriculture.

The shocking discovery of uranium in breast milk in Bihar is a cause for concern. Milk, considered the first and safest food for a baby, now appears to be a source of danger. If it becomes contaminated, it becomes not just a health crisis but a tragedy that shakes the very foundations of society. This discovery raises serious questions about the health of both mother and child. A new study published in the prestigious international journal Nature has made this shocking revelation.

A new study published in the prestigious international science journal Nature has revealed that uranium (U-238) was found in the milk of every lactating woman in six districts of Bihar: Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar, and Nalanda. This is not only scientific data, but also echoes the frightening truth that groundwater pollution is now directly entering infants' bodies through breast milk. The study was conducted between October 2021 and July 2024, led by Dr. Arun Kumar and Professor Ashok Ghosh of the Mahavir Cancer Institute in Patna, in collaboration with Dr. Ashok Sharma of AIIMS, New Delhi.

During the research, milk samples were taken from 40 lactating women aged 17 to 35, and shockingly, uranium was present in every single sample. The biggest concern is that no organization or country in the world has yet established a safe limit for uranium in breast milk. This means that no amount of uranium is considered safe scientifically. Shockingly, 70% of infants included in the study were found to have a high risk of non-cancerous health effects from uranium.

Regarding the entire issue, Ara Sadar Hospital manager Shashikant Kumar stated that high levels of arsenic are found in the Ganges coastal region, which is why such cases are more common in these areas. The main reason for this is attributed to the use of fertilizers in agriculture, which significantly impacts water sources. This is causing it to reach people, potentially increasing the incidence of cancer.

Being a coastal area, the Ganges water is also contaminated, due to agricultural fertilizers and waste, which can increase the incidence. Therefore, get your water tested promptly.