CANCER BATHINDA’S DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
This is a case study of a fearful incident which was printed in the newspaper Hindustan times. The incident took
place in Bathinda on September 6,[Link] case study is a condition of the incident which is told by a witness
named, Vrinda sharma.
The crowd was waiting to board the train no. 339 from Bathinda railway junction which shares more than the
overnight journey to Bikaner[Rajasthan],it’s passengers were bound together by the misery of cancer and the
hope of getting cured. Another witness who ran a tea stall at the station told that he saw close to the hundred
people boarding the train every night…and what else can be done as there was no hospital for nearly 150km
and every street had patients. He added that it’s like a curse on the region. Not a personal plight.
A family of five from the village Gehri Bhagi which was 10km from there waited at the station to take their 17-
year-old son to Bikaner. “we don’t know why he got cancer in his food pipe, he takes no tobacco, no alcohol. But
there have been over 15 cases in the last year in our village,” his mother broke down while speaking about her
son’s illness. Home to a million people, Bathinda boasts a thermal power plant, two coal power plants, a
fertilizer plant, and a large oil refinery, and countless cancer patients. The latest data from the health
department puts the number of patients in Malwa region at 120-125 per lakh against 71, which is a national
average. The department states that there is a jump of 80 per cent in the number of cases from the region in
2010 compared to 2009.
A 2007 epidemiological study, known as the PPCB-PGIMER Report, found that the Bathinda surface waters are
contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium and mercury. The waste water generated from
industry ”is drained mostly or partially or untreated in the local drains, which had led to the pollution of these
drains.” Pesticides such as heptachlor, ethion and chlorpyrifos were also higher in samples of drinking water,
vegetables and blood in the cotton belt of Punjab.
SUGGESTIVE MEASURES
• YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH CHEMICALS EVERYDAY. THIS IS CALLED CHEMICAL
[Link] CHEMICALS CAN ENTER YOUR BODY IF YOU BREATHE ,EAT
OR DRINK THEM OR IF THEY ARE ABSORBED THROUGH YOUR SKIN. NOW THE
QUESTION COMES THAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE OUR EXPOSURE TO
THESE CHEMICALS?
AT HOME
CLEANING AT HOME
• HOW CAN YOU REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO THESE CHEMICALS AT
HOME?
• You should be aware of possible dangers in your house, including possible exposure to chemicals. You
can do many things around your house to reduce or prevent exposures to hazardous substances.
• You should use Cleaning Products Safely. Many cleaning products give off fumes that you should not
breathe in. Some can burn or irritate your skin and eyes. Most are poisonous if swallowed. To protect
you and your family from harm,
• Make sure the room you are cleaning is well ventilated with a fan or an open window;
• Store your cleaning products in a safe place where your children cannot reach them;
• Keep cleaning products in their original containers;
• Do not mix cleaning products with one another;
• Follow the directions on the containers; and
• Clearly mark hazardous cleaners.
To reduce your exposure, use natural cleaning products, such as vinegar (removes mildew and grease),
lemon juice (stain remover, glass cleaner, and deodorizer), baking soda mixed with water (all-purpose
cleaner), and olive oil (furniture polish).
HEATING YOUR HOME
• If you use space heaters or wood burners in your home, you should
be aware of these safety concerns.
• Kerosene Heaters If you use a kerosene heater, ensure that your
home has lots of circulating air, especially if your home is well
insulated. If your kerosene heater is poorly maintained or not
adjusted properly, it can release pollutants in your home. Some of
these pollutants are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, etc. Protect
your family by taking the following steps.
• Follow the instructions for your kerosene heater carefully. Use only water-
clear 1-K grade kerosene.
• Leave a window cracked open and open the doors between the rooms.
WHILE HEATING YOUR HOME
• Never use gas ovens or burners to heat your home. Never use
barbecues or grills in the house, carport, or garage.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors inside your home. Carbon
monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and toxic gas. Gas from kerosene
heaters or worn boilers and furnaces may cause high levels of carbon
monoxide inside your home. Exposure to carbon monoxide can lead
to health problems or even death.
BY EATING THE RIGHT FOOD
• YOU CAN ALSO REDUCE CHEMICAL EXPOSURE BY GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD?...... BUT IT
SHOULD BE DONE IN A PROPER MANNER.
• Chemicals, like pesticides, can pollute the soil. Polluted soil can affect the food you grow and
eat. Polluted soil can also spread through the air as dust particles. When it rains, these dust
particles may settle back into the soil.
• If you live in an area that has contaminated soil and you want to garden, a raised-bed garden is
one way to avoid exposing you and your family to chemicals. In raised-bed gardening, you build
boxes on top of the ground. These boxes separate your gardening soil from the contaminated
soil. Use bagged soil or soil from a contaminant-free area to ensure your safety.
• Gardening can involve the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Below are some ways to
help protect your health if you use these chemicals.
• Have your soil tested before you fertilize. This service is offered for free from many Cooperative Extension
Service offices.
• Calculate the correct amount of fertilizer, and do not apply right before or after heavy rainfall.
• Dampen the soil with water before you garden. This step will limit the amount of dust you inhale.
• Take your shoes off at the door to avoid tracking soil into your home.
• Wash your hands after gardening.
• Wash fruits, vegetables, and herbs before you eat them.