Depleting water resources, industrialisation and the rampant use of pesticides has led to the pollution of water bodies in Punjab, which has resulted in an acute and chronic morbidity among people. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in association with the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). It got recognition after Dr JS Thakur, associate professor, School of Public Health, was given the award for best paper presentation at the 7th Annual Congress of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology held in Chandigarh a few days ago.

The aim of the survey was to ascertain the pattern and extent of water pollution in the city and determine the effect of exposure to polluted water on human health.

In a cross-sectional survey of nearly 8,000 people living near five major waste water drains in the city: Buddha Nallah, Hudiara drain, East Bein drain, Tung Dhab drain and Kala Singha drain, it was found that these areas have a greater occurrence of health problems besides evidences of genotoxicity.

The research has further found that gastrointestinal, water-related, skin and bone diseases are significantly common among people living in these areas.

While the presence of mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium and selenium in ground and surface water was found to be above the permissible limits, heavy metals and pesticides were detected in the samples of fodder, vegetable, milk, urine and blood.

The research states: “Stringent monitoring of water quality of drains, industry and municipal bodies is required. Further studies for identification of DNA adducts are needed to identify the specific heavy metals and pesticides involved in genotoxicity.”