Source: Times of India (Vinod Kumar, Chandigarh Bureau)

A recent pilot study has uncovered alarming levels of lead and uranium in the blood of children, as well as in groundwater across Chandigarh, Bathinda, and Ropar. The findings highlight a potential public health crisis, particularly affecting children aged 5 to 15 years.

The Study at a Glance

The research was conducted by Panjab University’s Geo-Environmental Research Laboratory in collaboration with Baba Farid NGO.

• Samples Studied:

  • 149 blood samples (children aged 5–15)

  • 137 hair samples

  • 37 groundwater samples

• Findings: Contamination levels in many cases were well above international safety norms.

Key Findings

1. Blood Lead Levels

   • WHO safe limit: 3.5 micrograms per decilitre.

   • Bathinda: 22 out of 68 children (32.6%) had unsafe levels.

     • 18 samples crossed 10 micrograms per decilitre.

     • Highest reading: 16.5 micrograms per decilitre.

   • Chandigarh: 5 out of 19 children (26.3%) above safe limit.

     • Average: 6.3 micrograms per decilitre.

   • Ropar: 12 out of 62 children (19.3%) above safe limit.

     • Average: 6.4 micrograms per decilitre.

2. Hair Samples

   • Out of 137 hair samples, 54 (39%) showed unsafe levels of lead.

   • Indicates even more widespread contamination.

3. Groundwater Samples

   • 37 samples revealed contamination, pointing to a larger environmental issue impacting communities.

Human Rights & Government Response

The Human Rights Commission described this as a “serious human rights violation under Article 21 of the Constitution”.

Immediate Actions Ordered:

• Health Departments:

  • Ensure availability of chelation therapy drugs.

  • Establish toxicology departments in at least one major hospital in both Punjab and Chandigarh within six months.

• Pollution Control Board:

  • Inspect power plants, cement factories, and other industrial units in Bathinda and Ropar within 45 days.

  • Examine fly-ash management, water leaching, and waste disposal practices.

• Water Supply & Sanitation Departments:

  • Verify and maintain RO systems in schools, anganwadis, and rural households.

  • Timeline: within 30 days.

Why This Matters

Exposure to lead and uranium in children can result in:

• Cognitive and developmental delays

• Neurological damage

• Behavioral disorders

• Long-term health complications

The situation demands urgent attention, not only for immediate treatment but also for systematic environmental clean-up and monitoring.

This study serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, health departments, and citizens alike. Protecting children from toxic exposure should be treated as a public health emergency.

Source Credit: Times of India, Report by Vinod Kumar.