Lok Sabha Question No. 4080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Cancer due to Arsenic Contamination
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4080 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2023

## CANCER DUE TO ARSENIC CONTAMINATION

## 4080. SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the cancer patients are rising day by day in most parts of Assam and Bihar due to high content of arsenic found in drinking water in these States;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is taking any effective steps in this direction; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY

## ANSWER WELFARE

(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) to (c): According to the ICMR National Cancer Registry Programme, the estimated number of incidences of cancer cases in the last three years, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the State of Assam and Bihar are as per the details given below:

| Estimated Incidence of Cancer Cases in Assam and Bihar (2020-2022)   |   Estimated Incidence of Cancer Cases in Assam and Bihar (2020-2022) |   Estimated Incidence of Cancer Cases in Assam and Bihar (2020-2022) |   Estimated Incidence of Cancer Cases in Assam and Bihar (2020-2022) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State                                                                |                                                                 2020 |                                                                 2021 |                                                                 2022 |
| Assam                                                                |                                                                37880 |                                                                38834 |                                                                39787 |
| Bihar                                                                |                                                               103711 |                                                               106435 |                                                               109274 |

Prolonged use of arsenic contaminated water for drinking causes several diseases, predominantly skin pigmentation, thickening, hard patches on the palms and soles of the feet (hyperkeratosis). These occur after a minimum exposure of approximately five years and may be a precursor to skin cancer. In addition, long-term exposure to arsenic may also cause cancers of  the  bladder  and  lungs.  The  International  Agency  for  Research  on  Cancer  (IARC)  has classified arsenic and arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans and has also stated that arsenic in drinking-water is carcinogenic to humans. High Arsenic in ground water is found in small pockets of many States like Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and West Bengal.

The mainstay of combating ground water contamination is by provision of safe drinking water, which is done in all the states.

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