Friday, April 18, 2008

Radioactivity in Kerala Coast's: Health Implications

The effect of the natural radioactivity emanating from the radioactive minerals in the beach placers of Kerala have been controversial and the views are divided amongst the scientific community. Even after decades of research the issue remains unresolved. And under a mist of technical jargon and statistical posturing. Very few studies have looked into the issue holistically. Either its just a geological study giving out generalizations on the possibility of radiation risks or it is a medical study which ultimately winds up with a statistical test of significance. Here I have attempted to bring together the references on the subject of "Radioactivity in Kerala Coast's: Health Implications ".

One study reported in PNAS says that "radioactive conditions (in Kerala coasts) accelerate mutations at nucleotide positions that have been evolutionary hot spots for at least 60,000 years".




In a 1999 paper in Radiation Research, doctors at the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala, India found that in "in this preliminary analysis, there is no evidence that cancer occurrence is consistently higher because of the levels of external gamma-radiation exposure in the area...". The area was Karunagapally, in the heart of the beach placer deposits of Kerala, and where two placer-deposit-based industries exist, viz., Indian Rare Earths Ltd and the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. They found that "...the environmental radiation emanates largely from the thorium deposited mostly along coastal areas. In certain locations on the coast, it is as high as 70 mGy/year and on average is 7.5 times the level seen in interior areas..."



Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has steadfastly maintained that there is no enhanced hazard either along the Kerala beaches or around the Jadaguda Uranium mines. But the fact remains that the populace especially around the mines and works at Jaduguda have been the victims of the radiative hazard.
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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 14, 2008 at 4:12 AM

    is radiation affecting human health only? what r its effect on suuronding environments like marine and lagoonal eco systems?
    what abt the fish which half of enlightened mallu population consuming everyday?
    thank you for brining one of the major environmental issue of kerala out again.
    one question wether natural radiation has got positive effects?what r they?

    ReplyDelete
  2. A.P.PradeepkumarMay 14, 2008 at 10:04 AM

    Radiation cannot be selective. It may affect even mallus who travel to Bangalore for a d' Beer via Chavara; leaving the story of the poor fish alone.

    ReplyDelete
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