Punjab is one of the leading food grain producing states in India. It is also the region with the highest cancer rate. The cancer prevalence (per million per year) in the Malwa region is indicated to be 1089 (DHFW, 2013).1. This is much higher than in two other regions of Punjab, Majha (647/million/year) and Doaba (881/million/year). Breast cancer is widely feared, and studies indicate that excessive use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides has led to water and soil contamination, affecting farming communities (Eleonore Blaurock-Busch et al).

A recent study was conducted investigating the toxic elements in hair from a group of cancer patients living in the “cancer belt” of the Malwa region. The Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology paper Hair Metal Concentration in Healthy and Cancer Patients of Punjab determines whether or not there is a correlation between high metal burden in Malwa and its association with cancer. Author Eleanor Blaurock-Busch explains the background and results of their study:

How did you become interested in studying the levels of toxic elements in the hair of cancer patients living in Malwa?

In 2010, we published a study in Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics 2010:2, which focused on the metal exposure of handicapped children living in the Malwa region. Prior to starting the project, we had expected high arsenic or mercury level in the hair or urine of these children, instead we found extreme values of uranium and other potentially toxic metals in the majority of our test group. Our paper attracted wide media attention, including government attention, which  resulted in positive changes for the people living in the Malwa region, namely an improvement in governmental water supply. This exceeded all of our expectations. Our relatively small study improved the life of people living in the Malwa region. Clean water is a necessity. Now the people have access to it. We made a difference, a significant one.

What was previously known about the correlation between metal concentration and cancer in Malwa?  How has your work in this area advanced understanding of it?

By now, we are all aware of environmental issues and how they affect health. More and more cancer researchers focus on the environmental link. Certainly, medicine is slow to follow the concept, starting with early diagnosis and detoxification treatments, but awareness is setting in. After our Children’s study was published, university deans and academic leaders of several Punjab universities invited me to participate in academic meetings. We shared information and I learned a lot about Punjab’s agricultural problems, its high cancer rate. It was a natural for the study concept to develop.

In 2006, we published our cooperative study on metals in breast cancer vs healthy breast tissue. In summary, we found that malignant tissue contains significantly higher levels of toxic metals than healthy tissue, and interestingly our results were supported by similar studies in the US and elsewhere. In all cases, the research indicated significantly higher levels of toxic metals in malignant tissue. In retrospect, we should have had that research published with you. It should have attracted wider attention.

Hair is body tissue, and because it is easier to access, we decided to check the connection. So we evaluated healthy patients living in the same household as the selected cancer patients, and the results exceeded our expectations. In fact, this may be a breakthrough.

What do regard as being the most important aspect of the results of your research?

Our Malwa region research clearly demonstrates that the healthy people living in the same household as the cancer patient show a toxic exposure similar to the cancer patient, but at a lower level. The hypothesis being that the healthy are doomed to share a similar fate- unless the toxic burden is reduced or removed.

What was the greatest difficulty you encountered in studying the metal concentration in the hair of cancer patients?

Funding is always an issue. We hoped to receive some, but that takes time and connections. During my visit to Punjab’s universities, I was given tours to visit the homes of cancer patients. I had talked to these people and learned about their health issues, how the disease process started. I had learned about agricultural practices, the toxic metal problems, the fertilizer and environmental issues and I had investigated cancer rates. During these visits and talks, it became obvious that a connection to our previous kid’s research and the cancer tissue study existed. For the sake of the people involved, I did not think we had the luxury to wait for funding. I wanted to help.

I am not one to wait for the impossible. So I offered my services. Prof. Chander Parkash did the same and our laboratory was willing to fund the analytical work. It was a cooperative effort, and a labour of love. Through cooperation, we overcame logistics. Prof. Parkash organised people in his university to evaluate patients, collect samples and patient information and ship it all in due time to Germany for the analytical process to be commenced.

More information about Dr Blaurock-Busch’s work is available at her websites www.microtraceminerals.com and www.tracemin.com.

Dr Blaurock-Busch would like to offer a big thank you and Namaste to all involved.

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