Pre-operational health status of a rural community living around the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station.

Pre-operational health survey was conducted around Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) during 1991-92, just one year before the first Unit of KAPS commenced operation on September 3, 1992. Total seventeen villages were selected around KAPS, which were divided into four clusters. Total population was 14,976, of which 7540 were male and 7436 were female. Door to door 100% survey was conducted with the help of Medical doctor. Health survey was conducted specially to find out the prevalence of radiation related diseases such as congenital deformity, mental retardation, cataract, goiter (grade II & IV), reproductive disorders, and cancer, besides study of morbidity pattern and age and sex specific deaths. Results revealed that prevalent diseases pattern fell well within the range of natural incidences of diseases of rural population.

Cancer profile in Surat and its vicinity.

A retrospective study of cancer was conducted in the region of South Gujarat particularly in Surat and its vicinity over a period of 6 years (1980-85) to determine type and frequency of occurrence of various malignancies. During this period 2358 new cancer cases were recorded. A total of 60 types of cancer have been detected and confirmed histopathologically. Oral, laryngeal and oesophageal malignancies were common in males. In females, cancer of breast formed the largest group followed by cancer of cervix. A comparative high rate of lung and testicular cancers was recorded in males. In females, cancers of ovary, stomach and lung were more common. In the present study, the incidence of leukaemias was recorded to be low as compared with other types of cancer. Lack of awareness and ignorance of the disease, addiction to tobacco and alcohol and increasing environmental pollution could be some of the factors responsible for higher incidence of cancers.