High Fluoride Content, Uranium Radiation Put Hyderabad at Thyroid Cancer risk: Study

Hyderabad: High fluoride content in groundwater and environmental radiation due to substantial uranium reserves in eastern Hyderabad and Nalgonda are resulting in thyroid cancers (malignancies), a study by AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Bibinagar, found. The study found that most thyroid swellings were benign, but there was a higher incidence of malignancies, at 10.22 per cent, which was significantly higher than the national average of two to four per cent.

Dr Namit Kant Singh, one of the researchers, told Deccan Chronicle that environmental radiation should not raise alarm as the terrestrial radiation map of India shows that background natural radiation in Hyderabad — though highest in the country — was well in the normal range. “The review of literature shows that there is no lower limit of radiation exposure that can affect thyroid but the incidence rises if the radiation exposure has occurred in the childhood and with more exposure the chances of getting affected increases,” he said. The increasing incidence of thyroid cancer is also a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including advances in detection methods, radiation exposure and environmental risks.

Dr Vikas Bhatia, director of AIIMS, Bibinagar, said: “While improved
diagnostic techniques have allowed us to identify smaller thyroid cancers, we also see an upward trend in more extensive tumours. Additionally, radiation exposure from medical procedures or environmental sources like uranium may play a role in this trend, especially in regions with significant uranium reserves.”

The research stated that monitoring environmental radiation exposure was crucial to mitigating potential health risks associated with these factors, particularly in areas with high uranium concentrations. “Public health measures, routine surveillance of uranium exposure, and continued research into the genetic changes associated with radiation-induced thyroid cancer are all essential to address this growing health concern,” the study said.

Researchers suggested a multidisciplinary approach, involving healthcare professionals, environmental experts and policymakers, to better understand and manage the complex dynamics of thyroid cancer incidence in different regions.