Patiala prof honoured for study on impact of stubble burning on farmers’ health

An Assistant Professor at Government Medical College, Patiala, has been honoured by the Institute of Scholars (InSc) with Research Excellence Award (REA) for his research on adverse impact of stubble burning on farmers’ health.

Sharing details, the awardee, Iqbal Singh, said in a study conducted last year, he had found that the farmers indulging in stubble burning were prone to lung cancer.

Growers more prone to lung cancer

• Iqbal Singh, an Assistant Professor at Government Medical College, Patiala, has been conferred with Research Excellence Award for his research.
• As per a study conducted last year, he found that the farmers indulging in stubble burning were prone to lung cancer.
• The study has shown that 80% farmers aged between 20 and 50, who engage in the repeated stubble burning, were suffering from a decline in lung function.

The study has shown that 80 per cent farmers aged between 20 and 50, who engage in the repeated stubble burning, were found to suffer from a significant decline in lung function.

The study involved the analysis of lung function in 200 farmers, aged between 20 and 50, who actively participated in stubble burning every season.

This decline leads to excessive coughing, an early sign of bronchitis, which can potentially lead to more severe respiratory issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and even lung cancer. Further investigation revealed that these farmers exhibited excessive deposits of PM 2.5, a harmful fine particulate matter, in their respiratory systems.

Singh, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physiology, said, “The purpose of the study was to provide a comprehensive insight into the impact of stubble burning as there haven’t been many studies on this subject before.”

Another group of 200 individuals, residing far from burnt fields and, therefore, not exposed to stubble burning pollution, served as the control group.

Hi-tech spirometry was employed to assess the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in both groups, along with additional lung function tests and sample collections.

Singh elaborated on the findings, revealing a highly significant decline in lung function values among farmers actively engaged in stubble burning.

Moreover, the investigation highlighted the presence of PM 2.5 deposits, known to cause irritation of the respiratory mucosa.

The release of gaseous pollutants, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and methane and other particulate matters, collectively contributes to severe damage to the lungs of the affected group.

“PM 2.5 particles are extremely small and can penetrate deep into lung tissue, causing irritation and infection,” said Singh.

He said additionally, they lead to proliferative changes in lung functioning, causing epigenetic and micro-environmental alterations that might result in cancer.

The study conclusively establishes that repeated crop residue burning by farmers poses a

significant risk of lung cancer.