Patna: Research collaboration among top medical institutions is required to reduce rising cancer cases because of arsenic poisoning, pollution control boss Ashok Kumar Ghosh said on Wednesday.

Speaking on arsenic exposure and its impact on human health, Ghosh said studies show people are more vulnerable to cancer in areas where high levels of arsenic concentration is found in the groundwater.

Bihar State Pollution Control Board chairman Ghosh, who also heads the research department at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, underscored the need to conduct more broad-based research projects on factors behind cancer cases in Bihar.

"Arsenic contamination results from over-exploitation of groundwater. Now it has entered the food chain, besides water poisoning, in areas on both sides of the Ganga. So, efforts and collaboration in research among various medical research institutions is needed to identify how arsenic affects human health. Collaborate or perish should be the motivating factor among researchers on whose shoulders the responsibility to save lives from cancer lies," said Ghosh at the talk held at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan in Patna.

"At least 18 districts are affected by arsenic contamination in water. Buxar, Bhojpur and Bhagalpur are the three worst-affected districts in the state. There is a clear rise in the number of cancer patients coming to Mahavir Cancer Hospital from these districts," he added.

Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, he said, has established ties with the University of Manchester, University of Salford in the UK, Tata Medical Centre in Calcutta and Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati to undertake research on the relationship between arsenic poisoning and cancer.

"According to our studies, the highest level of arsenic concentration is found in Buxar, where it was recorded at 1,900 microgram. World Health Organization states if it exceeds 10 microgram it is dangerous for health. In Bhojpur and Bhagalpur, arsenic contamination is at 1,800 and 1,300 microgram - far above the standard level - prompting researchers to find ways to reduce its impact on people's health," Ghosh added.

Arun Kumar, a scientist at the Mahavir Cancer Institute, also spoke at the programme. He dealt with the correlation between gallbladder cancer and arsenic, saying around 19 per cent people in India drink water with high levels of arsenic, making them vulnerable to breast, kidney and gallbladder cancer.

Mahavir Cancer Sansthan director Dr B. Sanyal said: "There is no doubt about that arsenic has clinical impacts on health. The findings of ongoing and upcoming research projects would be fruitful for people and medical sciences".