Monsoon season comes with more than just infections and seasonal illnesses. It also exposes people to potential cancer risks, cancer specialist Dr. Tarang Krishna, MD warned in an Instagram post on August 24.
Dr. Krishna shared the post with the caption, This monsoon, your pakora, your tea, even your tap water could be cancer traps.” He added that floodwaters, monsoon fish, and dampness in homes can carry cancer-causing agents.
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Dr. Krishna also stated that the floodwater is mixed with sewage, pesticides, plastic, and heavy metals. She explained that studies show floodwaters in Indian cities carry carcinogens like lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc. These toxins seep into the drinking water, which increases the risk of stomach cancer. They also contaminate soil and leave toxins inside the crops for months.
The monsoon water also affects the rivers, which in turn affects fishes. He said, “Fish caught in these waters accumulate mercury and PCBs (both linked to cancer).” A Mumbai study revealed that over 30% of monsoon fish samples carry heavy and unsafe metals.
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Dr. Krishna also warned that the damp walls of the houses work as a breeding ground for moulds like Aspergillus flavus. “They release aflatoxins, among the most potent natural carcinogens,” he said. She also mentioned that the WHO linked 25-28% of liver cancer cases in Asia to aflatoxin exposure.
She concluded by cautioning people to use boiled and filtered water, check the origin of monsoon fish and discard damp or mouldy food.
