THE IMPACT OF CARCINOGENIC CHEMICAL USE AMONG CARDAMOM FARMERS AND THE PREVALENCE OF CANCER IN IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA

The prevalence of cancer is drastically increasing among cardamom farmers using chemical pesticides in Idukki district. The chemicals, mainly Organochlorine and organophosphates, result in various disease conditions. The main aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of cancer and other disease conditions among farmers and other people who were exposed to chemical pesticides. A community-based epidemiological study was conducted among cardamom farmers and people exposed to the chemical pesticides by using a pre-structured questionnaire containing socio-demographic details, information regarding chemicals, and their disease status. Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied for data analysis. A total of 237 members had interviewed. Among them, 47 were cancer patients, and 169 had comorbidities and other disease conditions. About 54 were suspected of cancer as per symptoms. Among cancers, breast cancer (36.17%) was detected as the major type, and the majority were females (23.3%). The majority of the patients 26 (28.3%) were worked for more than 20 years in the field. The majority of patients with cancer (22.3%) were not taken any of the precaution methods. The frequency of application of the chemicals for most of the patients 14 (33.3%) was more than once in a month. While considering comorbidities, majority were females (76.1%). This study illustrates the high prevalence and risk of cancer and other disease conditions among cardamom farmers and people who are exposed to chemicals in the study location. This data can be correlated with the prevalence of the disease in many other cardamom cultivation areas.