Silicosis puts Leh in a unique spot

CHANDIGARH: While residents of snow-capped Leh have learnt to live with the biting cold and sub-zero temperatures, the summer months are driving them to physicians in droves with symptoms akin to tuberculosis (TB).
At a loss to come to terms with the series of TB-like cases coming to doctors there, the union health ministry sought the help of Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) to investigate the matter.It came to light that people of Leh are suffering from a life-threatening lung disease silicosis. Leh reportedly is the only place in the world to have cases of non-occupational silicosis.
Subsequently, a detailed report was prepared and forwarded to the union health ministry. Six years down the line the problem still persists. Having failed to initiate any follow-up action on the subject till date, NIOH is now toying with the idea of starting an intervention programme for the people of Leh.
Speaking to The Times of India at the 91st session of the Indian Science Congress, which was inaugurated at Panjab University on Saturday, NIOH assistant director B C Lakkad said, "Leh is the only place in the world to have cases of non-occupational silicosis. This came to light when we carried out studies in three villages of Leh district about six years back after the union health ministry directed us to investigate the matter. Unfortunately, since then we have not been able to initiate follow-up action as we have done in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh from where cases of occupational silicosis have been reported.
We are however seriously thinking of planning out intervention programmes for people of Leh affected by silicosis and to initiate some steps to reduce its occurrence. The problem is still prevalent in Leh." "During summers when snow melts on the western side of the Himalayas, there are heavy wind storms which erode stones. The fine dust generated contains silica which when inhaled leads to silicosis," added Lakkad. The symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing and weakness.
A lung disease similar to tuberculosis, silicosis is caused by exposure to stone dust. "It is a very fast progressing lung disease. Once the disease sets in, which takes about two to three years to surface, a person can die within three to five years. The X-ray picture is exactly similar to TB. Only an expert can differentiate between silicosis and tuberculosis," said Lakkad.
Silicosis cases in Leh came to light after doctors there got in touch with the union health ministry bringing to light the fact that though lot of patients were reporting to them with exactly TB-like symptoms, they were not responding to treatment for that disease. The ministry, then, instructed NIOH to investigate the matter. A 15-member team from NIOH went down to Leh and carried out detailed investigations in three villages of Leh district, taking a sample size of about 200 persons per village. NIOH director Dr H N Saiyed headed the team where the disease was confirmed as silicosis.