According to a study finding of Ron Matsusaki, a doctor from Canada, rare pediatric cancers have been found in potato-farming community of 14,000 residents on the western tip of Canada's Prince Edward Island. According to his report, cancers are usually found in patients who live near a toxic waste site. The farming community is known to be severely polluted with pesticides 80 percent of which is used for potato farming (19 sprays) in a single growing season.
According to the Environmental Working Group, potatoes are among the produce that are highly contaminated with pesticides in the US. Early monitoring led the EPI government and the Canadian Cancer Society to believe that the cancer incidence in the community is "slightly higher" than average.Ron Matsusaki indicated that the risk is underestimated, who had returned to Canada after two decades of medical practice in the US. He was surprised when he found two cases of sarcomas, both bone-related cancers in his hospital within a year, which is highly unusual. He came across an osteosarcoma that led to the heart-wrenching death of a young girl, several lymphomas, an Ewing's sarcoma, and a number of myeloid leukemia cases, all among children.
Children's Wish Foundation, which funds memorable experiences for extremely ill children, has reported 20 young cancer patients this year, which is almost 4 times higher than the national average rate of five or six children expected to be diagnosed with cancer a year.
Pesticides are found to be the only suspected culprit for the rise and the findings of the doctor has triggered EPI for launching a probe. It is expected that the results will be reported late this year.
Source-Medindia
SRI
