Skip to main content

Why is NIOH-ICMR 'official' making false claims on silicosis?: Health rights NGO

Counterview Desk

In a letter to the Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, Dr Jagdish Parikh, trustee, health rights NGO People’s Training and Research Centre (PTRC), Vadodara, and Jagdish Patel, director, PTRC, have said that the claim being made for the use of biomarker for detection of silicosis raises concern about scientific tenacity of the diagnosis of the deadly occupational disease.
The letter also objects to the reported claim by a top health official that it is possible to detect silicosis at the sub-radiological stage. It asks, “What is this subradiological stage of silicosis? We have not heard any such scientific term being used. Again, the report is using a term which is not found in any scientific literature so far. Is this term acceptable by ICMR? Is ICMR thinking of any explanation?”

Text:

This is with reference to our letter dated November 28, 2021. In our communication we had raised our concern about the scientific tenacity of the biomarker for early detection of silicosis. We had questioned sensitivity and specificity of this test. We reiterated that CC66 protein decreases in many lung diseases.
Therefore positive screening test can be due to other lung disease. The screening test is not diagnostic. It suggests high probability. Therefore, X-ray is required for confirmation. It may happen that the screening test is positive but X-ray is negative. The authors have not given data for this possibility. We have not heard from you in this regard until now.
In the meanwhile the “Times of India” carried a report in its issue of April 20, 2022. We wish to draw your attention to this report which quotes Dr Kamlesh Sarkar, Ex-Director, National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) generously. The report claims that “scientists at NIOH, based at Ahmedabad, are now in the final stages of obtaining new detection kits for subradiological silicosis for mass use.” We have failed to understand what is new? Is it something different than the kit developed in 2021?
The report identifies Dr Sarkar as ICMR-NIOH Director. As per our information Dr Sarkar had been removed long back as Director NIOH, and if the newspaper is still claiming him to be director, it is misinformation being spread, and a matter of grave concern. ICMR is expected to make public clarification in this regard as NIOH is a national institute.
The report further claims, “if silicosis is detected at the sub-radiological stage…” What is this subradiological stage of silicosis? We have not heard any such scientific term being used. Again, the report is using a term which is not found in any scientific literature so far. Is this term acceptable by ICMR? Is ICMR thinking of any explanation?
The report also claims, “if silicosis is detected at the sub-radiological stage, major silico-tuberculosis and lung cancer occurrences can be prevented.” We have not a single diagnosed case of lung cancer following silica exposure in India yet. So the claim that the test would help prevent lung cancer is farfetched.
One more false claim: “These diseases afflict lakhs of citizens in India.” How come it affects citizens? It only affects workers who are exposed to fine particles of silica over years. Is ICMR going to be mute spectator when false claims are being spread in the name of science?
The report says, “NIOH scientists say that an intervention at this stage can help save lakhs of Indians who are vulnerable to contracting TB or lung cancer.” It does not clarify on the method of intervention.
At present, the workers who have silicosis on X-ray and continue working in the very industry or occupation where they were exposed to silica, do not get any help for preventing further deterioration of the disease. Unless the government approves the method suggested by Dr Sarkar intervention is not possible.
We think that there should not be any haste in advocating this method of early detection of silicosis. another study with proper epidemiologic design is required to confirm specificity and sensitivity of the CC16 biomarker before its use on mass scale is recommended.
We invite your immediate intervention in stopping using name of ICMR and science. Let ICMR sponsor more research on proving sensitivity and specificity of CC16 to diagnose silicosis.

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.