The bedrock of southern Punjab has high concentration of the carcinogenic elements uranium and thorium. A recent study blames the high rates of cancer in this region on this phenomenon. A report to this effect was submitted to the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (pscst) in Chandigarh recently. However, pesticides and arsenic had earlier been identified as the causes for the cancer.

The study was carried out by a team from the Centre of Advanced Study in Geology of Punjab University. The group carried out the study in Giana and Jajjal villages of Bhatinda district, the two villages that had reported one of the highest incidence of cancer.

Uranium factor Geological studies of southern Punjab show that the Aravalli-Delhi ridge reaches Tusham in Bhiwadi district of Haryana. Here it turns northwest, touching only the southern part of Punjab near Bhatinda. The ridge is subsurface here, which contaminates the groundwater. These rocks are formed by volcanic activity, and the major types present are quartzite and granite. Unlike other granites, the rocks here have high concentration of uranium and thorium.

Naresh Kochhar has extensively researched the area's geology. He headed the research team. He believes the contaminated rocks turn the groundwater carcinogenic. His team visited two adjoining districts in the Malwa region