Faridkot: High levels of radioactive element in special children: Experts collect water samples After finding high levels of uranium in the hair samples of differently-abled children, experts have now sent water samples for testing to find the source of this radioactive element. Experts and doctors working at Baba Farid Centre for Special Children along with metal toxicologist Dr Caren Smith, who is also a neuro-nutritional specialist working for Defeat Autism Now (DAN), a UK-based NGO, found high levels of the toxic element in children who come for treatment to this centre. The water samples collected from Faridkot and adjoining areas have been sent to a Germany laboratory for testing. Dr Smith, who was at the centre recently, had said, "We have taken hair samples of 149 children. The problem that is baffling us is the presence of uranium in Punjab, as it is a radioactive chemical and can come from a radioactive source only, which we do not have in Punjab. The nuclear plants in Kota in Rajasthan and the one in Pakistan are the only ones which are close by. We are conducting tests to establish the sources of uranium." Dr Smith added, "This does not rule out the presence of other chemicals in these children. Disabilities, like autism, have found to have a link with mercury, which is found in immunisation injections, like BGC. Now one chance could be that with these immunisations, the detox ability of certain children is destroyed, thereby making their bodies sponges that absorb more toxic elements." His team has also taken urine samples of 43 more children. Trace Minerals, a lab in Germany, had discovered uranium in children's hair. The finding may also provide a fresh insight into the cancer incidence in Punjab's Malwa belt. Dr Pritpal Singh, a naturopath managing an NGO, Baba Farid Centre for Special Children in Faridkot, said high level of uranium may cause birth deformities, mental retardation, cancer, intestinal ulcer, impotence and infertility among women. He said the winds coming from Afghanistan carry high quantity of uranium and countries like China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan were getting affected by it. The experts said urine tests confirm one hundred times higher traces of uranium among people in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan than those hailing from some other parts of the world. Medical experts hint that kidney and bone are the primary sites of uranium accumulation, but it also deposits in liver and spleen. The primary symptom of uranium excess is chronic fatigue. Why hair? Essential, nonessential and potentially toxic elements are secreted in hair. Hair analysis may provide an indirect screening for physiological excess, deficiency or mal-distribution of elements in the body. Clinical research indicates that hair levels of specific elements, particularly cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic, are highly correlated with pathological disorders.