ACTIVITY REPORT
One Day International Seminar on
“Crop Protection Chemicals and Cancer”
Venue: Dr. Ramalingaswamy Board Room, AIIMS, New Delhi
Date: 5th June 2025
Time: 09:30 AM – 05:15 PM
Organized By:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
- PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI)
- In collaboration with Dhanuka Agritech Ltd
Chief Guest:
- Dr. M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi
Seminar Chair & Moderator:
- Prof. Dr. Debabrata Kanungo, Former Additional Director General, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Organiser & Industry Representative:
- Mr. R. G. Agarwal, Chairman Emeritus, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd
Event Overview:
This international seminar brought together global and national experts to deliberate on the public health risks posed by crop protection chemicals, especially their carcinogenic potentials. It was attended by key policymakers, scientific leaders, medical professionals, and representatives from the agrochemical industry and ministries.
The event began with traditional lamp lighting and Saraswati Vandana, followed by inaugural addresses by the dignitaries, setting the tone for an intense day of knowledge exchange and actionable insights.
My Role: Invited Speaker
Dr. Pawan Gupta
Senior Director, Surgical Oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali
Founder, ICanCaRe & ICanWin
I was invited to speak on the critical theme:
“Tobacco and Health – A Chemical Crisis Masquerading as a Lifestyle Choice”
Key Highlights from My Talk:
- Tobacco is not just a health hazard; it’s a chemically intensive crop requiring excessive use of carcinogenic pesticides like chlorpyrifos, metalaxyl, and paraquat.
- Tobacco farming impacts soil, water, and farmer health, contributing to a silent chemical poisoning of rural communities.
- The end product – be it cigarettes, bidis or chewing tobacco – contains over 7,000 chemicals, including 70+ carcinogens like formaldehyde, polonium-210, and arsenic.
- Tobacco addiction is chemically engineered, socially propagated, and economically manipulative – demanding it be treated as a disease, not a habit.
- Shared clinical case studies demonstrating complete regression of precancerous lesions upon cessation and treatment using the ICanCaRe Protocol and TrisCaRe device.
- Emphasized the economic burden tobacco places on India – a ₹177,000 crore loss annually – and the urgent need for regulation and cessation infrastructure.
Panel Contribution:
Later, I joined the prestigious panel discussion on “Regulatory Gaps and Future Pathways”, sharing insights on:
- Strengthening primary screening for oral lesions.
- Empowering farmers through crop substitution programs.
- Mobilizing grassroots tobacco marshals to lead cessation efforts.
Dignitaries Present:
- Dr. Angelo Moretto – University of Padova, Italy
- Dr. Michael Dourson – President, TERA, USA (Virtual)
- Dr. Gyanendra Gongal – WHO SEARO
- Dr. Rakesh Pandey – CIMAP, Lucknow
- Dr. J.S. Thakur – PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Dr. Peter Loke – Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Singapore
- Dr. Sandhya Kulshrestha, Dr. Seema Singhal, Dr. Vandana Tripathi, and others from AIIMS and regulatory bodies
Conclusion:
The seminar concluded with a strong consensus:
Crop protection and tobacco control are not isolated public health issues — they are chemically entangled crises that demand integrated, multi-stakeholder action.
As a surgical oncologist and a tobacco cessation crusader, I reiterated that prevention is always better than treatment, and a proactive lifestyle is our strongest line of defense.
Call to Action:
- Join the ICanCaRe Quitline (9773856664)
- Promote tobacco-free environments at schools, workplaces, and public areas
- Encourage patients, peers, and policymakers to recognize tobacco as a chemical hazard
- Support farmer transitions away from tobacco cultivation
Report Compiled By:
Dr. Pawan Gupta
Senior Director, Surgical Oncology
Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali
Founder – ICanCaRe | ICanWin
www.icancare.com | pawan@icancare.com
