Fertility and Outcome of Pregnancies amongst Residents in the vicinity of an Indian Nuclear Power Plant - Myths vs Reality (A Ten Year Study - 2005 -2014)

Introduction: Plenty of myths are prevailing in minds of people with concern over the fertility and outcome of pregnancies in the residents around the Nuclear power plants. These myths need to be addressed on the basis of scientific facts and figures. Objective: To compare the crude birth rate, general marital fertility rate, congenital anomalies rate, still birth rate, and abortion ratio of population residing around Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS) and district Bulandshahr, UP and India. Methods: Secondary data analysis based on the vital statistics available of the PHC, district and nation. Data was presented in tabular and graphic form. Results: Crude Birth Rate [CBR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 27.6, NAPS was 6, Bulandshahr was 26.4, Uttar Pradesh was 25, and India was 22.5. General Marital Fertility Rate [GMFR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 172.5, NAPS was 52.5, Bulandshahr was 148.23, Uttar Pradesh was 170.7, and India was 120.3. Still Birth Rate [SBR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 9.97, NAPS was 4.79, Bulandshahr was 9.57, Uttar Pradesh was 9, and India was 8. Congenital Anomalies Rate [CAR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 41.44, NAPS was 2.41, and India was 64.3. CAR for Bulandshahr and Uttar Pradesh were not available. Abortion Ratio [AR] amongst population under Kaser kala PHC was 0.01, NAPS was 0.03, Bulandshahr was 0.01, Uttar Pradesh was 0.02, and India was 0.03. Conclusion: The findings indicate that people staying in the vicinity of a Nuclear Power Plant had more birth rates, lesser abortions, still births, congenital anomalies as compared to district and national average.