Endosulfan is a pesticide belonging to the organochlorine group of pesticides, under the Cyclodiene subgroup. It has been introduced in the 1950’s and in India has become a leading chemical used against pests in agriculture. It is used as an insecticide and also to kill fishes in lakes and rivers. It is not recommended for household use as it is known as a potent poison that can cause harm upon contact, eating food contaminated by it, swallowing and even inhaling the odour.
The chemical came into spotlight in India when at Kasargad in Kerala it was sprayed aerially and the local population of many villages was exposed to it. What followed was very shocking. It led to physical and mental defects in poor farmers and their families. Studies have shown endosulfan to accumulate in a mother's breast milk and it has been linked to appalling birth deformities, the like of which are still being observed at Kasargad, “Kerala’s Bhopal”.
Such events have occurred across the Globe and 62 countries all over the world have either banned it or restricted its use. Unfortunately India has done nothing to stem the use of this endocrine disruptor which can cause changes at the genetic level. Only in the state of Kerala where the endosulfan tragedy occurred that activists, scientists and doctors have been able to enforce a ban.
The U S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies endosulfan as Category Ib – Highly Hazardous and so does the European Union. Though it is a very great health hazard the WHO calls it only moderately hazardous.
In which crops are endosulfan sprayed? The list is long. It is used in vegetables, fruits, paddy, cotton, cashew, tea, coffee, and tobacco and also timber crops. In the Bolangir district of Orissa this poison is spread twice on paddy. The farmers of Rayagada too are using it. Being a Persistent Organic Pollutant and also a Persistent Toxic Substance it is not easy to remove this poison from the body or from the food crop upon which it is sprayed. The spraying of this pesticide on food crops, particularly paddy, is unpardonable.
Unfortunately India refuses to ban this pesticide and continues to say that it is safe. "The Indian government, a major producer, vigorously opposes any international ban, stymieing efforts by other nations to safeguard human health", writes a report released by the Environmental Justice Foundation in September. India the largest producer of Endosulfan does not want to disturb the profit it earns by producing and exporting this deadly poison to 70 countries.
Living Farms in Orissa which is opposed against the use of chemical pesticides, calls for an immediate ban on this deadly pesticide. Very recently Pandit Ravishankar has urged, “have some value for life & stop this madness.”. Activists, scientists and doctors round the world are urging the Indian pesticide industry to take a decisive role and end the production and use of endosulfan in India, a move which will have global significance.
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The toxicology of Endosulfan is not unique. Any pesticide can be abused. Pesticide safety interests are not served by malicious attacks on generics. Endosulfan is an economical and versatile tool of IPM and IRM. It has an excellent profile for beneficial insects. Endosulfan can be used safely and judiciously.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dr. S. banerji that pesticides are poisons and people wh are not bothered about health and environment use it for their profits. If any thing happened it is not the fault of the molecule Endosulfan but the way it is used or some other thing may be causing it but pesticid lobbyists always hide the fact that the farmers started using these problem chemical not becaujse they wanted it but because these experts advised them and encouraged them using government subsidies and packages. And when thgings go wrong they say all pesticides are poioson and the way it use matter. There many people and communities wo have succeeded in farming with out the poisons and the IAASTD report also points the direction for us to go . there is hope to live without poisons.
ReplyDeletejayan
Variability is the most striking feature of farming. Just as humans may pass decades in good health, so too some crop seasons require no pesticide cover. We do not close emergency rooms in hospitals because we support preventive health programs. Similarly, pesticide safety remains a vital need, no matter how much we may want IPM. Farmers are nobody's fools. Forced birth control is a tragic example of their determination to turn faces away from inappropriate technologies. Farmers use pesticides to protect their treasured crops. Life-saving medicines are far more potent in their lethal effects if abused. However, who would deny their use when a loved one is at stake? We can draw another such analogy from the field of weapons. Pesticide safety is not a matter to treat in trivial manner.
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