http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=74202&cat=India
Kerala's cashew farmers protest use of "killer pesticide Endosulfan":- Kochi | March 21, 2005 9:31:03 AM IST Moves by a government-appointed commission to recommend the use of the pesticide, Endosulfan, in Kerala's cashew plantations have reportedly angered local doctors and villagers in some parts of the state, who claim that some of them have suffered severe side effects through its use. Commneting on the 12 recommendations of the Mayee Commission, Dr. Y.S. Mohan Kumar, a local physician with over two decades of medical experience, said that he himself has treated over 200 patients suffering from the after effects of endosulfan use. They included people with psychiatric problems, mental retardation, epilepsy, congenital anomalies and cancer, he added. He also said that his patients were spread over a miniscule four square kilometers in about 400 houses. In its recommendations, the commission, however, said that there is no link established between the use of Endosulfan in PCK plantations and health problems as reported in Padre village and thus aerial spraying of pesticides may be allowed in case of national exigencies after securing permission of the Central Insecticides Board. It has said that the application of all pesticides, including Endosulfan is to be done adhering to regulatory stipulations in force from time to time. The committee further recommended that the pesticides manufacturers should take necessary steps to promote and educate sellers and users to ensure correct and safe use of all pesticides. It said that since India has adequate pre-registration data requirement and post registration review processes concerning use of pesticides, it is recommended that science based responses be made available to all stake holders and general public by registration authorities. There is often a huge gap between perception of the risk and actual scientific risk assessment. This gap is to be filled by proper and timely propagation of knowledge and information. It has also recommended to conduct a comprehensive, well designed and detailed health and epidemiological study in the entire cashew plantation areas of Kerala to ascertain the incidences of diseases in Padre vis-a vis other relevant locations in Kerala State to investigate and if possible pin-point the probable factor that are responsible for alleged health problems at Padre. The committee further concludes that the use of Endosulfan is not clearly linked to the alleged health problems in Kasargod district of Kerala. However, considering the apprehensions in the minds of the public in Kerala, the Committee recommends that it would be better if use of Endosulfan is kept on held in Kerala.Finally, in what resulted in a strong reaction from the villagers and victims, the committee has said that after considering all above factors and available reports, it is recommended that use of Endosulfan be continued as per provisions of Insecticides Act, 1968. But on the other hand, the farmers of the areas are up in arms against the recommendations. For over 25 years, the villages near the cashew plantations in Kasargod district, Kerala, have been devastated by an unusually large number of cancer deaths, neurological disorders and different kinds of physical and mental impairment. Reports in the media and studies done in the area indicate a strong link between the spraying of a pesticide called Endosulfan and the deteriorating health of the local people. Most of the families who live here are small farmers or farm labourers. There is no large industry fuelling the local economy except the areca plantations. The Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) has been cultivating cashew in 4500 hectares spread across this district. Since the early 1980s, the PCK has been aerially spraying an organochlorine pesticide called Endosulfan that has been banned in many countries including Singapore, Denmark, Germany, Holland and Sweden. Recently, various reports in the media as well as studies done by institutions like the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi have indicated a strong link between the aerial spraying of Endosulfan and the number of deaths and illnesses in the area. Later, it led to massive protests and criticisms against the PCK, which ultimately forced the Kerala government to ban the pesticide. Dr Mohan Kumar and environmentalist Sri Padre were the first among others to show to the world the terrible impact of the spraying of pesticide -Endosulfan by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK), to get high yield in cashew crop in various plantation areas of Swarga, Vani Nagar, Enmakaje and Belloor among other areas in the district. Laboratory analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, revealed that all samples collected from the village contained very high levels of the pesticide that has ironically been either banned or restricted in many countries. Several studies conducted, consistently show that endosulfan is highly poisonous and easily causes death and severe acute and chronic toxicity to various organ systems including mental impairment, neurological disturbances, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity Endosulphan has a proven toxic effect on the human foetus (and on Mammalian foetus) and produces mutations. Organ chlorines in general have the whole range of possible toxic effects on liver, kidney, bone marrow, blood, brain (loss of intellectual functions and psychiatric illness), carcinogenicity, and damage to reproductive system and to foetus/embryo. Cashew Corporation has been spraying endosulphan thrice a year through helicopters to prevent tea-mosquito attack. The Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) had been spraying endosulfan since the mid-1970s on its cashew plantations. India is the largest producer of endosulfan in the world, according to EMFA. Three major companies produce endosulfan in India - Excel Industries, Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL) and eid Parry. The pesticide industry in India is the fourth largest in the world and second largest in the Asia-Pacific region, only after China. (ANI) -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
