DEFINITION:
Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide that is being phased out globally. Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical[1] due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor. Because of its threats to human health and the environment, a global ban on the manufacture and use of endosulfan was negotiated under the Stockholm Convention in April 2011. The ban will take effect in mid 2012, with certain uses exempted for 5 additional years.[2] More than 80 countries,[3] including the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, several West African nations,[4] the United States,[5][6] Brazil[7] and Canada[8] had already banned it or announced phase outs by the time the Stockholm Convention ban was agreed upon. It is still used extensively in India, China, and few other countries. It is produced by Makhteshim Agan and several manufacturers in India and China.
USES:
Endosulfan has been used in agriculture around the world to control insect pests including whiteflys, aphids, leafhoppers, Colorado potato beetles and cabbage worms.[9] Due to its unique mode of action, it is useful in resistance management; however, as it is non-specific, it can negatively impact populations of beneficial insects.[10] It is, however, considered to be moderately toxic to honey bees,[11] and it is less toxic to bees than organophosphate insecticides.
HEALTH EFFECTS:
Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides on the market today, responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world.[37] Endosulfan is also a xenoestrogen—a synthetic substance that imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens—and it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans. Whether endosulfan can cause cancer is debated. With regard to consumers intake of endosulfan from residues on food, the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations has concluded that long-term exposure from food is unlikely to present a public health concern, but short term exposure can exceed acute reference doses.[38]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EndosulfanYou can get more information on production and other details for yourself, but the images from this village in India pretty much tells the story.
The Hindu: News out of New Delhi in an article dated July 27, 2012 headline reads
‘Allow use of endosulfan except in Kerala and Karnataka’
The Centre has asked the Supreme Court to allow the use
of pesticide endosulfan in all States except Kerala and Karnataka, as
these States are ready to use it for agricultural pest control.
The
Supreme Court in May last year banned the production and sale of
endolsulfan in the country. In April this year, it asked the Centre to
ascertain the quantity of raw material lying with three companies
(producers of the banned pesticide endosulfan) and the manner in which
the raw material could be disposed of.http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3688642.ece
WHY?
June 2010 Endosulfan Action: EPA is taking action to end all uses of endosulfan in the United States. EPA has concluded that endosulfan poses unacceptable risks to agricultural workers and wildlife, and can persist in the environment. http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/endosulfan/endosulfan-cancl-fs.html
http://daily.sightline.org/2012/10/18/farm-workers-arctic-tribes-and-pesticides-on-northwest-crops/
Those pictures are just heartbreaking! You know, I actually considered doing something over medical wastes and their effects on the environment because I'm a nurse so it's interesting to me. It's really shocking to learn of the damage that can be done and how little people really think of it until it becomes personal. Like you inferred, many people will not care simply because they feel it's far removed from themselves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you kind words Amber - I am glad that my blog portrayed my emotions about this one. The more I look into these chemicals the more it feels so disheartening. I am hoping to find some middle ground for my heart before this semester is over.
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