The Barometer is rising.The streets of Kerala witnessed angry "Ban Endosulfan"
marches and campaigns.Before jumping onto any boat I would like to know where it is going.
I have a few doubts..
1.Why Ban Endo-Sulfan?or Why ban it alone?
2.Who wants to ban Endo-Sulfan?
-----------First Question-----------------------
Introduction:
Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide. It is produced by Bayer CropScience, Makhteshim Agan, and Government-of-India–owned Hindustan Insecticides Limited among others. Endosulfan has been used in agriculture around the world to control insect pests including whiteflys, aphids, leafhoppers, Colorado potato beetles and cabbage worms. Because of its unique mode of action, it is useful in resistance management; however, because it is non-specific, it can negatively impact populations of beneficial insects. It is, however, considered to be moderately toxic to honey bees, and it is less toxic to bees than organophosphate insecticides.
Toxicity Studies:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations has concluded that long-term intake of residues of endosulfan from uses that have been considered by the JMPR is unlikely to present a public health concern. Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides on the market today, responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world. Endosulfan is not a xenoestrogen—a synthetic substance that imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens—and there is no evidence that it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans, although this has been claimed. Whether endosulfan can cause cancer is debated but experimental tests showed it was not. A 2009 assessment concluded that endocrine disruption occurs only at endosulfan doses that cause neurotoxicity.
Yes there are studies suggesting that its an endocrine disruptor in Lab rats and can cause birth defects to newborns.,sexual stunt in male populations.
Please not that,The Indian Government owns the country’s main producer of endosulphan, Hindustan Insecticides Limited. Environmental groups say China, another major endosulphan manufacturer and user, is likely to support India’s position.The highest use of Endosulfan isn't in Kerala.Its in Andhrapradesh,Orissa,bengal etc.All these states doesn't report similar findings as those in Kasargod's Bellur district.Infact,farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh are the largest users of Endosulfan in India, each using more than a million liters of the generic contact pesticide. They will stand to lose most of all in case of a move to ban the nation-wide use of Endosulfan. The alternatives available to them are expensive, and not nearly as effective on precious cash-crops.Jairam Ramesh,Central Environment Minister says,that the problems are in wrong method of usage than the fertilizer in general.
We should know a thing about Agriculture in Developing and under-developed nations.Agriculture has 5 important constituents.
1.Seeds
2.Fertilizers
3.Farming Machinery
4.Irrigation
5.Insecticides
Developed countries used to remote control the 3rd world nations by giving them aid with strings attached.The developed nations manufactured Farming implements,fertilizers and modified seeds.But now,countries like India and China manufacture their own farming implements,high yield seeds,and pesticides.This made them free of Western financial control.
India is the biggest producer of Endo-sulfan and also user.So our Insecticide sector is self sufficient to an extent.Judging by previous experiences,I seriously doubt whether the West is trying to market a new product made and sold by them,a product which is also toxic,a product which can help them re-again control over the global Agricultural sector?
Also Endo-sulfan isn't the only overtly toxic insecticide in India,see this
Variety of pesticides use and whose impact is much greater.
Other “Silent Killers” active in India
# Heptachlore: Reproductive disorders, blood dyscariasis
# Chlorodane: Reproductive disorders, blood discariasis, non
Hodgkins lymphoma
# Fenthion : Mutagenic, carcinogenic
# Dimethoate: Reproductive disorders, carcinogenic
# Acephate : Carcinogenic, mutagenic
# Permithion: Neurotic complications in children, carcinogenic
# Deltamethrin: Potential endocrine disruptor
# Carbaryl: Genetic mutation,effects kidney, nervous system, non
Hodgkins lymphoma
# Mancozeb: Goiter, birth defects
# Captan: Mutagenic, carcinogenic
# Carbendazim: Affects male reproductive organs
# Simazine, Astrezine: Cancer of testes
Nobody wants to ban these??
I might want to know why.
-----------Second Question----------------------
Who wants to ban Endo-Sulfan?
I really suspect the sincerity of political parties asking for a ban.V.S.Achuthananthan who is more than eager to emerge as the Environmentalist crusader(and escape from it after getting political and personal mileage),one who is very much knowledgeable about law didn't submit a report against Endo-sulfan and ask court to ban it.
The BJP whose Mugtar Abbas Naqvi called for a ban,couldn't stop its former Gujarat Vice president from protesting against the ban.
The Indian left which has always banked upon the Moral Hypocrisy ticket doesn't fill me with confidence.Then whom to turn to,Congress??
The party which sells spectrum and the nation with it to Tatas,Goenkas and Ambanis?
Links used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endosulfan
http://www.assamtimes.org/blog/4336.html
http://www.whybanendosulfan.org/endosulfan-alternatives.htm
http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/140070-Endosulfan-benefits-dangers-its-need-India.aspx
http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/environmental_study/Effect_of_endosulfan.pdf
http://www.ipen.org/ipenweb/documents/poprc%20documents/endosulfan%20fact%20sheet%20pan%20europe.pdf
Note:I am not a Supporter of Endo-Sulfan.I just want to be thorough in facts before being an activist.
--Vishnu.J
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