It was a welcome relief for the people of kasaragod. Endosulfan is a component of pesticide used in many parts of the world since about 50 years. More than 80% of it is used by maharashtra,andhra pradesh,gujarat. Pesticide use in tamil nadu veggies, the emerging truth nov. In the final report submitted to nhrc and the ministry of agriculture, government of india, nhrc categorically stated that they did not see. India has agreed to phase out use of endosulfan by 2017 and all existing stock of the pesticide in the country that is past its expiry date, government said today. Biju consulted madhuraj and other activists associated with the kasaragod issue. Endosulfan can be absorbed in the stomach, skin and lungs, and all bodily areas exposed to endosulfan are vulnerable government of kerala,2003. In places like muliyar, periye, enmakaje, cheemeni and pedre in the cashew plantations aerial spraying of pesticide to wipe of tea mosquitoes was undertaken by plantation corporation of kerala pck back from 1978 onwards. Kerala in south india is flanked by the arabian sea on one side and the sahayadris on one side and as a result this south indian state has a lot to offer nature buffs in terms of exotic flora, natural greens and of course birds and wild animals. The endosulfan content shall be declared not less than 940 gkg and, when determined, the average measured content shall not be lower than the declared minimum content. It is considered by many experts in the field of pesticide toxicity as one of the worst pesticide disasters to happen to a region and its people.
The suffering caused by years of endosulfan use on cashew plantations in keralas kasaragod district is well known. Use of endosulphan in kasaragod distric, kerala, india. A toxic organochlorine pesticide of moderate mammalian toxicity which doesnt accumulate in the tissues of man or animals to any significant extent. It is also banned in the state of kerala, india, as a result of severe. Indias children reap the bitter harvest of endosulfan. Analysis of milk from cows which survived the poisoning revealed level of greater than 1 ppm endosulfan immediately following the intoxication. Endosulfan has been banned across 74 countries in all the continents after elaborate studies. Jan 21, 2015 the health effects of endosulfan depend on how much endosulfan you are exposed to and the length of that exposure. Effects to the environment endosulfan breaks down into endosulfan sulfate and endosulfan diol, and its residues remains in the soil for around 6 years. No end to endosulfan tragedy in karalakasaragod i would like to invite you to keralafamously known as gods own country. Use of endosulphan in kasaragod distric, kerala, india ejatlas. Nioh observed that aerial exposure to endosulfan was responsible for delay in sexual maturity among the adolescents. Disaster of endosulfan in kasargod and kannur endosulfan.
Muneesa, a visually impaired woman, is also an endosulfan victim. Presence of endosulfan in plant parts in phytoremediation and. And then pesticides such as organophosphates are also hazardous,so why make such an issue only about endosulfan, mayee asks. An epidemiological study on the health effects of endosulfan spraying on cashew plantations in kasaragod district, kerala, india. Insufficient relief for keralas endosulfan victims for sevenyearold sandhya and her siblings, totally dependant on their mother who ekes out a living by making beedis, the state governments relief package, announced nearly 18 months ago, is simply not enough. Plantation corporation of kerala, a state government enterprise has cultivated cashew plant in the vast areas of this district. The rationality of science and economics, and the politics of development often silence the struggles of individuals and communities exposed to the risks of indiscriminate use of pesticides. Endosulfan 1,4,5,6,7,7hexachloro8,9,10trinorborn5en. Environmental monitoring data suggest that any endosulfan levels the public might encounter through direct contact or through water, soil, or food are generally low, much lower than animal study levels.
Als environmental does not sell chemicals, but offers analytical lab testing to determine the presence of various elements and chemical compounds. I would like to invite you to keralafamously known as gods own country. Pdf nanophytotechnological remediation of endosulfan using. Endosulfan sulfate is a product of oxidation containing one extra o atom attached to t. The government of kerala has directed the kerala state council for science technology and environment kscste for monitoring endosulfan persistence in soil, water and blood samples in the selected areas of kasaragod district and its impacts on human health and environment vide g. Kerala owns up the ldf governments recent payment of compensation to the victims is a great climb down, for this is the first time a kerala government has conceded that endosulfan was the cause of the unusual and lethal health disorders that spread in kasargode. In a major change of position, india on friday accepted at a world convention in geneva that the pesticide endosulfan is a health hazard.
Kerala accounts for 1% of total endosulfan used in india. It analyses the economic and political forces that have come. The government of kerala has directed the kerala state council for science technology and. International ltd, and in udyogamandal, kerala hindustan insecticides ltd. Two complementary projects powered by the publicprivate idh. It has directed kerala government to release entire rs. They deserve the compensation for living with their heads held up high.
Though banned in more than 50 countries, including the european union and several asian and west african nations, it is still used extensively in many other countries including india. In our own country kerala and karnataka have banned this chemical after finding health and environment damages. After a 14 years outcry from social activists and anti endosulfan activists, the government of kerala has imposed restrictions on the use and marketing of pesticides. Because endosulfan and its metabolites leave the body fairly rapidly within days, the tests need. In its commercial form, endosulfan is composed of two stereoisomers. Endosulfan and a powerful docudrama made in kerala, india. Endosulfan, an organochlorine oc insecticide, is a widely used agricultural pesticide, despite its life threatening toxic effects. Endosulfan, dieldrin and endrin are not part of the existing measurement programme of the. No complaints of health problems have been reported from these states. Environment environmental hazards endosulfan victims. The supreme court has described side effects of endosulfan, a highly toxic agrochemical pesticide as devastating. Nanoparticles in compound based bioremediation can be utilised as a part of a blend with.
Endosulfan poisoning in kasargod, kerala, india 1 report of a fact finding misssion over the past 2 decades, the pesticide endosulfan has been aerially sprayed on a cashew nut plantation covering several villages in kasargod district, kerala state, india. Nov 16, 2015 the kerala story of the broken dreams of thousands affected. Between 1976 and 2000, more than 50,000 villagers of kasargod district in kerala, india have been exposed to endosulfan, a persistent organic pesticide, sprayed on the cashew plantations owned by the plantation corporation of kerala. Apr 18, 2011 endosulfan in kerala in kasargod district, more than 9000 patients are said to be victims of endosulfan. Apr 23, 2011 endosulfan, a kerala story saturday, apr 23 2011. Pdf it is a celebrated dogma of sociolegal studies that social change and legal change cannot be. Persistence of endosulfan in selected areas of kasaragod.
People are still facing the side effects of endosulfan in kerala and karnataka but the indian government has not yet banned the deadly chemical. The chemical is banned in 80 countries, but was used in kerala for aerial crop spraying for 20 years. Endosulfan has relatively high potential to bioaccumulate in fish. The enormity of the health problems in the area was brought to the notice. Endosulfan tragedy in keralaneed of ban on endosulfan. Now, the indian press is reporting another cluster of endosulfaninduced disease a couple hundred miles. But of late, muthalamada panchayat in keralas palakkad district has gained notoriety for excessive use of endosulfan in its mango orchards. However, it only becomes penance for four years of inaction after he assumed office.
The who classifies endosulfan as category 2 pesticide which is moderately toxic and the us environmental protection agency classifies it as a highly hazardous pesticide. Hoechst merged several times and finally became a part of bayer cropscience in. Endosulfan has been used globally as a pesticide since the 1950s to control a variety of insects including whiteflies, aphids, leafhoppers, colorado potato beetles, and cabbage worms. Problems with endosulfan can be related to its high toxicity for the aquatic.
Endosulfan is an offpatent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide that is being phased out globally. The endosulfan controversy in padre village kasargod kerala. In 2003, the high court of kerala upheld the order of lower court and it permanently stopped endosulfan spraying. This edition supersedes any previously released draft or final profile. Valiya chirakula pakshikal is a 2015 indian malayalam drama film written and directed by dr. Kasargod district is located in the southern part of india in kerala state. Achuthanandan should be congratulated for offering fast on april 25 to press for ban on endosulfan.
Only protected handlers may be in the area during application. Toxicological profiles are revised and republished as necessary. Many more have been poisoned in neighbouring state karnataka. When sevenyearold sharanya was born, her parents rukmini and chandran were relieved the baby was normal. Jan 12, 2017 the supreme court has described side effects of endosulfan, a highly toxic agrochemical pesticide as devastating. Feb 01, 2011 continuing disaster of endosulfan in kasargod and kannur districts of kerala abstract between 1976 and 2000, more than 50,000 villagers of kasargod district in kerala, india have been exposed to endosulfan, a persistent organic pesticide, sprayed on the cashew plantations owned by the plantation corporation of kerala. Insufficient relief for kerala s endosulfan victims for sevenyearold sandhya and her siblings, totally dependant on their mother who ekes out a living by making beedis, the state governments relief package, announced nearly 18 months ago, is simply not enough. The endosulfan issue has alerted the people of the state of kerala.
The two isomers, endo and exo, are known popularly as i and ii. The present paper tries to evaluate the effects of endosulfan on environment and humans and the genesis of problems caused in kasargod district of. Meet an endosulfan victim who fights for the rights of others. Many cotton farmers have died in west africa, especially benin, senegal, mali and togo. Endosulfan poisoning and the struggle of the community in kasaragod to regain life and the living land sridhar r, thanal, kerala india, 2008 the story poisoned villages victims of chemical pest control people realise, study and act community led monitoring and remediation industry and regulators reacts. Articles on endosulfan, complete coverage on endosulfan. Kerala in south india is flanked by the arabian sea on one side and the sahayadris on one side and as a result this south indian state has a lot to offer nature buffs in.
Endosulfan 3ec page 2 of 10 directions for use restricted use pesticide it is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. A raging controversy has been going on about the aerial spraying of endosulfan, an organochlorine, pesticide in the cashew plantations of enmakaje panchayat in kasargod district of kerala and its role in the causation of high morbidity and greater prevalence of congenital malformations and malignancies in the area. Still the illegal application of the endosulfan has reported in kerala. The pesticide is still used for cotton and cashew plantations in many parts of the nation karnataka, punjab, assam and andhra pradesh. Farmer leader speaks about the true endosulfan tragedy in kerala. Indias endosulfan disaster india environment portal.
Endosulfan and its breakdown products metabolites can be measured in blood, urine, fat tissue, and breast milk. Some 18,000 to 20,000 tons of endosulfan are produced each year, according to the united nations. Jan 11, 2012 indias children reap the bitter harvest of endosulfan this article is more than 8 years old in some keralan villages half the families have a severely disabled child. Aerial spray of endosulfan, a pesticide is being blamed for all the health problems in the area by the people. Feb 15, 2017 an endosulfan based insecticide, on sale in karnataka in 2010. This disaster was caused by nearly two and a half decades of endosulfan use on. Assessments findings on endosulfan, pdf 929 kb evaluation of endosulfan as a. Endosulfan poisoning and the struggle of the community in. This article highlights the aftermath of aerially spraying endosulfan, a toxic pesticide, in kasaragod district of kerala. Endosulfan sulfate is a product of oxidation containing one extra o atom attached to the s atom. For example, endosulfan can continue to be used on cotton to control bollworms. Endosulfan is subject to long range atmospheric transport,i.
Other poisonings are reported from indonesia, philippines, sudan. Not really kerala,karnataka may have banned the popular insecticide,but experts warn that farmers may have only more hazardous and more expensive options to choose from. In india, hindustan insecticide lmtd is the producer of endosulfan. Another cluster of endosulfaninduced illness in india. Endosulfan poisoning and the struggle of the community in kasaragod to regain life and the living land sridhar r, thanal, kerala india, 2008 the story poisoned villages victims of chemical pest control people realise, study and act community led monitoring and remediation. I would like to invite you to kerala famously known as gods own country. Kerala banned the sale and use of endosulfan within its boundary in 2003. Experiential articles communitybased rehabilitation for. This colorless solid has emerged as a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, endocrine effects, and potential for bioaccumulation. The study shows that combined toxic residues of endosulfan in the sediment and soil samples of selected areas of kasaragod district were found to be persistent for a period of 1. Endosulfan is an insecticide that is applied extensively to coffee, tea, and cotton crops, among others. Despite the sympathies expressed for endosulfan campaign while he was the opposition leader, mr. Endosulfan, a kerala story keralaviews weblog keralaviews weblog. You can join the campaign demanding our government to bring a nation wide ban on endosulfan.
Do not apply this product in a way that will contact workers or other persons, either directly or through drift. The spraying of endsosulfan in the cashew plantations of stateowned plantation corporation of kerala caused a disaster on the biodiversity of the area, a study by the dr. But over the years she has become a leader fighting for the victims and leading their struggles. But undiluted endosulfan is slowly and incompletely absorbed in the git of warm blooded animals. It is likely that different substances with structural similarity generally appear in or merge. Endosulfan destroyed biodiversity of kasaragod villages. A toxicological profile for endosulfan, draft for public comment was released in may 20. H i g h l y h a z a r d o u s p e s t i c i d e s endosulfan. However, the detection of endosulfan does not necessarily mean that you will suffer adverse health effects. People residing in the villages within the plantation have been afflicted with different. Another cluster of endosulfan induced illness in india the suffering caused by years of endosulfan use on cashew plantations in kerala s kasaragod district is well known. Endosulfan tragedy in kerala gods own country kerala.