Aerial Spraying of Pesticide Exacts Deadly Toll in Kerala Village

Received on January 18, 2001

TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT NEXT SPRAYING

Write to:

The District Collector
Collectorate, Civil Station
Post Vidyanagar, Kasaragod 671 122
Kerala
FAX: +91 (0)499 430883

Padre in Northern Kerala is a village where physical deformities, cancers and disorders of the central nervous system are nothing out of the ordinary. Over a decade, a local doctor discovered a classic cluster within a settlement of 400 households, where more than 156 people, including a disproportionate number of children, were afflicted with severe health problems -- cancers, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, congenital anomalies and suicidal tendencies. In Padre and nearby villages, entire families have been ruined, marriages destroyed, childhoods robbed by these deadly ailments.

For the longest time, the victims and their families believed they had incurred the wrath of Lord Shiva. Not many people, certainly not publicly, had conceived that the routine aerial spraying of the deadly pesticide endosulfan on the surrounding cashew plantations had anything to do with the health disorders. But as evidence to that effect began mounting, the locals began sending in their representations to various wings of the Government and to the plantation owners (Plantation Corporation of Kerala) to bring about an end to the spraying of these poisons.

Their representations continue to be met with stoic indifference, and claims that aerial spraying causes no damage. On December 26, the Plantation Corporation carried out the aerial spraying under heavy police protection to thwart attempts by local communities to prevent spraying. The helicopter sprayed over the village water bodies and grazing grounds as the villagers helplessly watched, restrained by their own Government from protecting their lands. Cattle dropped dead in their tracks; birds, in mid-flight. Already with more than 25 years of spraying, the farms and rivers of Kasragod district are virtual ecological deserts. No fish, no frogs.

Another round of aerial spraying is scheduled for end January or early February. The villagers of Padre, Periya and Muliyar, appeal to you to write in to the above address requesting the District Collector to:

ORDER THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF AERIAL SPRAYING OF ENDOSULFAN ON THE CASHEW PLANTATIONS.

Sincerely,

Shree Padre

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Earlier Press Releases

Death from air: Crisp cashewnut costs several lives - both human and animal

With the increase in the incidents of cancer, psychiatric cases, epilepsy, asthma, infertility and suicide in the area, villagers in Padre (Kerala State, India) have finally realised the cause - aerial spray of deadly endosulphan by the state-owned plantation corporation.

Villagers in Padre in Kasargod District of Kerala State, India are all set to protest the aerial spray of deadly endosulfan over cashewnut plantation in the area and the village panchayath will soon put its objection on record.

In different places bordering Kerala State, India, the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (belong to Kerala State Government) sprays endosulfan two-three times a year (between December and March) through helicopter to prevent tea-mosquito attack to cashew inflorescence. From 1963 to 1980, it was spraying 'Endrin' and from 1980 onwards 'Endosulphan' has been sprayed. Nearly 4,600 hectares of Cashew Garden is being sprayed with this hazardous chemical. The Corporation is supposed to temporarily cover all the water sources like dug-wells, tanks etc., before spraying. It seldom takes this precautionary measure.

Decades ago, at one of the local farmer's house, successively, three cows gave birth to calves with severely deformed limbs. His tank, wherefrom these cattle drink water is by the side of Plantation Corporation's garden and every year, it used to be contaminated by the spray. People in the vicinity suffer from nausea; asthma patients get severe strokes, not to mention frogs, fish and even chicken that gets killed once in a while.

People are protesting against this aerial spray. In Mulleria, Periya etc., they protested, though we don't know the exact results. Today, youngsters at Padre village protested, but corporation went ahead with the spray under police protection. Police contend that unless somebody brings a court stay, they can't stop the spray.

CAAM team member Mr. Shree Padre who hails from one of the affected villages mentions: "Dr Y. S. Mohankumar, MBBS, has been practicing in our village since last 19 years. His practicing area is spread over two villages, Kumbdaje and Padre-both in Kasaragod Dt-(has two clinics)and keeps visiting these areas now and then . Plantation Corporation must be spraying endosulfon through helicopter since the last three decades."

Dr. Mohankumar says that incidence of mental retardation cases, blood cancer and psychiatric cases are high in these areas which gets sprayed. There is a rivulet flowing in middle of the village. Farm labourers who consume water recharged from this rivulet (residing nearby) seem to be the worst victims. There is a particular family, which has three blood cancer patients. Most of the psychiatry cases aren't in-born, says the doctor.

Dr. Mohankumar has realised this unusual development and has dashed off letters to the editor of Indian Medical Journal a couple of years ago to invite attention of medical researchers to the issue. Number of cases as recorded by Dr.Y. S. Mohankumar as on January 5, 2001:

Cancer - living - 3

Cancer - dead - 46

Mentally Retarded - 23

Psychiatric Cases - 43

Epilepsy - 23

Congenital anomaly (Born handicapped) - 9

Suicide cases - 9

Total - 156

( This in about 4 sq. km area of Padre village, Enmakaje Panchayath, Kasaragod District, Kerala State, India, from among an estimated population of 2,000 people, from about 400 houses.)

In Periya Village, there is a government employee, Ms. Leelakimari, who raised the issue two years ago. She spent about Rs.40,000 from her salary savings and was successful in getting a stay single handedly when she was convinced that endosulfan ruins her family and society's health and that local people and government was not helping in anyway.

A team of Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network, Thiruvananthapuram visited the affected area on January 7-8 and a meeting was conducted wherein about 60 villagers had partaken. The panchayath president who chaired the meeting assured to pass a resolution against aerial spraying in the panchayath meeting to be held on January 11, 2001.

Background

Endosulfan, commonly known by its trade name Thiodan, is an insecticide. It was first introduced in the 1950s. It is now out-of-patent, but AgrEvo (formerly Hoescht) is still the most important producer worldwide. Endosulfan is widely used, and is an important cause of pesticide poisoning in many countries. It is also extremely toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

Endosulfan is one of the classes of compounds called organochlorines. This class of chemicals is the most important of the persistent organic pollutants or POPs. There is now a move for a worldwide ban on POPs because of their link to cancer and long-term subtle effects on hormones, the immune system, and reproduction. Unlike other POPS, which travel across the globe, endosulfan tends to remain in the region of its use. Yet it has been found in high concentrations in many areas around the world because it is so widely used. The information below describes the environmental and health properties of endosulfan, and shows why it should be banned worldwide.

Short term toxicity

There is concern over the acute toxicity of endosulfan. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies endosulfan in Category 2 (moderately hazardous). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) classifies it as Category Ib (highly hazardous) pesticide. It is readily absorbed by the stomach, by the lungs, and through the skin, meaning that all routes of exposure can pose a hazard.

Numerous cases of both suicidal and occupational poisonings have been reported. Proper protective clothing (safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, respirator) is needed to prevent poisoning when handling endosulfan. Before it was banned in the Philippines in the early 1990s, endosulfan had become the number one cause of pesticide poisonings. Another concern, especially in developing countries, is that people with diets low in protein may be more sensitive to the effects of this pesticide.

Long-term toxicity

Although the short-term toxicity of endosulfan is of immediate concern, there are also long-term effects to consider. There is some indication that endosulfan can have adverse effects on the immune system at low levels of exposure. There is mounting evidence that organochlorine compounds can act as hormones. These compounds, including DDT, PCBs, and endosulfan, may also be part of the cause for the decrease in the quality of semen, an increase in testicular and prostate cancer, an increase in defects in male sex organs, and increased incidence of breast cancer which has been observed in the last fifty years. Endosulfan has also been found to cause mutations.

Environmental Effects

Endosulfan is also a concern for environmental reasons: it is highly toxic to fish. Safe levels of endosulfan in water are measured in parts per trillion, e.g. European Union maximum acceptable level is 0.001 ug/l. Endosulfan can cause fish kills even when used at recommended application rates. Because of this, endosulfan should not be sprayed over marshlands or bodies of water. Caution should also be observed when spraying near ditches, canals, rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. Endosulfan is persistent in soil, and its major degradation product, endosulfan sulfate, is as toxic as endosulfan.

(Background information from: Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network and Mr. Shree Padre's observations.)

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UPDATE - HAZARDOUS ENDOSULFAN SPRAY: VILLAGERS RESOLVE TO OPPOSE

On January 11, 2001, the elected body of people’s representatives, i.e., Enmakaje Panchayath convened a meeting and has unanimously resolved to oppose any form of endosulfan spray in the area.

Here is the text:

ENMAKAJE PANCHAYATH, KASARGOD DISTRICT, KERALA

Dt.11.1.2001, PR.No.185/2001(1 to 3)

RESOLUTION No.185/2001 ( 1 ) : In view of the shockingly high rate of serious diseases like Cancer, Psychiatry, Epilepsy, Mental Depression, Born Handicapped, Asthma & Skin diseases that has come to light from Padre and other areas of our Panchayath, we, the members of Enmakaje Panchayath hereby unanimously resolve to vehemently oppose against any kind of endosulfan spray in our area - aerial or otherwise - until and unless a thorough, multi-discipline medical survey and investigation of the cause for this tragedy is conducted by the concerned officials .

RESOLUTION No . 185/2001 ( 2 ) : We, the members of Enmakaje Panchayath, unanimously urge the District Collector, The District Medical Officer and others concerned to immediately provide all necessary medical treatment, on war footing, to hundreds of residents of our Panchayath in general and Padre in particular who have been suffering from serious illness like Cancer, Psychiatry , Epilepsy, Mental Depression, Born Handicapped, Asthma & Skin diseases . Further, we also urge that an immediate, multi-discipline survey and medical investigation consisting of experts from all the disciplines like Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychological Counselor, Toxicology, Gynecology (lady), Nutrition and Family Physician to find out the cause for this very high incidence of diseases should be taken up immediately.

RESOLUTION No . 185/2001 ( 3 ) : In view of the ill-effects of endosulfan reported in the press, quoting experts in the field, we, the members of Enmakaje Pachayath unanimously resolve to caution the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) and the institutions that have reportedly certified the said organo-chlorine pesticide as harmless that our Panchayath is opposed to any form of spray of the said pesticide and if PCK goes ahead with spraying of this pesticide despite our opposition, all the above concerned institutions would be responsible for any kind of harm that occurs to human beings, animals and agriculture crop of our Panchayath.

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Here is a letter on the same subject for your information.

I am a veterinary practitioner at Mangalore in India. Finding lot of cases of cancers, psycho-somatic disorders, infertility, abortions, liver & kidney disorders in livestock and pets in a pocket of 3 villages where cashew plantations are sprayed with ENDOSULFAN by using helicopter, thrice a year, since more than 10 years. I need more information on recorded toxic effects of Endosulfan on livestock, pets, poultry and fishes.

Any other information regarding research activities, treatment approaches and review articles are also welcome. Waiting for your earliest reply.

Dr. Manohara Upadhya, Mangalore Veterinary Service Centre, Pumpwell, MANGALORE - 575002 India.
E mail: [email protected]

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Contact Numbers of the Plantation Corporation of Kerala:
Mr. Bala Kurup, Manager of TPCK, Kasaragod. Phone: 91-499-450223.
Headquarters of TPCK: Managing Director's phone: 91-481-578301.

Thanal, a Trivandrum based organisation, has been working on this issue and has piled up heap of information on ill-effects of endosulphan.

Contact: Mr. C. Jayakumar Coordinator,Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network, P B # 815, Kawdiar, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 003, Kerala, India.
Telephone: 91-471-311896
Email: [email protected]

For information on toxicity of endosulphan here are some websites: online database for pesticide http://www.undp.org/gef/sgp
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
http://www.scorecard.com

For more information contact: Shree Padre, Journalist, Post Vaninagar, Via Perla 671552 Kerala State, INDIA

Tel : 91-499-866148 ; 91-8251-47234

Email: [email protected]

You may please visit these two sites for items on Padre endosulfan tragedy and offer your comments. http://www.timesofindia.com/today/06mban4. htm
http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-01-05b.htm

CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL MEDIA (CAAM) Dharwad, INDIA

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.farmedia.org

 

 

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