Health Problems

by Maria Karlya

The use of the pesticide Endosulfan has resulted in severe health problems. It can enter the body through the lungs when inhaled, through the stomach when food is ingested that contains traces of the pesticide, and through the skin. Studies show that being exposed to large amounts of Endosulfan for short periods of time can cause adverse nervous system effects, such as hyperexcitability, tremors, and convulsions. During such testing, animals have died from lung and heart failure as a result of being exposed the pesticide (1).

Results from further testing done by a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension (Cornell University, Oregon State University, University of Idaho, University of California at Davis, Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University) have shown more devastating effects. Blindness and lack of muscle coordination has been documented. Enlargement of certain organs have been discovered, such as the liver and kidneys, as well as a change in blood chemistry. Severe damage has been found in reproductive organs, as well as mutagenic effects. They study concludes that several of these will affect humans if exposure is great enough (2).

The most horrific results of Endosulfan usage have been found among villagers and cashew nut plantation workers. It took 15 years before the connection of high levels of Endosulfan usage and the rise of horrific health problems before the linkage became unmistakable. A survey of only 123 houses resulted in 49 cancer cases, 43 psychiatric cases, 23 epileptics, 9 with congenital abnormalities, and 23 with mental retardation (3). Romeo Quijano, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology led an investigation of such health defects and stated, “No other reasonable cause can explain the illness experience by the people, except endosulfan.” (4)

A summary report of by the Environmental Justice foundation has found the following:-In the USA, endosulfan exposure was linked to the death of one farmer and permanentneurological impairment of another (5).

-In Benin’s Borgou province, endosulfan poisoning caused many deaths during the1999/2000 cotton season. Official records statethat at least 37 people died and a further 36became seriously ill, although an independent report estimated that nearly 70 people actually lost their lives (6).

- In 1999, a boy in Benin died after eating corn sprayed with endosulfan (7).

-In 1999, also in Sudan, 31 people died aftereating food containing seed sprayed withendosulfan (8).

-In southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, endosulfan wasthe leading cause of pesticide poisoning between1990 and 1993. Of 153 reported poisoning cases, 32 were due to endosulfan (9).

- In Sudan, in 1988, endosulfan barrels washed inirrigation canals caused fish mortalities and threepeople died after drinking water from the canal (10).

-Colombia’s Departmental Committee of Coffee Growers recorded 155 cases of poisoning due to pesticide exposure in 1994, most of which were due to endosulfan (11). Pesticides Action NetworkNorth American reported that in 1993, 60 poisonings and one death occurred in Colombia due to endosulfan use on coffee (12).

References

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs41.html
http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/endosulf.htm
Joshi, S. 2001. Children of Endosulfan. Down to Earth 19: 28 [28 February 2001].
THANAL. 2002. Experts Confirm Endosulfan Poisoning.Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network, Kerala, India. Press Release [22 January 2002].
Brandt,V. et al. 2001. Exposure to endosulfan in farmers:Two case studies. American Journal Of Industrial Medicine 39: 643-649.
Ton, P. et al. 2000. Endosulfan deaths and poisonings in Benin. Pesticides News 47: 12-14.
Myers, D. 2000. Cotton Tales. New Internationalist 323 [May 2000].
PAN-UK. 1991. 31 die from endosulfan poisoning in Sudan. Pesticides News 13: 7.
Dinham, B. 1993. The pesticide hazard. Zed books, London.
PAN-UK. 1995. On/off ban on endosulfan in Colombia. Pesticides News 28: 25.
Pesticide Action Network North America Updates Service. 1994. International Citizen’s Campaign Targets Hoechst Pesticides. PANUPS (16 June 1994).