ENDOSULFAN THE KASARGOD STORY

SACHIN V MMSc Environmental Technology –Stream 2 School of Environmental StudiesCUSAT

ItroductionFirst introduced by Hoescht, under the trade name

“Thiodan”, in germanyOne of agricultural poisons It is a neurotoxic- organochlorine insecticide and

acaricide. it is an endocrine disruptor & highly toxic. Effective against a wide range of insects Used as a pre-harvest insecticide. Also used on non-

food crops such as tobacoo & cotton. In INDIA, Hindustan Insecticide Lmtd. is the producer of Endosulfan. Sold under trade names – THIONEX,

ENDOCIL, PHASER, BENZOEPIN.

Endosulfan in different forms..

Chemical property

It’s melting point is 181˚C It has molecular weight of 422.95. It has a solubility of 0.32mg/l for alpha isograms

and 0.33 mg for beta isomer in water. It has a solubility of 20g/100 g in toluene and

2.4g/100g in hexane. It is an organo chloride pesticide. It is a neurotoxic pesticide belonging to the group

of cyclodienes.

USES

Effective against a wide range of insects like beetles, caterpillars, woolly apple aphid, coloradobeetle, leaf hoppers & cabbage worms -by contact & stomach action.

Used as a pre-harvest insecticide on fruits, nuts, vegetables, field & grain crops including rice & ornamentals.

Also used on non-food crops such as tobacco& cotton.

RULES WHILE SPRAYING ENDOSULPHAN

Endosulphan should be sprayed at a height of not more than 2-3m above foliage.

Prior information has to be given to people in that particular area .

Advice them to keep away from the area of application for about 20 days.

All water bodies should be kept covered while spraying endosulphan.

Exposure to endosulphanBy breathing air near where it has beensprayed.Drinking water contaminated directly or through run-offs.Being in contact with contaminated soil.Eating contaminated food. Smoking cigarettes made from endosulfan contaminated tobacco.Working at endosulfan production centers , direct

ingestion.

EFFECTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Endosulfan breaks down into endosulfan sulfate and endosulfan diol, and its residues remains in the soil for around 6 years.

Endosulfan is subject to  long range atmospheric transport ,i.e., it can travel long distances from where it is used.

Endosulfan has relatively high potential to bioaccumulate in fish.

Blood glucose levels in fish are elevated.

It is toxic to amphibians and low levels have been found to kill tadpoles

AQUATIC EFFECTS

Health effectsNervous System : Hyperexcitability, tremors, and

convulsions and deathReproductive System & Developmental effects:

Puberty delayed in boys. Infertility among men. Girls attain menarche early. Menstrual disorders are frequent. Has estrogenic effects. Birth defects in offspring of animals ingesting endosulfan during pregnancy

Skin effects: Farm workers with chronic endosulfan exposure are at risk of rashes and skin irritation

Other Systemic Effects: Affects the kidneys & liver. It inhibits leukocyte & macrophage migration. It damages RBC. It causes mutations in mammals & may induce mutations. It is also a potential tumor promoter

SYMPTOMS

Hypersensitive to stimulation, sensation of prickling, tingling or creeping on skin.

Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, in coordination, tremor, mental confusion, hyper excitable state.

In severe cases: convulsions, seizures, coma and respiratory depression.

MAIN CAUSESEndosulfan can also affect human development.

The main disease that has been noticed is skin disease.

Blood cancers, delays maturity among boys ,

Birth defects of the male reproductive system.

AND death

A story of suffering and tragedy in KASARAGOD

KASARGOD

Since India is the largest user of ENDOSULFAN its after effects are being seen in kasagod dst. Kerala.Now, it is a threat to people in Kasaragod

It was sprayed in the cashew plantations in Kasaragod District sine 1976, till 2001 regularly three times every year. The aerial spraying was allegedly undertaken to contain the menace of the tea mosquito bug.

Just after three years, the ill effects of Endosulfan spraying came to notice. As early as 1979, stunted growth and deformed limbs were noticed among new born calves

By 1990’s health disorders of very serious nature among the human population came to the lime light.

Children were found to be the worst affected with congenital anomalies, mental retardation, physical deformities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hydrocephalus etc.

Men and women were also affected with various chronic ailments, many irreversible and difficult to treat. There is a high incidence of disorders of the central nerves system, Cancer and reproductive disorders.

The ill-effects of endosulfan used in the cashew plantations of Kasaragod Dist.

Chronology

1976: First experimental aerial spraying of Endosulfan

1979: Poisoning of Endosulfan reported firstly from Kasargod

1994: Issue came forth to public attention and social activists sent complaints to all government officials

1998: The protest emerges as a mass movement 2000: District court banned Endosulfan in

Kasargod

2002: High court of Kerala banned the use and sale of Endosulfan in the state.

2003: The national institute of occupational health(NIOH) substantiated the health problems.

2004: The then opposition leader, VS Achuthananthan deployed his staff to collect available materials and consequences.

2011: VS Achuthanathan led mass fast to ban Endosulfan completely.

2011: Jan 3, Geneva conference decided for global ban

2011: May 13, Supreme court banned Endosulfan

From the mid of 1990’s, the community living near plantations had been complaining against the spraying of Endosulfan. Since then the struggle of the local people have been going on in the courts, in the corridors of power and academies and in the streets.

The struggle got wide support from many within and outside the country. The struggle in Kasaragod became a forerunner for many initiatives against endosulfan spraying and relief measures to the victims.

THE LIVING DEAD…………

Kerala`s endosulfan victims…

Sainaba-whozz overgrowth of head caused her death

RAY OF HOPE…..

Endosulfan-affected Shruti on way to fulfill dream of becoming doctor…

Anti Endosulfan movement emerged in response to these disastrous effects in 1994….

Demands

1.Ban Endosulfan

2. Compensation for victims

Agitations : A massive movement was arouse as the part of struggle in the streets at different stages. A march of thousands of protesters was held on August 2004 demanding Endosulfan Quit – India infront of Kasaragod District Collectorate.The Kasaragod District Panchayath organised a march infront of the Legislative Assemble of Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram demanding to provide relief measures to the victims.

Court Orders :

Court Orders :

In 2003, the High Court of Kerala upheld the order of lower court and it permanently stopped Endosulfan spraying. Thus, the Govt. of Kerala was forced to impose a ban on it’s usage in 2004.It was a welcome relief for the people of Kasaragod. Consequently, the Govt. of India banned the sale and use of Endosulfan in Kerala from 2005 onwards.

The Supreme Court has ordered to give Rs.5 lakh as compensation to the victims of Endosulfan spraying in the villages of Kasargod district in Kerala January 13,2017

CONCLUSIONEndosulfan,a hard to degrade pesticide,has caused

heavy damages to biotic and abiotic factors of KasargodThe fact has been endorsed byvarious pollution control

boards and environmental protection agenciesThat is the main reason why it is banned or yellow-

marked in many countries.Still,Plantation corporation dared to administrates it on

cashew plantation with only a single limitation.i.e, Commercial profit.

The use of endosulfan gave only atemporary yield but lasted with many congential abnormalities,neurological disorders,abortions,epilepsy and other diseases which persists for generation.

The government needs to foccus more on rehabilitating the victims of endosulfan with health,medical,educational,and overall care.

And the time to think of alternatives ways of fertilisation is already passed

Now what we are left with is a few more uncontaminated piece of land and HOPE

Thank you