Comment:
Local Physician describes the destruction due to pesticide spraying
The Honorable Chief Minister A.K. Antony Government of Kerala India
Dear Honorable Chief Minister A.K. Antony:
Congratulations on banning endosulfan, a highly dangerous or toxic synthetic chemical insecticide in with the family of organochlorates. We highly recommend and most strongly urge you to uphold the ban. We point you to the overwhelming evidence that endosulfan seriously harms humans and animals, and is a major cause of health problems or challenges in several areas of Kerala. Classified as an organochlorine (the same family of pesticides as DDT and dieldrin), endosulfan and its breakdown products manufacturers designed to persist in the environment. Endosulfan lies in the organochlorate family along with chlordane-heptaclor, one of the most lethal and dangerous of all pesticides banned in 1988 after cancer links --leukemia and pernicious anemia with numerous fatalities in humans. Across Kerala, the endosulfan, a known neurotoxin to humans, shows links to high rates of cancer, cerebral palsy and other serious disorders. My father died of multiple myeloma (a sister cancer to leukemia) 10 years ago after years of home use of pesticides in the organochlorate/phosphate family as advocated by the local county government and cooperative extension for termidicide use and a form of insect control around the home and garden. He had been a healthy man all of his life until he began using dangerous pesticides today with known cancer risks or links. Back then, our county advocated its use to new home owners to beautify your lawn and garden and keep the foundation of your home free of termites and other crawling insects! We have two children growing up without their grandfather because pesticides in this family will cause cancer in unsuspecting persons.
Endosulfan bioaccumulates in humans and other animals, collecting particularly in the liver, kidneys and fatty tissue. Endosulfan is a toxic chemical and we have strong evidence worldwide that it acts as an endocrine disruptor causing hormonal imbalances, disrupting function of the human adrenal glands and more. Many affected will be children and young people.
We've learned how in January 2001, the Indian organization Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) collected 25 samples of blood, fat, milk , vegetables, cashews, leaves, soil and water from Padre village in the highly affected Kasargod district of Kerala. The CSE report stated that all of the samples contained "alarmingly" high levels of endosulfan -- the first evidence that endosulfan entered into the environment and into human beings.
We've established the many harmful effects that endosulfan has had on humans. In Kerala, the local researchers say that this toxic chemical pesticide also destroys many natural predators of tea mosquitoes normally found on cashew trees, such as Gurugunji tree ants and spiders. Killing natural predators disrupts the cycle and delicate balance in nature needed for tea mosquito control in cashew production.
We're asking India to join with other countries who choose to act now on behalf of their people and the environment. Yes! Ban endosulfan and keep it banned. Already 10 countries worldwide banned Endosulfan including Colombia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Another 22 countries severely restrict its use.
Sincerely,
Mindy T. Sperling, Ph.D.
Interesting to see the struggle in the third world. I can only imagine how hard to educate people there, since here it is nearly impossible, here.
As that Canadian Sierra club member said, legislation is faster than education, when it comes to chemicals....whithout knowing too much about
the situation, the writer sounded so desperately alone in his struggles.....
cc
The USA should start to worry about the despair in these peoples stories, the gross wealth accumulated at the expense of their health gives rise to justifiable attacks on any American Interest as all Americans have an obligation to see their corporations do not use ignorance of complex chemicals use in foreign countries in ways not allowed at "home". This is easily translated into terrorism by stealth. I as a former American can vouch for intense feelings of hatred towards my former country and rightly so considering the test tube type treatment NZ has received during the 245T trials here previous to Vietnam, Dow has poisoned the NZ food chain permanently with 2378-TCDD and this could have been prevented as internal documents from Dow show a stern warning sent from head office 1963, with earlier communications to this effect being sent as early as 1960. The Globe is not Americas garden, it is shared with other people who are quite sick, literally of Americas selfish behavior, this behavior is personified in Paul Hellikers silence at accountability time, how many Paul Hellikers are ruining lives to protect incomes of the indifferent? Will they be surprised when "terror" comes their way? The Hellikers should be surprised terror slow or fast has not found them yet! I wait in angst and will cheer Mr. Hellikers death and hope he is true to name-Hell Liker! Cuz thats where he is headed.
Steve, Please forward to the jerk as I can't find his e-mail address
Don Sartan
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