Enodosulfan- History, Controversies and Ban
Nowadays we are hearing a lot about Enosulfan in newspaper and other Medias. What is actually this? Where this story starts from?History
Endosulfan is a off patent insecticide. A highly controversial agrichemical, due to it's high toxicity it is banned in 63 countries including European union, Australia, New Zealand and other Asian nations. But still widely used in India and china.
Endosulfan has been used in agriculture around the world to control insect pests including whiteflies, aphids, leafhoppers, Colorado potato beetles and cabbage worms.
Health effects
Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides on the market today, responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world. Endosulfan is also a
Xenoestrogen—a synthetic substance that imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens—and it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans.
Controversy
In Kerala, Kasaragod district Endosulfan had been in use for more than two decades. Endosulfan was the only pesticide applied to cashew plantations in district for 20 years and had contaminated the village environment. Subsequent governments knew about this, but they have done nothing so far.
Chief Minister of Kerala V.S Achuthanandan went on a fast on April 26 of this month to ban this in India.
Status of India Government
India is the largest user of this pesticide. After all these environmental hazards PM Manmohan singh is still resisting not banning Endosulfan nationwide stating that only Kerala and Karnataka is having problem with that. It needed more detailed study before banning completely. Although many environmental studies including Salim Ali Foundation proved that Endosulfan is a treat to biodiversity it seems prayer in deaf years. It may be too late for ban if after study we banned it. Are we going face yet another Bhopal Tragedy? This time we know this happen. Currently most of nations support ban of Endosulfan in Stockholm Convention. But now India government had a stand taking Kerala as a special case a study should be conducted which will be completed in three years after that decision of ban should be taken.
