Continuing Disaster Of Endosulfan
In Kasargod And Kannur Districts Of Kerala
By VT Padmanabhan
01 February, 2011
Countercurrents.org
Between 1976 and 2000, more than 50,000 villagers of Kasargod district in Kerala, India have been exposed to endosulfan, a persistent organic pesticide, sprayed on the cashew plantations owned by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala. The routes of exposure were
(a) through nose and skin for those who are under the cloud
(b) through water and foods – grains, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and meat
(c) through drink from fenny (alcohol) distilled from cashew fruits – mostly adult males
(d) secondary exposures through placenta and breast milk
Most of the exposures occurred through food and drinks. Only about 10,000 people living inside the plantations or close to the periphery were exposed aerially. Aerial exposure was confined to a few hours in a year, till the vapour remains suspended in the air. Aerially exposed people were also exposed through other routes.
More than 3000 people living near, downstream and downwind of the estate were affected by debilitating rare diseases like mental retardation, cerebral palsy, cancer etc. In response to the peoples’ agitation, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) mandated the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) to investigate the issue in 2001. NIOH observed that “aerial exposure” to endosulfan was responsible for delay in sexual maturity among the adolescents. In the final report submitted to NHRC and the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, NIOH categorically stated that they did not see any serious diseases like cancer or mental retardation in the villages they went. They recommended a detailed epidemiological study and long term monitoring for cancers of the endocrine system in the affected villages.
This study has not been initiated so far. Aerial spraying of endosulfan has been banned since 2000. It appears that NHRC did not study the report. Without doing their minimum homework, they have been making radical demands like payment of Rs 500,000 to all victims and setting up of specialist hospitals exclusively for the endosulfan. Rather than helping the victims, such radicals postures will only harm their interests.
The claim for compensation by the victims has not been settled so far. The state government has been providing some monetary relief, out of budgetary allocation. A public interest litigation seeking a final decision on the compensation and free medical treatment of the affected people is pending in the High Court of Kerala. NHRC, the Government of Kerala, the anti-POP activists and victims support groups and large sections of the local media believe that the link between endosulfan exposure and the epidemic unfolding in Kasargod villages has been established. In the absence of a detailed epidemiological study, the cases for compensation of the victims and a permanent ban of the molecule will be lost.
A detailed review of NIOH paper is available at
http://endosulfan.wordpress.com/
The author is an independent analyst and has conducted/participated in the following studies:
Brief biography
1. Study of genetic effects among 70,000 people living in coastal villages of Kollam and Alapuzha. Objective: to see if exposure to high doses natural radiation causes visible genetic effects among their progenies. Results – positive. Published in International Journal for Health Services
2. Study of growth pattern of children born to survivors of Bhopal accident. Exposed parents’ children born several years after the accident suffered significantly. Journal of American Medical Association.
3. Study of occupational health of workers exposed to ionizing radiation in the Aluva plant of the Indian Rare Earths. High rate of cancer and genetic disorders. Economic and Political Weekly
4. Study of birth of children born in Plachimada before 5 years and after 5 years of CocaCola Bottling plant. Mean reduction of 200 gm in birth weight. High Power Committee appointed by the Government of Kerala
5. Study of radioactive burden to river Periyar and the Arabian Sea by the Indian Rare Earth’s thorium milling facility at Eloor, Economic and Political Weekly
6. Study of occupational health of workers in Gwalior Rayon’s viscose rayon plant at Nagda in Madhyapradesh – Published in EPW and PUCL.
7. Study of goitre and auto-immune thyroiditis among women in reproductive age groups living in the ‘local area’ of the Madras Atomic Power Plant – under consideration for publication
8. Study of cancer and genetic effects among the scientists and workers of three nuclear power plants in India – under publication
9. Review of official genetic studies conducted among the survivors of atom bombs in Hiroshima- Nagasaki – under editorial consideration
10. Review of death due to cancer and other diseases among the survivors of atom bombs – being submitted.
11. Study of climate change mitigation potential in organic farming. This ongoing study is looking into soil carbon sequestration in organic and non-organic farms in three Indian states.
12. Impacts of nuclear weapons tests on global climate - ongoing.
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