ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF PESTISIDES IN VEGETABLE BELT
A STUDY CONDUCTED BY KHETI VIRASAT
IN MALERKOTLA AREA OF PUNJAB
PUNJAB: Pesticides taking away the prosperity and Health
Malerkotla –The formally princely town in district Sangrur of Punjab, with approximately population of 1 lack predominately industrial city known for its craftsmanship and artisans. In agriculture field it is also famous for its vegetable production. Malerkotla is a hub for about villages for agriculture production and vegetable production and these vegetables are mainly supplied to Manchester of Punjab i.e. Ludhiana.
From last few years the eating habits of urban class are changing fast and ‘off season’ vegetables are becoming popular day by day. These off-season vegetables are more prone to pest attack. There is famous saying in the area that cauliflower produced in the months of September to December may called as ‘Malathion-flower’ as it contains very high amount of deadliest pesticide Malathion along with Spark, Padan, acelex, ostathion, Malathion, methomly $0%sp, Choloropyriphos 50% + cypermethrin 5%, profenofos 50% Ec, curacron, coroban, monocil, pruacron+ ostathion, neurocombi, classic 20, novoluron 10%ec (rimon), avent, indozacarb 14.5 5 sc(fego), cypermethrin + hostathion, propargite 575 wettasui powder, EDNOSULPHAN. The use of pesticide -cocktail is the common phenomina in cotton belt but here in vegetable area the Kheti Virasat team came across the horrifying truth that vegetable growers are mixing three to four pesticides at a time to make super cocktail even they use to mix powdered pesticides. No agriculture extension worker or official is taking note of this. The vegetable grower farmers though knows very well that making this super cocktail is dangerous trend but due to heavy pest attack and pests becoming resistant to normal pesticides farmers are making their own ‘killer-pesticides’.
All these pesticides are belonging to different classes. And farmers are spraying these pesticides almost each second or third day but one thing is clear that every lot of vegetables grown in this area is sprayed one or another pesticides everyday.
As Kheti Virasat is working on issue on environmental heath in Punjab and taken up several studies regarding health impacts of pesticides in the continuation of these studies Kheti Virasat has taken up a brief study among the vegetable growth of Malerkotla area. This study was designed to check hazardous effect on health of great number of workers engaged to exposure of pesticides, this study has been conducted mainly focused on the exposure and health risks to farmers and pesticides applicators. During the study it was found that the most common symptoms were headache, skin irritation, stomach pain, vomiting, eye irritation, blurred vision and pesticide poisoning. These workers are unaware that these non-specific symptoms may indicate exposure to hazardous chemicals and they are at risk of developing more persistent effects. A significant minority of suffers experienced symptoms associated with insult to the nervous system- fatigue, difficulty in concentration, allergies and various problems of respiratory system. While having a look into their living standard, low economic was found with annual income only reaching to 10,000 to 20,000 Rs. So instead of rising the living standard pesticides only raised there expenditures. Hygienic conditions are also poor among hired workers. Tobacco addiction habit is very familiar in these workers that may be linked to low income, depression and tension. Females are too engaged in agriculture works. They show a large number of problems .A large number of genetic defects has been found in these peoples. Incidence of cancers of various types was high in these workers surprisingly. They tend to experience an increase in human reproductive diseases like infertility due to various reasons. Dichlorovos and Malathion are commonly used so visual impairments, breathing difficulty (asthma and allergies of upper respiratory tract) and weakness is very common. Lack of protective equipments was found among all workers, which may exacerbate hazards by prolonging the time during which pesticides are in contact with the skin. So dermatological exposure and inhalation while breathing is found to be quite common.
In the light of above informations pesticides can be explored as potential toxicant. Chronic effects thought to involve pesticides include carcinogens, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental effects.
As these farmers work on the fields throughout the year, thus, the population has rather uniform exposure conditions. So pesticides problem is a great threat to environment and ecology and is thus paying with health of communities. So owing to raise in the environmental hazards human health research programme should be raised and along with this they should be made aware about various harmful effects. Alternatives to pesticides should be the main concern of the time to save the humanity.
Kheti Virasat team experienced a very amazing fact during its visit to six villages.
VILLAGES POPULATION
1. Dalelgarh, 1500
2. Dugni, 2000
3. Ballamgarh, 2000
4. Binzo ke Kalan, 1200
5. Binzo ke khurd 2000
6. Basti Jamalpura(a part of Malerkota town)
These villages are adjoining to Malerkotla town of Sangrur district when noticed exceptionally high number of mental retired cased in these villages. All these villages are near Malerkotla. A number of vegetable grower families are living here. These families mostly grow cauliflower, brinjal, chilli, spinach, radish, tammato, lady-finger, gourd, cabbage, squash gourd and pumpkin etc. Most of them are from Muslim community. They are mostly landless and take lands for growing vegetables on annual contracts.
As interviewed most of there farmers own very little land and cultivate over hired lands. Maximum spraying is done on there vegetables, which consume a lot of money over pesticides. Due to these pesticides very common symptoms like headache, nausea, anxiety, high blood pressure, allergies of skin and upper respirary tract are much prevalent among them. Here 8 patients of down syndrome were found in Dalelgarh. Among this population there are so many cases of mental retire ness. Down syndrome cases were also found among this population. Two death cases with cancer were also noticed Dalelgarh.
In village Dugni the ill effects of pesticides were also seen over there. Here 12 children were found metal retired. 3 children from one family were found mental retired. In this village 3 couple were found childless. All these adverse effects are because of pesticides. In this village most of families are vegetable growers. These families also use pesticides in their fields. Even women also work in the fields during the time of plucking and removing weeds. So some effect on them is also expected.
Adverse effects of pesticides were also seen in Ballamgarh village. People living in this village are also related with vegetable growers. In this village Asthma was found in 10 children due to pesticides. 10 persons has permanent allergy from pesticides.
The Basti Jamalpur one of the area of Malerkotla town engaged in vegetable cultivation over maximum area. Though people of all communities reside over there mainly Muslim community is growing vegetables. As interviewed most of these farmers own very little land and cultivate over hired lands. Maximum spraying is done over these vegetables (after each second or third day) which consumes lot of money over pesticides. Annual income is of much lower graph and almost all belong to low socio-economic status. All these workers are unaware of use of protective measures to be used while spraying and thus a rise in the dermal exposure is their very common symptoms like headache, nausea, anxiety, high blood pressure, allergies of skin and upper respirary tract are much prevalent among them. Besides this some cases of infertility and 8 patient of down syndrome were observed. This high incidence may be due to inbreeding (Marriage with in the group or cousin marriage) prevalent in this community. Their main ancestral occupation is to grow vegetables and from last 40-50 years they are doing the same. Females too work in the fields during the time of plucking and removing weeds. So some effect on them is also expected.
AWARENESS LEVEL:
People living in above villages don’t use precautionary measures while using pesticides. They have never educated about precautions. They have no interaction with departments of agriculture so that they can educate about the harmfulness of pesticides. The use of pesticides is very high. Same the adverse effects has been seen due to use of pesticides. So people should educated about the proper use of pesticides. In these kind of areas NPM (No Pest Management) and bio pest control should be propagated with the support of voluntary agencies and organic farmers.
Thus Kheti Virasat proposes to promote cultivation of organic vegetables in the area and for this the awareness among the farmers is needed urgently. Kheti Virasat also feels that a detailed survey should be taken in area to know that actual status of pesticides consumption, its quantity, patterns, so called cocktail usage and its ecological and health impacts.
Kheti Virasat is also planning to undertake a series of tests including soil, water, vegetables, fodder, milk, other crops along with scientific and clinical tests in the area.
THE TEAM:
Surinder Singh ( Director: Kheti Virasat) and Dr.Raminderjit Kaur
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