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Living Farms seeks ban on Endosulfan
The city- based Living Farms opposed to use of chemical pesticides, has called for an immediate ban on the pesticide Endosulfan.
The pesticide belongs to the organochlorine group of pesticides, under the Cyclodiene subgroup.
Jagannath Chatarjee said it was introduced in the 1950's and in India has become a leading chemical used against pests in agriculture. It is used as an insecticide and also to kill fishes in lakes and rivers. It is not recommended for household use as it is known as a potent poison that can cause harm upon contact, eating food contaminated by it, swallowing and even inhaling the odour.
The chemical came into spotlight in India when at Kasargad in Kerala it was sprayed aerially and the local population of many villages was exposed to it. This led to physical and mental defects in poor farmers and their families.
Studies have shown endosulfan to accumulate in a mother's breast milk and it has been linked to appalling birth deformities. the like of which are still being observed at Kasargad, “Kerala's Bhopal”.
