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Unsafe pesticides are sold freely in India
We must tackle this
major health hazard
If we are what we eat, we are in for big trouble. Much of our
food and water is contaminated by a host of pesticides for
which no safety limits have been set. The consequences can be
devastating. Let's look at just three of the 40 most commonly
used pesticides in India. DDT causes liver cirrhosis,
endocrine and reproductive organ damage, among other things.
Endosulfan suppresses the immune system, affects the kidneys,
causes foetal disorders and increases the chances of cancer.
Lindane causes chronic liver disease. All of them cause
learning disabilities and diminished mental capacity in
children. So we should take serious note of the fact that very
few new and improved pesticides are being registered and that
we are making do with old ones with no clue as to what the
maximum residue limits (MRLs) are. This despite the fact that
99 percent of deaths from pesticide poisoning each year take
place in the developing countries.
Each day brings some new
horror to light. First, we found that the mineral water which
we believed to be totally safe contains high levels of toxic
matter. Now popular soft drinks are found to be contaminated.
The ministries of agriculture and health are at each other's
throats on how to handle and take ownership for the industry
data needed to set MRLs. The result — we are still to
ascertain how many pesticides are actually in use. The public
too is totally apathetic to such a serious issue. If the
developed countries are better off than us, it is also thanks
to vigilant consumers. Though few and far between, farmers who
have tried raising pesticide-free crops have reported
astonishing success. This should be popularised both by the
government and the media. Otherwise, the cost in terms of
damage to both the environment and our health will be simply
too high to bear.
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