Pesticides have serious caused health hazards:ICRA.

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PESTICIDES have failed to thwart pest invasion, caused health hazards:ICRAhttp://www.financialexpress.com/news/Pesticides-have-failed-to-thwart-pest-invasion-caused-health-hazards-ICRA/285214/0ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Monday , March 17, 2008 at 2003 hrs ISTNew Delhi, Mar 16 A study done by ICRA has said that though chemicalpesticides have contributed to India's growing food production, theyhave also paved the way for serious outbreaks of pests and diseases aswell as damage to bio-diversity and the environment. (ICRA Ltd is areputed consultancy and rating firm, an associate of Moody's InvestorsService).Despite the use of pesticides, pest outbreaks continue in many cropsand many pests like bollworms and whitefly

in cotton, brownplanthopper in rice, Spodoptera litura in groundnut have developedmanifold resistance due to indiscriminate use of pesticides..It said that laboratory studies show that pesticides can cause healthproblems like birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effectsthat might occur over a long period of time.The study further said, "More than 80% of milk samples tested in Indiawere found to contain residues of DDT and HCH. According to anotherstudy, the residue of DDT and benzene hexachloride, both suspectedcarcinogens, were found in breast milk samples collected from mothersin Punjab. The amount of residue was very high and babies wereingesting 21 times the amount of these chemicals consideredacceptable, through their mother's milk. Pesticide residues have oftenbeen detected in most parts of the country in food grains, vegetables,fruits,

oils, feed and fodder, and fibre."According to the study about 72% of the food samples showed a presenceof pesticide residues within tolerance level and in 25% samples theywere above the tolerance levels. BHC and DDT residues have beendetected in the milk samples including human milk. Similarly, theresidues of these two pesticides have also been found in egg andspices. Residues of other pesticides like organophosphorous,carbomates, synthetic pyrethroids, organochlorine pesticides such asAldrin, Dieldrin, Chlordane, Lindane, Endosulphan have also beenfound. "This indicates the seriousness of pesticide residue hazardsprevailing in the country," the ICRA study said.The ICRA study made out a case for bio-pesticides and said, "They areinherently less harmful, more target-specific than chemical pesticidesaffecting only the target pests and their close relatives. Incontrast, chemical

pesticides often destroy friendly insects, birds,and mammals. Bio-pesticides are often effective in small quantitiesand they decompose quickly and do not leave problematic residues."The study said that with growing awareness about the ill effects ofchemical pesticides, coupled with the introduction of integrated pestmanagement in different crops, and cultivation of Bt cotton (???), there hasbeen a marked reduction in the use of chemical pesticides."Responding to the slowdown in domestic demand, production alsodeclined from 95.3 thousand tonne in 2000 to an estimated 84.7thousand tonne in 2007. However, the production has still been inexcess of domestic demand. As a result, the Indian pesticide industryhas increasingly resorted to exports over the past few years. Exportvolumes of pesticides have increased from 40.7 thousand tonne in 2000to 110.7 thousand tonne in 2007. However, unit export

realisationshave declined because of the depressed state of world pesticidesdemand and increased competition caused because of excess capacities,"the ICRA study said....-------

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