Anti-Endosulfan Campaign

One of the campaigns launched through activists is footed on absolutely misleading information. It is a piece of ‘gang work’ which appears to have been sponsored by competing companies who may be interested in promoting their high-priced patented products by way of wrongfully replacing off-patent products. There are several individuals and organisations involved in this gang work.

Mohan Kumar who practices medicine in Padre village had been observing certain abnormalities such as cancer, CNS related diseases, impaired mental functions etc. among some people of the village. He linked each and every abnormality with an off-patent product ‘Endosulfan’.

US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has classified Endosulfan under class ‘E’, which is a class of non-carcinogenic substances. Check it yourself at
( http://www.epa.gov/ost/fishadvice/volume1/v1appg.pdf ). This has been concluded by US EPA based on several tests conducted in this regard.

The same has also been concluded by many others. “The highest tolerated dose of Endosulfan did not cause increased incidence of tumors in mice over 18 months, and a later study also showed no evidence of carcinogenic activity in mice or rats [2,52]. It appears that endosulfan is not carcinogenic”
( http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/endosulf.htm ).

Of course, all substances including pesticides are toxic beyond a particular dose. Over exposure to Endosulfan causes hyperactivity, tonic contractions, involuntary muscle movements, pronounced sensitivity to noise and light, incoordination, seizures and convulsions, etc. http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/endosulfan/endosulfan_summary.pdf
Therefore, while using Endosulfan, instructions on the product label should be followed. One is advised not to ignore the instructions on the label.

There are several other factors prevalent in Kerala, which are known to produce ill-effects such as still birth, brain damage, impaired school performance, retarded physical development etc. Such factors could be iodine deficiency, consanguineous marriages, malnourishment etc.

Iodine is a constituent of thyroid hormone, which is essential for normal physical development as well as development of brain. Deficiency of thyroid hormone leads to severe retardation of growth and maturation of almost all organ systems. Iodine deficiency disorder has been described as the world’s single-most significant cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation.

The iodine deficiency disorder was highly prevalent in India. An easy way to control iodine deficiency disorder is by use of iodized salt. To overcome the problem, Government of India took a decision to adopt ‘universal iodization of salt’ in the country. It was made mandatory that only iodized salt should be sold for food purpose.

By 1996, almost all state governments, except Kerala, had issued ban notification on sale of non-iodized salt for food purpose. Kerala government could not issue such notification because of resistance from activists. Here is an example of their reaction against the ban. “Banning non-iodized salt is a WHO-sponsored multinational scientific conspiracy to poison us. There are other health problems like anemia and malaria which affect our country more than goiter.” For more details, visit http://krpcds.org/w41.pdf

Another most important factor responsible for the said ill-effects alleged to have been caused by Endosulfan, is in fact consanguineous marriages taking place in those villages i.e., marriage between two relatives who share common ancestor. There is an overwhelming possibility of consanguineous parents having an unhealthy child. Survey results from many sources have identified a linkage between consanguinity and spontaneous abortion and other health complications in children. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, consanguineous marriages are considered to be void marriages.

Surprisingly, in spite of being a medical practitioner, it never occurred to Mohan Kumar that the said ill-effects in Kasargod could have been caused by such factors. He linked all ill-effects, whatsoever, only with Endosulfan. He did not make even an attempt to consider any other factor responsible for the said ill-effects. Mohan Kumar jumped to the conclusion that the insecticide is the culprit. Moreover, whenever he could not diagnose a disease, he linked the symptoms with endosulfan. Instead of treating poor patients for their diseases, he is misleading them.

Mr. Shree Padre of Kerala, along with Mohan Kumar initiated a campaign against Endosulfan. The said campaign was neither based on sound logic nor on scientific principles. Both of them visited the village and conducted slide-shows on alleged ill effects of Endosulfan, showing pictures of patients suffering from various abnormalities such as cancer, congenital abnormalities etc., despite the fact that Endosulfan is not carcinogenic.

Mohan Kumar wrote a letter to Centre For Science and Environment (CSE), which is a Delhi based NGO, about high incidences of cancer deaths and deformities in the village.

CSE carried out various tests and obtained results which were obviously contrary to the scientifically determined properties of Endosulfan. CSE published these faulty results on its website

CSE found up to 8.95 ppm Endosulfan II in filtered water sample from Kasargod. However, Solubility of Endosulfan II at room temperature is only 0.33 ppm

Thus CSE found 27.12 times higher amount of Endosulfan compared to its actual solubility in water !!

To show that the area where Endosulfan is used is highly contaminated with this insecticide, CSE has reported as high as 161.08 ppm of Endosulfan in blood sample, and the person is still alive!! http://www.cseindia.org/html/lab/lab_pesticide_analysis_result_kasargod.htm
However, this is not possible. First and foremost, Endosulfan undergoes hydrolysis i.e., it degrades in presence of water. Secondly, it is highly improbable that the concentration of Endo in blood can build up to this high level. In one post-mortem report of 5 persons who were accidentally exposed to very high levels of Endosulfan, blood of these victims of fatal accident showed a concentration of 0.199 ppm. It shows that CSE has exaggerated matter to the extent that it reported a concentration up to 161.08 ppm of Endosulfan in blood sample of persons which are still alive. Even if this result of CSE is assumed to be true, it only indicates that Endosulfan is less toxic than reported in the literature.
Russell et al. have discovered an enzyme which degrades Endosulfan (patent application WO 03104271). Endosulfan cannot be regarded as persistent organic pollutant as it undergoes degradation by soil microorganisms. Endosulfan is degradable by soil microorganisms. As many as 16 soil fungi, 15 soil bacteria and 3 actinomycetes were found to degrade Endosulfan, as reported way back in 1976 (Rainer et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 1976, p. 853-858). In comparison with the majority of other chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, Endosulfan is readily degraded in both plant and animal systems.

The mistakes in results of tests carried out and published by CSE were brought to the notice of the Director of CSE, Ms. Sunita Naraian, but she had a willful disregard to accept the facts and correct her mistakes. She seems to be a determined evildoer. Instead of correcting her mistakes, she made and published dirty allegations against the manufacturers of Endosulfan.

What could be the reason behind such behavior? If the objective of CSE and its activist Director is to work in public interest and to protect the Environment, why they are launching campaign which, to the best of their knowledge, is footed on misleading information ??