Census disproves Kasargod’s high disability myth

Kalathil Ramakrishnan
Express News Service
Last Updated : 26 Nov 2011 12:18:15 PM IST

KASARGOD: Here is a good news for the people of Kasargod who are supposed to suffer from various diseases. The widespread propaganda that the district is hit by various diseases now stands exposed by the first report on disability which was published as per the Census of the government of India, 2001.

There was a hue and cry in the district by various environmental organisations that the people of the district suffered from various ailments when the data was being collected by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India in 2001. The latest disability data as per the Census of 2011 is yet to be published.
In the case of disabled population, the district has only 24 disabled persons per thousand.

The high percentage of disability is reported from Kollam and Idukki districts where the disability rate is 32 per thousand followed by Alappuzha (30 per cent)Pathanamthitta and Thiruvanandapuram (29 per cent) each. The disability data for Kozhikode district is 28 per thousand, Kottayam 28 and Kannur 24 per thousand.
According to the Census report, the movement disability is only seven per thousand in Kasargod, but it is higher with nine per thousand each in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta .

Mental disability is lowest in Kasargod district with only three per thousand, but it is higher in most of the districts recording five per thousand.
As per the Census report, seeing disability is also lowest in Kasargod with nine per thousand. It is the highest in Idukki with 14 per thousand. But hearing disability is three per thousand in Kasargod with other districts recording more or less the same figure.

Source: http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala/census-disproves-kasargod%E2%80%99s-high-disability-myth/337261.html

Endosulfan Study: Facts and Fallacies

Dr. K. M. Sreekumar*
Dr. K. Divakaran Prathapan**
* Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Padannakkadu
* Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Vellayani.

Fifth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Stockholm Convention held at Geneva in April 2011 has decided to add endosulfan to the United Nations’ list of persistent organic pollutants to be eliminated worldwide1. Endosulfan, a widely used insecticide, is targeted for elimination from the global market by 2012. Health problems in Kasaragod District in Kerala, where endosulfan was aerially sprayed for two decades, was the focal point of an international campaign that culminated in the global ban of the insecticide2. Circumstances link the alleged health problems in Kasaragod District in Kerala to the aerial application of endosulfan. The Achuthan Commission and the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH)3 that studied the issue, in 2001 and 2002 respectively, recommended a detailed epidemiological survey in the area. The epidemiological survey that was recommended by the expert committees was conducted only in 2010. This study was undertaken by the Calicut Medical College (CMC) under the Chief Investigatorship of Drs T. Jayakrishnan, C. Prabhakumari and Thomas Bina. The report of the study was published by the Centre for Science and Environment on their website and this critique is based on that publication4

Methodological issues
The CMC (Calicut Medical College) study is a comparison of the health problems of 1000 families of Bovikkanam in Muliyar Panchayath affected by the pesticide application with that of 850 families in Banam in Kodom-Belur Panchayath where no pesticide was applied. However, the people of Bovikkanam and Banam are not comparable as they are dissimilar socially and economically. The Muslim population in North Malabar are socio-economically backward5. The population of muslims in Banam is only 15% where as that of Bovikanam is 45%. This difference reflects in the food habits as well as the health and educational status of the people in these areas. A well designed study based on adequate number of representative samples would have yielded unequivocal and conclusive results.

Kasaragod is internationally known through the heart rending images of mentally challenged children carried by the print and visual media. Yet the published report of the study does not include such individuals, whose number can be exactly recorded. Endosulfan residues in the blood plasma of 41 subjects from 11 panchayaths were analyzed. However, no attempt was made to compare these values with those from the reference population, which is intriguing. Thus it is impossible to make comparisons and draw valid conclusions with regard to this important parameter under study. The various parameters of health studied were not properly defined. For example, there are many types of liver diseases including infective jaundice. It is not clear which types of liver diseases were included. Without providing working definition for a parameter, it cannot be studied clearly.

The conclusions of the CMC study are largely based on subjective parameters. The information gathered is mainly based on memory recall by the subjects. No effort was made to cross check this information with other easily available documented facts. For example, death and birth data is documented in the panchayath offices, which is a reliable source of information to study any possible change in the demographic pattern. Similarly, local veterinary hospitals record unnatural death in cattle. Banks and insurance companies too have a data base of morbidity and mortality in cattle as they pay compensation. No attempt was made to make use of such readily available information. The study was conducted at the peak of propaganda by the local Punchiri Club and the visual media. Hence it is highly probable that the responses of the subjects were biased and hence the inferences of the study are erroneous and misleading.

The reproductive health events in women above 30 years (whose reproductive period was during the period of aerial spraying) have been compared with those in women aged below 30 years (whose reproductive period started after the cessation of the aerial spraying). This study had been
designed to assess plausible improvement in the reproductive health of women following withdrawal of endosulfan application. The study report has specified that data on the reproductive heath events in all married women in the study area were collected. However, women are literally transplanted into the family of their husbands following marriage, under the Indian family system, for which Kasaragod is no exemption. This means, at least a section of the women studied by the CMC researchers were living outside the study area with their parents during the period of application of the insecticide. Similarly, many housewives in Banam (unsprayed reference area) are likely married into their respective families from the neighboring sprayed areas. This simple social reality is strong enough to contort the whole data and inferences on reproductive health events in women, as evidently the study is based on a mixture of subjects from both exposed and unexposed areas. Generally, a high proportion of young married men in muslim families in Muliyar work in gulf countries. As a result of the long spell of separation of couples, chances of conception are less and it is common that such couples seek infertility treatment. This is a strong factor that would distort the results of the study on the reproductive health of women as well as their infertility rates. Moreover, the data on reproductive health problems during the period of pesticide application (1980-2000) was never statistically compared with the same during the decade after cessation of the pesticide application.

Read more at https://sites.google.com/site/tokauorg/home/voice

Endosulfan Scam

Relief eludes many Endosulfan victims
By Sudipto Mondal
The Hindu, March 20, 2010

"For instance, a 25-year-old man who lost his fingers in dynamite explosion has been given compensation. The list, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, also has several persons who were born with congenital disorders much before the pesticide spray began."

“How can those born 60, 70 or 80 years ago with birth defects have suffered because of endosulfan which was sprayed around 25 years ago?” asked a doctor.

However, the former Minister and MLA Shobha Karandlaje said: “Only genuine sufferers have been compensated.”

Patients Insist Docs to Enroll them in Endosulfan Victims' List
By Kalathil Ramakrishnan
New Indian Express 19 July 2011

Government doctors in the Endosulfan sprayed villages are facing acute pressure from patients suffering from various diseases who insist that they may be enrolled in the endosulfan victims' list.
The Endosulfan Nodal Cell has included as many as 300 diseases in the endosulfan category. Diseases which are commonly found are included in the endosulfan list.

Health disorders in Kerala are due to iodine deficiency

National Surveys indicate that Health disorders in Kerala are due to

Iodine Deficiency

Iodine Deficiency Disorder [IDD] has been described as the world’s single-most significant cause of “preventable” brain damage and mental retardation. Symptoms of iodine deficiency include goiter, nodules within goiter, pregnency related problems such as miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery and congenital abnormalities in babies. Children of mothers with severe iodine deficiency during pregnency can have mental retardation, problems with growth, hearing and speech, cretinism[1], increased head circumference, horse cry, low intelligence etc. Iodine deficiency leads to severe retardation of growth and maturation of almost all organ systems[2].

A national survey in India shows that the percentage of population consuming salt with less than recommended iodine was very high in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu, respectively[3]. Urinary Iodine Excretion level [UIE] gave unmistakable evidence that there is indeed iodine deficiency.

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. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act [PFA], 1954 was amended and the sale of non-iodated salt was banned under PFA to ensure the use of iodated salt for human consumption for the entire country.

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.”

---

[1] Cretinism is a term used to describe the state of physical and mental retardation resulting from untreated congenital hypothyroidism usually due to iodine deficiency since birth.

[2] http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/iodine_deficiency.html#symptoms

[3] Monitoring of Quality of Iodised Salt to Prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Increase Production of Iodised Salt through Networking of Medical Colleges in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry States of India, 2002. Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029.

No health problems linked to exposure to Endosulfan: committee

Ahmedabad, Apr 21 (PTI) The report of the eleven-member committee constituted by the Gujarat government to evaluate the safety aspects of pesticide ''Endosulfan'' has concluded that there are no health problems associated with exposure to Endosulfan, official sources said.

Karnataka decision on Endosulfan not based on Science

Endosulfan is not carcinogenic. US EPA has classified Endosulfan under Group-E (Evidence of non-carcinogenicity). (see below the image of original document from US EPA)

Dr Andrew McKenzie, Executive Director of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority said “The claim that endosulfan, among other pesticides, is a carcinogen is just plain wrong,” “While no-one can be 100% certain about anything, endosulfan has been specifically tested for carcinogenic potential and the World Health Organisation, United Nations Environment Programme and International Labour Organisation categorically state that endosulfan does not show any such potential. Equally any other chemical used in food production is extensively evaluated for safety to humans. Raising concerns of this sort for people, where no cause for them exists, is irresponsible,” said Dr McKenzie. “It is very difficult to counter the worries this will raise for people, and is particularly upsetting when we know the statement is patently untrue”.
Source:
http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2006-03-03.htm

Endosulfan

Maslow's theory of hierarchy of needs is very relevant in understanding psychology of activists.

According to Maslow, human needs can be presented in form of a five-level pyramid with the most basic needs at the bottom of the pyramid and highest level needs at the top.

5. self-actualization (morality, creativity, achievement etc.)

4. esteem

3. belongingness

2. safety

1. physiological needs (food, clothing, shelter)

As per Maslow's theory, people will first try to satisfy their physiological i.e., lowest level needs such as food, clothing, shelter etc. Once the lowest order need is satisfied, they will try to satisfy higher level needs such as safety and belongingness. Once that is satisfied, they will think of esteem. And finally, when all lower order needs are satisfied, they will think of self-actualization.

This theory is applicable to activists. More particularly in developing countries like India, there is a problem of unemployment. To start with something, activists accept funds for campaigning. Sacrificing morality, they come out with tailor-made unscientific reports. Once they get addicted, they want to make a quick-buck through funded campaigns.

There is also a rush to claim "compensation" for which people try to prove that they are "endosulfan victims". Some politicians distribute funds to such victims despite the fact that the expert committee appointed by the government has concluded that there is no link between alleged health effects and Endosulfan.

Endosulfan on Wikipedia

Wikipedia - "the free encyclopedia" carries an article on Endosulfan. It is well known that activists love to hate Endosulfan, but how they make use of such free resources like wikipedia is really amazing. Try to add scientific information in the Endosulfan article on wikipedia and you will be surprized as the uploaded information will be deleted very soon. Activists are hired to monitor and use free resources such as wikipedia.

Down To Earth [DTE] Publishes Unscientific Articles

Down To Earth publishes unscientific articles on Endosulfan. This magazine has also published in past a lab report on analysis of Endosulfan carried out by Centre For Science and Environment [CSE] lab. In said report, CSE has reported amount of Endosulfan 27 times higher than its scientifically established solubility in filtered water. Study conducted by CSE was funded by European Union. Activists

If such horror story entertains you, there is another one at http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/32919
Another Kasaragod
Author(s): Savvy Soumya Misra
Issue: Jan 31, 2011

The article starts with "Like Kerala’s Kasaragod, neighbouring Dakshina Kannada is bearing the brunt of spraying of endosulfan. While Kasaragod grabbed media spotlight and Kerala banned the pesticide, victims in Karnataka are still struggling for recognition"

The expert committee constituted by Government categorically concluded that there is no link between Endosulfan and alleaged health effects in Kasargod.

Now desparate attempts are made through DTE magazine to deceive public. The article states:

"If one cannot prove endosulfan as a causative factor, one cannot disprove it either."

Media has selectively picked up only such horror sensationalizing stories which are not based on science.

HIL workers at Kerala Endosulfan plant seek probe into NIOH study

Over 300 workers from the Hindustan Insecticides Limited plant manufacturing Endosulfan near Kochi at Kerala organised a rally today to oppose the unscientific approach adopted by environmental NGOs to seek ban on Endosulfan. HIL workers emphasized an investigation into the flaws observed in the study which was released by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH).

The workers demanded that their own experience and the farmers’ experience be taken into consideration as they work with the pesticide Endosulfan. Endosulfan was manufactured and used for more than 50 years across the world and continues to be in use in many countries without any ill effects to humans or environment. The fact that the workers who are handling endosulfan since so many years have not suffered from any ill effects is enough evidence that alleged health effects in Kerala are not caused by endosulfan.

There are over 6000 workers employed in the manufacturing of Endosulfan in various plants of India and 400 of these workers are employed in the HIL plant.

A rally was also organised by over 3000 people including workers at endosulfan plant of Excel Crop Care Bhavnagar and their family members demanding probe into NIOH report. Workers conveyed "we, our family members and our generations are healthy" implying that allegations on endosulfan are scientifically untrue but political in nature.

Endosulfan likely to be re-introduced in some countries where it is currently banned

As some “alternatives” to Endosulfan have caused Colony Collapse Disorder in honeybees, re-introduction of Endosulfan is being considered. Endosulfan has relatively low toxicity to many species of beneficial insects, mites and spiders (that is, ones which prey upon or parasites and damaging insect pests). More importantly, it is soft to honeybees.

Even in Europe where Endosulfan is currently banned, some of the member states had to authorize placing of Endosulfan on market under unavoidable circumstances for a controlled use.

Fungus isolated from Endosulfan applied soil degrades dieldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, DDT, and DDE

Scientists from Japan have isolated fungus Mucor racemosus strain DDF from a soil to which endosulfan had been annually applied for more than 10 years. Strain DDF degraded not only dieldrin but also heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, DDT, and DDE. These results suggest that strain DDF could be a candidate for the bioremediation of sites contaminated with various persistent organochlorine pesticides including POPs.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20704234

Environ Sci Technol. 2010 Aug 15;44(16):6343-6349.

EFFECT OF ENDOSULFAN ON SOIL RESPIRATION

A peer reviewed article is published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 138:181-188. Publication Date: June 16, 2010

A field study was initiated at the United States Department of Agriculture, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, FL to examine the effects of endosulfan on soil respiration. Treatments were repeated four times and the study continued over three growing seasons. Respiration from bare soil was similar to that from fields planted to snap bean implying soil microbes were the dominant source of CO2 compared to root respiration.

Endosulfan applications resulted in inconsistent increases in soil respiration. Increases were short-lived. By the end of the study soil respiration was higher in endosulfan treated than untreated plots. Endosulfan had a short-lived inhibitory effect on soil fungi, but bacteria increased in number in response to endosulfan applications.

It is concluded that some bacterial species decomposed the endosulfan and rapidly multiplied causing the increase bacterial colony count. In general there were no adverse effects of endosulfan on soil respiration.

SOURCE: http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=241192

Endosulfan EPA Proposal _ Grower's Views

EPA’s proposed actions to ban Endosulfan could have a significant effect on Arizona vegetable and melon growers because of the cost-effective insect control benefits provided by the timely use of endosulfan. Endosulfan is very important in IPM programs because of its broad spectrum, quick knockdown contact activity against the adult life stage of several insect species including whiteflies, aphids, thrips, flea beetles, bagrada bugs, etc.

Although many new alternatives have been claimed to become available over the past several years, most of these active ingredients have very narrow activity against specific insect species and their life stages.

"Endosulfan will be particularly missed in the desert on fall melons, where to date endosulfan combinations have provided the adult whitefly control necessary to reduce cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus infection.
Contact Palumbo: (928) 782-3836 or jpalumbo@ag.arizona.edu "

http://westernfarmpress.com/vegetables/arizona-vegetable-ipm-update-0618/

Endosulfan Pesticides US EPA

Scott Rawlins, MANA director of global governmental and industry relations said that key uses of Endosulfan are still eligible for re-registration. "However, given the fact that the endosulfan market is quite small and the cost of developing and submitting additional data high, we have decided to voluntarily negotiate an agreement with EPA that provides growers with an adequate time frame to find alternatives for the damaging insect pests currently controlled by endosulfan," Rawlins said.

http://www.farmchemicalsinternational.com/news/cropprotection/?storyid=2599

Why Endosulfan is soft to bees and beneficial insects?

Many species of beneficial insects and bees can detoxify Endosulfan due to Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) system. This system conjugates the molecule of Endosulfan to glutathione and hence it is not available for binding with the target GABA receptors. Luckily, Glutathione-S-Transferase system has either low or no activity in target pests. Thus, use of Endosulfan presents advantage of being effective to target pest, but at the same time, it is soft to bees and beneficial insects.

Minister’s Journey From Cabinet to Endosulfan

According to a report in the newspaper “The Hindu”, the former Karnataka Minister for Rural Development Ms. Shobha Karandlaje was forced to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet. http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article76803.ece

She has taken up a new role as a leader of a campaign for a nationwide ban on endosulfan. According to the newspaper, Ms. Shobha Karandlaje said that people in the Puttur and Belthangdi taluks were suffering from cancer, diseases affecting the central nervous system, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, eye problems and impotency, all of which could be linked to the use of the pesticide.

Endosulfan is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic. In fact there is an evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans and hence Endosulfan is classified under Class-E by US Environment Protection Agency (US EPA).

Endosulfan is being used in many countries including Australia, India and USA. This is because it is soft to bees and beneficial insects and it is important in integrated pest management. It is also effective in resistance management. Moreover, Endosulfan is an off-patent generic molecule available to farmer at an affordable price.

Evaluation of Suggestions

Endosulfan is an off-patent, generic pesticide available to farmers at an affordable price. Since the product is off-patent, there cannot be any monopoly, as a result of which it is available to farmers at a low price.

Endosulfan is a molecule effective on target pests and at the same time, it is soft to non-target beneficial insects and bees. It is also useful in pesticide resistance management and very useful in IPM programmes. This has made Endosulfan very popular among farmers. Those who have used it in an “appropriate manner” are benefited.

No other molecule exhibits all advantages of Endosulfan, considering effectiveness and economic feasibility.

If Endosulfan is not available, farmers will have to use more than one products, and that too in larger proportion to achieve an equivalent effectiveness. Moreover, since the other products will have to be used in a comparatively much larger proportion, it will in fact add to environmental load.

The activists who propose to ban Endosulfan have not evaluated effectiveness and economic feasibility of alternatives. They simply say that there are alternatives to Endosulfan, but they have not even evaluated them.

Activists also suggest that we can do without any pesticide. This is not feasible at the scale required to be handled. If this was possible, farmers would not have used pesticides as it only adds to cost. Needless to say, what number of people are to be provided with adequate food?

Activists are benefited by giving such suggestions. There are companies/organizations which provide funds for such activities. All done at the cost of farmers and those who struggle for food.

ENDOSULFAN ON INDIA TV NEWS CHANNEL

IndiaTV news channel is broadcasting rumours that Endosulfan causes cancer.

Endosulfan is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic. In fact there is an evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans and hence Endosulfan is classified under Class-E by US Environment Protection Agency (US EPA).

Given below are reviews about IndiaTV channel. Click on the links to read full reviews.

"this channel is a nonsense, sensationalizing, fake, BAAKWAS, rubbish, anti Indian, unreal, silly newschannel"

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/India_TV-170667-1.html

"They don't have sense of responsible news"

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/India_TV-151190-1.html

"Most Pathetic, Bogus & Unreal news channel"

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/India_TV-149332-1.html

"One of the worst, unreliable and frustrating tv"

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/India_TV-149163-1.html

"Ridiculous news channel"

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/India_TV-149005-1.html

Endosulfan_Ongoing Controversy

National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), an organisation under ICMR carried out study and submitted a report titled “Final Report of the Investigation of Unusual Illnesses Allegedly Produced by Endosulfan Exposure in Padre Village of Kasargod District (N. Kerala)” to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). NIOH report mentions weaknesses of all earlier reports.

However, NIOH report itself is also erroneous as given below.

Flaws in NIOH Report include following:

• Limit of quantification is not determined.
• Values fall much below even the detection limit.
• Linearity and range thereof i.e., calibration curve is not established.
• No data related to recovery of analyte.
• No direct confirmation of results of analysis.
• Replicate sample determination and precision not given.
• Very high standard deviation implies that data is highly skewed and most of the values fall below detection limit.

NIOH Report is available at following link:

http://chm.pops.int/Portals/0/docs/Responses_on_Annex_E_information_for_endosulfan/PANandIPEN_090108_Endosulfan%20Kerala%20NIOH%202003.pdf

An evaluation of earlier reports (also published in NIOH report) is given below:

Dr. Mohana Kumar Y S, a physician practicing in the area since 1982, used to keep record of the cases coming to his clinic for treatment. His record as published in Down to Earth Magazine (28th February 2001) is as follows:

Given below is a List of confirmed cases of various diseases as reported by Dr. Y. S. Mohankumar.

Disease & No. of Cases
Cancer 49
Mental retardation 23
Congenital anomalies 9
Psychiatric cases 43
Epilepsy 23
Suicide 9
Total* 156
Total (by January 26)** 197
NOTE: * - cases counted by January 5, 2001 **- break-up not available

In report by Mohankumar, only the number of persons suffering from diseases such as congenital malformations, cancers, psychiatric illnesses etc. without referring to the denominator (i.e. out of how many) was reported. These diseases also occur with varying frequency in general population. Hence their occurrence does not indicate exposure to unusual causative factor unless, the excessive incidence/prevalence compared to other similar population is proved. Therefore to establish the higher prevalence/incidence of any disease one must include control (reference) population in the study and then compare prevalence/incidence of various diseases.

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

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/insect-mite/ddt famphur/endosulfan/insect-prof-endosulfan.html

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

CSE scientists also analysed biological and environmental samples for Endosulfan residues. Very high levels of Endosulfan were reported in samples of human blood, human milk, vegetables, spices, cow’s milk, animal tissues, cashew, cashew leaves and soil. It is not possible to sustain with so much of Endosulfan in blood and hence it shows that there is an obvious error in analysis.

Quantitative estimation of Endosulfan levels in biological and environmental samples was done at CSE by gas chromatography equipped with the ECD detector. This technique although very sophisticated for quantitative estimation, cannot identify an unknown substance, which needs to be confirmed by using standard tests. No confirmatory test was conducted by investigators and hence it cannot be said what was actually analyzed in the name of Endosulfan.

Fredrick Institute of Plant Protection and Toxicology (FIPPAT) at the request of PCK carried out evaluation of Endosulfan residues in 106 samples of human blood, one cow milk sample, one fish sample, 30 water samples, 29 soil samples and 28 cashew leave samples collected from 18.3.2001 to 02.05.2001 from Padre village. Their results show that there are no residues of Endosulfan in any of the blood samples, cow milk and water samples. However, some residue of Endosulfan was detected in soil and leaf samples. The FIPPAT study, though started one month later than CSE, shows just the opposite results, i.e. complete absence of endosulfan residues in blood, cow milk and water samples. The study reported Endosulfan residues in the range of 0.001 to 0.012 ppm in soil samples and 0.04 to 2.863 ppm in cashew leave samples. FIPPAT did not include the confirmatory tests of the compound.