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.”

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[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.