The Supreme Court of India has harshly criticized the Kerala government for its lack of action toward the victims of Endosulfan pesticide exposure. The apex court’s 2017 judgment had directed the state to pay Rs 5 lakh each to the victims within a period of three months. However, after five years, it was found that only eight out of 3,704 victims have received their due compensation. This inaction on the part of the state government was described as “appalling” by the court and seen as a blatant violation of the court’s ruling. Furthermore, the SC has prohibited the production, sale, application, and export of endosulfan nationwide due to its detrimental health implications since 2015.
An Overview of Endosulfan
Endosulfan is an organochlorine insecticide originally launched in the 1950s and is often referred to by its trade name, Thiodan. This chemical has been associated with serious health conditions such as neurotoxicity, physical deformities, poisoning, and others. This substance is typically sprayed on crops including cotton, cashew, fruits, tea, paddy, and tobacco to control pests such as whiteflies, aphids, beetles, and worms. Significantly, Endosulfan is listed in both the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Impacts of Endosulfan: Environmental and Health Concerns
Environmentally, Endosulfan is highly problematic as it accumulates in food chains leading to higher doses causing issues. If released into water bodies, the chemical is expected to cling to sediment and may concentrate in aquatic organisms. For humans and animals, ingestion can result in diseases ranging from physical anomalies, cancer, birth defects, and damage to the nervous system.
Understanding the Rotterdam Convention 1998
The Rotterdam convention was established with an aim to foster cooperation and promote the sharing of responsibilities among nations dealing with the trade in hazardous chemicals and pesticides. The chief feature of the convention is the Prior Informed Consent (PIC), which is legally binding on all party members. PIC facilitates the exchange of information regarding the nature and trade-related details among party members. The convention mandates the implementation of the PIC procedure.
An Insight into the Stockholm Convention 2001
The primary objective of the Stockholm convention is to lessen the concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), i.e., chemical substances that persist in the environment for extended periods and have the ability to bio-accumulate. The convention has identified 12 POPs as the ‘dirty dozen.’ This list includes Endosulfan, highlighting its potential danger and the global consensus on its harmful effects.
Source: TH