Even low levels of organophosphates may be hazardous

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Even low levels of organophosphates may be hazardous

Wednesday, 06 July 2022 | SANJOY KUMAR SATPATHY

High volumes of papers have been written on insecticides, pesticides and their ill effects on  human health, but no one gives a serious thought to it—it’s nothing but we are slow poisoning our self and our family day in and day out.

Recently, someone had the experience of testing the white and fresh looking cauliflowers and cabbages of Bhubaneswar market. There was some pungent smell and the curry was having a bad taste, so he cross checked with many of his friends and relatives, whose first and fifth cranial nerve (sense the smell and tastes) were intact. First of all what he thought of was, probably his wife has grown too old for cooking but after knowing the opinion of others it was obvious that the particular problem was due to widespread use of poisonous substance to fight against insects. Now that the sparrows and smaller birds are no more to control the insects at the coastal belts of Odisha, farmers are using insecticide without knowing the side effects of this dangerous substance for profits. This is a very serious problem not only for the present generation but for the future.

In broad day light we are asking our children to consume poison, be it fruits or green vegetables. There is some concentration of poison in all of them. An apple a day keeps the doctor away- such a quote is well known just because of the adequate nutrition from fruits as well as vegetables. Therefore, experts strongly insist on eating more fruits and vegetables for their healthy diet. But, pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables badly reveals potential dark side. Many experts believe that exposure to even small amounts of pesticides for a long period of time is liable to cause deadly effect on one’s health. Based on some potential studies, it is crystal clear that exposure to pesticides can enhance the risk of developing different types of cancer, dysfunction of nervous system, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and hormonal imbalance.

Exposure to pesticides could weaken your immune systems and may be a cause for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which affects the children. Pregnant women along with unborn babies, infants and young children whose bodies are still in process of development, are specifically vulnerable to the negative health effects of pesticides. Due to exposure to pesticides, hormone or endocrine system would be also disrupted and it causes neurological problems. Birth defects, learning disabilities, Parkinson’s, diabetes, fertility problem, asthma, irritation to skin and eyes, autism, Alzheimer’s diseases, and ADHD are all such serious health problems which have been greatly associated to pesticides.

Research on the long-term health effects of pesticides is intense and ongoing, by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). There is no escape for non vegetarians either. Fish lovers beware! Unscrupulous fish wholesalers are using formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical commonly used to preserve dead bodies in mortuaries, to prevent fish from deteriorating during transportation.

 The meat contains toxic substance eaten by these animals and birds. Milk as well as chicken flesh contains lots of hormonal substance which has adverse effects on young children. So there is no escape from these man-made catastrophes.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists the organophosphate parathion as a possible human carcinogen (cancer producing). Even at relatively low levels organophosphates may be hazardous to human health. The pesticides act on a set of brain chemicals closely related to those involved in ADHD, thus fetuses and young children, where brain development depends on a strict sequence of biological events, may be most at risk. They can be absorbed through the lungs or skin or by eating them on food. According to a 2008 report from the US Department of Agriculture, in a representative sample of produce tested by the agency, 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 20 percent of celery, 27 percent of green beans, 17 percent of peaches, 8 percent of broccoli and 25 percent of strawberries contained traces of organophosphate.

A 2012 study published in the Environmental Health Perspective found that prenatal organophosphate exposure had a significant impact on birth weight and gestational age. A ten-fold increase in organophosphates concentrations in the mother was associated with a 0.5 week decrease in the infant's gestational age and a birth weight decline of 151 grams (adjusted to account for changes in gestational age). "Diet and home pesticide use have been identified as important routes of exposure in non-agricultural populations," the researchers wrote, but noted that switching children from conventional to organic diets  for several days reduced levels near or below the limit of detection, "suggesting that diet was the primary source of exposure in that study population.

The other day a doctor came across a family who were all suffering from the same problem- headache, weakness in limbs, vomiting sensation and drowsiness. The doctor asked only one question to the head of the family “whether he was having the same problem?”

He said, “yes.”

“Do your family use mosquito net?” asked the doctor.

“No doctor, we use the mosquito repellent mats or the liquid at night.” the lady said.

Here the problem was all those who had the symptoms were inhaling the smoke for nights due to closed windows during winter months. So we inhale, eat and drink organic phosphorous compounds (OPC) throughout the day and night. This is a more serious problem for the future generation which we can’t foresee now. For that we have to educate our farmers, business men, administrators, agriculturalists and the public. We do not know this extensive use of poisons substance for profit along with radiation waves from mobiles, microwaves and induction cookers will one day have crippling effects on mankind like it has on dragon fly, honey bees and smaller insects and birds. The recent death of school children due to aluminum phosphide poisoning in MDM scheme is only the tip of an ice berg of hazards through food stuff poisoning. The Pepsi or Coke in India was reported to have traces of the OPC which is carcinogenic.

(The writer is an ex-Joint Director, SAIL)

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