NESREA beams searchlight on pesticides

Among the banned pesticides found in the markets were Chlodimeform, Butachor and Orizo Plus. These have been proven to be harmful to humans and the environment and owing to their hazardous nature, they are placed under the category of banned and restricted agro chemicals under the Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions.In humans, these banned pesticides cause […]

Among the banned pesticides found in the markets were Chlodimeform, Butachor and Orizo Plus. These have been proven to be harmful to humans and the environment and owing to their hazardous nature, they are placed under the category of banned and restricted agro chemicals under the Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions.
In humans, these banned pesticides cause discomforts such as abdominal pains, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting as well as skin and eye problems. In the long run, they could lead to cancer, neurological problems, dementia, and reproductive problems such as miscarriages, birth defects, and premature births.
Repeated application of the banned agro chemicals lead to loss of biodiversity and many of them are not easily degradable. They persist in the soil, leach the ground water and surface water thereby contaminating the environment.
The investigation also showed improper handling of agro chemicals by the traders and farmers. For instance, most traders and farmers do not use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling the pesticides and when they expire, the farmers applied overdose with the belief that it would make the pesticides effective.
There was also the problem of indiscriminate disposal of empty chemical/pesticide containers.