the danger of the endosulfan

Miami
June 27, 2008
Story 3: the danger of the endosulfan

The pesticide that was inside the MV princess of the Stars was identified as endosulfan after the Del Monte wrote the Fertilizer Pesticide Authority to inform the latter.

The pesticide is in a form of powder flakes and should be diluted to the water and put it in a soil where the pineapple will be planted. The endorsable is being used as pesticides against mites that can damage in pineapple.

The said pesticide is considered as restricted and highly toxic which can cause death to people if ingested, according to experts.

In the press briefing, the NDCC invited Dr. Lynn Panganiban of University of the Philippines National Poison Management Control Center explained the possible effects of endosulfan if ingested by people.

At toxic levels and following ingestion it can cause death or affect the central nervous system, manifesting as headaches, dizziness, nausea, tremors, convulsions which may also include cardiovascular symptoms. blood from exposed individuals can be tested to detect presence of the poison.

The Dept. of Health has announced that the endosulfan has not yet contaminated the water in the area where the vessel capsized because there were no fish kills yet or any divers that got sick. But the divers will be under medical check-up to check if the pesticide already affected them. Also because the endosulfan cannot be easily diluted in the water but it will attached to the soil.

If the endosulfan be diluted into water in time, and will easily spread on the soil or even at the sea bed the marine life will be affected. “That is why we really need to move now on how we can remove the pesticide inside the ship for long term solution.,” Panganiban added.

However, if the endosulfan was released in the environment, endosulfan enters the air, water and soil, it does not dissolve easily in water. Most of the chemical in surface water is attached to soil particles floating in the water or attached to soil at the bottom, the small amount of endosulfan that dissolve in water breakdown over time. depending on theconditions in the water.

Endosulfan may breakdown within one day or may take several months. Some endosulfan in surface water evaporates into air and breaks down. Animals like fishes that live in endosulfan contaminated waters can build up endosulfan in their bodies. The amount of endosulfan in their bodies can be several times greater that in the surrounding water.

Panganiban said, “Endosulfan carries a lethal dosage of .8 to 8 milligrams per kilogram of weight for humans, saying that a small tablet of Endosulfan powder is enough to kill a person. This means, if you weigh 20 kilos, that’s times (multiply) 8 milligrams. You will die if you ingested 400 milligrams of the chemical. That’s how toxic it is.”

She also added that there are no specific antidotes to if a person being poisoned by endosulfan. What Panganiban said only preventive measures can be done so that the endosulfan will not enter ones body or to prevent the poison on spreading at the body.

Vice Noli De Castro added that 94% of endosulfan is present at the vessel.