KATHMANDU, Aug 11: Ram Charitra Sah, executive director and environment scientist at the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) has strongly urged all concerned government agencies to ban the import, sale, distribution, and use of chlorpyrifos, a highly hazardous pesticide in Nepal.
According to a press statement issued by the CEPHED, this chlorpyrifos is a deadly insecticide banned by nearly 40 countries around the world. For this, the CEPHED has been doing research-based advocacy and collaborating with the concerned agencies of the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOAgLD), Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center (PQPMC).
“A total of 295 trade names and various formulations of Chlorpyrifos are being imported, sold, distributed, and used in Nepal. Chlorpyrifos 20% EC, Chlorpyrifos 10% GR, Chlorpyrifos 1.5% DP, Chlorpyrifos 50%+ Cypermethrin 5% EC, Chlorpyrifos 16% + Alphacypermethrin 1% EC are imported mainly from different countries in Nepal. Chlorpyrifos (solid, liquid, and mixed form) has been used in increasing quantities over the past two years, given the trend of import in various formulations. About 50.70 percent (82849.54 kg) of the total pesticides (163380.00 kg) were imported into Nepal in the fiscal year 2077-78,” reads the statement.
“Similarly, according to another study that found out the health effects of pesticides used by asking farmers about eighteen signs and symptoms of pesticides, 317 participants (50.5%) of the 628 participants complained of immediate discomfort when sprayed with pesticides. Approximately 43.7% of participants complained of headaches, followed by blurred vision (25.4%), back pain (24.3%), and dizziness and nausea (19.7%). More than one-tenth of participants complained of dry mouth, skin irritation, and muscular disease, and less than a tenth of participants complained of extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing, and difficulty in speaking (Aryal, KK, August 2016). In addition, self-reported chronic disease was explored among participants at the time of the interview. Of the total participants, one-tenth of the participants (9.9%) were reported to have chronic diseases. Among them, chronic neuropathy (24.2%) was the most common disease, followed by arthritis (19.4%), heart disease (17.7%), and diabetes (16.1%) (Aryal, KK et.al. 2016),” according to the statement.
With the increasing use of chlorpyrifos, there is also growing evidence of its effects on human health and the environment.
“Large quantities of chlorpyrifos (Solid, Liquid, and mixture) forms have been imported and used in Nepal. Studies showed high levels of contamination and residues in the vegetables produced by using it at the health concern level. Studies also revealed a high level of health impacts among the associated farmers using these chlorpyrifos insecticides. Chlorpyrifos and its other derivatives have been banned and/or restricted in many countries (around 40). It has to be also banned in Nepal and promote safer alternatives. Chlorpyrifos has been under final evaluation including in Annex A (Elimination) of the POPs Convention and Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. So, it is strongly demanded that GON take suitable action to ban them and address the health and environmental impacts caused by it as it is the right time to do so. Post-banning proper collection and environmentally sound management of leftover chlorpyrifos insecticide must be done soon,” the statement mentions.