An Enquire in to the Effects of Pesticides on Human Health

‘Learning does not confine within the four walls of the class room’. This dictum is practiced by the School of Social work in its field action programmes. The discussion, on the ‘effects of Endosulfan’, organized by ‘SAMARITANS’ on Tuesday 16^th November 2010 has led to an action. The Faculty and students of School of Social Work made a visit to Malayaputhuval in Upputhara Grama Panchayat, to assess the impact of pesticides on the health of the labourers and the inhabitants of the tea Estates. The team comprising of Dr. Cherian P. Kurien, Mr. Ajesh P. Joseph, Mr. Renjith R. (Faculty, School of Social work), Mr. Jitto Jose, Ms. Divya G.S., Ms. Aleena Joy, and Ms. Anju Abraham (Students, School of Social Work, visited around 50 homes in Malayaputhuval and conducted a study on the use of harmful pesticides including Endosulfan, awareness of people about their ill-effects and the major health issues due to the use of pesticides. The team has also visited the nearby school and conducted a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) on the effects of pesticides on the health of the children as well as of the general public.

It was found in the study that most of the immediate health problems like giddiness, head ache, allergy, bleeding from nose, and skin rashes, due to the over use of pesticides, are seen in the area. The long term effects are to be studied in detail by a multi disciplinary team. It is also derived that the banned pesticide, Endosulfan is also used in this area especially in cardamom plantations. Labourers do not take any safeguards while handling these harmful pesticides, and most often they use it in more dosage than prescribed to get better harvest. Due to these practices, most of the labourers above 40 years of age have many diseases, like asthma and other breathing problems.

The visit was well covered by the media and news reports have come on Amrita, Asianet News, Jeevan TV, Indiavision and Manorama News.