The Hindu : Front Page : Endosulfan: panel for more studies

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Sunday, Dec 13, 2009
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Endosulfan: panel for more studies

Roy Mathew

Moots creation of a reliable database of victims
Highlights health hazards of Endosulfan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The committee set up by the Health Department to study the health hazards of Endosulfan has reiterated the need for epidemiological studies in the villages of Kasaragod district affected by the pesticide.

Such studies had been recommended by other committees which looked into the problem in the past also. However, no action had been taken for years.

Doctors from the Kozhikode Medical College Udaya Bhaskar, A.V. Gopalan and T. Jayakrishnan, who conducted the study, said that adequate data was not available on the patients’ condition. According to available information, no vocational or social rehabilitation was provided to the victims except medical rehabilitation.

The committee observed that the major impacts of Endosulfan exposure in the villages included increased congenital abnormalities including limb and cardiac abnormalities, severe mental retardation including cerebral palsy and hydrocephalous, cancers and skin diseases. Most of them lead to death or permanent disabilities.

It noted that the effects of Endosulfan might persist throughout life and might be passed on to the next generation. So, long-term surveillance of the health events among the population and epidemiological studies to know the health hazards were needed. The environmental effect has to be studied by estimating levels of Endosulfan in water, earth, milk and blood samples periodically. Epidemiological studies should be conducted among children of both sexes to assess hormonal effects.

The committee recommended that the Endosulfan relief and remediation cell at Kasaragod be strengthened. Currently, few professionals are included in the cell.

It suggested that a reliable database of Endosulfan victims should be created. Victims could be classified disease-wise and need-wise. Financial, food, housing and employment assistance should be provided to the families of victims with permanent disability. Priority should be accorded to them for assistance under the EMS Housing Scheme, Indira Awas Yojana and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Five per cent of the Plan funds of the local self-governments should be earmarked for the disabled.

It said that mobility equipment might be given to the physically challenged besides providing them with special education.

Locally viable vocational rehabilitation could also be given. Special schools might be started for the mentally challenged, supported by transport services. Mild mental retardation or learning disability could be detected early by teachers or volunteers and given graded training.

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