Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
methyl isocyanate gas (an intermediate in the production of carbamate pesticides discussed in
Chapter 1), occurred at a plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. More than half a million people were
affected, about 50 000 permanently disabled and about 10 000 lost their lives (Ipe 2005). Bhopal is
considered the worst chemical disaster in India, and certainly one of the worst chemical disasters in
the world. Twenty-fi ve years on, health centres in the area still receive people who suffer from vari-
ous ailments caused by the incident (Report 2009f).
Bhattacharyya, Lahiri, Chattopadhyay et al. (2002) have analysed data from 140 children admit-
ted for poisoning in a rural hospital in West Bengal. They found that 18.4% of cases were caused by
carbamate pesticides, and 50% were caused by OPCs. Furadan, Rogor (dimethoate 30%) and Tara
909 (active ingredient: dimethoate) were the carbamates involved. All cases were accidental, except
one, where an adolescent poisoned his 12-month-old step-brother. Levin (1991) has also tabulated
three incidents of accidental intake of pesticide-treated seed grain by humans in India. In these cases,
the pesticides involved were BHC and methyl parathion. Some incidents of accidental exposure in
humans to pesticides (including carbofuran) are presented in Table 4.6.
One noteworthy accidental exposure incident (in 2008) has involved free ranging domestic cattle.
In this case, a cow ingested mowed grass from a golf course lawn that had been treated with car-
bofuran. Since the golf course was situated right in a reserve forest, there was also a considerable
chance that other wild herbivores (like Sambar and barking deer ( Muntiacus muntjac )) could have
had access to the pesticide-laced grass. Once carbofuran enters the food chain, organisms at higher
trophic levels, such as tigers and other scavengers, can be secondarily exposed. To ensure domestic
animal safety, the golf club authorities were informed of the incident and local cattle owners are
now warned well in advance when any pesticide application is due to occur. However, this measure
is obviously not suffi cient to protect wildlife since their movements cannot be controlled. Instead,
pesticide use should really be restricted in wildlife-sensitive areas.
Table 4.6 Known/reported incidences of human poisonings with carbofuran and other compounds
in India and southern Asia
Pesticide(s)
involved, as
reported
Year
Location a
Number affected
Mode of poisoning
Reference
1984
Bhopal,
Madhya
Pradesh
Methyl isocyanate
(an intermedi-
ate in carbamate
production)
More than 5 lakh b ,
with 50 000
permanently
disabled and
10 000 deaths
Accidental
Ipe (2005)
2000
Tamluk,
West Bengal
OPC c , carbofuran,
endosulfan
pyrethroids,
fungicides
140 cases through-
out the year
Accidental, except
for an incident where
a baby was poisoned
by step-brother
Bhattacharyya,
Lahiri and
Chattopadhyay
(2002)
2009
Dhamrai
Upazila,
(Bangladesh)
Carbofuran
(Furadan) and
OPC c
3 children died
Excessive application
in agricultural fi eld
Report (2009b)
2009
Salem,
Tamil Nadu
Phorate
6 children died
Deliberate use
Report (2009e)
Unless otherwise indicated all locations provided are in India
a
A unit of 100 000, fi ve lakh equates to 500 000
b
Organophosphorus compounds
c
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