By IANS,
New Delhi : Ahead of a convention in Switzerland which will deal with endosulfan pesticides, environmental groups Monday urged the government to ban the pesticide.
“Environmental health groups appeal to Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to put public health above endosulfan manufacturers’ blind lust for profit at any human and environmental cost,” a statement said.
These groups will watch India’s stance at the upcoming fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN’s Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (COP-5) to be held during April 25-29, 2011 in Geneva in Switzerland, which will deal with Endosulfan pesticides,” it said.
According to the statement, there are 21 chemicals currently listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the convention including DDT and lindane.
The objective of the convention is to restrict and eliminate these chemicals from production and use in order to protect human health and the environment.
“Unmindful of its adverse health impacts, India remains the world’s largest producer and user with more than 60 Endosulfan manufacturers and formulators,” the statement said.
According to the World Health Organisation, POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife.
Kerala and Karnataka have banned the use of endosulfan following reports of its health hazards.