STUDENTS FEDERATION OF INDIA: 2011

Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide that is being phased out globally. Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor. Because of its threats to human health and the environment, a global ban on the manufacture and use of endosulfan was negotiated under the Stockholm Convention in April 2011. The ban will take effect in mid 2012, with certain uses exempted for 5 additional years. More than 80 countries,^[3] including the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, several West African nations,^[4] the United States,^[5]^[6] Brazil^[7] and Canada^[8] had already banned it or announced phase outs by the time the Stockholm Convention ban was agreed upon. It is still used extensively in India, China, and few other countries. It is produced by Makhteshim Agan and several manufacturers in India and China.

Uses

Endosulfan has been used in agriculture around the world to control insect pests including whiteflys, aphids, leafhoppers, Colorado potato beetles and cabbage worms.^[9] Due to its unique mode of action, it is useful in resistance management; however, as it is non-specific, it can negatively impact populations of beneficial insects.^[10] It is, however, considered to be moderately toxic to honey bees,^[11] and it is less toxic to bees than organophosphate insecticides.

Production

The World Health Organization estimated world wide annual production to be about 9,000 metric tonnes (t) in the early 1980s.^[13] From 1980–89, worldwide consumption averaged 10,500 t per year, and for the 1990s use increased to 12,800 t per year.
Endosulfan is a derivative of hexachlorocyclopentadiene and is chemically similar to aldrin, chlordane, and heptachlor. Specifically, it is produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of hexachlorocyclopentadiene with cis-butene-1,4-diol and subsequent reaction of the adduct with thionyl chloride. Technical endosulfan is a 7:3 mixture of stereoisomers, designated α and β. α- and β-endosulfan are conformational isomers arising from the pyramidal stereochemistry of sulfur. α-Endosulfan is the more thermodynamically stable of the two, thus β-endosulfan irreversibly converts to the α form, although the conversion is slow.

History of commercialization and regulation

Early 1950s: Endosulfan was developed.
1954: Hoechst AG (now Bayer CropScience) won USDA approval for the use of endosulfan in the United States.^[16]
2000: Home and garden use in the United States was terminated by agreement with the EPA.^[12]
2002: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended that endosulfan registration should be cancelled,^[17] and the EPA determined that endosulfan residues on food and in water pose unacceptable risks. The agency allowed endosulfan to stay on the US market, but imposed restrictions on its agricultural uses.^[12]
2007: International steps were taken to restrict the use and trade of endosulfan. It is recommended for inclusion in the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent,^[18] and the European Union proposed inclusion in the list of chemicals banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Such inclusion would ban all use and manufacture of endosulfan globally.^[19] Meanwhile, the Canadian government announced that endosulfan was under consideration for phase-out,^[20] and Bayer CropScience voluntarily pulled its endosulfan products from the U.S. market^[21] but continues to sell the products elsewhere.^[22]
2008: In February, environmental, consumer, and farm labor groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council,^[23] Organic Consumers Association, and the United Farm Workers^[24] called on the U.S. EPA to ban endosulfan. In May, coalitions of scientists,^[25] environmental groups, and arctic tribes asked the EPA to cancel endosulfan,^[26] and in July a coalition of environmental and workers groups filed a lawsuit against the EPA challenging its 2002 decision to not ban it.^[27] In October, the Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention moved endosulfan along in the procedure for listing under the treaty,^[28] while India blocked its addition to the Rotterdam Convention.^[29]
2009: The Stockholm Convention's Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) agreed that endosulfan is a persistent organic pollutant and that "global action is warranted", setting the stage of a global ban.^[30] New Zealand banned endosulfan.^[31]
2010: The POPRC nominated endosulfan to be added to the Stockholm Convention at the Conference of Parties (COP) in April 2011, which would result in a global ban.^[32] The EPA announced that the registration of endosulfan in the U.S. will be cancelled^[6]^[33] Australia banned the use of the chemical.^[34]
2011: The Supreme Court on Friday banned manufacture, sale and use of toxic pesticide endosulfan in India. The apex court said the ban would remain effective for 8 weeks during which an expert committee headed by DG, ICMR, will give an interim report to the court about the harmful effect of the widely used pesticide

Health effects

Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides on the market today, responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world.^[35] Endosulfan is also a xenoestrogen—a synthetic substance that imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens—and it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans. Whether endosulfan can cause cancer is debated. With regard to consumers intake of endosulfan from residues on food, the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations has concluded that long-term exposure from food is unlikely to present a public health concern, but short term exposure can exceed acute reference doses

Toxicity

Endosulfan is acutely neurotoxic to both insects and mammals, including humans. The US EPA classifies it as Category I: "Highly Acutely Toxic" based on a LD₅₀ value of 30 mg/kg for female rats,^[12] while the World Health Organization classifies it as Class II "Moderately Hazardous" based on a rat LD₅₀ of 80 mg/kg.^[37] It is a GABA-gated chloride channel antagonist, and a Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ ATPase inhibitor. Both of these enzymes are involved in the transfer of nerve impulses. Symptoms of acute poisoning include hyperactivity, tremors, convulsions, lack of coordination, staggering, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, unconsciousness.^[16] Doses as low as 35 mg/kg have been documented to cause death in humans,^[38] and many cases of sub-lethal poisoning have resulted in permanent brain damage.^[16] Farm workers with chronic endosulfan exposure are at risk of rashes and skin irritation.^[12]
EPA's acute reference dose for dietary exposure to endosulfan is 0.015 mg/kg for adults and 0.0015 mg/kg for children. For chronic dietary expsoure, the EPA references doses are 0.006 mg/(kg·day) and 0.0006 mg/(kg·day) for adults and children, respectively.

Endocrine disruption

Theo Colborn, an expert on endocrine disruption, lists endosulfan as a known endocrine disruptor,^[39] and both the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry consider endosulfan to be a potential endocrine disruptor. Numerous in vitro studies have documented its potential to disrupt hormones and animal studies have demonstrated its reproductive and developmental toxicity, especially among males.^[12]^[16] A number of studies have documented that it acts as an anti-androgen in animals.^[40] Environmentally relevant doses of endosulfan equal to the EPA's safe dose of 0.006 mg/kg/day have been found to affect gene expression in female rats similarly to the effects of estrogen.^[41] It is not known whether endosulfan is a human teratogen (an agent that causes birth defects), though it has significant teratogenic effects in laboratory rats.^[42] A 2009 assessment concluded that endocrine disruption occurs only at endosulfan doses that cause neurotoxicity.

Reproductive and developmental effects

Several studies have documented that endosulfan can also affect human development. Researchers studying children from many villages in Kasargod District, Kerala, India have linked endosulfan exposure to delays in sexual maturity among boys. Endosulfan was the only pesticide applied to cashew plantations in the villages for 20 years and had contaminated the village environment. The researchers compared the villagers to a control group of boys from a demographically similar village that lacked a history of endosulfan pollution. Relative to the control group, the exposed boys had high levels of endosulfan in their bodies, lower levels of testosterone, and delays in reaching sexual maturity. Birth defects of the male reproductive system including cryptorchidism were also more prevalent in the study group. The researchers concluded that "our study results suggest that endosulfan exposure in male children may delay sexual maturity and interfere with sex hormone synthesis."^[44] Increased incidences of cryptorchidism have been observed in other studies of endosulfan exposed populations.^[45]
A 2007 study by the California Department of Public Health found that women who lived near farm fields sprayed with endosulfan and the related organochloride pesticide dicofol during the first eight weeks of pregnancy are several times more likely to give birth to children with autism. This is the first study to look for an association between endosulfan and autism, and additional study is needed to confirm the connection.^[46] A 2009 assessment concluded that epidemiology and rodent studies that suggest male reproductive and autism effects are open to other interpretations, and that developmental or reproductive toxicity occurs only at endosulfan doses that cause neurotoxicity

Endosulfan and cancer

Endosulfan is not listed as known, probable, or possible carcinogen by the EPA, IARC, or other agencies. There are no epidemiological studies linking exposure to endosulfan specifically to cancer in humans, but in vitro assays have shown that endosulfan can promote proliferation of human breast cancer cells.^[47] Evidence of cancinogenicity in animals is mixed.^[16]

Environmental fate

Endosulfan is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. The chemcial is semi-volatile and persistent to degradation processes in the environment. Endosulfan is subject to long range atmospheric transport, i.e. it can travel long distances from where it is used. Thus, it occurrs in many environmental compartments. For example, a 2008 report by the National Park Service found that endosulfan commonly contaminates air, water, plants and fish of national parks in the U.S. Most of these parks are far from areas where endosulfan is used.^[48] Endosulfan has been found in remote locations such as the Arctic Ocean as well as in the antarctic atmosphere.^[49] The pesticide has also been detected in dust from the Sahara Desert collected in the Caribbean after being blown across the Atlantic Ocean.^[50] It has been shown that the compound is one of the most abundant organochlorine pesticides in the global atmosphere.^[51]

The compound breaks down into endosulfan sulfate and endosulfan diol, both of which have structures similar to the parent compound and, according to the EPA, "are also of toxicological concern…The estimated half-lives for the combined toxic residues (endosulfan plus endosulfan sulfate) [range] from roughly 9 months to 6 years." The EPA concluded that, "[b]ased on environmental fate laboratory studies, terrestrial field dissipation studies, available models, monitoring studies, and published literature, it can be concluded that endosulfan is a very persistent chemical which may stay in the environment for lengthy periods of time, particularly in acid media." The EPA also concluded that "[e]ndosulfan has relatively high potential to bioaccumulate in fish."^[12] It is also toxic to amphibians: low levels have been found to kill tadpoles.^[52]

In 2009, the committee of scientific experts of the Stockholm Convention concluded that "endosulfan is likely, as a result of long range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects such that global action is warranted."^[53] In May 2011, the Stockholm Convention committee approved the recommendation for elimination of production and use of Endosulfan and its isomers worldwide. This is, however, subject to certain exemptions. Overall, this will lead to Endosulfan's elimination from the global markets.

Status by region

[edit] India

India the world's largest user of endosulfan,^[9] and a major producer with three companies—Excel Crop Care, Hindustan Insecticides Ltd, and Coromandal Fertilizers—producing 4,500 tonnes annually for domestic use and another 4,000 tonnes for export.^[55]
In 2001, in Kerala, India, endosulfan spraying became suspect when linked to a series of abnormalities noted in local children.^[56] Initially endosulfan was banned, yet under pressure from the pesticide industry this ban was largely revoked. The situation there has been called "next in magnitude only to the Bhopal gas tragedy." ^[57]
The pesticide as banned in the State when A.K. Antony was Chief Minister following a report by the National Institute of Occupational Health. The report had then stated that Endosulfan was behind the dreadful state of farmers and children in Kasaragod.
In 2006, in Kerala, compensation of Rs 50,000 was paid to the next kin of each of 135 people who were identified as having died as a result of endosulfan use. Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan also gave an assurance to people affected by poisoning, "that the government would chalk out a plan to take care of treatment, food and other needs of the affected persons and that its promise of rehabilitation of victims would be honoured." ^[58] He had repeatedly persuaded the prime minister Manmohan Singh and the central government to bring nationwide ban on Endosulfan. ^[59]
Many Social activists and organisations have been active in providing rehabilitation for the victims of poisoning. They are demanding the banning of Endosulphan in India. Solidarity Youth Movement a social organisation and youth wing of Jamat-e-islami kerala has completed a Rs 5,000,000 project for relief efforts to the victims of Endosulphan. A total of 17 new houses were built and another 17 were repaired as part of the project. More than 100 patients were given regular treatment and 244 families were provided daily food ration. 100 students were given educational aid 10 families were supported with employment schemes.^[60]^[61]^[62]
India's Second largest political party BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also demanded the banning of Endosulphan [2].India is strongly opposed to adding endosulfan to the Rotterdam^[63] and Stockholm Conventions.^[19] BJP demands ban on endosulfan " BJP is with the people who are suffering due to the ill-effects of the pesticide in Kasaragod district," senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said^[64]
Madhya Pradesh, whose capital saw the world’s worst industrial disaster in 1984, made a common cause with Kerala Chief Minister on seeking a ban on endosulfan.Writing separate letters to the Kerala CM and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, MP’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ramkrishna Kusmaria said he fully supports the crusade against toxic chemicals. “MP understands the dire consequences of manmade disaster,” Kusmaria said in his letter to Achuthanandan, while referring to the Bhopal gas tragedy that took thousands of lives. ^[65]
Karnataka Government also banned the use of endosulfan, an insecticide, with immediate effect. Briefing presspersons after the State Cabinet meeting, Minister for Higher Education V.S. Acharya said the Cabinet discussed the harmful effects of endosulfan on the health of farmers and people living in rural areas. The government will now invoke the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968 (a Central act) and write a letter to the Union Government about the ban. Minister for Energy, and Food and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje, who has been spearheading a movement seeking a ban on endosulfan, said, “I am grateful to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and members of the Cabinet for approving the ban.^[66]
Rajendra Singh Rana has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding the withdrawal of the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) study on Endosulfan titled “Report Of The Investigation Of Unusual Illness” allegedly produced by the Endosulfan exposure in Padre village of Kasargode district in north Kerala. In his statement Mr. Rana said "The NIOH report is flawed. I'm in complete agreement with what the workers have to say on this. In fact, I have already made representation to the Prime Minister and concerned Union Ministers of health and environment demanding immediate withdrawal of the report," as reported by The Economic Times and Outlook India ^[67]^[68]
Mrs. Vibhavari Dave, local leader and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), from Bhavnagar, Gujarat voiced her concerns on the impact of ban of Endosulfan on families and workers of Bhavnagar. She was a part of the delegation with Bhavnagar MP, Rajendra Singh Rana, which submitted a memorandum to the district collector’s office to withdraw the NIOH report calling for ban of Endosulfan.^[69]^[70] The Pollution Control Board of the Government of Kerala, prohibited the use of Endosulfan in the state of Kerala on 10 November 2010.^[71] On February 18, 2011, the Karnataka Government followed suit and suspended the use of Endosulfan for a period of 60 days in the state.^[72] Indian Union Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar has ruled out implementing a similar ban at the national level despite the fact that endosulfan has banned in 63 countries including European Union, Australia and New Zealand.^[73]
The Government of Gujarat had initiated a study in response to the workers rally in Bhavnagar and representations made by Sishuvihar, an NGO based in Ahmadabad. The committee constituted for the study also included former Dy.Director of NIOH, Ahmadabad. The committee noted that the WHO, FAO, IARC and US EPA have indicated that endosulfan is not carcinogenic, not teratogenic, not mutagenic and not genotoxic. The highlight of this report is the farmer exposure study based on analysis of their blood reports for residues of endosulfan and the absence of any residues. This corroborates the lack of residues in worker exposure studies.^[74]
The Supreme Court passed interim order on May 13, 2011 and banned the production, distribution and use of endosulfan in India because the pesticide has debilitating effects on humans and the environment. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) welcomed this order and called it a ‘resounding defeat’ for the pesticide industry which has been promoting this deadly toxin. A 2001 study by CSE had established the linkages between the aerial spraying of the pesticide and the growing health disorders in Kasaragod. Over the years, other studies have confirmed these findings, and the health hazards associated with endosulfan are now widely known and accepted.

New Zealand

Endosulfan was banned in New Zealand by the Environmental Risk Management Authority effective January 2009^[31] after a concerted campaign by environmental groups and the Green Party.

Philippines

A shipment of about 10 tonnes of endosulfan was illegally stowed on the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, a ferry that sank off the waters of Romblon (Sibuyan Island), Philippines during a storm in June 2008. Search, rescue, and salvage efforts were suspended when the endosulfan shipment was discovered, and blood samples from divers at the scene were sent to Malaysia for analysis.^[75] The Department of Health of the Philippines has temporarily banned the consumption of fish caught in the area.^[76] Endosulfan is classified as a "Severe Marine Pollutant" by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.^[18]

United States

Endosulfan use in the US in pounds per square mile by county in 2002. (From [1])

In the United States, endosulfan is only registered for agricultural use, and these uses are being phased out.^[6] It has been used extensively on cotton, potatoes, tomatoes, and apples according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).^[77] The EPA estimates that 1.38 million lb of endosulfan were used annually from 1987 to 1997.^[12] The US exported more than 300,000 lbs of endosulfan from 2001–2003, mostly to Latin America,^[78] but production and export has since stopped.
In California, endosulfan contamination from the San Joaquin Valley has been implicated in the extirpation of the mountain yellow-legged frog from parts of the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains.^[79] In Florida, levels of contamination the Everglades and Biscayne Bay are high enough to pose a threat to some aquatic organisms.^[80]^[81]^[82]
In 2007, the EPA announced it was rereviewing the safety of endosulfan.^[83] The following year, Pesticide Action Network and NRDC petitioned the EPA to ban endosulfan,^[84] and a coalition of environmental and labor groups sued the EPA seeking to overturn its 2002 decision to not ban endosulfan.^[27] In June 2010, the EPA announced it was negotiating a phaseout of all uses with the sole U.S. manufacturer, Makhteshim Agan and a complete ban on the compound.^[6]
An official statement by Makhteshim Agan of North America (MANA) states that "From a scientific standpoint, MANA continues to disagree fundamentally with EPA's conclusions regarding endosulfan and believes that key uses are still eligible for re-registration." The statement adds, "However, given the fact that the endosulfan market is quite small and the cost of developing and submitting additional data high, we have decided to voluntarily negotiate an agreement with EPA that provides growers with an adequate time frame to find alternatives for the damaging insect pests currently controlled by endosulfan," ^[85]^[86]

Australia

Australia banned endosulfan October 12, 2010^[87]^[88]^[89] with a two year phase-out for stock of endosulfan containing products.^[87] Australia had, in 2008, announced endosulfan would not be banned.^[90] Citing New Zealand's ban, the Australian Greens called for "zero tolerance" of endosulfan residue on food.^[4]

Taiwan

US apples with endosulfan are now allowed to be exported to Taiwan although the ROC government denied any U.S. pressure on it.

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ENDOSULFAN; The dangerous killer