Doctors claim paraquat is safe for farm use

[webfact]

Doctors claim paraquat is safe for farm use

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

 

PARAQUAT IS safe enough for agricultural use and should not be banned, if safely managed and applied to unwanted plants, medical experts said.
 

A group of doctors said in a press conference arranged by Agricultural Science Foundation yesterday that paraquat, a widely used herbicide in Thailand, is not harmful to health, unless people directly drank it or bathed in it, and it should be allowed for use in farming.

 

They also denied that there was a connection between exposure to paraquat and necrotising fasciitis (known as the “flesh-eating disease”), Parkinson’s disease, and slower child development. This is in conflict with earlier medical warnings that found that paraquat exposure and contamination in the environment could lead to these health threats, especially among farmers and pregnant women.

 

Respiratory diseases expert and member of Royal Society Office Dr Somchai Bavornkitti

 

Respiratory diseases expert and member of Royal Society Office Dr Somchai Bavornkitti said there was still no reliable scientific proof to confirm a link between paraquat exposure to diseases such as necrotising fasciitis and Parkinson’s, and it was unlikely that paraquat could contaminate the environment, as the substance could be easily neutralised with soil.

 

“I still cannot see how paraquat can get into your body, as when spraying paraquat in the field, it will diffuse in the air in droplets that are far larger than those able to be inhaled into the lungs,” Somchai said.

 

He dismissed the claim that paraquat contamination in water contributes to necrosis. If paraquat actually contaminated the water, it would be too attenuated to cause any harm to health, he said.

 

Somchai said he suspected that patients with necrosis already had cuts or wounds and it was bacteria or parasites in the water that actually caused the infection.

 

Somchai also mentioned cases where traces of paraquat were found in newborn babies, and claims that the development of children who had a record of exposure to paraquat was slow. He said there had to be more research on this issue to confirm these suspicions and discover how paraquat could enter a mother’s body and be transmitted to the baby in the first place.

 

“From my point of view, paraquat is safe enough to use and has more benefits than harm, compared to glyphosate (another herbicide), where there is scientific evidence that it can contaminate the environment and cause harm to people’s health. It should be glyphosate that is banned, not paraquat,” he added.

 

Director of the Emergency Physicians College Dr Surajit Suntorntham

 

Director of the Emergency Physicians College Dr Surajit Suntorntham said that in emergency medicine, the only sickness and death related to paraquat was in patients who intentionally or unintentionally consumed the herbicide, causing internal-organ failure.

 

“In term of toxicology, every substance on earth is poisonous, if consumed in enough quantity. For instance, if we drink more than 12 litres of water within 24 hours, we could lose the sodium balance in our bodies and die from hyperhydration,” Surajit said.

 

“Paraquat is the same. It is no doubt poisonous, but only when someone is exposed to a very high volume of paraquat by eating or skin contact can it cause a health threat. So, we should find better ways to use it safely rather than ban it totally.”

 

He noted that the United States not only allows the use of paraquat, but has increased the amount of paraquat usage in its agricultural sector without jeopardising the health of it citizens.

 

Surajit said that the US avoids health risks from paraquat by imposing strict safety regulations. For instance, physical exposure to the substance is reduced by delivering paraquat to famers in ready-to-use packages, so they can spray it onto weeds without having to prepare and dilute the chemical themselves.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343874

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-25

[Somtamnication]

Hi-so people sitting on expensive chairs, wearing expensive clothes, deciding on how this very dangerous chemical will not affect poor farmers using it EVERY DAY. PATHETIC. 

[Justfine]

The comparison with water is pathetic. A moderate amount of water is vital for life.

 

A moderate amount of herbicide will make you sick or dead.

 

 

[Ron19]

Please tell my doctor and hospitals that Paraquat is harmless after what I have been through.

[Thechook]

It's still used in Australia but farmers can't just use it whenever they want.  You need a licence to purchase it and only an accredited person can administer it and there are strict limits on how many times it can be applied.

[Thechook]

6 minutes ago, Ron19 said:

Please tell my doctor and hospitals that Paraquat is harmless after what I have been through.

You weren't one of the 11 gas workers in Goondiwindi Queensland who were dropped like flies when exposed to spraying.  They suffered lung damage and I'm sure Australia has far more strict controls on its use than Thailand.

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

is not harmful to health,

according to wikipedia :

"It is also toxic to human beings... Even though an ongoing international campaign for a global ban, the cheap and therefore popular paraquat continues to be unrestricted in most developing countries."

this case is another classic example of thai thick-headedness when it comes to us(thailand) versus them(international); one of the few things thai are good at is copying, so copy the widespread knowledge based on scientific study and act accordingly

[George Bowman]

Trust me, I’m from America. Normally, I would never make that statement, but this time, it is necessary.

 

Growing up on a farm I was always taught that just because the US government said something doesn’t make it true.

It is true that many farmers use Paraquat while others do not. It is also true that most US scientists are smart, but some ain’t.

 

Back in the 70s, one of my chores on the family farm was to help out with the row crops. I plowed, ran the disc, tilled and sprayed the fields. Take a bottle of this, dump it in the big tank and fill with water. Truth is, I never did read the labels.

 

That is until, friends of mine told me about the US and Mexico governments spraying Paraquat on marijuana. That got my attention. I read about this chemical and nothing I found was good.

 

Trust me, I’m an American.

[Dave67]

PARAQUAT IS safe enough for agricultural use and should not be banned if safely managed..........."

 

Yes so are roads, motorbikes, cars and lorries 

 

 

[bluesofa]

"Because paraquat is highly poisonous, the form that is marketed in the United States has a blue dye to keep it from being confused with beverages such as coffee, a sharp odor to serve as a warning, and an added agent to cause vomiting if someone drinks it. Paraquat from outside the United States may not have these safeguards added."

source: https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/paraquat/basics/facts.asp

 

I wonder if the variant sold in Thailand has the dye, odour or agent?

 

[sammieuk1]

Trying hard to think of a Thai medical experts correct diagnosis in recent years maybe time to buy some new certificates.

[robblok]

I wonder how much the guy got paid for.. in most developed countries they have banned it and here they come to an other conclusion. 

[bluesofa]

9 minutes ago, robblok said:

I wonder how much the guy got paid for.. in most developed countries they have banned it and here they come to an other conclusion. 

 

Yes, very worrying. See below the number of countries where it's banned:

 

"Paraquat is an herbicide commonly used in suicide attempts, because it can kill a person in a single sip.

Increasing research suggests exposure to paraquat is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

More than 100 crops worldwide are sprayed with paraquat, including in the U.S., even though it’s been banned in 32 countries due to its high toxicity."

source: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/01/03/paraquat-banned-in-32-countries.aspx

 

[Ron19]

2 hours ago, Thechook said:

You weren't one of the 11 gas workers in Goondiwindi Queensland who were dropped like flies when exposed to spraying.  They suffered lung damage and I'm sure Australia has far more strict controls on its use than Thailand.

No but 3 doctors and two hospitals with a week spent in one of them September last year. Walked around wearing thongs in our Banana patch that had just been sprayed with Paraquat.

My fault for not being sufficiently protected but that doesn't alter the fact that Paraquat is a dangerous product.

[humbug]

the department of livestock, pesticide co's and cpgroup will be influencing this idiot and the media

 

this is the propaganda response to the thai lady last month warning about deaths in Thailand due to paraquat poisoning.

[Lunchbob]

One day the reality of what medical doctors do and study here will be available and understood by everyone. Soon, I hope.

[stanleycoin]

Maybe they should resign.

Then the void could be filled with people a bit  more intelligent, 

 who care more for there citizens health and welfare. 

 

 

[Odysseus123]

3 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

They should resign.

Then the void could be filled with more intelligent people who

care for there citizens health and welfare. 

 

 

Geez.."more intelligent people who care.."

 

You have just set the bar very high.

 

 

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, humbug said:

the department of livestock, pesticide co's and cpgroup will be influencing this idiot and the media

 

this is the propaganda response to the thai lady last month warning about deaths in Thailand due to paraquat poisoning.

 

I think this was Pornpimol Kongtip at the Department of Occupational Health and Safety.

What she said is in this link: http://www.earththailand.org/en/article/485

 

Interestingly, a previous post I made referred to paraquat being banned in 32 countries. In this link it claims it's 53 countries, including Vietnam and Laos.

 

[stanleycoin]

9 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Geez.."more intelligent people who care.."

 

You have just set the bar very high.

 

 

ok, fixed it. is that better 

 

[Cadbury]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

PARAQUAT IS safe enough for agricultural use and should not be banned

So says the paraquat producers who make a lot of money from producing and selling it. The elite protecting their own selfish interests at the risk of others.

If it is so safe why is it sometimes used an agent for suicide by people in Asia? It is a highly poisonous compound and when mixed with other poisons was effectively used as a chemical weapon by the Americans in the Vietnam war . It was otherwise known  as AGENT ORANGE and used as a defoliant.

The Vietnamese people are dead scared of the stuff with good reason and have officially banned it. The rest of the world is phasing it out. But in Thailand money is all that matters.

[geriatrickid]

Let's back up a bit. Technically, they are factually correct in regard to cerrtain points. However, they were irresponsible to comment in the manner that they did and to not take into account that the target market are people who will not closely follow the instructions and who will not have the  proper safety equipment with which to dispense the chemical.  None of these  "experts" has current field experience, nor have done any research in the chemical and it spublic health and environmental impact, and yet they are commenting. It would be unacceptable for a dermatologist to offer "expert" commentary on the care of cardiac patients, but these  guys opine on  a subject which they really are not experts in.

 

2 hours ago, Thechook said:

It's still used in Australia but farmers can't just use it whenever they want.  You need a licence to purchase it and only an accredited person can administer it and there are strict limits on how many times it can be applied.

Bingo. A licensed applicator - someone who knows how to use it and has been trained in safe application. Not common in Thailand, which renders the "safe" proclamation from these people who are not experts in workplace injury, bunk.

 

51 minutes ago, robblok said:

I wonder how much the guy got paid for.. in most developed countries they have banned it and here they come to an other conclusion. 

 

Very good question. Is there a conflict of interest? Were they compensated for their endorsement? Do they own shares in or have a relationship with  the Thai chemical companies who supply these products? I don't beliebve they offered their assessment because they are believers in the product.  

 

[stanleycoin]

8 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Let's back up a bit. Technically, they are factually correct in regard to cerrtain points. However, they were irresponsible to comment in the manner that they did and to not take into account that the target market are people who will not closely follow the instructions and who will not have the  proper safety equipment with which to dispense the chemical.  None of these  "experts" has current field experience, nor have done any research in the chemical and it spublic health and environmental impact, and yet they are commenting. It would be unacceptable for a dermatologist to offer "expert" commentary on the care of cardiac patients, but these  guys opine on  a subject which they really are not experts in.

 

Bingo. A licensed applicator - someone who knows how to use it and has been trained in safe application. Not common in Thailand, which renders the "safe" proclamation from these people who are not experts in workplace injury, bunk.

 

 

Very good question. Is there a conflict of interest? Were they compensated for their endorsement? Do they own shares in or have a relationship with  the Thai chemical companies who supply these products? I don't beliebve they offered their assessment because they are believers in the product.  

 

man, it's just one big Green light for people to use it, any way,  any time, and amount they want. it's safe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[attrayant]

This is clearly pretty nasty stuff.  But it has great utility in integrated pest management practices and should be retained as one of the available tools - restricted to licensed applicators.  However that will likely never happen since farmers won't spend the money to hire such professionals.  It's the same reason lots of pharmacologicals are made available without a doctor's prescription.  Too many lower income Thais just can't afford to see a doctor and must resort to self-medicating.

 

The spokesman's comments about Glyphosate clearly marks him as a stooge.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

23 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

So says the paraquat producers who make a lot of money from producing and selling it. The elite protecting their own selfish interests at the risk of others.

If it is so safe why is it sometimes used an agent for suicide by people in Asia? It is a highly poisonous compound and when mixed with other poisons was effectively used as a chemical weapon by the Americans in the Vietnam war . It was otherwise known  as AGENT ORANGE and used as a defoliant.

The Vietnamese people are dead scared of the stuff with good reason and have officially banned it. The rest of the world is phasing it out. But in Thailand money is all that matters.

https://theecologist.org/2012/feb/24/how-dow-and-monsanto-teamed-over-agent-orange-herbicide

[CGW]

15 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Very good question. Is there a conflict of interest? Were they compensated for their endorsement? Do they own shares in or have a relationship with  the Thai chemical companies who supply these products? I don't beliebve they offered their assessment because they are believers in the product.  

Yep! money first, following the western example, remember how they are growing their food next time you eat!

[BuaBS]

I wonder how much they got paid to say it safe.

[Cadbury]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A group of doctors said in a press conference arranged by Agricultural Science Foundation yesterday that paraquat, a widely used herbicide in Thailand, is not harmful to health,

I thought that giving ringing health endorsements to seriously suspect chemical products was illegal. These doctors should be dragged off to the police station and charged just as were the entertainers who endorsed some relatively harmless cosmetic products.

Double standards yet again clearly demonstrated in Thailand. I shake my head in dismay......is there any hope?

[Odysseus123]

4 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

I thought that giving ringing health endorsements to seriously suspect chemical products was illegal. These doctors should be dragged off to the police station and charged just as were the entertainers who endorsed some relatively harmless cosmetic products.

Double standards yet again clearly demonstrated in Thailand. I shake my head in dismay......is there any hope?

"Is there any hope?"

 

Well...no.

[Ombra]

About 30 years ago, a professor at Kasetsart University told me that he and his colleagues used to travel around the country to educate farmers. They would tell them what the correct quantity of any given chemical or pesticide was. Then a representative of a chemical company would visit the farmers and say, 'If X amount of the chemical is good, then ten times X will be ten times as good.'