Experts seek ban on use of herbicide paraquat for agriculture

[rooster59]

Experts seek ban on use of herbicide paraquat for agriculture

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

THE HERBICIDE PARAQUAT should be banned as it is too dangerous to people’s health and safer alternatives should be found to fight farm weeds, medical experts said.

 

Paraquat is the most deadly herbicide used in agriculture, the medical experts on toxicology and neurology emphasised, with a death rate from direct exposure as high as 40 per cent. Long-term exposure can cause serious incurable brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and has been connected to cancers. A widely used pesticide in the agricultural sector, paraquat is also known to the general population by its commercial name, Gramoxone.

 

 

An intense debate about whether to ban paraquat in Thailand is underway among stakeholders. One side argues that it is too harmful for people’s health to allow further usage, while the other side counters that the health threats could be easily avoided and that it is the cheapest option for killing weeds.

 

It has been known for more than 20 years that paraquat is among the most poisonous chemicals, said Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, a neurology professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University. Repeated scientific and medical research studies have confirmed the chemical’s long-term toxicity, including its contribution to untreatable brain disorders and likely link to cancers

 

Dr Thiravat Hemachudha

 

“There is tremendous scientific proof from around the world confirming the connection between prolonged paraquat exposure and neurological diseases,” is how Thiravat summed up the research “The research included rigorous studies using both long-term monitoring of those who were regularly exposed to paraquat, and laboratory testing at the gene level”.

 

He revealed that research in 2006, which monitored and studied a group of people regularly exposed to paraquat over a period of nine years, concluded that prolonged exposure to this harmful herbicide increased the risk of suffering from Parkinson’s disease by 70 per cent.

 

Moreover in 2013 there were more than 100 published papers proving the connection between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, and by last year it was widely accepted that paraquat could cause serious neurological diseases, he noted.

 

Thiravat recalled his time studying at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States, where in 1985 he attended a lecture about the “prodrug” (a biologically inactive compound that can be metabolised in the body to produce a drug) MPTP, which at the time was used as a substitute for heroin MPTP was found to cause acute Parkinson’s disease, as it destroys the neurology cells in the brain, Thiravat said.

 

“Surprisingly, the chemical structure of MPTP is very similar to paraquat,” said Thiravat.

 

Paraquat is also well-known for its acute poisoning when consumed or after direct skin exposure Dr Suda Vannaprasaht from the Faculty of Medicine at Khon Kaen University said that consuming only 10 to 20 millilitres of 20 per cent diluted paraquat could kill, while this chemical is also corrosive to skin and can cause lesions Due to its corrosive effect on skin, it was suspected that the high prevalence of Necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease detected by Assoc-Professor Puangrat Kajitvichyanukul from Naresuan University during her research on the use of agricultural chemicals in Nong Bua Lamphu, was a result of a high intensity of paraquat contamination in the local water sources.

 

A paper by Dr Winai Wananukul, head of the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital’s Poison Centre, found paraquat to be far more poisonous than other widely used herbicides, such as glyphosate, chlorophenoxy, and chloroacetanilide Winai’s paper noted that up to 40 per cent of those who are exposed to this chemical would die, while the other herbicides have death rates around only 1 or 2 per cent.

 

Based on the accumulated evidence, Thiravat concluded that paraquat is too dangerous to be used in Thailand and has suggested that authorities find better and safer alternatives to this harmful herbicide“.

 

More than 48 countries including our neighbours, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have already banned paraquat,” he stressed.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344144

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-12

[YetAnother]

12 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

while the other side counters that the health threats could be easily avoided and that it is the cheapest option for killing weeds.

we are all for safety only as long as it is cheap

[worgeordie]

While just the other day,another group of "experts" said it was safe to use !

regards Worgeordie

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

While just the other day,another group of "experts" said it was safe to use !

regards Worgeordie

Some might say those particular "experts" had a vested interest....I couldn't possibly comment.

[attrayant]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Based on the accumulated evidence, Thiravat concluded that paraquat is too dangerous to be used in Thailand and has suggested that authorities find better and safer alternatives to this harmful herbicide“.

 

That's a great idea.  I am all for using technology to work smarter & safer.  But what happens when safer pesticides are found?  You still get people marching in the streets demanding their banning.  The EU has just decided to go ahead with a full ban on neonicotinoids, despite a study of the 2013 partial ban showing more harm done than good. Politicians seem to hate farmers and/or enjoy expensive food.

[Bluespunk]

17 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

That's a great idea.  I am all for using technology to work smarter & safer.  But what happens when safer pesticides are found?  You still get people marching in the streets demanding their banning.  The EU has just decided to go ahead with a full ban on neonicotinoids, despite a study of the 2013 partial ban showing more harm done than good. Politicians seem to hate farmers and/or enjoy expensive food.

The EU is doing the right thing in the case of neonicotinoids.

 

The ban on them has come about because of scientific evidence into the harm they do, not due to people marching on the streets. 

 

Environmentally they are catastrophic. 

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/27/eu-agrees-total-ban-on-bee-harming-pesticides

 

 

https://relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/2018/04/neonics-neonicotinoids-banned-european-union-protect-bees-pollinators-environment-science-spd

 

Edited April 28, 2018 by Bluespunk

[attrayant]

8 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

The EU is doing the right thing in the case of neonicotinoids.  Environmentally they are catastrophic. 

 

 

If nothing else, at least read the two-paragraph post script at the bottom of the link I provided - which is from an actual farmer as opposed to a politician or activist.  Banning neonic seed treatments forces farmers to start spraying again.  I won't go into it further as it's probably off topic here.  Hopefully we'll see the story in the world news forum and can discuss it more.

[Bluespunk]

Just now, attrayant said:

 

If nothing else, at least read the two-paragraph post script at the bottom of the link I provided - which is from an actual farmer as opposed to a politician or activist.  Banning neonic seed treatments forces farmers to start spraying again.  I won't go into it further as it's probably off topic here.  Hopefully we'll see the story in the world news forum and can discuss it more.

The reason I support the ban is because of the scientific evidence showing its harmful effects on the environment. 

 

 

[wirat69]

8 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

The reason I support the ban is because of the scientific evidence showing its harmful effects on the environment. 

 

 

Paraquat is widely used as a suicide agent in third-world countries because it is widely available at low cost. Further, the toxic dose is low (10 mL or 2 teaspoons is enough to kill).

 

Harm to the environment and to the lifeforms in the environment (including humans)

 

[canopy]

The panel that approved paraquat concluded it was safe if used properly. So there it is. All you activists need to do is shine the spotlight that confirms our fears that in Thailand paraquat is never used properly which collapses the only argument the panel gave for approving it.

 

[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, wirat69 said:

Paraquat is widely used as a suicide agent in third-world countries because it is widely available at low cost. Further, the toxic dose is low (10 mL or 2 teaspoons is enough to kill).

 

Harm to the environment and to the lifeforms in the environment (including humans)

 

I wasn’t defending the use of paraquat. 

[happy chappie]

Prolonged exposure to Paraquat  leads to neurological problems.             That's why they are mental then.only the other dayi read about mr big quack from the government saying it was ok but don't shower in it.obviously a member of the board of Paraquat producers and manufacturers organisation (ppmo) looks good that one.he should have the nick name chemical ally.i hate to think what chemicals I eat out here for the sake of profit.

[happy chappie]

At last someone speaking the truth...time to be pulled in for some attitude adjustment sir.

[essox essox]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

While just the other day,another group of "experts" said it was safe to use !

regards Worgeordie

i read same same......again left hand does not know what right hand is doing !!

[marko kok prong]

This stuff was banned in the 80's in Europe,thing is i can't believe they still use it in the Usa,.  Of course there you would require rubber gloves,rubber boots ,thick overalls with a hood ,eye protection and a proper respirator.

  In Thailand ,a surgical mask that does nothing and quite often flip flops/sandals and no gloves of note i have ever seen.  As an ex Pest manager in Australia,i can tell you you need all this gear,tanks leak,fittings become loose ,seals perish,you have to constantly checking your gear even then i can attest things can go wrong and you end up covered in whatever you were applying. I would imagine Thai maintenance of the equipment is minimal,and even if farmers were trained in protective gear,i know the Thai mind would balk at paying for the safety gear. As for the poster who wrote about Neonicotinoids,i have seen them in action[against Termite's], the change in behaviour is extrodinary.

  In this case i foamed the stuff into a wall cavity,now Termites rarely if ever leave there Earthen tunnels,here after about 30 mins,thousands crawled out of the sub nest,now many would have had a minimal dose yet they basically lost their cognitive abilities crawled out and died in a great mound of bodies. Spraying these chemicals agricultually is madness,both substances should be banned world wide,but Monsanto,Bayer,Dow ect are very powerfull corporations and have fought tooth and nail about any bans on their poisons.

[smedly]

There are two sides making cases for the use or ban of this highly toxic and dangerous agent

 

- experts that have serious health concerns 

 

- business people with a huge vested financial interest

 

the latter should have no say in the matter

 

agricultural supply is a massive business in Thailand, some very powerful people involved 

 

Paraquat is banned across the world for use in agriculture - that is a fact

 

The only way to prevent its use in Thailand is for importers of Thai agri products to ban them - something I'm surprised hasn't happened already 

 

oh and yes it is safe if used properly - if you want to clear weeds from your driveway 

[attrayant]

Paraquat was manufactured by Chevron, an energy company.  Monsanto, Bayer and Dow have nothing to do with it.  On the contrary - they stand to benefit because now there should be demand for safer synthetic agricultural inputs.

 

I'd think an "ex-pest manager" would have known that.