Status of Pesticide pollution in Nepal Kanti Shrestha, Ph.D Chief Scientific officer Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Lalitpur 20 th June 2014 National Symposium on Pesticide Pollution
GLOBAL CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF PESTICIDES S.N. Country Pesticide Use-a.i.(kg/ha) 1 India 0.38 2 China 2.0-2.5 3 Pakistan 1.3 4 Bangladesh 0.4 5 Bhutan 0.1 6 Republic of Korea 6.6 7 Japan 12 8 Indonesia 0.575 9 Thailand 1.1 10 Netherlands 9.4 11 Europe 1.9 12 USA 1.5 13 Germany 2.5 14 Norway 0.4 15 Africa 1.23 16 Nepal 0.142 Source: Pesticide use by country", World Resources Institute, livemint.com, 2007, Less pesticide on your food: Good news, 2012 and Trends in pesticide use and drivers for safer pest management, 2008
Pesticide trader Private pesticide dealership started from 1995 when AIC stopped bulk purchasing of pesticides. Network of private wholesalers & retailers in most of the districts
Direct purchase Some institution have been directly purchasing pesticides independently. National Seed Company, Cotton Development Board, Nepal Food Corporation as well as the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
List of Company involved in Pesticide formulation S. No. Name of Company /Farm Address 1 Kissan Agro Chemicals Birgunj, Parsa 2 Amit Pesticide Udhyog Birgunj, Parsa 3 Nepal Agro Industries Parsauni-2 Bara 4 Khoteja Agro Pvt. Ltd. Jagatpur, Chitwan 5 Nepal Krishi Rasayan Birgunj, Parsa
Total registered pesticides 2068/6/31 S N Type of Pesticides Trade Name Common Name 1 Insecticides 500 40 2 Fungicides 229 33 3 Rodenticides 10 2 4 Weedicides 88 15 5 Bio-pesticides 19 7 6 Bactericides 6 2 7 Acaricides 7 3 Total 859 102
Classification Organochlorines (eg.ddt, BHC etc.) Organophosphates (eg.malathion, Phorate, Quinalphos, Fenitrothion etc.) Carbamates (eg. Carbofuran, Aminocarb, Methiocarb etc.), Synthetic pyrethroids (eg. Allethrin, Cypermethrin. Permethrin etc.)
Registered public health pesticides Alphacypermethrin 5 % WP Beta cyfluthrin 2.45 % SC, 5 % EC Cyfluthrin 5 % EW Deltamethrin 2.8 % WP Lambdacyhalothrin 10 % WP Bifenthrin 10 % EC, WP Bifenthrin 10 % EC, WP Registered household use pesticides Beta cyfluthrin 2.5 % SC Cypermethrin 1 % chalk (Laxmanrekha, Barrier) Imidachlorpid 2.15 % GEL (attractant to lure cockroach) Propoxur 2 % chalk (Laxmanrekha) Bifenthrin 2.5 % EC, WP Propoxur 2 % Bait (Flyclean) SC- Suspension concentrate/flowable concentrate,
Who hazard category of pesticides S. N. WHO Class Hazards Pesticides 1. I A Extremely hazardous Parathion, Phorate 2. I B Highly hazardous Dichlorvos, quinalphos 3. II Moderately hazardous Endosulfan, carbofuran 4. III Slightly hazardous carbaryl, malathion 5. NH Unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use Synthetic pyrethroids
Safety Marks
Trend of insecticide (Agri+PH), fungicide and herbicides in a.i. 250000.00 200000.00 150000.00 100000.00 50000.00 0.00 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year Insecticides Fungicides Herbicides Others
Pesticide formulation according to WHO Classification 600000.00 500000.00 400000.00 300000.00 200000.00 100000.00 0.00 AI Kg/L Formulation (Kg/L) Monitary value (000) IB II III NH NC
kg Tren d of differnet insecticide in a.i. 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Years Organochlorines Organophosphates Carbamates Synthetic pyrethoids Others/Mix
Problems created due to use of pesticides Environmental pollution (Air, Water, Soil) Health Hazards (Acute, Chronic) Food Contamination due to undesirable residues Development of resistance by pests to pesticides, Resurgence of pests, outbreak of secondary pests
What Happens after Application? When pesticides are applied the goal is that they will remain in the target area long enough to control a specific pest and then degrade into harmless compounds without contaminating the environment. Once applied, many pesticides are mobile in the environment (air, soil, water). This movement can injure non-target plants and animals.
Pathways of pesticide movement Runoff Chemical degradation Volatilize (gas vapor) Leaching and breakdown in soil Leaching and degradation by microbes Photo degradation (sun)
Product Labels The pesticide label is a binding, legal document. Compliance is required by the regulations. Label directions must be carefully followed from purchase to container disposal. High risk pesticides may only be purchased and applied by certified persons.
Table: The pesticides restricted and banned in Nepal. S.N Banned Pesticides Restricted pesticides 1. Methyl bromide** Bandiocarb ( Public health) 2. Chlordane* Cyfluthrin 3. DDT* Etofenprox 4. Dieldrin* Lambda cyhalothrin 5. Endrin* Permethrin 6. Aldrin* Dichlorvos (Recommendation) 7. Heptachlor* Mehtomyl 8. Toxafen* Methyl parathion 9. Mirex* Monocrotophos 10. BHC Oxydemeton methyl 11. Linden Phorate 12. Phosphamidon Triazophos 13. Organomercury fungicides Chlorpyriphos+Cypermethrin (Not in Mustard) 14. Methyl parathion 15. Monocrotophos * POP chemicals, ** ODS chemical. Source: DOPP, 2001
Legal instrument for the management of pesticide in Nepal Pesticide Act 1991 Pesticide Regulation 1993(1 st amendment 2007) Other related laws Interim constitution of Nepal Environment Protection Act, 2053(1996) and Environment Protection Rules, 2054 (1997) Plant Protection Act, 2064 and Rules, 2066 Food Act 2023 (1966) and Food Rules 2027 (1970) Aquatic Life Protection Act, 1961 and Rules Seed Act, 2045 and Rules 2054 Consumer Protection Act and Rules Soil and Water Conservation Act, 1982 Customs Act, 1962 and Rules, 1962 Solid Waste Management Act,2011 Water Resource Act, 1992
Table: signatory of different environment related International Conventions on distribution and use of hazardous chemicals S.N. International Starting Date Ratification Date Focal Points 1. Stockholm Convention 22 nd May 2001 5 th Apr, 2002 MOEST* 2 Basel Convention 22 nd May, 1989 15 th Aug, 1996 MOEST 3 Rotterdam Convention 4 Chemical Weapons Convention 11 th September 24 th Feb, 2004 MOEST 12 th Jan 1993 18 th Nov, 1997 MOFA ** 5 Montreal Protocol 2 nd May, 1994 6 th Jul, 1994 MOEST 6 SAICM 6 th Feb 2006 MOEST * Ministry of Environment S and T, ** Ministry of Foreign Affairs
What are POPs? Organic chemical compound - natural / anthropogenic Toxic and persistent Ability to travel long distances (through air and water) Bio-accumulate/biomagnify in food chains Acute and chronic toxic effects on human & wildlife
Convention on Hazardous Chemical The Stockholm Convention o Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)-2004 The Basel convention on the control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal (1989) Rotterdam Convention on the prior Informed Consent Procedures for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade- 1998
Stockholm Convention Essential aims 1. Eliminating dangerous chemicals 2. Support the transition to safer alternatives 3. Target additional POPs for action 4. Clean up old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs
The Twelve banned POPs Aldrin Chlordane DDT Dieldrin Endrin Heptachlor Mirex Toxaphene HCB PCBs Dioxins Furans
New POPs added to List Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE) Chlordecone Hexabromobiphenyl Lindane Perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) Octabromodiphenyl ether (OctaBDE) Pentachlorobenzene Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane Beta hexachlorocyclohexane Endosulphan 25
Basel Convention Main Aims are 1. Controls on trans boundary Movements of Hazardous wastes 2. Development of Criteria for the environmentally sound management of wastes 3. Minimization of Hazardous wastes generation
Activities POPs Management Priorities Pesticides Safe packaging, safe storage, and disposal of obsolete pesticide Remediation and site stabilization PCBs Manage stockpiles of PCBs and appropriate measures for handling and disposal of articles in use Identification of Stockpiles of PCB contaminated article in use and waste Ban on sell of PCB contaminated transformer oil POPs Public awareness raising, information and education Final Priority 1 2 2
POPs Disposal 75 tones of obsolete pesticide were stored in Amlekhgunj and other 23 stores in Nepal Agreement with GIZ for the disposal in April 16,2010 Sent back to Germany for their final disposal in December 2011 43 cylinders of MeBr, stored in Khumaltar and Kirtipur has been disposed in a environmentally sound manner. MSP on Environmentally Sound Management of PCBs is approved and is in implementation (MoSTEnv, GoN/UNIDO/ GEF)
Some important issues Pesticide quality Pesticide residue Pesticide smuggling Adulterated & substandard pesticide Regulatory mechanism Open border Increased health consciousness among people Issue of healthy environment Issue of food safety & food security Issue of public (traders, farmers & consumers) awareness Issue of co-ordination & co-operation Lack of complete & authentic lab. Lack of alternative to chemical in hand
MSP Project envisages To create institutional capacity to improve legislation on POPs chemicals, eliminate PCBs and PCBs containing equipment and wastes; To enhance the technical/analytical capacity to address the POPs problems in more comprehensive manner; To update and complete the inventory of PCBs and PCBs containing equipment developed during NIP project
Outcomes 1: Institutional capacity building, policy/legal framework and enforcement strategy for POPs pesticides and PCBs 2: ESM system for PCBs 3: Final disposal mechanism of PCBs 4: Public education, awareness and information 5: Project management
MSP- Project envisages To address PCBs issue through technology transfer involving decontamination/ dechlorination process To disseminate the POPs pesticides and PCBs information, their impact on human health and the environment through public awareness campaigns
Challenges on POPs Management Coordination among the different stockholders An ever-increasing number of newly added POPs Potential environmental risks caused by the historic POP wastes Imperfect legislative system and weakness in regulation management, The scarcity of alternative product/technology and research Resources constrain ( Human and Financial)
Household Insecticides No rules and regulation on household insecticides Import directly by wholesalers and retailers Role of Government Tax collection No control on quality and monitoing If banned chemicals used-big problem
Types of Pollution
Pollution Due to Household Pesticides (Total 200 participants from Kathmandu Valley ) Users - 71 % Liquids users - 70 % (50 % Good night) Coil - 20 % Mat - 8 % Cream - 2 % *Insecticide impregnated mosquito nets at Terai
Types of Household Insecticides Used (in Kathmandu) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Survey on Mosquito Repellents 29% 71% Chemical Users Non Chemical Users 70% 22% 6% 2% Coils Mats Crea m
Indoor Air pollution Inhaled by room occupants may be higher than the estimated concentrations because the room air may not necessarily be well mixed coil may be placed in close proximity to the breathing zone (the bed level during sleeping). children usually sleep in small rooms. To prevent them from excessive mosquito biting, the windows of their rooms are often closed during sleeping hours. Thus, the predicted indoor concentrations above are likely to be very conservative and underestimate actual concentrations..."
Mosquito coil smoke Contains some carbonyl compounds with strong irritating effects on the upper respiratory tract--for example, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde Consumers usually use mosquito coils for at least several months every year, Cumulative effects from long-term exposure Long-term exposure to mosquito coil smoke can induce asthma and persistent wheeze in children"
Different Insecticides Used (Coils)
Different Insecticides Used (Liquids)
Different Insecticides Used (Mats)
Pyrethroids (Synthetic insecticides) Transfluthrin Allethrins Permethrin Prallethrin Cypermethrin Deltamethrin Imiprothrin Tetramethrin Tralomethrin Phenothrin Rasmethrin Cyfluthrin Bifenthrin
Structure of Transfluthrin
Recommended Dose Limits: Coil - 0.05% Electric Mat - 10 mg/tablet Liquid incense - 0.66% Aerosol - 0.2%
Chemical compositions (Mosquito Coils) S.N. Brand Name Active chemical Conc. Other 1. Fumakilla Pyrethroid - Avoid prolong inhalation 2. Good Night Prallethrin 0.04 % Keep away from children 3. Kingtox** Allethrin 0.2 % Keep away from food stuff 4. Surya** Allethrin 0.2 % Keep away from food stuff ** Nepali
Chemical compositions (Mats and sprays) S. N. Brand Name Active chemical Conc. Other 1. Supermat d-allethrin ------ 1 pc in 34 m 3 2. Good Night Prallethrin 1.2 % room 3. Kingmat ------- ------ ------ 4. Baygon spray Cypermethrin, Impermethrin,
Hazards of Pyrethroids Headache (Neurotoxic) Low acute toxicity Repeated dose toxicity Tremors Target organs (Kidney, liver, GI tract, urinary bladder, bone, teeth, skin etc) Transfluthrin urine and faeces
Why Pyrethroids are used? Potent contact insecticides Rapid knockdown effect (Transfluthrin) Axonic poisons (Paralysis) Neurotoxins Combine with antioxidant eg. piperonyl butoxide (inhibitor of microsomal oxidase enzyme) Broken by sun light in 1-2 days Not significantly affect ground water quality But toxic to fish, honey bee and other aquatic animals
Other Household Insecticides Bagon Cockroach killers Sprays Liquids Solid insecticides Insecticide impregnated mosquito nets
Import of Household Insecticides Country \ Room freshener Mosquito killer Quantity (MT) Cost (Rs, 000) Quantity (MT) Cost (Rs,000) India, 210 32582 878.3 9,58,48 China and Third Country India 114 27322 291 33375 China 41 123896 302 1878 *Dept of Custom,20011
Mosquito Coils manufactured in Asia often contain up to 1 % BCME (bischloromethyl ether) Potent lung cancer chemical ever discovered. Most deadly cancer known. Chinese factory of mosquito coils employees dead within five years their jobs due to Lung cancer. Epidemic lung cancer even after correction for cigarette smoking?
Pyrethroids - Safer alternative to organophosphates - Safer doesn t mean they are safe. - A chemical designed to kill living things is not safe for humans.
Health risks Carcinogenic Mutagenic Teratogenic (interfere with normal embryonic development) SYMTOMS rash, headache, nausea, dizziness Birth defects Reproductive problem Liver, Kidney, Neural damage Other fatal effect
Pesticide Pollution In Food (Residues) Waiting period for safe use of pesticides No strict rules and regulations in applying pesticides in vegetables and fruits. During cultivation Before harvesting Post harvesting (Tea, Honey, Medicinal herbs etc) Storage treatment
Hazards of Pesticide Residue highly detrimental to health. Toxic effects - temporary irritation, headache to loss of immune system, respiratory problem and cancer Environmental hazards
Maximum Pesticide Residue Limits
Banned pesticides in tea Quinalphos (LD50 = 62-137 ppm) Phorate (LD50 = 2-4 ppm) Ethion Monocrotophos (LD50 = 14-23 ppm)
Pesticide Residue Analysis (2011) Most of the commercial brands of orthodox tea in Nepal were fulfilling the government standards in all the physicochemical parameters. No banned pesticides detected Residues of carbamates, pyrethroids and oxygenated hydrocarbons were detected in tea samples even in organic claimed tea. Fenobucarb was the most common insecticide detected.
Bioaccumulation Biomagnification
Current scenario Rejection of Nepalese agricultural commodities (honey and tea) in EU market Lack of enforcement of GAP No Pesticide Residue Monitoring Plan and Mechanism Lack of awareness about risks and safety issues Low national priority
Pesticides in Nepalese Foods (1995-2007) Total samples analysed: 1034 No. of contaminated samples: 126
Environmental Pesticide Pollution
Out Door Air Pollution (Application Potentially Hazardous) 35% applies directly 32% farmers were served by JT/JTAs 22% use modern equipment 72% received advice regarding safety precautions * Leela Dahal, 1995
Drinking Water Pollution (Residue analysis) Metallic compounds Arsenic, Lead -Organophosphates -Organochlorines -Sediments from urban and agricultural development -From household purpose and animal husbandry
Soil Pollution Approx. 38% use fungicides in crops and food storage To control vector born disease Epidemiology
Agricultural Pollution Seed treatments Soil fumigation Soil treatment Disease control
Quarantines (Pesticide Pollution) Plant quarantine (Packaging Materials treatment) Animal quarantine (Birds, Animals)
Veterinary Medicine To control Pests or diseases in pets and other animals
Conclusions Should minimize the use of toxic Pesticides (Agriculture, Household, Public health, Quarantine etc) Safe alternative Biopesticides or Traditional methods should be used. Implementation of GAP and all national and international rules and regulation Strict monitoring and checking before and after importing pesticides by the Government. Articles containing pesticides without mentioned in the label should be strictly banned. Awareness generation among all the stakeholders in the country Obsolete pesticides should be destroyed properly or scientifically. Regular monitoring of pesticide residues in food, water and environment.
Thank You!