Ciba-Geigy has temporarily withdrawn its
insecticide Miral 500 CS containing isazofos following three serious poisoning
incidents in Africa and Latin America. A company spokesperson said "We don't
understand it. Our studies show that it could not happen." The capsule
suspension formulation has lower dermal and oral toxicity than earlier
formulations. The World Health Organisation classification is 'highly
hazardous'.
Two of the incidents resulted in deaths. In Colombia, a
coffee plantation worker died in June 1994 from lung oedema after using Miral.
In July 1994, two workers were admitted to hospital in the Dominican Republic
with symptoms of organophosphate poisoning-one later died. In May 1995, four
banana plantation workers in Côte d'Ivoire affected by Miral were admitted to
hospital.
Agrow, 6/10/95 and PANUPS 20/11/95.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 30,
December 1995, page 11]