Children in Kerala poisoned by banana pesticide 

The people of Wyanad, the tribal district in the State of Kerala, India, were shocked when 32 school children, less than 12 years old, suddenly developed severe signs of poisoning. Children were overcome with dizziness, vomiting, blurred vision, chest and stomach pains. Nearby villagers rushed the children to a government hospital 20 km away, which praised their swift action, indicating that any delay could have worsened the situation. Many of the parents were agricultural labourers, and only learned of the accident later in the day. In this farming community, they were familiar with the toxic nature of phorate and its foul smell, but had not realized the extent of its health effects.
    The accident happened in the village of Karinjakunnu in Kottathara panchayat. The school is situated near a one-acre paddy field, leased to a farmer who has converted it for intensive cultivation of around 150-175 banana plants. On the morning of 10 July, the farmer was planting suckers and for each plant applied 300g of phorate – 12 times the recommended dose of 25g. The product used, Umet, is produced in India by United Phosphorus Ltd. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for farmers to ignore the labels and take no safety precautions. 
    The morning of the incident was cool and windy. Spray drift from the pesticide rapidly reached the school where children were playing. The children were affected almost immediately, some feeling nausea, others developing dizziness, and a few falling unconscious. Other symptoms suffered included blurred vision, muscle cramps, chest pain, headaches and breathlessness. One teacher suffered headache and dizziness. In all, 16 girls and 15 boys were taken to hospital. Although the children were discharged from the hospital after three days were back a week later with new or persistent symptoms.
    The school authorities and the parents of the affected children want to stop the use of chemical pesticides near the school. They believe that children have a right to play and learn in a toxic free environment. 

Agricultural pressures in the area
Traditionally, this area has grown rice, but paddy cultivation is now a loss-making venture and many owners keep their land fallow. Lack of income and unemployment has pressured other farmers to lease this land and cultivate more profitable crops – particularly banana. There is a ready market in for bananas both inside and outside the state. Middle Eastern markets are importing the variety grown, which is ideal for making chips – locally called Nendran. Government agencies have been supporting this change wholeheartedly.
    Fearing pressure against banana production, farmers do not want pesticide use to be linked to poisoning. Some have argued that this incident was simply caused by the wrong dosage and will not be repeated. Others tried to convince parents of the affected children that they themselves had not suffered health problems, in spite of using phorate for 10-15 years. Some deny any link to pesticides, saying the incident may have been a case of mass hysteria. 
    But many farmers are concerned. They say that they no longer see earthworms in the soil. Suicides are increasing – a result of financial pressure, debt, monoculture and pest incidence. Two doctors working in a nearby village with intensive banana cultivation say that deaths due to cancer, particularly liver cancer and leukaemia, have increased during the last 4-5 years. Infertility is increasing and many young people are approaching doctors for help.
    This incident is a blow not only to the farming community but also to the administration. Short-term solutions like banana monoculture will only add to the farming crisis in the long term. The incident has triggered rethinking in some farmers and officials, who would like to try more sustainable methods of farming. 

Usha Jayakumar, Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network, thanal@md4.vsnl.net.in

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 57, September 2002, page 19]