Accidental pesticide poisoning worries Tufton
Published:Wednesday | March 16, 2022 | 12:11 AM
Confirmed cases of accidental pesticide poisoning in recent years underscore the importance of a $20-million study to be undertaken by the Pesticides Control Authority and The University of the West Indies’ Mona Campus, says Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton.
Data from the National Surveillance Unit of the Ministry showed that last year, there were 18 confirmed cases of accidental poisoning from pesticides.
“These are, of course, the obvious cases. However, we know that long-term exposure in particular to high toxicity pesticides can have serious impacts on human health. While some pesticides will irritate the skin or eyes, others may be carcinogenic, still others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body,” Tufton told a press conference on Tuesday.
In 2019, while more than 11,000 people in the United States sued chemical company Monsanto for health-related illnesses from the use of the world’s most popular weed killer, Roundup, registrar of the Pesticides Control Authority (PCA), Tamara Morrison, said that the agency could not arbitrarily place a ban on the herbicide, which is widely available at farm supplies stores locally.
Morrison said then that the PCA was guided by the Food and Agriculture Organization, which was not in favour of a widespread ban.
Tufton said on Tuesday that as Jamaica prepared to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, research was critical to the examination of the linkages between health and food security.
“An examination of the use of pesticides, and particularly those categorised as highly hazardous, and their environmental impact, this will no doubt redound to the benefit of our planning efforts,” the health minister said.
Tufton said that the country should collate, when the study is completed, a comprehensive list of pesticides, brand names, active ingredients, registration status, as well as intended use.
Meanwhile, acting chief executive officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Marina Young, reminded the audience that as the country moves to achieve the Vision 2030 goals, specifically for the agricultural sector, sustainable production would be an integral factor.
“It cannot be separated from many other aspects of the practices along the value chain, starting from the farm and ending with the consumer. At every step of the value chain, we have responsibility for the wholesomeness and healthfulness of our produce, especially from chemicals and pesticides specifically,” she said.