NEWS reports on Friday showed over four thousand registered agricultural pesticides are used in Bangladesh to control pests, but they are used without any laboratory tests about their maximum residue limits and impacts on agricultural produce, human health and environment. What is more noticeable is that over 650 registered brands of public health pesticides are also in the market and their standard quality have not been tested, although over 200 registered business firms are regularly importing them. They are also formulating closer to five thousand branded pesticides with 100 active ingredients.
Officials of Plant Protection Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension said as they had no laboratory testing facility for preparing toxicology data and residue studies, they issue import licenses and certificate for selling pesticides on the basis of the ‘paper information’ provided by importers and traders. According to experts, as there is no surveillance of impacts or monitoring of marketing, consumption of plant products with pesticide residues could cause cancer, a range of neurological health effects and damage to different organs of human body.
The Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute said that they carried out trial test of a pesticide to see how effectively it could control the specific insects on a crop field. But the tests on adverse effect of pesticides on human health or environment are not carried out. Experts hold the view that necessary tests must be carried out to see how pesticide exposure could cause a range of neurological health effects on human body. It is apprehended that it may cause memory loss, mood swings and loss of concentration, not to mention damage of other human organs, including liver, and harm pregnant women.
The current situation is very alarming as there is no way to actually know how much unforeseen risks from pesticides use in crops are threatening public health. The government must take initiative and build proper laboratories and procure testing equipment so that risks associated with individual pesticide active ingredients, as well as with groups of pesticides that have a common toxic effect, can be assessed. They should also take steps to inform farmers about the limits on how the pesticide may be used, how often it may be used, what protective clothing or equipment must be used, and so on. Moreover, relevant government bodies must monitor whether or not such standards are met to protect public health and the environment.
It is highly recommendable that excessive use of pesticides in crop fields must be avoided and agricultural produce be marketed only after ensuring non-existence of residues harmful to human body. Public health authorities must work with agricultural scientists to make sure that only the minimum quantity of pesticides is used to the limits to benefit agriculture without risks to public health.
