Hindustan Insecticides
Ltd (HIL) has been manufacturing pesticides at its Udyogmandal site (Kochi, Kerala)
since 1956 and, according to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, continues
to produce the persistent organochlorine pesticides DDT and endosulfan. The plant,
located adjacent to a wetland, apparently discharges its effluent to an open channel
(the Kuzhikundam Creek).
Greenpeace International
visited the Udyogmandal Industrial Estate on 22nd May 1999 and collected samples
of water and sediment from the creek, and of soil/sediment from the adjacent
wetlands, for analysis of organic contaminants and heavy metals. The results
of these analyses demonstrate that:-
· sediment
from the creek sampled 10m downstream from HIL contained more than 100 organic
compounds, 39 of which were organochlorines, including DDT and its metabolites,
endosulfan and several isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH/BHC), a persistent
organochlorine pesticide. The pesticide lindane is one isomer of HCH.
· in contrast,
sediment collected immediately upstream from HIL contained none of these compounds
at detectable levels (and no identifiable organochlorines), strongly suggesting
that discharges and/or run-off from the HIL plant have resulted in heavy contamination
of the creek sediments with a range of pesticide residues and other hazardous
organochlorine chemicals.
· DDT and
HCH were also detectable in the water/effluent sampled downstream from HIL,
indicating that production of these insecticides, and their release to the creek,
is continuing.
· DDT and
its metabolites were also detectable in the wetlands surrounding the Udyogmandal
estate. Although it cannot be ruled out that the presence of these residues
might result from direct application of DDT for malaria vector control, the
presence in these samples of other chlorinated chemicals also identified in
the creek (particularly chlorinated benzophenones) suggests that overspill of
the creek and/or other uncontrolled discharges from the estate might be leading
to more widespread contamination of the wetland.
In summary, the
results of this investigation strongly support the conclusion that the manufacture
of DDT and other pesticides at the Hindustan Insecticides Ltd plant is ongoing,
and is resulting in the continued release of these and a diverse mixture of
other organochlorine chemicals to the environment.
· Government
of India investigate and stop the pollution caused by the production of DDT
· Financial and administrative mechanisms be included in the UNEP POPs treaty
to assist less industrialised countries eliminate DDT production and use.
A Greenpeace Investigation
of HINDUSTAN
INSECTICIDES LTD UDYOGMANDAL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, KERALA - Persistent organic
pollutants and other contaminants in samples taken in the vicinity of the Hindustan
Insecticide Ltd plant, Udyogmandal industrial estate, Kerala, India. Authors:
Labunska, I., Stephenson, A., Brigden, K., Stringer, R., Santillo, D. Johnston,
P.A. & Ashton,J.M. Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Exeter UK. December 1999