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LOGBOOK
DECEMBER
22: DDT Factory, Kerala, India:
Greenpeace
today declared the Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. factory in Udyogmandal (Kochi,
Kerala) a global toxic hotspot, for releasing POPs to the environment, including
the pesticide DDT. Greenpeace activists posted signs in the sample spots and
at the front of the factory warning local residents of the dangers to the
environment and health.
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After posting the Hotspots sign attempts were made by the management of the factory to remove the sign. However the large presence of local residents demonstrated their support and concern about the effects of pollution from the factory by re-erecting the sign. The villagers who had never heard about greenpeace until then gave us their blessings and promised to follow up on their own in cleaning up the estate. Just as the Greenpeace bus was pulling out, the villagers on the side of the street broke into a loud cheer. |
A
scientific survey released by Greenpeace today documents the release to the
environment of contaminants resulting from the production of DDT, highlighting
that DDT is an environmental pollutant not only through its use, but also
its production. The report also shows environmental contamination from the
production of the persistent organochlorine pesticide endosulfan and contamination
with the persistent chemical hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH or BHC).
"DDT has already out lived its utility. Concrete steps must be taken to phase
it out, while ensuring concurrent implementation of alternative measures"
said Nityanand Jayaraman, Greenpeace's Asia Toxics campaigner in India.
"DDT and some of its breakdown products are bioaccumulative and toxic to a wide range of organisms. Several members of the DDT group can cause adverse health effects including disruption to the endocrine (hormone) and reproductive systems" said Dr. Kevin Brigden, a Greenpeace scientist.
