Aerial Spraying Aerial Spraying 101101

End Poison RainEnd Poison Rain

www.dirtybananas.www.dirtybananas.orgorg

What is aerial spraying?What is aerial spraying? form of pesticide application that uses a small

airplane or helicopter used by the banana plantations in Mindanao

since 1970s targets sigatoka, a fungus that attacks the

leaves of banana plants and causes premature aging of fruits

mixture sprayed usually composed of pesticide, water, the oil or sticker and emulsifier

in the Philippines, only fungicides are allowed by FPA to be sprayed aerially

The chemicals The chemicals sprayed is inherently sprayed is inherently poison poison Pesticides are Pesticides are

designed to killdesigned to kill Even if registered by Even if registered by

the Fertilizer and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Pesticide Authority, still still have ill effects on non-have ill effects on non-target organisms target organisms

All banned pesticides All banned pesticides were once allowed for were once allowed for useuse

Why is there a need to ban aerial Why is there a need to ban aerial spraying?spraying?

Pesticide Poisoning Victims in India Pesticide Poisoning Victims in India

Pesticide Poisoning Victims in MindanaoPesticide Poisoning Victims in Mindanao

Fungicides sprayed Fungicides sprayed and their health effectsand their health effects

Active Active Ingredient Ingredient

Product Product Name/BrandName/Brand

Documented health effects Documented health effects

Azoxystrobin Azoxystrobin Bankit 250 ECBankit 250 EC Highly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not Highly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not allowed for use in Canada allowed for use in Canada

BiterthanolBiterthanol Baycor 300ECBaycor 300EC Possible source of birth defects; not allowed Possible source of birth defects; not allowed for use in US farmsfor use in US farms

PropiconazolePropiconazole Bumper 250 ECBumper 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; Possibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; contains reproductive toxins contains reproductive toxins

TridemorphTridemorph Calixin 750 ECCalixin 750 EC Causes birth defects; not allowed for use in Causes birth defects; not allowed for use in Canada and UKCanada and UK

MancozebMancozeb Dithane 448 FDithane 448 F Carcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; Carcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; may cause birth defects; suspected to may cause birth defects; suspected to disrupt endocrine functions disrupt endocrine functions

ChlorotalonilChlorotalonil Daconil 720 FDaconil 720 F Carcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and Carcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates; bio- accumulates in aquatic invertebrates; bio- accumulates in fish fish

Fungicides sprayed Fungicides sprayed and their health effectsand their health effects

Active Active Ingredient Ingredient

Product Product Name/BrandName/Brand

Documented health effects Documented health effects

ManebManeb Maneb 80 WPManeb 80 WP Causes birth defects; probable source of Causes birth defects; probable source of carcinogens; potential source of carcinogens; potential source of reproductive toxinsreproductive toxins

Diteconazole Diteconazole Sico 250 ECSico 250 EC No available data No available data

Propiconazole Propiconazole Tilt 250 ECTilt 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic; contains Possibly carcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins reproductive toxins

MancozebMancozeb Vondozeb Plus Vondozeb Plus 80 WP80 WP

Potential cause of birth defectsPotential cause of birth defects

Thiophanate Thiophanate Methyl Methyl

Topsin M 70 WPTopsin M 70 WP Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to earthworms; causes damage to thyroid earthworms; causes damage to thyroid glands, producing hyperthyroidism glands, producing hyperthyroidism

Aerial spraying increases the spray drift increasing toxic exposure predictable percentage of spray drift can reach to 3.2

km from the treatment site -- USEPA 80 km – in hilly terrain under windy conditions – a study in

central Washington

contaminates open/exposed bodies of water (rivers, wetlands, and springs) where people get drinking water

contaminates the roofs of houses where people usually collect rainwater for domestic use

contaminates people, animals, other crops

Why is there a need to ban aerial Why is there a need to ban aerial spraying?spraying?

Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides.Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway

Poor regulations on aerial spraying; lack of enforcement; lack of monitoring Regulations for aerial spraying not regularly

monitored by Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority because of lack of personnel and budget

No environmental health monitoring Vegetative buffer zones near schools, rivers,

public roads, and houses, not complied with by banana companies

In Alaska, the current required buffers to protect drinking water sources is 66 meters

Proposed buffer zones by different concerned organizations is >1 mile around drinking water.

Why is there a need to ban aerial Why is there a need to ban aerial spraying?spraying?

YesYes Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al

19971997 Dr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of National Dr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of National

Poison Management and Control Center Poison Management and Control Center and Dr. N. Maramba (UP College of and Dr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), et al 1999Medicine), et al 1999

DOH Study 2006DOH Study 2006

Are there local and international Are there local and international studies that support the ban studies that support the ban position?position?

Drs. Quijano,Hernandez, et alDrs. Quijano,Hernandez, et al 11 out 24 individuals examined and 11 out 24 individuals examined and

water samples from hand-pump well water samples from hand-pump well (source of drinking water in the (source of drinking water in the community) were positive for ETU – community) were positive for ETU – ethylenethiourea (metabolite of ethylenethiourea (metabolite of mancozeb)mancozeb)

A spectrum of medical complaints and A spectrum of medical complaints and symptoms that is similar, if not identical symptoms that is similar, if not identical to the symptoms of acute pesticide to the symptoms of acute pesticide poisoningpoisoning

Occurrence of diseases atypical in quality Occurrence of diseases atypical in quality – severe anemia in young males and – severe anemia in young males and blood dyscrasiasblood dyscrasias

Toxic stories Toxic stories Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del SurKamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur

Residents nearby complain of strong and Residents nearby complain of strong and odorous fumes every time aerial spraying is done odorous fumes every time aerial spraying is done

Residents experience suffocation, weakness, Residents experience suffocation, weakness, nausea, painful stinging of the eyes and itchingnausea, painful stinging of the eyes and itching

Residents vulnerable to fever, vomiting, cough Residents vulnerable to fever, vomiting, cough and body aches, asthma, anemia, goiter, and and body aches, asthma, anemia, goiter, and cancer cancer

Residents believe frequent deaths in the village Residents believe frequent deaths in the village due to these illnesses related to pesticide due to these illnesses related to pesticide exposureexposure

Toxic stories Toxic stories Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur

Many cases of still birth Many cases of still birth Many cases of children with abnormalities Many cases of children with abnormalities

such as cleft palate and severe skin diseasessuch as cleft palate and severe skin diseases Many cases of impaired mental development Many cases of impaired mental development

among childrenamong children Children have stunted growth, delayed Children have stunted growth, delayed

development of secondary sexual development of secondary sexual characteristics, suffer wasting and have characteristics, suffer wasting and have mental deficiencies mental deficiencies

Many residents exhibited signs and Many residents exhibited signs and symptoms of tremors and palpitations symptoms of tremors and palpitations suggestive of endocrine disruptionsuggestive of endocrine disruption

Health and Environmental Assessment of Health and Environmental Assessment of Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy, Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy,

Davao del Sur (2006)Davao del Sur (2006)

81.6% of residents reported 81.6% of residents reported exposure to aerial pesticides; exposure to aerial pesticides; only 3 of them were agricultural only 3 of them were agricultural workers in the banana plantation. workers in the banana plantation. 52% of them reported symptoms of 52% of them reported symptoms of

post-exposure (post-exposure (Eye irritation, Eye irritation, Headache, Dizziness, Skin itchiness, Nail Headache, Dizziness, Skin itchiness, Nail changes, Cough, Weakness)changes, Cough, Weakness)

Health and Environmental Assessment of Health and Environmental Assessment of Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy, Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy,

Davao del Sur (2006)Davao del Sur (2006)

Symptoms are consistent with mancozeb Symptoms are consistent with mancozeb and chlorothalonil, both of which are and chlorothalonil, both of which are irritating to the body surfaces irritating to the body surfaces

34.3% of the respond34.3% of the respondents ents had pesticide in had pesticide in the bloodthe blood

Environmental monitoring showed levels ofEnvironmental monitoring showed levels of ETU in soil and air; chlorothalonil in soil ETU in soil and air; chlorothalonil in soil samplessamples

Study recommended a ban on aerial Study recommended a ban on aerial spraying and shift to organic farming, spraying and shift to organic farming, among othersamong others