Six more pesticides prohibited in Jamaica

Six more pesticides have now been added to the list of substances officially prohibited from being used in Jamaica. These are carbofuran (Furadan), widely used in banana and plantain cultivation against nematodes and corn borer; chlordecone, which was never registered for use in Jamaica; endosulfan (Thiodan), which for many years has been very effective in controlling the coffee berry borer; lindane, which was only registered for use on animals, and TBT, which is used in marine paints. Also on the list is a herbicide, MSMA, which contains arsenic and is used on golf courses.

Michael Ramsay, registrar of the Pesticides Control Authority (PCA), told The Sunday Gleaner that the decision has also been taken to phase out DDVP (Dichlorvos) and chlorpyrifos, two very popular insecticides used by pest-control operators for termite and roach control. He cites the main reason for the decision as their high toxicity, especially of the DDVP, which is a class-one toxicity chemical.

Widespread misuse

"The PCA's decision was also based on widespread misuse of these toxic chemicals that studies have implicated in cancer and childhood disorders, among other health problems," Ramsay warned.

He added: "It will take some time for the current stock of these to be used out, and the public needs to be warned not to allow their use in or around homes and other inhabited premises." To this end, the PCA will be putting out advertisements warning of the potential dangers.

Despite calls for the banning of DDVP in the United States (US), where the debate has raged for more than 25 years, in May 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its continued sale (only in impregnated strips), despite considerable evidence suggesting it is carcinogenic and harmful to the brain and nervous system, especially in children.

DDVP is an organophosphate, one of a group of pesticides developed after World War II, when researchers discovered that insects' nervous systems were more sensitive to nerve agents than the human nervous system. The idea was that small amounts of these agents would be lethal to insects and harmless to people.

Pressure from interest groups

Questions about their safety arose in the 1970s and by 1981, DDVP was one of 13 pesticides which the US EPA considered banning. However, under sustained pressure from interest groups over the years, it has failed to act accordingly.

Meanwhile, Keith Hinds, mayor of Portmore and a veteran pest-control operator, is opposed to the PCA's decision to ban DDVP, describing it as heavy-handed. He commended the authority for its effective monitoring and regulation of the industry, but described the latest move as a step in the wrong direction.

"I give kudos to the PCA for the way it has cleaned up the industry and seen to the proper registration of operators of the industry, but this will set us back," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

The mayor opined that DDVP was the pesticide of choice for operators across the island, given its immediate impact in stopping insects dead in their tracks. However, in the hands of a trained and certified applicator, there was very little chance of misuse, given that it has no residual (lingering) impact and dissipates after about two hours.

He argued that having got used to the effectiveness of DDVP, customers were likely now to accuse pest-control operators of short-changing them if they switch to something which could be perceived as less lethal.

However, Ramsay pointed out that there are safer alternatives which are just as effective in achieving the desired results. He cited two separate recent incidents in Jamaica where schools had to be closed after chlorpyrifos (class-two pesticide, having slightly lower toxicity than DDVP) was applied in classrooms and students got sick. In the Portland incident, the chemical was applied over the weekend and students and teachers were affected after they turned up on the Monday morning and had to seek medical attention. The PCA is still awaiting the final report on the second incident.