Thursday, August 24, 2006
'Aerial spraying v. pests affects people's health'
SEVERAL scientific studies have already shown that the use of pesticides in banana plantations using aerial spray can cause damage on the health of a person, said National Poison Control and Information Service officer-in-charge Dr. Lynn Panganiban.
"There are scientific studies already, we will show them that there are really pesticide drifting. That has already been prove that if such stays near plantations, there is drift, and the people can feel the effects," Panganiban said during a press conference at the Councilor's Lounge before a special session that tackled the banning of aerial spraying the city Wednesday.
Dr. Romeo Quijano, a toxicologist from Pesticide Action Network-Asia, said it is the moral obligation of everybody not to engage in an activity that will endanger the health of the people and the environment.
According to him, some pesticides are persistent and can travel across oceans.
"There is no such thing as a safe pesticide, it ruins the endocrine system, immune system, and also lungs," Quijano said. "It can cause cancer."
Quijano added that establishing regulatory scheme that would regulate the use of pesticides and aerial spraying is only designed to facilitate trade, but not to protect the health of the people, thus it should be stopped totally.
"Not that such would be phase out immediately tomorrow, but the most toxic pesticide must be the first one to be banned. And the most harmful way like aerial spraying must be the first one to be stopped," he said.
Quijano said it would be better for banana plantations to practice organic farming where they can even charge higher for their harvest, as organically grown bananas command a high price in the international market. (BRQ)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 24, 2006 issue)
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