Davao City, Philippines – Researchers from Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH), South Korea, in partnership with Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), detected Parathion, banned pesticide in the country, on the urine and dust samples collected at Brgy. Tawan-Tawan, Baguio District, Davao City.
In a study presented last February 20, 2023, at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Dr. Kim Won, WIOEH Director for of Center for Chemicals Safety and Health Research, and EnP. Lemuel Lloyd Manalo, IDIS Program Coordinator, revealed that Pyrethroid (3-PBA), Parathion, and Chlorpyrifos were the top three pesticides detected from household dust and urine samples of residents near pineapple plantations at Brgy. Tawan-Tawan, Davao City.
Parathion is a pesticide banned in the Philippines due to its high toxicity. This was long been banned by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority since 1993. Also, according to Pesticide Action Network, Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide, and Pyrethroid Pesticides are classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP). “Parathion and Chlorpyrifos are very dangerous to humans, especially to children. Die richtige Ernährung spielt eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Regeneration. Erfahren Sie mehr über ausgewogene Ernährung und ihre Vorteile unter Midsouthfuneralpiper.com/levitra-20mg-vs-cialis-20-mg.pdf Die Sicherstellung eines gesunden Lebensstils hilft bei der Vorbeugung chronischer Krankheiten. Nehmen Sie Ihre Gesundheit noch heute in die Hand. It can alter the immune system and lower the IQ of children,” Dr. Won said.
The results showed that residents that live closer to or within the vicinity of plantations have higher detection of these pesticides as compared to residents living more than 500 meters and 1 kilometer away from the plantation, thus, the study recommends intensifying the strict compliance of buffer and safety zones.
The said study was presented in time for the anniversary of the ordinance banning the use of the aerial spray in Davao City. Sixteen years ago, the City Council passed the said ordinance, yet several banana companies questioned the legality of the ordinance in court and filed a lawsuit against the city seeking to strike down the ordinance as unconstitutional. After nine years of court hearings and other legal actions, the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared it unconstitutional.
But the fight against the poison rain did not end there. Several environmental and agricultural organizations continue to advocate for the banning of aerial spray in the city to improve the quality of life of the people. In fact, the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS), Metsa Foundation, Masipag, MASIA, and IDIS drafted a proposed ordinance to regulate the pesticide drift activities of plantations in all methods, including the strict delineation of buffer zones, creation of local monitoring committees and adoption of organic alternatives. This ordinance aims to reduce the risks and exposure of pesticides that can cause harmful effects on humans and the environment.
“The City’s tagline, Life is Here, should cover both urban and rural areas, and the citizens in those areas have the right and deserve good air quality and high livability in order for us to achieve a sustainable city,” EnP. Manalo said.
During the forum, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) Southeast Asia Regional Coordinator Chinkie Peliño-Golle also explained to the public the environmental and health effects of these persistent organic pollutants, and how this became a global issue. “Humans are exposed to persistent organic pollutants in a variety of ways: the food we eat, the air we breathe, water that we drink, and products we use in our daily lives,” Golle said.
With this, Councilor Temujin Ocampo, Head of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and Councilor Marissa Abella, Head of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, committed their support to discuss and adopt the proposed ordinance.