Economy
Kidney disease is Tassie’s ‘silent killer’
WHO links pesticides to kidney disease in Sri Lanka and bans 3 hazardous pesticides still used in Australia
Tasmania has an increasing incidence of renal disease necessitating in an unprecedented need for dialysis centres in the State, but who is looking as to the reasons for this?
A tragic example of the global experiment with pesticides and fertilisers (containing arsenic and cadmium) has been proposed by WHO and the Sri Lankan Government as the probable cause of the kidney disease epidemic in Sri Lanka: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19628295
This has now been confirmed with three harmful pesticides – chlopyrifos, propanil and carbaryl – banned in Sri Lanka, but still registered for use in Australia and Tasmania.
Chlorpyrifos is a very toxic pesticide and should be universally banned if the logic of banning endosulfan and similar pesticides is followed. There is no longer any rational justification for the continuing use of the 77 most hazardous pesticides still used in Australia, http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/index.php?/weblog/article/tasmanians-exposed-to-77-dangerous-pesticides-on-new-australian-toxic-hit-l/ which include chlorpyrifos, carbaryl and propanil.
Pesticide mixtures have also been called into question as adding to the toxicity of the ingredients.
Associated heavy metal exposure and related body burden – arsenic and cadmium – has also been shown to add to the severity of the kidney disease with these heavy metals being found in pesticides and fertilisers. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metal and is also associated with mining in the State.
Tasmania has an increasing incidence of renal disease necessitating in an unprecedented need for dialysis centres in the State, but who is looking as to the reasons for this? The Menzies Centre had a media release in 2009 called “Tasmania’s “silent killer” on the rise”.
http://www.menzies.utas.edu.au/article.php?Doo=Redirect&id=1031
I quote: “A team of researchers at the Menzies Research Institute has identified an alarming rate of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Tasmania. One in six Tasmanians has diagnosed CKD and researchers believe the numbers could be much higher. …Dr Jose says that Tasmania has a relatively high prevalence [of CKD], at around eleven per cent for females and nine per cent for males.”
“The prevalence [of CKD] differs geographically within the state and is highest in the North West.”
“Tasmania will spend more than $130 million on dialysis treatment over the next 10 years.”
“While many of us may associate chronic disease with the elderly, chronic disease can hit the young and healthy.
Old Beach resident Kylie McCulloch was diagnosed with kidney disease at 24 years of age. One week before her wedding she noticed severely swollen ankles and after a trip to the doctor and a kidney biopsy, she was given the devastating news that her kidneys were failing. After receiving a transplant, Kylie says she feels her life is back to ‘normal’.”
Could the issues of very toxic pesticides and their use as mixtures along with heavy metal toxicity be affecting Tasmanians?
Who is looking at these issues in Tasmania and what part are the Tasmanian Public Health and the EPA playing in protecting the public with regard to this ‘alarming rate’ in kidney disease in Tasmania?
Is the APVMA now reviewing these pesticides specifically with regard to kidney disease?
Three harmful agro-chemicals banned
April 8, 2013, 9:56 pm
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa and Dilanthi Jayamanne
Following the spread of a mysterious kidney disease among the Rajarata farmers the Agriculture Ministry has banned, with immediate effect, the import of three agro-chemicals, considered harmful to humans.
The banned agro-chemicals are, Chlopyrifos, Propanil and Carbaryl.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane said that the decision had been taken on the advice of experts who had studied the situation .
The Minister said that tests carried out on the blood samples of kidney patients had found traces of arsenic and revealed that chemicals consisting of chlorpyrifos, Propanil and Carbaryl were harmful to humans.
A recent study has found that over 200,000 people are suffering from a chronic kidney disease first identified in the 1990s in areas in the dry zone such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dehiattakandiya, Hambantota, Mahiyangane and Kantale.
However, Ministry Secretary W. A. Sakalasooriya said that the use of those banned pesticides could not be stopped immediately as they had already been imported and were still in the local market.
Although the Ministry had immediately stopped imports, it would take several months to completely stop the use of those pesticides, Sakalasooriya said.
Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial committee appointed to implement the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the prevalence of the chronic kidney disease in several areas of the country, will meet the people in the affected areas to obtain their views.
According to the Health Ministry sources the WHO report had been handed over to the Health Ministry and its recommendations would be implemented soon.
The inter-ministerial committee included officials from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Water Supply and Drainage, Environment, Local Government, Provincial Councils and Education.
The Island learns that the authorities have also decided to minimise the import of triple super phosphate (TSP) fertilizer due to the high content of cadmium in it.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry spokesman D. Wanninayake said that a decision had also been taken to levy a 10 per cent tax on all insecticides. The government would utilize the revenue obtained from it for the welfare of patients. In addition, a ban would be implemented on pesticide advertisements. Mixing two types of pesticides prior to use had also been prohibited, he said, adding that the particular law would be implemented to the letter. Awareness would also be created with regard to the safe use of pesticides and agrochemicals, he said
Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Hemantha Withanage, when contacted, welcomed the ban on three pesticides. However, there were a few more including Mancozeb and Carbendazim which should also be banned, he said, noting that the Registrar of Pesticides had only permitted the import of 671,504 kg and 20,000 kg of the two chemicals.
Withanage said that over 995,310 kg of Propanil, 6,000 kg of Carbaryl and 420,008 kg of Chlorpyrifos had been imported. He said that the arsenic and cadmium contents in them were fairly high.
• Dr Alison Bleaney:
Please look where and how chlorpyrifos causes effects on the yet to be born baby…
“In this major update, we have added nearly 100 events in our timeline of human development and added 200 new scientific findings for BPA, phthalates, chlorpyrifos and dioxin.”