Status of

Pesticide pollution in Nepal

Kanti Shrestha, Ph.D

Chief Scientific officer

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Lalitpur

20th June 2014 National Symposium on Pesticide Pollution

GLOBAL CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF PESTICIDES S.N. Country Pesticide Use-a.i.(kg/ha)

1 India 0.38

2 China 2.0-2.5

3 Pakistan 1.3

4 Bangladesh 0.4

5 Bhutan 0.1

6 Republic of Korea 6.6

7 Japan 12

8 Indonesia 0.575

9 Thailand 1.1

10 Netherlands 9.4

11 Europe 1.9

12 USA 1.5

13 Germany 2.5

14 Norway 0.4

15 Africa 1.23

16 Nepal 0.142 Source: Pesticide use by country", World Resources Institute, livemint.com, 2007, Less pesticide on your food: Good

news, 2012 and Trends in pesticide use and drivers for safer pest management, 2008

Pesticide trader

• Private pesticide dealership started from 1995

when AIC stopped bulk purchasing of pesticides.

• Network of private wholesalers & retailers in most of the districts

Direct purchase

• Some institution have been directly purchasing pesticides independently.

• National Seed Company, Cotton Development Board, Nepal Food Corporation as well as the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

List of Company involved in Pesticide formulation

S. No. Name of Company /Farm

Address

1 Kissan Agro Chemicals Birgunj, Parsa

2 Amit Pesticide Udhyog Birgunj, Parsa

3 Nepal Agro Industries Parsauni-2 Bara

4 Khoteja Agro Pvt. Ltd. Jagatpur, Chitwan

5 Nepal Krishi Rasayan Birgunj, Parsa

Total registered pesticides 2068/6/31

S N Type of Pesticides Trade Name Common Name

1 Insecticides 500 40

2 Fungicides 229 33

3 Rodenticides 10 2

4 Weedicides 88 15

5 Bio-pesticides 19 7

6 Bactericides 6 2

7 Acaricides 7 3

Total 859 102

Classification

Organochlorines (eg.DDT, BHC etc.)

Organophosphates (eg.Malathion, Phorate,

Quinalphos, Fenitrothion etc.)

Carbamates (eg. Carbofuran, Aminocarb,

Methiocarb etc.),

Synthetic pyrethroids (eg. Allethrin,

Cypermethrin. Permethrin etc.)

Registered public health pesticides

• Alphacypermethrin 5 % WP

• Beta cyfluthrin 2.45 % SC, 5 % EC

• Cyfluthrin 5 % EW

• Deltamethrin 2.8 % WP

• Lambdacyhalothrin 10 % WP

• Bifenthrin 10 % EC, WP

• Bifenthrin 10 % EC, WP

Registered household use pesticides

• Beta cyfluthrin 2.5 % SC

• Cypermethrin 1 % chalk (Laxmanrekha, Barrier)

• Imidachlorpid 2.15 % GEL (attractant to lure cockroach)

• Propoxur 2 % chalk (Laxmanrekha)

• Bifenthrin 2.5 % EC, WP

• Propoxur 2 % Bait (Flyclean)

SC- Suspension concentrate/Flowable concentrate,

Who hazard category of pesticides

S.N.

WHO Class Hazards Pesticides

1. I A Extremely hazardous

Parathion, Phorate

2. I B Highly hazardous Dichlorvos, quinalphos

3. II Moderately hazardous Endosulfan, carbofuran

4. III Slightly hazardous carbaryl, malathion

5. NH Unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use

Synthetic pyrethroids

Safety Marks

Trend of insecticide (Agri+PH), fungicide

and herbicides in a.i.

0.00

50000.00

100000.00

150000.00

200000.00

250000.00

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Insecticides Fungicides Herbicides Others

0.00

100000.00

200000.00

300000.00

400000.00

500000.00

600000.00

AI Kg/L Formulation (Kg/L) Monitary value (000)

IB II III NH NC

Pesticide formulation according to

WHO Classification

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

kg

Years

Tren d of differnet insecticide in a.i.

Organochlorines Organophosphates Carbamates Synthetic pyrethoids Others/Mix

Problems created due to use of pesticides

Environmental pollution (Air, Water, Soil)

Health Hazards (Acute, Chronic)

Food Contamination due to undesirable residues

Development of resistance by pests to pesticides,

Resurgence of pests, outbreak of secondary pests

What Happens after Application?

• When pesticides are applied the goal is that they will remain in the target area long enough to control a specific pest and then degrade into harmless compounds without contaminating the environment.

• Once applied, many pesticides are mobile in the environment (air, soil, water).

• This movement can injure non-target plants and animals.

Pathways of pesticide movement

• Runoff

• Chemical degradation

• Volatilize (gas vapor)

• Leaching and breakdown in soil

• Leaching and degradation by microbes

• Photo degradation (sun)

Product Labels

• The pesticide label is a binding, legal document. Compliance is required by the regulations.

• Label directions must be carefully followed – from purchase to container disposal.

• High risk pesticides may only be purchased and applied by certified persons.

Table: The pesticides restricted and banned in Nepal.

S.N Banned Pesticides Restricted pesticides

1. Methyl bromide** Bandiocarb ( Public health)

2. Chlordane* Cyfluthrin “

3. DDT* Etofenprox “

4. Dieldrin* Lambda cyhalothrin “

5. Endrin* Permethrin “

6. Aldrin* Dichlorvos (Recommendation)

7. Heptachlor* Mehtomyl “

8. Toxafen* Methyl parathion “

9. Mirex* Monocrotophos “

10. BHC Oxydemeton methyl “

11. Linden Phorate “

12. Phosphamidon Triazophos “

13. Organomercury fungicides Chlorpyriphos+Cypermethrin (Not in Mustard)

14. Methyl parathion

15. Monocrotophos

* POP chemicals, ** ODS chemical. Source: DOPP, 2001

Legal instrument for the management of pesticide in Nepal

Pesticide Act 1991 Pesticide Regulation 1993(1st amendment 2007)

Other related laws •Interim constitution of Nepal •Environment Protection Act, 2053(1996) and Environment Protection Rules, 2054 (1997) •Plant Protection Act, 2064 and Rules, 2066 •Food Act 2023 (1966) and Food Rules 2027 (1970) • Aquatic Life Protection Act, 1961 and Rules • Seed Act, 2045 and Rules 2054 • Consumer Protection Act and Rules •Soil and Water Conservation Act, 1982 •Customs Act, 1962 and Rules, 1962 •Solid Waste Management Act,2011 •Water Resource Act, 1992

Table: signatory of different environment related International Conventions on distribution and use of hazardous chemicals

S.N. International Starting Date

Ratification Date

Focal Points

1. Stockholm Convention

22nd May 2001 5th Apr, 2002 MOEST*

2 Basel Convention 22nd May, 1989 15th Aug, 1996 MOEST

3 Rotterdam Convention

11th September 24th Feb, 2004 MOEST

4 Chemical Weapons Convention

12th Jan 1993 18th Nov, 1997 MOFA **

5 Montreal Protocol 2nd May, 1994 6th Jul, 1994 MOEST

6 SAICM 6th Feb 2006 MOEST

* Ministry of Environment S and T , ** Ministry of Foreign Affairs

What are POPs?

• Organic chemical compound - natural / anthropogenic

• Toxic and persistent

•Ability to travel long distances (through air and water)

• Bio-accumulate/biomagnify in food chains

• Acute and chronic toxic effects on human & wildlife

Convention on Hazardous Chemical

• The Stockholm Convention o Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)-2004

• The Basel convention on the control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal (1989)

• Rotterdam Convention on the prior Informed Consent Procedures for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade-1998

Stockholm Convention

Essential aims

1. Eliminating dangerous chemicals

2. Support the transition to safer alternatives

3. Target additional POPs for action

4. Clean up old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs

The Twelve banned POPs

• Aldrin

• Chlordane

• DDT

• Dieldrin

• Endrin

• Heptachlor

• Mirex

• Toxaphene

• HCB

• PCBs

• Dioxins

• Furans

New POPs added to List

• Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE) • Chlordecone • Hexabromobiphenyl • Lindane • Perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) • Octabromodiphenyl ether (OctaBDE) • Pentachlorobenzene • Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane • Beta hexachlorocyclohexane • Endosulphan

25

Basel Convention

Main Aims are

1. Controls on trans boundary Movements of Hazardous wastes

2. Development of Criteria for the environmentally sound management of wastes

3. Minimization of Hazardous wastes generation

POPs Management Priorities Activities Final

Priority

Pesticides

Safe packaging , safe storage, and disposal of

obsolete pesticide

Remediation and site stabilization

1

PCBs

Manage stockpiles of PCBs and appropriate measures

for handling and disposal of articles in use

Identification of Stockpiles of PCB contaminated

article in use and waste

Ban on sell of PCB contaminated transformer oil

2

POPs

Public awareness raising, information and education

2

POPs Disposal

• 75 tones of obsolete pesticide were stored in Amlekhgunj

and other 23 stores in Nepal

• Agreement with GIZ for the disposal in April 16,2010

• Sent back to Germany for their final disposal in

December 2011

• 43 cylinders of MeBr, stored in Khumaltar and Kirtipur

has been disposed in a environmentally sound manner.

• MSP on “Environmentally Sound Management of

PCBs” is approved and is in implementation (MoSTEnv,

GoN/UNIDO/ GEF)

Some important issues • Pesticide quality

• Pesticide residue

• Pesticide smuggling

• Adulterated & substandard pesticide

• Regulatory mechanism

• Open border

• Increased health consciousness among people

• Issue of healthy environment

• Issue of food safety & food security

• Issue of public (traders, farmers & consumers) awareness

• Issue of co-ordination & co-operation

• Lack of complete & authentic lab.

• Lack of alternative to chemical in hand

• To create institutional capacity to improve legislation

on POPs chemicals, eliminate PCBs and PCBs

containing equipment and wastes;

•To enhance the technical/analytical capacity to

address the POPs problems in more comprehensive

manner;

•To update and complete the inventory of PCBs and

PCBs containing equipment developed during NIP

project

MSP Project envisages

Outcomes 1: Institutional capacity building, policy/legal

framework and enforcement strategy for

POPs pesticides and PCBs

2: ESM system for PCBs

3: Final disposal mechanism of PCBs

4: Public education, awareness and information

5: Project management

•To address PCBs issue through technology

transfer involving decontamination/

dechlorination process

•To disseminate the POPs pesticides and

PCBs information, their impact on human

health and the environment through public

awareness campaigns

MSP- Project envisages

• Coordination among the different stockholders • An ever-increasing number of newly added POPs • Potential environmental risks caused by the historic

POP wastes • Imperfect legislative system and weakness in

regulation management, • The scarcity of alternative product/technology and

research • Resources constrain ( Human and Financial)

Challenges on POPs Management

Household Insecticides

• No rules and regulation on household insecticides

• Import directly by wholesalers and retailers

• Role of Government

▫ Tax collection

▫ No control on quality and monitoing

• If banned chemicals used-Big problem

Types of Pollution

(Total 200 participants from Kathmandu Valley )

•Users - 71 %

▫ Liquids users - 70 % (50 % Good night)

▫ Coil - 20 %

▫ Mat - 8 %

▫ Cream - 2 %

*Insecticide impregnated mosquito nets at Terai

Pollution Due to Household Pesticides

Types of Household Insecticides Used (in Kathmandu)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Survey on Mosquito Repellents

29%

71% Chemical Users

Non Chemical Users

22%

6%

2% 70%

Coils

Mats

Cream

Indoor Air pollution

Inhaled by room occupants may be higher than the estimated

concentrations because the room air may not necessarily be well

mixed

coil may be placed in close proximity to the breathing zone (the bed

level during sleeping).

children usually sleep in small rooms.

To prevent them from excessive mosquito biting, the windows of

their rooms are often closed during sleeping hours.

Thus, the predicted indoor concentrations above are likely to be

very conservative and underestimate actual concentrations..."

Mosquito coil smoke

Contains some carbonyl compounds with strong

irritating effects on the upper respiratory tract--for

example, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde

Consumers usually use mosquito coils for at least

several months every year,

Cumulative effects from long-term exposure

Long-term exposure to mosquito coil smoke can

induce asthma and persistent wheeze in children"

Different Insecticides Used (Coils)

Different Insecticides Used (Liquids)

Different Insecticides Used (Mats)

Pyrethroids (Synthetic insecticides)

• Transfluthrin

• Allethrins

• Permethrin

• Prallethrin

• Cypermethrin

• Deltamethrin

• Imiprothrin

• Tetramethrin

• Tralomethrin

• Phenothrin

• Rasmethrin

• Cyfluthrin

• Bifenthrin

Structure of Transfluthrin

Recommended Dose Limits:

•Coil - 0.05%

•Electric Mat - 10

mg/tablet

•Liquid incense - 0.66%

•Aerosol - 0.2%

Chemical compositions (Mosquito Coils)

S.N.

Brand Name Active chemical

Conc. Other

1. Fumakilla Pyrethroid - Avoid prolong inhalation

2. Good Night Prallethrin

0.04 % Keep away from children

3. Kingtox** Allethrin 0.2 % Keep away from food stuff

4. Surya** Allethrin 0.2 % Keep away from food stuff

** Nepali

Chemical compositions (Mats and sprays)

S.N.

Brand Name

Active chemical

Conc. Other

1. Supermat d-Allethrin ------ 1 pc in 34 m3 room

2. Good Night Prallethrin

1.2 %

3. Kingmat ------- ------ ------

4. Baygon spray

Cypermethrin, Impermethrin,

Hazards of Pyrethroids

• Headache (Neurotoxic)

• Low acute toxicity

• Repeated dose toxicity

▫ Tremors

▫ Target organs (Kidney, liver, GI tract, urinary bladder,

bone, teeth, skin etc)

• Transfluthrin – urine and faeces

Why Pyrethroids are used?

• Potent contact insecticides

• Rapid knockdown effect (Transfluthrin)

• Axonic poisons (Paralysis)

• Neurotoxins

• Combine with antioxidant eg. piperonyl butoxide (inhibitor of microsomal oxidase enzyme)

• Broken by sun light in 1-2 days

• Not significantly affect ground water quality

• But toxic to fish, honey bee and other aquatic animals

Other Household Insecticides

• Bagon

• Cockroach killers

• Sprays

• Liquids

• Solid insecticides

• Insecticide impregnated mosquito nets

Import of Household Insecticides

Country \ Room freshener Mosquito killer

Quantity

(MT)

Cost

(Rs,

000)

Quantity

(MT)

Cost

(Rs,000)

India,

China

and Third

Country

210 32582 878.3 9,58,48

India 114 27322 291 33375

China 41 123896 302 1878

*Dept of Custom,20011

Mosquito Coils

• manufactured in Asia – often contain up to 1 % BCME (bischloromethyl ether)

• Potent lung cancer chemical ever discovered.”

• Most deadly cancer known.

• Chinese factory of mosquito coils – employees dead within five years their jobs due to Lung cancer.

• Epidemic lung cancer even after correction for cigarette smoking?

Pyrethroids

- Safer alternative to organophosphates

- “Safer doesn’t mean they are safe.”

- A chemical designed to kill living things is not safe for humans.

Health risks

• Carcinogenic

• Mutagenic

• Teratogenic (interfere with normal

embryonic development)

• Birth defects

• Reproductive problem

• Liver, Kidney, Neural damage

• Other fatal effect rash, headache, nausea, dizziness

SYMTOMS

Pesticide Pollution In Food (Residues)

• Waiting period for safe use of pesticides

• No strict rules and regulations in applying pesticides in vegetables and fruits.

▫ During cultivation

▫ Before harvesting

▫ Post harvesting

(Tea, Honey, Medicinal herbs etc)

▫ Storage treatment

Hazards of Pesticide Residue

highly detrimental to health.

Toxic effects - temporary irritation,

headache to loss of immune system,

respiratory problem and cancer

Environmental hazards

Maximum Pesticide Residue Limits

Banned pesticides in tea

•Quinalphos (LD50 = 62-137 ppm)

•Phorate (LD50 = 2- 4 ppm)

•Ethion

•Monocrotophos (LD50 = 14-23 ppm)

Pesticide Residue Analysis (2011)

Most of the commercial brands of orthodox tea in Nepal were fulfilling the government standards in all the physicochemical parameters.

No banned pesticides detected Residues of carbamates, pyrethroids and

oxygenated hydrocarbons were detected in tea samples even in organic claimed tea.

Fenobucarb was the most common insecticide

detected.

Biomagnification Bioaccumulation

• Rejection of Nepalese agricultural commodities (honey

and tea) in EU market

• Lack of enforcement of GAP

• No Pesticide Residue Monitoring Plan and Mechanism

• Lack of awareness about risks and safety issues

• Low national priority

Current scenario

Pesticides in Nepalese Foods (1995-2007)

Total samples analysed: 1034

No. of contaminated samples: 126

Environmental Pesticide Pollution

Out Door Air Pollution (Application Potentially Hazardous)

•35% applies directly •32% farmers were served by JT/JTAs

•22% use modern equipment •72% received advice regarding safety precautions

* Leela Dahal, 1995

Drinking Water Pollution (Residue analysis)

Metallic compounds –Arsenic, Lead -Organophosphates -Organochlorines

-Sediments from urban and agricultural development

-From household purpose and animal husbandry

Soil Pollution Approx. 38% use fungicides in crops and food storage

•To control vector born disease

•Epidemiology

Agricultural Pollution

•Seed treatments

•Soil fumigation

•Soil treatment

•Disease control

Quarantines (Pesticide Pollution)

• Plant quarantine (Packaging Materials treatment)

• Animal quarantine (Birds, Animals)

Veterinary Medicine

• To control Pests or diseases in pets and other animals

Conclusions • Should minimize the use of toxic Pesticides (Agriculture, Household, Public health,

Quarantine etc)

• Safe alternative Biopesticides or Traditional methods should be used.

• Implementation of GAP and all national and international rules and regulation

• Strict monitoring and checking before and after importing pesticides by the

Government.

• Articles containing pesticides without mentioned in the label should be strictly

banned.

• Awareness generation among all the stakeholders in the country

• Obsolete pesticides should be destroyed properly or scientifically.

• Regular monitoring of pesticide residues in food, water and environment.

Thank You !