19. Latin American and Caribbean Case Studies on
Persistent Organic Pollutants: DDT, Toxaphene, and Endosulfan in Nicaragua
by Mr. Mario A. Vaughan
PROMAP
IMPACT OF PESTICIDES
ENVIRONMENT
CONTAMINATION OF SOIL AND WATER
HARM TO WILDLIFE
THREAT TO AQUACULTURE
DANGERS IN TRANSPORTING TOXIC SUBSTANCES
HEALTH AND WORK
FOOD CONTAMINATION
ACUTE POISONING
CHRONIC TOXICITY
ACCUMULATION IN TISSUES AND MILK
RESISTANCE OF DISEASE VECTORS
RE-EMERGENCE OF MALARIA AND DENGUE
RESISTANCE OF HOUSEHOLD PESTS
OCCUPATIONAL RISKS
AGRICULTURE
IMBALANCE IN AGROECOSYSTEMS
ELIMINATION OF NATURAL ENEMIES
CAUSATION AND RE-EMERGENCE OF PESTS
RESISTANCE OF PESTS TO PESTICIDES
PHYTOTOXICITY
CONTAMINATION AND REJECTIONS OF EXPORTS
Cost Estimates of Undesirable Effects of the Improper Use of Pesticides
in Nicaragua in the 1980s (US Dollars)
AGRICULTURE
Import values 44,000,000
Aggregate values & application costs 59,264,880
New pest inductions 14,500,000
Resurgence of endemic pests 14,500,000
Harm to natural enemies 9,700,000
Resistance of pests to pesticides 26,100,000
Effects on pollinators 125,000
Phytotoxicity 57,000
Poisoning and death of animals 140,000
Rejections of contaminated beef 618,916
SUBTOTAL AGRICULTURAL SECTOR 169,005,796
HEALTH SECTOR
Re-emergence of Malaria 2,429,000
Cost of human poisoning 6,150,085
SUBTOTAL HEALTH SECTOR 8,579,085
ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR
Environmental damage ( water, soil, wildlife) 272,500,000
SUBTOTAL ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR 272,500,000
GRAND TOTAL 450,084,181
CHEMICAL SAFETY THROUGH THE USE OF ALTERNATIVES
TO PETROLEUM AND SYNTHETIC AGROCHEMICALS:
1. REPLACE INTENSIVE MECHANIZATION WITH ZERO TILLAGE
2. GIVE PREFERENCE TO THE USE OF MANUAL LABOR AND DRAFT ANIMALS WHEN ECONOMICALLY AND TECHNICALLY VIABLE
3. INSTEAD OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS, USE CROP ROTATION, GREEN FERTILIZERS, AND COMPOSTING
4. INSTEAD OF SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDES, DEVELOP CROP RESISTANCE TO PESTS AND COMPREHENSIVE CONTROL MEASURES
5. THE OVERALL AGROCHEMICAL LOAD CAN BE REDUCED SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION AT THE FARM LEVEL, THE PRACTICE OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION WITH LOW OUTSIDE INPUT
6. THE ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCE ACHIEVED WITH REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE RESPONDS TO AN ECOLOGICAL LAW: DIVERSITY CREATES BALANCE AND STABILITY
7. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IS THRIVING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY WANTS FOOD THAT IS ABUNDANT AND FREE OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES
THOUSANDS POISONED
(1,035 IN 1995)
3,300 TONS OF PESTICIDES RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT EACH YEAR
NEARLY 2,000 TONS OF EXPIRED PESTICIDES CONVERTED INTO ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY ONEROUS TOXIC WASTE
DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH RESISTANCE TO PESTICIDES IN DISEASE VECTORS AND THE TROUBLING RE-EMERGENCE OF MALARIA AND DENGUE