Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) expressed alarm at reports indicating that dozens of schoolchildren in Southern Philippines were hospitalised due to inhalation of pesticides while inside school premises.
Local news reports indicate that not less than 55 schoolchildren from Mirab Elementary School in the town of Upi, province of Maguindanao del Norte were rushed to Datu Blah Sinsuat Hospital after experiencing headaches, dizziness, stomachaches and vomiting. While all students are in stable condition after receiving medical attention, they are still being closely monitored.
The municipal health chief and local government stated that pesticides sprayed in fields around the school vicinity were responsible for the poisoning incident. Initial investigations implicate the registered pesticide Vindex (active ingredient: phenthoate) manufactured by the agrochemical giant Bayer Cropscience Inc.
PANAP has monitored similar incidents of poisoning of schoolchildren due pesticides spraying near school vicinities in rural communities across the region. “This latest incident shows the need for government and school authorities to take measures to protect children from toxic pesticides. This may include a pesticide-free buffer zone of at least one kilometer around schools as a form of immediate protection,” said Sarojeni Rengam, PANAP executive director.
“Children are more vulnerable to pesticide impacts because of their still developing bodies. They also breathe more air per unit of body weight than adults, so exposure to even small amounts of pesticides via inhalation can cause a lot of harm. Farmers must be supported to transition to safer agroecological alternatives for the benefit of their children,” Rengam added.
Additionally, PANAP urged Philippine regulatory authorities to review the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in the country such as phenthoate, and work towards a phase-out. Phenthoate is included in PAN International’s list of HHPs[1] and is banned in 37 countries.[2] Early symptoms of poisoning may include excessive sweating, headache, weakness, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, hypersalivation, stomach pains, blurred vision, slurred speech and muscle twitching.[3] Chronic exposure may also cause diseases of the nervous system, mental disorders & epilepsy, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and diseases of liver & kidneys, among others.[4]
“HHPs constitute a relatively small share of registered pesticides, and yet they cause the most harm. Many countries have banned HHPs without affecting agricultural productivity. Agroecological alternatives are available,” Rengam concluded.
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) International is a network of 600 CSOs and institutions in over 90 countries working to eliminate the harm caused by pesticides and to replace them with agroecology and non-chemical alternatives. PAN Asia Pacific (PANAP) is one of its five regional centres.
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[1] Pesticide Action Network International (2021). PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides. Retrieved from https://pan-international.org/wp-content/uploads/PAN_HHP_List.pdf
[2] Pesticide Action Network International (2022). Consolidated List of banned Pesticides. Retrieved from https://pan-international.org/pan-international-consolidated-list-of-banned-pesticides/
[3] World Health Organization (2013). Data Sheets on Pesticides No 48: Phenthoate. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20130506051658/http://inchem.org/documents/pds/pds/pest48_e.htm
[4] International Labour Office (1983). Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Vols. I&II. Geneva, Switzerland. Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phenthoate#section=Medical-Surveillance
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For Media Inquiries:
Ilang-Ilang Quijano, PANAP Communications Officer, ilang.quijano@panap.net
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