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Aerial Spraying 101

Aerial Spraying 101. End Poison Rain. www.dirtybananas.org. What is aerial spraying?. form of pesticide application that uses a small airplane or helicopter used by the banana plantations in Mindanao since 1970s

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Aerial Spraying 101

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  1. Aerial Spraying 101 End Poison Rain www.dirtybananas.org

  2. What is aerial spraying? • form of pesticide application that uses a small airplane or helicopter • used by the banana plantations in Mindanao since 1970s • targets sigatoka, a fungus that attacks the leaves of banana plants and causes premature aging of fruits • mixture sprayed usually composed of pesticide, water, the oil or sticker and emulsifier • in the Philippines, only fungicides are allowed by FPA to be sprayed aerially

  3. Why is there a need to ban aerial spraying? • The chemicals sprayed is inherently poison • Pesticides are designed to kill • Even if registered by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, still have ill effects on non-target organisms • All banned pesticides were once allowed for use

  4. Pesticide Poisoning Victims in India

  5. Pesticide Poisoning Victims in Mindanao

  6. Fungicides sprayed and their health effects

  7. Fungicides sprayed and their health effects

  8. Why is there a need to ban aerial spraying? • Aerial spraying increases the spray drift increasing toxic exposure • predictable percentage of spray drift can reach to 3.2 km from the treatment site -- USEPA • 80 km – in hilly terrain under windy conditions – a study in central Washington • contaminates open/exposed bodies of water (rivers, wetlands, and springs) where people get drinking water • contaminates the roofs of houses where people usually collect rainwater for domestic use • contaminates people, animals, other crops

  9. Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides. Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway

  10. Why is there a need to ban aerial spraying? • Poor regulations on aerial spraying; lack of enforcement; lack of monitoring • Regulations for aerial spraying not regularly monitored by Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority because of lack of personnel and budget • No environmental health monitoring • Vegetative buffer zones near schools, rivers, public roads, and houses, not complied with by banana companies • In Alaska, the current required buffers to protect drinking water sources is 66 meters • Proposed buffer zones by different concerned organizations is >1 mile around drinking water.

  11. Are there local and international studies that support the ban position? • Yes • Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al 1997 • Dr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of National Poison Management and Control Center and Dr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), et al 1999 • DOH Study 2006

  12. Drs. Quijano,Hernandez, et al • 11 out 24 individuals examined and water samples from hand-pump well (source of drinking water in the community) were positive for ETU – ethylenethiourea (metabolite of mancozeb) • A spectrum of medical complaints and symptoms that is similar, if not identical to the symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning • Occurrence of diseases atypical in quality – severe anemia in young males and blood dyscrasias

  13. Toxic stories Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur • Residents nearby complain of strong and odorous fumes every time aerial spraying is done • Residents experience suffocation, weakness, nausea, painful stinging of the eyes and itching • Residents vulnerable to fever, vomiting, cough and body aches, asthma, anemia, goiter, and cancer • Residents believe frequent deaths in the village due to these illnesses related to pesticide exposure

  14. Toxic stories Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur • Many cases of still birth • Many cases of children with abnormalities such as cleft palate and severe skin diseases • Many cases of impaired mental development among children • Children have stunted growth, delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics, suffer wasting and have mental deficiencies • Many residents exhibited signs and symptoms of tremors and palpitations suggestive of endocrine disruption

  15. Health and Environmental Assessment of Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur (2006) 81.6% of residents reported exposure to aerial pesticides; only 3 of them were agricultural workers in the banana plantation. 52% of them reported symptoms of post-exposure (Eye irritation, Headache, Dizziness, Skin itchiness, Nail changes, Cough, Weakness)

  16. Health and Environmental Assessment of Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur (2006) Symptoms are consistent with mancozeb and chlorothalonil, both of which are irritating to the body surfaces 34.3% of the respondents had pesticide in the blood Environmental monitoring showed levels of ETU in soil and air; chlorothalonil in soil samples Study recommended a ban on aerial spraying and shift to organic farming, among others

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