AMMAN — Communities across the
Middle East and North Africa are facing alarming cancer rates, exacerbated by the troubling regulations of
the EU which permit companies to export deadly chemicals banned within its
borders. The most prevalent and relevant case of these chemicals to Jordan is
pesticides, which enter our borders illegally either in their pure form or on
produce coated with these chemicals.
اضافة اعلان
A recent report has unveiled the shocking reality that
lethal European exports to countries like Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, and
Tunisia are causing harmful brain damage in children. Morocco stands out as a
major recipient of toxic pesticides prohibited in Europe due to their
cancer-causing effects on humans and catastrophic pollution of
water sources,
leading to the destruction of aquatic life and vital honeybee populations
crucial for food production.
This issue goes beyond a few nations, Turkey, Qatar,
Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, and Iran have also
received substantial quantities of these hazardous pesticides, blatantly
disregarding international agreements and fundamental human rights principles,
according to Ekō (formerly SumOfUs).
In light of these issues, and the clear detrimental impact
of these substances,
Jordan News has interviewed a series of local experts on
the subject, all of whom urge for tighter regulations and screenings for
produce and pesticides, to safeguard the health of Jordanian people as well as
Jordanian agriculture, which can be equally harmed by negligent practices.
These experts also spread awareness on the impact of these substances and what
they are, and how we can battle their usage.
Deadly pesticides in Jordan
The chairman of the Jordan Environmental Union, Omar
Shoshan, stated that farmers resort to using banned, inexpensive pesticides
smuggled from neighboring countries, aiming to reduce costs and effectively
combat agricultural pests.
“Persisting with the current approach of extensive pesticide use mostly harms the farmers themselves, potentially depriving them of export opportunities”
He emphasized that pesticides leave adverse effects on
crucial systems, potentially transmitting damage to people’s health and the
environment. Residues from pesticides hinder children's developmental growth,
in addition to causing various health issues, notably cancer. Consequently, it
is imperative to tighten control over fields, central markets, and disseminate
agricultural guidance. Each farmer or crop should possess a certificate proving
the safety of their agricultural products, which elevates the product quality.
The reasons behind the use of unsafe pesticides include
their efficiency and rapidity in eliminating agricultural pests, coupled with a
lack of awareness about their harmful effects. Shosan highlighted that these
pesticides disrupt the
ecosystem by eradicating other insects with vital
environmental roles, leading to an imbalance in the overall ecosystem. Some
banned pesticides also affect soil composition.
Shoshan said that persisting with the current approach of
extensive pesticide use mostly harms the farmers themselves, potentially
depriving them of export opportunities. He emphasized the need to enhance
agricultural
extension efficiency and regularly monitor pests and issues within
the agricultural sector.
Possible approaches
Agricultural expert, Ibrahim Al-Sharif informed
Jordan News
that while pesticides globally impact human health, their effects can be
mitigated through optimizing usage. Jordan is among the countries that ensure
proper pesticide use by imposing strict conditions on registration and
importation. Although some specific instructions, such as adhering to safety
intervals and obtaining
global pesticide registration approved by the WHO, are
enforced after importation.
Sharif clarified that these pesticides are indispensable to
combat crop-devastating fungi and insects that can lead to food shortages and
famines. Hence, he stressed the importance of imposing control measures and
penalties in case of violations.
Director of the plant research and protection directorate at
the
National Agricultural Research Center, Ziad Al-Nasser, pointed out that the
center aims to optimize pesticide usage, conduct scientific field experiments
and research, and submit reports to the Ministry of Agriculture to take the
necessary actions.
Abdullah Al-Zaben, head of the
Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruit and Vegetables, highlighted that Jordan has
entered into international agreements concerning plant health, and any
pesticide prohibited in Europe is also prohibited in Jordan. Furthermore, many
farmers in Jordan are adopting the Best Control Management system, where
pesticide efficacy lasts for one to two days, despite its increased costs.
Nevertheless, Zaben stressed that stricter monitoring of fruit imports from
neighboring countries is required.
Shada Al-Sharif, senior advisor on
green economy, stressed
the importance of raising awareness and advocating for nature-based solutions,
including a return to the use of native plants. The increase in awareness in
Jordan can lead to
economic prosperity and improved individual health.
A scientific standpoint
Abdullah Al-Zaben also explained that pesticide
effectiveness diminishes when applied to plants due to Jordan's challenging
climate characterized by drought, high temperatures, and inadequate humidity.
Most pesticides used in Jordan are contact pesticides, which are entirely
eliminated through simple washing. The water used for irrigation in Jordan
contains high pH values, which reduces the effectiveness of pesticides, unlike
the water in Europe, which has a low pH that enhances the efficacy and
persistence of pesticides on plants for a longer period of time.
“Pesticides are indispensable to combat crop-devastating fungi and insects that can lead to food shortages and famines”
Oroba Al-Refai, head of Hands for
Environment and Sustainable Development and PO in International Pollutants Elimination Network
IPEN, told
Jordan News exposure to pesticides is one of the main causes of
death from self-poisoning, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Therefore, its danger primarily affects farmers, then residents of areas near
pesticide usage sites, and consumers of crops excessively treated with hazardous
pesticides.
She added that chronic health effects related to pesticides
include cancers, tumors, nervous system disorders, reproductive issues,
immune system impacts, and disruptions to the endocrine system. Regarding soil,
insecticides have harmed microorganisms in the soil that play a crucial role in
helping plants access soil nutrients, leading to damage to biodiversity.
Pesticides spread through air currents, contaminating
surrounding areas and harming birds, mammals, fish, and other species. The flow
of insecticides into surface and groundwater systems has begun to damage human
drinking water supplies.
In recent years, the term "
Highly Hazardous Pesticides" (HHP) has been expanded to include not only highly toxic
pesticides but also those causing serious chronic health effects. Generally,
proving chronic health effects is more difficult than proving acute toxic
effects.
Currently, the pesticides included in the lists of the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are:
• Aldrin
• Chlordane
• DDT
• Dieldrin
• Endrin
• Heptachlor
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Mirex
• Toxaphene
• Chlordimeform
• Alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane
• Beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane
• Lindane
• Pentachlorobenzene
• Pentachlorophenol,
its salts, and esters
• Technical
Endosulfan and its related isomers
The
WHO, in cooperation with the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, is currently working to establish more effective
mechanisms for pesticide use and the protection of human health.
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