Home NEWS T docs demand regulation on sale of paraquat | Hyderabad News

T docs demand regulation on sale of paraquat | Hyderabad News


T docs demand regulation on sale of paraquat

Hyderabad: The medical fraternity in Telangana is demanding a stringent regulation on paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide that they say is becoming a leading cause of suicide among farmers and youngsters.Doctors at Gandhi and Osmania General Hospital (OGH) said they see at least one case every day where people consumed the weedicide. The situation is similar in districts, or even worse in the hinterland where farming is the primary occupation.“Most patients are farmers, who belong to low-income backgrounds and come from various parts of Telangana. They consume it with suicidal intent or due to other personal issues. These days, even the cases of youngsters are on the rise,” said a doctor from the general medicine department, Gandhi Hospital. Paraquat is traditionally used as a herbicide, particularly for weed and grass control.“What is severe about paraquat is that while other poisons show effects on day one, in this case, a patient is usually normal for the first few days. The effects start with kidney failure, followed by liver failure in the following days. Sometimes, patients might recover from kidney and liver failure, but after day 10 or more, the poison attacks the lungs. The mortality rate is about 90% to 95% with a very low survival rate,” said Dr Satish Narayana, President, doctors against paraquat poison (DAAP).In May this year, an 18-year-old boy died in Bhadradri Kothagudem after consuming paraquat due to his parents’ scolding. “He was not even a farmer and came from a well-to-do family. He bought it from a fertiliser store as it is easily available. A five-litre bottle of paraquat costs 13.5. Even alcohol is not sold to a person below 18,” said Dr Narayana.‘Banned in over 70 countries’Doctors say that the fatal pesticide is banned in more than 70 countries, with the herbicide being labelled as restricted use pesticides (RUPs). This includes the entire European Union, China, Switzerland, and the UK, the countries responsible for producing and distributing paraquat. “In the US, it is only sold to people with a commercial licence. Use of the chemical by homeowners or in residential areas is not lawful. The trained person will come and apply it wherever required,” said Dr Narayana. In India, paraquat was banned in Kerala in 2011 and Odisha in 2023. While the ban was revoked in Kerala in 2022 due to a legal challenge by pesticide manufacturers and agricultural associations, it the ban still prevails in Odisha with the state govt urging Centre for a complete ban on its sale/distribution and manufacturing. During the recent Telangana Assembly session, BJP’s Sirpur MLA Palvai Harish Babu urged state govt to ban the hazardous herbicide. “Khammam MP, Raghuram Reddy will also be bringing up the issue in parliament soon under rule 377,” said Dr Narayana.Paraquat, also known as paraquat dichloride, is a different group of poison which does not have any antidote. “This herbicide is not dependent on amount of dose taken, as even a small amount (a teaspoon or 5 ml) is enough to cause death. Initial symptoms can be mistaken for food poisoning and the person will be talking even after consuming it,” said Dr R Kartheek, general secretary, Telangana healthcare reforms doctors’ association (HRDA).On checking, TOI found that paraquat is readily available for OTC sale in shops selling agriculture-related chemicals and online under various brand names.Doctors are stressing the urgent need for increased awareness about paraquat poisoning and strict regulations, particularly for farmers and sellers.





Source link