Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: tishakothari on 22/12/2010 11:30:15
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Endosulfan, a pesticide used all over the world since decades has been reported to cause infertility in men. I have come across a number of reports sharing information about this. Would like to know the facts supporting this issue..how can a pesticide used for decades now has started to cause problems?
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There is a lot of scientific literature on endosulfan, so I found a recent review of these studies in a good peer reviewed journal by Silva and Gammon (2009). The title is-- An Assessment of the Developmental, Reproductive, and Neurotoxicity of endosulfan. Here is a link to a PDF of the whole article.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bdrb.20183/pdf
This will be a little technical for persons not used to reading scientific literature, but it is a skill worth developing. The review cites over 120 scientific articles.
Here is a quote from the conclusions--
“The data presented in this review, after suitable analysis, do not support the case that endosulfan is a developmental or reproductive toxicant or an endocrine disruptor. The weight of evidence is that, while some studies showed effects that raised concerns, the results of studies that included peer-reviewed protocols, both positive and negative controls (such as FIFRA Guideline studies), and had results that were reproduced, did not support these concerns. Animals treated in utero, as neonates or as pups (or throughout all developmental stages), do not experience effects at doses lower than those inducing toxicity in adults.”
It is worth keeping in mind that like many insecticides, endosulfan is a neurotoxin that doesn’t just affects insects but also higher doses affect (for example) fish, frogs, hamsters, and humans. Like other poisons approved for use, the levels are regulated. The review said that studies that found reproductive and endocrine effects involved doses high enough to cause neurotoxic effects. Steve
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I agree to you Steve. I may not have a deep understanding about the scientific material but it is mere common sense that any chemical component used above the recommended levels can be much more hazardous to the living beings than projected in case of Endosulfan.
This issue crops in a lot of questions about the credibility of the pesticide. With my research on this pesticide, have understood that it has been used in various parts of the world for decades and recently even the USEPA has approved to use it as a ear plug for lactating cows in US.
Hoping to know more facts on this issue..