Endosulfan has been certified by World Health Organisation (Switzerland) and Food & Agriculture Organisation (Italy) to not cause cancer, birth defects, or any hormonal imbalance on contact.
It is also the opinion of the United Nations Environment Programme, International Labour Organisation, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and the US Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Registration, that Endosulfan has no carcinogenic potential.
The pesticide does not persist in the environment, and its degeneration is faster in tropical and sub-tropical climates. It degenerates from consumption by micro-organisms in soil, in sunlight, as well as in water. It is unlikely to persist in the human body as it is continually degraded by metabolism to a lesser state of hazard.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority noted on its website, “Endosulfan has shown no potential to accumulate over time in animals. It is more water soluble than other organo-chlorines… and is less persistent in the body because it metabolises quickly. The chemical is extremely unlikely to have an effect in humans at any level of intake that is likely to occur through food residues.” Endosulfan was even introduced in USA for veterinary purposes in 2006 to stop parasite problems in cattle bred for meat and milk.
A study was conducted in Kasargod, Kerala by the Fredrick Institute of Plant Protection and Toxicology (FIPPAT) of Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu in 2001. Mr Pradeep Dave, President, Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India announced the finding that except for marginal deposition in soil (0.001–0.012 mcg/gm) and leaf (0.040–2.893 mcg/gm), no residue was found in samples of human blood, cow milk, fish or water. 112 samples of residents from the age group of 3–70 years were collected along with 90 leaf, soil and water samples, and transported to the FIPPAT facility under strict supervision. The residue estimation was conducted as per Good Laboratory Practices.
In a study conducted by TS Kathpal of the Haryana Agricultural University, India, it was found that Endosulfan dissipates in soil to an extent of 92–97 per cent during the first four weeks after its application (Pesticide Science, 1997, 50 21-27). Endosulfan degrades rather faster in tropical and subtropical environment. It degrades through consumption by micro-organisms present in soil, chemical breakdown under the impact of sunlight (photolysis) and chemical reaction with water (hydrolysis).
According to a ‘Pesticide Information Project’ of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis, transport of Endosulfan is most likely to occur if it is attached to soil particles in surface runoff. However, it is not expected to pose a threat to groundwater. Their study also revealed that in raw river water at room temperature exposed to light, both of Endosulfan’s isomers disappeared in four weeks.
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