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School
children possibly poisoned by agrochemicals in San
Carlos
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Ministry of Health confirmed that 22 people, 16 children, and six adults, from La Ceiba* school in San Carlos, were hospitalized for alleged agrochemical poisoning that was used in the crop sprayer in a pineapple plantation. According to the investigation, on Friday children and teachers were at school, when for the apparent cause was the regular crop sprayer in a nearby pineapple plantation, the direction of the wind sent the pesticide to the school area. According to the Red Cross officials, more than five ambulances were sent to attend the emergency. By the time the paramedics arrived, the teachers had already evacuated the children from the school and were on the sidewalk. "The children presented symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, itching and irritation of eyes, apparently after having been in contact with agrochemicals," said the Ministry of Health in its statement. The children were sent to the San Carlos Hospital emergency room, where they received medical treatment for poisoning. All the children were released in the afternoon. According to the Ministry, an investigation into the incident was opened to "make an administrative or possibly a criminal complaint. Measures that are required to prevent similar situations from happening again." Related to herbicides considered harmful, as A.M. Costa Rica reported on May, the Ombudsman's Office recommended the total elimination of the use, exportation, and import of the herbicide glyphosate as it is considered harmful to health. "It is considered necessary and supported the proposal of Executive Decree for the prohibition of the import, manufacture, sale, and supply of active ingredients technical grade, its salts and formulated products containing the active ingredient glyphosate," said the Ombudsman in its statement. Glyphosate, often marketed under the Round-Up brand, is applied in urban public areas such as parks, cemeteries, street rounds, sidewalks, pipes and all kinds of green areas. Its use is currently prohibited at three universities, the University of Costa Rica, the State University at a Distance and the National Technical University and in municipalities, which in alphabetical order are: Alajuela, Aserrí, Barva, Belén, Corredores, Curridabat, Desamparados, Escazú, Esparza, La Unión, Montes de Oca, Orotina, Pérez Zeledón, Quepos, San Isidro de Heredia, San Mateo, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, Sarapiquí, Talamanca and Tibás. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, said that the weed killer glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans, but recommended new measures to prevent potential ecological risks, especially to monarch butterflies and other pollinators. According to the agency, glyphosate developer Monsanto was convicted in 2018 and 2019 of not taking necessary steps to warn of the potential risks of Round-Up, their weed killer containing the chemical, which two California juries found caused cancer in two users. In a statement, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the agency found "no risks to public health from the currently registered uses of glyphosate." It did not propose new instructions, subject to a public comment period, for farmers and others using the chemical to reduce "spray drift" that can harm butterflies. Under those regulations, glyphosate labels in the U.S. would have to instruct aerial users to spray the chemical from more than 10 feet (three meters) above crops, or if wind speeds exceed 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour). Meanwhile, labels would be required to state that when applied from the ground, the chemical must not be sprayed from more than four feet above crops and that all must be set to mist the product at a "fine" or coarser setting. The proposed instructions also include new regulations around glyphosate's use around water. The EPA said the chemical presents "low toxicity" to honey bees, but does present a "potential risk" to birds and plants, including aquatic plants. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, said in 2015 that glyphosate was likely carcinogenic. German pharmaceutical firm Bayer, which bought Monsanto, announced that over 13,000 lawsuits related to the weed killer have been launched in the U.S. ---------------------------- Should Health Ministry prohibit of the use of glyphosate? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com |
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