To paraquat or not to paraquat

May 24, 2018 Letters

Editor,
In a recent letter to the media, former Government Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, spoke out against banning of paraquat, which is used extensively in Guyana, through gramoxone. Stated Dr, Ramsammy, “Banning of one pesticide can just result in other pesticides becoming suicidal weapons since there are many other pesticides used in agriculture that are far more toxic than paraquat.”
Dr. Ramsammy’s statement is inaccurate. According to the Pesticide Action Network, “Paraquat is the most highly acutely toxic herbicide to be marketed over the last 60 years”. As well, there are 22 different species of weeds in 13 countries that have become resistant to paraquat, which suggests that its effectiveness is gradually being eroded. Additionally, there are numerous highly effective alternatives to parquat that are being used by many nations, none of which have any significant pesticide/herbicide suicide rate.
There are many online lists of alternatives to paraquat that have been recommended by various entities, including the WWF, and that are currently in use in many nations, including Argentina and India, major agri producers.
Also, a number of countries that manufacture paraquat have banned its usage. Some of these nations have larger agri sectors than Guyana, which clearly indicates that they recognize its inherent dangers to their own populations.
That they continue to manufacture this poison is because there is still a market for it. Naturally if that market is eliminated then manufacturing will be discontinued.
Major agri producers, China and Brazil, have also banned paraquat (which will be completely phased out by 2020), as has the European Union. In fact, 32 nations currently, including Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, have banned paraquat.
As well many international organisations, such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, Forest Stewardship Council, UTZ (a leading coffee certification programme worldwide), the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control of Noxious Animals and Plants International (IOBC) and food giants like Dole, United Plantations (one of the largest oil palm plantation companies in Malaysia) Chiquita and the Danish company Aarhus Karlshamn,a leading producer of speciality vegetableoils and fats.
Paraquat is the one of the most common pesticides causing death from suicide. It has a 60-70% mortality rate (Seok et al 2009), much higher than any other agents. It is a significant suicide agent in many nations including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Fiji, Japan, Hong Kong, Samoa, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, Mexico and China.
However, a study in Korea in 2007, of 250 attempted suicides with paraquat, revealed that only 38% of people had intentionally selected paraquat as the agent, indicating that if paraquat was not available the survival rate from attempted suicide would be significantly higher (Seok et al 2009).
Furthermore, paraquat is linked to Parkinson’s disease, which can and often do catalyze suicide ideation leading to suicide fatalities. Actor Robin Williams is one notable victim of Parkinson disease related suicide.
Many nations that resist measures to restrict use of paraquat and/or to ban it do not have significant pesticide suicide rates. Guyana does. As well, in many nations that still use Paraquat and have significant pesticide suicide rates, there is growing advocacy for its ban as in Trinidad & Tobago for example.
So we are puzzled that Dr. Ramsammy would still recommend the use of paraquat based agro chemicals given that this is the leading means of suicide in Guyana. Surely saving a life takes precedence over any other consideration?
The Caribbean Voice

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