Here is a background on Endosulfan to better understand this article. Endosulfan is highly toxic to terrestrial and aquatic organisms, birds, amphibians and fish, and its use has been documented to poison numerous nontarget species. It travels great distances from where it is applied and has been detected in stream sediments and biota nationwide. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed several suits over the use of the pesticide and its effects on wildlife in California and earlier this year won an agreement restricting Endosulfan's use in endangered species habitats in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a chemical also known to be dangerous for people and severely affects human health. While browsing through photos of Endosulfan's effects, I stumbled upon many disfigured children from India where Endosulfan is still believed to be a safe pesticide.
Here in the U.S., Endosulfan is an antiquated, dangerous insecticide used on tomatoes, cotton, and other crops and it has been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive disorders and other severe effects on human health. Conservationists, public health officials, farmworkers and indigenous groups have been calling for a U.S. ban on this DDT-era pesticide for years. Most currently approved Endosulfan crop uses will end in two years and all uses will be phased out by 2016. The EPA estimated that 1.3 million pounds of Endosulfan were used annually from 1987 to 1997.
Link to site: http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3559
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