Use Of Pesticides In North Tamil Nadu (Namakkal)-Impacts On Human Health And Persistence In Environment

The present review paper highlights the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate (OP) pesticide on the living systems such as human beings, animals, plants, insects, fishes etc. due to its indiscriminate use. Majority of the farmers are unaware of pesticide types, level of poisoning, safety precautions and potential hazards on health and environment. Pesticide users such as farmers in developing nations like India are at a much higher risk of pesticide exposure due to lack of adequate safety measures and awareness. According to the latest estimate, the annual import of pesticides in India is about 0.6 Kg/ha and the average pesticides use in Tamilnadu is 5% only, which is very low as compared to other Indian states. In Namakkal district 39345 kg/year and 77690 l/year of pesticide was consumed for pest management. Cotton, paddy and cereals is the major pesticide consuming crop, in Namakkal 0.93% of cotton, 2% of paddy and 23% of cereals is produced. Mainly organophosphate are used as a pesticide, in this chlorpyrifos is frequently used pesticide. The knowledge of not only farmers and also peoples was limited regarding pesticide purchase, application and safety. Agricultural agency needs to be addressed properly for the pesticide nature. Pesticide misuse is being a serious concern mainly in the commercial crop production areas of agricultural products, where farmers are incidences of poisoning is also increasing because of intentional, incidental and occupational exposure and suffering from environmental pollution. The use of chlorpyrifos in India illustrates an ambiguous situation in which people are undergoing life-long exposures. There is an urgency to develop health education packages based on information, aptitude and practices and to propagate them within the wider reaches of the community in order to minimize the harmful exposure of chlorpyrifos in developing countries. Many studies showed that the chemical pollution of the environment has long-term effects on human life. It is therefore essential that manufacture, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemical pesticides be strictly regulated and create the awareness about the pesticide usage.