Unlicensed pesticide sellers and applicators
It is clear that many of today’s environmental health problems are ones that we have created ourselves and if present and future generations are to enjoy a healthy and satisfying life, we need to identify the broad range of problems which face us and address them before they become unmanageable.
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One of these problems is impact on health by urban pests. This is a worldwide problem which can be overcome with effective pest management techniques and the application of good practice.
Four key techniques in pest control are mechanical (use of window net screens, doors, gates, etc. to create barrier for pest), physical (clearing weeds and other breeding harbourage sites, etc for pest), biological (use of larvicide, introduction of other insects and animals to feed on the pest, introduction of repellant plants, etc.) and chemical (use of pesticides to kill and repel pests).
However, the use of pesticides to control public health pests form about 98 per cent of pest control management techniques in Ghana. The situation is compounded by individuals and groups of people who sell the pesticides to the public and those who move from street-to-street and house-to-house to apply pesticides to control pests. These individuals and groups have been identified without the following:
• Environmental Protection Agency’s certification
• Requisite pest control application tools and equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Basic training on pesticides handling, usage, etc.
Effects of exposure to pesticides
• Exposure of either mother or father to pesticide before conception or exposure of the mother during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of foetal death, spontaneous abortion and early childhood cancer. There is increasing evidence that utero exposure increases the risk of growth retardation: a small-forgestational age baby, low birth weight, reduced length and small head circumference. Significant increases in the risk of congenital anomalies have also been reported. These include: eye defects, limb reduction, urogenital defects, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, orofacial clefts, central nervous system defects and heart defects.
• Continuous exposure to pesticides can cause memory and concentration problems, unusual fatigue, irritability and depression, visual difficulties and delayed polyneuropathy.
• Prenatal exposure has been associated with leukaemia in newborn babies after intensive use of permethrin at home by pregnant mothers.
Way Forward
National Level
• Sale of Pesticides
The sale of pesticides by the road side, on wooden tables, in kiosks and containers has been a common practice in Ghana. About 99 per cent of individuals who sell the pesticides have little or no knowledge on the chemicals they sell to the public. There is the need for government to, as a matter of importance, ban and restrict sale of pesticides by individuals who have not undergone training and been licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This will prevent easy access to pesticides by the public.
• Unlicensed pesticide applicators
Individuals and groups who are able to buy one or two motorised spraying machine(s) believe they have all it takes to start applying pesticides to control public health pests in homes. However, the use of pesticides at home to control public health pests takes into account technical capability of the individual and group in the pesticide application sector. Various factors, including the use of the requisite pesticides to control identified pest, appropriate equipment, required Personal Protective Equipment, safety precautionary measures, interpretation of labels, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of the pesticide and others should be taken into consideration.
It is therefore important to ban and restrict individuals and groups who have not been trained and licensed by Environmental Protection Agency to become pesticide applicators.
Building the Capacity of EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency has over the years been diligently exercising their mandate in ensuring the safety of the environment. However, the pesticide application front is not receiving the needed attention as compared to the other sectors. The capacity of the Environmental Protection Agency should be strengthened logistically and with staff to enable them cover all the sectors within their mandate.
Public Education
Education is a key component of safe pesticide use and prevention of exposure to toxic matters. EPA should periodically educate the public on the effects of exposure to pesticides, the need to avoid continuous use of pesticides at home and the need to ensure that only EPA trained and licensed pesticide applicators should be contracted to control public health pests in homes and other areas. Integrated pest management (IPM) procedures should be the first line of defense for pest management at homes. EPA should provide notification to residents about pesticide use including who is using chemicals, where, when, how, what pesticides are being used and why.
Community Level
A variety of local initiatives involving the community can help to create an environment that promotes decreased dependence on pesticides in homes, schools, public areas, health facilities and parks. Examples of community activities include:
1. community campaigns and school activities
2. local awards or contests
3. pesticide-free "zones“
4. communal labour to clean the community.
The writer is Operations Manager,
Picador Agencies & Co. Ltd (Env. & Pest Mang't Consultants)
Writer’s email : [email protected]