Endosulfan: Environment for UPSC Exams

Environment for UPSC Exams

Endosulfan:

It is a widely-banned pesticide with hazardous effects on human genetic and endocrine systems.
Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor.
Because of its threats to human health and the environment, a global ban on the manufacture and use of endosulfan was negotiated under the Stockholm Convention in April 2011.
The ban has taken effect in mid-2012, with certain uses exempted for five additional years.
More than 80 countries, including the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and several West African nations, the United States, Brazil, and Canada had already banned it or announced phase-outs by the time the Stockholm Convention ban was agreed upon.
It is still used extensively in India, China, and few other countries.
Although classified as a yellow label (highly toxic) pesticide by the Central Insecticides Board, India is one of the largest producers and the largest consumer of endosulfan in the world.
India will phase out all endosulfan use by 2017.