This document discusses the risks of agrochemicals like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It notes that while they increased crop yields, they can also harm the environment, soil health, and human health. Prolonged or high exposure is linked to several chronic diseases and conditions like cancer, birth defects, neurological and respiratory issues. The document recommends adopting integrated pest management, integrated nutrient management, and organic farming to reduce these health and environmental risks. It provides tips for consumers to identify organic produce and safe handling practices for agrochemicals.

1. Dr. L. Jeebit Singh
Asst. Project Officer
Manipur Organic Mission Agency
Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation
Manipur, India

2. EVOLUTION - REVOLUTION - WAR

3. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION &
RISE OF NEW WEAPONS

4. Now what is this AGROCHEMICALS?
CHEMICAL products used in AGRICULTURE
PESTICIDES
SYNTHETIC
FERTILIZER
HORMONES
• Insecticides
• Fungicides
• Herbicides
• Rodenticides
• Nematcides
• Etc…
• Urea
• DAP
• MOP
• SSP
• Etc…..
• Auxin
• Gibberellin
• Cytokinin
• Oxytoxin
• Etc……

5. BLESSINGS OF AGROCHEMICALS
PESTICIDES
Targets destructive insects and diseases
Easily destroys noxious weeds
SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER
Cheap and easy source of nutrients to plants
Increase in yield
HORMONES
Control of various plant physiological process
Manipulation of growth

6. HAPPY !!!!
Time to think twice
BEWARE
HIDDEN DANGER

7. A NEW REVOLUTION
AGAINST THE HIDDEN DANGER
• Published in 27 September 1962
• Nationwide ban on DDT for agricultural uses in USA
India– 1989 !!!!!!

8. KNOW THE
DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
MEDICINE
AND POISON

9. Dose x Time Relationship
• Dose = quantity of a substance exposed to
• Time = how often that exposure occur
Independently or in coordination makes
POISON

10. Pesticide Characteristics:
Persistence
• Ability of a pesticide to remain present and active
for a long time
• Provides for long-term pest control, but may harm
plants, animals and humans
• Will remain in soil and water for long time and
affect us and our future generations

11. Effects of Agrochemicals to our
Environment
• Contamination of surface water
and ground water
• Eutrophication
• Death of fish and other aquatic
animals
• Contribute to air pollution

12. Effects of Agrochemicals to Soil Health
• Kills beneficial organisms
• Increase in nitrate levels of
soils
• Damage natural make up of
soil
• Decrease soil quality
• Toxicity availability of nutrients
• Residual effect

13. Imbalance NPK ratio in India
North West
Haryana 61.4:18.7:1 Gujarat 13.2:3.4:1
Punjab 61.4:19.2:1 Maharastra 3.5:1.8:1
UP 25.2:8.8:1 Rajasthan 44.9:16.5:1
South East
AP 7.1:2.8:1 Bihar 12.3:3.6
Karnataka 3.6:1.6:1 Orissa 6.2:2.4:1
T Nadu 3.9:1.5:1 W Bengal 2.9:1.6:1
Ideal NPK ratio 4:3:1

14. AGROCHEMICALS MOVEMENT
• By air
– Vapor, particle, spray
drift
• By water
– Surface runoff
– Movement through soil
• By other objects
– Residues on plants and
animals

15. AGROCHEMICALS ENTRY TO BODY
Ways to enter our body:
1. Skin exposure
2. Oral Exposure by
swallowing
3. Inhalation by the lungs
4. Contact by the eyes

16. EXPOSURE LEVEL TO HUMAN
• People with direct
exposure
– Spray, mix and load,
sow seeds, harvest crop,
dispose of container
• Community with
indirect exposure
• Consumers

17. Toxicity of Agrochemicals
Acute Toxicity
• A single short-term
exposure
– Usually less than 24 hrs
• Workers that handle
agrochemicals
– Farmers
– Traders
– Industrial workers and
– Their families
Chronic Toxicity
• Long term exposure

18. Acute Toxicity of Agrochemicals
• Common toxicity
– Abdominal pain,
– Dizziness,
– Headaches,
– Nausea,
– Vomiting,
– Skin and
– Eye problems

19. CHRONIC TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Teratogenic
• Effects on unborn offspring such as birth defects
Carcinogenic
• Produces cancer in living tissue
Mutagenic
• Permanent effects on heritable genetic material
Neurotoxicity
• Poisoning the nervous system

20. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
Neurological diseases
• Pesticides poses greater
incidence of Alzheimer's
and dementia
• Increased dysfunction in
psychomotor, behavioural
and cognitive skills
• Pregnant women and
child are very susceptible
• Unborn child at great risk

21. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
CANCER
• Many pesticides has been linked to
cancer
– Brain, bone, liver, pancreas, bladder
and prostate cancers, as well as
leukaemia
• Cancers of the lymph system, such
as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma,
• Children who live in agricultural
areas have higher risks

22. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
BIRTH DEFECTS
• Birth defects in humans and
animals alike particularly in
agricultural areas
• Almost all the pesticides and
herbicides
• Gastroschisis- Atrazine herbicide
• Multiple limb
• Underdeveloped brain

23. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
Endocrine disruption
• Chemicals interfere with the
production, release, transport,
metabolism, binding, action,
or elimination of natural
hormones
• 150 pesticide EDCs, 3
common examples below:
– Permethrin (I) inhibition of
estrogen
– Glyphosphate (H) prevent the
production of estrogens
– Fipronil (I) thyroid hormone
inhibition

24. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES
• Effect reproductive systems of men
and women alike
• Men who had high levels of three
different common pesticides in
their urine were actually ten times
more likely to have low sperm
quality
• Several pesticides and fungicides
are also known to impair the
synthesis of testosterone.

25. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
Respiratory diseases
• The rate of asthma has
been climbing dramatically
with the rise of pesticide
use
• Other respiratory diseases
associated with
agrochemical exposure
– Rhinitis
– Bronchitis
– Wheeze

26. Parkinson's Disease
• A common neurodegenerative
disease affects brain nerve
cells
• Unable to control the
movement of their muscles
• Pesticide exposure increase
Parkinson's by 47 percent.
• Organophosphate pesticides
had a 71 % higher likelihood
of developing the
neurodegenerative disease.
Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals

27. Chronic deadly diseases caused by
agrochemicals
• Heavy metals such as
Mercury, Lead, Cadmium and
Uranium have been found in
fertilizers
– “Itai-Itai” : cadmium poisoning
• High levels of nitrates and
nitrites, causing haemoglobin
disorders
• Methemoglobinemia -
abnormal amount of
methaemoglobin resulting "Blue
Baby Syndrome”

28. The list will never end……
• Hepatitis
• Dyspnea
• Myocardial infraction
thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Autism
• Cardiac
malformations
• …………

29. Story of Cashewnut Plantation Kasargod, Kerala
1976 -2001

30. Wrath of the ENDOSULPHAN to the
poor unknown villager

31. Capital of GREEN REVOLUTION once
Capital of CANCER in India now

32. I KNOW
THE
PROBLEM

33. Don’t just lecture !!!!!
Answer our problems…
I am just a consumer/ buyer.
How do I Know the difference??
I am just a farmer.
Who will save my crop from pest???
How will I provide nutrient to my
plants??
MANY MANY MORE
QUESTION?????????

34. Intelligent marketing
• Opt for ORGANIC
FOOD
• Looks for LOGOS
• An extraordinarily big
fruit or vegetable has
high chances of grown
chemically
• Ask farm history

35. Methods use to remove pesticide
residues
• Washing
• Peeling
• Hulling
• Trimming
• Infusion
• Parboiling
• Salt solution
• Neutral solutions

36. Proper precautions while using and
afterward
• Wear proper protective wears while
handling the agrochemicals
• Check the weather conditions
• Proper disposal of empty
agrochemicals containers
• Bury the containers for avoiding
possible spread of agrochemicals
• Don’t use for packing and storing food
products

37. Adopt
Integrated Pest Management
Eco-friendly way

38. Adopt Integrated Nutrient Management

39. Adopt
Integrated Weed Management

40. ORGANIC FARMING
The best way ever