A primer on the Ban Aerial Spraying Campaign in Davao City, Philippines

1. Aerial SprayingAerial Spraying
101101
End Poison RainEnd Poison Rain
www.dirtybananas.orgwww.dirtybananas.org

2. What is aerial spraying?What is aerial spraying?
 form of pesticide application that uses a small
airplane or helicopter
 used by the banana plantations in Mindanao
since 1970s
 targets sigatoka, a fungus that attacks the
leaves of banana plants and causes premature
aging of fruits
 mixture sprayed usually composed of pesticide,
water, the oil or sticker and emulsifier
 in the Philippines, only fungicides are allowed
by FPA to be sprayed aerially

3.  The chemicalsThe chemicals
sprayed is inherentlysprayed is inherently
poisonpoison
 Pesticides arePesticides are
designed to killdesigned to kill
 Even if registered byEven if registered by
the Fertilizer andthe Fertilizer and
Pesticide Authority,Pesticide Authority,
still havestill have
ill effects on non-targetill effects on non-target
organismsorganisms
 All banned pesticidesAll banned pesticides
were once allowed forwere once allowed for
useuse
Why is there a need to ban aerialWhy is there a need to ban aerial
spraying?spraying?

4. Pesticide Poisoning Victims in IndiaPesticide Poisoning Victims in India

5. Pesticide Poisoning Victims in MindanaoPesticide Poisoning Victims in Mindanao

6. Fungicides sprayedFungicides sprayed
and their health effectsand their health effects
ActiveActive
IngredientIngredient
ProductProduct
Name/BrandName/Brand
Documented health effectsDocumented health effects
AzoxystrobinAzoxystrobin Bankit 250 ECBankit 250 EC Highly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not allowedHighly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not allowed
for use in Canadafor use in Canada
BiterthanolBiterthanol Baycor 300ECBaycor 300EC Possible source of birth defects; not allowed forPossible source of birth defects; not allowed for
use in US farmsuse in US farms
PropiconazolePropiconazole Bumper 250 ECBumper 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; containsPossibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; contains
reproductive toxinsreproductive toxins
TridemorphTridemorph Calixin 750 ECCalixin 750 EC Causes birth defects; not allowed for use inCauses birth defects; not allowed for use in
Canada and UKCanada and UK
MancozebMancozeb Dithane 448 FDithane 448 F Carcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; mayCarcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; may
cause birth defects; suspected to disruptcause birth defects; suspected to disrupt
endocrine functionsendocrine functions
ChlorotalonilChlorotalonil Daconil 720 FDaconil 720 F Carcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and aquaticCarcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and aquatic
invertebrates; bio- accumulates in fishinvertebrates; bio- accumulates in fish

7. Fungicides sprayedFungicides sprayed
and their health effectsand their health effects
ActiveActive
IngredientIngredient
ProductProduct
Name/BrandName/Brand
Documented health effectsDocumented health effects
ManebManeb Maneb 80 WPManeb 80 WP Causes birth defects; probable source ofCauses birth defects; probable source of
carcinogens; potential source of reproductivecarcinogens; potential source of reproductive
toxinstoxins
DiteconazoleDiteconazole Sico 250 ECSico 250 EC No available dataNo available data
PropiconazolePropiconazole Tilt 250 ECTilt 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic; contains reproductivePossibly carcinogenic; contains reproductive
toxinstoxins
MancozebMancozeb Vondozeb Plus 80Vondozeb Plus 80
WPWP
Potential cause of birth defectsPotential cause of birth defects
ThiophanateThiophanate
MethylMethyl
Topsin M 70 WPTopsin M 70 WP Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to earthworms;Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to earthworms;
causes damage to thyroid glands, producingcauses damage to thyroid glands, producing
hyperthyroidismhyperthyroidism

8.  Aerial spraying increases the spray drift
increasing toxic exposure
 predictable percentage of spray drift can reach to 3.2 km from the
treatment site -- USEPA
 80 km – in hilly terrain under windy conditions – a study in central Washington
 contaminates open/exposed bodies of water (rivers, wetlands, and
springs) where people get drinking water
 contaminates the roofs of houses where people usually collect
rainwater for domestic use
 contaminates people, animals, other crops
Why is there a need to ban aerialWhy is there a need to ban aerial
spraying?spraying?

9. Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides.
Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway

11.  Poor regulations on aerial spraying; lack of
enforcement; lack of monitoring
 Regulations for aerial spraying not regularly
monitored by Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority
because of lack of personnel and budget
 No environmental health monitoring
 Vegetative buffer zones near schools, rivers, public
roads, and houses, not complied with by banana
companies
 In Alaska, the current required buffers to protect drinking
water sources is 66 meters
 Proposed buffer zones by different concerned organizations
is >1 mile around drinking water.
Why is there a need to ban aerialWhy is there a need to ban aerial
spraying?spraying?

13.  YesYes
 Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al 1997Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al 1997
 Dr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of NationalDr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of National
Poison Management and Control Center andPoison Management and Control Center and
Dr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), etDr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), et
al 1999al 1999
 DOH Study 2006DOH Study 2006
Are there local and internationalAre there local and international
studies that support the banstudies that support the ban
position?position?

14. Drs. Quijano,Hernandez, et alDrs. Quijano,Hernandez, et al
 11 out 24 individuals examined and water11 out 24 individuals examined and water
samples from hand-pump well (source ofsamples from hand-pump well (source of
drinking water in the community) weredrinking water in the community) were
positive for ETU – ethylenethioureapositive for ETU – ethylenethiourea
(metabolite of mancozeb)(metabolite of mancozeb)
 A spectrum of medical complaints andA spectrum of medical complaints and
symptoms that is similar, if not identical tosymptoms that is similar, if not identical to
the symptoms of acute pesticide poisoningthe symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning
 Occurrence of diseases atypical in quality –Occurrence of diseases atypical in quality –
severe anemia in young males and bloodsevere anemia in young males and blood
dyscrasiasdyscrasias

15. Toxic storiesToxic stories
Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del SurKamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur
 Residents nearby complain of strong and odorousResidents nearby complain of strong and odorous
fumes every time aerial spraying is donefumes every time aerial spraying is done
 Residents experience suffocation, weakness, nausea,Residents experience suffocation, weakness, nausea,
painful stinging of the eyes and itchingpainful stinging of the eyes and itching
 Residents vulnerable to fever, vomiting, cough andResidents vulnerable to fever, vomiting, cough and
body aches, asthma, anemia, goiter, and cancerbody aches, asthma, anemia, goiter, and cancer
 Residents believe frequent deaths in the village dueResidents believe frequent deaths in the village due
to these illnesses related to pesticide exposureto these illnesses related to pesticide exposure

16. Toxic storiesToxic stories
Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del SurKamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur
 Many cases of still birthMany cases of still birth
 Many cases of children with abnormalities such asMany cases of children with abnormalities such as
cleft palate and severe skin diseasescleft palate and severe skin diseases
 Many cases of impaired mental developmentMany cases of impaired mental development
among childrenamong children
 Children have stunted growth, delayedChildren have stunted growth, delayed
development of secondary sexual characteristics,development of secondary sexual characteristics,
suffer wasting and have mental deficienciessuffer wasting and have mental deficiencies
 Many residents exhibited signs and symptoms ofMany residents exhibited signs and symptoms of
tremors and palpitations suggestive of endocrinetremors and palpitations suggestive of endocrine
disruptiondisruption

17. Health and Environmental Assessment ofHealth and Environmental Assessment of
Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy,Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy,
Davao del Sur (2006)Davao del Sur (2006)
 81.6% of residents reported81.6% of residents reported
exposure to aerial pesticides; onlyexposure to aerial pesticides; only
3 of them were agricultural workers3 of them were agricultural workers
in the banana plantation.in the banana plantation.
 52% of them reported symptoms of52% of them reported symptoms of
post-exposure (post-exposure ( Eye irritation, Headache,Eye irritation, Headache,
Dizziness, Skin itchiness, Nail changes,Dizziness, Skin itchiness, Nail changes,
Cough, Weakness)Cough, Weakness)

18. Health and Environmental Assessment ofHealth and Environmental Assessment of
Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy,Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy,
Davao del Sur (2006)Davao del Sur (2006)
 Symptoms are consistent with mancozeb andSymptoms are consistent with mancozeb and
chlorothalonil, both of which are irritating to thechlorothalonil, both of which are irritating to the
body surfacesbody surfaces
 34.3% of the respond34.3% of the respondentsents had pesticide in thehad pesticide in the
bloodblood
 Environmental monitoring showed levels ofEnvironmental monitoring showed levels of ETUETU
in soil and air; chlorothalonil in soil samplesin soil and air; chlorothalonil in soil samples
 Study recommended a ban on aerial sprayingStudy recommended a ban on aerial spraying
and shift to organic farming, among othersand shift to organic farming, among others