138 people poisoned in Kenya - could it be carbofuran?
Category: carbofuran | Date: May 05 2008 | By: admin
I‘ve been shocked at the response from our government and private agencies about the carbofuran allegations. We are apparently a nation in total denial.
I’ve just seen this on Nat Geo in which Nicholas Wadhams relates his interview with FMC and - I quote …
“Philadelphia-based FMC Corporation, the maker of carbofuran, denies WildlifeDirect’s claims of inappropriate use, adding that the company cannot be held responsible.
The Kenyan distributor of Furadan, Juanco SPS, also denies that carbofuran caused the hippo deaths in Masai Mara.
“Those claims are completely unjustified, and we have our own data to support that,” said Julius Gatembo, head of horticulture at Juanco.
“What they say about the hippos is just impossible. You’d probably require that hippo to eat about 300 to 500 [kilograms] [661 to 1,102 pounds] of Furadan at once to die from it.
“That’s just impossible.”
FMC argued in 2006 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had “exaggerated the risks of carbofuran and underestimated its unique benefits to agriculture.”
The company added that carbofuran “does not pose an unreasonable risk” if handled correctly”.
Can you believe this? How can FMC, the makers of the chemical, disown responsibility for any negative effects? Is this highly irresponsible or am I imagining things?
Many are wondering why we aren’t seeing reports of human poisoning by carbofuran if it’s accumulating in vegetables. Interestingly I found this article about the hospitalization of 132 people in eastern Kenya due to poisoning after eating sick animals on News 24 and on The Times
Reuters write: ” NAIROBI - Some 132 villagers in eastern Kenyan have been treated in hospitals for food poisoning linked to eating meat from sick animals, a health official said.
Scores of people flocked to hospitals in eastern Kenya’s Nyambene district complaining of “vomiting, diarrhoea, general abdominal pains and body weakness,” local health official Michael Kariuki told state-run Kenya News Agency”.
I wonder if this could this be a case of carbofuran poisoning? I’m going to write to the Pest Control Products Board immediately to investigate. After all it is the planting season and it’s likely that livestock and wildlife are getting exposed to the chemical on farms.
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6 Responses to “138 people poisoned in Kenya - could it be carbofuran?”
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 05 May 2008
FMC can be in denial all they want, it won’t excuse their liability, in a court of law. I’d be very interested, in statistics, kept on birth defects, as well. Once all the data is in and a direct link can be established between sick humans and this poison, this will further the cause, for banning Furandan.
sheryl, washington dc, on 05 May 2008
Theresa’s right. If you’ve got solid scientific data to back up your claims, then FMC can squawk all they want. I’m not surprised that the manufacturers are denying any responsibility. Carbofuran is still used in the U.S., in liquid form, on crops such as corn, cotton, potatoes, rice, artichokes, chili peppers, cucumbers, spinach for seed, sunflowers, and pine seedlings. The granular form was banned here because of massive migratory bird die-offs. Human animals are probably collecting this poison in their bodies over time and perhaps, someday, we’ll see the negative effects.
s.
HowardT, on 05 May 2008
I’m new to this blog/carbofuran. Is there a link you can post to some hard science on carbofuran. The comments here allege lots but I’d like to see the background as to why we’re all so sure/concerned it is the culprit, after all there are plenty of other poisons.
Will you post the results of the Pest Control Products Board investigation.
H
sauwah, on 05 May 2008
just don’t give up! naturally they will deny till the kingdom come for their business is at stake here.
Paula, on 06 May 2008
Hi Howard, here is a link to info from the EPA which contains a huge amount of information and resources. http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/carbofuran/carbofuran_noic.htm
FYI Dr Asuka tested the stomach contents of one lion and the hippo and confirmed presence of carbofuran. check out her blog on wildlifedirect called asuka.wildlifedirct.org
Maina, on 06 May 2008
It is true that the suppliers adamantly denied that Furadan was the cause of the death of these animals. Interestingly, I watched - on national TV (KTN) - a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) official say that they have no jurisdiction on this matter and they would not act unless there was a serious crisis. One wonders what kind of ’serious crisis’ they are waiting for.
On matters relating to this, I have reported on the recent developments on Furadan poisoning (mostly based on National Museums of Kenya’s research) and the key elements of our poisoning meeting in the coming issue of SWARA Magazine. The Magazine goes to print tomorrow (07 May 2008). I encourage all those who have access to SWARA to read those articles. Contact me if you need to subscribe to this authoritative quarterly.
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