For the second year running, the FBRC editorial team is analysing what is being used to poison insects in the country's regions, calling on local authorities to approach the issue of disinsection diligently. We have repeatedly noted how dangerous the pesticides are that are used in urban environments with the approval of local authorities, and what impact they can have on living organisms, including on people.
The FBRC editorial team continues to examine the toxicological characteristics of the preparations used in Kazakhstan. Read the beginning in the previous parts of the article: What is being used to poison Kazakhstanis during disinsection Part 1, Part 2.
CHLORPYRIFOS
Often, many preparations contain several active ingredients. For example, 'Cypermethrin' is often combined with 'Chlorpyrifos', whose extremely harmful effects have been proven by foreign specialists.
In April 2023, the FBRC editorial team published a series of articles entitled 'Who is poisoning Pavlodar's children with pesticides', in which we wrote about which preparations were used for disinsection in the Pavlodar region previously, and how the effects of these preparations impact on the birth of children with autism spectrum disorder.
At the time, we noted that in 2019, the chemical preparation 'Agran' was used in the region to combat mosquitoes. Its composition includes the substance 'Chlorpyrifos', which has a destructive effect on the human cardiovascular, respiratory and central nervous systems.
Furthermore, in 2014, the US Environmental Protection Agency found that pregnant women living within 1.5 km of fields where 'Chlorpyrifos' was used had a 60% increased probability of giving birth to children with autism spectrum disorders.
Later, in 2021, the USA managed to ban the use of 'Chlorpyrifos' precisely because of its link to neurological damage in children. In the countries of the European Union, 'Chlorpyrifos' is also a banned substance.
The preparation 'Agran' is also widely used in Uralsk and Saran. In addition, preparations containing 'Chlorpyrifos' and 'Cypermethrin' include the preparation 'DimiGrain', used in Shakhtinsk, the preparation 'UltraGrain', used for the second year in Astana, and others.
TETRAMETHRIN
Combined substances also include 'Tetramethrin', which is combined with 'Alpha-cypermethrin'. 'Tetramethrin' is very toxic to aquatic organisms. In humans, external exposure can cause skin and eye irritation and burns. Prolonged or repeated contact with the substance causes skin rash, itching, and a feeling of numbness or tingling.
Inhaling 'Tetramethrin' vapours may cause irritation of the nose, throat and lungs, as well as headache, dizziness, increased fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea and even vomiting.
Preparations based on the combination of 'Alpha-cypermethrin' and 'Tetramethrin' include the preparation 'Favorit', used for combating ticks in the Zhetysu region and in the East Kazakhstan region.
Here are a few more examples of preparations based on combinations of the mentioned substances, and the regions where they are used:
- 'Thiamethoxam' and 'Lambda-cyhalothrin' are the active ingredients of the preparation 'Engeo', used in Shymkent, Astana and Atyrau, are included in the composition of the preparation 'Titan', used in the Abai region, and also form the basis of the preparation 'Izumi', used in Atyrau.
- 'Diflubenzuron' and 'Imidacloprid' are the active ingredients of the preparation 'Locustin', used for combating locusts in the Turkestan region.
- 'Alpha-cypermethrin' and 'Imidacloprid' are included in the composition of the preparation 'Borey Neo', used in the Sarkand district of the Zhetysu region and in the city of Sarkand.
The FBRC editorial team once again draws attention to the fact that when using pesticides to combat insects, local authorities in many regions base their decisions on the permissibility of the preparations used on the territory of Kazakhstan. At the same time, the local administrations do not take into account that the preparations are permitted for the protection of agricultural crops, and not for their use in urban environments, and some do not even adhere to the list of preparations permitted in the country.
As before, we appeal to the local administrations with a request to warn city residents about the danger of the preparations used, as well as to notify them of precautionary measures (close windows at night, do not let children play on the grass, etc.) during the period of disinsection.
We also continue to hope that city authorities will heed the calls of the public to be more socially responsible and think more about the health of the people, and will start using less harmful preparations when treating green spaces.
And ahead of us lies the sweltering summer season, which means that the FBRC editorial team will probably once again have to investigate what the country intends to use to poison locusts, which often pose a threat to Kazakhstani farmland, and indeed to the country's plant life in general.
To be continued…