A ‘mystery disease’ has left 450 patients in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh with seizures, nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Among tentative reasons being blamed are organochlorides.
What are organochlorines?
Organochlorines (OC) are a group of chlorinated compounds that belong to the class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with high persistence in the environment.
OC insecticides were earlier used to control malaria and typhus; they were later banned in most countries.
They are widely used as pesticides.
They are relatively cheaper as a result Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), aldrin and dieldrin are among the most widely used pesticides in developing countries of Asia.
How can these pesticides affect human health?
Short-term exposure: Exposure to organochlorine pesticides over a short period may result in convulsions, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremors, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, salivation, and sweating.
Long-term exposure: Long-term exposure to organochlorine pesticides may damage the liver, kidney, central nervous system, thyroid, and bladder.
Eluru Mystery Disease
Context:
A ‘mystery disease’ has left 450 patients in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh with seizures, nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Among tentative reasons being blamed are organochlorides.
What are organochlorines?
How can these pesticides affect human health?