Agrochemicals in Guarjila and Their Danger to Our Community

A couple of weeks ago, Fredi Maquina came to the Tamarindo shop limping and his face was as white as a ghost. He moved and spoke very slowly. He explained to me that he had been out in his bean field fumigating the crop with a back pack spray device and the chemicals had dripped down his back and burned the inside of his legs. The next day after working in the fields, Gio came into the shop with the same look as his brother; he was running a high fever, his eyes were somewhat closed and his speech was slurred.

We then contacted a poison specialist in San Salvador who told us to bring the guys in immediately. The brothers had been poisoned by a cocktail of agrochemicals used on their crops. The physician treated Fredi for his burns and ordered lab work on both guys.

Thank God both tested out fine and there was no damage to either liver or kidneys on this occasion. But every year hundreds of people in our communities get sick by the chemicals that they use to put food on the table. Annually, farm workers die here from exposure to agrochemicals.

The farmers use combinations of paraquat, atranex, hedonal, gramoxine and MTD 60 SL (among other things) for a variety of needs. They are used to remove grass and weeds as well as to kill pests and parasites. Talking to Gio about what he uses is like being in a chemistry class - it's "a spoon of this and then a little of that and then a cap full of that. This kills that...but you better be careful with that stuff because a cap of it will take out a whole tree." Gio, like the others, is an "expert", self taught in the fields.

Many of the above chemicals are without antidotes, and the warnings on the bottle mention heart, kidney, liver, esophagus and lung damage as well as cancer and birth defects as possible dangers. When I went to the store to research about the products, I found hundreds of warning labels tossed on the ground. Obviously the labels aren't being read.

It is interesting that all the chemical products prescribe the use of gloves, protective masks and boots as a requirement to avoid exposure to the danger of the product; all warn about the risk of both short and long term illness as well as death.

The macho culture we have here really plays a role in the negligence of the farmers (farmers like Gio and Fredi). So starting this weekend, we will begin a campaign in the TAMARINDO, making protective masks, gloves and boots available free of charge. (I found a guy that has donated masks and gloves).

Gio has already given one talk and will continue to spread the message about the serious dangers of using the chemicals. Both Gio and Fredi are fine but we need to make an effort to protect all the young kids from the adverse effects of the agrochemicals that they start toting around at a young age. We need to educate them of the dangers of the products that are potentially life-threatening.