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Indias endosulfan disaster: a review of the Health impacts and status of remediation

The endosulfan tragedy which occurred in Kasaragod district of Kerala, India is now well known. It is considered by many experts in the field of pesticide toxicity as one of the worst pesticide disasters to happen to a region and its people. The tragedy occurred for various reasons, starting with the recommendation to use such a chemical in a populated, waterbody rich area like Kasaragod. It was then continually aerially sprayed by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala on its cashew plantations for 20 years, without even once looking into its impacts. This report is a preliminary appraisal of the impact of the remedial and relief efforts among the affected community and has been compiled primarily with the help of community doctors, government doctors, officers in charge of the relief cell and activists associated with the relief measures.