Health implications from monocrotophos use: a review of the evidence in India
Monocrotophos is a highly hazardous organophosphate insecticide that is widely used and easily available in India. Monocrotophos has been most frequently associated with both accidental and intentional fatal pesticide poisonings. The report therefore focuses on presenting data on the current practices and health consequences of monocrotophos in particular. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WHO have encouraged countries to phase out highly hazardous pesticides. Leading Asian countries have banned the use of monocrotophos because of unacceptable health risks, but in India, monocrotophos continues to be produced, used and exported. The perception that monocrotophos is cheap and necessary, have prevented the product from being taken off the market. Urgent action is thus needed to reduce the availability of and the demand for highly hazardous pesticides, as recommended by WHO and FAO.