Pesticide production India

Sigma-Aldrich Laborchemikalien (Germany) Vijayalakshmi Insecticides and Pesticides (India) Zeneca Ag Products... 

The study of the accidents in chemical facilities, during transportation, storage and others, the research of the chemical products, which are produced and stored, are important points in the preparation of the defence against chemical terrorism. An example of such an accident is the explosion at the Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing plant (Dec. 3, 1984), which scattered toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) over the city of Bhopal, India. During the first few days up to 4000 people died of painful, harrowing deaths [10],... 

Alloys of zinc were used for brass production as early as in the ancient times. Trials of zinc production were conducted in Europe in the 6th century, however it had been produced earlier in China and India. Zinc is widely applied, i.e., in metallurgy, electrotechnics, printing, rubber production, production of articles of daily use, paints, drugs, disinfectants, and impregnates, as well as in microfertilizers and pesticides. 

Air Products, and Electro Metallurgical to form the Union Carbide Carbon Company. In 1957, the company s name was shortened to Union Carbide. In addition to batteries, some of its major products include Prestone antifreeze, Glad wrap, and Champion spark plugs. Union Carbide s reputation was severely hurt in 1984 when its pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, had an accident resulting in the death of2,500 Indians. In February of 2001, a merger between Union Carbide and Dow was completed, making Union Carbide a subsidiary of Dow. 

Hazardous pesticides associated with global cotton production represent a substantial threat to global freshwater resources. Hazardous cotton pesticides are now known to contaminate rivers in USA, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Australia, Greece and West Africa. In Brazil, the world s 4th largest consumer of agrochemicals, researchers tested rainwater for the presence of pesticides. 19 different chemicals were identified of which 12 were applied to cotton within the study area. 

Of all the communities adversely affected by hazardous cotton pesticides, a substantial proportion are located in India home to more cotton farmers than any other country in the world. Indian cotton production is heavily associated with the intensive use of hazardous pesticides, and is responsible for over half of aU agricultural pesticides applied nationally. Within this figure Indian cotton is associated with some of the most hazardous pesticides used anywhere on earth . Characterized hy a near total lack of safety measures, low quality equipment, and with protective clothing often unavailahle or prohibitively expensive, Indian cotton production represents a highly unsafe environment within which to work f Observational studies reveal a heavy toll exerted on the health of those who work with cotton pesticides and chemical analysis has revealed traces of pesticide residues in blood samples taken from Indian cotton labourers. Cotton undoubtedly represents one of India s most important economic, nutritive and cultural commodities, but its conventional cultivation has become deeply problematic, both for those who grow it and because of the external costs of its impact on health and the en-vironmenP ... 

Communities in India may also be exposed to hazardous cotton pesticides through the contamination of cottonseed and cottonseed derivatives - an important source of edible oil. Because of the intensive use of hazardous pesticides in cotton production much of the cottonseed oil entering the Indian food chain may be heavily contaminated . One analysis of cottonseeds collected from 5 locations in Punjab found detectable residues of the cotton pesticides ethion (WHO II), cypermethrin (WHO II), endosulfan (WHO II), chlorpyrifos (WHO II) the latter being 2 of the most common pesticides applied to cotton in India ... 

A toxic cloud covered Bhopal, India, in December 1984 when water leaked into a tank of methyl isocyanate, and the product escaped into the atmosphere. Methyl isocyanate is used in the production of many pesticides. 

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