Toxic Endosulfan insecticide in capsized M/V Princess of the Stars

Another potential tragedy after the overturn of M/V Princess of the Stars in the wake of storm Frank is the possible spillage of toxic insecticide Endosulfan owned by Del Monte Philippines for use in its pineapple plantation crops. Due to this revelation as Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista, who heads a government task force in charge of the search, received the information from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) that Del Monte Philippines informed the agency that it had loaded 10 metric tons of the insecticide on the cargo compartment of the stern part of the ship that is submerged deepest at the moment.

The pesticide was contained in plastic bags tied only with twister wires, and enclosed in a 40-foot carton. While Endosulfan it is a controlled substance it is not banned in the country and is used to control mites that cause pink discoloration in pineapples.

Vice President Noli De Castro and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in the press conference this will be an additional violation committed by Sulpicio since a passenger vessel is not allowed to carry such toxic substances.

Bautista said the government found out about the hazardous cargo only on June 24, when Del Monte wrote to the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority of the Department of Agriculture, informing the agency that it had loaded 10 metric tons of Endosulfan on the ship.

Currently there are still no signs of contamination such as fish kill according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque. However, 10 metric tons of pesticide if spilled into the open sea may be catastrophic as the substance is a highly hazardous and toxic, Dr. Lyn Panganiban of the University of the Philippines Toxicology Department confirmed.

Endosulfan can kill humans at a ratio of 0.8 to eight milligrams per kilo bodyweight. An average person weighing 50 kilos could be poisoned by 400 milligrams (50 x 8) of the pesticide according to Dr. Panganiban of UP’s National Poison Management and Control Center.

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