Rising incidence of growth promoters, a health hazard
by Carol Aloysius
The Poisons Centre of the National Hospital (NHSL) has alerted the
health authorities of a disturbing trend where farmers use growth
promoters to destroy pests attacking their crops.
Head of the Toxicology and Poisons Centre at the NHSL Dr. Waruna
Thilakeratne told the Sunday Observer, “Any type of growth promoter can
have serious health consequences for those who consume food products
which have been sprayed as they fall into the same category of other
pesticides.
They, along with other pesticides contain chemicals that affects the
entire body of a human being as all the vital organs including heart,
kidney, respiratory system and liver which can lead to short term and
long term adverse consequences on one’s health, even leading to death”,
he said.
Explaining the impact of growth promoters on pests, he said, “They
can expedite the maturity of pests and cause their early death.
Studies have shown that the use of growth promoters on pests have
significantly reduced the lifespan of insects that attack plants. Our
farmers are now using them along with other pesticides, thus adding more
risks to people’s health as most contain chemicals such as
organophosphate and carbonate.”
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