TWENTY delegates from Jamaica, Latin America and the Caribbean met here recently to discuss the effects of persistent toxic substances (PTS) such as pesticides on human health and to develop a regional report on the issue to submit to a global environmental monitoring body.

"This is the second technical workshop we have had -- the first was in Cuba," regional co-ordinator of the project, Luisa Eugenia Castillo, told the Observer. "We are trying to collect information from the countries in the region on what chemicals they have been using and to see what research, if any, has been done on the short- and long-term effects of these chemicals."

She explained that the research in the Caribbean and Latin American region was part of a global US$5- million project being funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The global project aims to give governments a better understanding of the environmental and health risks associated with PTS and to try and find measures to deal with them.

According to UNEP data, there was a critical information gap in some regions on the effects of PTS.

Under the project, individual countries would do an assessment of its own situation using a variety of sources and applying common methods and approaches. They would then submit their reports to the regional project team, which would prepare a regional report for presentation at a global conference to be held soon.

Head of the Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) in Jamaica, Hyacinth Chin-Sue, told the Observer that very little information was available on PTS effects here.

"We have not done much research in this area. Many Caribbean countries are just now trying to do an analysis of the use of PTS in their country," she said. The sub-regional workshop, which was held at the end of April, was organised by the PCA.

PTS pose a serious threat to humans and the environment. They can live in the environment for a long time and be transported long distances far from their origin. They can accumulate in organisms through the food chain, and be present in food at levels of concern for human health.

There is growing awareness that these substances may harm the environment, and through the environment, endanger human health. Additionally, it is thought that the effects of PTS are likely to vary due to different use patterns and environmental factors affecting their deposition and distribution in the environment.

According to the PCA, while some PTS are pesticides, others are by-products of industrial processes. The list includes Aldrin, Chlorodane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexaxhlorobenzene, Mirex, Toxaphene, PCBs, Dioxins, Furans, Chlordecone, Haxabromobiphenyl, HCH, PAHSs, PBDE, Chlorinated parrafins, Endosulfan, Atrazine, Pentachlorophenol, Organic Mercury compounds, Organic Tin compounds, Phthalates, Octyphenols and Nonylphenols.

"Most of these pesticides have been banned from use in Jamaica. However, Endosulfan and Atrazine are still in use," Chin-Sue said. Endosulfan is a pesticide used in the coffee industry to fight the coffee berry borer while atrazine is a herbicide used in the sugar cane sector.

According to the Colombian representative at the workshop, Endosulfan had recently been banned in his country.

"Endosulfan was responsible for 57 deaths in five years in my country so it was banned last year. Some of the deaths were work-related, some accidental and some deliberate, as it was ingested," Oscar Nieto said.

Colombia, like many other countries, he said, sent PTS to France to be incinerated. He also explained that one of the effects observed from prolonged exposure to PTS was that it could cause cancers.

"A study was done in my country to find out the association between breast cancer risk and serum dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethene (DDE) levels," he said. "The authors found that the serum DDE levels were positively associated to the risk of breast cancer and could support the association between risk of breast cancer and burden of DDE exposure."

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