Until 1993, chlordecone, an insecticide that eradicates the banana weevil, was used in banana plantations in Guadeloupe and Martinique. By comparison, this substance was banned in the United States in 1977 and in France in 1990, and for good reason. Classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization in 1979, this insecticide is also a endocrine disruptor, a neurotoxic, a reprotoxic (impacts on fertility), it promotes premature births, and may interfere with the development of babies. Today, 95% of Guadeloupeans and 92% of Martinicans are believed to be contaminated by this insecticide.
Finding ways to clean up the soil
A cohort survey from Public Health France will be unveiled in October during a conference planned in Martinique to address the issue of pollution control. The first information is revealed in an article of the world : “the West Indians have levels of impregnation 13 to 14 times the standard known as” acceptable “, and some people followed up to 185 times”. These figures do not only concern agricultural workers who have been in contact with chlordecone, but the entire population of the West Indies! For causes, soils, streams, fish, cattle, crustaceans, or even vegetables contain it and transmit it to the population. Only thetap water and fruits growing in height. Without any decontamination action taken, this pollution with devastating effects should last several hundred years.
Read also :
Glyphosate: more and more present in the body
5 good reasons to eat bananas
