ENDOSULFAN

Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticideand acaricide that is being phased out globally. Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical^[1] due to its acute toxicity, potential forbioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor. Because of its threats to human health and the environment, a global ban on the manufacture and use of endosulfan was negotiated under the Stockholm Convention in April 2011. The ban will take effect in mid 2012, with certain uses exempted for 5 additional years.^[2] More than 80 countries,^[3] including theEuropean Union, Australia and New Zealand, several West African nations,^[4] the United States,^[5][6]Brazil^[7] and Canada^[8] had already banned it or announced phase outs by the time the Stockholm Convention ban was agreed upon. It is still used extensively in India, China, and few other countries. It is produced by Makhteshim Agan and several manufacturers in India and China.


USES
Endosulfan has been used in agriculture around the world to control insect pests including whiteflys,aphids, leafhoppers, Colorado potato beetles andcabbage worms.^[9] Due to its unique mode of action, it is useful in resistance management; however, as it is non-specific, it can negatively impact populations of beneficial insects.^[10] It is, however, considered to be moderately toxic to honey bees,^[11] and it is less toxic to bees than organophosphate insecticides.^[12]


HEALTH  EFFECTS
Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides on the market today, responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world.^[35] Endosulfan is also a xenoestrogen—a synthetic substance that imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens—and it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans. Whether endosulfan cancause cancer is debated. With regard to consumers intake of endosulfan from residues on food, the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations has concluded that long-term exposure from food is unlikely to present a public health concern, but short term exposure can exceed acute reference doses.^[36]

Endosulfan use in the US in pounds per square mile by county in 2002. (From [1])