DoH warns vs toxic fish in Romblon

June 30, 2008

Fish caught in Romblon waters, particularly in areas near the capsized MV Princess of the Stars can be toxic and can cause death because of the huge amount of pesticide inside the ferry, the Department of Health warned yesterday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said endosulfan, which the ship was carrying, is a neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide of the cyclodiene family of pesticides. It is highly toxic and an endocrine disruptor. Ingestion may cause death or affect the nervous system.

“Endosulfan is a restricted pesticide for use in pineapple plantations. At toxic levels and following ingestion it can cause death or affect the central nervous system, manifesting as headaches, dizziness, nausea, tremors, convulsions which may also include cardiovascular symptoms,” Duque told People’s Journal.

No antidote is available for the poison. Victims must expel the chemical by induced vomiting.

“Presently, there are no observable signs of endosulfan contamination in and around the waters of the ship such as fish kills or divers getting sick,” he said.

Discovery of the pesticide shipment had halted retrieval operations.

“There are now efforts to assess exposures of divers and possible illnesses in case there was indeed an endosulfan exposure,” the Health chief said.

“Fish and other marine life harvested from that area are now considered not fit for human consumption until after complete tests indicate that there was no endosulfan contamination. Animals like fishes that live in endosulfan contaminated waters can build up endosulfan in their bodies. The amount of endosulfan in their bodies can be several times greater that in the surrounding water,” he said.

The health chief said no signs of a chemical leak have been observed.

Duque also disclosed that the DoH is monitoring possible health effects on residents near the site where the vessel capsized.

“The DoH has set up disease surveillance to monitor the effect on residents in the area,” he said.

Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the DoH-National Epidemiology Center, advised divers at the site to wash themselves and wash their gear in chlorine bleach to prevent possible contamination.

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