Pesticide handling and waste management: a case study on DDT and HCHs from the Southern Caucasus

Abstract

This study presents a survey on pesticide use, pesticide storage and pesticide disposal among 100 residents near a former pesticide store in rural Georgia using a standardized paper questionnaire. More than one quarter of the participants responded that the age of the pesticides they use is higher than 20 years. Based on this finding, it cannot be excluded that persistent organic pollutants like Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and hexachlorocyclohexanes still are released to the environment. Knowledge about active ingredients of pesticides is lacking among farmers: More than two thirds state that they know the active ingredients, while less than 10% mention an active ingredient matching the brand name they report. Purchasing pesticides in containers without labels appears to be common practice. Information about the pesticides is mainly obtained from the pesticide retailer, while the label is less important as a source of information. More than 95% of the participants store the pesticides in a separate store, but appropriate possibilities of hazardous waste disposal seem to be insufficient in rural areas in the region. The finding that pesticides are purchased and stored in repacked secondary containers, poses direct risks and hampers communication of risks to users. Improving (implementation of) regulations for pesticide handling and strengthening local knowledge through better vocational training can improve soil and groundwater protection and sustainable use of resources.Article highlightsOne of the main findings is that residents report using the pesticides for a long time. Not only are the pesticides used way longer than they may remain suitable for use, but also the pesticides could be dating from before international legislation entered into force which was set up to protect from long-lived organic pollutants (the Stockholm Convention). Our results show that often pesticides are repacked and stored in alternative containers such as plastic containers for detergents. This means users cannot find important information on how to use pesticides safely on these alternative containers. The label cannot be used as a source of information for example regarding health risks. This may lead to poisoning of users.In Georgia, the transition process results in poor implementation of environmental regulations such as laws about waste management. The results show that educational level has a positive influence on choosing safe storage options such as a separate store. The results indicate that especially in rural areas possibilities of proper disposal of old pesticides or other dangerous chemicals are poor. This has implications for the health of residents.Efforts to better implement environmental regulations should be strengthened especially in rural areas to overcome the legacy of long-lived pesticides which are now banned. Old pesticides might still be in use because they are difficult to dispose of safely.