Expired and Prohibited Pesticides Problem in Ukraine

Abstract

Twenty thousand to 25,000 t of expired or prohibited pesticides are stored on 4,000 Ukrainian depots. This is a serious threat for people and environment. Arsenic compounds are highly toxic for cattle. Death comes within several hours. Even if an animal managed to survive 7-10 days, it still may die because of kidney failure. There is no effective antidote. Organochlorine insecticides including DDT, lindane, toxaphene and heptachlor may be found in water food chain and achieve critical levels in fish-eating birds. Moreover, they are collected in cattle's fat, Poisoning by organochlorine insecticides affects nervous system and causes tremors, seizures and unusual behavior. After long-lasting seizures or high temperature animal dies because of respiratory failure.