グアドループ・マルティニークの農薬汚染

　カリブ海に浮かぶフランスの海外県。ステキな南海の風景は好ましいが、農薬汚染がわりとひどい、と。

BBC Pesticide poisoned French paradise islands in Caribbean 25 Oct 2019　By Laurence Peter

「The French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique thrive on their image as idyllic sun, sea and sand destinations for tourists.

But few visitors are aware that these lush, tropical islands have a chronic pollution problem.

A pesticide linked to cancer - chlordecone - was sprayed on banana crops on the islands for two decades and now nearly all the adult local residents have traces of it in their blood.」

　あらかたの大人の血液に含まれてしまっている。といって規制しようにも、その使用は「草の根」レベルであって、どうしようもない。

「Large tracts of soil are contaminated, as are rivers and coastal waters. The authorities are trying to keep the chemical out of the food chain, but it is difficult, as much produce comes from smallholders, often sold at the roadside.」

　問題になっている物質は、米国では1975年に生産停止になっている代物と。

「In the US a factory producing chlordecone - sold commercially as kepone - was shut down in 1975 after workers fell seriously ill there. But Antilles banana growers continued to use the pesticide.」

　しかし未だに使用され続けており―

「Chlordecone was already recognised as hazardous in 1972.」

「As French agriculture minister in 1972 Jacques Chirac, who later became president, authorised chlordecone as a pesticide.

It was not banned in the Antilles until 1993 - a delay attributed to lobbying pressure from banana growers.」

　当地においては1993年まで禁止薬物指定を逃れていたと。

「It was restricted globally under the Stockholm Convention in 2016, along with 25 other "Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)".」

　世界的にも禁止されているものであるが―当地では、沿岸漁業を禁止するレベルで蔓延しているという。
　なんとかしようと広報は打っていても、失業率もむっちゃ高く、それなら新しい農薬を買うのも難で、在庫処理を優先するかなあ、地元民的には。