Pesticide dispersal from a rice field led to the illness of students in Antique, prompting an investigation.
Cypermethrin Exposure Causes Mass Illness at Philippine School
More than 250 students at Pis-anan National High School in Sibalom, Antique, Philippines, fell ill due to a foul odor on July 2. The incident has raised concerns about the use of hazardous chemicals in school environments, with advocacy groups calling for immediate action.
The symptoms experienced by the students included headache, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The final toxicological report concluded that there is sufficient evidence of environmental contamination by cypermethrin within the school premises.
Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide related to pyrethrins, which are known to cause health effects such as numbness, lethargy, muscle tremors, respiratory failure, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures in mammals. Children are particularly vulnerable because their bodies are less able to metabolize these chemicals, increasing the risk of severe effects and even death.
The Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) has classified cypermethrin as one of the "Terrible Twenty," a list of HHPs (Highly Hazardous Pesticides) linked to serious health effects. PANAP executive director Sarojeni Rengam described the incident as "deeply alarming and unacceptable." She condemned the presence of hazardous chemicals in school environments, calling it a gross violation of children's rights and public safety.
PANAP has urged authorities to identify the manufacturer and seller of the cypermethrin involved in the incident. They also recommended establishing a pesticide-free buffer zone of at least one kilometer around schools and other areas with many children.
Laboratory tests conducted on two affected students revealed elevated levels of urinary formic acid, suggesting possible exposure to methanol, a known solvent found in certain pesticides and fogging solutions. Bifenthrin, another chemical used in anti-dengue fogging, was not detected in significant amounts.
The incident reflects a broader and systemic issue related to the unregulated use of HHPs in farming and their proximity to residential and educational areas. In the Philippines, some specific unregistered brands of cypermethrin-based products - including Baolilai, Big Bie Pai and Tianshi insect sprays - have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Sibalom Mayor, Gian Carlo Occeña, stated that the incident remains open as the local government awaits more environmental laboratory findings. Rengam added that the tragic incident must serve as a wake-up call and that dangerous chemicals have no place in a just and sustainable food system. PANAP renewed its call for the adoption and support of agroecological approaches that promote safe, sustainable and poison-free food systems.
While the search results do not specify exact countries that have banned cypermethrin outright, the European Union is known for strict pesticide regulations and has withdrawn approval for many pesticides with similar toxicological profiles affecting nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. Many countries have banned or severely restricted certain pyrethroids due to health concerns, especially in settings with vulnerable populations like children.
[1] ATSDR (2020). Toxicological Profile for Cypermethrin. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. [2] PANAP (2019). Pesticides in Schools: A Call for Action. Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific. [3] WHO (2014). Review of the human health risks associated with the use of cypermethrin in public health vector control. World Health Organization. [4] WHO (2020). Pesticide Safety Profile: Cypermethrin. World Health Organization. [5] EPA (2020). Health effects of cypermethrin. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- Rather than relying on hazardous chemicals like cypermethrin in school environments, a shift towards promoting health-and-wellness and mental-health, as well as fostering fitness-and-exercise, could potentially reduce the risk of similar mass illnesses in the future.
- The environmental contamination by cypermethrin within the school premises raises concerns not only about health-and-wellness, but also about the impact on the broader environmental-science, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and more sustainable practices to ensure a just and sustainable food system.
