Unregulated Pesticide Use in Tea Gardens Fuels Environmental Pollution and Health Crisis

In Bangladesh’s tea gardens and agricultural fields, excessive and harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers are being used to control pests and weeds, causing severe environmental and health consequences. These chemicals are contaminating nearby rivers and wetlands, leading to the death of fish, frogs, snakes, and other aquatic life.

Estimates suggest that tea gardens in Bangladesh release approximately 5 million liters of liquid pesticides and 400,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizers into the soil and water annually. This rampant use of toxic substances, coupled with the lack of protective equipment provided by tea garden authorities, is exposing workers to serious health risks, including chronic illnesses, disabilities, and premature deaths.

Across the country, 206 tea gardens, both large and small, rely heavily on pesticides such as Woodicide, Malathion, Ethion, and Capravit, as well as fertilizers like urea and zinc. Of these, approximately 183 tea gardens are located in Sylhet, Habiganj, and Moulvibazar. Authorities exploit the vulnerability of tea workers, compelling them to apply these chemicals without proper planning or safety measures.

Tea workers tasked with spraying pesticides are rarely provided with essential protective gear, such as masks, goggles, gloves, gowns, boots, or caps. As a result, they suffer from respiratory issues, abdominal pain, skin diseases, asthma, and even long-term conditions like malnutrition and cancer. The easy availability of pesticides has also contributed to a rise in suicides among tea workers.

Rainwater carries these pesticides from tea gardens into rivers, streams, haors, and larger water bodies, threatening aquatic biodiversity. Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers is also degrading the soil quality in hilly and agricultural lands, further harming the region’s ecosystem.

Environmentalists stress the urgent need for research to assess the detrimental impact of unscientific pesticide use on the environment and public health in tea garden areas.

Tea workers Suresh Roy, Kamal Das, and Subhash Chhatri told Sylhet Today that after spraying pesticides, they experience dizziness, burning eyes, back pain, itching, and sores on their hands and feet, along with a loss of appetite. Tea worker leader Sitaram Bin said disputes with garden management over this issue are common. While authorities occasionally provide minimal protective equipment, it is often incomplete and insufficient.

Environmental activist Rashed Islam highlighted the dire consequences: “The indiscriminate use of pesticides in tea gardens is not only causing workers to die from various diseases but also polluting rivers, canals, wetlands, and ponds through rainwater runoff, stunting fish growth.” He emphasized the urgent need to supply workers with gloves, goggles, masks, gowns, boots, and caps.

Dr. Nazmul Hasan warned that the heavy use of pesticides like Woodicide, Roundup, Malathion, Ethion, Drag, Capravit, urea, and zinc increases the risk of blood contamination, respiratory issues, vision loss, kidney and heart diseases, skin conditions, and even blood cancer among tea workers. He also noted a rise in suicidal tendencies linked to pesticide exposure and called for greater awareness and protective measures.

The unregulated use of pesticides in tea gardens is a growing crisis, threatening both the environment and the lives of workers. Immediate action is needed to enforce safety regulations, provide protective equipment, and mitigate the ecological damage caused by these harmful chemicals.