Suffering from DBCP Exposure: Banana Workers Sickened and Sterilized by Dow

Laboring long hours in the field, banana workers from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Philippines faced chronic exposure to the toxic pesticide dibromochloropropane (DBCP) pioneered by Dow Chemical in the 1950s. DBCP was introduced to control the nematodes that plague banana and pineapple crops. A study in 1958 demonstrated the adverse effects of DBCP on laboratory rats’ livers, lungs, kidneys and reproductive organs. Despite the severity of these effects and the mounting evidence, Dow downplayed the results of the study, and the U.S. government approved DBCP for commercial use in 1964. In 1977, 35 of 114 workers at a DBCP production plant in California were found to be sterile. As a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levied strict regulations for use of the chemical. Although DBCP was banned in the U.S., it continued to be exported to many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Over 20,000 banana workers in Latin America were sterilized due to their exposure to DBCP. Others have developed cancer, skin diseases and other disabilities and their children have been born with severe birth defects. In December 2002, a Nicaraguan judge ordered Dow Chemical, Shell Oil Company and Standard Fruit (Dole Food Company in the U.S.), to pay US$490 million in compensation to 583 banana workers injured by DBCP. The companies responded by counter suing and refusing to pay the amount.

For more information:

Nicaragua Network (English)

Solidarity Campaign for Victims of Nemagon (Espanol)

InternationalCommittee in Solidarity with Nemagon Victims - Photography

Business & Human Rights Resource Center Nemagon Page

In These Times article about Nemagon

BananaLink

GreenGold - Explains in detail the condition of the banana plantations and how workers are sprayed and otherwise with toxic pesticides regularly

Dow Corporate Profile - Chemicals produced/sold, Brief info on DBCP and Banana Workers, Dioxins, Bhopal and other negative impacts Dow is responsible for, General Stats on the financial/legal/demographic details of the corporation.

Detailed Site explaining DBCP’s properties