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An insect spray under review for its toxic effect on humans is still being routinely used on some New Zealand parks and playing fields.
Endosulfan, which is being reviewed by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma), has been regularly used by the Manukau City and Rodney District councils to stop worms damaging expensive sand and soil pitches.
Auckland Airport also uses it to control worms, although a spokesperson says it has not been needed there for the past five years.
The product caused an outcry in Tauranga this month, when public concern halted spraying of a Mt Maunganui rugby field with Thiodan, a spray whose active ingredient is endosulfan. Auckland City, North Shore City, Waitakere City and Franklin District councils do not use endosulfan on their fields or parks.
The spray, which is also used on food crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, onions and sweetcorn, has been linked with the poisoning of agricultural workers and villagers in Benin, Indonesia, India and Thailand.
An Erma report prepared for the review of endosulfan says it can adversely affect the nervous system, liver and kidneys of humans.
David Venables of Erma said New Zealand had strict controls on the use of endosulfan to minimise the risk to people.
After the review, Erma will decide whether to tighten these controls, ban the product or do nothing.
Rodney District Council uses endosulfan once a year at its sand-based sports fields.
Parks manager Ian Murray said he was not aware of any adverse effects in the 10 years the council had been using it.
He said the council knew of the Erma review and would continue to seek other options for worm control.
Manukau parks manager Robert Findlay said endosulfan was used in 10 of the city's parks this year.
The parks were closed to the public during spraying and not reopened until the grass was dry.
Mr Findlay said agrichemicals were an easy target for criticism, but when used correctly could make a positive contribution to grounds.
He said it was very important to distinguish between the use of endosulfan on turf and its use on food, saying "You don't eat turf." Erma is investigating just how much endosulfan is sprayed on to food crops as part of its review.
Peter Ensor of Horticulture New Zealand said growers would help Erma to work out how widespread the use of endosulfan was. "It's part of a suite of tools we can use, including non-chemical tools. You can't always keep using the same products because the insects develop a resistance."
Endosulfan is banned in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Belize, Singapore and Brazil. It is banned as a plant spray in the European Union, although some countries are still phasing the product out. Australian and US reviews of the product have led to tighter controls, although neither country has banned the spray.
Late last month the Food Safety Authority prosecuted Waimauku farmer Carl Houghton for using the spray on cattle at his farm. The incident had led to the suspension of New Zealand beef exports to Korea in 2005.
The authority said at the time that although the level of endosulfan residue found in Mr Houghton's beef was lower than the level allowed in vegetables, the product was not approved for use on animals or animal fodder.
Authority spokesman Gary Bowering said last week that people should not be concerned about chemicals in their food, because if there were any concerns the product would not be on the market.
