Mystery Disease in Andhra Pradesh


A ‘mystery disease’ has emerged in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. It has caused illness to almost 450 people and few deaths also. It is believed that organochlorines are responsible for this mysterious disease.

The symptoms like seizures, nausea, dizziness and headaches are seen among patients.

Heavy metals like Lead and nickel content in drinking water and milk was primarily established as the root cause of the disease. It is found in the blood sample of patients.

What are Organochlorines?

  • Organochlorines (OC) are a group of chlorinated compounds that belong to the class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with high persistence in the environment.

    • They are widely used as pesticides.

  • Applications: OC insecticides were earlier used to control malaria and typhus; they were later banned in most countries. 

    • They are relatively cheaper; as a result Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), aldrin and dieldrin are among the most widely used pesticides in developing countries of Asia.

  • How do these pesticides reach people?

    • Inhalation: People can be exposed to organochlorines through accidental inhalation if they are in an area where such pesticides were used or sprayed. 

    • Food product: The chemicals can also be ingested through fish, dairy products and other fatty foods, which can get contaminated.

    • Bio-accumulations: Organochlorine pesticides accumulate in the environment. 

      • They are persistent and move long distances in surface runoff or groundwater. 

  • Health impacts: OC is capable of causing adverse effects in the central and peripheral nervous system; as a result, several such chemicals were banned in the United States.

    • Exposure to organochlorine pesticides over a short period may result in convulsions, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremors, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, salivation and sweating.

    • Long-term exposure to organochlorine pesticides may damage the liver, kidney, central nervous system, thyroid and bladder.

    • Cancerous: There is also evidence indicating that organochlorine pesticides may cause cancer in humans.

      • Many such pesticides have been linked to elevated rates of liver or kidney cancer in animals. 

    • Impact on animals: OCs, in the mid-1970s in India, resulted in widespread reproductive failure among birds; they laid eggs with thin shells that cracked before hatching.

  • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): The Indian Government has recently approved the ratification of seven chemicals listed under Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
  • The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from POPs. 
  • It was opened for signature in 2001 in Stockholm (Sweden) and became effective in 2004.
  • The convention calls to ban nine of the dirty dozen chemicals (key POPs), limit the use of DDT to malaria control, and curtail inadvertent production of dioxins and furans. The convention listed twelve distinct chemicals in three categories.

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