3 held for insecticide use on sea cucumbers

Three people who were suspected of illegally using the insecticide dichlorvos in raising sea cucumbers were brought under control on Friday in Qingdao, Shandong province, after an examination of local sea cucumber production.

In a video clip by China's Central Television program on Thursday night, local farmers in Jimo, a northern district in Qingdao, said the use of dichlorvos is common in sea cucumber cultivation to help kill other creatures in the ponds and improve the living environment for sea cucumbers.

"Two kilograms of dichlorvos were used in approximately one-fifteenth of a hectare of area used for raising sea cucumbers," a farmer said in a secretly recorded interview, adding that his company has more than 100 pools.

China's pesticide regulation excludes the use of dichlorvos in sea cucumber aquaculture.

Dichlorvos is mainly used for pest prevention in the cultivation of cotton, wheat, tea shrubs and apples.

The video also revealed that residual dichlorvos was discharged into the sea without treatment.

In China, sea cucumbers are usually highly prized and are believed to have medicinal properties, treating ailments including arthritis and impotency.

Jimo district is one of the sea cucumber cultivation areas in Shandong and involves more than 100 farms, according to the district government.

The province's department of agricultural and rural affairs has established an investigation team and vowed to crack down on the illegal use of pesticides and veterinary drugs in farming and aquaculture sectors across the province.

The investigation team also decided to sample sea cucumber products to ensure food safety and carry out comprehensive testing on water quality.

The CCTV report also reported the illegal sale of oxytetracycline powder－a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria－whose poisonous content may threaten food safety.

Previously, the authority in Jimo has carried out legal action against the illegal sale of oxytetracycline.

A sea cucumber salesman, who only gave his surname Liu, told China Daily he was shocked to hear about the use of dichlorvos.

Dichlorvos is highly toxic, and he didn't think most sea cucumber producers have the desire to use it, he said.

Chen Bin, 33, who works at a real estate company in Qingdao, said he has bought sea cucumbers as a gift to relatives and friends on major festive occasions such as Spring Festival, because he was told that it would improve people's immune systems.

He said the use of dichlorvos may make consumers become more cautious when purchasing sea cucumber products.

"People should eat sea cucumbers properly as its benefits are exaggerated," he mentioned.

xiechuanjiao@chinadaily.com.cn