A key U.N. science panel is urging governments worldwide to ban the widely used pesticide called endosulfan. The pesticide is used on fruits and vegetables as well as cotton. Endosulfan is known to cause nerve damage to both humans and wildlife. Evidence also shows it can harm the environment through spray drift and run off. 60 countries have already banned the use of the pesticide including the United States. Scientists say use of the pesticide should be phased out completely. A spokesman for the U.N. Environment Program says governments will decide whether to follow the recommendations at a meeting of leaders at the so-called Stockholm Convention on harmful chemicals in April 2011. 31 scientists make up the U.N. panel called the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee.
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