STIMOLO MARIA INES
Congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Pesticide use on crops in Córdoba province. An estimation based on information provided by agrochemical applicators.
Lugar:
Santa Fe, Santa Fe
Reunión:
Workshop; 2nd Latin American Pesticide Residue Workshop ? LAPRW 2009; 2009
Institución organizadora:
The National University of Litoral (UNL), the Chemical Engineering Faculty (FIQ) and the Central Laboratory (LC)
Resumen:

Córdoba province has undergone a great expansion of the cultivated surface and the volume of applied pesticides. The presence of pesticide residues in food is unavoidable, thus promoting an important way of continuous exposure through the diet. The existence of safety regulations that set Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) needs also, at local level, the identification of the specific types of pesticides to be searched in routine control procedures order to restrict the search to the products in use. The information reported by pesticide applicators, provides relevant elements about the problem under study. The aim of this communication is to make known the type and frequency of use of the pesticides applied in Córdoba, according to the report from pesticide applicators themselves.

For that reason, a cross sectional, population based study was conducted in pesticides appliers from Córdoba province. The Agricultural Health Study questionnaire, AHS (Alavanja et al)1, was translated and adapted to the conditions of our province, by elaborating a self-administered questionnaire. Information was gathered about five modules: demographic data, pesticide use, crop information, lifestyle habits and health conditions of workers and their families, with possible assessment of current and past exposure to pesticides. The questionnaire was filled out by those attending the courses for Applicators (which are mandatory for obtaining the license), provided by trained professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Córdoba province during 2007 and 2008 (following Law Nº9164). The sample, designed from a population of about 4500 workers, comprised n = 830 applicators. The subjects included in the sample were farm workers directly exposed to pesticides, i.e., those who mix pesticides, apply them, or do both.

The herbicides most frequently used were: Glyphosate (98%), 2.4 D (89.3%) and Atrazine (87.4%); Insecticides: Cypermethrin (94.7%), Chlorpyrifos (78.2%) and Endosulphan (69.2%) and Fungicides: Pyraclostrobin + Epoxiconazole (34.6%) and Carbendazim (30.9%). With regard to pesticides combination, although the trends were to use 13 different pesticides, but in some cases more than 20 different pesticides were reported. Besides, agricultural workers who handle pesticides do not use, or use then very poorly, personal protection measures.

The results in the study highlight a number of pesticides that should not be omitted in the assessments to be undertaken, as well as the potential impacts of the exploitation model implemented. On other hand, the characterization of the study population provides valuable elements for strengthening of existing public policies in relation to protection and improvement of health and safety conditions of the workers and their families.

 [1]  Alavanja MCR, JA Hoppin, F Kamel. 2004. Health Effects of Chronic Pesticide Exposure: Cancer and Neurotoxicity. Ann Rev Public Health. 25:155-197.

  Acknowledgments: to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Córdoba Province, Argentina, for its support in conducting the surveys, to the Ministry of Science and Technology of Argentina for providing grant BID 1728 GL / AR PICT 36035 and to the Ministry of Science and Technology, National University of Córdoba (UNC-SeCyT) for the grant given (Code 05/H207).