Studying the Use and Risks of Contamination by Pesticides in a Land Reform Settlement in the North Fluminense Region, Brazil

Authors

  • Marcos A. Pedlowski Laboratório de Estudos do Espaço Antrópico, Centro de Ciências do Homem, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
  • S. L. de Aquino Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento, Agricultura e Sociedade, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • M. C. Canela Laboratório de Ciências Químicas, Centro de Ciências Tecnológicas, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
  • I. L. A. da Silva Laboratório de Ciências Químicas, Centro de Ciências Tecnológicas, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5132/jbse.2006.02.018

Keywords:

pesticides, environment, land reform, toxicity, health

Abstract

During the twentieth century, the agricultural economy benefited tremendously from new developments in chemical pesticides. This progress, however, has resulted in unintended consequences to human health and the environment. This article presents the results of a study carried out on land reform settlement located on the North Fluminense region. Data was obtained by surveying one hundred land reform settlers through a random sample questionnaire. Variables studied include household demography and education, types of pesticides, targeted crops, levels of training for pesticides handling, disposal of empty containers and use of safety equipments. Our results show that about half of the households were using pesticides to eradicate weeds and different types of agricultural pests on eleven crops. Data also showed a dominance of products with moderate toxicity for human health and high toxicity for the environment. The risk for increased contamination associated to pesticides utilization was greatly enhanced by a general lack of understanding regarding health and environmental risks. Most settlers declared having previously received no formal training for the handling and disposing of products being used in their lots. We  also found that most settlers were littering their lots with empty containers and had unrestricted access to pesticides retailers.  Finally, our results show the need for the education on the health and environmental risks involved in misguided utilization of  pesticides, and for the mapping of aquatic systems environmental contamination associated to pesticides utilization.

Downloads

Published

20-12-2006

How to Cite

Pedlowski, M. A., Aquino, S. L. de, Canela, M. C., & Silva, I. L. A. da. (2006). Studying the Use and Risks of Contamination by Pesticides in a Land Reform Settlement in the North Fluminense Region, Brazil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination, 1(2), 185–190. https://doi.org/10.5132/jbse.2006.02.018

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2006)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2006 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2006 ECOTOX-Brasil

Copyright notice: It is a condition for publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not yet been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that copyright for their article is transferred to the Sociedade Brasileira de Ecotoxicologia (ECOTOX-Brasil) if and when the article is accepted for publication. The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute articles, including reprints, photographic reproductions or any other reproduction of a similar nature, including translations. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the publisher.

Notice: While every effort is made by the EEC, editors and editorial board to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinions or statements appear in this journal, they wish to make it clear that the contents of the articles and advertisements published herein are the sole responsibility of the contributors or advertisers concerned. Accordingly, the EEC, the editorial board and editors and their respective employees, officers and agents accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the consequences of any inaccurate or misleading data, opinion or statement.