Atividade agrícola e externalidade ambiental: uma análise a partir do uso de agrotóxicos no cerrado brasileiro

Human milk contamination by nine organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs)

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are widely used around the world as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematicides, and rodenticides. Despite banned in Brazil, the usage remains occurring in many countries. The persistence and extreme mobility of OCPs contribute to the contamination of the environment and the human body. The OCPs bioaccumulation in adipose tissue triggers the excretion into human milk during breastfeeding. Hence, the present study determined eighteen OCPs residues in the breast milk of mothers from the Western Region of Bahia State, Brazil. Nine different residue species were found, including beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (9.24 ± 0.00 ng g^-1 fat), delta- Hexachlorocyclohexane (22.15 ± 10.48 ng g^-1 fat), Heptachlor (58.08 ± 74.13 ng g^-1 fat), Aldrin (142.65 ± 50.65 ng g^-1 fat), Dieldrin (774.62 ± 472.68 ng g^-1 fat), Endosulfan I (408.44 ± 245.51 ng g^-1 fat), Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloro-ethylene (29.17 ± 22.42 ng g^-1 fat), Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane (28.87 ± 0.00 ng g^-1 fat) and Methoxychlor (1699.67 ± 797.43 ng g^-1 fat). The Methoxychlor presence in all samples may reveal a recent exposure, while Dieldrin and Endosulfan I analyses can point to distant past exposure.

Impacts of anthropogenic activities and calculation of the relative risk of violating surface water quality standards established by environmental legislation: a case study from the Piracicaba and Paraopeba river basins, Brazil

The nonparametric test of Kruskal-Wallis and relative risk were used to evaluate surface water quality allowed to an identification of the most degraded water bodies in Piracicaba River and Paraopeba River basins, two important hydrographic basins in Brazil. Total manganese, dissolved iron, and fecal contamination indicator were considered the most relevant parameters for the characterization of water quality in the basins. The Peixe River, in Nova Era, and Pedras Creek, in Betim, were considered the most impacted water bodies in the Piracicaba River and Paraopeba River basins, respectively. The analysis of violations and the relative risk confirmed that both basins are subject to impacts resulting from economic activities. On comparing the relative risks, the Paraopeba River basin showed a higher risk of violation for 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), total manganese, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and turbidity, while the Piracicaba River basin showed a higher risk of violation for fecal contamination indicator. The release of domestic sewage and industrial effluents, mining activities, and diffuse pollution from agriculture and pasture areas were responsible for the surface water quality deterioration in these basins. The results show the need for investment in basic sanitation, improved treatment efficiency for industrial effluents, adequate soil management, riparian vegetation preservation, and environmental education actions.

Trichoderma gamsii affected herbivore feeding behaviour on Arabidopsis thaliana by modifying the leaf metabolome and phytohormones

Plants can re-programme their transcriptome, proteome and metabolome to deal with environmental and biotic stress. It has been shown that the rhizosphere microbiome has influence on the plant metabolome and on herbivore behaviour. In the present study, Trichoderma gamsii was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana rhizosphere soil. The inoculation of roots of Arabidopsis thaliana with T. gamsii significantly inhibited the feeding behaviour of Trichoplusia ni and affected the metabolome as well as the content of phytohormones in Arabidopsis leaves. T. gamsii-treated plant leaves had higher levels of amino acids and lower concentrations of sugars. In addition, T. gamsii-treated plant leaves had more abscisic acid (ABA) and lower levels of salicylic acid (SA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in comparison with the untreated plants. Furthermore, the inoculation with T. gamsii on different signalling mutants showed that the induction of defences were SA-dependent. These findings indicate that T. gamsii has potential as a new type of biocontrol agent to promote plant repellence to insect attacks.

Perception of the Quality of Life of Tobacco Growers Exposed to Pesticides: Emphasis on Health, Hearing, and Working Conditions

Introduction  Tobacco farming exposes workers to various health risks due to the high application of pesticides needed to control pests, weeds and fungal diseases that prevent the tobacco plant growth. Objective  To analyze the perception of the quality of life of tobacco growers exposed to pesticides, with emphasis on general health, hearing, and working conditions. Method  This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach with farmers from southern Brazil. Data were collected from November of 2012 to November of 2014. For data collection, we opted for the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire, and a questionnaire with closed questions about health, hearing and working conditions. We evaluated a total of 78 subjects; the study group, made up of 40 tobacco farmers exposed to pesticides, and a control group of 38 participants without occupational exposure to pesticides. Both groups are residents of the same municipality, and users of the federal public health system. Results  The results showed that tobacco growers had lower quality of life scores compared with the control group. Significant differences were observed in the areas of pain and general health. There were correlations between physical elements and chronic diseases; hearing complaints and a lack of personal protective equipment use, occupation and hearing complaints, as well as general health and hearing complaints. Conclusion  Tobacco farming is a risky activity for general and hearing health, and it can impact the quality of life of those working in this field.

Estimated Levels of Environmental Contamination and Health Risk Assessment for Herbicides and Insecticides in Surface Water of Ceará, Brazil

Methodology using solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography (SPE-C18/HPLC-DAD) was applied to pesticide determinations in ten water reservoirs in the semidarid region of northeastern Brazil. The validated method was suitable for determination of herbicides and insecticide in surface water. The recovery efficiency of atrazine, methyl-parathion and simazine was approximately 70%. The method also showed good linearity and selectivity with correlation coefficients (R) greater than 0.99. The limits of detection were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by government agencies. Studied reservoirs showed presence of atrazine at mean levels from 7.0 to 15.0 µg/L. Simazine and methyl parathion were not detected during the period. The atrazine levels measured from this semiarid region are of the same magnitude as those found in regions with moderate to high agricultural activity. According to detected atrazine concentrations, the annual health risk to humans was insignificant. However, the control of herbicides is important to maintain the quality of water in the reservoirs of Ceará, Brazil.

Malformações congênitas em municípios de grande utilização de agrotóxicos em Mato Grosso, Brasil

Mato Grosso é o maior produtor agrícola e também o maior consumidor nacional de agrotóxicos. A exposição materna aos agrotóxicos no período periconcepcional tem sido associada com aumento no risco de malformações congênitas. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a associação entre o uso de agrotóxicos e as malformações congênitas em municípios com maior exposição aos agrotóxicos em Mato Grosso. Estudo de caso-controle realizado com 219 nascidos vivos com malformação congênita e 862 nascidos vivos sadios. Estimou-se a média de utilização dos agrotóxicos nos trimestres anterior e posterior à data da fecundação e durante todo o período periconcepecional segundo município e mês e ano de sua utilização. Posteriormente, estas medidas foram quartilizadas e transformadas em variáveis do tipo indicadoras (dummy ), atribuindo-se um nível de exposição para cada intervalo interquartil. Foi realizada análise bivariada e regressão logística. Foram observadas associações significantes (p < 0,05) no terceiro (OR=1,66, IC95% 0,98 - 2,79) e quarto quartil (OR=1,88, IC95% 1,09 - 3,24) do período pós-fecundação e no quarto quartil (OR=2,04, IC95%1,17-3,56) durante todo o período periconcepecional. A exposição materna aos agrotóxicos foi associada à maior ocorrência de malformações congênitas.

Trabalho rural e riscos à saúde: uma revisão sobre o "uso seguro" de agrotóxicos no Brasil

O paradigma do "uso seguro" de agrotóxicos sustenta-se em medidas de controle dos riscos na manipulação desses produtos. No entanto, estudos realizados em diversas regiões do País revelam um quadro de exposição e danos à saúde de trabalhadores rurais, evidenciando a ineficácia deste paradigma. Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão crítica sobre a abordagem do "uso seguro" de agrotóxicos nos artigos científicos publicados nos últimos 15 anos no Brasil. Os resultados apontaram que esses estudos não abordam, simultaneamente, todas as atividades de trabalho que envolvem exposição e risco de intoxicação (aquisição, transporte, armazenamento, preparo e aplicação, destino final de embalagens vazias e lavagem de roupas/EPI contaminados), tampouco abordam de maneira abrangente as diversas medidas de "uso seguro", descritas pelos manuais de segurança, obrigatórias para cada atividade. No total, 25 artigos foram selecionados e analisados, evidenciando-se a concentração de resultados e análises nas atividades de preparo e aplicação e destino final de embalagens vazias. A abrangência das abordagens se mostrou pontual nas seis atividades. Para futuros trabalhos, sugere-se uma abordagem ampliada do "uso seguro" de agrotóxicos, buscando-se revelar a completa inviabilidade deste paradigma de segurança.

Uso de agrotóxicos e impactos econômicos sobre a saúde

OBJETIVO: Estimar externalidades associadas às intoxicações agudas por agrotóxicos. MÉTODOS: Foram estimadas as probabilidades de intoxicação aguda segundo as características dos estabelecimentos rurais e de municípios no Paraná. Foram utilizadas informações sobre intoxicações agudas obtidas da Pesquisa de Previsão de Safras de 1998 a 1999. Os custos esperados com a intoxicação nessas propriedades foram calculados a partir da soma das despesas médicas-hospitalares e dos dias de convalescência necessários para restabelecer a saúde dos intoxicados. Foi construído um modelo multinível para análise. RESULTADOS: O custo associado à intoxicação aguda pode representar até US$ 149 milhões para o Paraná, i.e., para cada dólar gasto com a compra dos agrotóxicos no estado, cerca de US$ 1,28 poderiam ser gerados em custos externos com a intoxicação. Essa situação poderia ser revertida com a implementação de políticas públicas, como adoção de programa de incentivo à agricultura orgânica nos municípios, cujo custo social com a intoxicação aguda poderia ser reduzido em torno de US$ 25 milhões. CONCLUSÕES: A sociedade, em especial as populações mais atingidas pelos agrotóxicos, seriam beneficiadas se riscos de intoxicação aguda associados ao atual modelo de produção agrícola fossem reconhecidos e eliminados. É necessária a implementação de políticas públicas e ações integradas envolvendo os campos da economia, da saúde pública, da agronomia, do meio ambiente, da educação e da ciência e tecnologia, dentre outros.

Levels of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood from delivering women in seven selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) present in the living environment are thought to have detrimental health effects on the population, with pregnant women and the developing foetus being at highest risk. We report on the levels of selected POPs in maternal blood of 155 delivering women residing in seven regions within the São Paulo State, Brazil. The following selected POPs were measured in the maternal whole blood: 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 99, 101, 118, 138, 153, 156, 163, 170, 180, 183, 187, 194); dichlordiphenyltrichloroethane p,p'-DDT, diphenyldichloroethylene p,p'-DDE and other pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane derivatives cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, oxy-chlordane, cis-nonachlor and trans-nonachlor. Statistical comparisons between regions were performed only on compounds having concentrations above LOD in 70% of the samples. PCB118 congener was found to be highest in the industrial site (mean 4.97 ng/g lipids); PCB138 congener concentration was highest in the Urban 3 site (mean 4.27 ng/g lipids) and congener PCB153 was highest in the industrial and Urban 3 sites with mean concentration of 7.2 ng/g lipids and 5.89ng/g lipids respectively. Large differences in levels of p,p'-DDE between regions were observed with the Urban 3 and industrial sites having the highest concentrations of 645 ng/g lipids and 417 ng/g lipids, respectively; β-HCH was found to be highest in the Rural 1 site; the γ-HCH in Rural 1 and industrial; the HCB in the Rural 1 and industrial sites and oxy-chlordane and t-NC in the Rural 2 sites. An association between levels of some contaminants and maternal age and parity was also found.

[Reflections on and contributions to the Ministry of Health's Integrated Plan on Health Surveillance Actions for People Exposed to Pesticides]

This paper highlights the issue of human and environmental contamination caused by abusive and undue use of pesticides and of its consequences for human health and the environment. It seeks to present reflections on and contributions to the Ministry of Health's Integrated Plan on Health Surveillance Actions for People Exposed to Pesticides arising from the Federal District Assessment and Control Project for Human and Environmental Exposure. The methodology used in this study consisted of reading and analysis of reports from the aforementioned projects, as well as participating in preliminary meetings for drafting the General Coordination Plan for Environmental Health Surveillance and the workshop entitled "The integration of Occupational Health Surveillance and Sanitary Vigilance: the information issue." This was coordinated by the Occupational Health Working Group of the Brazilian Public Health Association and in meetings and workshops of the Federal District Project. The outcome of the discussions suggests that the investigation strategy used is a positive contribution and that the Federal District Project may serve as a pilot project for the Ministry of Health's Integrated Plan.

Eixos de desenvolvimento econômico e geração de conflitos socioambientais no Brasil: desafios para a sustentabilidade e a justiça ambiental

A realização da 1ª Conferência Nacional de Saúde Ambiental, a ser realizada em dezembro de 2009, apresenta inúmeros desafios ao campo da Saúde Coletiva. Seus objetivos e eixos adotam conceitos-chave como desenvolvimento, sustentabilidade, processos de produção e consumo, a questão da democracia e das políticas públicas, revelando a abrangência, a novidade e o forte caráter interdisciplinar e intersetorial da Saúde Ambiental. Ao resgatar e articular temas importantes para a Saúde Coletiva, a conferência aponta para a necessidade de refletirmos sobre os determinantes socioambientais da saúde na atualidade, de forma a avançarmos na construção de diretrizes e ações de vigilância e promoção da saúde. Este artigo discute as características do modelo de desenvolvimento brasileiro, seus impactos e conflitos socioambientais e sanitários. Usamos como referenciais teóricos e empíricos os acúmulos provenientes dos campos da economia ecológica e da ecologia política, assim como as experiências de cooperação junto à Rede Brasileira de Justiça Ambiental e diversos movimentos sociais. Dois casos serão aprofundados, o do agronegócio e uso de agrotóxicos, e a expansão da cadeia siderúrgica no país. Ao final, elencamos alguns pontos para compor uma agenda da "crise" socioambiental.