Pesticides “a serious threat to the health of humans and ecosystems”Contrary to what the Spanish Government and the European Union (EU) have confirmed, neither its use nor its risk has decreased. These are the main results of a study announced today by Ecologists in Action, the Spanish Society for Ecological Agriculture and Agroecology (SEAE) and WWF, on the occasion of World Health Day.
The report containing the results of the investigation appeared “Serious shortcomings” in legal tools used to assess pesticide riskand to replace them with others who “sufficiently and systematically analyze the consequences on human and ecosystem health of the use of these toxic substances in agricultural activities”.
The study makes a detailed analysis of data on the marketing of pesticides in Spain from 2011 to 2018 and shows that: there is no reduction in risk to human health. This result contradicts the conclusion reached by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the EU. commercialization of this type of product increased by 5.56%, risk decreased by 22%.
Three organizations condemned this Evaluation of the toxicity of pesticides in the EU is insufficient because it minimizes the effects of these products and does not provide precise data on the hazards to human and environmental health..
As a result, the organizations that prepared this study, urgent in addition to change these instruments progress in the agroecological transition of the food systemminimizes the use of toxins in agriculture.
cancer risk
A clear example of the harm done to human health, risk of mutagenicity that’s it virtually no reduction in carcinogenic risk from pesticide usecollected in the report.
Environmental damage also increased during the working period, with adverse consequences for aquatic ecosystems, flora or fauna.
as a clear example negative effects of pesticidesWe’ve got reduction in grasses and flowers and associated wild bees and other arthropods At risk from the use of agrochemicals that contribute to the biological control of pests or provide many ecosystem services (pollination, degradation of organic matter, etc.) that are key to food production.
Organizations warn all these negative consequences are downplayed in official analysisas they are based on assessing the risk of each toxic substance separately, combined effect.
Also, there is gaps in available dataIt violates the citizen’s right to information by hiding.statistical secretA large number of pesticides sold quantities.
For all these reasons, the three organizations, urgent need to change the current pesticide risk assessment model. and suggested using a model similar to that used in this study. toxic loadwith. This indicator provides an in-depth analysis of the consequences of exposure to pesticides.
“Beyond improving risk assessment, competent authorities urgent measures to control and reduce pesticide contaminationIt is something that has already been proposed by the European Green Deal,” point out the report’s authors.
Support for organic production
Especially, Ecologists in Action, SEAE and WWF demand withdrawal of authorization of these products that have serious impact on human health and the environment; reduce the toxic load of pesticides by at least 50%, and Betting tight on solutions proposed by organic farming for the production of food that respects people and nature.
But none of this would be possible without it. suitable analysis tools “providing a true understanding of the impact of pesticides on nature and our bodies,” points out these three organizations.
Finally they warn The current complex situation in the countryside, which has its origins in different socio-economic issues, should not be used as “an excuse to undermine the objectives of the 2030 European Strategies from Farm to Fork to Biodiversity”.chasing a better life for future generations.
“Reduced use of agrochemicals, commitment to green infrastructure and spaces for nature, and solid support for organic production and healthy and sustainable nutrition. indisputable goals for food security through agriculture, which is their future,” they concluded.
An international scientific study, which was also attended by the University of Córdoba, published last year revealed that: Almost half of the food products consumed in the EU contain pesticide residues. In Spain, the percentage is lower, 34%, but the problem is no less serious for this, because One third of pesticides detected are not licensed.
Spain is the leading European country in pesticide salesWith 75,190 tons in 2019, 3% more than the previous year. “Some of the pesticides used remain in the food as invisible residues and end up in the mouths of consumers,” warns Ecologistas en Acción.
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