Pesticides are described as a serious threat to human health and ecosystems. Contrary to statements from the Spanish Government and the European Union, use and risk have not diminished. This conclusion comes from a study released by Ecologists in Action, the Spanish Society for Ecological Agriculture and Agroecology SEAE, and WWF to mark World Health Day.
The report notes serious shortcomings in the legal tools used to assess pesticide risk and calls for replacements that analyze the consequences for human health and ecosystem health in a systematic and comprehensive way.
The study analyzes pesticide marketing data in Spain from 2011 to 2018 and finds no reduction in risk to human health. It challenges the MAPA and EU conclusions, noting that while commercialization of these products rose by 5.56%, perceived risk declined by 22%.
Three organizations condemn the EU toxicity evaluation for pesticides as insufficient because it minimizes the products’ effects and fails to provide precise data on hazards to people and the environment.
As a result, the organizations behind the study urge urgent changes to advance the agroecological transition of the food system and reduce the use of toxins in agriculture.
cancer risk
The report provides a clear example of potential harm to human health, including mutagenicity risk, noting little to no reduction in carcinogenic risk from pesticide use recorded in the study.
Environmental damage also increased during the period examined, affecting aquatic ecosystems as well as flora and fauna.
A photograph shows a tractor performing fumigation duties, illustrating the real-world practice of pesticide application.
These observations highlight the negative effects of pesticides, including reductions in grasses, flowers, and populations of wild bees and other arthropods that play a role in natural pest control and essential ecosystem services such as pollination and organic matter breakdown, which are crucial for food production.
Organizations argue that these negative consequences are downplayed in official analyses because risk is assessed for each toxic substance separately, without considering combined effects.
Gaps in available data are noted, and the report argues that citizen access to information is violated by withheld statistics on pesticide quantities sold.
For these reasons, the three organizations call for a change to the current pesticide risk assessment model and propose a framework similar to the one used in the study, a toxic load indicator that analyzes exposure consequences in depth.
Beyond improving risk assessment, competent authorities are urged to take measures to control and reduce pesticide contamination, a point that aligns with proposals already suggested by the European Green Deal.
Support for organic production
Ecologists in Action, SEAE, and WWF advocate withdrawing authorization for products with serious impacts on health and the environment, reducing the toxic load of pesticides by at least 50 percent, and prioritizing solutions offered by organic farming for food production that respects people and nature.
The organizations stress that none of these advances would be possible without suitable analysis tools that provide a true understanding of how pesticides affect nature and human bodies.
Another bulletin notes the current countryside situation, rooted in various socio-economic issues, should not be used to undermine the Europe-wide Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies aimed at better life for future generations.
The trio of groups calls for reduced agrochemical use, stronger investment in green infrastructure and nature spaces, and solid support for organic production and healthy, sustainable nutrition as clear aims for food security through farming practices that protect the environment.
An international scientific study, with participation from the University of Córdoba, published last year found that almost half of EU food products show pesticide residues. In Spain, the share is 34 percent, but the problem remains serious as a third of detected pesticides are not licensed.
Spain stands as the leading European country in pesticide sales, reporting 75,190 tons in 2019, a 3 percent rise from the previous year. Some pesticides can persist in food as invisible residues that reach consumers, according to Ecologistas en Acción.
The full report is available in a document published by SEAE and WWF, with the union of perspectives from multiple ecological organizations highlighting the need for systemic change in pesticide policies and agricultural practices.