World Health Day: why reducing pesticide use is a priority
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Friday, April 7 is the World Health Day, an opportunity to reflect on the importance of health and the factors that influence it. This year’s theme is “health for all” a concept that recalls that of “global health”, the only key to ensure the survival of all species, including ours. Among the substances of greatest concern are the pesticides used in agriculture, of which it has now been scientifically proven that, even in minimal doses, they can be extremely harmful to human health and therefore represent a real public health problem. Despite that, Global pesticide use has almost doubled since 1990 and Italy is the second largest pesticide market in the EU according to Eurostat data.
An economy of legalized poisons, as defined by the WWF which, on the occasion of World Health Day, relaunches the “Pesticide Atlas”, recently published with the Coalizione Cambiamo Agricoltura. This report, in addition to providing information on the significant role that these substances have in determining the decline of biodiversity, in particular for pollinating insects such as bees, confirms the pervasiveness of these substances in all environmental matrices, water, air and soil and the consequent negative effects on people’s health. Thesis also confirmed byWorld Health Organization, which estimates over 385 million cases of pesticide poisoning and 258,000 deaths each year worldwide.
Ideas
A sustainable use of the earth exists and is called “agroecology”
by Francesco Subtle*
In addition to the loss of biodiversity (primarily of pollinating insects), thethe use of pesticides determines the loss of soil fertility and the progressive pollution of groundwater, constituting a planetary contamination that now affects all ecosystems and people. In fact, these substances or their metabolites are found in many foods and organisms, including humans and it is now scientifically proven that, not only acute poisoning, but also chronic exposure to low doses of pesticides (for example through the consumption of food, water, air which contain residues), involves an increase of risk of chronic-degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, immune, reproductive and metabolic dysfunctions. Even more harmful to our health is the presence of multi-residue, more chemical substances than taken individually, fall within the parameters of the law, but together they determine a “cocktail effect” still largely unknown, but potentially much more dangerous.
Women and children are the most sensitive and most at risk subjects. In general, in fact, women have a higher percentage of body fat and are therefore more inclined to store pollutants that can bioaccumulate in adipose tissue. In addition, women have more tissues sensitive to hormones, which make them more vulnerable to pesticides, especially those that act hormonally or interfere with the endocrine system. Then there is a clear link between breast cancer and exposure to some types of pesticides, which are initiating agents and promoters of this disease. Pesticides are also linked to endometriosis, a painful condition that can cause infertility and can pose a significant risk to women’s reproductive health and the fetus. Pesticides can also pass from the mother to the fetus and infants during breastfeeding, compromising the health of the unborn child not only in childhood but also in adult life and leading to an increase, in particular, in the risk of brain tumors and neurological alterations and developmental problems, which can lead to cognitive, behavioral and growth deficits. Studies in the field of epigenetics also show that exposure to pesticides can influence gene activity, hereditary physiological characteristics and the development of congenital malformations.
The file
Man is the species most exposed to chemical pollution
by Cristina Nadotti
“Current industrial agriculture has a high dependence on synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and antibiotics.here. Today, 4 million tons of pesticides are used in the world. However, the volume of sales by itself says little about the risks to humans, animals and the environment. There are also other factors that play an important role, including: the toxicity of the substances, the methods of use, the rate of use or the frequency of application – he says Eva Alessi, Head of Sustainability of WWF Italy-. Individual pesticides are often spread in the environment at the same time as many others and other substances, effectively creating chemical cocktails that can exponentially amplify the effects on our health (and that of other species). To date theThe scientific community is not yet aware of the possible synergistic effects caused by the combinations of pesticides used in cultivated fields. The WWF has been working for years for the “One Health” objective to ensure health for all living beings on the planet, the only key to a future of well-being.”
The global consumption of pesticides is on the rise, with a market that reached a value of 84.5 billion dollars in 2019, with an unstoppable growth rate that will reach 11.5% this year, reaching almost 130.7 billion dollars. It’s Italy? In 2020, 125 million kg of agricultural chemicals were sold in Italy, 5.2 kg/hectare, despite the fact that the consequences on health and the environment are known and increasingly detailed. In 2021, the UAA (used agricultural area) cultivated without poisons in Italy was still only 17.4%.
For the WWF, the only solution is organic farming: all over the world there are realities that demonstrate that an agroecological future is possible. More and more cities, states and regions are looking to cut pesticide use or even ban chemicals completely from fields and public parks. EU Farm to Fork Strategy sets target of 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030 at European level. With the SUR Regulation for the sustainable use of plant protection products in agriculture, proposed by the European Commission and now under discussion in Parliament, these objectives are declined at the level of individual Member States and will become binding. For Italy, an ambitious reduction target of 62% by 2030 has been setprecisely because we are one of the largest users at European level.
To stop the silent pandemic of pesticides, in addition to a European strategy and the renewal of national legislation, it is essential to grow the national organic market. Italy ranks first in Europe for exports of certified organic products while domestic consumption remains low, although data show that the consumption of organic products in Italy has almost doubled in 10 years and is growing steadily, albeit slowly. Choosing to buy organic products, free from poisons, contributes not only to the growth of organic agriculture, but also to the protection of one’s health
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