TITLE:
Pesticides Exposure: The Case of Workers on Growing Grapes in San Francisco Valley, Petrolina/Brazil
AUTHORS:
Francisco Alves Pinheiro, Paulo José Adissi
KEYWORDS:
Agricultural Work, Growing Grapes, Chemical Risk, Pesticides Exposure
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.5 No.10,
August
7,
2014
ABSTRACT: The objective of
this work is to analyze the systems of application of pesticides used in
harvesting grapes of the sub-medium San Francisco valley, in relation to the
risks of occupational contamination. The manual, mechanized and semi mechanized
systems of application, adopted by the grape growers of the city of
Petrolina/PE, have been analyzed through a method of both quantitative and
qualitative evaluation. In such a way, two production units were visited: a
mid-sized company and another one from of the CODEVASF. Five simulations were
carried out in four systems of pesticide application using the European entire
body method. Pre-application processes, such as storage and dilution of
pesticides, as well as post-application processes, including equipment
maintenance, cleaning and storage of clothes used for the application process
were also analyzed. The results show large differences in risk among the
systems that were analyzed and better conditions offered by the agricultural
company, which was seeking to obtain the certification process.