[Pesticide exposure in Chile and population health: urgency for decision making].

[Pesticide exposure in Chile and population health: urgency for decision making]. Gac Sanit. 2020 Jul 16;: Authors: Zúñiga-Venegas L, Saracini C, Pancetti F, Muñoz-Quezada MT, Lucero B, Foerster C, Cortés S Abstract In the last 25 years, Chile has had an expanding role as an agro-export country in the global economy, with efficient rates of productivity in the region, based on the technological development of agriculture, with of large monocultures whose productivity depends on the intensive application of agrochemicals. This form of agriculture has also lacked efficient regulations and surveillance, so it is difficult to estimate the real magnitude of the exposed population and its effects on health in the short or long term. This systematic review compiles the epidemiological evidence generated from studies conducted in several regions of Chile regarding pesticide exposure and health effects. Of the total number of articles, 50% included agricultural workers, 25% children, and 25% women of childbearing age, with the greatest effects being the neurotoxic (54%), genotoxic (31%) and reproductive (15%). The evidence collected shows that in Chile the levels of exposure to pesticides in the general and occupational population are higher than international studies levels. It is urgent to protect the health of both the occupational and general population and especially children through a stricter control of the sale and use of pesticid...
Source: Gaceta Sanitaria - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Gac Sanit Source Type: research