Brazil’s national cancer institute recently released a new report in which the agency states that they are against current pesticide practices and the impact that they’re having on public health in their country, especially with regard to cancer.

Brazil’s José Alencar Gomes da Silva National Cancer Institute reports:

“It is important to highlight that the release of transgenic seeds in Brazil was one of the facts that has contributed to putting the country in the first place in the ranking of pesticide consumption. This is because the cultivation of these genetically modified seeds requires the use of large amounts of these products.”

Similar to many areas of the world, including underdeveloped nations, Brazil’s pesticide sales jumped from $2 billion to more than $7 billion between 2001 and 2008, reaching record sales valued at $8.5 billion in 2011, according to GMWatch.org.

The increase in pesticide sales put Brazil on the map, but not in a good way. In 2009, Brazil became the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, “surpassing 1 million tons, which is equivalent to an average consumption of 5.2 kg of agricultural poison per inhabitant.”

Pesticides harm the environment and field workers

Occupational exposure and environmental pollution is one of the institute’s largest concerns regarding widespread pesticide use; however, “chronic intoxications” can affect the whole population as well.

“The latest results of the Pesticides Residues Analysis Program (PARA) from ANVISA revealed samples with pesticide residues in quantities above the maximum limit allowed and with the presence of unauthorized chemicals.”

Based on numerous damaging effects caused by large scale pesticide use, the institute announced plans to “strengthen initiatives of regulation and control of such substances and encourage agroecological alternatives….”

The country intends to reduce pesticide use by replacing the dominant model and supporting “agroecologically-based production in accordance with the National Policy of Agroecology and Organic Production,” which encourages “the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources essential to life.”

Additional sources:

GMWatch.org