The use of pesticides in Jaguaribara/Ceará and its consequences

a reality under suspicion

Abstract

Pesticides are substances designed to somehow kill, control or combat pests, preventing further deforestation for planting. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of pesticides in the rural area of a city in the interior of the State of Ceará. It is an observational, transversal and field research, with quantitative approaches. 50 farmers were interviewed during the period from January to June 2020. All stated that they use pesticides and the vast majority have been in agriculture for over 30 years. It was observed that farmers obtain the products in a specialized establishment, however, there were reports of purchases from local businesses and even from neighbors. The use of Personal Protective Equipment, which is of paramount importance to protect the physical integrity and health of the farmer, was not prioritized and there were reports of symptoms, including headache, dizziness and vomiting, which may have been caused by consequences of the misuse of pesticides. It is concluded that there are many farmers who use pesticides on their plantations and handle them inappropriately.

Keywords: Farmer. Pesticides. Intoxication. Pests. Pesticides.