Citation

Langenbach T, Caldas LQ. Ambio 2018; 47(5): 574-584.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, HUAP, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Marques do Paraná, 303, Centro, CEP 24030-150, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. lquerinoac@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s13280-017-0997-4

PMID

29243054

Abstract

Brazil is currently one of the largest pesticide consumers worldwide. However, a lack of scientific information regarding airborne pollution is still an issue, with tragic consequences to human health and the environment. To reduce pollution of the lower air layers, where pesticide spraying occurs, green barriers that filter the air could be an effective mitigation procedure. Modifying pulverization habits, by pulverizing in the late afternoon instead of in the morning could also reduce pesticide volatilization, while other recommendations with the purpose of lowering the pesticide amounts currently applied are likewise pursued. Data obtained about volatilization have demonstrated that, in order to reduce air pollution risks, one of the most effective preventive strategies is to ban products with high vapor pressure. Global/local stakeholders need to assume the responsibility to find the best way to reduce airborne pesticide pollution, which has increasingly shown disastrous effects as major poisons to human health and the environment.

Language: en

Keywords

Drift reduction; Human poisonings; Pesticide air pollution; Pesticide pulverization; Volatilization