Coffee Rust Fungicides Found To Be Toxic To Coffee Farmers – CoffeeTalk
Recent findings have raised serious concerns about the safety of pesticide application methods among coffee farmers, particularly regarding the toxic effects of Coffee Rust fungicides. A significant portion of workers—45%—reported using backpack sprayers for fungicide application, while 42% used tractors that lacked protective cabins. Alarmingly, only 13% employed tractors equipped with cabins during spraying. The widespread reliance on backpack sprayers poses a heightened risk of inhalation exposure to toxic substances. It is particularly noteworthy that the product leaflet for OPERA®, a commonly used fungicide, explicitly states that its application via backpack sprayers is prohibited on coffee plantations (BASF, 2023).
The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among farmers is also inadequate. Only 23% of workers reported wearing full PPE, which includes chemical-resistant clothing, waterproof boots, gloves, masks, and protective visors. In contrast, 53% indicated sporadic use of protective gear, while a concerning 24% reported not using any protective clothing at all. Strikingly, no significant differences in health outcomes were found between those who fully utilized PPE and those who did not, highlighting possible issues of misreporting or a lack of communication surrounding safety practices.
These alarming findings align with previous studies on pesticide exposure in the Southern Minas Gerais region (Machado et al., 2021; Silvério et al., 2017). Factors contributing to the low usage of PPE include discomfort associated with protective gear, financial constraints preventing purchases, and a lack of education and training that hinders farmers from understanding and following safety protocols (Abreu and Alonzo, 2014; Santana et al., 2016).
The situation emphasizes the critical need for ongoing educational initiatives to equip farmers with essential knowledge and resources to protect themselves from hazardous pesticide exposure. There is a pressing call for improved risk communication, effective risk management strategies, and robust policy measures to mitigate the dangers of occupational pesticide exposure.
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Source: Coffee Talk