Diagnostic evaluation of the presence of pesticide residues in urine samples from residents of a “vila rural” in the Francisco Beltrão municipality, state of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Pesticide contamination in rural communities is a well-known problem worldwide, but it is often hidden or underestimated. The development of research projects that identify this type of contamination is essential to advance the debate on the deleterious effects of pesticides. This article presents the results of a research that investigated the levels of pesticide residues in urine samples from residents of a “vila rural” located in the municipality of Francisco Beltrão, state of Paraná, Brazil. According to residents’ reports, the main form of exposure has been due the drift of pesticides resulting from spraying carried out on crops neighboring Vila Rural. Through the application of questionnaires, residents stated that spraying is related to symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness, among others, in addition to problems in the development of food grown in their plots (of 5,000 m²), mostly without the use of pesticides. After the collection of urine samples, laboratory analyzes were performed to identify pesticide residues, such as glyphosate, 2,4D (the most used), and other active ingredients. Samples were collected immediately after the occurrence of spraying onto crops surrounding the site. In the collected samples (n=35), laboratory analyzes were performed to identify possible pesticide residues. To identify possible contaminating pesticides in the samples, multi-residue analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). To identify 2.4D residues, an active widely used in the region and not detectable by the technique used for other pesticides, the analyzes were performed by Unioeste using the enzyme immunoassay technique. The results indicate that all urine samples collected showed the presence of 2,4D residues and that 33 samples (90% of them) presented the presence of glyphosate-AMPA residues, without the detection of the other investigated residues. The analysis of data obtained from interviews with residents shows an association between living in the place for longer and having cases of abortion (p<0.05, R=0.43) or feeling unwell after the application of the poison by the neighboring crop (p<0.05, R=0.47). In addition, residents who reported being poisoned with poison also reported having cancer (p<0.05, R=0.42). Assuming that it is unacceptable that urine samples have pesticide residues, it is concluded that the residents of this community are widely exposed and contaminated by pesticides sprayed by third parties, and that may be impacting the health of these people in the long term. It indicate a process of environmental injustice, given that the residents are being contaminated through pesticide use in the crops bordering the “vila rural”.

Keywords: Pesticides; Contamination; Rural community; Urine; Environmental injustice.