By Abbas Nazil
A Brazilian farmer’s health scare has spotlighted the controversial export of banned pesticides from the UK to developing countries.
Valdemar Postanovicz, a 45-year-old tobacco farmer from Paraná, Brazil, suffered acute pesticide poisoning after using Reglone, a herbicide containing diquat, a chemical banned in the UK and European Union.
The incident highlights the risks posed by these chemicals and the ethical questions surrounding their export.
Postanovicz experienced paralysis on the right side of his body, numbness, tremors, and blurred vision after exposure to the herbicide in 2021.
Initially fearing a stroke, he later realized these symptoms were due to acute pesticide poisoning. The ordeal left him deeply shaken.
“It is a really strong product,” he said. Despite wearing protective clothing, he omitted a visor, which likely contributed to his exposure.
He now associates the smell of Reglone with nausea and distress, underscoring the traumatic impact of his experience.
Reglone is produced by Syngenta, a Swiss-headquartered, Chinese-owned agrochemical company with a manufacturing plant in Huddersfield, UK.
Although diquat has been banned in the UK and EU since 2020 due to health and environmental risks, it continues to be legally produced in Britain for export under a loophole.
In 2023, Syngenta exported over 5,100 tonnes of diquat-based products, with Brazil receiving the largest share. Globally, Brazil is among the leading consumers of this herbicide.
Diquat’s hazards include severe health risks such as blindness, vomiting, convulsions, organ damage, and even death. Despite being considered less toxic than paraquat—a chemical banned in Britain since 2008—diquat still poses significant dangers. Between 2018 and 2022, Brazil recorded an increase in accidental poisonings linked to diquat. Paraná, a key agricultural state, documented a rise from one to three cases annually to nine by 2023.
Experts believe the actual numbers are much higher due to underreporting, limited healthcare access in remote areas, and fear of employer retaliation.
The rise in diquat use follows Brazil’s 2020 ban on paraquat. Since then, diquat usage has surged from 1,400 tonnes in 2019 to 24,000 tonnes in 2022, reflecting its increasing prevalence in Brazilian agriculture.
However, the risks associated with diquat have sparked concerns among health professionals and campaigners. Marcelo de Souza Furtado, a Paraná health official monitoring pesticide poisonings, noted that 83% of reported diquat poisonings in Brazil involved Reglone.
Syngenta maintains that its products are safe when used according to guidelines. The company states it provides extensive safety training and distributes products in tamper-proof containers to minimize risks.
However, in practice, factors like extreme heat and humidity in Brazil make consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) challenging for farmers. Even with PPE, risks persist.
A 2014 review by the European Food Safety Authority found that exposure could exceed safe limits by 350%, even when workers adhered to safety protocols.
The UK exported 8,489 tonnes of pesticides banned domestically in 2023, including diquat, to 18 countries, primarily in the Global South.
Critics argue this reflects “double standards” and exploitative practices, prioritizing corporate profits over human health.
The United Nations special rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Dr. Marcos Orellana, described the practice as “modern-day exploitation,” accusing the UK of valuing the health of its citizens over those in importing nations.
Despite these criticisms, Syngenta and UK authorities defend the exports. Syngenta argues that countries with differing agricultural needs and regulatory systems should have the autonomy to approve such products.
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) asserts that it goes “beyond international standards” by requiring consent from importing countries, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Calls for stricter regulations are growing. France and Belgium have already prohibited the export of banned pesticides, and several EU member states support an EU-wide ban. Campaigners are urging the UK to follow suit, but there has been no commitment from British authorities.
Green Party MP Siân Berry criticized the practice, calling it “beyond belief.” Greenpeace’s chief scientist, Doug Parr, denounced the exports as environmentally destructive and unsustainable, contributing to intensive agricultural practices harmful to biodiversity and soil health.
Research by the Pesticide Action Network suggests viable alternatives to toxic pesticides, such as living mulches, controlled grazing, and mechanical or thermal weeding.
These methods, alongside safer synthetic alternatives, could help transition away from harmful chemicals without sacrificing agricultural productivity.
For Postanovicz and others like him, the consequences of diquat exposure are a harsh reality. His experience underscores the urgent need for greater accountability and ethical considerations in global pesticide trade.
As he recovers, Postanovicz hopes his story serves as a warning. “It is dangerous,” he said. “If it’s already been banned in other countries, that shows it has a very toxic effect.”
The debate surrounding pesticide exports highlights a broader issue of environmental justice. The continued production and sale of banned chemicals to countries with weaker regulations raise fundamental questions about the responsibilities of exporting nations and corporations.
While Syngenta insists it complies with all laws and standards, the rising toll of poisonings in Brazil and beyond underscores the need for a shift toward more sustainable and equitable agricultural practices.
Source: The Guardian