Pollution of synthetic pesticides is generalized: water, air, diet … Studies demonstrating the links between their uses and the resurgence of certain diseases (parkinson, type II diabetes, cancers …) accumulate.
We also know that these products are at the origin of a significant degradation of our environment, as proof of the accelerated disappearance of certain species and the damage to biodiversity, from the spreading area to the marine environment . In addition, the cost borne by communities to make drinking water and free from pesticides or metabolites (by-products from the degradation of pesticides) is increasingly important.
On January 12, scientists, associations and elected officials met in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) on this theme, on the occasion of a day organized by the Center for Resources and Scientific Expertise On the water of Brittany ( CRESEB ) in partnership with the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP). Their observation is without appeal on harmfulness as the passivity of the public authorities to stop the consumption of these pesticides.
Among these scientists, Cécile Chevrier, epidemiologist at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and researcher at the Institute of Research in Health, Environment and Work (IRSET), demonstrated, within the framework From recent studies, the neurotoxic effects of synthetic pesticides for the development of the brain of newborns linked to an exposure of mothers during their pregnancy. This day was an opportunity to hear these scientists and see that more and more of them call on the public authorities to stop the use of synthetic pesticides.
costly and ineffective policies
Despite this observation, most of the policies carried out until then to reduce the use of these synthetic pesticides have proven to be very expensive and ineffective. The Court of Auditors also drawn up in 2020 a severe observation of the Ecophyto Plan and the action of the State to limit the use of pesticides: “Ten years later, despite actions mobilizing important public funds, these plans n ‘ have not achieved their objectives … The State could further influence the methods of agricultural production and the sectors by the exercise of its normative, regulation and information skills. “
These policies have indeed focused on raising awareness among their main users, farmers. However, they are just as much the victims of the use of pesticides as of a model not allowing them, today, for a large part of them, to design their profession outside of this use.
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