The rates of presence of pesticide residues for cereals increased between 2010 and 2011. Environmental associations are sounding the alarm.
This is one more alert launched by environmental defense associations. In its latest report on pesticide residues in food, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) indicates that the rates of the presence of pesticide residues increased between 2010 and 2011. They went from 38.73% to 39.19% for cereals, from 29.44% to 33.4% for vegetables, and finally, from 52.64% to 54.4% for fruits. Another worrying news is that the rates of exceeding the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides are also on the rise. For cereals, for example, the MRL rate doubled during the same period, going from 0.74% to 1.4%. In the end, only the rates of exceedance of MRLs for pesticides for fruits and vegetables dropped slightly.
Effects underestimatedabout health
An alarming finding for Future generations, an association which carries out strong actions to support the victims of pesticides. “The problem posed by the presence of a large number of pesticide residues in a number of plant foods is therefore far from being resolved, quite the contrary,” declared François Veillerette, spokesperson for Future Generations. While adding, “we will be all the more vigilant that the MRLs do not take into account the low dose effects, possibly without threshold, of endocrine disrupting pesticides and therefore that the assessed effects of pesticide residues on health are therefore most certainly vastly underestimated. ”
In this regard, moreover, a recent Inserm report confirmed the danger of pesticides on health for farmers and residents. “Exposure to these substances is associated with the development of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases,” he said.
An alarming finding for Future generations, an association which carries out strong actions to support the victims of pesticides. “The problem posed by the presence of a large number of pesticide residues in a number of plant foods is therefore far from being resolved, quite the contrary,” declared François Veillerette, spokesperson for Future Generations. While adding, “we will be all the more vigilant that the MRLs do not take into account the low dose effects, possibly without threshold, of endocrine disrupting pesticides and therefore that the assessed effects of pesticide residues on health are therefore most certainly vastly underestimated. ”
In this regard, moreover, a recent Inserm report confirmed the danger of pesticides on health for farmers and residents. “Exposure to these substances is associated with the development of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases,” he said.
Ségolène Royal wants to ban all aerial spraying
In this context, the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal, pledged this Tuesday to quickly sign a decree totally banning the aerial spraying of pesticides. This while the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) has maintained exemptions for certain farmers.
In a press release, the minister said that this ban should be implemented without delay for sweet corn, popcorn and bananas. And in 18 months for a few specific crops of rice and certain vineyards, for which, she specified, “it is necessary to find an alternative guaranteeing the safety of users. “
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