The Impact of Pesticides - Academy Publish

Pampas, large components of the non-Pampean output have traditionally receivedsome form of government protection (Reca 2006; Lence, 2010).SANTA FE PROVINCEIn Santa Fe province (Pampean region) there is 23 percent for cereals and oilseedsin the country, which guarantees a place of importance in the national agriculturalscene. Several factors converge to it. On the one hand, the large area of the provincefrom north to south, which gives it different climatic characteristics, is enabling alarge range of crops. On the other hand, province has productive potential of soils,with virtually no limitations for agricultural activities. The main traditional cropsinclude soybeans, wheat, corn, sorghum, sunflower, to which add so-called regionalcrops: rice, cotton, sugarcane and fruit and vegetable. The soybean crop is still themost relevant of oil seeds. Santa Fe holds first place among the producingprovinces, with nearly 32 percent of the national total. Cereals and oil seeds aremain crops par excellence, due to its mild climate and soils fittest. In the north,subtropical climate, high temperatures and little rainfall, the main industrial cropsare like sugar cane and cotton.Horticultural activity in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, has low participation respectother crops: 4.9 % to field and 1.2 % in crops under cover, being leafy vegetables,cruciferous crops and other crops such as tomato and pepper some of the mostrelevant (Giunta et al., 2004; 2005).The so-called “Cinturón hortícola Santafesino” (horticultural belt of Santa Fe)contributes 1.2% to the regional and national market of products. This productivezone is in The Capital Department of Santa Fe Province (Argentina), an areaconstituted of approximately 3100 Hectares (ha), 1200 ha of which are cultivated inintensive form, and where 2000 people are employed as temporary workers,according to the season.At present, the horticultural production is focused on leaf-vegetable crops, mainlylettuce, chicory and arugula (22%), spinach beet and spinach (13%), cabbage,broccoli and cauliflower (13%), tomato and pepper (15%), zucchini, gourd, andcucumber (10%) and other vegetables such as beet, radish, aubergine, leek andparsley in a much smaller percentage.The horticultural productivity in the subtropical regions of the world is severelylimited by the pests and diseases affecting crops. The losses in the field and thereduction of the commercial values of the products caused by pests and diseasesmake the horticultural business less profitable than expected. The fact that thequality of the products has become a priority worldwide has led to the generation ofa group of quality standards in response to the demands of the consuming market.The main criterion used regarding this issue is related to the visual aspect related tothe shape, the color and absence of damages. The use of agrochemicals is the mostcommon method used for the control of pests and diseases but also one of the mostimportant factors affecting natural resources as well as the health of the ruralworkers and potential consumers.Occupational exposure to pesticides mixturesThe current social conditions of agrochemical use are far from laboratory conditionswhich determine their safety. In general, agrochemicals are rarely applied withsuitable protection equipment. As a consequence, subjects who work and/or livenear vegetable crops usually suffer from pesticide-induced illnesses, generallyAcademyPublish.org - The Impact of Pesticides79