Percepção de risco em operações com agrotóxicos na cafeicultura em uma comunidade do sul de Minas

Abstract

In the Brazilian agricultural scenario, coffee growing is a highly relevant activity, playing a fundamental role in the economy. Currently, Minas Gerais stands out as the largest coffee producer in the country, highlighting the preponderant contribution of small producers who make up the so-called family coffee industry. However, the search for better yields in crop productivity, in this case, coffee, often leads to intensive agricultural practices that pose considerable risks to both human health and the environment. In this way, the objective was to analyze work safety in relation to the use and risks of handling pesticides in family coffee farming in a rural community, in the municipality of Perdões-MG. The research received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Lavras, under OPINION No. 5,859,410, in January 2023. Data were obtained through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire to a sample of 86 delimited coffee farmers based on a sample size calculation considering a margin of error of 5%, a confidence level of 95%, and a standard deviation of 50%. Quantitative data analyzes occurred through frequency distribution and average prevalence estimation. Qualitative data arising from discursive questions and non-participant observation were analyzed and discussed in large groups through content analysis. It also proposed the application of an experimental method to determine the index (ί) of risk of exposure to pesticides, which is based on the prevalent characteristics for each factor or associated variable. The results indicated that all interviewees use pesticides in their activities. A predominance of direct exposure to pesticides by men compared to women was observed, however, a large proportion of them are exposed indirectly when cleaning contaminated clothing. A lower proportion of people between 18 and 26 years old was noted, suggesting a migration of young people to urban areas. Furthermore, the study identified the presence of individuals aged 60 or over involved in coffee farming activities, including the intensive use of pesticides. Variables associated with age, low education, income, access to information and the 2019 toxicological reclassification are strongly associated with higher rates of poisoning. The same demographic variables also influence the improper disposal of packaging, with the burning and reusing of bottles for different uses prevailing over other destinations, falling far short of complying with legislation inherent to reverse logistics. Finally, the final index (i) of risk of exposure to pesticides by family coffee farmers in the rural community of Perdões-MG, indicated the most serious class, that is, “very high” risk of exposure, and this denotes the need of joint actions by public and private institutions with regard to training, farmer health care programs and effective empty packaging return programs.