The toxic pesticide that SAG banned in Chile

The methamidophos is a pesticide that is used to remove, control or prevent the action of mites in non-fruit and vegetables. In the year 2015, the Rotterdam Convention, regulates pesticides and hazardous chemicals in international trade, He added it to the list of products that have been banned. He joined the category of severely restricted for health or environmental reasons, as a toxic pesticide to health.

Although pesticides are used to repel, preventing or controlling any pest, It can also affect the environment, people, animals and plants. Those who manipulate them, apply or those who live, they work or study near agricultural areas, they are the main groups of risks, but also pregnant women and growing children who are relatives of exposed workers.

Carcinogenic substance

The measure taken by the Agency in 2015 by the methamidophos, It was evidence that catalogs it as a highly neurotoxic and carcinogenic substance, i.e., It can cause adverse effects to the central nervous system, the nervous system peripheral and the senses.

In Chile, However, that took a little more than time. In Chile the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) it banned the import and manufacture of all pesticides on the basis of Methamidophos, as indicated in the latest update of list of pesticides with permission cancelled or expired, the last June 15.

The entity also restricted possession and use of all pesticides formulated based on carbofuran, Azinphos methyl and the own methamidophos, constraints that must be paid within a maximum period of two years.

These restrictions are running to update national legislation with the regulations of one of the most toxic pesticides at the acute level, just as it has been done in developed countries. Sandra Cortés, research associate at the Center for advanced chronic diseases (ACCDiS ) e member of the network of researchers in pesticides, stands out it as a great news, Since the use of Methamidophos is endangering the health of people who work with these products, as well as those that can be exposed by residing or studying in the vicinity of growing areas in which this or other pesticides are applied.

"As any chemical that reported acute and chronic damage to health is good news which is restricted as much as possible use, that is what has made the SAG to recognize this was using this pesticide further than all allowable range, at least in food", says cuts.

For the members of the network of researchers in pesticides, the SAG decision is a first step on the road to reduce the population exposure to these hazardous substances that, Despite are regulated in various aspects - such as the work of farmworkers or the levels expected in food-, many times they are not sufficiently controlled.

Sandra Cortes said to expect as a network that I will continue restricting the use of other pesticides, especially those which produce less frequent acute effects. "But we also hope to be restricted other substances associated with chronic effects on health", for example, chlorpyrifos or glyphosate, such as several European countries or the United States have", highlights.

Many of these substances are endocrine disruptors, altering the response of hormones very known as the thyroid - in the case of chlorpyrifos- either they are potentially carcinogenic, as you are discussing the glyphosate.

The research associate ACCDiS said that it is highly necessary to restrict the use or sale of pesticides, as SAG has done. "However, These measures are not sufficient, and must promote with other public health actions, including education on control and reduction of use in all persons", holds.

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