The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) ordered the precautionary suspension of the import, production, distribution and commercialization of carbendazim, a pesticide widely used in the country to combat fungi in plantations of beans, rice, soybeans, citrus fruits and other agricultural crops.
The toxicological reevaluation process for this fungicide began in 2019, but only now, in light of several studies that point to its risk to human health and the environment, has its use been suspended by Anvisa. According to professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF) at Unicamp José Luiz da Costa, coordinator of the Toxicological Information and Assistance Center (CiaTOX), despite being among the 20 most used pesticides in Brazil, carbendazim is banned in European countries. , in Australia and the United States for many years. “The ban occurs in these countries because of the suspicion that carbendazim is carcinogenic and causes embrophetotoxicity, that is, it is suspected of causing cancer and altering reproduction”, explains the professor.
In Brazil, the registration of a pesticide does not have an expiration date. The last evaluation of carbendazim, for example, is more than 20 years old. During this period, scientific research on the fungicide advanced, bringing new evidence to the debate.
The professor at the Chemistry Institute (IQ) and coordinator of the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Cassiana Montagner, has carried out several studies with the fungicide, focusing on the detection of pesticide residues in water. “Carbendazim has been found in different rivers and springs, in different regions of Brazil, in small concentrations considering its use, but which cause effects specifically on aquatic biota”, she explains. For the researcher, the country releases many pesticides, but does not adequately monitor their impacts on the environment. “Our studies are among the few in Brazil on the occurrence and dynamics of carbendazim on the health of aquatic life”, she assesses.
After the precautionary suspension, a public consultation was opened to support discussions on the definitive ban of the pesticide. Contributions can be made until July 11th, at Anvisa website.
*Update: The definitive ban on carbendazim in Brazil was unanimously approved by Anvisa on August 08, 2022.
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Production, reporting and audio editing: Juliana Franco
Image editing: Renan Garcia
Video editing: Kleber Casablanca
Cover image: Edmarjr/Commons Wikimedia
