Permissiveness of Brazilian Legislation, Widespread Contamination by Pesticides in Food and Water, and Risks to the Population’s Health

Pesticides have been widely used worldwide, and the results of scientific research have influenced the debate on the benefits and harms resulting from their handling in several areas of knowledge and a "war" of political and ideological narratives (Candiotto, 2021).The spraying of pesticides initiates a chain reaction process, as they are products manipulated and applied by rural workers, used directly in food, which will later be consumed by the whole society, and which spread and can accumulate in the environment (water, soil, sediments, animals, plants) and human organisms.In this sense, monitoring the presence of pesticides in food, the environment, and human bodies is essential to qualify this debate and direct decisions about the future of food production in the best possible way.In Brazil, this "war" of narratives has intensified in recent years due to the political position of the current federal government (of President Jair Bolsonaro) to expand and release the use of pesticides.Indeed, this process has been supported by most parliamentarians, who are responsible for proposing and approving the laws.Despite resistance and denunciation from other sectors of society, the interests of people and companies linked to agribusiness have been predominant.Two examples characterize this situation: 1) While between 2000 and 2015, around 122 new registrations were granted per year (among similar ones already on the market and new active ingredients), since 2016, this average has risen to 419 (MAPA, 2020); 2) After standing still for 20 years, Bill 6,299 of 2002, which substantially modifies the legislation on pesticides, was approved in the Chamber of Deputies in February 2022, with the approval of the Federal Senate and its enactment now pending by the President of the Republic.On the other hand, despite several shortcomings, there are programs for monitoring the presence of pesticides in food and water, making it possible to know part of the situation in the country, but which already indicate the seriousness of the problem.In this context, we addressed the main recent aspects concerning food and water contamination in face of Brazilian legislation permissiveness, and its implications on people's health.

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