Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
et al, 2001), with higher levels of chemical concentration showing on the feet,
legs and thighs.
Interviews with workers graphically indicated how children become
contaminated with chemical residues:
Picture a little boy that is in his house while his father has gone to
work in the quinta for eight hours. When the father comes back
home, what's the first thing his son does? The child runs to hug
his father. And to which part of the father's body the boy gets
hold? The legs, obviously, because they are at the little boy's
height. The thing is, the legs are one of the parts of the body
that have more contact with the chemical products, because it is
the legs that have more contact with plants than other parts of
the body like the shoulders or arms. It is the trousers that get
dirtiest and most contaminated with chemicals. (Agricultural
engineer, Luis Carrancio, INTA Oliveros)
Table 9.6 indicates that, when chemical products are used, containers are
sometimes reused without being carefully cleaned. Similar to the results
associated with the general handling of chemical products for agricultural use,
the workers' different levels of education do not indicate differences in their
use of these containers.
Table 9.6 Treatment of containers of chemical products related to owners'
educational level (percentage)
Educational level
None Primary P. inc. High school Higher education University Total
Clean
15.38
38.46
7.69
7.69
7.69
23.08
100
Do not clean
3.33
58.33
0.00
31.67
1.67
5.00
100
P. inc., primary incomplete.
According to the records maintained by health-care institutions reviewed
during this research, entries related to health problems associated with the use
of chemical products existed but were not common. According to doctors at
the El Gaucho health centre, this is because they only manifested as serious
health problems later in life, when cases were handled at the hospitals. While
health problems related to agro-toxicity were not found to be acute, low
concentrations of these toxins were not easily detected. Therefore, their
impact is 'invisible' in the affected population and were not recorded at health
centres:
The symptoms are confused with tiredness and symptoms of being
exhausted. After carrying a 20-kg backpack for eight hours, it's
