2014-02-17 10:02:15
Different epidemiological studies conducted in Europe and in other regions of the world among populations in the agricultural sector highlight the relationship between exposure to certain pesticides and certain pathologies. ANSES has therefore, since its creation, been interested in the question of exposure to pesticides among agricultural workers, and has issued an internal request in order to propose actions to reduce them.
To achieve this objective, consistent with the specific actions set out in the 2009-2013 health-environment, 2010-2014 occupational health and Ecophyto 2018 national plans, the Agency has organized its work around four axes:
- describe the population of agricultural workers potentially exposed to pesticides according to the different production systems and sectors;
- identify the professional situations at the origin of exposure to pesticides;
- gather and analyze the available knowledge on exposure levels for the situations identified;
- put exposure levels into perspective with health data.
Final results are expected in early 2015.
As a first step in this work, the report published today lists the data available in the scientific literature on the exposure of agricultural workers to pesticides in France.
The complexity of the question posed requires the mobilization of a wide variety of disciplines, which provide different but complementary insights. However, rare are the areas of expertise that combine disciplines as diverse as toxicology, epidemiology, expology, ergonomics, human and social sciences and economics.
A method of systematic review of the scientific literature was therefore developed by the experts and the scientific publications were classified into four major fields: metrology, epidemiology, ergonomics and human and social sciences including economics.
Few data available on situations in France
Of all the publications that could be identified, only 69 fell strictly within the scope of the expert appraisal with regard to the selection criteria defined by the method put in place, i.e. provided relevant information on the pesticide exposures of agricultural workers in France.
This bibliographical exercise demonstrates, just like the recent parliamentary work, the information available in the literature or the recent Inserm expertise on the effects of pesticides on health, that few data on the exposure of agricultural workers to pesticides are available. . However, this literature review was carried out mainly from the literature published in peer-reviewed journals. It may prove to be incomplete in view of any unpublished data or data published in gray literature that is not easily accessible.
It is in this context that ANSES is launching a call for additional contributions from all the actors holding data likely to contribute to a better understanding of exposure to pesticides in the agricultural sector (European agencies, associations, scientists, industrial and individuals).
This call for papers is open until April 20, 2014.
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