VULNERABILITY OF PESTICIDE SPRAY WORKERS IN THE AGRESTE POTIGUAR: THE CASE OF VERA CRUZ-RN
Pesticides. Socio-environmental vulnerability. Spray worker.
In the interior of Rio Grande do Norte, as well as in muchofBrazil, theprocessofagriculturalmodernizationfavoredtheintensificationofthe use ofpesticides, as well as theirindiscriminate use in agriculture. In themunicipalityof Vera Cruz - RN, thelocationofthisresearch, thissituationhasbeenaggravated in thelast 15 years, especially in rural areas. In thiscontext, groupsofworkerswerespecialized in theactivityofsprayingpesticides, but in a veryprecariousmanner, sincetheworkinvolveslow-skilled labor andvery adverse socioeconomicconditions (loweducation, rareemploymentopportunities,lowincome, etc.). Fromtheseconsiderations, theobjectiveofthisstudywastounderstandthesituationsofaggravationofsocio-environmentalvulnerabilitytowhich spray workers are subjected in themunicipalityof Vera Cruz. Tothisend, themodernizationofagriculture in Brazilhasbeencontextualized, especially in theplace in question, seekingtomapandcharacterizethesegroupsbasedontheirsocioeconomic, healthandworkconditions. Thisis a case study, withfourteen interviews, carried out withthegroupofsprayers in thatmunicipality. It wasdecidedtoreconstructthetrajectoryoftheseworkers, emphasizingtheelementsthatinfluencethe “choice” ofthisdangerousfunction. The researchinvolved a literaturereviewonsocio-environmentalvulnerability, development, modernizationofagricultureandthe use ofpesticides in Brazil, risksandworkerhealth. The analyzes show significantchanges in agriculture in themunicipality, presenting a modernization in theformsofcultivation, markedbytheintensive use ofchemical inputs - in particular, pesticides. The sprayingactivityisperformedbythemostvulnerablesubjects (youngmen) in thatterritory.With a lowlevelofeducation, in a placewithlowincomesandrareemploymentoptions, sprayingisoneoftheonlypossibilities for occupation. The incomefromsprayingisgeneratedexclusivelywiththedaily labor force andiscompletely informal, seasonalandunhealthy. Evenrecognizingthedangers (sincetwentydifferenttypesofpesticides are used, muchofwhich are extremelyandhighlytoxic), thefewemploymentopportunitiescorroboratethesilencingofworkerswithregardtotheconditionsunderwhichtheactivityiscarried out. Addedtothis are theenvironmentalcostsofthisactivitysincelargeloadsofchemicalsubstances are releasedwithspraying, especiallyonfood, contributingtothealterationof natural conditionsandcontaminationofsoilandwater. Despitetheseriousnessofthesituationreported in the interviews, thereis no inspectionbytheStateatanylevel, tocurbthe use ortheindiscriminatecommercializationofpesticides, nor are theyeasilybought in local commercial establishments withoutanymonitoringorprescription. Thus, fromtheresultsofthisstudy, it issuggestedthedevelopmentofpublic policies thatcan minimize theimpactsofthecurrentagriculturalmodel in progress, promotingalternatives for decentworkand more sustainableproductionfromthesocio-environmentalandethical point ofview.