At the invitation of the Government of France, researcher presents studies on rural worker exposure to agrochemicals

Between May 2nd and 4th, an official meeting of the International Consortium for the Development and Evaluation of Personal Protective Equipment in Agriculture will take place in the French capital. On the occasion, Brazilian scientist Hamilton Ramos presents, at the invitation of the French Government, two studies carried out in Brazil on the exposure of rural workers to agrochemicals. Both works deal with the safety of protective clothing used by rural workers when spraying crops.

In addition to Ramos, representatives from Anvisa – National Health Surveillance Agency and MTE – Ministry of Labor and Employment were invited to the meeting. The two bodies of the Brazilian Government are dedicated to improving the legislation that deals with work with agrochemicals, and their presence at the event aims to analyze the model adopted by France in the area. In that country, the risk assessment system is adopted through 'exposure scenarios', that is, the legislation establishes different classification levels for worker exposure to chemical products.

Ramos is the coordinator of the IAC-Quepia Program for Personal Protective Equipment in Agriculture. This project unites the Engineering and Automation Center of the Agronomic Institute (CEA/IAC) - an entity of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo - with the Brazilian protective clothing industry.

Carried out in the Quepia Program laboratory, located in the city of Jundiaí (SP), the researcher's scientific work aims to improve the quality of personal protective equipment (PPE) produced in Brazil, as well as adapting them to different worker exposure situations to agrochemical products.

Ramos highlights that in recent years Brazil has become a global reference in investments to reduce rural workers' exposure to agrochemicals. Even so, he attests, a large number of rural producers and agribusinesses still remain unaware of the need to provide rural workers with certified quality protective equipment.