Health authorities alert this Thursday, April 24 on Thursday, April 24, on the harmful effect of human health of pesticides widely used in agriculture, but also in domestic use, pointing out in particular the risks for “the neurodevelopment of very young children”, particularly those exposed in the uterus.
The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Labor Health Safety (ANSE) had ordered a collective of independent experts to evaluate the potential risks of the results of an Inserm experience in 2013 updated in 2021. This attracts an inventory of knowledge about the links between exposure to phytopharmaceutical products of pesticaceuticals for agricultural use, biocidal products. Pathologies
These experts crossed the available data on the presumption of the link between exhibitions to pesticides and human pathologies established by INSERM, those in authorized uses and about toxicities of the various pesticides.
“Important and growing concerns”
At the end of this work, the ANSES points to “sanitary signals”, of which “the most important refers to organophosphates, and especially pyrethrinoids.” These substances “are used as insecticides, but certain phyto-pharmaceutical products and veterinary medications, also contain them,” Matthieu Schuler, deputy managing deputy director in charge of sciences for A, AFP for AFP. Among them, “cippermetrine is used to protect crops and as a veterinary medication for sheep or against ticks,” he said.
Therefore, the agency launches four alerts (the highest level of the “health signal” that it can issue): a door on “the effects of exposure to pyrethrinoids during pregnancy and early childhood in the neurological development of children”, in particular revealed by a study of 2022, in the general population in China, shows “particularly pronounced” effects at high levels of exposure – scared “. points to experts.
Another is related to “the alteration of cognitive abilities, cognitive functions and sensory functions in children” exposed in the uterus to organophosphoros that are ingredients of insecticides. The other two are related to “cognitive disorders in adults” and leukemia “, in relation to professional exposure to organophosphahs.”
In addition, “sperm attacks have also been identified in the general population, all combined exposure sources, however, with a lower level of presumption,” reveals ANSS.
“The bombs used to keep insects away”
In addition, “a substance of the pyrethrinoid family, deltamethrine, is also associated with a higher risk of leukemia” in “link with professional exposure”, with “an average presumption level,” continues the health agency. However, the use of these insecticide substances is “still very important”, both for “professional agricultural uses” and for “professional and amateur biocidal uses,” says ANSS.
Therefore, “the main source of exposure of the general population is the bombs and insecticide plugs used to keep insects away, or dogs for dogs and cats,” says Matthieu Schuler.
If “today we cannot be very precise in the sources of exposure” that must be studied more, the public health study of Esteban France has demonstrated in 2021 “important levels” of impregnation of the French population for pyrethrinoids, “higher in children than in adults,” he recalls.
To “implement public health prevention measures, ANSES recommends identifying the most important sources of exhibitions for pyrethrinoids among all possible insecticidal uses: medications, phytopharmaceutical and biocidal products”, “construction and furniture, textile materials.” On the other hand, the use of organophosphoros is “very limited today in France.”
ANSES has transmitted its work to the European authorities: the European Authority for Food Security (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (AME), while the marketing authorization of some of these products (Téfluthrine, Lambda -Cyhalothrine, Deltametrine) is being reconsidered the EU level. The agency already requires informing health professionals and the population that “limits the use” of products that contain pyrethrinoids, “in particular during the prenatal phase and early childhood.”
These products extend to eradicate mosquito vectors of the dengue epidemic at the meeting, a “use that seems essential”, unlike “uses of comfort against spiders, at home,” Matthieu Schuler said.
Source: BFM TV
